International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 56

Abstract: The results of studies on the effects of low molecular weight acidic solution peptides on the growth and development of the marbled crayfish artificial cultivation.An increasing weights of juvenile freshwater crayfish under the influence of dietary supplement "Albuvir" drug. With the use of histological methods of research, found the impact of 0.01% solution of the drug on the state of the marbled crayfish lobules of hepatopancreas and fat cells. Developed a method for growing juvenile freshwater crayfish with "Albuvir", which allows to increase the weight gain of crustaceans on 24.3–27.2% and reduce the level of cannibalism at 20%.

Abstract: This study evaluates the effects of gas flaring on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of water sources at Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria. Surface and ground water samples from the area were compared with samples from Ihiagwa Autonomous Community in Owerri West, a non-gas flared community. Both water sources were then compared with WHO standards for drinking water. The results revealed that water sources from the gas flared area have high levels of temperature, total chlorine, nitrate, nitrites, sulphates, calcium, and zinc, chromium with a very acidic pH when compared with water from non-gas flared sources. Also, microbial load increased the farther the distance from the flare site. The human health imparts of the presence of heavy metals and microorganisms in drinking water had been reported. In conclusion, gas flaring can pollute water sources within oil and gas facilities, thereby making them unsuitable for human consumption. Oil and gas industries should therefore treat water within their areas of operations before discharged into water bodies in addition to other remediation measures as part of their social responsibility.

Abstract: Around Lake Tana, there are different types of fish processing cooperatives. These cooperatives simply dump the fish wastes (offal) to the Lake Tana which results environmental pollution for the marine ecosystems. In this study three cleaner production options such as biodiesel, biogas and animal feeding were investigated experimentally for the utilization of fishery wastes around Lake Tana. The study showed that fish species (labeobarbus, tilapia and catfish) wastes have oil yield of 28.65%, 16.35% and 5.63 % and free fatty acid content of 10.5%, 7.5% and 6.03% respectively. In the treatment of the oil, only 3.5% of sulfuric acid was consumed to lower the FFA to the required level (2.5%). In the biodiesel experiment, 6:1 ration of methanol to oil and 1hr of reaction retention time were found to be the optimum operating parameters. The yield of biogas was 0.016ml /gram of fish waste. Nutritional composition of fish wastes were 33.4% protein, 0.007% fiber, 1.26% ash, 44% moisture and 21.367% carbohydrate. The study concluded that biodiesel is the possible cleaner production option among the other for the utilization of fishery wastes around Lake Tana.

Abstract: Purpose: Weed interference is a constraint in agricultural practice. The crop-weed interaction has been extensively described in literature, but the weed-weed interaction and their potential usage in crop production have not much been understood. In this paper, the interactions of allelochemicals of the weeds which cause troublesome in crop production and ecosystem against weeds, crops, and pathogens are described. Principal results: Weed allelochemicals are classified into many chemical classes, and the majority is consisting of phenolics acids, alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, long chain fatty acids, lactones, and other volatile compounds. Type of weed allelochemicals and their doses are varied among weed species. Some allelochemicals such as catechin (+/-) have been reported to be responsible for weed invasiveness. Some crops exude germination stimulants to parasitic weeds such as Striga spp. and Orobanche spp. In contrast to their negative impacts on crop production, many weeds can be exploited as promising sources to control harmful insects, fungi, bacteria, and weeds. For instance, Ageratum conyzoides is a destructive weed in crop production, but it exerted excellent insecticidal, antifungal, and herbicidal capacity and promoted citrus productivity in A. conyzoides intercropped citrus orchards. Major conclusions: In general, weeds compete with crops by chemical pathway by releasing plant growth inhibitors to reduce crop growth. Weed allelochemicals may be successfully exploited for pest and weed controls in an integrated sustainable crop productoiin. Some weed allelochemicals are potent for development of natural pesticides.

Abstract: Extremely halophilic diversity of IncheBroun wetland located in the north of Iran was investigated by using culture-dependent methods. Sampling was carried out in May and September 2014. In each sampling 4 distinct regions of wetland were analyzed by using complex media like MGM, JCM168, MH1 and an alkaliphilic medium containing 23% salts. After incubation at 40°C, a total of 406 isolates and 2.1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml were obtained in culture media. Among them 361 isolates were obtained from MGM and 39 isolates from JCM 168, 3 isolates from MH1 and 3 isolates from the alkaliphilic media. Initial morphological, biochemical and physiological tests were performed. Production of 4 hydrolytic enzymes by 45 selected strains was assayed qualitatively. A total of 38, 19 and 6 strains were able to produce lipase, DNase and amylase activity. Protease activity was not observed among strains. As total 45 strains were selected randomly and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA was performed for them. Among selected strains 40 isolated strians belonged to Haloarchaea and were belonged to the genera: Haloarcula(30%), Halorubrum(27.5%), Haloferax(17.5%), Halobellus (10%), Halogeometricum(5.2%), Halobacterium(2.6%), Halolamina(2.6%), Halorhabdus (2.6%) and Halostagnicola (2.6%). Haloarcula and Halorubrum were the dominant populations. A total of 5 strains belonged to domain of Bacteria and were similar to members of Rhodovibrio (40%), Pseudomonas (40%) and Salicola (20%).

Abstract: The present study was quantitative analysis and antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol root extracts. The gram positive and gram negative bacterial and fungal species by the disc diffusion method at various concentration (250μl-1000μl). The results was present in the phenolic and flavonoid content compared to extracts. All the root extract against to Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pyogenes and fungal species Candida albicans at highest inhibition at concentration of methanolic root extract of zone formation. The preliminary studies on Decalepis hamiltonii root extract exhibited their antimicrobial potential which could be exploited further and future pharmaceutical, therapeutic efficiency and food preservation and applications.

Abstract: 10 representative samples of limestone were collected from the Arimogija-Okeluse Axis of the Dahomey Basin and subjected to X-Ray Fluorescence analysis. Major and Trace elements were used to classify and predict the depositional environment of Arimogija-Okeluse limestone.The results for the major oxide composition revealed that CaO content ranges from 47.6-52.31% with a mean value of 50.06%. SiO₂ concentration varies from 1.94-5.24% with an average of 3.36%. Fe₂O₃. MgO, and Al₂O₃ contents have mean values of 1.702%, 1.52%, and 1.09% respectively. Other oxides; Na₂O, P₂O₅, K₂O and TiO₂ are low in concentration. The Loss on Ignition also varies from 38.9-41.8 with a mean value of 40.43% suggesting a high carbonate content for the limestone. Standard Ca/Mg and Mg/Ca ratios varies from 25.87-37.63 and 0.03-0.04 with a mean of 33.31and 0.031 respectively. The high strontium content reveals a high saline environmental condition of formation for the limestone.The results obtained, however showed that the Arimogija-Okeluse limestone is a Magnesian limestone type deposited in a shallow marine environment and suitable for cement production.

Abstract: The study of oil-oxidizing bacteria number and activity has been carried out for the first time in contaminated with oil products and relatively clean areas of Zaporozhskoye reservoir in spring 2014. The research showed high potential oxidative capacity (POC) of water microflora that probably corresponds to the level of water pollution with oil products. During spring season the spatial distribution of oil bacteria as well as dependence on sampling time and water temperature were studied. Analysis of spatial distribution of oil-oxidizing bacteria numbers allowed to perform ranking of the sites with increasing of bacteria numbers in direction from the site "Near Kodaki water draw-off" to "Monastyrskiy island". Distribution of oil-oxidizing bacteria observed during the period of study reflects pollution and self-cleaning state of the sites. Using correlation analysis conclusion about connection of oil-oxidizing bacteria with diatoms "bloom" in spring has been made that shows importance of "bloom" for the realization of bacteria role in reservoir self-cleaning. The results are important for understanding the mechanisms of maintaining Zaporozhskoye reservoir ecosystem stability as well as for forecasting of pollution and self-purification processes and in general for the development and implementation of natural and artificial ecosystems sustainable development.

Abstract: By this study, thirty rice varieties were evaluated for anaerobic flooding tolerance using the direct sowing method. Phenolic profiles of strong and weak tolerant varieties were identified and compared based on HPLC chromatograms. The germination rates and shoot heights of rice were recorded for calculating the seedling vigor, which indicate the tolerant ability of rice in flooding condition. The results revealed a high variation of germination rate (10.01 to 100%), shoot height (0.35 to 78.17 mm) and seedling vigor (0.05 to 72.83). There was a high correlation between (r = 0.71) germination rate in 5 cm and 10 cm flood. Phenolic and flavonoid contents of the strong tolerant cultivar significantly and proportionally increased in the flooding levels (5 cm and 10 cm). There was a total difference in terms of number of phenolic acids found in the strong and weak tolerant varieties. In particular, six phenolic acids (gallic acid, catechol, caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillin, and ellagic acid) were only identified with high concentration in the strong tolerant cultivar. The findings suggest that the phenolics presented in the strong tolerant varieties probably have a certain function in response and adaptation to anaerobic flooding condition. Further researches on exogenous application of these phenolic acids to increase the flooding tolerant level of rice should be continued at both green house and field treatments.

Abstract: Salmonella specie were isolated from Nworie River and then tested against several antibiotics to include; Gentamycin, Streptomycin, Amoxycillin, Kanamycin, Oxacillin, Ofloxacin, Imipenem, Ciprofloxacin, Aztreonam and Ceftazidime. Salmonella isolates obtained from the river were resistant to at least three different antibiotics. All isolates were resistant to Amoxycillin, Oxacillin and Iminipem showing a 100% resistant rate, while showing sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin, Aztreonam, Gentamycin, Ceftazidime, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, and Ofloxacin at sensitivity rates of 71.4%, 7.1%, 77.1%, 11.4%, 44.3%, 48.6% and 78.6% respectively. The antibiotic-resistant Salmonella species were further tested against the aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaf, stem and roots to assess their antibacterial potential at a concentration of 100mg/ml. Aqueous extracts of the leaf, stem and roots showed no activity against antibiotic resistant Salmonella isolate, while the ethanol and acetone extracts showed activity rates of 20% and 17% for roots, 14.3% and 12.9% for stem, and, 15.7% and 11.4% for leaf. The results from this study further confirms the antibacterial potentials of Vernonia amygdalina against antibiotic-resistant bacterial isolates.