PCR based detection of fumonisin producing strains of Fusarium verticillioides and gene related to toxin production

Fusarium verticillioides produces Fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed products posses maximum threat to human and animal health. In this work Eighty two strains of Fusarium species collected from infected rice samples were subjected to PCR assay to discriminate fumonisin producing and nonproducing strains with Inter Generic Spacer region (IGS) of rDNA  coding units specific primer named as  VERTF-1/VERTF-2 were used. 21 isolates of  F. verticillioides scored positive for VERTF-1/ VERTF-2 pair of primers proves to be potential fumonisin production and 25 isolates were scored negative. Specific primers for polyketide synthase (PKS) gene FUM1-(previously FUM5) were used to all 83 strains resulted in positive signals observed in 21 strains of F. verticillioides. This present study proves the efficiency of IGS and gene specific primer also represents well for Fusarium strains isolated from rice also. For both primers PCR detection was consistent even at 100 pg/μl concentration of genomic DNA. This quite rapid and specific method helps in accurate discrimination of Fumonisin producing strains

Studies on removal of malachite green from aqueous solution by sorption method using water hyacinth - Eichornia crassipes roots

<p>Dye containing waste water can cause serious water pollution problems by hindering light penetration and photo synthesis and toxicity from heavy metals associated with dyes. In this research study, batch experiments were conducted using thermally activated Eichornia crassipes roots as an adsorbent for the removal a basic dye, malachite green, from aqueous solutions. Effect of operating variables i.e. pH, sorbent dosage, dye concentration and contact time was studied in an agitated batch adsorber. Results showed that maximum dye uptake was observed at an optimum pH 7 .There was no significant difference in dye concentration remaining when the pH increased from 5-10. Dye removal was influenced by initial dye concentration and the sorption process followed first order kinetics. Among the three isotherms tested Redlich Peterson and Langmuir isotherms fitted reasonably well to the data. The negative value of the free energy change indicates the spontaneous nature of biosorption. From the above findings, it was observed that the biosorption process obeyed the first order adsorption kinetics. The negative value of the free energy change calculated indicates the spontaneous nature of the sorption and confirms the affinity between the sorbent and the dye cations.</p