Water quality improvement of Penaeus monodon culture pond for higher productivity through biomediation

Intensive culturing of Penaeus monodon generates considerable amount of wastes leading to the deterioration of water quality, disease outbreaks and lower yields. Recently, the application of biocontrol agents were started in ponds in order to improve yield through bioremediation. Analytical investigation of a biocontrol product (PROFS), an extensively used product of Biostadt India Ltd. was performed to determine its accuracy and applicability. It was found that four different types of Bacillus species (69×10 9 cfu/g) were present in the product. Amylase, phytase and protease activities in the product were 3.078, 4.584 and 84.154 U/g, respectively. The biocontrol treatment was applied in the ponds five times during the cultivation (120 days) of P. monodon at a dose of 1 kg/ha. The amount of total ammonia, nitrate and nitrite of the treated ponds varied from 0.418 ± 0.039 to 0.079 ± 0.028 ppm, 0.029 ± 0.008 to 0.014 ± 0.004 ppm and 0.0127 ± 0.0008 to 0.0098 ± 0.00007 ppm, respectively, which were significantly lower than the values measured for untreated ponds. The product showed antimicrobial activity against Vibrio harveyi MTCC 7954 (inhibition zone: 4.89 mm) and Vibrio vulnificus MTCC 1145 (6.41 mm). Average body weight of shrimps in treated ponds was 33 ± 2.42 g, which was 39.5% higher than the values measured from control ponds. The Vibrio count was negligible (0.12×10 5 cfu/ml) and the survival rate was 93% in treated ponds

A new strategy for improvement of tamarind seed based chicken diet after microbial detannification and assessment of its safety aspects

Tamarind seed, an abundant agricultural waste, contains a large amount of naturally occurring anti-nutrient, tannin. This study aimed at evaluating the detannification efficiency of tannase producing Bacillus subtilis PAB2 in comparison with enzymatic and conventional physical techniques, and assessment of its health promoting effect in chicken model. Microbial fermentation resulted in lowering of 80.8% tannin, whereas enzymatic and physical treatment removed only 48 and 28.6%, respectively. To assess the health beneficial effects, experimental schedule for poultry chicken model was designed viz., (T1) commercial food, (T2) T1+tamarind seeds, (T3) T1+enzymatic detannified seeds and (T4) T1+ fermented seeds. It was found that physiological indices of chicken in T4 group improved more than T2, but those were comparable with T1 and T3. The level of total plasma protein, albumin and other haematological parameters also significantly (P<0.05) improved in T4 more than T2. The quantities of small intestinal indicator microbes like Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Yeast sp. in T4 group increased more than T2. Thus, fermentation led to quality improvement of raw tamarind seed which suggested its employment as an alternative feedstock for poultry chicken

Probiotic-based cultivation of Clarias batrachus : importance and future perspective

Clarias batrachus (Linn.) is widely recognized in Indian sub-continent for its nutritional and economic significance. At present, it remains at a merely vulnerable state. Pathogenic infections, diminution of natural habitats and introduction of allied exotic fishes are the causes of productivity constraint, particularly in Southern Asia. Conversely, African cat fish Clarias gariepinus has been significantly identified as a potential threat to biodiversity, despite being its large scale cultivation across the world. Thus emphasis on indigenous C. batrachus farming is becoming inevitable. Currently, screening of autochthonous probiotic organisms for the cultivation of C. batrachus in semi-intensive manner is getting importance. At the same time, molecular omics-based technologies are also gaining considerable attention to identify potential probiotic markers. This review provides an overall concept of probiotics, its application and future perspectives in relation to the cultivation of C. batrachus

Thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of an a-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis SKB4

An amylolytic bacterial strain, Bacillus licheniformis SKB4 produced maximum amylase at pH 6.5 at 42 °C, and at late stationary phase (24 h) of growth. Starch and peptone were found the best supporting carbon and nitrogen source with C:N ratio of 1:2 for amylase production. The purified enzyme was non-responsive to most of the metal ions except K+ and Mg++ (1.0 mM). The enzyme was stable and active at pH 6.5. The enzyme showed optimum temperature at 90 °C with 10 min of half life (t½) at 100 °C. The Q10 of the enzyme was 1.0. The thermodynamic principles like activation energy, free energy for substrate binding and transition state of the enzyme were found 31.53, 5.53 and -17.4 KJ/Mol of starch, respectively. The kinetic constant like Vmax, Km, K catand catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km)for starch were found to be 1.04 μmol mg-1 min-1, 6.2 mg ml-1,2 × 103 S-1 and 3.22 × 102 ml mg-1 S-1,respectively. All these findings suggested that this amylase has unique characteristics for starch hydrolysis in respect to thermostability and kinetic properties

Study of indigenous freshwater fish diversity of Bankura (West Bengal), India with special reference to Clarias batrachus

A study was conducted to determine the ichthyofaunal diversity in Bankura district of West Bengal. The area is traversed by major and minor rivers, feeder channels, numerous ponds, bills, reservoirs which have made this drought-trodden district as the highest producer of aquatic products within the state. Field survey was conducted in randomly selected local markets covering twenty-two blocks of Bankura. Fish sampling was carried out using various conventional fishing gears. The entire region harbours a wide variety of aquatic fishes. A total number of 92 indigenous fish species belonging to 30 families were identified during this study. The Cyprinidae family dominated the population with its 36 varieties followed by Channidae, Siluridae and Bagridae. Sonamukhi block situated in Shali basin; Sarenga and Raipur of Kangsabati basin; Dwarkeshwar and seven bundhs- enriched Bishnupur were the major habitats of small indigenous fishes. This paper also denotes presence of 12 globally endemic freshwater fish species viz. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo nandina, Tor khudree, Chitala chitala, Bagarius bagarius, Wallago attu, Ompok pabda, Ailia coila, Anguilla bengalensis, Parambassis lala, Oreochromis mossambicus. The substitution of native Clarias batrachus with invasive African catfish C. gariepinus was observed in various local markets. Some traders even promote illicit farming of this banned species for their own profit. As a consequence, the indigenous, nutritionally-enriched C. batrachus is becoming more endangered

Parametric optimalization of submerged fermantation conditions for xylanase production Bacillus cereus BSA1 through Taguchi Methodology

Extracellular xylanase production of Bacillus cereus BSA1 was optimized under submerged fermentation using Taguchi orthogonal array (OA). An L18 layout of OA was constructed at three-levels of six factors, i.e. temperature, pH, and xylan, Na2HPO4, NH4NO3 and NaCl concentrations, influencing the xylanase synthesis. The enzyme production was studied in 18 parallel batch systems using different levels of each factor. The results were processed with Qualitek-4 software using ‘bigger is better’ quality character, and combination of 35 oC; pH 6.0; and xylan 0.5; NH4NO3 0.5, Na2HPO4, 0.1; NaCl 0.05 concentrations (in w/v %) with a predictive xylanase production of 7.404 U/ml was obtained. Fermentation experiment was performed for further validating the statistical output, and it resulted 10.24% in the xylanase yield (from 6.44 U/ml to 7.10 U/ml) as compared to one variable at a time (OVAT) design. Interaction effects of the factors individually and in combination can be evaluated by using Taguchi method design of experiment

Ethnic Preparation of Haria, a Rice-Based Fermented Beverage, in the Province of Lateritic West Bengal, India

Haria is a rice-based fermented beverage that is popular among tribal and low income people in lateritic West Bengal and East-Central India. The principal ingredient of this beverage is low grade boiled rice (Oryza sativa L.), which is mixed with a traditional starter, called bakhar, and fermented within a heat-sterilized earthen pot for 3-4 days. The main aim of this study was to investigate the ethnobotanical importance and traditional process of haria preparation. The method adopted for this study was based on interactive questionnaires and laboratory experiments. It was found that the pH decreased during the course of fermentation with increased titratable acidity of 1.42%. The alcohol content was 2-3% (v/v) in the consumable beverages. This documentation will be useful for further exploitation of haria as a health drink

Effect of a three-component bacterial consortium in white shrimp farming for growth, survival and water quality management

The effect of a bacterial consortium containing Rhodopseudomonas palustris SUP-2, Bacillus subtilis SUP-3, and Bacillusfirmus SUP-1 strains for white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming were investigated. Shrimp growth, water quality, survival rate and enzymatic activities were followed at different stages of farming. Consortium developed using equal proportion of each bacterium was added to shrimp ponds at different concentrations. Dosages were adjusted in three different stages, first 40 days (10 l/ha), second 40 days (15 l/ha) and then continued up to harvest (20 l/ha). Consortium was used in the experiment ponds and no consortium was used in the control ponds. The mean survival rates were significantly lower, 65.1 ± 1.4% and 67.8 ± 2.2% in control ponds BPC-1 and BPC-2 (P˂0.001), respectively. The statistical analysis showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the weight of the animals between the treatment (34.98 ± 0.1 in BTP 1 and 35.26 ± 0.1 g in BTP 2) and control (29.23 ± 0.1 in BCP 1 and 30.41 ± 0.1 in BCP 2) groups

Diversity and distribution of wild mushrooms in different forest areas of Bankura district, WB, India

Mushrooms are macroscopic fruit bodies of fungi; one of the most diverse groups of living organisms distributed all over the world. In recent past, they have gained significant scientific attention for their profound nutraceutical potentiality. The objective of the present study was to explore the diversity and ecological distribution of mushrooms in different forest areas of Bankura district. The study area includes intermittent dense forest and flood plains from middle-east to eastern part of Bankura district. However, this area received very little attention from a conservation perspective, and there is no such documentation on mushrooms of this area. The survey was conducted from August 2019 to October 2020 including vivid field surveys in the forest depots. The study has revealed a total of 53 identified mushroom species belonging to 40 genera and 30 families. The study has also identified 25 edible, 18 inedible and 15 medicinally potential mushrooms. The genus Russula and the family Russulaceae dominates the myco-population. The finding shows that this region is rich in macrofungal diversity complicatedly linked to the functioning of the local ecosystem. The present study opens new possibilities regarding the exploration and utilization of wild mushrooms in India