SYNTHESIS AND ESTIMATION OF TOTAL EXTRACELLULAR PROTEIN CONTENT IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS UNDER MILD STRESS CONDITION OF CERTAIN ANTIMICROBIALS

Objective: The present study was investigated to determine the impact of certain antimicrobials on a novel bacterial isolate for the estimation of totalextracellular protein.Methods: In this regard, isolation and molecular characterization of the isolate from poultry farm feces soil sample was done by serial dilution,followed by morphological characteristics and biochemical tests of pure isolated culture. Further, the identification of bacterium as Bacillus subtilisstrain KPA was confirmed by subjecting its amplicon (483 bp) to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and pairwise alignment through basic localalignment search tool. Different volumes of antimicrobial agents such as Allium sativum, ampicillin and mercuric chloride at their sub-minimalinhibitory concentration (MIC) values were added to the lag phase culture of strain KPA. Total extracellular protein estimation was done throughBradford test. Partially purified extracellular proteins were observed as spots through thin layer chromatography (TLC).Results: The total extracellular protein content in strain KPA was found to be enhanced after 48 hrs of incubation in presence of antimicrobials testedhere. Mercuric chloride was able to enhance total protein in the bacteria even after 24 hrs of incubation. Separation of partially purified extracellularproteins of treated samples by TLC was observed as different spots with different retention factor values, compared with non-treated or controlsample.Conclusion: The stress response is a metabolic program activated due to unfavorable conditions. Hence, B. subtilis strain KPA in the presence of sub-MIC of A. sativum, ampicillin and mercuric chloride could regulate bioactive proteins production.Keywords: Antimicrobials, Bacillus subtilis, Sub-minimal inhibitory concentration, Total protein, Thin layer chromatography

Evaluation of Gladiolus Cultivars in Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu

Gladiolus grandiflorus L. genotypes were evaluated for growth and floral parameters in Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, under Yercaud conditions. Significant differences were recorded for all traits studied. Among 42 genotypes evaluated, 'Pusa Shagun' and 'Pusa Swarnima' recorded quality spikes with higher vase life indicating their suitability for use in floral arrangement, while, genotypes like 'Thumbolina', 'Priscilla' and 'Candyman' were found superior in characters like corm number, corm weight and corm diameter. Taking into account various growth and floral characters of the genotypes studied, Pusa Swarnima, Pusa Shagun, Thumbolina, Priscilla and Candyman can be recommended for cut-flower production in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu

Evaluation of Commercial Cultivars of Cut Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus Ex Hooker F.) under Polyhouse in Shevaroy Condition of Eastern Ghats

An investigation was carried out to evaluate performance of 36 cultivars of cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesoniiBolus ex Hooker F.) in a polyhouse at Horticultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yercaud, during 2008-2010. Significant differences were observed for all the characters studied. Maximum plant-spread (78.02cm) was observed in cv. Robusta. Higher number of leaves was recorded in cv. White Tibet (41.54). Maximum Leaf length and leaf width was recorded in cvs. Golden Gate and Yanara. Maximum number of suckers produced was recorded in cv. Junkfru (7.60). Maximum stalk length was observed in cv. White Tibet (62.62cm), while flower diameter, cut flower production and vase-life were higher in cv. Rosalin. Correlation and path coefficient analysis showed that plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of suckers per plant were the important components of cut-flower yield in gerbera. It may be concluded that cultivars Rosalin, White Tibet, Junkfru and Golden Gate were found to be the best for floral quality and yield, and are recommended for cut-flower production under Shevaroy condition of Eastern Ghats

Performance of Orchid Species in Shevaroy Hills of Eastern Ghats

Performance of 24 orchid species was assessed in the net-house of Horticultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yercaud. Among the species studied, plant height was significantly high (105cm) in Spathoglotts plicata. At the end of the vegetative stage, number of leaves was maximum (30) in Aerides. Leaf was longest (49.8cm) and widest (17.6cm) in Rhyncostylis retusa. Paphiopedilum insigne produced largest flower size (14.4cm across). Pedicel length was highest in Phaius tankervillae (10.3cm) and Renanthera inshootiana (7.1cm). Aerides multiflorum recorded lowest pedicel length (1.24cm). Epidendrum radicans and Spathoglottis plicata produced flowers round the year. Lucia virides recorded maximum life (29 days) on plant, followed by Arachnanthe clarkei (18 days), Dendrobium densiflorum (18 days) and Oncidium flexosum (16 days), while, minimum (6 days) was observed in two orchid species, Aerides crispum and Cattleya sp. Maximum (23 days) vase life was recorded in Lucia virides. Results of the investigation thus reveal that among the 24 orchid species studied, Epidendrum radicans, Lucia virides and Paphiopediluminsigne performed better in terms of vegetative and floral characters under Shevaroy hill condition

Negative Ion Positive Ion Coincidence Yields of Core Excited Water

We report yields of mass-resolved negative ions and positive ions measured in coincidence after core-excitation of water molecules. The analysis of negative-ion/positive-ion and negative-ion/positive-ion/positive-ion coincidence events provides new information on pathways leading to negative ion production, enhancing the present understanding of the dissociation processes of the water molecule. Dissociation following (resonant) Auger decay dominates negative ion production, but radiative decay is shown to contribute above the O 1s ionization threshold. A peak in the H-/O+ yield above the O 1s threshold is attributed to decay from doubly excited states

Evaluation of Cut-Foliage Plants for Eastern Ghats

A maiden attempt was made at Horticultural Research Station (HRS), a constituent research unit of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, located at Yercaud, Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India during 2012-2013 to assess the suitability of various ornamental foliage plant species under Shevroys /Eastern Ghats conditions. Considerable variation was found in quantitative and qualitative parameters among the foliage species. The study recommends Nephrolepis cordifolia and Asparagus sprengeri as suitable liners, while, large-leaved species like Cordyline fruticosa and Philodendron xanadu as background materials in larger arrangements, and the smaller-leaved Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia for smaller arrangements

Influence of Potting Media on Growth of Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii'

A study was conducted on the influence of growth media on development of Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' at Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud during the years 2011-12. The pot experiment was laid out under open condition, with nine set of treatments comprising various combinations of soil, sand, FYM, vermicompost and microbial consortia (Azospirillum, phosphobacteria and Pseudomonas fluorescens). From among the media combinations used, the treatment involving Soil + Sand + FYM + Vermicompost (T3) @ 2:1:1:0.5 (670g+375g+375g+165g) was found to be the best substrate for vegetative and root characters like plant height, shoot number, leaflet number, leaflet length, leaflet width, root number, root length, bulb number, bulb length, bulb width and vase-life in Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii'

Sulphur fertilization on biochemical constituents of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata. L) in non-calcareous soil of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu

Sulphur is the fourth most important plant nutrient after nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and it is becoming increasingly crucial in high-quality crop production (Bhoyar., 2019). Since limited work has been carried out regarding different sulphur sources on cabbage production in the Coimbatore district, the present study was undertaken to investigate the sulphur sources and levels on various biochemical constituents of cabbage. Hence a  field experiment was conducted in the farmer’s field at Viraliyur village, Thondamuthur block of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu to assess the effect of sulphur fertilization on improving the biochemical constituents of cabbage hybrid Saint. There were four different S sources (Elemental sulphur, Potassium sulphate, Gypsum, Single super phosphate) applied at five levels (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha-1) and replicated thrice in a factorial randomized block design. The crop was fertilized with a  Soil Test Crop Response-prescribed dose of NPK (200:125:25 kg ha-1). The crop was harvested on 90th day and cabbage heads were analysed for various biochemical constituents like ascorbic acid, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), chlorophyll content, glucosinolates (GLs), total phenol content (TPC), sulphur containing amino acid (methionine) and antioxidant enzyme activity (peroxidase). The influence of S fertilizers on biochemical constituents increased significantly with increasing levels of sulphur fertilization up to 80 kg S ha-1 excluding ascorbic acid content. The pooled data showed that gypsum applied at 80 kg ha-1 registered the maximum GLs (69.0 µmol g-1), TPC (31.9 mM 100g-1), methionine (32.3%), peroxidase activity (0.70 units min-1mg-1), TSS (7.64 0Brix), TA (0.64%), ascorbic acid (61.4 mg 100g-1) and total chlorophyll (1.21 mg g-1) in cabbage head. The lowest content of biochemical constituents viz., GLs (34.1 µmol g-1), TPC (8.10 mM 100g-1), methionine (17.6%) and peroxidase (0.31 units min-1mg-1) were observed in control applied NPK alone. There were positive and significant changes in the biochemical constituents of cabbage due to S application which confirms the improvement in the quality of cabbage head. The study concluded that gypsum was  the better sulphur source for improving the quality of cabbage

Valence electronic structure and photofragmentation of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CF3-CH2F)

The electronic structure and fragmentation of the hydrofluorocarbon compound 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CF3-CH2F) were studied using spectroscopical methods and quantum chemical calculations. Valence photoelectron spectra and the ionic fragmentation products were recorded with synchrotron radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region. The geometric and electronic structures of the CF3-CH2F molecule were calculated using the complete active space perturbation theory of second order. The calculated vertical ionization energies were used to interpret the experimental photoelectron spectrum. VUV photodissociation of the sample molecule was studied with photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy. Coincident ion yields are shown for several cations as a function of electron binding energy. The experimental data are discussed in comparison with theory and previous work