Treatment of opium alkaloid containing wastewater in sequencing batch reactor (SBR)-Effect of gamma irradiation

Aerobic biological treatment of opium alkaloid containing wastewater as well as the effect of gamma irradiation as pre-treatment was investigated. Biodegradability of raw wastewater was assessed in aerobic batch reactors and was found highly biodegradable (83-90% degradation). The effect of irradiation (40 and 140 kGy) on biodegradability was also evaluated in terms of BOD5/COD values and results revealed that irradiation imparted no further enhancement in the biodegradability. Despite the highly biodegradable nature of wastewater, further experiments in sequencing batch reactors (SBR) revealed that the treatment operation was not possible due to sludge settleability problem observed beyond an influent COD value of 2000 mg dm(-3). Possible reasons for this problem were investigated, and the high molecular weight, large size and aromatic structure of the organic pollutants present in wastewater was thought to contribute to poor settleability. Initial efforts to solve this problem by modifying the operational conditions, such as SRT reduction, failed. However, further operational modifications including addition of phosphate buffer cured the settleability problem and influent COD was increased up to 5000 mg dm(-3). Significant COD removal efficiencies ( > 70%) were obtained in both SBRs fed with original and irradiated wastewaters (by 40 kGy). However, pre-irradiated wastewater provided complete thebain removal and a better settling sludge, which was thought due to degradation of complex structure by radiation application. Degradation of the structure was observed by GC/MS analyses and enhancement in filterability tests

The effects of genotypes and irradiation doses on haploid embryo induction and plant production in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Malign) Stanley]

Cultivated Legenaria siceraria (Malign) Stanley is commonly known as the white-flowered gourd. It has been grown annually and it is a monocious, vigorous climber species. The mature fruit is often scooped out and the skin is used as containers, music instrument, decorative purposes or in some cases, fishing floats. Shoots, tendrils and leaves are also cooked and the seeds are removed for oil extraction or for use in cooking. Furthermore, L. siceraria is used as rootstocks conferring the watermelon grafted plant resistance to soil-borne diseases and adverse soil conditions. The objective of this study was to optimize bottle gourd haploid plants. Haploid plants are an invaluable source to rapidly produce new homozygous inbred lines. We analyzed the effect of various pollen irradiation doses (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 Gray gamma rays of 60Co) on the induction of parthenogenetic haploid embryos after pollination with the irradiated pollen in four bottle gourd landraces (Adana, Birecik, Spain and Cyprus). Our results indicate that pollination with irradiated pollens at 50 and 75 Gy had a positive effect on haploid embryo induction. After pollination with irradiated pollens, embryos with different shape were rescued, cultured and converted to intact plants under tissue culture conditions. The genotypes had important effect on induction of haploid embryo by irradiated pollen technique. Seventy five plants from Adana genotype, 10 plants from Birecik genotype, 121 plants from Spain genotype, 141 plants from Cyprus genotype and totally 347 plants were produced from this research