International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 31

Abstract: We studied the population records of House Sparrow Passer domesticus 16^th to 20^th December 2011 during winter in Ramakrishna Beach Road Vishakhapatnam town, Andhra Pradesh. The ecological density of House Sparrow was investigated using fixed width transects. A total of 189 House sparrows were recorded. The present study shows that a notable population of House Sparrow in Beach Road.

Abstract: The aim of this research is to study accumulation of Chromium along with nutrients and its effect on the growth of Paddy plant (Oryza sativa.L). Thus, paddy seedlings grown in petriplates lined with filter paper undergoing, different treatments of Cr (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 mg/L). After one week seedlings were removed and morphological parameters like root length, shoot length and dry weight of plants and accumulation of nutrients along with Cr content were determined. The results indicated that the concentrations more than 100 mg/L chromium cause the reduction of morphological parameters in the treatment plants rather than control plant and Cr addition in the cultures caused enhancement of chromium content paddy seedlings. Similarly nutrient accumulation also affected by increasing concentrations of chromium.

Abstract: Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl belongs to the Asteraceae family, popularly known as Ayapana .It is a perennial shrub native to Amazon rainforests of South America. Its leaves are used through infusions, decoctions, baths, and tea. It is largely used in Brazilian folk medicine as sedative, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic and anti-inflammatory. The essential oil from aerial parts of Eupatorium triplinerve was analysis by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Thirty compounds representing 98.24 % of the oil were identified. The major compounds were 2-tert-butyl – 1, 4-methoxybenzene (74.3 %) and b –Selinene (8.6 %). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against ten bacteria (including Gram positive and Gram negative) and six phytopathogenic fungi. The oil exhibited moderated antibacterial and strong antifungal activity against all the test pathogens. The highest zone inhibition was recorded against Salamella typhae (21mm) followed by Shigella sonnei (18mm) at a concentration of 20μl/ disc on the other standard Ampicillin 20mg/ disc showed on average of 14-34mm diameter of zone inhibition against the test organism. The lowest antifungal activities were recorded against Macrophomina phaseoline, and Botryodiplodia theobromae. The highest Alternaria alternate (12000ppm).Further pharmacological and toxicology studies will be required to establish the therapeutic uses of this oil.

Abstract: Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr. is one of the soft woody species occurring all along the Western Ghats region of Kundapura, Karnataka, India. The species is considered to be a potent medicinal plant exclusively used against itch and septic poisoning. A study was under gone based on the report of forest department (Karnataka) on mortality of Carallia brachiata. Observation of symptoms on the infected trees and experimental analysis of the samples under laboratory conditions revealed the incidence of Neofusicoccum sp., a first report on Carallia brachiata. This particular Neofusicoccum sp. belongs to Botryospaeriaceae family, and is considered to be an important fungal pathogen associated with tree decline in forest and plantation worldwide.

Abstract: Microbes and process development are gaining considerable importance owing to their exploitation and suitability for the production of the enzymes of therapeutic and industrial significance. In the present study attempts were made to immobilize the Pseudomonas Sp. KLM9 in different supporting matrix to analyze the possible enhancement in the production of L-Glutaminase. The consequences of the study reveal that, sodium alginate at 3.5% concentration was found to be the better supporting matrix than the others. Further, initial pH 7 of the incubation media, incubation temperature of 37°C were supported good yield of L-Glutaminase by immobilized Pseudomonas Sp KLM9. The fermentation period was reduced to 36 hr with immobilized cells. There is moderate increase in the production L-Glutaminase by the immobilized cells than the free cells of Pseudomonas Sp KLM9. Biomass obtained from the 18 hr old culture of Pseudomonas Sp KLM9 was found better to immobilize for the production of L-Glutaminase.

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of time of introduction of maize and cropping pattern on two varieties of soybean in a soybean/maize intercrop in 2007 and 2008 seasons at the University of Agriculture Makurdi. Three periods of introduction of maize were evaluated: (i) planting at the same time with soybean;(ii) introduction of maize two weeks after planting soybean and (iii) introduction of maize four weeks after planting soybean. There were five cropping patterns viz: (i) soybean variety Samsoy-2 planted sole (ii) soybean variety TGX 1448-2E planted sole (iii) maize variety DMR-ESR-Y planted sole (iv) Samsoy -2 intercrop with maize and (v) TGX1448-2E intercrop with maize. The experiment was a split plot laid on complete randomized block design replicated three times. Results obtained revealed that there was no significant effect of time of introduction of maize on any soybean parameter observed. Yield and yield components of soybean indicated significant effect of cropping pattern (P<0.01) with number of pods per plant and grain yield. Grain yield and number of pods per plant decreased in intercrop with soybean variety Samsoy-2 having the highest number of pods per plant and grain yield. The result on maize indicated that maize planted sole was significantly (P<0.01) taller than intercropped maize, there was significant (P<0.01) effect of time of introduction of maize and cropping pattern on maize plant height, ear length, ear diameter, survival and barrenness percentage and grain yield. The Land Equivalent ratio (LER) values indicated that higher yield advantages were obtained from maize introduced two weeks after planting soybean and maize intercropped with soybean variety Samsoy-2 (1.35) than with soybean variety TGX1448-2E (1.12).

Abstract: Antimycotic activity of Petroleum ether and 98% methanolic young leaf soxhlet extract of Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae) was evaluated against dermatophytic fungi namely, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporium gypseum, Candida albicans, and bacteria like, Staphylococcus aureus, Psudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli. The maximum activity was observed in interpolar methanolic extract when compared to low polar petroleum ether extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined against all the test strains. This study provides a basis for the isolation and purification of anti-dermatophytic compounds from the young leaves of S. nigrum.

Abstract: The present paper reports Jansenella neglecta Yadhav et al., for the first time to the State of Tamil Nadu and the occurrence of endemic species, Polypogon nilgiricus Kabeer & V.J.Nair from outside the type locality.