International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 37

Abstract: A panel of four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was used to study the immunological profile of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) genus Sobemovirus. Serological profiles of 35 representative isolates of RYMV from Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states in Northern Nigeria. All the RYMV isolates were classified into three major serogroups (SG1, SG2 and SG3) and further separated into six subgroups (Sg1a, Sg1b, Sg2a, Sg2b, Sg3a and Sg3b). The results demonstrate a significant serological variability among RYMV isolates in Northern Nigeria. The hierarchical analysis of the serological profiles data revealed high viral load in Kano, Kaduna and Gombe states, these show they are suitable locations for strategic RYMV diagnostic and field epidemiological studies

Abstract: In the fourth part of the series entitled “Beetles (Coleoptera) of the Rogów region” the next two families, clown beetles (Histeridae) and false clown beetles (Spaheritidae) are presented, as the better-known families of beetles occurring in the Rogów area. The faunistic data of the listed species is supplemented by bionomical information.

Abstract: The study was design to draw attention to correlation of locals with plants and their conservation status. The research work was carried out in tehsil Takht Bhai, district Mardan during 2008-2010. Fieldwork was conducted using an arrangement of interviews, questioners and personal observation. The IUCN 2001, Red Data List Categories and Criteria was used to determine the conservation status of plants. The present study documents the ethno medicinal and conservation status of 34 plant species belonging to 20 families. Among these 12 species were found to be rare, vulnerable (11 species), endangered (9 species) and Infrequent (2 species). From this study we have concluded that most plant species are going to become endangered and no one plant specie was found dominant because the natural vegetation area was change into urbanization and agricultural reason

Abstract: Water harvesting systems are traditional technologies that have met the needs of local populations for many centuries indicating the systems are clearly sustainable. It is simply defined as a method for inducing, collecting, storing and conserving local surface run-off for future productive use. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used sustainable water management systems in India. There are various types of systems to harvest rainwater in India ranging from very simple to the complex industrial systems. Examples of traditional rainwater systems in India include bamboo pipes and Apatani systems of eastern Himalayas, Ghul of western Himalayas, Zabo and Cheo-ozihi of north eastern India, Dongs, Garh and Dara of Brahmaputra valley, Kund, Khadin, Talabs, Beri, Johad, Baoli etc. of Thar desert and Gujrat, the Havelis of Jabalpur, bandh and bandhulia of Satna, virda of Gujarat, ahar-pynes of Bihar, Eri and Kulam of eastern coastal plains, Jackwells of islands, most of which showed immense structural simplicity and high efficiency. Almost all forts in India, built in different terrains and climatic conditions, had elaborate arrangements for drinking water. Most of the old temples in south India built centuries ago have large tanks in their premises. These tanks are either fed by harvested rain water or by tapping underground springs. The traditional water-wisdom at all levels of the society ensured adequate availability of water for all, which in turn, formed the basis for all round development and prosperity. We should again learn and comprehend the ancient knowledge and apply it in our modern society to get rid of the present water stressed condition

Abstract: In the present study of Jasminum sambac ethnobotanical and pharmacognostical activity of Jasminum sambac leaf .These species of highly medicinal purpose flowers, leaves act as lactifuge, arrest the secretion of milk in the puerperal state in case of threatened abscess pharmacognostical study of leaf parts of Jasminum sambac has been undertaken, hence it is establish. Pharmacognostical and quality control parameters of leaf, of Jasminum sambac was carried out. Various microscopic characters viz., transverse section of leaf, quantitative parameters (stomatal number, stomatal index, and vein-islet and termination number) were determined for the identification of plant material. Powder microscopic studies, were also performed. Physicochemical parameters such as total Ash(13.5%), water soluble ash (6.7%) and acid-insoluble ash (8.2 %)Alcohol soluble extractive(30%) Water soluble extractive(11.8%)Moisture content(6.19%)Crude fibre content(15.1%)Swelling index (1)and Foaming index (Lessthan 100).

Abstract: Seeds of Sorghum (sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Variety CSV – 23. Were mutagenesis with gamma rays and EMS to determine their mutagenic sensitivity in morphological and yield characters. The spectrum of Mutation and induced variability for various quantitative and yield traits were observed in M₂ generation. Plant height (cm),total number of leaves, leaf length (cm), leaf width(cm), stem girth (cm),Days taken to first flowering (days),ear head length(cm),ear head width(cm), Grain weight(gm),100 seed weight(gm), Biomass weight(gm)

Abstract: Methane is a most important greenhouse gas for planetary heating and it’s produced by methanogenic microorganisms as a metabolic byproduct and creates climate change. Methanogens are ancient organisms on earth found in anaerobic environments and methane is a key greenhouse gas concerned with methanogens. Therefore here is intense interest to writing this paper. A number of experiments have already conducted to study the methanogens in various environments such as rumen and intestinal system of animals, fresh water and marine sediments, swamps and marshes, hot springs, sludge digesters, and within anaerobic protozoa which utilize carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and produce methane. The diversity of methanogens, belong to the domain Archaea and get involved in biological production of methane that catalyzes the degradation of organic compound as a part of global carbon cycle called methanogenesis. Majorly in this article we summaries the diversity of methanogens and their impact on global warming.

Abstract: Experiments to determine the effect of seed size, watering interval and defoliation on growth and dry matter attributes of seedlings of shea butter tree were conducted at Makurdi, Nigeria, from July 2010 to April, 2012. In the first experiment, treatments were made up of three seed size categories described as small (5-10g), medium (11-15g) and large (16-20g) and three watering intervals of 3, 6 and 9 days. In the second experiment, treatments comprised three watering intervals of 3, 6 and 9 days and three levels of defoliation – 0, 50 and 100%. In both experiments, factorial combinations of the treatments were laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Results of analysis of variance showed that in the first experiment seed size significantly influenced root length with the medium and large seeds producing seedlings with comparatively longer roots than the small seeds. The most frequently watered seedlings (3 and 6 days) produced more leaves than those watered less frequently (9 days). Seed size influenced dry weight of root and total (whole plant) dry weight with the medium and large seeds recording significantly higher values than the small seeds. Watering interval however did not significantly influence any of the other traits. Seed weight exerted significant influence on amount of dry matter partitioned to the stem and the root. More dry matter was partitioned to the stem by the small seeds. Conversely, medium and large seeds allocated more dry matter to the root than to the stem. In the second experiment, defoliation level only influenced total fresh weight, dry weight of root and total dry weight in favour of plants with half their leaves removed. None of the traits examined were significantly influenced by watering regime. Interaction between defoliation level and watering regime significantly influenced total fresh weight, dry weight of root and total dry weight. Generally seed size had more influence on seedling characters than watering interval. Seedlings also demonstrated remarkable ability to overcome effects of defoliation.

Abstract: The present study deals with biomonitoring to know mollusc species as an indicator. In the present study, presence, absence and abundance of particular gastropod and bivalve species were identified in the different banks of river Ganga. The study was carried out at two experimental sites, Sodepur (Exp-1) and Khardah (Exp-2), West Bengal, India as the area exhibits a major sewage water outfall in the river compared with upstream control site, Kalyani (Cont-1) and downstream control site, Batanagar (Cont-1). The present biomonitoring shows qualitatively and quantitatively that in experimental no mollusc species were observed near the wastewater discharge area into the bank of river Ganga at Khardah while both sites of the sewage discharge area into the bank of river Ganga at Sodepur particular gastropod Bellamya sp. were observed when compared to control area. The highest variety and total nos of gastropods and bivalves (280 nos) were recorded in the upstream at Kalyani and lowest variety and total nos of only gastropods (150 nos) were recorded in the downstream at Batanagar. The present biomonitoring work was a preliminary observation to know sensitive and tolerant or accumulator mollusc species in the bank of river Ganga from a stretch of Kalyani (upstream) to Batanagar (downstream) in between urban wastewater discharge area (Sodepur and Khardah). Further researches must be relevant in relation to biomarker assessment with the physico-chemical factors and stress tolerant detoxification mechanism of particular mollusc species.

Abstract: Decreasing water level and shortage of water is being a major problem worldwide. For agriculture purpose this problem gives rise to the use of alternative sources of water. Most of these water sources are affected by the discharge waste of effluent from various types of industries like mining, textiles, chemical etc. Due to reason this effluent may contains many organic toxic substances that could have hazardous impact on human health. In addition, technological development has contributed to increase other industrial dumping that contaminates surface waters. The irregular disposal of industrial effluent has created pollution problems since this effluent is disseminated in the environment or is accumulated in sediments, aquatic organisms, and water. In this paper a solution for this global issue has been addressed and strategies have been suggested for this problem.