Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-009, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of antioxidant enzyme activities in leaves stems and roots of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) exposed to Chromium (VI)

Heidar Ali Malmir

Department of Biology, University of Bu Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran.E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 28 April, 2020

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the response between different organs to assess which one was more severely affected. Thus, we exposed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) to five level 0, 30, 60, 100 and 130 mg/L concentration of chromium (Cr) VI during two weeks and measuring the activity of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), total glutathione (GSG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in upper, middle and lower leaves, stems and roots of sorghum plants. Reduction in dry matter of roots, stem and leaves was noticed in Cr (VI) stress. GST and Cr (VI) activities were induced in all organs of the exposed plant, but was inhibited in 130 mgL^-1 Cr (VI). GPX and CAT activities were induced in all the organs at all studied concentrations, whereas inhibited was observed in the roots and higher leaves above 100 and 130 mgL^-1. Significant increases in lipid peroxidation in plants exposed to 100 and 130 mgL^-1.These results suggest that in roots and upper leaf of sorghum the tolerance to Cr (VI) toxicity is more dependent on the activities of GST and GR than other enzyme activities. Hyperactivity of the GR and GST indicated that these enzymes played an important role in protecting the sorghum from Cr (VI) toxicity. However, GPX took a little part in detoxification of Cr (VI). Furthermore, the conjugation of GSH with Cr (VI) ions by GST helped them to sequester into vacuole. GR participates in the GSG biosynthesis and might build up a reduced form GSG against poisoning of the Cr (VI). This might be a part of defense strategy adapted by S. bicolor against chromium toxicity to protect themselves. We find that the roots and upper leaves, often considered as a first biomarker for Cr (VI) treated plants organ compared to the other organs. A higher level of LPO was correlated with lower CAT and GPX activities. Therefore, hyperactivities of GST and GR in roots and upper leaves might be attributed to the strategies adopted by S. bicolor to overcome the toxicity of the Cr (VI).

Key words: Hyperactivity, GST, CAT, GR. activities and Sorghum bicolor, LPO.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-009, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of rooting media and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration on rooting and shoot formation of Warburgia ugandensis stem cuttings

Florence Akwatulira¹, Samson Gwali²*, John Bosco Lamoris Okullo¹, Paul Ssegawa³, Susan Balaba Tumwebaze⁴, John Richard Mbwambo⁵ and Alice Muchugi⁶

¹Department of Forest Biology and Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

²National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), P. O. Box 1752, Kampala, Uganda.

³Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

⁴Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

⁵Lushoto Forestry Research Station, Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), P. O. Box 95, Lushoto, Tanzania.

⁶Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 21 June, 2011

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of different rooting media and indolebutryic acid (IBA) hormone concentration on root and shoot development in stem cuttings of Warburgia ugandensis. Stem cuttings were treated with three different levels (0.3, 0.6 and 0.8% w/w) of IBA concentration (including a control-no IBA hormone) and propagated in three rooting media (milled pine bark, top forest soil and sand) under non -misting propagators. Data on root and shoot development, callusing, number and length of roots and shoots were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi square test. Callusing, root and shoot development were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by rooting media and IBA concentration. Milled pine bark and 0.8% w/w IBA concentration gave the highest percentages of stem cuttings that callused, rooted and shooted (38, 37, 41% and 57, 41, 59%), respectively. Similarly, milled pine bark and 0.8% w/w IBA concentration gave the greatest number and longest roots and shoots per stem cutting. Vegetative propagation of W. ugandensis through stem cuttings can be appropriately achieved by treating the cuttings with 0.8% w/w IBA hormone using milled pine bark as a growth medium.

Key words: Warburgia ugandensis, indolebutryic acid (IBA), vegetative propagation, callusing, rooting, milled pine bark.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on antimicrobial activities of some selected ferns and lycophytes in Eastern India with special emphasis on ethno-medicinal uses

Asim Mandal and Amal Kumar Mondal*

Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-721 102, West Bengal, India.

Accepted 13 June, 2020

Abstract

In this research, the occurrences of antimicrobial activity of some ferns were studied. The present paper dealt with the antimicrobial activities of some ethno-medicinally important ferns which were very common in West Mednapore District, as well as South West Bengal, against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The plants were extracted with different solvents (70% ethanol, methanol and acetone) and controlled by deionized water (DW). Our experiment revealed significant results like Dryopteris, which showed remarkable antimicrobial activities among all the selected ferns.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, ferns, ethnomedicinal uses, Eastern India.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular detection of a virus infecting carrot and its effect on some cytological and physiological parameters

Bushra Afreen*, Mohd Gulfishan, Geetesh Baghel, Mehar Fatma, A. Akil Khan and Q. A. Naqvi

Plant Virology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002 India.

Accepted 07 April, 2020

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the physiological and cytological changes in carrot (Daucus carota L.) due to infection of cucumber mosaic virus. The virus isolate causing mottling was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) by showing amplification of the expected size of 650 base pair (bp) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) band. Regarding the physiological changes, carbon, nitrogen and protein contents was decreased in infected plants as compared to healthy plants while phosphorous content was increased in diseased plant. In cytological changes, the scattered metaphase was observed in the diseased plant cells. Mitotic index of the diseased cells was decreased while N/C ratio was increased. Chromatin bridges were also observed at anaphase I and II due to infection of cucumber mosaic virus.

Key words: Physiological changes, cytological changes, Daucus carota.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Actinorhizal plants of Kumaun Himalaya and their ecological significance

Kiran Bargali

Department of Botany, Kumaun University (K.U.) Nainital-263002, Uttarakhand, India. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 21 June, 2020

Abstract

Actinorhizal plants are important in having symbiotic association with actinomycete Frankia. Nitrogen (N)   fixation by actinorhizal plants is a major source of fixed N in diverse and widespread ecosystems including forests, bogs, swamps, coastal dunes, landslides, glacial deposits, shrublands, prairies and deserts. They play important roles in wild land ecosystem function and are used in land reclamation, range management, forestry, agroforestry and horticulture. In this study, 8 actinorhizal plants of Kumaun Himalayan region have been described. Habit, habitat, distribution and possible ecological significance of these plants are also described. These plants are not only important for the restoration of degraded lands, but also provide good source of timber, fuel wood, fodder, food and medicines, etc.

Key words: Actinorhizal, degraded, nitrogen, plantation, reclamation.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-017, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Biological remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the soil and sediments by microorganisms and plants

R. O. Anyasi¹* and H. I. Atagana²

¹Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria-South Africa.

²Institute for Science and Technology Education, University of South Africa, Pretoria-South Africa.

Accepted 03 May, 2020

Abstract

It is a known fact that the environment is suffering from severe contamination as a result of various uncontrolled activities of man and chemicals in the biosphere. This acute and diffuse contamination of air, soil and water by metals, chemicals and metalloids causes wide environmental concerns, which if left unchecked will be detrimental to man and organisms. Biological methods for cleaning of the environment especially the soil have been receiving increasing attention for the past two decades. Bacteria and fungi have been the natural detoxification agent for contaminants in the environment. Recently, research has shown that with the combination of plants and microorganism in the right proportions and technique, detoxification of environmental contaminants will produce a desirable and better result and most importantly the natural environment will not be affected as some of the processes are environmentally friendly. However, the hydrophobic organic molecules such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) tend to be much less responsive to bioremediation strategies. The wide spread presence of this compound and others in the prominent group known as persistent organic pollutants (POP’s), that share common chemical, toxicological and environment properties continues to increase in the environment, even with the various measures taken to control its presence in the environment. This review focuses on the possible trends of remediation of PCBs in the environment and the methodologies applied. It also reviews the merits and demerits of using plants and microorganisms as biological detoxification agents. This will highlight the possible improvement measures on the combination of plants and microorganisms in bioremediation, thereby filling the gap left behind by the conventional methods of remediation with its enormous limitations and disadvantages.

Key words: Bioremediation, phytoremediation, PCB, biodegradation, environmental pollution, rhizodegradation, thermal and chemical/physical process, dechlorination, contaminated soil, oxidative dechlorination/reductive dechlorination.