Effect of tropospheric ozone and its protectants on gas exchange parameters, antioxidant enzymes and quality of Garlic (Allium sativum. L)

An experimental study was conducted to assess the detrimental effect of ground-level ozone (O3) on garlic physiology and to find out appropriate control measures against ground-level O3, at TNAU-Horticultural Research farm, Udhagamandalam. Elevated ground ozone levels significantly decreased garlic leaf chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, total soluble solids and pungency. The garlic chlorophyll content was highest in ambient ozone level and lowest in elevated ozone@200 ppb, highest stomatal conductance was recorded in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 3%Panchagavya, and the lowest was observed in elevated ozone@200 ppb. Since the elevated O3 had reduced in garlic photosynthetic rate significantly the lowest was observed in elevated O3@200 ppb and the highest photosynthetic rate was observed in ambient Ozone with foliar spray 3% of panchagavya after a week. The antioxidant enzymes of garlic were increased with increased concentration of tropospheric ozone. The highest catalase (60.97 µg of H2O2/g of leaf) and peroxidase (9.13 ΔA/min/g of leaf) concentration was observed at 200 ppb elevated ozone level. Garlic pungency content was highest in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 0.1% ascorbic acid and the lowest was observed under elevated O3@200 ppb. Highest total soluble solids were observed in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 3%Panchagavya and the lowest observed in elevated ozone@200 ppb. Thus, tropospheric ozone has a detrimental impact on the physiology of crops, which reduced crop growth and yield. Under elevated O3 levels, ascorbic acid performed well followed by panchagavya and neem oil. The antioxidant such as catalase and peroxidase had positive correlation among themselves and had negative correlation with chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, pungency and TSS. The photosynthetic rate has high positive correlation with chlorophyll content, pungency and TSS. Correlation analysis confirmed the negative effects of tropospheric ozone and garlic gas exchange parameters and clove quality. The ozone protectants will reduce stomatal opening by which the entry of O3 in to the cell will be restricted and other hand they also will alleviate ROS and allied stresses.

From slag to green: Aided-phytoremediation as a sustainable tool to rehabilitate land contaminated by steel slag and assessment of CO2 sequestration

Steel slag (SS) has many applications, but its immediate reuse is not possible due to its inherent swelling potential and presence of toxic metals. Therefore, it can only be used after the aging process, which can be either natural or artificial. While few large-scale steel plants afford artificial aging, many small-scale ones opt for natural aging through stockpiling of SS. This results in an increase in soil pH to over 12, thus damaging the ecosystem and making it unviable for plant growth. This research focuses on the reclamation of land affected by SS through the formation of a Phyto-barrier using 22 native plant species aided by the application of a 2 % (v/v) solution of the organic amendment. Furthermore, the superior performance of plants belonging to the Fabaceae family was ascertained, while establishing Sesbania grandiflora as an able species for aided-phytoremediation due to its remarkable growth (≈ 10 ft tall and 33 cm in circumference) during the study period. The CO2 sequestered by the plantation showed that maximum sequestration has been done by Sesbania grandiflora (49.96 kg CO2 / tree/ year), and least by Azadirachta indica (0.35 kg CO2/tree/year). The overall CO2 sequestered by the plantation stood at 3.85 tons/year. A cost-benefit analysis of using aided-phytoremediation indicates an expense of 90 $ per year as the recurring expense, while carbon credits if monetized, would yield 154 $ to 308 $ as returns. The investigations of this study established a new approach to vegetation over SS-affected land, through native species and the application of organic amendment.

Bioprospecting of cowdung microflora for sustainable agricultural, biotechnological and environmental applications

The review aims at highlighting the manifold applications of cow dung (CD) and CD microflora covering agricultural, biotechnological and environmental applications. The update research on CD microflora and CD in agricultural domain such as biocontrol, growth promotion, organic fertilizer, sulfur oxidation, phosphorus solubilization, zinc mobilization and underlying mechanisms involved in these processes are discussed. The significance of CD applications in tropical agriculture in context to climate change is briefly emphasized. The advances on genomics and proteomics of CD microflora for enhanced yield of enzymes, organic acids, alternative fuels (biomethane and biohydrogen) and other biocommodities, and environmental applications in context to biosorption of heavy metals, biodegradation of xenobiotics, etc. have been given critical attention.

Biosynthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

In recent decades focus of research has been toward an alternative antibacterial agent because of growing bacterial resistance and side effects of antibacterial agents. In the current study, the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles has been evaluated on selected human pathogens.

METHODS

In this study, we used panchagavya (PG) to synthesize gold nanoparticles, and the resulting nanoparticles (PG-AuNPs) were characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. In addition, antibacterial activity of PG-AuNPs against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied by well diffusion method.

RESULTS

The synthesis of AuNPs was affirmed by a colour change, which was further validated by UV-vis spectra with a maximum absorption peak at 527 nm. Bandgap energy was calculated as 2.13 eV by Tauc method from the UV result. The presence of amino acids and proteins in PG was responsible for the conversion of gold ions to AuNPs, according to FTIR analysis. (111), (200), (220), and (311) crystallographic planes were observed by XRD; further crystalline nature was validated by SAED analysis. The size and zeta value were found to be 53.29 nm and -9.8 mV respectively. Spherical shaped nanoparticles and elemental structure of PG-AuNPs were confirmed by HRTEM and EDS analysis. The antibacterial activity of PG-AuNPs showed the maximum and minimum zone of inhibition against K. pneumoniae (17.12 ± 0.14 mm) and B. subtilis (11.42 ± 0.58 mm).

CONCLUSION

Antibacterial activity of PG-AuNPs was found to be strong against gram negative bacteria and moderate against gram positive bacteria. Based on the result, it was concluded that PG-AuNPs could be used to combat antibiotic drug resistance. Besides, in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies of PG-AuNPs should be conducted.

Evaluation of Vrikshayurveda treatments on physiological attributes and production of diterpenoids in Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees

Background

An ancient text on plant life Vrikshayurveda mentions the use of horticulture treatments, Kunapa Jala (KJ) and Panchagavya (PG) (cow milk, cow ghee, cow curd, cow dung, and cow urine) to enhance the efficiency of plants.

Aim

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of KJ and PG application on total leaf area, leaf area index (LAI) leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR); production of andrographolide (A1), neoandrographolide (A2), and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (A3) of the Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees.

Materials and methods

The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with six treatments, namely control, KJ, PG, farmyard manure, inorganic fertilizer, and humic acid. Simultaneous detection of contents was carried out using reversed-phase-ultra-flow liquid chromatography (RP-UFLC). The parameters were studied at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after sowing (DAS).

Results

KJ produced higher leaf area and LAI at 90 DAS, LAD between 90 and 120 DAS. PG produced higher CGR, RGR, and NAR between 60 and 90 DAS. RP-UFLC analysis revealed the maximum amount of ingredients at 120 DAS. At this stage, PG treatment recorded the maximum amount of A1, A2, and A3.

Conclusion

Kunapa Jala and Panchagavya treatments were better or at par on physiological parameters and production of diterpenoids of A. paniculata.

Molecular characterization of a proteolytic bacterium in Panchagavya: An organic fertilizer mixture

Fermented product of combination of five major substances obtained from cow, viz., urine, milk, ghee, curd, and dung, is known as Panchagavya. Its pro-agricultural and medicinal value has been traditionally known to Indian farmers from Vedic period. In this study, the proteolytic properties of Panchagavya were investigated using Skim Milk Agar (SMA) form, a commercially available Panchagavya product. Proteolytic bacteria, SNCK-3, was successfully isolated. Further identification using 16s rDNA sequencing revealed that SNCK-3 belonged to Acinetobacter spp., which is a species of biofertilizer group. This observation justified the pro-agricultural role of Panchagavya. The present study represents primary data and it is essential to develop a new area of research for exposing the invisible or dormant Vedic biotechnological concepts, like Panchagavya.

Plant growth promoting bacteria from cow dung based biodynamic preparations

Indigenous formulations based on cow dung fermentation are commonly used in organic farming. Three biodynamic preparations viz., Panchagavya (PG), BD500 and 'Cow pat pit' (CPP) showed high counts of lactobacilli (10(9) ml(-1)) and yeasts (10(4) ml(-1)). Actinomycetes were present only in CPP (10(4) ml(-1)) and absent in the other two. Seven bacterial isolates from these ferments were identified by a polyphasic approach: Bacillus safensis (PG1), Bacillus cereus (PG2, PG4 PG5), Bacillus subtilis (BD2) Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (BD3) and Bacillus licheniformis (CPP1). This is the first report of L. xylanilyticus and B. licheniformis in biodynamic preparations. Only three carbon sources-dextrose, sucrose and trehalose out of 21 tested were utilized by all the bacteria. None could utilize arabinose, dulcitol, galactose, inositol, inulin, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose and sorbitol. All the strains produced indole acetic acid (1.8-3.7 μg ml(-1) culture filtrate) and ammonia. None could fix nitrogen; but all except B. safensis and B. licheniformis could solubilize phosphorous from insoluble tri-calcium phosphate. All the strains except L. xylaniliticus exhibited antagonism to the plant pathogen Rhizoctonia bataticola whereas none could inhibit Sclerotium rolfsi. In green house experiment in soil microcosms, bacterial inoculation significantly promoted growth of maize; plant dry weight increased by ~21 % due to inoculation with B. cereus (PG2). Results provide a basis for understanding the beneficial effects of biodynamic preparations and industrial deployment of the strains.

Critical study of Jara (aging) and its management

Jara Avastha (stage of old age) is the later phase of life in which maximum decline of bodily elements is observed. Paramanuvibhaga (cell division) takes place at every moment; particularly in old age, it will be fast in comparison with other phases of life. Some organ related changes also take place during this period, which are the decades of Balya, Vridhhi, Chhavi, Medha, Twak, etc., In this study, applied aspects of Medha Hani, Twak Hani, and Drishti Hani were evaluated subjectively as well as objectively. Patients were selected from the OPD of Department of Basic Principles, I.P.G.T. and R.A., Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, irrespective of their sex, caste, religion, etc., and randomly divided into two groups. Patients in Group A were treated with Panchagavya Ghrita and Group B with plain Go Ghrita for 90 days and the dose of drug was 10 g/day at Nirannakala (early morning with empty stomach). Both groups showed significant results, the difference in between the groups is statistically insignificant.