Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma viride on growth performance of Salvia officinalis Linn.

Salvia officinalis (Sage) is a popular kitchen herb, member of mint (Lamiaceae) family has been cultivated for its wide range of medicinal values. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are beneficial symbionts for plant growth and development and offer a viable replacement of high input agricultural technology employed for production of environmentally hazardous fertilizers. Therefore, the present study was focused to analyze the effect of two AM fungi (Acalospora laevis and Glomus mosseae) along with Trichoderma viride, alone and in combination, on different growth parameters of S.officinalis in a green house pot experiment with sterilized soil. AM inoculum and T.viride showed significant increase of different growth parameters after 45 and 90 days of inoculation. Among all treatments, dual combination of A.laevis plus T.viride was most effective in increasing shoot length, leaf area, root length, root weight, AM spore number and percent root colonization. Moreover, maximum increase in shoot biomass was found in plant treated with T.viride

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF EMBELIA RIBES AND CAMELLIA SINENSIS: COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THEIR ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY

Objective: The present research work deals with the establishment of a standardization parameter for the Pharmacognositical evaluation of the plant Embelia Ribes and Camellia sinensis. Embelia Ribes is widely using in parasitic intestinal infection, however; Camellia sinensis is mainly used in the beverage preparation, for their Antioxidant activity but their anthelmintic effect is unknown. The present study aims to find out the effect of Camellia sinensis against pheritima Posthuma and compare their anthelmintic effect with Embelia Ribes. Methods: The study has been performed under the different parameters 1). The physicochemical parameter includes total Ash value, acid insoluble ash value, water-soluble ash value, moisture content, and foreign organic matter 2). The phytochemical investigation includes the Extraction of Embelia Ribes and Camellia sinensis in different solvents in the increasing order of their polarity with Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, distilled respectively and showed the presence of Alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds. 3) The pharmacological studies include the In vitro anthelmintic effect of Embellia Ribes and Camellia sinensis (ethanolic extract) against Pheritima Posthuma. The paralysis time and death time were studied. Results: Shows the physic-chemical parameters such as total Ash value, acid insoluble ash value, water-soluble ash value, moisture content and foreign organic matter, which was determined to be not more than 8.98%, 1.5%, 7.8%, 3.2% and 0.25% in Embelia ribes as well as 7.78%, 1.6%, 8%, 2.2% and 0.21% in Camellia sinensis. Anthelemintic effect of Embellia ribes and Camellia sinensis (ethanolic extract) were investigated by measuring the paralysis time (75+3.76, 60+4.30, 48+4.40 and 73.32+3.80, 53.34+2.50, 38.55+3.45 respectively) and death time (140+2.82, 135+9.95, 97.55+4.25 and 124.85+5.30, 110.82+5.80, 80.30+2.80) at three different concentration 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, against Pheritima posthuma and compares with the standard drug (Albendazole). Conclusion: Camellia sinensis (ethanolic extract) extract and affords protection against helminthes (Pheritima Posthuma) and results show that Camellia sinensis is as effective as embellia ribes

Response of Strawberry plant (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma viride

The present paper represents the positive role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as biofertilizers in strawberry. Experiments were carried out to assess the effectiveness of Trichoderma viride and AM fungi (Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis) alone or in combination, on the growth and biomass production of strawberry. After 120 days, dual inoculation of A. laevis + T. viride showed maximum increase in plant height (30.5±0.3), fresh shoot weight (10.16±0.20), dry shoot weight (2.82±0.02), fresh root weight (6.70±0.10), total chlorophyll (0.841±0.05) and phosphorus content in root (1.13±0.02) as compared to control. However root colonization and AM spore number were maximum in G. mosseae + A. lavies (90.76±1.32) and in G. mosseae (211.16±2.56) respectively as compared to uninoculated plants. Triple inoculation of G. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride (12.33± 057) was effective in increasing the leaf area

Pregnancy outcome after antepartum diagnosis of oligohydramnios at or beyond thirty seven completed weeks in rural India

Background: Amniotic fluid volume abnormalities may reflect a problem with fluid production or its circulation, such as underlying fetal or placental pathology. These volume extremes may be associated with increased risks for adverse pregnancy outcome. Some studies show that amniotic fluid index is a poor predictor of adverse outcome and some authors have not confirmed the association of adverse perinatal outcome with oligo-hydramnios. Thus this study is conducted to find out the value of oligohydramnios in perinatal outcome and maternal outcome in pregnancies beyond 37 completed weeks.Methods: This study was done at department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NIMS hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, from January 2013 to January 2015 for a period of 24 months. Our analysis included a total of 200 antenatal women; both booked and unbooked were included in this study. In this study 100 women with AFI <5 cm were allotted into the study group and another 100 women with normal AFI were included into the control group. Labour was either spontaneous or induced in both study and control group . During labour intermittent auscultation of fetal heart rate was done to detect any signs of fetal distress. Artificial rupture of membranes was done in active phase of labour to notice the grade of liquor and progress of labour was monitored on a partogram. Mode of delivery and intrapartum complications were noted. At birth neonate was assessed using 5 minute APGAR score , birth weight was recorded and neonate who were admitted into NICU were followed until discharge.Results: Oligohydramnios i.e., AFI <5 cm measured by ultrasonography in term pregnancies is associated with adverse perinatal outcome. The risks of meconium staining of liquor, intrapartum fetal distress,operative delivery and perinatal mortality are significantly higher in patients with AFI <5 cm , compared to those with normal AFI.Conclusions: Determination of AFI can be used as an adjunct to other fetal surveillance methods. It helps to identify those infants at risk of poor perinatal outcome. Determination of AFI is a valuable screening test for predicting fetal distress in labour requiring cesarean section

SUGARCANE BAGASSE: A NOVEL SUBSTRATE FOR MASS MULTIPLICATION OF FUNNELIFORMIS MOSSEAE WITH ONION AS HOST

A pot experiment was conducted to test the influence of sugarcane bagasse (fibrous waste left over by recovery of sugarcane juice) as a substrate for the inoculum production of Funneliformis mosseae which was recorded in terms of root colonization, spore number and colonization pattern. Their effect on growth performance of onion was also recorded in terms of increase in plant height, above ground fresh and dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight. The experiment is a 3×4 factorial design employing three forms of bagasse (fresh, dry and compost) and their four different concentrations (without substrate, 25 g/pot, 50 g/pot and 100 g/pot). The results showed that the positive influence of compost bagasse, which promoted higher root colonization and sporulation, followed by dry and fresh bagasse. Maximum spores, vesicles, arbuscules and 100 per cent colonized roots were detected in plants supplemented with 25 g compost bagasse. This treatment also influences significant increase in plant growth. Although, increasing substrate concentration proved stimulatory to AM fungus as well as onion plant growth but highest concentration (100 g) proved inhibitory. Hence, compost bagasse can be exploited for the multiplication of F. mosseae by farmers as it is a cost effective method of production

Impact of endomycorrhizal fungi and other bioinoculants on growth enhancement of Glycine max (L.) Merrill

In the present investigation, the contributions of two indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis), along with Trichoderma viride and Bradyrhizobium japonicum on growth parameters of Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill were investigated. The results obtained indicated the dependence of soybean on mycorrhizal symbiosis. The different growth parameters increased significantly after 120 days of inoculation in comparison to control. Among all the growth parameters studied, plant height (162±3.34), fresh shoot weight (31.26±1.45), dry shoot weight (3.52±0.05), fresh root weight (4.07±0.56), dry root weight (1.03±0.03), root length (49.0±4.47) and leaf area (32.58±1.70) were highest in the combination of G. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride + B. japonicum but arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spore number (95.2±3.19) and percent mycorrhizal root colonization (93.26±3.96) were maximum in single inoculation of G. mosseae. Second most effective results were observed in the plants treated with G. mosseae alone. Thus the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other bioinoculants in rhizosphere of soybean had positive effect on the different growth parameters

Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in global sustainable development

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a highly evolved mutually beneficial relationship that exists between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and most of the vascular plants. The majority of the terrestrial plants form association with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This symbiosis confers benefits directly to the host plant’s growth and development through the acquisition of Phosphorus (P) and other mineral nutrients from the soil by the AMF. In addition, their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. They may also enhance the protection of plants against pathogens and increases the plant diversity. This is achieved by the growth of AMF mycelium within the host root (intra radical) and out into the soil (extra radical) beyond. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal benefits and their role in sustainable development

Legal Framework for Implementation of Trans-fat Regulations in India

Background: The widespread consumption of trans-fats across the world represents a worrying scenario, as it is directly responsible for coronary heart disease and related mortality. Recognizing its dangers, the WHO has set an agenda to eliminate trans-fats by 2023. In India, the Food Safety And Standards Authority ensures safe and wholesome food consumption. In light of the WHO’s standards for the elimination of trans-fats, the FSSAI recently notified limits of trans-fatty acids to not more than 3% in all fats and oils by January 2021 and 2% by January 2022, as well as a limitation on all food products in which edible oils and fats are ingredients to not contain trans-fatty acids of more than 2% mass of total oils/fats in the product by January 2022. Objective: Given the need to eliminate the consumption of trans-fats, it is necessary to assess the implementation of trans-fat regulations in India in order to determine the current status of enforcement and suggest measures for improvement. Methods: Empirical research was conducted through a questionnaire to analyze India’s current status and difficulties in enforcing trans-fat regulations. Results: Although all states have included compliance of trans-fat regulation in the agenda of the State Surveillance Plan but are facing some implementation challenges such as lack of lab infrastructure, lack of trained manpower, unsupportive FBOs, insufficient budget, lack of testing kits, and excluding proprietary food from compliance with trans-fat regulations. Further, all states have felt the need to develop a guideline/manual to facilitate enforcement of the trans-fat regulations. In light of this, the article has critically analyzed the Legal framework for implementing Trans-fat Regulations in India to identify specific implementation challenges due to scattered regulations and recommend suggestive measures for developing the guidelines/manual to facilitate effective implementation of the said regulation

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and alleviation of salinity stress

Several environmental factors adversely affect plant growth and development and final yield performance of a crop. Drought, salinity, nutrient imbalances (including mineral toxicities and deficiencies) and extremes of temperature are among the major environmental constraints to crop productivity worldwide. Development of crop plants with stress tolerance, however, requires, among others, knowledge of the physiological mechanisms and genetic controls of the contributing traits at different plant developmental stages. In the past two decades,biotechnology research has provided considerable insights into the mechanism of biotic stress tolerance in plants at the molecular level. Furthermore, different abiotic stress factors may provoke osmotic stress, oxidative stress and protein denaturation in plants, which lead to similar cellular adaptive responses such as accumulation of compatible solutes, induction of stress proteins, and acceleration of reactive oxygen species scavenging systems. Recently, various methods are adapted to improve plant tolerance to salinity injury through either chemical treatments (plant hormones, minerals, amino acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyamines and vitamins) or biofertilizers treatments (Asymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria) or enhanced a process used naturally by plants (mycorrhiza) to minimise the movement of Na+ to the shoot. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of salt tolerance. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal symbiosis and alleviation of salinity stress