Antibacterial potential of methanolic and hexanic extracts of mud lobster (Thalassina anomala) from Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Present study demonstrated the antibacterial potential of three different body parts, abdomen, carapace and cheliped of mud lobster (Thalassina anomala) which were extracted with methanol and hexane. Three test bacteria were used in this study namely Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica. Present study found that in general, methanolic and hexane extracts of different body parts had variable inhibitory responses on different test bacteria with methanolic extract had greater inhibitory response than hexane extract. In methanol extraction, B. cereus significantly had greatest negative impact (p<0.05) on growth after treated with cheliped (21 mm zone of inhibition) extract of mud lobster as compared to carapace (9.2 mm) and abdominal (8.8 mm) extracts of mud lobster. Overall, the growth of S. enterica was much affected with the presence of all methanolic body-part extracts of mud lobster. In hexane extraction, B. cereus growth was not affected with all body-part extracts of mud lobster. However, E. coli and S. enterica were affected with no significantly different (p>0.05) among body-part extracts and between them. Present study concludes that the extracts of mud lobster of all body-part in methanol possess greater inhibitory effect on bacterial growth than extracts in hexane thus the methanolic extract of mud lobster has the potential to be exploited as a natural source of antibacterial agent.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Couroupita guianensis Aubl.based on RAPD Marker

<p> <strong><em>Couroupita guianensis</em> Aubl. Commonly known as cannon ball tree, belongs to family Lecythidaceae and widely used in Chinese medicine. C. guianensis is being threatened due to habitat destruction in its native range for human settlement and other development related activities. Native populations of C. guianensis were collected from different locations of the India states and characterized through. To study the genetic diversity of C. guianensis populations we performed RAPD – PCR with several primers. The results are revealed in this study.</strong></p>

SELECTION OF NEW PROMISING SEEDLESS MANDARINS TRIPLOID HYBRIDS FROM CROSSES BETWEEN MONOEMBRYONIC DIPLOID FEMALE AND DIPLOID MALE PARENTS

Morocco is one of the major exporters of small citrus fruits, such as mandarin and Clementine. Seedlessness is a major criterion for this horticultural group. The present study focused on the selection of the best triploid mandarin hybrids (2n=3x=27) characterized by seedless fruits. A series of crosses between ‘Sidi Aissa’ clementine (female parent) and seven mandarin varieties (‘Lee’, ‘Wilking’, ‘Osceola’, ‘Carvalhal’, ‘Satsuma Frost’, ‘Satsuma Owari’ and ‘Chienka’) was performed by the National Institute for Agricultural Research. Forty triploid mandarins were obtained and planted since 2002 in an experimental field at El Menzeh. Varietal evaluation was focusing on fruit quality traits during seven years. Statistical analyzes showed that there is a significant difference for all studied characters and between hybrids. The number of seeds per fruit is the main criterion which differentiates between triploids mandarin’s hybrids and their diploid parent “clementine Sidi Aissa”. The best hybrids selected were: HT11, HT13, HT27, HT43, HT44, and HT49. The best crosses are C1 (‘Sidi Aissa’ × ‘Wilking’) andC2 (‘Sidi Aissa’ בOsceola’). These promising triploid hybrids of mandarin have been multiplied on several rootstock trials and are in the process of quantitative evaluation and multi-site testing.

Protein difference among the leaf explants determined for shoot regeneration and callus growth in Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

<p><strong>A comparison of protein profiles of leaves during different stages of shoot and callus induction showed similarities as well as differences in the expression of proteins. A protein of 39 kDa was expressed in low levels in leaf explants and increased in intensity during induction of shoot organogenesis in both the cultivars. Analysis of protein patterns during organogenesis and callus proliferation from leaves by two dimensional gel analysis revealed the separation of 39 kDa protein into four spots during organogenesis with pI values ranging from 4.2-5.8. However, the isoforms of 39 kDa protein with pI values of 4.2 and 5.8 were highly expressed in callus of M-5 cultivar in contrast to S-36 cultivar where only one isoform with pI value of 4.2 was detectable. The analysis of protein synthesis in different stages of development in the cultures may acts as markers to differentiate the group of specific isoforms.</strong></p>

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF WHEAT GENOTYPES (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

Molecular diversity in thirty wheat genotypes was done. For this the genomic DNA isolation was carried out and which were then subjected to PCR amplification using twenty SSR primers. Out of these twenty SSR primers, eighteen yielded amplifications and showed polymorphism. Total 93 loci were generated by amplification with 18 polymorphic primers, all of which 93 loci were polymorphic i.e. 100%. Among the SSR primers, BARC-170, WMC-44, produced maximum number of 2 loci. The size of amplification products ranged from 102 bp to 805 bp. All SSR primers showed 100 % polymorphism and all primers had more than 0.50 PIC value except one primer. Maximum PIC value 0.17 was observed in WMC-468. The maximum number of bands were observed in NIAW-2721 (28 bands), whereas minimum number of bands were present in NIAW-301 and NIAW-2539 (19 bands). The dice similarity coefficient values ranged from 0.50 to 0.95. Maximum similarity value of 0.95 was noticed between NIAW-2891 and NIAW-2837, while minimum similarity value of 0.50 was observed among NIAW-2595, NIAW-2874, NIAW-2995 and NIAW-2725. The consensus tree software revealed two major clusters.

DE NOVO REGENERATION IN CHICKPEA GENOTYPES (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Direct regeneration from mature embryo axes was achieved without intervening of callus phase in four chickpea varieties on the Media MS and B5 supplemented with combination of BAP, NAA and Kinetin. Hundred percent regeneration capacity was exhibited by commercially grown Vijay and Vishal varieties. There was considerable variation in umber of multiple shoot production by different varieties. Profuse rooting was obtained on the medium containing 0.5 and 1.0 mg/l IBA. This protocol is optimized for complete plant regeneration of chickpea for genetic transformation.

PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT ENZYMES BY THERMOBACILLI ISOLATED FROM HOT SPRINGS OF INDIA

Enzymes from thermophilic bacteria have received great attention for their potential applications in various industrial sectors. The present study deals with the production of five thermozymes (amylase, lipase, xylanase, protease and cellulase) from 10 thermophilic bacterial species, originally isolated from two hot springs namely Soldhar and Ringigad in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. The bacterial isolate GBPI_25 produced maximum amylase (1217.86 U/ml) at 45 °C and 5 pH, GBPI 3 produced maximum lipase (22.59 U/ml) at 65 °C and 9 pH, GBPI_25 produced maximum xylanase (98.07 U/ml) at45 °C and 9 pH, GBPI_35 produced maximum protease (16.66 U/ml) at 55 °C and 9 pH, and GBPI 4 produced maximum cellulose (108.68 U/ml) at 45 °C and 5 pH. Crude enzyme preparations showed thermal and pH activities at broad temperature and pH range between 10-100 °C and 3-11 pH, respectively, with different temperature and pH optima. Amylase, xylanase and cellulase showed maximum activity at 50 °C while lipase and protease showed higher activity at 40 and 60 °C, respectively. Enzyme activity at wide temperature range-cellulase and protease from 10-100 °C, amylase and xylanasefrom10-90 °C, and lipase activity from 10-80 °C were the remarkable records from this study. Similarly, pH range for amylase and lipase activity was recorded from 4-11, for xylanase from 3-9, and for protease and cellulase from 3-10. All the thermozymes showed maximum stability at 40 °C and pH 5 except cellulase that showed higher stability at40 °C and neutral pH.

Serum biochemical properties and liver morphology of broiler chicken as affected by feeding Misai kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus) as a supplementary diet

<p>To evaluate the effects of ground leaf of Misai kucing (<em>Orthosiphon stamineus</em>) as a dietary supplement on serum biochemical parameters and liver morphology. One hundred and sixty one-day old male broiler chickens (n=160) were distributed into four treatment groups, with five replicates of eight birds in each group: the control group (diet without additives); the group dietary treatments, Diet OS2 (Basal diet + 2g/kg <em>O. stamineus</em>); Diet OS4 (Basal diet + 4g/kg <em>O. stamineus</em>) and Diet OS8 (Basal diet + 8g/kg <em>O. stamineus</em>). After 42 days, 40 birds were randomly selected for serum biochemical profile analysis involving pancreatic, renal, and hepatic functions (urea, sodium, potassium, chlorine, aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, and globulins). Present study found that serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, AST, ALT and ALP were significantly lower suggesting that the <em>O. stamineus</em> ground leaf possibly do not cause kidney and liver impairment, mainly, at the higher dosage (8g/kg). Present study concluded that the broiler chicken fed <em>O. stamineus</em> ground leaf at a rate 8 g/kg was the most promising dietary supplement to enhance health without deleterious effects on serum biochemical properties and morphological components of liver. In addition, it reduces abdominal fats and serum cholesterol. This study has provide evident that medicinal plant, <em>O. stamineus</em> can potentially substituted the use of additive synthetic.</p>

Effects of the bendazol fungicide on in vitro development of the nim (Azadirachta indica A. JUSS)

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate Bendazol fungicidal effects in neem micropropagation. In these experiments, the nodal segment explants from <em>in vitro</em> plants were used. In the first experiment, the explants remained in DKW culture medium for a period of 30 days containing different concentrations of Bendazol (M1 -50, M2 - 100, M3 - 200, and M4 - 400 mg.L^-1). The control treatment (M0) was prepared with DKW medium + BAP (0.225 mg.L^-1). In the second experiment, the explants were maintained for only one week in media supplemented with Bendazol or BAP, and then they were transferred and kept in free Bendazol/BAP media for three weeks. In each experiment, the design was completely randomized with five treatments, 10 replicates per treatment, and one explant/cultivation flask. The variables analyzed included the formation of calluses and roots, lateral bud development, shoot height, contamination and plant death. There was no significant difference in tree variables (shoot, callus formation and shoot height) between treatments in both experiments. There was no death, plant contamination and rooting during the experiment. The results indicate that Bendazol can be used at low doses for <em>in vitro</em> neem cloning thereby replacing BAP and ultimately reducing production costs.

Cultivation of micro-algae for Production of Biodiesel: An optimized Process

<p>Microalgae are considered as one of the potential source of biodiesel for the future. The search to obtain the potential strains from the algal diversity capable of producing oil is critical for sustainable production of biodiesel. In the present study, microalgae biomass with oil/lipid accumulation capability and their morphological features was isolated from Lake Abaya and Chamo. The algal biomass was cultivated <em>in vitro</em> and media optimization for maximum biomass was done using different basal media, BG-11 medium, and Chu -10. In addition the various carbon sources, nitrogen sources, pH and temperature were considered in this study for optimization. Green algae <em>Oedogonium</em>, <em>Chlorella </em>and <em>Cladophora</em> species were observed to be dominant species and the maximum oil per dry algal biomass was found to be from <em>Oedogonium</em> sp. Thus from the present study for the cultivation of the selected algae, BG-11 medium supplemented with tryptone (0.2%) sucrose (2%) and pH- 6 with incubation temperature of 30⁰C was found to be suitable. These results suggest that <em>Oedogonium</em> sp. has several desirable features that make it a potential candidate for biodiesel production.</p>