Effect of organic manures on growth and yield attributes of Soybean (Glycine max L.) under Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) based Agroforestry system

A field trail was carried out at the research farm of the School of Forestry and Environment, SHIATS, Allahabad. The experimental research site is situated at an altitude of 90 m above the sea level at 25.570 N latitude and 81.510 E longitudes. The experiment comprised seven treatments replicated thrice. The maximum germination % (96.67%), plant height (83.73cm), number of branches/ plant (11.93), fresh weight (185.28g), dry weight (45.73g), at 110 days after sowing (DAS), number of pods/plant (91.67), number of seeds/pod (3.93), pod length (6.93 cm),test weight (90.73g), seed yield (23.87q/ha), straw yield (40.73 q/ha) and harvest index (36.94%) recorded in treatment T5. The result showed that the applications of organic manure (50% Farmyard Manure + 50% Vermicompost) maximized the soybean growth and yield under subabul trees. Therefore, it may be concluded that 50% Farmyard Manure + 50% Vermicompost can be recommended for growing soybean under subabul based Agroforestry system for obtaining better growth and yield

Changes in the electronic structure and properties of graphene induced by molecular charge-transfer

Interaction with electron donor and acceptor molecules such as aniline and nitrobenzene brings about marked changes in the Raman spectrum and the electronic structure of graphene, prepared by the exfoliation of graphitic oxide.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Ethnomedicinal practices of Kol tribes in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, India

Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa is the most luxuriant forest and rich in medicinal plant resources. The forest area is dominated by a number of tribes such as Kol, Santal, Bhumij, Mankidias and Khadias who depends on the forest for their food to medicine. The present paper reports on ethnomedicinal uses of 32 potential medicinal plants belong to 24 families of medicinal plants used for ailment of various diseases like leucorrhoea, spermatorrhea, piles, sore throat, rheumatism, elephantiasis etc. by Kol tribe living in some villages situated in and around Similipal Biosphere Reserve.The botanical name, family name, vernacular name, parts used, method of preparation, usage, administration of the drugs are given

Membrane-bound β-catenin degradation is enhanced by ETS2-mediated Siah1 induction in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer cells.

β-catenin has two different cellular functions: intercellular adhesion and transcriptional activity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah1 causes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and therefore, impairs nuclear translocation and oncogenic function of β-catenin. However, the effect of Siah1 on the cell membrane bound β-catenin has not been studied. In this study, we identified that the carcinogenic bacterium H. pylori increased ETS2 transcription factor-mediated Siah1 protein expression in gastric cancer cells (GCCs) MKN45, AGS and Kato III. Siah1 protein level was also noticeably higher in gastric adenocarcinoma biopsy samples as compared to non-cancerous gastric epithelia. Siah1 knockdown significantly decreased invasiveness and migration of H. pylori-infected GCCs. Although, Siah1 could not increase degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and its nuclear translocation, it enhanced degradation of the membrane-bound β-catenin in the infected GCCs. This loss of membrane-bound pool of β-catenin was not associated with the proteasomal degradation of E-cadherin. Thus, this work delineated the role of Siah1 in increasing invasiveness of H. pylori-infected GCCs

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment.

Anthropogenic hyper-alkaline sites provide an environment that is analogous to proposed cementitious geological disposal facilities (GDF) for radioactive waste. Under anoxic, alkaline conditions cellulosic wastes will hydrolyse to a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) dominated by isosaccharinic acids (ISA). In order to investigate the potential for microbial activity in a cementitious GDF, cellulose samples were incubated in the alkaline (∼pH 12), anaerobic zone of a lime kiln waste site. Following retrieval, these samples had undergone partial alkaline hydrolysis and were colonised by a Clostridia dominated biofilm community, where hydrogenotrophic, alkaliphilic methanogens were also present. When these samples were used to establish an alkaline CDP fed microcosm, the community shifted away from Clostridia, methanogens became undetectable and a flocculate community dominated by Alishewanella sp. established. These flocs were composed of bacteria embedded in polysaccharides and protein stabilised by extracellular DNA. This community was able to degrade all forms of ISA with >60% of the carbon flow being channelled into extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production. This study demonstrated that alkaliphilic microbial communities can degrade the CDP associated with some radioactive waste disposal concepts at pH 11. These communities divert significant amounts of degradable carbon to EPS formation, suggesting that EPS has a central role in the protection of these communities from hyper-alkaline conditions

Allelopathic effect of Leucaena leucocephala on Pansy (Viola tricolor L.)

The present study on allelopahtic effect of L. leucocephala on pansy (V. tricolor L.) both laboratory and nursery conditions were undertaken. Leucaena which significantly reduced the seed germination in all treatments at 2% (43%), 3% (42%) and 4% (40%) over Control (Distilled water), except in treatment at 1% (55%) wheregermination was found to be maximum over Control (Distilled water), this result shows the stimulatory effect on germination at 1% concentration of leaf leachate under laboratory condition. Leucaena soil in combination with Field soil showed stimulatory effect on the growth parameters in Pansy. Highest germination percentage (82%), fresh shoot weight (2.82g), fresh root weight (0.22g), dry shoot weight (0.50g), dry root weight (0.05g), vigor index (99.36) were recorded in treatment amended with soil 50% Leucaena soil and 50% Field soil and inhibitory effect was seen in pansy when amended into with 100% Leucaena soil under nursery condition. From this study it appears that Leucaena produces allelopahtic substrates, increase in concentration exhibit adverse effect on germination and growth parameters. Hence it is suggested that pansy could be affected economically but this tree can very well adapt to diversified soil condition

Fast protocol for high frequency in vitro cloning of Banana (Musa acuminata) cv. Grande Naine

An investigation was conducted on Fast Protocol for High Frequency in vitro cloning of Banana (Musa acuminata) cv. Grande Naine at the Biotechnology-cum-Tissue Culture Center, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, during the year 2012. This has helped to determine the best media compositions for shoot multiplication and rooting of cv. Grande Naine, so as to get optimum results with a minimized cost of production. MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/1 Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2.0 mg/1 Kinetin gave the highest number of shoot/explants (11.33) in 30 days. However, MS medium when supplemented with 6.0 mg/1 BAP produced a maximum number of leaves (19.07) with a maximum height 2.73 cm. Among various concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for rooting. Half MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/1 IBA was found to be ideal for early rooting and producing more number of roots in 21 days. However, MS basal medium was found to be the best treatment to support the formation of long roots. This protocol can be very useful to the future research worker and as well as entrepreneurs for mass production of banana (Musa acuminata) cv. Grande Naine

Whole genome sequence of the anaerobic isosaccharinic acid degrading isolate, Macellibacteroides fermentans strain HH-ZS

The ability of micro-organisms to degrade isosaccharinic acids (ISAs) whilst tolerating hyperalkaline conditions is pivotal to our understanding of the biogeochemistry associated within these environs, but also in scenarios pertaining to the cementitious disposal of radioactive wastes. An alkalitolerant, ISA degrading micro-organism was isolated from the hyperalkaline soils resulting from lime depositions. Here we report the first whole genome sequence, ISA degradation profile and carbohydrate preoteome of a Macellibacteroides fermentans strain HH-ZS, 4.08Mb in size, coding 3,241 proteins, 64 tRNA and one rRNA

Microbial Community Evolution Is Significantly Impacted by the Use of Calcium Isosaccharinic Acid as an Analogue for the Products of Alkaline Cellulose Degradation

Diasteriomeric isosaccharinic acid (ISA) is an important consideration within safety assessments for the disposal of the United Kingdoms’ nuclear waste legacy, where it may potentially influence radionuclide migration. Since the intrusion of micro-organisms may occur within a disposal concept, the impact of ISA may be impacted by microbial metabolism. Within the present study we have established two polymicrobial consortia derived from a hyperalkaline soil. Here, α-ISA and a diatereomeric mix of ISAs’ were used as a sole carbon source, reflecting two common substrates appearing within the literature. The metabolism of ISA within these two consortia was similar, where ISA degradation resulted in the acetogenesis and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. The chemical data obtained confirm that the diastereomeric nature of ISA is likely to have no impact on its metabolism within alkaline environments. High throughput sequencing of the original soil showed a diverse community which, in the presence of ISA allowed for the dominance the Clostridiales associated taxa with Clostridium clariflavum prevalent. Further taxonomic investigation at the genus level showed that there was in fact a significant difference (p = 0.004) between the two community profiles. Our study demonstrates that the selection of carbon substrate is likely to have a significant impact on microbial community composition estimations, which may have implications with respect to a safety assessment of an ILW-GDF