International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 35

Abstract: The present study was conducted in order to determine the effect of gamma rays and EMS on seed germination, Seedling height and root length in chick pea to identify the lethal dose (LD₅₀). In this regard, the healthy seeds of chick pea was subjected to different doses/concentrations of gamma rays (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60kR) and EMS (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mM) for inducing mutation. The effect of gamma rays and EMS was determined by measuring the seed germination, seedling height and root length under the conditions of the M₁ generation. The results shows that, the seed germination, seedling height and root length were significantly decreased with increasing doses/concentrations. The LD₅₀ values were observed based on the growth reduction of seedlings after treatments with mutagen. The effective doses/concentrations which caused 50% growth reduction were observed in 40kR in gamma rays and 30mM in EMS.

Abstract: This study was planned to assess the antioxidant and free radical scavenging effect of D-carvone against L-NAME (N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) induced hypertension. Hypertension was encouraged in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, considering 180–230 g, by oral administration of the L-NAME (40 mg/kg/ body weight/day) in drinking water for 4 weeks. Rats were cured with D-carvone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) for four weeks. A significant reduction in the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH), in plasma were perceived in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats. Moreover, in vitro free radical scavenging activity of ABTS⁺ and DPPH^• radical scavenging possible of D-carvone was also quantified. Treatment with D-carvone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw) carries back all the above parameters to near usual level, in which 20 mg/kg displayed the highest effect than that of other two doses. Further, D-carvone displays concentration dependent antioxidant potential. These results suggest that D-carvone acts as an antioxidant and free radical scavenging agent against L-NAME induced hypertension.

Abstract: The aim of this report is giving the importance in need of ground leveal documentation of medicinal plants, their ingrediants and usage. To be effort has been made to evaluate plants used for medicare by the tribal people of Renla Gadda Thanda, Kodangal mandal, Mahabubnagar Dist, Telangana. Due to be deficient in of modern healthcare facilities and poor economic conditions, the tribal people of the Thanda fully depend on in the vicinity available medicinal plants for their healthcare needs. In the present report a total of 24 ethnomedicinal plants from 23 genus and 24 species occupied 18 families were recorded. The thorough information i.e., Usage, to be treated disorder, Parts used recorded. This is a first report from the Renlagadda Thanda of Kodangal mandal. The study area having wealthy in medicinal plants flora and tribal communities with latest usages. Documentation of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants from the village or thanda level is the elementary and necessary samples for novel medication.

Abstract: Mutation breeding has been widely used for the improvement of plant characters in various crops. It is a powerful and effective tool in the hands of plant breeders. In any mutation breeding program, selection of an effective and efficient mutagen is very essential to produce high frequency of desirable mutation. Groundnut (Arachis hypogia) var. VRI-2. was treated with different concentration of physical and chemical mutagen namely gamma rays 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 KR and Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). For inducing mutation various concentration of EMS such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 % for six hours were applied to 200 seed sample of each concentration and one respective control. The LD50 value was observed in 50% of gamma rays and 0.5 % of EMS. The morphological and yield characters were significantly reduced seed germination, seedling survival, days to first flower, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of grains per plant, grain length and breath, 100 grains weight, grain yield per plant, fresh and dry weight per plant. The increasing doses/concentration of gamma rays and EMS decreased in phenotypic and yield characters in M1generation. The mutagenized populations showed significantly higher variability in the M2 generation. Mutant lines showing higher yield per plant than the respective parents and checks were isolated in M2 and subsequent generation were significantly more pod yield and yield components than the untreated plants.

Abstract: Chromium is a serious heavy metal and it is considered as an environmental hazard. Toxicity effects of chromium on growth and development of plants including inhibition of germination process decrease of growth and biomass of plant. The aim of this research is to study the accumulation of Cr and its effect on the Germination and growth of some paddy varieties. Thus, the varieties such as ADT-43, ADT-45, IR-50, TKM-9, CO-33, ASD-16 and CO-43 are grown in petriplates treated with different concentrations of Chromium (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L). After one week exposure the seedlings were removed and morphophysiological parameters like germination percentage, seedling length and dry weight of paddy varieties and accumulation of Cr were determined. The results indicated that the concentrations more than 100 mg/L chromium cause the reduction of morphophysiological parameters in the treatments rather than control and Cr addition in the cultures caused enhancement of chromium content in roots and shoots of plant seedlings. It was also noted that accumulation of chromium in the roots was much higher than the shoots of the paddy seedlings under treatment.

Abstract: In the present, the third part of the series titled “Beetles (Coleoptera) of the Rogów region” presents a family of carrion beetles (Silphidae), as one of the better-known families of beetles occurring in the Rogów area. The faunistic data of presented species enriched by bionomical information.

Abstract: Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) var. Co-1 seeds were treated with physical mutagen namely such as gamma rays and chemical mutagen namely such as Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) and Diethyl Sulphate (DES). Various concentrations of gamma rays 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 KR, EMS (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 %) and DES (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 %). The morphological parameters such as days to first flower, plant height, number of cluster per plant, number of pod per plan, seed yield per plant, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, protein content and oil content increasing with increasing level of some doses gamma rays, Ethyl methane sulphonate and Diethyl sulphate treatment in M2 and M3 generation were carried out. A number of mutants were recorded in M2 and M3 generations for one or more traits viz., plant height, maturity, branching, pigmentation, fruit size and yield were isolated in M2 and M3 generation. Mean for various characters increased at mutagenic treatment than control. The yield parameters like plant height, number of cluster per plant, number of seeds per plant and seed yield per plant were recorded the moderated and high mean value in the 50 KR of gamma rays 0.5% of EMS and 0.4% of DES treated population with compared to control plants.

Abstract: Biofertilizers are becoming increasingly popular in many countries and for many crops, but very few studies on their effect on growth in seedling stage have been conducted in rice. The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions due to organic manure, fertilizers and bio fertilizers were observed in all experiments. The treatments such as organic manure, chemical fertilizers and Biofertilizers alone and in combination were applied. The growth parameters viz. germination percentage, root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight were measured. Similarly the pigment contents such as chlorophyll-a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid were also measured at seventh day after sowing. All the parameters were higher in combined application of Biofertilizers than in single application and other treatments including control.

Abstract: Biodiversity provides essential services like provision of food, medicine, pest and disease control, pollination, protection from natural hazards, regulation of climate and air quality, nutrient recycling, cultural and aesthetic values and source of income. Due to the neglect of agriculture, there is massive poverty in Nigeria. Conservation of biodiversity would alleviate poverty through sustainable agriculture. In order to conserve biodiversity while reducing poverty and increasing human well-being and development to achieve MDGs, biodiversity must become part of government development policies.

Abstract: Despite the fact that synthetic insecticides are fast acting, they constitute environmental hazard thereby necessitating the use of ecologically based alternative such as plant based insecticide. This experiment was conducted during the late and early planting seasons of 2011 to determine the insecticidal efficacy of Tephrosia vogelii and Moringa oleifera extracts at three tested concentrations (5, 10 and 20% v/v) against insect pests of watermelon. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that M. oleifera extracts had 62% reduction of Phyllotreta cruciferae compared with T. vogelii which had 45% control. However, T. vogelii extracts had 64% control of Diabrotica undecimpunctata and Bactrocera curcubitea but M. olefera extracts had 50% control. The plant extracts proved effective against studied insects when compared with untreated plots. However, the effectiveness of the two plants extracts were concentration dependent. Therefore, the two plant extracts can be used in the control of insect pests of the watermelon