Phylogeny in defining model plants for lignocellulosic ethanol production: a comparative study of Brachypodium distachyon, wheat, maize, and Miscanthus x giganteus leaf and stem biomass

The production of ethanol from pretreated plant biomass during fermentation is a strategy to mitigate climate change by substituting fossil fuels. However, biomass conversion is mainly limited by the recalcitrant nature of the plant cell wall. To overcome recalcitrance, the optimization of the plant cell wall for subsequent processing is a promising approach. Based on their phylogenetic proximity to existing and emerging energy crops, model plants have been proposed to study bioenergy-related cell wall biochemistry. One example is Brachypodium distachyon, which has been considered as a general model plant for cell wall analysis in grasses. To test whether relative phylogenetic proximity would be sufficient to qualify as a model plant not only for cell wall composition but also for the complete process leading to bioethanol production, we compared the processing of leaf and stem biomass from the C3 grasses B. distachyon and Triticum aestivum (wheat) with the C4 grasses Zea mays (maize) and Miscanthus x giganteus, a perennial energy crop. Lambda scanning with a confocal laser-scanning microscope allowed a rapid qualitative analysis of biomass saccharification. A maximum of 108-117 mg ethanol·g(-1) dry biomass was yielded from thermo-chemically and enzymatically pretreated stem biomass of the tested plant species. Principal component analysis revealed that a relatively strong correlation between similarities in lignocellulosic ethanol production and phylogenetic relation was only given for stem and leaf biomass of the two tested C4 grasses. Our results suggest that suitability of B. distachyon as a model plant for biomass conversion of energy crops has to be specifically tested based on applied processing parameters and biomass tissue type

On the fishery of the Indian white prawn Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards along the Tinnevelly coast, Tamil Nadu

The fishery is seasonal, June-July to October-November. The total landings of prawns toy mechanised vessels in l'97i8 was estimated at 539 it, of which nearly 63.4% wis large^sized P. indicus. The species occurs 'in the adjacent waters of Purrjaiikkayal also, as a lXMiiKMhe-year fishery of lesser magnitude. The modal sizes of P. indicus from the Manappad fishing grounds Hanged from T51-155 mm to 171-175 mini for mates and l'Sl-lSS mm to .l'9fr-2O0 mm for females. Stages, of maturity 'indicated intense spawning activities' iui this fishing ground. The fishing season coincides with the south-west monsoon, when 'theme is a seasonal fishery, exclusively constituted by large sizes of the same species, sin the adjacent waters of the Kjnyakumaci District on the southwest coast. A oamparatilve study of thei various features of the fishery of P. indicus lib these two areas indicates the possibility of meoruitmeinit of the species to the iMIanappad fishery from the stock off Kianyakumao, -which, in turn, its probably reoruuted from the Kerala coast at the time of intense physico-chemical changes in the marine environment, brought about by the south-west monsoon

Appraisal of Marine Fisheries of Kerala

Kerala ranks first in marine fish production of India forming nearly 25% (avg. 5.75 lakh tonnes) of the total annual production. The annual export of marine products from the state yields to the nation a foreign exchange of Rs. 1100 crores. There has been spectacular growth in the marine fisheries sector of the state due to fisheries friendly government policies, well developed harvest and post harvest infrastructure and increased demand for sea food both in the domestic and export markets. Kerala has been in the forefront in absorbing innovative and new technologies in fishing practices, which has led marine fisheries to take a complex structure

Not Available

Not AvailableThe fishery is seasonal, June-July to October-November. The total landings of prawns toy mechanised vessels in l'97i8 was estimated at 539 it, of which nearly 63.4% wis large^sized P. indicus. The species occurs 'in the adjacent waters of Purrjaiikkayal also, as a lXMiiKMhe-year fishery of lesser magnitude. The modal sizes of P. indicus from the Manappad fishing grounds Hanged from T51-155 mm to 171-175 mini for mates and l'Sl-lSS mm to .l'9fr-2O0 mm for females. Stages, of maturity 'indicated intense spawning activities' iui this fishing ground. The fishing season coincides with the south-west monsoon, when 'theme is a seasonal fishery, exclusively constituted by large sizes of the same species, sin the adjacent waters of the Kjnyakumaci District on the southwest coast. A oamparatilve study of thei various features of the fishery of P. indicus lib these two areas indicates the possibility of meoruitmeinit of the species to the iMIanappad fishery from the stock off Kianyakumao, -which, in turn, its probably reoruuted from the Kerala coast at the time of intense physico-chemical changes in the marine environment, brought about by the south-west monsoon.Not Availabl