International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 42

Abstract: Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses which adversely affect crop growth and production worldwide as water is vital for every aspect of plant growth and development. The present experiment was carried out during the growing seasons (September – December) of 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the response of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.) in terms of some important growth indices, biochemical traits and seed quality under drought stress. Four commonly grown genotypes - T9, KU 301(black gram) and Pratap, SG 21-5 (green gram) of Assam, India were grown in a randomized block design with three replications under stress and non-stress conditions. Stress was applied by withholding irrigation for fifteen consecutive days at vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages. Leaf area index (LAI), seed protein content and protein yield significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.01) whereas proline, total flavonoids and anthocyanin content increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) in response to water deficiency. Among the studied genotypes, T9 and Pratap showed better tolerance capacity towards the applied drought by presenting higher values of LAI, plant height stress tolerance index (PHSI), dry matter stress tolerance index (DMSI), proline, total flavonoids, anthocyanin, lower percentage of chlorophyll degradation and finally producing high quality seeds.

Abstract: The application of random amplified polymorphic DNA- polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) was found to be a simple, cheap and rapid tool to discriminate human pathogenic bacterial isolates especially at intraspecific level. This molecular biological technique relies on the use of random oligonucleotide primers that arbitrarily amplifies specific regions of the genome which gives rise to a unique genomic fingerprint of the strains under investigations. With continued development of novel molecular-based technologies for rapid, high-throughput detection of food borne pathogenic bacteria, the future of conventional microbiological methods such as viable cell enumeration, selective isolation of bacteria on commercial media, and immunoassays seems tenuous. Approaches that enhance recovery of sub lethally injured bacteria, differentiation among species, differentiation among bacteria of interest using biochemical profiling, enumeration using impedance technology, techniques to confirm the presence of target pathogens using immunological methods, and bioluminescence applications for hygiene monitoring are of utmost need in identifying and combating the human pathogenic isolates. The aim of this study is to esti­mate the efficiency of RAPD-PCR technique in assessing the genetic diversity of diseases causing bacterial isolates. The use of RAPD-PCR in evaluating the genomic variability among the pathogenic strains belonging to different genus are also been discussed in the present report.

Abstract: Myo Inositol 1-Phosphate Synthase (MIPS), which catalyzes the first step of inositol metabolism, has been reported from a diverse range of organism like bacteria to human including different groups of plants and animals. The present work is carried out to explore and analyze structural forms of the respective MIPS proteins from complete sequenced genome or proteome available on database of one representative from two important plant groups viz. bryophyte (Physcomitrella patens) and pteridophyte (Selaginella moellendorffii). Previously reported characteristic MIPS sequences was used to identify it’s homolog ones from those members under study. The explored sequences compared with a number of MIPS varieties from other plant members to study the conserveness or evolution of the protein/enzyme. ProtParam tool provided necessary theoretical physicochemical data of the predicted proteins, the three-dimensional structures were predicted through homology modelling with identified amino acid data. Structural evaluation and stereochemical analyses were performed using ProSA-web displaying Z-scores and Molprobity visualising Ramachandran plot.

Abstract: Malaysia is characterized by a variety of habitats such as forests, clearings, thickets, and cropland that attract various species of birds. This study examined the bird community in terms of richness and diversity at oil palm plantations habitat. The abundance of birds was determined by using distance sampling point count method. A total of 2722 birds belonging to 38 families representing 86 species of birds were detected. Diversity analysis indicates that the species of birds in the oil palm plantation at Sungai Pelek is more diverse (Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index H; 3.52) and richness (Margalef’s Richness Index R1; 10.2) than oil palm plantation in Teluk Panglima Garang-Pulau Carey and Banting-Jenjarum. However, the species of birds in the oil palm plantations at Teluk Panglima Garang-Pulau Carey and Banting-Jenjarum show higher evenness (Pielou’s Evenness Index E; 0.82) compared with oil palm plantations in Sungai Pelek. The results of this study indicate that the species composition and distribution of the avian species in the oil palm plantations are affected by habitat characterization of that particular area and its vicinity.

Abstract: In many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid, one of the solutions to deal with the major flood season comes, is the dam, as well as water storage dams to store flood also reduced the flood peak flow and damages resulting from it. It must be built in places that best performance in terms of the volume of the reservoir and reduce their discharge. In this paper, using a combination of linear and GIS environment, the proportion of land for the construction of small earth dams in the watershed Kal Ajy in the East province with an area of 170.90 km, based on five criteria (slope of the stream bed, the distance from the village, away from sources of credit, apart from agricultural lands, areas with severe erosion) to assess and map the proportion of the land in the study area was prepared. This map priority areas for the construction of small dams and earthen offers. The results indicate that 27 percent of the region is important for small earth dams are suitable.

Abstract: India has a long tradition of mangrove forest management. The Sundarbans mangroves, located in the Bay of Bengal (partly in India and partly in Bangladesh), were the first mangroves in the world to be put under scientific management. The area's first management plan was implemented in 1892. Recognizing the importance of mangroves, the Government of India set up the National Mangrove Committee in the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1976 to advise the government about mangrove conservation and development. In its first meeting, the panel, which consists of scientists, research scholars and experts on the mangrove ecosystem, emphasized the need to conduct a survey of the extent of existing mangrove areas within the country.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) on the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) using the crustacean Daphnia magna. LC50 of Cd and SWCNT alone and combined were calculated and compared. Sorption of Cd on SWCNT was also quantified in separate batch experiments. Results showed that the maximum adsorption of Cd onto SWCNT calculated by the Langmuir equation was 24.4 mg kg-1. LC50s for Cd and SWCNT alone were 252.3 µg L^-1 and 1400 µg L^-1, respectively. In the presence of 500 and 1000 µg L^-1 of SWCNT, Cd LC50s were 127.2 and 120.1 µg L^-1 respectively. Therefore, Cd toxicity increased when organisms were exposed to both contaminants which indicated that SWCNT induces a synergistic toxic effect on the survival of D. magna. It appears that even if SWCNT had a low adsorption capacity for Cd, toxicity of the metal can be increased. Our study shows the complexity of SWCNT toxicity and how the understanding of their interactions with other contaminants is crucial to determine the consequences of their release into the environment.

Abstract: The aim of the research was to evaluate that the effect of symbiotic fermented cherry juice containing fructo oligosaccharide to enhance the growth and activity of probiotic strains include Lactobacillus acidophilus was tested for their antibiotic susceptibility, and tolerance to bile. Antifungal activity of symbiotic cherry juice could differ in their antagonistic activity against fungal disease which could be due to the metabolite secreted by the lactic acid bacteriocin specially type of organic acids and added fructo oligo saccharide as a probiotic and for food preservation synbiotic cherry juice was identified and their major compounds was detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrum (gc-ms).

Abstract: The present studies were concentration of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH. For seven physicochemical parameters were determined in marine water samples along with marine ornamental fish water sources from CAS in marine biology laboratory conditions at Parangipettai. Water sample have been studied at a marine water sources. The study concentrations of parameters like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and pH. And physicochemical parameters have been calculated. The data showed the difference of the investigated parameters in samples as follows; Concentration of water quality parameters like ammonia was maximum level above 1.158 μmol¯1, nitrite was ranging from 0.811 to 0.922 μmol¯1, nitrate was range maximum level above 4.84 μmol¯1, dissolved oxygen content was maximum level above 2.4 mg¯1, temperature was ranging from 32.3 to 100 °C, salinity values ranging from 0 to 36ppt and pH was ranging from 6.5 to 8.0. During the study period of from July 2013 to June 2014 we investigated concentration of seven physicochemical parameters value Marine water samples with cultured fish species in presence of water from CAS in Marine Biology laboratory Annamalai University at Parangipettai.

Abstract: The mutagenic effects of different dose/concentrations of gamma rays (30, 40 and 50 KR) and ethyl methane sulphonate (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mM) on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties VRI-1 were investigated. The characters studied include; days to first flower, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsule per plant, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield per plant in M₂ and M₃ generations. Both negative and positive shifts in mean values were recorded as a result of the physical and chemical treatments. The results indicate the possibilities of evolving higher yield variants through proper selection. Thus, economic traits like number of capsule per plant, number of seeds per capsule and hundred seed weight in M₃ generation offer scope for selection and improvement.