The Assessment of Morphological Diversity of Colchicum luteum L., an Economically Important Threatened Medicinal Plant of Kashmir Himalaya

New insights in food security and environmental sustainability through waste food management

Food waste has been identified as one of the major factors that constitute numerous anthropogenic activities, especially in developing countries. There is a growing problem with food waste that affects every part of the waste management system, from collection to disposal; finding long-term solutions necessitates involving all participants in the food supply chain, from farmers and manufacturers to distributors and consumers. In addition to food waste management, maintaining food sustainability and security globally is crucial so that every individual, household, and nation can always get food. "End hunger, achieve food security and enhanced nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture" are among the main challenges of global sustainable development (SDG) goal 2. Therefore, sustainable food waste management technology is needed. Recent attention has been focused on global food loss and waste. One-third of food produced for human use is wasted every year. Source reduction (i.e., limiting food losses and waste) and contemporary treatment technologies appear to be the most promising strategy for converting food waste into safe, nutritious, value-added feed products and achieving sustainability. Food waste is also employed in industrial processes for the production of biofuels or biopolymers. Biofuels mitigate the detrimental effects of fossil fuels. Identifying crop-producing zones, bioenergy cultivars, and management practices will enhance the natural environment and sustainable biochemical process. Traditional food waste reduction strategies are ineffective in lowering GHG emissions and food waste treatment. The main contribution of this study is an inventory of the theoretical and practical methods of prevention and minimization of food waste and losses. It identifies the trade-offs for food safety, sustainability, and security. Moreover, it investigates the impact of COVID-19 on food waste behavior.

Seasonal fluctuation of water quality and ecogenomic phylogeny of novel potential microbial pollution indicators of Veshaw River Kashmir-Western Himalaya

Nearly a billion people, especially in underdeveloped nations, need safe drinking water. Indian studies suggest that most drinking water sources have high coliform levels, and quality assurance is required. This study was conducted in rural parts of South Kashmir in the Western Himalaya from February 2019 to January 2020. Standard river water sampling was done from upstream to downstream of the river. This study examined the detection, molecular identification, and chemical water quality of coliform-contaminated drinking water, which sums up river water pollution. Water quality varied significantly, indicating downstream contamination. Sangam (downstream) had the highest coliform count, showing 72.2600 cfu per litre in summer, while Kongwaton (upstream), near the Veshaw River, had no coliform count in winter. In summer, Sangam (downstream) had the highest water quality metrics (pH 6.847, Electrical conductivity (EC) 71.620 dS/m, Biological oxygen demand (BOD) 1.120 mg/L, and Chemical oxygen demand (COD) 24.637 mg/L) in all seasons. The lowest winter water quality metrics in Kongwaton were pH 8.947, EC 253.680 dS/m, BOD 4.963 mg/L, and COD 51.440 mg/L. Coliforms in water suggest faecal contamination. This study examines the water quality attributes of drinking water and associated factors to determine river pollution. Total DNA was collected and sequenced for 16 S rDNA and metagenomics. Universal primers were used to amplify the bacterial 16 S rRNA. Using BLAST, the amplified 16 S rRNA gene sequence was matched to the NCBI database. A metagenomic study revealed 27 species with different relative abundance. These species include Escherichia coli, E. fergusonii, E. albertii, Klebsiella grimontii, and Shigella dysenteriae. This study is thought to be the first to discriminate against E. fergusonii, E. albertii, K. grimontii, and S. dysenteriae from E. coli and to report on E. fergusonii and E. albertii, K. grimontii, and S. dysenteriae in the river Veshaw water sources in Kulgam, Western Himalaya.

Screening of antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities, anatomical and morphological properties of Colchicum speciosum Steven (Colchicaceae)

Colchicum speciosum Steven species is a perennial stemless plant. C. speciosum is a flowering herb native to mountainous regions of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. It has been known as "Vargit, Acı Çiğdem, Güz Çiğdemi". The present study reports the antimicrobial, antioxidant, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of corm, leaf and flower methanol extracts, anatomical (light and electron microscopes) properties of root, corm, leaf, flowers and morphological characteristics of C. speciosum. Three different part of extracts C. speciosum were evaluated against E. coli ATCC 8739, S. aureus ATCC 6538, B. subtilis ATCC 19,659, C. albicans ATCC 10,231, C. krusei ATCC 14,243, and C. tropicalis ATCC 750. The most effective extract was found to be MeOH extract for corm and leaf against C. tropicalis ATCC 750 strain with MIC value 160 > µg/mL. It has been investigated first time anatomy of the tepal, ovary, anther, filament of C. speciosum. Leaf extract was the highest phenolic component (78.61842 µg GAE/ mg extract). As a result of DPPH^• and ABTS^•+ tests, it was determined that the leaf extract showed the best activity (IC₅₀ = 6.568 μg/mL and IC₅₀ = 3.243 μg/mL, respectively). Corm extract exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 21039 µg/mL. This is the first study of the in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities, detailed anatomical and morphological properties of C. speciosum. HıGHLıGHTS : • Antioxidant-antidiabetic-antimicrobial potential of Colchicum speciosum • Leaf extract had the highest phenolic component • The leaf got the highest DPPH^• and ABTS^•+ antioxidant potential • Corm extract exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity • The most effective extract was found to be MeOH extract for corm and leaf against C. tropicalis • This is the first study of the in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities, detailed anatomical and morphological properties of C. speciosum.

Impact of Anthropogenic Pressure on Physico-chemical Characteristics of Forest Soils of Kashmir Himalaya

The present study was carried out during the years 2017-2018 and assessed the impact of anthropogenic activities on the physico-chemical characteristics of soil in the Kashmir Himalaya. At disturbed sites anthropogenic activities like deforestation, grazing, tourism, urbanization, traffic etc. are seen prominent and their effect on soil environment resulted in less vegetation cover and exhibited diminution in organic matter. There was a significant increase in moisture content (21.13 ± 1.51), organic carbon (2.65% ± 0.52%), available nitrogen (493.790 ± 2.105 kg/ha), and potassium (432.727 ± 1.738 kg/ha) at undisturbed area Baerabal Harwan. However, there was a reduced pH (5.39 ± 0.230) and available phosphorus (18.993 ± 1.370) at undisturbed area in contrast to disturbed sites. Significantly higher values of Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni were found in disturbed areas (46.33 ± 0.16, 3.972 ± 0.001, 2.224 ± 0.003 and 1.7033 ± 0.002 ppm) respectively. The present findings could be helpful in formulating conservation strategies of soil at disturbed areas that are affected by anthropogenic activities which effects the soil microbial health of the forest soils. The study therefore indicated the need for employing best forest management and effective enforcement with vigorous reforestation programmes and would be a way forward towards mitigating the ongoing deterioration of the plant-soil system, sustaining forest productivity and soil fertility in the long run, and protecting people's livelihoods.