Use of Distribution Pattern of an Oligochaetan Species, Limnodrilus hoffmesteri for Assessment of Pollutional Stress in Hooghly Estuarine Ecosystem

-- Paramita Banerjee and Samir Banerjee

In Hooghly estuary, the incidence of oligochaetan worm, Limnodrilus hoffmesteri, was observed (October 2006 to November 2008) at two study stations. One of the stations was linked with more discharge of factory effluents at Konnagar (station-A), and the other was Ariadah (station-B) with minimum pollutant exposure. The oligochaetan population appeared in vigorous number at
station-A and very minimum number was seen at station-B. Station-A presented silty soil enriched with organic carbon, and the water body was marked with low dissolved oxygen and high alkalinity. This situation confirms the specimen to be a pollution indicator denoting the stress situation of the Hooghly estuarine ecosystem.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Habitat-Based Diversity Assessment of Mangroves of Thane Creek, West Coast, India

-- Mahesh Shindikar , P Tetali and V R Gunale

A habitat-based plant diversity assessment was carried out in order to appraise the current status of the mangroves of Thane creek (Maharashtra, India) for appropriate measures for conservation of the fragile ecosystem. `Partially protected' and `disturbed' are the two major categories of habitat recognized during the study. In addition, mangrove vegetation of each habitat is quantitatively analyzed for its diversity (species richness and distribution) and growth parameters (above ground biomass). Habitat is found to be responsible for the physicochemical setup of mangrove swamps, which decides a community pattern in mangroves. Out of the 18 species recorded from the Maharashtra coast, Thane creek exhibits eight mangroves, viz., Avicennia marina Vahl., Avicennia officinalis L., Bruguiera cylindrica Bl., Sonneratia apetala Buch.-Ham., Ceriops tagal Robin, Excoecaria agallocha L., Acanthus ilicifolius L. and Aegiceras corniculatum Blanco. No zonation pattern could be recognized within the present day mangrove forest. In general, the vegetation is dominated by Avicennia marina, which has an ecologically successful Importance Value Index (IVI) of 157.29 and is most resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, while others are susceptible to environmental stress and gradually shrink. The results exhibited significant diversity and distribution in partially protected areas. In severely degraded areas, A. ilicifolius grows in abundance, indicating secondary succession.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

A Simple and Rapid Method for Isolation of High Quality Genomic DNA from the Biofuel Plant – Jatropha curcas L.

-- Rekha R Warrier,
R Anandalakshmi , B Devika Nagalakshmi ,
C Savitha, A Nicodemus and B Gurudev Singh

A protocol for Jatropha curcas genomic DNA isolation based on a cetyl alkyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) method described for other woody species was optimized. The method involves mortar grinding of tissue, a modified CTAB extraction employing high salt concentration, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, successive isoamyl alcohol-chloroform extractions and an RNase treatment. High quality intact DNA (260/280 = 1.87) was isolated. The routine yield was approximately 40 mg DNA per 100 mg of initial fresh plant material. The genomic DNA obtained by this method is suitable for use in random amplified-polymorphic DNA reactions. This extraction method allows molecular analysis of shoots from different accessions distributed throughout the country.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Mass In Vitro Propagation of Rosa hybrida cv. King's Ransom Through Enhanced Axillary Shoot Formation

-- A Roy , J Dutta , A Bhattacharya and P K Saha

Micropropagation of Rosa hybrida cv. King's Ransom, a commercially demanded variety, was micropropagated through enhanced axillary shoot formation. Among several buds tested for shoot induction, the bud placed in fourth to sixth position from apex showed maximum in vitro response. During shoot multiplication, MS basal medium, supplemented with 1 mg L^–1 BAP, initiated the highest number of shoots per explant. The rooted plantlets were stepwise hardened to acclimatize and then potted in field condition.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Azide Resistance Among Beneficial Rhizobacteria in Relation to Nitrogenase Activity

-- Anuradha Godara, Manjula Vasudeva, Sunita Jain, Rachna Yadav and Neeru Narula

During the present investigation, azide resistance was studied among resistant and sensitive mutants of Azotobacter, Gluconacetobacter and Azospirillum. Resistant mutants of all the three strains had higher nitrogenase activity and sensitive mutants had lower nitrogenase activity as compared to their respective parental strains. A similar trend was observed in the cases of respiratory studies on cell dry weight basis and cytochrome c oxidase activities and ATP concentrations. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation among azide resistance and nitrogenase activity, ATP concentration, rate of respiration and cytochrome c oxidase activity between Azotobacter and Gluconacetobacter. Positive correlation among the above-mentioned activities was found in Azospirillum. Our studies reveal that sodium azide resistance can be used as a selection parameter to obtain better nitrogen fixing strains of Azotobacter, Gluconacetobacter and Azospirillum (to their respective MIC) to be used as biofertilizer for various crops.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Root Extract of Aristolochia bracteata Retz

-- Angalaparameswari S, Madhu Sudhana Chetty C, Alagusundaram M, Thiruvengada Rajan V S and Sarovar Reddy V

The antimicrobial activity of different extracts from roots of Aristolochia bracteata retz was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Salmonella typhimurium which are pathogenic bacteria that cause gastrointestinal disorders. The root of A. bracteata retz was extracted with various solvents (petroleum ether, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water). The extracts were subjected to microbiological tests. Methanol was found to show more activity than other extracts. So the methanol extract was subjected for isolation. The isolated compound was confirmed by comparing with the standard aristolochic acid I. By using the same extract, the antioxidant activity was also tested by Dpph and Nitric oxide (NO) methods against free radicals which were present. More inhibition of the free radicals was observed in the Dpph method than NO method.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

The Role of Organics and Probiotics in Shrimp Culture

-- R Saravanan, S Rajagopal and P Vijayanand

Successful shrimp culture is a tough task due to the outbreak of diseases, which affect shrimp production and trade. The use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, steroids, livestock feed additives and use of products originating from genetically modified animals make the culture more expensive. Farming with organic fertilizers helps in avoiding all the above. Hence, the present study was planned and executed in commercial shrimp culture ponds, keeping the above objectives in mind. In this study, no inorganic substances, antibiotics and chemicals were used. The probiotics was used right from the soil culture of pond to harvest shrimps. Temperature and salinity did not show much difference in both control and experimental ponds. Transparency level was less in the experimental pond than in the control pond. Dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, phosphate, silicate and total heterotrophic bacteria levels were higher in the experimental pond. Ammonia and nitrite were lower in the experimental pond than in the control pond. The average daily growth and production of shrimps were higher in the experimental pond than in the control pond. This leads to a good sustainable culture practice without deteriorating the water which receives farm discharges.

© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.