Experimental investigation of anti-corrosive behaviour of Beta vulgaris: A green approach

The loss of metals due to corrosion can be prevented using green inhibitors. Using natural and eco-friendly plant products is futuristic, preventing the environment from toxic and harmful chemicals. The present study aimed to investigate whole beetroot (BR, Beta vulgaris) for its anti-corrosion behaviour by galvanostatic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques at a temperature between 298 K- 328 K. The temperature study would help in proposing BR's adsorption mechanism on metal surfaces. The maximum inhibition efficiency of 94% at 298 K for 5% BR was observed, whereas a minimum of 75% was obtained for 1% BR at 328 K. It was found to be a mixed-type inhibitor that followed Langmuir isotherm.  From thermodynamic studies, ΔGoads   was found to be -13.64 kJ/mol, which revealed that BR adsorbed physically on the surface of mild steel. Rct values increased while Cdl values decreased on exposure of metal surface with BR extract. The scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and atomic force micrographs (AFM) witnessed the formation of a protective layer on the mild steel surface, which served as a barrier between the metal and corrosive medium. The present study provides a remedy for the financial and structural losses due to metal corrosion in an acidic medium

Determination of lethal dose (LD50) and sensitivity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) to sodium azide for induction of mutation

The present experiment was conducted in the year 2021 at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan, to determine the optimum dose (LD50) and duration of the chemical mutagen treatment for the induction of desirable mutation. A set of 100 pre-soaked fenugreek seeds were treated with 12 different concentrations of sodium azide, viz. 0.3 mM, 0.6 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, 4 mM, 5 mM, 6 mM, 7 mM, 8 mM, 9 mM and 10 mM for three different durations, viz. 3 h, 6 h and 9 h. Results showed that a dose-dependent decreasing tendency was observed in germination percentage, survival percentage, root length and shoot length with increasing concentration and duration of sodium azide treatment. Almost all the mutagenic treatments resulted in decrease in germination percentage, survival percentage and seedling height (root and shoot length) with increasing concentrations and duration of mutagen in laboratory conditions. Also, the LD50 value was observed as an 8 mM sodium azide concentration for 6 h in fenugreek. The mutagen treatments given at 9 h duration were detrimental for fenugreek. They cannot be used for mutation induction as they are utterly lethal after a 3 mM sodium azide concentration. So, lower treatments of mutagens have influenced less biological damage and would be suitable for inducing desirable mutations

<span style="font-weight: normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Cytomorphological investigations in colchicine-induced polyploids of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Lablab purpureus</i> (L.) Sweet </span>

347-355Successful induction of autotetraploidy by seedling treatment of colchicine has been achieved in Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet. Young seedlings were treated with different concentrations of aqueous colchicine (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 & 0.5%) using the cotton-swab method, each for different durations. Morphological and cytological variations were studied for C1 and C2 generations. In C1 generation, 4 autotetraploids were obtained with 0.5% colchicine treatment for 6 and 9 h. The tetraploid plants were morphologically different as compared to diploids. Meiosis was irregular and average number of associations per cell ranged from 1.8±0.83 to 2.2±0.44 among quadrivalents and 24.00±0.00 to 19.6±0.89 in bivalents. Bivalent chromosome associations were observed more frequently than quadrivalent associations. Chiasma was not clearly seen. Seeds (10) from suspected tetraploids were used to raise the next generation to evaluate their stability. Only 5 plants were survived up to maturity and of these, one plant was suspected triploid and another plant monosomic. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Thus morphological and cytogenetical changes in the polyploidy of L. purpureus<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">, as a result of colchicine treatment, could not be significantly inherited in next generation and successful induction of stable tetraploids in next generation is a challenge for the researchers. </span