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Response Surface Models in High Density Mango Under Fertigation
-- K Srinivas and R Venugopalan
Field experiments were carried out at the Horticultural Experiment Station, Bangalore, India, during 2004-2006, to study the response of mango to irrigation and fertigation levels. Fruit number and fruit yields were higher with 50% Evaporation Replenishment rate (ER) as compared to 25% ER. The yield differences between 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) and 75% RDF were not significant. The response surface models fitted to the yield data indicated an optimum ER of 42% and RDF of 62%. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Determining Some Physicochemical Composition of Honey Collected
from Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia
-- Kerealem Ejigu and Adebabay Kebede
The study was carried out in Western Amhara Region to assess some of the physicochemical properties of honey. In this study, a total of 71 samples were collected from farm gates and local markets from December 29, 2006 to January 14, 2007. Various properties like moisture content, acidity and mineral contents were tested at Bahir Dar University, Food and Biochemical Technology Department. The results were compared to Ethiopian and Codex Alimentarius honey standards which revealed that more than 82% of the honey samples put under investigation meet the national and world honey standards in terms of physicochemical components under investigation. The training of beekeepers in beekeeping practices is suggested to improve the quality disparities of Amhara region honey. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Solanum nigrum
-- Priyadarshini and Lali Growther
Petroleum ether, chloroform, benzene, methanol and ethanol extracts from Solanum nigrum were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities. A total of six organisms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus and Pseudomonas were studied using well diffusion and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC method). The results showed that all the four extracts had antibacterial effects. Solanum nigrum belonging to the solanaceae family was different in terms of its antibacterial activity. The present study showed MIC of Solanum nigrum as 0.072 g. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of reducing sugars, anthraquinones, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Impact of Different Doses of Gamma Rays on Seed Germination
in Verbesina encelioides Benthem and Hooker
-- Monika Karnawat, Damini Singh and C P Malik
The present investigation was carried out on the experimentally-induced mutations with gamma rays on the seeds of Verbesina encelioides Benth. and Hooker. Ionizing radiations altered the mean total seed germination and also temporal patterns of the germination when compared with control. Higher doses were deleterious for most of the seed parameters studied. The possibility of inducing genetic variability in improvement program of this medicinally important weed is envisaged. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria
from Four Polluted Lakes of Hyderabad City
-- Grace Nalini and K Mamatha
Water samples were collected from three nalas connecting to Hussain Sagar lake (Banjara Hills nala, Picket nala and Kukatpally nala), Safilguda lake, Saroornagar lake and Durgam Cheruvu lake and analyzed microbiologically using standard methods. The pathogenic bacteria isolated were identified to be Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, Salmonella species, Pseudomonas aerugionosa, Vibrio species and Shigella. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in these lakes can be attributed to discharge of untreated effluents and sewage into the lakes. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Standardization of Nursery Techniques in Petunia CV. Mix
-- K Natarajan and P Srimathi
The studies on standardization of nursery techniques, viz., pot mixture, growing conditions, container size and age of transplanting, for primary and secondary nursery in Petunia cv. mix revealed that pot mixture with leaf mold either alone or in combination with soil and sand (2:1:2) enhanced the germination of seeds to 98% at primary nursery, and for raising this nursery, polyhouse condition was found to be better than ambient condition. The age of seedling for transplanting from primary to secondary nursery was found to be 16-19 days, which enhanced the emergence and survival percentage. The studies on standardization of container size for secondary nursery revealed that pluck trays with larger size container (8.5 cm diameter) were highly suitable for production of elite seedling. The studies conducted to fix the age of seedling for transplanting from secondary nursery to main field highlighted that 24-27 day-old seedlings at secondary nursery could be well transplanted to main field with 95% establishment. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Quantitative Analysis of Actinomycetes from Municipal Solid Waste
-- D Jariwala Namrata, R A Christian and N Rana Gaurang
Solid waste management is considered a headache for urban activity, though scientific methods and supporting literature are available. There are potential risks to environment and health due to improper handling of solid waste. In most of the cities, 50% of total budget is wasted on solid waste management activity, and least weightage is given to waste treatment option. In most of the Indian cities, a portion of the organic waste is very high as there is no segregation practice. According to the Municipal Solid Waste 2000 Rule, segregation of waste is compulsory, but still a truthful result is not achieved. In developing countries, the time between generation and collection of waste is high which leads to very high growth of microorganism. From the various roots, these microbial contamination gets entry into human body and creates serious health problems. The present work is an attempt to estimate the actinomycetes level from municipal solid waste. A number of diseases like lung abscesses, appendicitis and actinomycosis (lumpy jaw) are reported due to high level of actinomycetes. Actinomycetes concentration was found in the experimental work and was in the range of 1.18 102 – 2.40 104 cfu/g. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Effective Role of Hydrogen Peroxide as an Oxygen Source for Fingerlings
of Oreochromis niloticus During Transportation in Bangladesh
-- Hossain Zamal, Abdul Awal and Prabal Barua
Fish fry transport is a very important part of aquaculture. Hydrogen peroxide is generally used in aquaculture as an immersion treatment against many different disease-causing organisms, including external parasites, bacteria and fungi, on different species and life-stages of fish. In the present study, the release of oxygen from hydrogen peroxide was assessed using the Winkler’s technique. This technique is simple and cost-effective for transporting fingerlings using oxygen derived from hydrogen peroxide. Glass pieces were used, which gave good results for producing oxygen from the H2O2. The present findings showed that the fishes survive more time in the H2O2-treated water than the control. From the present investigation, it can be concluded that it would be possible to transport tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings using H2O2 as an oxygen source. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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