Effect of Salinity Stress on Antioxidative Enzyme Activity in the Leaves of Tolerant and Susceptible Genotypes of Groundnut

Aims: To better understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms in the light of antioxidative enzymes activity under salinity stress between tolerant and susceptible genotypes of groundnut. Study Design: Completely Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study: The laboratory experiment was carried out in the departmental laboratory of Plant Physiology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, Nadia, and West Bengal during the year 2017-18. Methodology: A controlled study was conducted to screen 26 genotypes of groundnut under 200 mM NaCl salinity stress. Fourteen-day old seedlings were subjected to salinity treatment. For this, the modified Hoagland nutrient solution containing 200 mM NaCl (osmotic potential: -0.8 MPa) was applied in each case and the pH was adjusted to 6.3. The treatments were repeated on every third day. Control set without salinity stress was also maintained similarly in each case for comparison of results. Results: The salt tolerance index or STI of the genotypes ranged from 47.57% to 96.40%. Out of all the genotypes KDG-197 (STI= 96.40%) was found to be the most tolerant under a salinity stress of 200 mM NaCl and it was closely followed by R 2001-2 (STI=87.92%), VG 315 (STI=84.05%), TCGS 1157 (STI=77.59%) and TG 51 (STI=73.67%). While the genotypes Girnar 3 (STI= 47.57%), OG 52-1 (STI=49.09%), TVG 0856 (STI= 49.28%) and J 86 (STI= 50.66%) were the most susceptible genotypes based on their relative performance under stress in respect of total dry weight. It has been noted further that, out of the nine genotypes, enhancement of antioxidative enzyme like super oxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) and catalase (CAT) activity was recorded maximally in tolerant genotype KDG 197 (64.18%, 71.74% and 52.82% increase over control respectively) and R 2001-2 (53.68 %, 93.48% and 53.96 % increase over control respectively) but the activity of these enzyme in the four susceptible genotypes declined considerably under salinity treatment. Conclusion: Tolerant genotypes of groundnut in general registered much higher activities of antioxidative enzymes in their leaves as compared to the susceptible genotype under high salinity stress.

Physiological and Biochemical Changes under Salinity and Drought Stress in Ricebean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi and Ohashi] Seedlings

Aims: To study the effect of iso-osmotic potentials of drought and salinity during seedling growth stage in ricebean. Study Design: Completely randomised design. Place and Duration of Study: The lab experiment was conducted during the year of 2017- 2018 and 2018-2019 in ricebean variety Bidhan 1 at Department of Plant Physiology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. Methodology: For studying the effect of iso-osmotic potential of salinity and drought stress, the solutions of NaCl and PEG 6000 with -0.2, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa osmotic potential were used and the experiment was conducted in sand culture using modified Hoagland solution [1] under laboratory condition of diffused light, at around 80±1% relative humidity (R.H.) and at a temperature of 28±1°C. Results: All the biochemical parameters under study, in general were adversely affected by the both stress with the effects being more drastic as the intensity of stress increased. The highest intensity of salinity stress was found to produce more adverse effects than drought in respect of RLWC, leaf chlorophyll as well as protein content in leaves of ricebean in the present experiment. While the content of soluble sugar, starch and phenol in the leaf were more drastically affected by drought stress. Conclusion: The drought stress was found to register more drastic effects on seedling growth as compared to iso-osmotic potential of salinity stress, especially, at the highest intensity of stress in ricebean cultivar Bidhan 1.

Temporal changes in behavioural responses and serum metabolites of Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to acute hypoxia

Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the tolerance to reduced oxygen level (hypoxia) and the behavioural and biochemical responses of mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala to environmental hypoxia. Methodology: Cirrhinus mrigala were subjected to LC50 test for 96 hr and the mortality were recorded. In a second experiment, the fishes were subjected to a stressful, but safe limit of hypoxia (0.5±0.04 mg l-1) and the behavioral responses and serum metabolites (glucose, lactate, total lipids, free amino acids and ammonia) were evaluated for 96 hrs. Results: A median lethal concentration (LC50, 96 hr) value of 0.25 mg l-1dissolved oxygen) was estimated for mrigal. The upper safe limit was 0.49 mg l-1 DO and the lower lethal limit was 0.19 mg l-1 DO. Gill ventilation frequency increased under severe hypoxic conditions and decreased with exposure time. The serum level of glucose, lactate and total lipids increased significantly (P<0.05) within 24 hr of exposure to hypoxic conditions. Free amino acids and ammonia contents were not altered by a four day exposure to hypoxia. Interpretation: The present study explains the basic metabolic and behavioural mechanism behind the hypoxia tolerance of Indian Major Carp, mrigal assisted by alterations in gill ventilation and metabolic responses.

Severe pigmented keratitis caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum.

We report a case of severe pigmented keratitis with poor prognosis, caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum. Antifungal treatment with topical natamycin and fluconazole eye drops and oral tablet fluconazole failed to heal the ulcer and resulted in perforation. The causative fungus, C. bulbillosum, was identified on the basis of its typical microscopic features and 98% sequence homology to ex-type isolate CBS 304.90 (accession no. FM955448). The results of an in vitro antifungal susceptibility test indicated that the isolate was susceptible to natamycin, amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole. The present case is the third case of keratitis and the second case of human keratitis. Compromised immunity due to liver cirrhosis could lead to a failed prognosis even when the fungal isolate is highly susceptible to antifungal treatment.

Design of enclosure of a grinding machine for the noise attenuation.

Since most of the equipments are usually installed in rooms or enclosed plants, the effect of an enclosure is important. Absorptive surface of the enclosure can reduce levels to the extent of 5 dB(A) which is quite significant. Effectiveness of enclosures in sound varies with the frequency of sound and the shape, size, laying pattern of sound absorbing material, which is put on the walls of the enclosure. The sound absorbing material accomplishes little shielding if there is no acoustical absorption within it. Acoustical absorbents when applied to the interior surface of the enclosure adsorb some of the energy and the noise level within the enclosure builds up only by the energy not absorbed. This paper elucidates the procedure of developing an enclosure to study its performance in attenuating sound at varying conditions. The results found encouraging and such enclosures can be developed for plant machineries by the plant personnels without getting confused by the claims and rhetoric of advertisements of big companies engaged in developing such items.

Noise and its effect on human being--a review.

Noise pollution, as it affects human being, has been a recognised problem for decades in the developed countries, but it is still ignored in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Effects of noise on human beings often presents conflicting results because of the variety of factors and variables that can effect and/or interfere with the determination of the actual effects. This is because the response of the people vary place-to-place, situation-to-situation for the same noise level. This subjective response has been quantified by various researchers and indicated with different indices. This paper highlights the research carried out by different scientists across the world on the harmful effects of noise on human being.

Treatment of chronic anal fissure with topical glyceryl trinitrate: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) may produce healing of anal fissure by decreasing the high resting anal sphincter pressure in these patients. The present study assessed the efficacy of GTN in chronic anal fissure in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. METHOD: Patients with chronic anal fissure (for more than 8 weeks) underwent measurement of maximum anal resting pressure (MARP) before and 12 minutes after application of either 0.2% GTN or placebo ointment in a randomized manner. They then received twice-daily local application of their respective ointment for 6 weeks. Symptoms and healing of fissure were assessed; patients were evaluated at 3 months for evidence of relapse. RESULTS: 19 adult patients (12 men) were studied; 10 received GTN and 9 placebo. Mean (SD) MARP decreased from 131.0 (32.3) cm H2O to 93.5 (28.4) cm H2O (p<0.05) with GTN and from 150.5 (36.9) cm H2O to 142.8 (35.0) cm H2O (p=ns) with placebo. Fissure healed in 7 of 10 patients treated with GTN and 2 of 9 patients treated with placebo (p<0.05). There was no relapse of fissure in either group. CONCLUSION: Local application of GTN was effective in healing chronic anal fissure.

Aetiological spectrum of chronic liver disease in eastern India.

AIM: To evaluate the aetiologic spectrum of chronic liver disease (CLD) in a tertiary referral center in Eastern India. METHODS: A total of 175 patients (cirrhosis 166, chronic hepatitis 9) diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological (42 cases) parameters were evaluated for aetiology. Investigations included: HBsAg and anti HCV (third generation) by ELISA. HBeAg and HBV DNA were tested in HBsAg positive patients. HCV RNA was tested in anti-HCV positive patients. Markers for autoimmune and Wilson's disease (anti-nuclear antibody, anti smooth muscle antibody, serum ceruloplasmin, urinary copper and slit lamp examination for KF ring) were done where clinically indicated. RESULTS: A total of 62 (35.4%) patients had HBV related CLD and 6 (9.7%) of them had pre-core mutant. HCV was present in 17/114 (14.9%) cases and none had infection with both viruses. Autoimmunity, Wilson's disease and alcohol were the aetiological factors in 5 (2.8%), 5 (2.8%) and 3 (1.7%) patients respectively. No aetilogy could be found in 18/114 (15.8%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that HBV is the commonest cause of CLD in Eastern India. Alcohol and HCV are uncommon in this part of the country.

Electron microscopic study of phages and aberrant structures produced by induction of prophage kappa in Vibrio cholerae el tor cells.

Prophage kappa in V. cholerae el tor strain SLH22(J) could be induced spontaneously or by treatment with nitrofurantoin, though the efficiency of induction was very low (not more than 0.8%). V. cholerae el tor cells were found to release many different aberrant structures of the temperate phage, kappa. These aberrant structures were characterized by density gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy.

Induction of prophage lambda by nitrofurantoin and its modulation by butylated hydroxytoluene, sodium arsenite and alpha tocopherol.

Nitrofurantoin induced prophage-lambda in E. coli K12 strain GY5027(lambda) in a dose dependent manner, the maximum induction being 10-fold the spontaneous induction level and the maximum efficiency of induction 74%. The lever extract used as a metabolizing mixture enhanced the induction level significantly. Chloramphenicol at a concentration of 20 micrograms/ml inhibited the prophage induction by nitrofurantoin, indicating that the induction required concomitant protein synthesis. Butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT) and sodium arsenite enhanced the nitrofurantoin induced prophage-lambda induction in E. coli GY 5027(lambda) cells in a dose dependent manner. The maximum modulations in induction level (I/Io) were achieved with 100 micrograms/ml BHT and 250 micrograms/ml sodium arsenite corresponding to a nitrofurantoin concentration of 15 micrograms/ml and were found significant on statistical analysis. alpha-tocopherol, however, did not produce any effect on the prophage-lambda induction by nitrofurantoin.

Cervix tumour cell line established from tumour after long term passages as heterotransplant in nude mice.

One human cancer of the uterine cervix xenograft was established in tissue culture only after repeated passages in nude mice suggesting that with the repeated passages in nude mice, tumour cells acquire some properties which allow them to grow in vitro. Attempts to establish cell line tumours from earlier passages were not successful. The established cell line is tumourigenic. On inoculation of cultured cells in nude mice tumour take was found to be 100%. Karyotypic analysis revealed human origin.

Effect of RMI 12,936, an antiprogestational steroid on decidual cell reaction and embryos in rat.

Subcutaneous administration of RMI 12,936 at a dose level of 2 mg/rat on day 5 of unilaterally pregnant rat having trauma-induced decidual cell reaction (DCR) in the contralateral uterine horn, suppresses DCR, induces resorption of implanted embryos and leads to decrease in the plasma level of progesterone. Progesterone replacement (D 5-8) in this situation reverses DCR suppressive effect of RMI 12,936 but fails to prevent resorption of implanted embryos. It is concluded that possibly the drug simultaneously exerts embryotoxic as well as luteolytic effects, but these effects are independent.

In vivo sister chromatid differentiation and baseline sister chromatid exchanges in a mouse ascites tumour model.

Induction of differentially stained sister chromatids at G2/M and determination of baseline sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in ascites form of mouse sarcoma 180 cell line have been done by in vivo incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for two consecutive DNA replication cycles. The baseline SCE frequency is 6.24 at log phase of tumour growth.