In Vitro Antagonism and Evaluation of Chitinase Activity of Bacteria–Bacillus Circulans Against Pathogenic Fungi in Vigna Unguiculata.

Scientists of agriculture and plant pathology are on the lookout for potential biological control agents to control the plant pathogenic organisms in order to avoid soil contamination. Rhizospheric bacteria are excellent agents to control soil-borne plant pathogens. In this study an attempt has been made to evaluate the antagonistic activity of a bacterial strain Bacillus circulans against Curvularia lunata, Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium sp., which are important seed and soil borne pathogens distributed throughout the world. These infections cause grain mold and leaf spot diseases, resulting in significant economic loss to the crops. A soil bacterium Bacillus circulans isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Vigna unguiculata, showed high antagonistic activity against Curvularia lunata, Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium sp. on dual plate assay. Bacillus circulans showed a distinct inhibition zone in the dual plate assay and also produced a clear inhibition zone in chitin amended agar medium containing 0.5% colloidal chitin, indicating that it secretes chitinase.

Air quality modelling of vehicular emissions under GIS environment, for Coimbatore Corporation (west zone).

Environment pollution is simply a consequence of the anthropogenic activities of mankind. Emissions from the motor vehicles have been shown to be the major contribution to air pollution in the urban environment. The major pollutants are SO2, No(x) and CO. Of these pollutants carbon monoxide is of utmost importance as the pollutant has serious toxicological effects and proves fatal on mankind. In this study, the concentration of Carbon-Monoxide (CO) along and near the major roads at Coimbatore west zone due to vehicular emission is predicted using the Air Quality Modelling Software Called CALINE4 model. Using MAPINFO GIS environment, thematic maps of the CO pollution at different receptor heights were prepared. Also, the concentration of CO for the year 2004 at 1.8 m height and 5 m height were predicted. In addition, to create awareness about the air quality, suggestions had been given to take suitable measures from engineering and environmental point of view.