ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Magnetotactic bacteria are mostly microaerophilic found at the interface between oxic-anoxic zones. We report a magnetotactic bacterial strain isolated from an oil refinery sludge sample that grows aerobically in simple chemical growth medium, 9K. They open a new window of isolation of magnetic nanoparticles through an easy natural living system.
ABSTRACT
Aims: The objectives were to evaluate the phosphate solubilization efficiency of different Thiobacilli strains and to find out the best combination of sulfur and Thiobacilli for enhancing bio-available P in soil. Study Design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology and Soil Fertility Labs, Department of Soil Science and Soil and Water Conservation, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan and Microbiology and Soil Chemistry Labs, Auriga Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan, between May 2011 and November 2012. Methodology: Fifty Thiobacilli strains were isolated from ten different ecologies. Then an incubation study of soil was performed wherein the most efficient four Thiobacilli strains were inoculated in combination with three different levels of elemental sulfur to determine pH, water soluble sulfur, sequential P fractions and bio-available phosphorous contents in the incubated soil. Results: All the four Thiobacillus strains (IW16, SW2, IW1 and IW14) dropped pH of the incubated soil along with three doses of S° (50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1). However, Thiobacillus strains IW16 and SW2 reduced soil pH quite sharply from 7.90 to 7.12 (net reduction of 0.78 points) and 7.28 (net reduction of 0.62 points) respectively where inoculated with S° @ 100 kg ha-1. The best P solubilizer was Thiobacillus strain IW16 and the best dose of S° was @ 100 kg ha-1 and their combination enhanced maximum quantity of P (22.26 mg kg-1) in the soil by solubilizing already present insoluble calcium bounded P fractions like octacalcium phosphate (Ca8-P) and apatite (Ca10-P). Conclusion: The present study suggests the use of Thiobacilli along with elemental sulfur for the dissolution and enhancement of bio-available P in alkaline and calcareous soils.
Subject(s)
Oxidation-Reduction , Phosphorus , Soil/chemistry , Soil/microbiology , Soil Microbiology , Sulfates/metabolism , Sulfides/metabolism , Sulfur/metabolism , Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria/metabolism , Thiobacillus/chemistry , Thiobacillus/metabolism , Thiobacillus/physiologyABSTRACT
The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata, is a significant pest of fruit and vegetable crops in South East Asia and Pacific region. Ccontrol strategies of fruit flies, relying chiefly on insecticides, have serious environmental consequences, disturbing the agro-ecosystem as well as eliminating natural enemies. This study was oriented at exploring the potential of turmeric, Curcuma longa, extracts to control the peach fruit fly. Freshly emerged female adults of Bactrocera zonata were continuously fed for 16 days on diet containing 1000, 500 and 250 ppm of acetone extract of Curcuma longa separately in laboratory cages. The extract caused 85.00, 66.67 and 56.67 percent mortality at 1000, 500 and 250 ppm respectively. The surviving females were mated and allowed to reproduce on clean guava fruits in separate cages. The inhibition in pupal progeny was 67.90, 60.74 and 51.96 percent in the flies fed on 1000, 500 and 250 ppm, the inhibition observed in adult progeny was 84.68, 79.03 and 67.74 percent, respectively.
A mosca do pêssego, Bactrocera zonata, é uma importante praga das frutas e produtos hortícolas no Sudeste Asiático e Pacífico. As estratégias de controle de moscas-das-frutas, que se baseia principalmente no uso de inseticidas, têm consequências ambientais graves, perturbando o agroecossistema, bem como eliminando os inimigos naturais. Este estudo foi orientado a explorar as potencialidades dos extratos de açafrão Curcuma longa para controle de B. zonata. Após a emergência, adultos de fêmeas de B. zonata foram continuamente alimentados, durante 16 dias, com dieta contendo 1000, 500 e 250 ppm de extrato acetônico de C. longa separadamente em gaiolas no laboratório. O extrato causou 85,00, 66,67 e 56,67 por cento de mortalidade em 1000, 500 e 250 ppm, respectivamente. As fêmeas foram acasaladas e postas para ovipositar separadamente em goiabas dentro das gaiolas. A inibição na progênie pupal foi 67,90, 60,74 e 51,96 por cento nos insetos alimentados em 1000, 500 e 250 ppm, a inibição observada na progênie adulta foi 84,68, 79,03 e 67,74 por cento, respectivamente.