Efficacy of plant biomass Leucaena leucocephala and Albizia amara for degradation of textile navy blue dye simulated in Virgin-red soil

Phytoremediation a green initiative is one of the major process involved in Phytotechnology. Phytoremediation of textile dye contaminated soil faces a particular challenge which uses plants and their associated rhizospheric microorganisms to remove pollutants from contaminated sites. Unlike other contaminants, dye cannot be degraded. Commonly, decontamination of dye contaminated soils requires the removal of toxic substances. Textile dye discharges pollutes the fertile cultivated land day by day and thus occurs the loss of vegetation, hence an ecofriendly method phytoremediation was carried out to minimise risk of causing the other chemicals for cleaning method to avoid environmental risk as well as health. Recently, phytostabilisation a plant based technologies, the use of plants to extract toxic organic substances from contaminated soils, has emerged as a cost-effective, environment-friendly cleanup alternative. The aim of the present research work is to identify the efficacy of plant biomass Leucaena leucocephala and Albizia amara to remove dye contamination from textile navy blue simulated soils and discusses the effects of agronomic practices on these processes. In this study the two different source of plant is used as biomass so as to minimise the exploitation of using a single source. This were evaluated using the parameters biometric evaluation, biochemical estimation, stress markers, estimation of DNA and DNA profiling by Agarose gel electrophoresis. Challenges progress in the field is hindered by lack of understanding of complex interactions in the rhizosphere and plant based mechanisms which allow dye translocation and chemical accumulation in plants. This research concludes with suggestions for future phytoremediation research.

Dendrološke značajke Arboretuma Trsteno

Arboretum Trsteno je povijesni ladanjski posjed s perivojima, starim maslinicima i prirodnom vegetacijom, kojim upravlja Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti. Povijest ladanjske cjeline može se pratiti od 1494. godine, a Arboretum površine 28 ha osnovan je 1948. godine. Radi utvrđivanja sadašnjega bogatstva drvenastih svojti, biljke su determinirane tijekom 2017. i 2018. godine. Napravljena je dendrološka analiza te je učinjena usporedba sadašnjega bogatstva dendroflore u odnosu na literaturne podatke dostupne iz sredine i kraja prošloga, kao i početka ovoga stoljeća. U Arboretumu Trsteno sada raste 317 drvenastih svojti, od čega je 233 vrsta, 8 podvrsta, 2 varijeteta, 10 križanaca i 64 kultivara. Svojte pripadaju u 179 različitih rodova iz 82 porodice. Golosjemenjača je 19 svojti, a kritosjemenjača 298 svojti. Svojti autohtonih u Hrvatskoj je 84, odnosno 26 %, a među njima prevladavaju medite­ranske biljke. Od egzotičnih vrsta i podvrsta, odnosno onih koje rastu isključivo izvan europskoga kontinenta, najviše je azijskih vrsta (64), zatim slijede vrste s područja Amerike (45 vrsta), Afrike (14 vrsta) i Australije (6 vrsta). Jedinstvene ili vrlo rijetko prisutne svojte u Hrvatskoj su npr. Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don, A. karoo Hayne, Albizia amara (Roxb.) B. Boivin, Callitris preisii Miq., Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq., Persea indica (L.) Spreng., Retama sphaerocarpa Raf., Schinus weinmannifolius Engl. i Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder. Od prvog popi­sa biljaka prije 65 godina do danas u Arboretum su unošene nove svojte. Ukupan broj svojti povećan je s 226 na 317. Tome je znantno pridonijelo obogaćanje zbirki pojedinih rodova, ali također i revizije prijašnjih determinacija koje su donijele na svjetlo brojne stare kultivare, kao npr. rodova Olea, Citrus, Aloe, Pelargonium i dr. Svojti koje su se od popisa 1953. godine do danas zadržale u Arboretumu je 148, što znači da je od današnjih 317 svojti nešto manje od pola bilo u Arboretumu i prije 65 godina. To je posljedica djelovanja niza čimbenika, uključujući klimu, uvjete uzgoja, požare, ali i bolesti i štetnike. Egzotične biljke toplih područja drugih kontinenata uglavnom su dobro prilagođene na stanišne uvjete u Arboretumu, međutim, povremeno stradaju od ekstremno niskih temperatura koje traju više dana. Arboretum Trsteno jedini je naš arboretum koji je pod upravom znanstvene institucije – Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti te ispunjava zadatke postavljene pred povijesni arboretum u suvremenom svijetu.

Effect of seed pelleting with botanicals on germination and seedling growth of clusterbean under induced saline condition

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) is an important legume crop. Investigations were undertaken to study the effect of seed pelleting with botanicals viz., Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Vitex nigundo and Albizia amara@ 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg-1 of seed on germination and seedling growth of cluster bean under induced saline condition viz., EC4, EC8, EC12 and EC16. The experimental results revealed that increased salinity caused harmful effects on germination and seedling growth in terms of germination %, speed of germination, root length, shoot length, dry matter production and vigour index. However, pelleting treatments increased these parameters with more pronounced effect by Pongamia pinnata leaf powder. Higher germination, growth and vigour of seedlings were recorded with Pongamia pinnata leaf powder treatment @ 200g per kg. The next best levels of vigour index was recorded in treatments with Pongamia pinnata leaf powder @ 150g per kg and Prosopis juliflora leaf powder @ 200g per kg only at no salinity and low levels and in high levels of salinity, Albizia amara leaf powder treatment @ 200g per kg performed as the nest best treatment.

ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF BANDA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Three species of angiosperm belonging to two families have been recorded in Banda district, which are new additions to the flora of Banda viz. Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle, Prosopis cineraria Druce and Albizia amara .