International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 12

Abstract: The traditional varieties of chick pea have low potentiality and restricted variability with respect to economic characters. Broadening the genetic base for crop improvement can be quickly achieved through induced mutagenesis. The present study was undertaken in order to comparing the effectiveness and efficiency of mutagens on Cicer arietinum. In this regard, Co – 4 variety of chick pea was subjected to different dose/concentration of Gamma rays (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 kR) and Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mM) for inducing mutation. Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency was calculated based on biological damage in M1 and chlorophyll mutations in M2. The results indicated that, mutagenic effectiveness increased with the increase in dose/concentration of mutagen. Intermediate treatments in general were found more efficient in causing less biological damage and inducing maximum amount of mutations. It shows that the chemical mutagens are more effective and efficient than physical mutagen for inducing mutation in Chick pea

Abstract: Salt stress is one of the most severe environmental factors that reduces and limits growth and development of plants. Abiotic stresses such as heavy metals, salinity, drought, temperature, UV-radiation, ozone causes drastic yield reduction in most of the crops. Especially salt stress affects around 20 of NaCl on germination and seedling growth of Zea mays L. Seeds of Zea mays were germinated in glass Petri- 100 × 15 mm diameter lined with blotting paper. Ten seeds were placed in each petri-dish. Petridishes were irrigated with 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mM concentrations of NaCl. A control was moistened with ten milliliters of distilled water. The germination percentage, water absorption of the seeds, water uptake percentage and the growth parameters were observed. The results obtained showed that the inhibition of the germination percentage, germination rate, water uptake, growth and biomass accumulation of the seedlings were observed to decrease with increasing NaCl concentrations. At the highest level of stress both plumule and radical decreased significantly. The salt stress decreased seed germination, biomass and growth of maize seedlings due to ion toxicity, decrease osmotic potential and oxidative stress

Abstract: Carica papaya Linn. is one of the valuable plant used for various purposes in medicinal field. Leaves, fruit and seeds of the C. papaya are used as ethnomedicine. This work describes biochemical constituents of leaves of C. papaya. Fresh leaves samples of the plant were collected during the month of January, 2013 from different parts of Bhuj in Kachchh district (Gujarat), India. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the biochemical composition in leaves of C. papaya growing in the semi-arid region of Gujarat and based on the result to justify its importance in various treatments of diseases. The dried leaves were further analyzed for biochemical constituents like Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Clˉ and Li⁺. The results indicated that the leaf extract of C. papaya has high potentiality for curing number of diseases.

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the traditional knowledge of herbal plants in a Kalvarayan Hills, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu. It was carried out through face to face interview with respondent, collection and identification of herbal plants in the hills. A total number of 60 species of herbal plants were recorded during a series of folk botanical surveys at a hill at Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu. A majority of these species are herbaceous angiosperms, followed by trees and shrubs. The most common part of the plant used in preparing for herbal medicine is the bark, leaves, roots, stem, flowers, and fruits. Mostly the plants are used for general health, to treat dermatological complaints, reproductive system, abdominal problems and fever compared to other ailments. The most common method of herbal preparation is poultice, followed by decoction and infusion. Thus, more medicinal plants are used topically than orally.

Abstract: Medicinal plants play an important role for health care. Medicinal plants have ability to cure both infectious and non infectious diseases. According to an estimate about 25 % of medicines are derived from plants. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Feronia elephantum Correa by using Agar well diffusion assay. The fungal strains used in this research work were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium exspansum, Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporum. The length of inhibition zone was measured in millimetres. The results were referenced against Glucanazole antifungal agent. Methanolic fruit extract showed maximum antifungal activity against most of the strains where as moderate antifungal potential was shown by leaf extract in aqueous extract.

Abstract: Constructed wetlands are artificial wastewater treatment systems consisting of shallow ponds or channels which have been planted with aquatic plants, and which rely upon natural microbial, biological, physical and chemical processes to treat wastewater. They typically have impervious clay or synthetic liners, and engineered structures to control the flow direction, liquid detention time and water level. Depending on the type of system, they may or may not contain an inert porous media such as rock, gravel or sand. Constructed wetlands have been used to treat a variety of wastewaters including urban runoff; municipal, industrial, agricultural and acid mine drainage. In this regard’s an attempted has been made to reduce the heavy metal present in waste water