Impact of Vetiveria zizanioides rhizosphere bacterial isolates on PGPR traits and cadmium resistance

In our study we have proved that most vetiver rhizosphere bacterial isolates are potent biomolecule synthesizers. We isolated culturable bacterium associated with vetiver rhizosphere using three carbon sources and phenotypic characterizations were performed. The medium and cultural conditions of the isolates were optimized under shake flask conditions. Further, the isolates were assessed for their ability to synthesize biomolecules and plant growth promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) traits. Siderophore production was determined in all the tested isolates; Phosphate solubilization was performed and seven isolates were shown to solubilize phosphate. Indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) was produced by all isolates when grown on MS medium supplemented with tryptophan and the amount of IAA produced were quantified with standards. Metal tolerance concentration (MTC) was performed and it was observed that most isolates were able to survive till 300mg L-1 on cadmium amended minimal medium. The isolate (VITJCSKK14) was able to show resistance till 500mg L-1. Solubilization of zinc metal (0.1%) was analysed using LGI medium; halos were observed and quantified by checking the growth, pH and optical density. The soluble Zn present in the culture broth was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS-Model Varian C) at different periods of growth and the maximum solubilization was recorded after 120 h with a 0.1% Zn metal amendment was 634mgl-1. Further the intracellular proteins were separated to observe the whole cell protein and stress tolerant proteins from VITJCSKK14. The intracellular proteins were extracted from the cultures grown in Tris minimal media supplemented with cadmium and quantification was performed using Bradford’s method. The proteins were separated on SDS-PAGE and the stress protein bands were observed. It was found that high molecular weight protein was appeared in the test sample. The molecular taxonomy of the active isolate VITJCSKK14 was carried out by 16S rRNA analysis and phylogenetic tree was constructed using CLUSTALV software. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, the isolate VITJCSKK14 was identified as Acinetobacter Sp. This study also gives a hypothesis that Vetiveria zizanioides rhizosphere bacterium may aid in plant growth promotion and their survivability in adverse conditions

Negotiating participatory irrigation management in the Indian Himalayas

Participatory irrigation management (PIM) reforms are implemented in India to facilitate farmers' participation in irrigation management, through water user groups. Although thousands of user groups have been formed, a closer examination reveals inefficient water use, social power capture by rural elites in the name of participation, inadequate support from government institutions and government's inability to alleviate poverty. Currently, there is inadequate understanding of the linkage between socio-cultural, institutional and ecological factors affecting the outcome of the PIM reforms in India. Drawing from a case study village in the Shiwalik region of the Indian Himalayas, the paper identifies the role of diverse actors to exploit historic and ecological factors to derail the PIM reforms to frame water management problems. Using a combination of research methods and with application of a Bayesian network, the paper explores the inter-linkages between socio-cultural, institutional and ecological factors in derailing the PIM reforms. The paper reveals that PIM policies are never implemented, but integrated through the negotiation with other diverse policies and socio-cultural settings in (re)shaping water resources management. The analysis demonstrates that water is managed by multifaceted governance arrangements. In this governance arrangement state-centric or market-oriented or community-centered institutional arrangements are not superior to each other, rather they incrementally and cumulatively superimpose to (re)shape water resources management. In this process, integration represents a complex blend of statutory and socially embedded actors bringing with them diverse rules to negotiate, along with contextual factors. The findings call for laying out broad principles/ideologies in the policy statements of the statutory public actors that allow other actors to integrate, adapt and make policy processes dynamic. To facilitate this processes, the paper calls for statutory public actors to regulate water distribution, build capacity of actors and offer diverse forums for actors share and debate on the available information to take informed water-related decisions for a sustainable future.Bayesian network Policy modelling Integrated water management Institutional integration South Asia

Hepatoprotective activity of prunus persica peaches against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

epato-toxicity is a common toxicity happening during the treatment of chronic diseases like tuberculosis, diabetics. Prunus persica belongs to Rosaceae is a plant growing in temperate region used as laxative, sedative, anti-cancer and also consist of glycosides, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamins. It also possess hepato-protactent property. To prove the activity scientifically the ethanolic extract of Prunus persica was studied against Paracetamol induced Hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The extract when evaluated at the dose of 100mg / kg was found to significantly reduce the elevated levels of serum Lysosomal enzyme SGPT, SGOT, ALP and Bilirubin when compared with standard Silymarin

The Elenadu Shortcrown Brachystelma elenaduense Sathyan. (Asclepiadaceae) - a new distribution record for Tamil Nadu, India

This paper describes the additional distributional record of Brachystelma elenaduense Sathyan., collected from the Eastern Ghat fragments viz., Kolli hills of Namakkal and Yercaud hills of Salem Districts. This plant species was earlier reported from Elenadu village of Tumkur district, Karnataka by Dr. M.B.Sathyanarayanachar in 1978. However, its occurrence in Tamil Nadu, as described in the present paper, is reported for the first time. A detailed description and plant images are provided to aid its identification.</p

Synergistic activity of methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea (malvaceae) flowers with oxytetracycline

The object of this study was to formulate new, cost effective anti-microbial combination for multidrug resistant diseases based on the synergistic activity of oxytetracycline with methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) a medicinal plant common in South India. The MIC of methanolic extracts in combination with oxytetracycline using 12 different both gram positive and gram negative bacteria was found to be around (62.5 µg/mL to 1000 µg/mL). The synergistic activity was verified using Kirby and Bauer techniques. 83.3% shows synergistic activity against all 12 different bacteria both gram positive and gram negative species. The highest synergism rate was attained against Shigella boydii (ATCC8700)