In vitro and in vivo biocontrol performance of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai on Ganoderma boninense Pat. related to pathogenicity on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Ganoderma boninense, causes basal stem rot disease in oil palm, which leads to severe losses to the palm oil industry. The antagonistic effect of Trichoderma harzianum on G. boninense (a causal pathogen for oil palm) was tested by in vitro and in vivo studies. T. harzianum inhibited the mycelia growth of G. boninense on in vitro plate assay experiment and in vivo on the glass house grown oil palm plants. During the in vivo experiment, at first time point after one month, G. boninense development was found in oil palm root tissues in control plants whereas in T. harzianum treated plants no disease symptoms were observed until at the end of the experiment. It is a broad spectrum approach to use T. harzianum to control G. boninense infection of oil palm

Impact of yellow mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus [Banks]) density on host's (Corchorus capsularis L.) phenology and assessment of yield loss under field conditions

Yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus [Banks] (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is one of the major pests of jute crops (Corchorus capsularis L.) in Bangladesh. In this study, indigenous varieties of jute were used for treatments, namely, CVL-1, CVE-3, BJC-7370 and BJC-83. The paired plot treatments (treated and untreated controls) were laid out under field conditions. The effects of yellow mite were studied at three stages of the jute plants: 60 days after sowing (DAS), 90 DAS and 120 DAS. A higher number of mite stages was observed up to 90 DAS and then declined up to 120 DAS in var. BJC-7370 among two other varieties, Deshi and Tossa. The percentage of infestation and damage indexes (scale 0–5) were measured to relate yellow mite injuries to the number of leaves, leaf area, fresh leaf weight, dry leaf weight, soluble solids, plant height, base diameter, fiber weight, stick weight, number of flowers per plant, number of pods, pod weight per plant, seeds per pod, seed weight and 1000 seeds' weight of plants infested at three different phenological stages. The highest fiber yield loss was found in the variety BJC-7370 (59.75%), followed by BJC-83 (55.56%), CVE-3 (54.30%) and CVL-1 (50.05). The highest stick yield losses were found in the following order: BJC-7370 (54.54%) > BJC-83 (51.17%) > CVL-1 (43.68%) > CVE-3 (37.80%) and BJC-7370 (30.33%) > CVL-1 (27.83%) > BJC-83 (24.16%) > CVE-3 (22.11%) for the highest seed yield under field conditions for Corchorus capsularis. High yellow mite population in untreated checks decreased plant growth and showed significant losses in yield production for the variety BJC-7370

Valuable components of bambangan fruit (Mangifera pajang) and its coproducts: a review

Fruits are important food commodities that can be consumed either raw or processed and are valued for their taste, nutrients, and healthy compounds. Mangifera pajang Kosterm (bambangan) is an underutilized fruit found in Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Brunei, and Indonesia (Kalimantan). It is highly fibrous and juicy with an aromatic flavour and strong smell. In recent years, bambangan fruit has been gaining more attention due to its high fibre, carotenoid content, antioxidant properties, phytochemicals, and medicinal usages. Therefore, the production, trade, and consumption of bambangan fruit could be increased significantly, both domestically and internationally, because of its nutritional value. The identification and quantification of bioactive compounds in bambangan fruit has led to considerable interest among scientists. Bambangan fruit and its waste, especially its seeds and peels, are considered cheap sources of valuable food and are considered nutraceutical ingredients that could be used to prevent various diseases. The use of bambangan fruit waste co-products for the production of bioactive components is an important step towards sustainable development. This is an updated report on the nutritional composition and health-promoting phytochemicals of bambangan fruit and its co-products that explores their potential utilization. This review reveals that bambangan fruit and its co-products could be used as ingredients of dietary fibre powder or could be incorporated into food products (biscuits and macaroni) to enhance their nutraceutical properties

Isotherms, Kinetics and Thermodynamic Mechanism of Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption on Synthesized Activated Carbon

The treatment of methylene blue (MB) dye wastewater through the adsorption process has been a subject of extensive research. However, a comprehensive understanding of the thermodynamic aspects of dye solution adsorption is lacking. Previous studies have primarily focused on enhancing the adsorption capacity of methylene blue dye. This study aimed to develop an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for treating methylene blue dye wastewater and to gain insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption process for optimization. An adsorbent with selective methylene blue dye adsorption capabilities was synthesized using rice straw as the precursor. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the adsorption isotherms and models under various process conditions, aiming to bridge gaps in previous research and enhance the understanding of adsorption mechanisms. Several adsorption isotherm models, including Langmuir, Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir-Freundlich, were applied to theoretically describe the adsorption mechanism. Equilibrium thermodynamic results demonstrated that the calculated equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) aligned well with the experimentally obtained data. These findings of the study provide valuable insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of methylene blue dye adsorption, with potential applications beyond this specific dye type. The utilization of rice straw as an adsorbent material presents a novel and cost-effective approach for MB dye removal from wastewater

Determination of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Residues Levels in Commercial Marine Dry Fish from Different Regions of Bangladesh

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) residual levels are available several commercially dry fishes. So, these fishes were detected and determinate the contamination status of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). The most popular dry fish-Ribbon fish (Lepturacanthus savala), Chinese pomfret (Pampus chinensis), Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus) and Shrimp sp. (crustaceans) were selected for this study and these dry fishes were collected from nine different markets (three from each of Khulna, Chittagong and Cox's bazar district) of Bangladesh during December-March in 2013. A total number of 36 samples were selected for analyzing in the laboratory by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry electron captured (GC-ECD) detector. The ranges of DDT in all samples were 2.81 to 877.82ppb. The ranges of DDT in the samples of Bombay duck, Chinese pomfret, Ribbon fish and Shrimp were 13.7-874.35ppb, 2.81-877.82ppb, 3.73-253.68ppb and 4.27-585.97ppb respectively. The mean concentrations of DDT were found highest amount from retailer markets while compared to that from the producer’s markets. Results indicated that the concentration of DDT in dry fish from Bangladesh are higher and may cause chronic disease and potential long-term risk for human health

Preparation and Characterization of a New Polymeric Multi-Layered Material Based K-Carrageenan and Alginate for Efficient Bio-Sorption of Methylene Blue Dye

The current study highlights a novel bio-sorbent design based on polyelectrolyte multi-layers (PEM) biopolymeric material. First layer was composed of sodium alginate and the second was constituted of citric acid and k-carrageenan. The PEM system was crosslinked to non-woven cellulosic textile material. Resulting materials were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, and thermal analysis (TGA and DTA). FT-IR analysis confirmed chemical interconnection of PEM bio-sorbent system. SEM features indicated that the microspaces between fibers were filled with layers of functionalizing polymers. PEM exhibited higher surface roughness compared to virgin sample. This modification of the surface morphology confirmed the stability and the effectiveness of the grafting method. Virgin cellulosic sample decomposed at 370 °C. However, PEM samples decomposed at 250 °C and 370 °C, which were attributed to the thermal decomposition of crosslinked sodium alginate and k-carrageenan and cellulose, respectively. The bio-sorbent performances were evaluated under different experimental conditions including pH, time, temperature, and initial dye concentration. The maximum adsorbed amounts of methylene blue are 124.4 mg/g and 522.4 mg/g for the untreated and grafted materials, respectively. The improvement in dye sorption evidenced the grafting of carboxylate and sulfonate groups onto cellulose surface. Adsorption process complied well with pseudo-first-order and Langmuir equations

Effect of media on growth and antagonistic activity of selected Trichoderma strains against Ganoderma

This study was conducted to determine the effect of culture media on the growth rate and antagonistic activity of Trichoderma harzianum strain 1132 and Trichoderma virens strain 128 in Ganoderma sp. The two growth media evaluated were potato sucrose agar (PSA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA). Growth rate was determined by the rate of spore density production. Significantly higher spore production was observed on PSA for T. virens strain 128 (9.12 × 1010) and T. harzianum strain 1132 (8.58 × 1011) compared to PDA with values of 6.82 ×1010 and 5.62 × 109 spores, respectively. Both strains showed the antagonistic activity against the wood decay fungus Ganoderma. However, the antagonistic activity higher in Trichoderma cultured on PSA media with antagonistic activity of 66% in T. virens strain 128 and 62% in T. harzianum 1132, respectively. These results suggest the significant potential for the use of PSA media as a growth and activity enhancer of Trichoderma strains used in biocontrol programs

Preparation and Characterization of a New Polymeric Multi-Layered Material Based K-Carrageenan and Alginate for Efficient Bio-Sorption of Methylene Blue Dye

The current study highlights a novel bio-sorbent design based on polyelectrolyte multi-layers (PEM) biopolymeric material. First layer was composed of sodium alginate and the second was constituted of citric acid and k-carrageenan. The PEM system was crosslinked to non-woven cellulosic textile material. Resulting materials were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, and thermal analysis (TGA and DTA). FT-IR analysis confirmed chemical interconnection of PEM bio-sorbent system. SEM features indicated that the microspaces between fibers were filled with layers of functionalizing polymers. PEM exhibited higher surface roughness compared to virgin sample. This modification of the surface morphology confirmed the stability and the effectiveness of the grafting method. Virgin cellulosic sample decomposed at 370 °C. However, PEM samples decomposed at 250 °C and 370 °C, which were attributed to the thermal decomposition of crosslinked sodium alginate and k-carrageenan and cellulose, respectively. The bio-sorbent performances were evaluated under different experimental conditions including pH, time, temperature, and initial dye concentration. The maximum adsorbed amounts of methylene blue are 124.4 mg/g and 522.4 mg/g for the untreated and grafted materials, respectively. The improvement in dye sorption evidenced the grafting of carboxylate and sulfonate groups onto cellulose surface. Adsorption process complied well with pseudo-first-order and Langmuir equations

Obtainable Drugs for Fish Hatchery Operation and Grow-out Ponds in Bangladesh

This study was carried out to evaluate the obtainable drugs, chemicals and antibiotics used in aquaculture activities in Bangladesh for increasing aquaculture production. This study was carried out using data collection method through questionnaire interview and personal contact. The study was carried out in Mymensingh Sadar upazila and Trishal upazila of Mymensingh, Bangladesh from July 2011 to November, 2011. Data were collected through questionnaire interview, personal contact with hatchery and nursery owner as well as market survey with fish and shrimp farmers, retailers of animal medicine and representatives of pharmaceutical companies. About 46 questionnaires (16 pharmaceuticals companies, 14 drug traders/sellers, 10 fish farmers and 6 fish hatchery owners) were used to collect information. The study identified a number of commercial products with various trade names available in the market namely JV zeolite, geotox, green zeolite, orgavit aqua, fish vitaplus, AQ grow-G, oxyflow, oxy max and O2-marine which were most widely used. The survey discovered that 14 drug traders and 16 pharmaceuticals companies are actively involved in importing and marketing of the aqua drugs. Though Oxytetracycline and a potential sulfonamide are approved for the use of disease treatment but some off-labeled chemicals which had only trade name but no information about the active ingredient of these chemicals was discovered. The farmers of Bangladesh have little knowledge regarding the use of chemicals, their appropriate dose and method of application. For this perceptive the survey were taken so that the obtainable aqua drugs may be known as well as their appropriate dose and application method may be determined for safe aquaculture practices in Bangladesh

Evaluation of the surface water quality using global water quality index (WQI) models: perspective of river water pollution

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, global warming, and climate change are compromising surface water quality across the globe. Consequently, water conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and human survival. This study assesses the water quality of the Jamuna River in Bangladesh at five distinct sites during wet and dry seasons. It employs six global water quality indices (WQIs) and contrasts the results with Bangladesh's Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and the Department of Environment (DoE) criteria. The WQI models used are the Weighted Arithmetic WQI (WAWQI), British Columbia WQI (BCWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment WQI (CWQI), Assigned WQI (AWQI), Malaysian WQI (MWQI), and Oregon WQI (OWQI). Fifteen physicochemical parameters were analyzed according to each WQI model's guidelines. The findings reveal that most parameters surpass the standard permissible values. The WQI model results indicate that the average water quality across the five sites falls into the lowest category. A comparison of the WQI models suggests potential correlations between WAWQI and AWQI, as well as between MWQI and OWQI. The straightforward presentation of the WQI models indicates that while the river water requires treatment for household and drinking use, it remains suitable for irrigation. The decline in water quality is likely attributable to human activities, urbanization, municipal waste disposal, and industrial effluents. Authorities must prioritize regular monitoring and assessment of water quality to address the identified challenges. Restoring the water to an acceptable standard will become increasingly difficult without proactive measures.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-11-27 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY</p