Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of Nr, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.” The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited Nr availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. Móring et al. Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10–15%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20–25% improvement in NUE of India by 2030

Effect of inorganic phosphates on the activity of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase in sorghum caryopsis raised through liquid culture

1012-1016Detached ears of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) were cultured in complete liquid medium containing Pi or PPi (20mM).Effect of these inorganic phosphates on conversion of sucrose to starch in relation to the activity of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) was studied. Both Pi and PPi reduced the accumulation of biomass and starch in caryopsis and this reduction was more pronounced with advancement in culturing period. Amongst endogenous sugar of caryopsis, the relative proportion of sucrose increased with either of these phosphates. With elevation in endogenous levels of Pi and PPi in caryopsis, there was a corresponding decline in the activity of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase. Addition of these inorganic phosphates in culture medium also reduced the incorporation of 14C from (U-14C)-sucrose into EtOH extract (principally constituted by free sugars) and starch of caryopsis. Accompanying this reduction, there was an increase in 14C incorporation into sucrose. Based on these results, it has been suggested that in sorghum caryopsis an inhibition of the activity of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase results in lowering starch accumulation

Interconversion of free sugars in relation to activities of enzymes catalyzing synthesis and cleavage of sucrose in growing stem tissues of sorghum

1035-1040<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Free sugar interconversion and activities of soluble acidic (pH <span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">4.8) and neutral <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">(p<span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-style:="" italic"="">H <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">7.5) invertases, sucrose synthase (synthesis) and sucrose phosphate synthase were investigated in the growing nodes and internodes of sorghum <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(Sorghum vulgare) . The results were substantiated with incorporation of 14C from supplied sucrose and hexoses into endogenous sugars of these stem tissues. With the advancement in plant growth, the content of total free sugars in apical nodes and internodes increased till 70 DAS (flowering stage) followed by a decline. In the corresponding basal tissues, the sugar build-up continued even beyond this stage of pl ant growth. Compared with basal stem tissues, the apical ones contained high activities of soluble in vertases and a low proportion amongst free sugars of sucrose. The activities of sucrose-hydrolyzing enzymes were higher as compared with those of sucrose-synthesizing ones in both nodes and internodes and with the growth of plant, the activity of neutral invertase increased in these tissues. More <span style="font-size:12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">14C from supplied sucrose and hexoses appeared in extracted sugars from cut discs of apical nodes and internodes in comparison with their basal counterparts. 14C from supplied sucrose appeared in glucose, fructose and from supplied hexoses appeared in sucrose. The results suggest that in apical <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">nodes and in ternodes, where a rapid cell division and cell expansion occur, sucrose is obligatorily inverted to meet the increased requirement of hexoses and there is a compartmentalized synthesis and cleavage of sucrose in the nodes and internodes of growing sorghum plant. </span

Calcium-mediated conversion of sucrose to starch in relation to the activities of amylases and sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in sorghum grains raised through liquid culture

135-139Detached ears of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) were cultured in complete liquid medium containing Ca2+(0, 3,10 and 30 mM) and effect of this ion on the conversion of· sucrose to starch with respect to the activities of amylases, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and soluble invertases were studied in developing grains. Presence of 3 mM Ca2+ in culture medium enhanced both accumulation of starch and activity of α-amylase in grain but without having any influence on the activity of β-amylase. However, with 10 and 30 mM Ca2+, the accumulation of starch and activities of both amylases decreased and with advancement in culturing period, starch accumulation was further decreased. Irrespective of its concentration, Ca2+ enhanced the activities of sucrose synthase (synthesis), sucrose-phosphate synthase, soluble acid invertase and soluble-neutral invertase. Increase in the concentration of Ca2+ in culture medium was concomitant with an elevation in relative proportion of sucrose in the grain reflecting a net balance in per cent increase with Ca2+ in the activities of sucrose-synthesizing enzymes over sucrose-hydrolysing ones. Based on the results. it is suggested that assimilation of Ca2+ by grain is essential for maintaining high activity of α-amylase to generate starch primers required for the conversion or sucrose to starch during grain filling in sorghum

Partial Purification and Characterization of Cellulolytic Enzymes Extracted from Trichoderma reesei Inoculated Digested Biogas Slurry

Alternative sources of energy are the demand of the modern world. For generating different alternate fuels, utilization of lignocellulolytic biomass is on top of the priority list, for which cellulase enzymes are required specifically. In this context, the aim of the presented paper was the partial purification and characterization of cellulolytic enzymes from Trichoderma reesei inoculated digested biogas slurry. The enzyme was produced at previously standardized conditions (Incubation period: 15 day, Spore concentration: 108 spores/ml, Slurry concentration: 25%). The cellulolytic enzymes viz. CMCase, Cellobiase and FilterPaperase produced were then partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation (0-30 and 30-80%) and dialysis followed by ion exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose column. Twelve fold purification was achieved for cellobiase. Specific activity of 20.18 U/mg was measured. Two isoforms of Cellobaise (C-I and C-II) were found with 21 and 32 fold purification, respectively. Upon characterization, the optimal pH and optimal temperature values for cellobiase came out to be 7.5 and 55°C for C-I and 25°C for C-II. Carboxymethyl cellulase was partially purified up to 10.4 fold with specific activity of 1.87 U/mg of protein and Fpase was purified to 11.3 fold with 1.47 U/mg of protein specific activity. Partially purified enzyme activities were compared with that of commercial enzymes. This is a novel work where cellulases were extracted and partially purified from digested slurry from biogas plant, which is very significant with reference to not only disposal of digested biogas slurry but also its value addition for industrial applications

Relationship of Quality Parameters with Time during Storage of Turmeric

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of storage period and different packaging materials on the quality of turmeric rhizome and turmeric powder. Turmeric rhizomes were packed in gunny bag, plastic bag, cloth bag and PET jar; whereas turmeric powder was packed in high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), laminated aluminum foil and PET jars. Samples were stored at ambient and under refrigerated conditions and examined for change in moisture content, colour, curcumin and oleoresin content. Moisture content increased linearly with the storage period in both storage conditions in all the packaging materials for rhizomes as well as powder. The minimum colour change of powder was in aluminium foil pack and PET jars; whereas rhizomes colour change was most pronounced in gunny bags and PP. The curcumin and oleoresin content of rhizomes and powder decreased with increase in storage period, with minimum change in PET jars in both storage conditions. Turmeric rhizomes can be stored in PET jars and plastic bags till the next harvesting season, and turmeric powder can be stored in a laminated aluminum foil packs and PET jars at least up to a period of six months under refrigerated and for three months under ambient conditions without deterioration of qualit

Kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of partially purified cellobiase from <em>Humicola fuscoatra</em> MTCC 1409

163-172The study was undertaken with the objective to purify and characterize cellulases from thermophilic fungus Humicola fuscoatra in order to find out its potential to increase hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass especially paddy straw. Cellobiase, an important component of cellulase enzyme complex, was produced by solid-state fermentation on Mandel media under optimized conditions using rice straw as substrate and was partially purified by ammonium sulphate saturation followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Two isoforms of cellobiase, C-I and C-II, which were most kinetically efficient at their optimum pH of 6.0 and temperature of 50°C were identified after purification,. These isoforms were thermostable at a temperature range of 30–70°C. Co2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ activated whereas, EDTA and Hg2+ inhibited the activity of cellobiase. Na+, Mg2+, K+, and Fe2+ did not influence the activity of isoforms. The molecular weight of isoforms C-I & C-II was 48 and 44 kDa, respectively. Activation energy (Ea) values for C-I and C-II isoforms were 7.65 and 9.57 KJ/mol and corresponding enthalpy change (ΔH) values were 16.27 and 11.49 KJ/mol, respectively. Change in entropy (ΔS) values at 50°C for C-I and C-II were 0.098 KJ/K/mol and 0.085 KJ/K/mol, respectively. The pK values of ionizing groups in free enzyme and enzyme-substrate complex were between 4.3 and 6.8, indicating the possible precipitation of carboxyl groups of aspartate and glutamate and imidazolium group of histidine in the cellobiase catalyzed the hydrolysis of cellobiose by both isoforms

Application of thermosonication for guava juice processing: Impacts on bioactive, microbial, enzymatic and quality attributes

The present work explores different conditions of thermosonication (TS) processing that would ensure microbiological and enzymatic safety for guava juice while simultaneously maximizing the preservation of its quality attributes. The guava juice was subjected to TS treatment (frequency: 40 kHz; power: 200 W; Temperature: 40, 60, and 80 °C; Time: 2, 6 and 10 min) and was compared with fresh and pasteurized (90 °C/60 s) juice samples. The objectives of the research work were to determine the effect of thermosonication on the quality attributes such as total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, cloud value, color attributes, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid levels, enzymatic, microbiological, and sensory properties. The thermosonicated and pasteurized samples showed no significant (p > 0.05) changes in pH, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity. TS improved the cloud value and color attributes. Furthermore, TS enhanced total phenols (10 to17%), flavonoids (5 to 25%), antioxidant activity (10.45% to 14.55%) and retention of ascorbic acid (61.98–83.32%) relative to control. Thermosonicated sample at 80 °C/10 min gives the maximum inactivation of Pectin methyl esterase (PME), Peroxidase (POD) and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. While both thermosonication and pasteurization drastically decreased the microbial count to undetectable levels, only TS exhibited modest improvement in sensory qualities. The results demonstrated that TS can enhance the overall safety, quality, and commercial viability of guava juice as a practical substitute to pasteurization