Biodeterioration studies of thermoplastics in nature using indigenous bacterial consortium

Thermoplastics, poly vinyl chloride and low-density polyethylene were treated in the presence of indigenously developed bacterial consortium in laboratory and natural conditions. The consortium was developed using four bacteria, selected on the basis of utilization of PVC as primary carbon source, namely P. otitidis, B. aerius, B. cereus and A. pedis isolated from the plastic waste disposal sites in Northern India. The comparative in-vitro treatment studies as revealed by the spectral and thermal data, illustrated the relatively better biodegradation potential of developed consortium for PVC than the LDPE. Further, the progressive treatments of both the thermoplastics were conducted for three months under natural conditions. For this purpose, bioformulation of consortium was prepared and characterized for the viability up to 70 days of storage at 25±1ºC. The consortium treated polymer samples were monitored through SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy. Analytical data revealed the biodeterioration potential of the developed consortium for PVC and LDPE, which could help in disposing the plastic waste.

Diversification of nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene as a biomarker in different geographical soils of Western Indian Himalayas.

Six soil samples (Pantnagar, Chamoli, Almora, Ranichauri, Pithoragarh and Badrinath) belonging to different geographical locations of Western Himalayas in India, were analyzed to diversify the nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene biomarker. DNA from soil samples were isolated and amplified using nifH gene specific primers. Genomic DNA and PCR amplified products were then individually subjected to restriction digestion with tetra to octacutter enzymes (AluI, MspI, BglII, XbaI, HindIII, HaeIII, AluI, MspI and PasI. Further, restriction pattern was studied by preparing dendograms on the basis of similarity matrix and compared for the nifH community. It was observed that temperate region soils (Ranichauri and Pithoragarh) were negative for nifH marker while subalpine region (Badrinath) and tarai region soils (Pantnagar) documented similar nifH community. Moreover, the direct genomic DNA restriction analysis indicated that subalpine region soil (Badrinath) was most diversified.

PCR based molecular technique for identification and discrimination of quarantined and non-quarantined Tilletia sps.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based RAPD profiles, in conjunction with six primers, of Karnal bunt of wheat and rice bunt exhibiting distinct polymorphic DNA. A total of 84 RAPD loci were observed on polyacrylamide gel for both Tilletia sps. Out of 84, 16 loci were found monomorphic, while other 68 loci were unique. Usefulness of random primers was also checked with other seed borne fungal pathogens of wheat and rice. None of primers gave amplification with Magnaporthe grisea, a causative agent of rice blast. However, distinct RAPD profiles were obtained with Alternaria triticina, Fusarium monaliforme, Helminthosporium sativum and Rhizoctonia solani. These six arbitrary primers could distinguish T. indica, a quarantine fungal pathogen from a non-quarantine fungal pathogen, T. barclayana. The two Tilletia sps. could be discriminated not only on the basis of distinct RAPD profiles, but also by presence of few unique gene fragments amplified using all six primers.