Search

Fly ash (FA) is a problematic solid waste, possessing essential elements which modifies the properties of soil and improve the plant growth. FA also contains toxic heavy metals, thus there is an urgent need to study the influence of heavy metals present in FA on the growth of plant. The present study was designed to analyze improvement in chemical composition and antioxidant defense mechanism of seed oil extracts from Jatropha curcas grown in different doses of FA (0% FA, 25% FA, 50% FA, 75% FA and 100% FA) along with garden soil (GS). A comparison of methyl esters of fatty acids was analyzed in oil extracts using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Sixteen compounds were detected, constituting 99.94% of the total oil constituents. Methyl esters of oleic acid, linoleic acid and hexadecanoic acid were the major compounds present. Comparative GC–MS analysis of the three samples showed an increase of 2.15 and 87.84-fold in 25% FA and 50% FA. The antioxidant potential was determined using 2–2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing potential (FRAP). Highest scavenging activity and lowest IC50 were observed in 50% FA sample followed by 25% FA and 100% GS. Activity of various antioxidant defense enzymes like SOD, CAT, POD and APX was analyzed. Treatment (50% FA with 50% GS) demonstrated enhanced chemical contents and antioxidant defense enzymes. These results suggest the utilization of FA as soil amendment for the growth of non-food crop J. curcas. altered chemical composition and antioxidative defense enzymes induced in response to FA amendment to soil reflects its suitability for phytoremediation.

A total of sixty-four bacterial isolates producing enzyme protease were isolated and screened from soil samples obtained from industries. A new potent solvent stable and alkaline protease producing isolate PI-C4 was isolated from Ghazipur Poultry waste site which was identified to be Bacillus cereus based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Consensus sequence of 1398 bp of the strain PI-C4 has been deposited in GenBank with accession number KM211501. Furthermore, the PI-C4 enzyme was subjected to precipitation using ammonium sulphate (70% saturation), dialysis and was further concentrated by ion exchange chromatography which resulted in purification fold of 2.47 and 57.7% yield. The alkaline protease was found to be 46 kDa. Enzyme PI-C4 was also characterized with respect to temperature and pH and was found to be active at pH 9.0 and 450C. The protease possesses significant stability (64.7-82.2%) in the presence of surfactants tested. The alkaline protease possesses higher stability in solvent DMSO (107%) followed by acetone (91%) and isopropanol (82%). The protease could therefore be useful for various applications like enzymatic leather treatment, feather degradation and recovery of silver.

Phytoremediation of fly ash (FA) deposits using metal tolerant plant species has become an important eco-friendly technique for reclamation nowadays. The present study was carried out to determine the impact of FA application on photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids), biochemical parameters (soluble protein, reducing sugar, nitrate and nitrate reductase (NR) activity), metal accumulation (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Cd, Cr, and Mn) and antioxidant defense activity (SOD, CAT, POD, and APX) of Calendula officinalis. With this aim in mind, under pot culture conditions, Calendula officinalis was grown in different combinations of FA and soil which include: Control, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% FA. The results from the study indicated that the addition of FA (40%) in soil not only improved the physico-chemical properties of soil but also increased the photosynthetic pigment and other biochemical parameters in plants, however, these parameters declined under high FA applications. On the other hand, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, APX and Peroxidase) of Calendula increased with increasing FA application to combat heavy metal stress from fly ash. At high FA applications, antioxidant enzyme levels increased in leaves thereby reflecting heavy metal stress and mitigation of reactive oxygen species.

Endophytes are beneficial microbes that possess important function in crop health, therefore attracting huge interest among scientists of various fields around the globe. A novel endophyte or endophytic consortiums which are constantly associated with diverse crops play significant part in improving the crop health, which is also essential for sustainable agriculture. This chapter highlights the importance of fungal endophytes for sustainable agriculture. Endophytes can increase the crop growth through direct or indirect plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes including phytohormone, antimicrobial compounds production and solubilization of phosphorus, potassium and zinc. In the fungal endophytic relationships, growth-promoting fungi colonize in the host plants and present asymptomatically are often functional in nutrients uptake, increases plant growth, enhances stress resistance in plants, suppresses soil-borne pathogenic organisms and development of competitor and enhances resistance to disease. Sustainable agriculture requires different approaches that help to enhance food production and decreases the damages caused to the crop, soil and human health. Utilization of fungal endophytes as plant growth promoters is a remedial alternative for traditional chemical farming, which is based on toxic and deadly chemical pesticides/fertilizers that start their journey as soil microbiomes by different mechanisms whenever crops deal with adverse biotic and abiotic stress factors such as drought, cold, salinity and pathogenesis. Fungal endophytes help plants to adapt under such abiotic stress via induced systemic resistance, bioremediation and biocontrol.

Fly ash is an important combustion residue and the most familiar industrial by-product. It is a source of various micronutrients and macronutrients which are essential for plant growth. The striking variations towards the sensitivity of fly ash are observed in the plant growth performance as fly ash comprises heavy metals which may alter the physical, biochemical, and biological properties of the plant thereby alter the plant growth. The growth and metabolism of different plant species were studied by various researchers in different soil–fly ash amendments. Certain observations were made for cotton yield and grain yield of wheat which revealed that 20% fly ash application is significant for increased growth and rice yield or wheat crops. An improved yield and growth in potato, barley and rye was reported at optimum rate of application of fly ash. Ten percent fly ash doses with soil increased the growth of tomato, petunia, and Boston fern as it increased the height of seedling and plant, increased the girth, enhanced the number of leaves, area of leaves, length of spike, and the plant dry weight. Plant growth and yield, carotenoids and chlorophyll contents of leaves were significantly increased at high fly ash rates in chilly, eggplant, and tomato. Changes in the soil characteristics and the cropping system due to the addition of fly ash were also studied and investigated by various workers that show an enhanced production of food crops. This study is an attempt to know the impact of fly ash on morphological and biochemical parameters of different plant species and also to determine the possible utilization in various agricultural practices. At high concentration of fly ash–soil doses, the experiment shows deleterious effect, the maximum being 100% fly ash with no amendment of soil. This shows that at high concentration of heavy metals generated from fly ash can cause genetic damage to plants due to their toxic concentration. At low concentration of fly ash–soil doses, heavy metals are better for the plant growth performance as well as plant productivity. Large-scale use of fly ash in agriculture holds the prospective to increase on an average 10–15% of yield and growth performance of the plants. This agro based technique can also be used with the concept of sustainable waste management by using fly ash–soil combination as a suitable growing medium for growing different plant species.

An experiment in pot culture was conducted to analyze the ameliorative impact of different doses of fly ash (FA) in soil on the plant growth performance, total phenolics and flavonoids, and elemental uptake in Calendula officinalis. To determine the growth status of Calendula officinalis, various concentrations of FA and soil [100% garden soil (T1), 20% FA+ 80% garden soil (T2), 40% FA+ 60% garden soil (T3), 60% FA+ 40% garden soil (T4), 80% FA+ 20% garden soil (T5), and 100% FA (T6)] were selected. The physico-chemical properties of FA and soil and elemental concentrations (Ca, Mg, Al, As, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Ni) in all FA treatments were determined. The results showed that under low ratio of FA amendment to the soil (40% FA treatment), the plant growth performance was increased in comparison to plants grown in control (garden soil). However, at high FA doses in soil (60%, 80% and 100% FA treatments), these parameters tend to decrease. Fly ash at 40% concentration did not contain toxic concentrations of these elements such as Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Al, As, and Ni, therefore, beneficial effects of fly ash in terms of improved growth and yield were evident. Furthermore, the leaves showed increasing trend of total phenolic and flavonoid content with increasing FA application up to 60% FA treatment. Therefore, this study showed that 40% FA treatment to the soil is suitable for the growth and yield of Calendula officinalis. Thus, this plant has the phytoremediation potential that can promote cleanup of FA polluted sites for sustainable development.

Late blight of potato caused by fungal pathogen Phytophthora infestans is an important disease in potato growing areas around the globe resulting in food shortage, hunger and atleast 50% of crop losses. In the present investigation, two strains of Trichoderma, indigenously isolated Trichoderma harzianum (Th9) and commercial strain of same species tested were used against destructive fungus, Phytopthera infestans through in-vitro studies. Both strains of fungal bioagents showed variation in their potentiality against the rot causing fungus Phytopthera infestans. Trichoderma harzianum (Th9) exhibited highly potential properties as compared to the commercial strain. Biochemical studies revealed that enzymes chitinase and β 1,3 glucanase known for systemic resistance were found in higher concentration in healthy plants of potato as compared to the diseased one. The Th9 strain was, therefore, selected for further Integrated pest management studies either for pure applications and/or as core component of IPM packages on potato crops under field conditions.

Objective The inhibitory effects of essential oils including fennel, juniper and kalonji from Foeniculum Vulgare , Juniperus Osteosperma and Nigella Sativa on multi drug resistant clinical isolates were investigated. All the oils have been evaluated for phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and TLC bioautography assay. Methods Preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed. The antibacterial potential of essential oils from fennel, juniper and kalonji fennel, juniper and kalonji was evaluated by agar well diffusion method against multi drug resistant clinical isolates. The antibacterial effect was investigated using the TLC-bioautographic method. Results Preliminary phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of most of the phytochemicals including saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins. Antibacterial activity of essential oils was assessed on eight multi-drug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and two standard strains. All the oils tested showed significant to moderate antibacterial activity toward all tested strains except Acinetobacter sp and Staphylococcus aureus MRSA. The maximum zone of inhibition was found to be 25±0.12 mm for juniper oil followed by 21±0.085 mm for kalonji oil against Staphylococcus aureus 2. Thin layer chromatography and bioautography assay demonstrated well-defined growth inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus 2 and E. coli for juniper essential oil in correspondence with tannins observed at Rf values of 0.07 and 0.57. Conclusions Based on the present study, the essential oils from juniper and kalonji possess antibacterial activity against several multi drug resistant pathogenic bacteria and thus can be used as a base for the development of new potent drugs and phytomedicine.

A strain of Pseudomonas mendocina producing extracellular lipase was isolated from soil. The bacterium accumulates lipase in culture fluid when grown aerobically at 30 °C for 24 h in a medium composed of olive oil (1%) as substrate. Pseudomonas mendocina lipase was optimally active at pH 9.0, temperature of 50 °C and was found to be stable between pH 7.0-11.0. The lipase was inhibited by detergents such as SDS and Tween-80. The enzyme was stable in various organic solvents tested with maximum stability in chloroform followed by toluene and exhibited 1-3 regiospecificity for hydrolytic reaction. This lipase was capable of hydrolyzing a variety of lipidic substrates and is mainly active towards synthetic triglycerides and fatty acid esters that possess a butyryl group. Metal ions like Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Na(+) stimulated lipase activity, whereas, Cu(2+), Mn(2+) and Hg(2+) ions caused inhibition.

Objective: The inhibitory properties of successive extracts from Dioscorea bulbifera (Dioscoreaceae) tubers have been evaluated for the presence of phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates was evaluated. Methods: The tuber of D. bulbifera was oven dried and extracted successively with n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, and water. The antimicrobial potential of successive extracts against MDR isolates was studied by agar well-diffusion method. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed. Results: Qualitative phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of steroids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, and reducing sugars in almost all the extracts tested. Anthraquinones, phlobatanins, and tannins were not reported in any extracts tested. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of various solvents and water extracts of D. bulbifera was further investigated against ten MDR bacteria and three fungi, respectively. Aqueous and chloroform extracts were found to be more potent being capable of exerting significant inhibitory activities against the majority of the isolates such as Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter sp., Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. The highest inhibitory activity was observed for K. pneumoniae with wide inhibition zone diameters (17 ± 0.15 mm), followed by E. coli 1(13 ± 0.11) mm, and Acinetobacter sp. (11 ± 0.12). Conclusion: Based on the present study, the extracts of D. bulbifera tubers have shown excellent activity against MDR microbial cultures tested. Further study is recommended for clinical evaluation, of the efficacy of crude extract in herbal medicine that can serve as a base for the development of novel potent drugs and phytomedicines.

An investigation of an alkaline thermostable amylase secreted by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC-610 strain was carried out in order to test its compatibility and wash performance as a detergent additive. The optimum pH and temperature for amylase activity was found to be 8.0 and 50°C. The enzyme was quite stable for 1 h at 400C while at 500C, 50% of the original activity was lost, respectively. The compatibility of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens amylase with certain commercial detergents was shown to be good as the enzyme retained 96.4%, 94% and 86% of its activity after 1hr of incubation at 40°C in the presence of the detergent brands Surf Excel Blue, Surf Excel and Fena Bar respectively. The wash performance of detergents (7 mg/ml) prepared with enzyme amylase was studied on cotton, terrycloth and chiffon fabric samples stained with potato curry sample. Maximum stain removal was observed for chiffon samples where supplementation of the enzyme to the detergent Surf excel blue enhanced the cleansing ability of the detergent followed by cotton and terrycloth. We report here the compatibility and wash performance of alkaline amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC-610.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of various solvents and water extracts of aloe vera, neem, bryophyllum, lemongrass, tulsi, oregano, rosemary and thyme was assessed on 10 multi-drug resistant clinical isolates from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and two standard strains including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The zone of inhibition as determined by agar well diffusion method varied with the plant extract, the solvent used for extraction, and the organism tested. Klebsiella pneumoniae 2, Escherichia coli 3 and Staphylococcus aureus 3 were resistant to the plant extracts tested. Moreover, water extracts did not restrain the growth of any tested bacteria. Ethanol and methanol extracts were found to be more potent being capable of exerting significant inhibitory activities against majority of the bacteria investigated. Staphylococcus aureus 1 was the most inhibited bacterial isolate with 24 extracts (60%) inhibiting its growth whereas Escherichia coli 2 exhibited strong resistance being inhibited by only 11 extracts (28%). The results obtained in the agar diffusion plates were in fair correlation with that obtained in the minimum inhibitory concentration tests. The minimum inhibitory concentration of tulsi, oregano, rosemary and aloe vera extracts was found in the range of 1.56-6.25 mg/ml for the multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates tested whereas higher values (6.25-25 mg/ml) were obtained against the multi-drug resistant isolates Klebsiella pneumoniae 1 and Escherichia coli 1 and 2. Qualitative phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of tannins and saponins in all plants tested. Thin layer chromatography and bioautography agar overlay assay of ethanol extracts of neem, tulsi and aloe vera indicated flavonoids and tannins as major active compounds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.