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An investigation was carried out to estimate the effect of crusher dust on floristic composition and biological spectrum in grassland of Odisha, India. The vegetation analysis was performed following standard procedures. The floristic survey of the study area, which includes natural as well as crusher unit affected sites, revealed the presence of 24 plant species distributed in 11 families representing a two storied floristic composition in the area. Out of the 24 species, maximum number of species belonged to the life-form class therophytes followed by hemi cryptophytes and chamaephytes and least number of species belonged to class geophytes. Some of the important families like Poaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae and Convovulaceae are noted to be prevalent in the study area. The seasonal variation of relative frequency, relative density and relative dominance of different species fluctuated. The majority was from the species Aristida; the next two in order of dominance were Heteropogon and Setaria. The grass species have more IVI values as compared to non-grass species in the community. The value of Simpson’s dominance index varied from 0.188 to 0.536. It showed increasing trend from rainy to summer having highest value in summer. In contrary, the diversity index showed decreasing trend from rainy to summer.

We carried out an ethno-medico-biological investigation in the interior of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India to explore the therapeutic use of traditional plants/animals by local inhabitants. The villagers and rural people used plant and animal species as medicine. We recorded therapeutic use of 18 plant species of 13 families and 12 animal species of seven taxonomic categories. Different plant/animal parts like bark, leaf, flower, seed, stem, root, whole plant, oil, blood, milk, urine and flesh were reported as used in raw or cooked form against 17 specific diseases. Prominent diseases treated by plant/animal remedies were asthma, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, epilepsy, jaundice, malaria, skin disorder and rheumatism. This study provides a better database for future studies.

The present study deals with less known uses of 54 plant species in the treatment of various dental and oral diseases like dental carries, gingivitis and pyorrhea. It is primarily based on field surveys carried out in villages, where dwellers provided information on plant species used as medicine, parts used to prepare the remedies, and the illnesses to which the remedies were prescribed. The relevance of this phytotherapy has also been presented with reference to the socioeconomic milieu of the rural people of Odisha. Maximum number of species are reported from family Fabaceae (5) and Mimosaeae (5) followed by members of Euphorbiaceae (4), Moraceae (3), and Sapotaceae (3). Besides, bark, leaf and rhizome as such or being processed are used as tooth powder. In few cases the latex, juice or oil extracted from seeds are either directly applied on the effected tooth and gums or gurgled for relief. Moreover, out of 54 plant species, 28 are exclusively used for tooth stick, 12 for toothache due to caries, 09 for gum diseases and 24 species for pyorrhea. This research will hopefully help in monitoring and management of ethnomedicinal plants and highlights their importance. It could be a valuable tool for better understanding the long-term effects of traditional knowledge available in different districts of Odisha, India.

Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton populations and nutrient status of water were studied in sewage fed river Mahanadi of Orissa for a period of one year covering three seasons. Phytoplankton population and water analysis was performed using standard procedure. Maximum population density was observed in the winter season followed by summer and monsoon. Higher phytoplankton populations were encountered in Sikharpur (site IV) which corresponded to the fluctuation of prevailing conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, better organic load and chemical oxygen demand content of the said habitat. A total of 25 species belonging to three different groups were recorded during the study period. Spirogyra ornata, Navicula cuspidate, Oscillatoria limnosa were the most abundant followed by Zygnema, Ulothrix, Nitchia and Phormidium. Higher concentration of diatom at Sikharpur site indicates polluted zone of the river. Oscillatoria and Nitchella species at sewage affected sites can be used as an indicator of organic pollution in the river. Our findings highlighted the deterioration of water quality in the river due to industrializati on and human activities. Proper biological and chemical treatment of domestic sewage and industrial effluents before discharge to river system is suggested.

Seasonal dynamics of soil microfungal populations, their metabolic activity and decomposition of leaf litter were studied in a monoculture plantation of Casuarina equisetifolia L. in coastal sandy belt of Orissa for a period of 2 years (June 2002–May 2004). Fungal succession of litter was also studied. Microbial isolation and soil analysis was performed using standard procedures and decomposition of leaf litter was studied using litter bag technique. Maximum population density was observed in the rainy season followed by winter and lastly summer. Larger microbial populations were encountered in plantation soil compared to barren sand, corresponding with the fluctuation of prevailing temperature, moisture and total organic carbon content. Rates of litter loss and carbon dioxide output followed the same trends as the population density. The annual K value was 0.41. The diversity index varied from 2.87 to 3.71 (Shannon) and 0.356 to 0.885 (Simpson). The similarity index showed that highly decomposed litter (...

ABSTARCT Investigations have been made on medicinal values of higher plants but the role of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) on the livelihood of tribals in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa are unfortunately ignored. The dominant tribes involved in using NTFPs in the district are Santhal, Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas. This study documents the uses and trading of 37 NTFPS on the basis of field surveys and taxonomic identification of plants. Some of the important genera of the district are Cyperus, Desmodium, Blumea, Dendrabiun, Indigofera and Ficus.

An investigation was carried out to estimate micro fungal population and its relationship with physico- chemical properties in natural tropical forest soil, deforested soil, deforested-cum-cultivated soil, barren sand dune, sand dune with monoculture plantation of Casuarina and sand dune with monoculture plantation of Anacardium.. Microbial isolation and soil analysis was performed using standard procedures. The micro fungal population ranged from 35.5 to 1276.2 g -1 dry soil in different study sites. They corresponded to the fluctuation of prevailing temperature, moisture and total organic carbon content of the said habitat. . A total of 285 species of fungi belonging to 113 genera were enumerated. The majorities were from the genus Aspergillus; the next two in order of dominance were Penicillium and Trichoderma. The diversity values (H) show an increase as we move from barren sand dune to deforested-cum-cultivated soil. Shannon's diversity index is reasonably high varying from 3.528 to 4.144 correspondingly the dominance values are low varying from 0.0242 to 0.0499. The evenness values, however, show a different trend. The surface soil of forest has the highest species richness where as sub-surface soil of barren sand dunes shows lowest richness. The study revealed that the conversion of natural forest led to a reduction of soil organic matter. Considering the importance of microbial component in soil, we conclude that the conversion of natural forest to different land uses leads to the loss of biological stability of soil. Introduction of predominant decomposing microorganisms isolated from the present study can help to increase the nutrient status of the sandy sterile mass under focus is suggested.

A total of 141 species belonging 64 genera of fungi were isolated from coastal sandy belt of Orissa. The most dominant genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Fusarium spp. Higher fungal and bacterial population was encountered in soil B than in soil A. Surface layer possessed higher fungal population, more soil nutrients and less moisture. Fungal population was positively correlated with total organic carbon, moisture content and total soil respiration but negatively correlated with soil temperature. Bacteria studied were maximum in June-July and minimum in January-February.

Mayurbhanj, a hilly district, is rich in ethno medicinal plants. In the present paper 58 plant species belonging to 34 families used in folk medicine have been documented. Due to poor condition of modern healthcare facilities and poverty, indigenous people of the district fully or partially depend on local medicinal plants. An attempt has been made to document traditional knowledge from the baidyas group of Hatikote, Moroda & Rasgovindpur and Udala & Kaptipada blocks of Mayurbhanj district on the treatment of various diseases enumerated.

Vancomycin belongs to the vancomycin-ristocetin family of glycopeptides, and is a subclass of linear sugar containing peptides composed of seven amino acids. Its stereochemical configuration forms the basis of a particular mode of action, though its complexation with the D-alanyl-D-alanine terminus of peptidoglycon monomer. The glycosylated hexapeptide chain consists of chloro-β-hydroxytyrosines, p-hydroxyphenylglycines, N-methylleucine and aspartic acid forms a rigid molecular frame work and gives the difficulty in the analysis. Vancomycin in the serum samples is usually estimated by liquid chromatography and the bacterial sensitivity was genereally tested by the microbiological assay. The present review deals with the qualitative, quantitative, microbiological and immunological assays and the comparison of the quantitative methods. Clinical implications of vancomycin have also been cited in the review.

(R)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyric acid (RAM), a chiral compound, is an important intermediate for the chemical synthesis of various antihypertensive and congestive heart failure drugs. Microorganisms capable of converting (R,S)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyric acid ((R,S)-ester) to RAM were screened from soil microorganisms. A strain ofPseudomonas sp. 1001 screened from a soil sample was selected to be the best. Cells showed an activity of 540 U/mL from culture broth and the enzyme was thermostable up to 70°C. This strain could produce RAM asymmetrically from (R,S)-ester.

Composition and intensity of fungal spores in a coastal sandy belt of Orissa was studied using gravity petri plate method. Concentration of spores was more at inside plantation less at outside and least at far outside the plantation. The dominant species recorded were Cladosporium cladosporioides, Pestalotia sp., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus awamori and Curvularia lunata. Higher number of fungal isolates and lesser number of taxa were recorded inside the field at the spot far off the plantation.

To obtain a catalyst with good mechanical stress stability and other operational characteristics, cross-linked aggregates of whole Escherichia coli containing penicillin amidase were reinforced with surface modified precipitated silica and chitosan. The immobilized cells plus mixed fillers possess better performance characteristics i.e. higher stability at 4°C and 30°C, least protein leaching capacity and good settling characteristics. Most suitable conditions to prepare catalyst with mixed fillers were: chitosan, 0.3: silica, 0.2 g/g d.wt cell; and minimum moisture content in catalyst, 30% (w/w).

Physiological changes of the development of embryo have been studied during entire period of growth. It has been found that the parameters viz, effect of age of incubated eggs, effect of age on transfer and efficiency of transfer operation have more influence on the physiological aspect. Younger embryo did not show any damage to the important blood vessels after the transfer into the artificial medium.

Tween surfactants (Tween 20, 40, 60 and 80) stimulated the excretion of protein by Trichoderma reesei QM9414 during growth on cellulose. Tween 60 gave maximal secretion of protein. The presence of Tween decreased the lag time of growth and weakly stimulated growth. Almost the same proportion of cell-wall-bound activity was found in cultures supplemented with Tween for β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase. The addition of various Tweens (20, 40, 60 or 80) had only a small effect on the fatty acid composition of the mycelium of T. reesei. Among 5 mutant strains with different secretory capacity, all but one showed stimulation of protein secretion by Tween surfactants. There was no observable correlation between the stimulation of secretion by Tween and the degree of unsaturation of mycelial fatty acids. It is concluded that the stimulation of protein secretion by Tween surfactants does not involve release of surface bound enzymes or changes in membrane fatty acid unsaturation.

Significant increase in extracellular cellulase and hemicellulase activities was observed in the biosynthesis of cellulase enzyme in mixed culture fermentation of Trichoderma reesei D 1-6 and Aspergillus wentii Pt 2804 when the A. wentii inoculation was phased by 15 hours. The optimal conditions of fermentation by the mixed culture have been established. Presence of mannanase has been found to affect the release as well as activity of cellulase enzyme produced in mixed culture.

A significant increase in extracellular xylanase activity was observed in the mixed culture fermentation of Trichoderma reesei D1-6 and Aspergillus wentii Pt 2804 when A. wentii inoculation was phased by 15 h. A. wentii produced a polysaccharide, chiefly consisting of glucose monomeric units, which was required for expression of maximum xylanase activity. Expression of high activity of xylanase in the A. wentii phased mixed culture compared to that in either T. reesei or A. wentii single cultures appeared to be controlled by the combined action of a polysaccharide produced by A. wentii and the relative growth of the two fungi in the mixed culture.

For enhanced production of cellulase and xylanase by the mixed culture ofT. reesei D1-6 andA. wentii Pt 2804, the composition of medium has been optimized.

A simple differential method based on measurement of an intracellular pigment of Aspergillus wentii was developed for estimation of the individual growths of two fungi, Trichoderma reesei and A. wentii , in mixed-culture fermentation of an insoluble cellulosic substrate.