Phytoremediation of Pb Spiked Soils Amended with Iron Impregnated Rice Husk Ash Using Ricinus communis L. (Castor bean)

Heavy metals pose a serious risk to the environment and living biota. Pot studies were carried out to determine the competence of Fe-coated rice husk in Pb spiked soils vegetated with Ricinus communis. Physicochemical properties of Fe- coated rice husk ash (Fe-RHA) were characterized on dry weight basis. Pot experiments were carried out with seedlings of R.communis for 60 days amended with Fe-RHA (0, 2.5% and 5% w/w) and Pb(NO3) [0, 400 and 800 mg kg−1]. Addition of Fe-coated rice husk ash to Pb cntaminated soils improved soil pH and fertility. Treatment with 5% Fe-RHA decreased Pb accumulation in roots by 84%. Addition of Fe-RHA significantly (p<0.05) increased plant physiological parameters such as height, leaf diameter, nodes, and leaf number by 64%, 49%, 62% and 66% and chlorophyll contents (12–29%) compared to unamended plants. Our findings conclude that Fe-RHA is a low-cost, environmentally friendly and efficient adsorbent for stabilization of Pb spiked soils

Defense manifestations of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in Ricinus communis L. exposed to lead in hydroponics

Lead (Pb) is a major inorganic pollutant with no biological significance and has been a global concern. Phytotoxicity of lead induces toxic effects by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which inhibits most of the cellular processes in plants. Hydro-ponic experiments were performed with Ricinus communis to investigate the toxicity and antioxidant responses by exposing to different concentrations of lead (0, 200 and 400 µM) for 10 days. Pb stress caused a significant increase in electrolyte leakage, non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenols and flavonoids) and a decrease in the elemental profile of the plant. Histochemical visualization clearly indicates the significant increase of H2O2 production in dose-dependent manner under Pb stress. Likewise, an increase in catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was also evident. Ascorbate peroxidase and MDAR, on the other hand, responded biphasically to Pb treatments showing a decrease in concentration. The decline in redox ratio GSH/GSSG was imposed by the indirect oxidative stress of Pb. Hence these findings showed the ameliorative potential of R. communis to sustain Pb toxicity under oxidative stress

Ultraviolet B induced bioactive changes of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and lipids in Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek)

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) altered plant metabolism. Hence Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) exposed to UV-B radiation for studying the bioactive changes that may be useful in captive farming. UV-B treatment altered plant growth, and extent of alterations depended on the duration of radiation treatment. Photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll and carotenoids decreased after radiation exposure. But bioactive components such as anthocyanin, flavonoids, and phenolics increased after UV-B treatment. Phenylalanine lyase enzyme activity and peroxidase activity also increased with 4.0 hr UV-B exposure even though 8.0 hr exposure decreased the activity of these enzymes. Total lipid content of the plants increased after UV-B exposure. Changes in aromatic oil composition observed due to UV-B exposure, and the changes pointed shifting of plant metabolism towards the synthesis of short chain fatty acid contain lipids and non-enzymatic antioxidants

Abstracts of National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020

This book presents the abstracts of the papers presented to the Online National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020 (RDMPMC-2020) held on 26th and 27th August 2020 organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science in Association with the Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Conference Title: National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020Conference Acronym: RDMPMC-2020Conference Date: 26–27 August 2020Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology JamshedpurCo-organizer: Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, IndiaConference Sponsor: TEQIP-