Novel class of antimicrobials from the marine isolates of actinomycetes and their potential screening against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains

Microbial pathogenesis contributes a significant proportion to the global human mortality rate. Further, the outbreak of antimicrobial-resistant strains represents an alarming threat to human and animal healthcare, which drives scientific research on searching for novel antimicrobials. The present study is one such initiative to isolate new classes of antibiotics from the marine actinomycetes to combat the perpetual increase of multidrug-resistant strains. The soil samples from Tamil Nadu, India's coastal regions, were collected, and eight isolates of the actinomycete species (S1, S1b, S2, S3, S4b, S4W, S4R, S5) were recovered. From their 16S rRNA sequencing, the isolates belonged to Streptomyces sp.; the phylogenetic tree was constructed through the neighbour-joining method. Further, the secondary metabolites of all the isolates were screened against ATCC strains, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25927) and Acinetobacter baumanni (ATCC 19606) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (OXA) and colistin-cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli (MCR). Of the eight isolates, S1b and S3 showed good inhibition for all the strains tested and their genomic sequences were sequenced and submitted to Genbank, MK641472 (S1b) & MK641473 (S3). Conclusively, their metabolites were purified using LC-MS and no resemblances were found with standard classes of antimicrobials such as nitrofurans, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, chloramphenicols or ivermectins, which suggests that these metabolites are novel and could be exploited for the prospective antimicrobial research.

Seed germination and seedling growth as pretentious by various growing media in Red Lady-786 papaya

Carica papaya is a significant fruit crop solely grown from seeds for commercial purposes. Atmosphere, temperature, water, light, and substrate utilized are some of the variables that might affect a seed's ability to germinate. Papaya seed germination is frequently described as unpredictable, sluggish and partial. For papaya growers, increasing the degree of germination to enhance the production of healthier seedlings is a challenge owing to the higher seed cost. The present experiment aimed to determine the effect of various growing media combinations in Red Lady-786 using a completely randomized design (CRD).  The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations. Four different growing media: soil, vermicompost, coco peat and perlite were used in different treatment     combinations viz.  T1: control; T2: soil + vermicompost (80% + 20%); T3: soil + vermicompost (60% + 40%); T4: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat (80%+10%+10%); T5: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat (60%+20%+20%); T6: soil + vermicompost + perlite (80%+10%+10%); T7: soil + vermicompost + perlite (60%+20%+20%); T8: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat + perlite (70%+10%+10%+10%+10%) and T9: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat + perlite (40%+20%+20%+20%). T9 was the most significant combination for early germination among all the treatment combinations. The application of T9 recorded maximum root length (7.70 cm), maximum shoot length (13.35 cm), maximum per cent initiation of germination (92.5%), high seed vigour (1947.75) and maximum height of the seedlings (21.05). The study revealed that for better germination and seedling growth, the application of treatment combination T9, which influenced the germination properties of papaya seedlings, can be exploited commercially.

A review on value-added goodies from different major and minor fruits from the perspective of India

Nutrition and health are gaining significant focus as people seek convenient, nutrient-rich food options. Food processing must be efficient, cost-effective, and durable to meet these demands. Transforming fruits into diverse products using affordable technology can boost the economy for farmers and the nation. Fruit-based goods with high potassium and low salt offer substantial dietary benefits, making them valuable to health-conscious consumers.The present study aimed to study  different value-added products from fruits and to increase their shelf life. Perishable fruit has losses during postharvest changes. Different strategies are required to avoid such losses. One method is to transform fruits into value-added goods. The transition of a raw resource or commodity into a processed product by combining raw materials, labour, time, and technology to produce a higher financial return is known as value addition in fruit processing.  It focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Value-added fruit products can contribute to food security by achieving sustainable goals of good health and well-being.  The study concluded that value-added fruit products play a vital role in the food industry, benefiting both producers and consumers. They reduce food waste, provide economic opportunities for farmers, and offer consumers convenient, nutritious, and flavourful options. The value-added fruit product market will likely further,contributing to the agricultural sector’s sustainability and worldwide consumer well being. This review details the value-added products in fruits.

Molecular diagnosis of bacteria isolated from Trifolium repens root nodules

The Fabaceae genus Trifolium comprises around 250 species widely distributed worldwide, with the temperate Northern Hemisphere exhibiting the highest variety. The plants in this genus are widely used as livestock fodder crops and are particularly significant economically.This study's objective included isolating bacteria from the root nodules of the Trifolium repens plant and diagnosing it at the molecular and microbiological levels. T. repens root nodules were used as the source of an endophytic bacteria isolated on Yeast Extract Mannitol (YEM) media that had solidified and diagnosed at the molecular level by DNA Sequencing technique for analysis of the sequence of the nitrogenous bases of 16S rRNA gene with the global database. The isolated bacteria were characteristic of greyish-white color after 48 hours of growth and appeared as a circular shape, slightly convex and gram-negative. The bacteria were resistant to the antibiotics 20µg/ml Aztreonam.The DNA sequencing technique for analysis of the sequence of the nitrogenous bases of 16S rRNA gene with the global database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) showed that the isolated bacteria was at least 96.22% similar to the species Acinetobacter baumannii As a result, it was recorded for the first time as Acinetobacter sp. AZS1 strain in NCBI.

Effect of artificial light sources on the growth of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in plant factories

Artificial light sources in plant factories offer numerous advantages over traditional plant production. Optimal artificial lighting systems will provide sufficient light to promote plant growth. Thus, this study aimed to determine different artificial light sources on plant growth, especially on internode length, root length, potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Three artificial light sources were utilized in the plant factory: a fluorescent lamp (FL) typically used in plant factories and two light-emitting diodes (LED): bulb-LED and bar-LED lamps. Alternate periods of 12 h of light and dark were applied to the used factories. The results indicated that the lettuce grown under bulb-LED irradiation exhibited the lowest internode length and highest root length of green oak lettuce, regardless to light intensity and the higher photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) values of bulb-LED at the growing stage. K, Ca, and Mg contents in the lettuce shoot decreased in the order of K > Ca > Mg for all artificial light sources. The highest K, Ca, and Mg contents were 14.77±3.08, 4.77±0.92 and 108.14±9.36 mg/g dried weight (DW) obtained in lettuce grown under FL irradiation. Lower FL light intensity promotes nutrient deficiency, resulting in increased plant uptake. There was no significant difference in nutrient content between plants grown with bulb-LED and bar-LED. The K/Ca and K/Mg mole ratios were lowest in plants grown under FL irradiation. These findings suggest that FL can be used to control lettuce nutrient levels, whereas bulb-LED can be used to control lettuce growth.

Gonadotoxicity due to cypermethrin in Wistar albino rats and its effect on the growth and development of their progeny

Cypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic pyrethroid. It acts as an endocrine disruptor which negatively affects animal’s reproductive and developmental processes of progeny. So, The present study aimed to examine the toxicity of oral administration of CYP at three different doses (25mg, 50mg, and 75mg/kg) on the reproductive organs of albino rats and also on the growth and development of pups. For this study, animals were divided into four groups: Group I was the control group, and the remaining three were experimental groups that received CYP at a dose of 25mg (group II), 50mg (group III), and 75mg (group IV) per kg body weight (BW) of rat per day for 30 days. There are sixteen animals in each group- eight males and eight females. Histological studies of reproductive organs suggested that CYP exposure caused alteration in the structure of the ovary and testis tissue. In females, significant changes in the ovary, such as distorted follicles, loss of follicular stages, presence of antral follicles, damaged granulosa and theca cells, and blood vessel congestion, were observed, while in males, there were alterations in testes tissue damage in seminiferous tubules, reduced number of germinal cells, and reduction in the size of seminiferous tubules. A significant reduction was observed in the number, length, eyes opening, fur arrival time, and size of pups. Fertility was also recorded up to 80% in the 50 and 75mg CYP-treated female rats. The study suggested that CYP exposure caused gonadal toxicity in albino rats and affected the development of neonates.

Reliability of Nonlinear least square broken stick model in quantifying the effects of temperature and photoperiod on flowering of pigeonpea genotypes (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Temperature and photoperiod are two major environmental determinants that affect the flowering time. The information on the effect of temperature and photoperiod on flowering response in pigeonpea is limited and needs updating for new genotypes. The present study aimed to assess the reliability of the Nonlinear least square broken stick model to quantify photothermal effects in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) genotypes. Data at 50 % flowering (FL) from pot, field, and temperature-controlled glasshouse experiments under eight sowing dates were analysed using regression models to describe the individual effect of temperature and photoperiod and photothermal models to quantify the combined effect. The critical photoperiod (Pce)and optimum temperature (To)predicted by the Nonlinear broken stick model for 50 % FL ranged from 12.4 - 13.4 h and 21.0 - 23.5 °C, respectively. The higher Pce reported for extra-early flowering genotype (QPL 1001) indicates that their insensitiveness to a range of photoperiod regimes compared to QPL 941 and ICP 14425 (medium duration). Further, the results also revealed that the time to 50 % FL of genotype QPL 1001 was strongly sensitive to the temperature at sub-optimal range (T < To), with warmer temperatures accelerating reproductive development. In contrast, QPL941 and ICP 14425 were sensitive to supra-optimal temperature (T > To), with flowering being delayed in warmer temperatures. The parameters (To and Pce) derived from Nonlinear least square broken stick model can be used as a proxy to identify photoperiod insensitivity in pigeopea genotypes.

Isolation and molecular identification of polyphenol oxidase and associated enzyme production from Bacillus spp.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) causes browning in food by converting phenolics to quinone,  rendering unwanted organoleptic and nutritional changes. As a result, it represents a major problem in the food industry which must be addressed to reduce food waste and maximize food quality and shelf life despite PPOs importance in various industrial processes. The present study aimed to isolate Bacillus sp., evaluate their PPO production and related enzymes, and identify them through 16S rRNA sequencing. The selected strains isolated from soil were induced, and the cultures were grown OD600 of 1.0 (1x108 CFU) for evaluation. The study identified various types of Bacillus sp. as the source of PPO, tyrosinase and catecholase production. The data revealed that the strains Bacillus cereus, Bacillus albus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringenesis and Bacillus tropicus exhibited PPO, tyrosinase and catecholase enzyme production with a maximum of 104.2 IU/ml, 68.61 IU/ml and 61.59 IU/ml respectively. Enzyme activity differed between organisms and substrate activities, which must be standardized. Despite the importance of PPO and related enzymes to browning reactions and food processing, there has been limited progress in this area. Therefore, taking a different approach to provoke more concerns is probably necessary.

In vitro and in silico evaluation of antibacterial activities of different solvent extracts made from Sisymbrium irio L. seeds

Sisymbrium irio Linn is one of the underutilized plants, well-known for its traditional importance in Unani Medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of different polarity-based extracts made from seeds of S.irio (Indian variety).The antibacterial activity of 13 different solvent extracts of S.irio seeds was evaluated by the Agar well-diffusion method. Among 13 different solvent seed extracts, ethanolic extract inhibited the growth of all the three bacterial strains used in the study. Further GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract was done to reveal its phytochemical constituents.  Twenty-five different compounds were identified through GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract of S.irio seeds. Subsequently, for performing in silico antibacterial studies, the identified phytochemicals were first tested for their drug-likeability through Molinspiration software which yielded   four compounds. In silico virtual screening via Autodock Vina was done using four phytochemicals against DNA gyrase subunit B and Dihydrofolate reductase. Out of four phytochemical studied through in silico analysis, “Benzene-1,2-dicarboxylicacid, monoamide, N-(1-cyano-1-methylethyl)” was found to inhibit  DNA gyrase subunit B most effectively. The present study revealed that   Sisymbrium irio displayed potential antibacterial activity and can be used as a good source for designing potent antibacterial agents.

Evaluation of the agronomic performance of nerium genotypes (Nerium oleander L.) under the Eastern dry zone of Karnataka

Nerium oleander is a popular shrub because of its drought-tolerant capacity and least susceptibility to pests and diseases. Despite its widespread cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions, there has been a lack of information on the performance of different genotypes regarding growth and yield parameters. The present study aimed to assess the performance of ten different Nerium genotypes for growth and yield traits. Genotypes were procured from various nurseries in the suburbs of Bengaluru. The collection of genotypes was based on flower morphology, flower colour, the stature of plants, and leaf variegation. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used and 1.2 m × 1.2 m spacing was followed throughout January 2018 to April 2019. The observations were made every 60 days up to 300 DAP (Days After Planting), and there were notable variations in the growth and yield metrics of the genotypes. Five tagged plants in each replication were used to record all observations. Genotype BNC-1 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 1) recorded the highest value for plant height (107.33 cm), plant spread (1770.66 cm2), chlorophyll (1.16 mg/g) as well as yield of flower per plant and per hectare (1.85 kg and 12.73 t respectively) while genotype BNC-6 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 6) recorded the highest number of branches (45.00). The lowest flower yield per plant and hectare was observed in BNC-6 (0.32 kg and 2.26 t, respectively). In conclusion, genotype BNC-1 exhibits characteristics warranting its consideration for cultivation and inclusion in breeding programs aimed at varietal development.