Effect of microbial activities on stored raw buffalo hide.

‘Keeping qualities’ of hides are dependent on the total microbial flora associated with the hides and the biochemical changes brought about by these microorganisms during short-term storage at ambient temperature (28±2 oC). It was evident that within first 24 hr of hide’s ambient storage, bacterial load was raised to 8.8 log cfu g-1 hide from 6.1 log cfu g-1 hide. Nonlinear parabolic increase in release of hydroxyproline and tyrosine from stored hide was observed starting from 0 hr and confirming proteolytic activities. Continuous release of CO2 from the stored hide suggested its mineralization. Exponential release of free fatty acids during storage indicated simultaneous lipolysis. Thus the process of biodegradation during the course of ambient storage of hide piece was found to progress steadily and seems to be interrelated as well as very complex. During the storage period, the liquefaction of hide piece was also observed visually within 96 hr. Present studies of assessment of bacterial activities on hide with respect to total bacterial load, release of amino acids, free fatty acids and evolved CO2 provide data that can be used to formulate and evaluate hide curing agent(s) other than salt, thus rendering leather industry a platform to design bio-based technologies for efficient and ecofriendly preservation of raw materials.

Effect of application of different pesticides to soybean on the soil microflora.

Pesticide residues contributing to the contamination of soil may influence microbial population of the soil and in turn fertility of soil. The present paper reports the effect of pesticides applied to soybean i.e. phorate, carbofuran, carbosulfan, thiomethoxam, imidacloprid, chlorpyriphos and monocrotophos on soil microflora. The viable count of rhizobia and phosphate solubilizing bacteria from rhizospheric soil of soybean ranged between 10(7)-10(8) cfu/g soil which was comparable to the count of bacteria from untreated (control) soil. No significant change in the total viable count of any kind of bacteria due to application of pesticides has been found showing their ability to degrade these pesticides.