Evaluation of leaf extract of Lantana camara aginast seed mycoflora - biopesticides approach

The Seed treatment with pant extract of Lantana camara does not have any adverse effect on the germinated of seeds even after the treatment for 30 minutes. The seed were treated with aqneous extract, alcoholic extract, and ethyl acetate extract of Lantana camara leavers for 5 minutes, 15 minutes and 30 minutes. It is evident that the treatment of ethyl acetate extract for 30 minutes inhibited the growth of dominant fungi like curvularia lunata A.flavus, A.niger and fusarium moniliforme. So the ethylacetate extract of leaves of Lantana camara can be utilised for the biological control of seeds borne fungi of soybean. So the seed treatment of plant extract will not cause any problem of pollution and the chemical of plant extracts are easily degraded in the soil, So the plant extract of Lantana camara can be used as biopesticide.&nbsp

Effect of nutrition on copper and zinc concentrations in human milk

Background: The gross composition of human milk is remarkably constant among women of varying nutritional status. Reliable information is now available on the content, and the principal factor affecting it, of most of the trace elements on human milk. However, for some of the trace elements, there is still a wide variation in reported values in the literature, which is due at least in part, to analytical difficulties. Hence this study was taken up to find out if maternal nutritional status influences the copper and zinc concentrations in colostrum of mother.Methods: Total of 100 mothers were enrolled in the study after obtaining prior informed consent. They were divided into 2 groups - group I had 50 malnourished mothers and group II had 50 well-nourished mothers. Sample digestion was attempted with different quantities of various acids. Analysis of digested colostrum was carried out for copper and zinc.Results: The mean levels of copper and zinc were slightly more among well-nourished than malnourished women. Values of copper were significantly higher in the colostrum of well-nourished as compared to that of the malnourished mothers.Conclusions: The parameters of weight, height weight/height ratio and hemoglobin varied significantly between the well-nourished and malnourished mothers. The difference in milk content of malnourished and well-nourished mothers is not significant for zinc. However, copper levels were significantly higher in well-nourished mothers

Expression of Tolerance to Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Relation to Biochemical Content of Chickpea Leaves

The pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is one of the most serious pest of chickpea and plant resistance is an important component for managing this pest. To develop cultivars with resistance to insects, it is important to understand the role of different components associated with resistance to insects. Therefore, in this study we characterized RIL’s (recombinant inbred lines) population for total phenol content leaves and organic acid profiles in the leaf exudates which are associated with tolerance to H. armigera. Chickpea leaves contained phenol and five major organic acids, which were identified as malic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and fumaric acid. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of the leaf exudates of 196 RIL’s exhibited amounts of all organic acids were negatively correlated with egg count, larval incidence and with pod damage. Total phenol levels were negatively associated with egg count, larval incidence and pod damage percentage

Development and characterization of physical modified pearl millet starch-based films

Pearl millet is an underutilized and drought-resistant crop that is mainly used for animal feed and fodder. Starch (70%) is the main constituent of the pearl millet grain; this starch may be a good substitute for major sources of starch such as corn, rice, potatoes, etc. Starch was isolated from pearl millet grains and modified with different physical treatments (heat-moisture (HMT), microwave (MT), and sonication treatment (ST)). The amylose content and swelling capacity of the starches decreased after HMT and MT, while the reverse was observed for ST. Transition temperatures (onset (To), peak of gelatinization (Tp), and conclusion (Tc)) of the starches ranged from 62.92–76.16◦C, 67.95–81.05◦C, and 73.78–84.50◦C, respectively. After modification (HMT, MT, and ST), an increase in the transition temperatures was observed. Peak-viscosity of the native starch was observed to be 995 mPa.s., which was higher than the starch modified with HMT and MT. Rheological characteristics (storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′)) of the native and modified starches differed from 1039 to 1730 Pa and 83 to 94 Pa; the largest value was found for starch treated with ST and HMT. SEM showed cracks and holes on granule surfaces after HMT as well as MT starch granules. Films were prepared using both native and modified starches. The modification of the starches with different treatments had a significant impact on the moisture, transmittance, and solubility of films. The findings of this study will provide a better understanding of the functional properties of pearl millet starch for its possible utilization in film formation

Unraveling the bioactive profile, antioxidant and DNA damage protection potential of rye (secale cereale) flour

Six different solvents were used as extraction medium (water, methanol, ethanol, acidified methanol, benzene and acetone) to check their phenolics extraction efficacy from flour of two rye cultivars. Rye extracts with different solvents were further analyzed for the estimation of phytochemicals and antioxidant properties. Different tests (TPC, TAC, DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, RPA and CTC) were performed to check the antioxidant properties and tannin contents in extracts. A bioactive profile of a rye cultivar indicated the presence of total phenolic compounds (0.08-2.62 mg GAE/g), total antioxidant capacity (0.9-6.8 mg AAE/g) and condensed tannin content (4.24-9.28 mg CE/100 g). HPLC was done to check phenolics in rye extract with the best solvent (water), which indicated the presence of Catechol (91.1-120.4 mg/100 g), resorcinol (52-70.3 mg/100 g), vanillin (1.3-5.5 mg/100 g), ferulic acid (1.4-1.5 mg/100 g), quercetin (4.6-4.67 mg/100 g) and benzoic acid (5.3 mg/100 g) in rye extracts. The presence of DNA damage protection potential in rye extracts indicates its medicinal importance. Rye flour could be utilized in the preparation of antioxidant-rich health-benefiting food products

NODAL CHARACTERS IN SOME CLERODENDRUM SPECIES VERBENACE

ABSTRACT The nodal structure in five species of Clerodendrum has been studied.The leaves are mostly opposite, whorled rarely alternate and exstipulate.The foliar nodes are uniformly unilacunar and one_ traced or rarely three traced in clerodendrum splendens node is unilacunar multitraced. It is remarkable to note that in C.serratum two smaller strands come out not only from an arc shaped strand but also from the axial stellar tissue at the level where an arc strand separates out later from the stellar tissue. The origin of axillary bud trace is either independent or in association with leaf trace. The sclaranchyma occurs as a mechanical tissue in the forms of medium sized distinct patches in C.serratum, where as smaller ones in C.inerme

Nanowire sensors and arrays for chemical/biomolecule detection

We report electrochemical growth of single nanowire based sensors using e-beam patterned electrolyte channels, potentially enabling the controlled fabrication of individually addressable high density arrays. The electrodeposition technique results in nanowires with controlled dimensions, positions, alignments, and chemical compositions. Using this technique, we have fabricated single palladium nanowires with diameters ranging between 75 nm and 300 nm and conducting polymer nanowires (polypyrrole and polyaniline) with diameters between 100 nm and 200 nm. Using these single nanowires, we have successfully demonstrated gas sensing with Pd nanowires and pH sensing with polypirrole nanowires