Influence of Thermotolerant Rhizobacteria Bacillus spp. on Biochemical Attributes and Antioxidant Status of Mustard Under High Temperature Stress.

Due to global warming, increasing incidences of higher-than-normal temperatures have been observed, which adversely affect seed germination, crop growth, and productivity. Several reports are available on the effect of inoculation with rhizobacteria on plant growth and biochemical attributes; however, information on their influence on seed germination and plant stress levels is lacking. In the present study, under heat stress, we studied the effect of three thermotolerant rhizobacterial strains on mustard seed germination, seedling vigor, and plant growth. Effect of inoculation with the rhizobacterial strains on the plant stress levels, biochemical attributes and antioxidant activity was also determined. Under heat stress, inoculation with the rhizobacterial strains improved seed germination and seedling fresh weight and plumule length; while only Bacillus licheniformis SSA 61 inoculated plants showed better radicle length. There was a concomitant decrease in the plant ethylene levels in the inoculated treatments. Inoculated plants showed higher shoot fresh weight, however, Bacillus sp. MRD-17 inoculated plants only improved root growth. There was significant increase in most of the plant biochemical parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Significant reduction in proline and total sugar content was noted in the inoculated treatments; while increase in the amino acid and phenolics content was observed. A further increase in the antioxidant enzyme activity was recorded in most of the inoculated treatments compared with no stress. Thus, our study indicated that thermotolerant rhizobacterial strains reduced plant stress levels; enhanced seed germination, seedling vigor, plant biomass, and thermotolerance of mustard.

Corrosion inhibition property of polyester-groundnut shell biodegradable composite.

The use of natural fibers as reinforcing materials in thermoplastics and thermoset matrix composites provide optimistic environmental profits with regard to ultimate disposability and better use of raw materials. The present work is focused on the corrosion inhibition property of a polymer matrix composite produced by the use of groundnut shell (GNS) waste. Polyester (PE) was synthesized by condensation polymerization of symmetrical 1,3,4-oxadiazole and pimelic acid using sodium lauryl sulfate as surfactant. The polyester-groundnut shell composite (PEGNS) was prepared by ultrasonication method. The synthesized polyester-groundnut shell composite was characterized by FT-IR, TGA and XRD analysis. The corrosion inhibitory effect of PEGNS on mild steel in 1M H2SO4 was investigated using gravimetric method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, atomic absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that PEGNS inhibited mild steel corrosion in acid solution and indicated that the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing inhibitor concentration and decrease with increasing temperature. The composite inhibited the corrosion of mild steel through adsorption following the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Changes in the impedance parameters Rt, Cdl, Icorr, Ecorr, ba and bc suggested the adsorption of PEGNS onto the mild steel surface, leading to the formation of protective film.