Genetic improvement of two Indian non-basmati aromatic rice landraces through physical and chemical mutagenesis.

PURPOSE: Kala Jirga and Ajara Ghansal are the non-basmati aromatic rice landraces having small grains and good cooking qualities. In spite of huge demand these landraces are cultivated in a few pockets of Kolhapur district of India due to micro-climate required for the development of aroma and grain quality. Both the varieties are late maturing (> 160 days), tall (> 140 cm) and highly susceptible to lodging which resulted into low productivity. To overcome these constraints, induced mutation was attempted to improve the traits in these important rice landraces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seeds of two landraces were treated with three concentrations/doses of Ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), Sodium Azide (SA) and Gamma (γ) rays. Putative mutants were identified and isolated in M2 generation for desirable traits by comparing with adjacent untreated control. Putative mutants were grown in three replications to test their breeding behavior and other economical traits in M3 generation. RESULTS: In the present study, differential response of landraces toward mutagenic treatments was observed which resulted into greater number of putative mutants in Ajara Ghansal (56 putative mutants) as compared to Kala Jirga (24 putative mutants). EMS induced the highest mutation frequency followed by Gamma rays and SA. In M3 generation, fifteen and eighteen mutants of Kala Jirga and Ajara Ghansal respectively exhibited true breeding for mutant traits, while rest of the putative mutants had very poor agronomic traits or reverted back to their normal trait. Desirable mutants of both the landraces viz., dwarf, early, nonlodging and more tillers with high yield were very promising and can be released for commercial cultivation after multi-location testing or used in crossing program as a donor for desirable traits. CONCLUSIONS: Induced mutations were found to be very useful to improve the specific defect present in both landraces. The desirable mutants with early maturity and high number of tillers may prove useful in the improvement of aromatic rice.

Plant Platforms for Efficient Heterologous Protein Production.

Production of recombinant proteins is primarily established in cultures of mammalian, insect and bacterial cells. Concurrently, concept of using plants to produce high-value pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, antibodies, and dietary proteins have received worldwide attention. Newer technologies for plant transformation such as plastid engineering, agroinfiltration, magnifection, and deconstructed viral vectors have been used to enhance the protein production in plants along with the inherent advantage of speed, scale, and cost of production in plant systems. Production of therapeutic proteins in plants has now a more pragmatic approach when several plant-produced vaccines and antibodies successfully completed Phase I clinical trials in humans and were further scheduled for regulatory approvals to manufacture clinical grade products on a large scale which are safe, efficacious, and meet the quality standards. The main thrust of this review is to summarize the data accumulated over the last two decades and recent development and achievements of the plant derived therapeutics. It also attempts to discuss different strategies employed to increase the production so as to make plants more competitive with the established production systems in this industry.

Multidimensional Studies of Pancratium parvum Dalzell Against Acetylcholinesterase: A Potential Enzyme for Alzheimer's Management.

Objective:Pancratium L. (Amaryllidaceae J.St. Hil.) is a monocot genus with bulbous habitat and about 20 species worldwide have significant medicinal properties. The present envision aims to investigate the potential ability of Pancratium species for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition as a remedy for Alzheimer disease (AD). Different Pancratium species were screened for the inhibition of AChE enzyme from various localities across India. Prominent species was further studied for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metal chelating and UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis.Methods: Nine different species collected across India were examined for AChE inhibition and for binding affinity studies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Highest inhibition species was subjected to Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to accomplish the effective conditions for maximum extraction of phytomolecules in accordance with the inhibition of the AChE. Further, extract under optimized conditions were used to study anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metal chelating and UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis for tentative identification of phytomolecules.Results: Amongst different species collected, P. parvum Dalzell exhibited maximum inhibition 93.30 ± 1.71% with promising IC50 20 ± 0.22 µg/ml value. In addition, binding affinity toward AChE and ß plaques using SPR technique showed a higher binding response toward the enzyme. RSM study resulted that water extracts at 50 °C and 5.46 hours heating executed maximum inhibition. Other studies showed prominent anti-inflammatory and metal chelating ability with low antioxidant property.Conclusion: By using UHPLC-QTOF-MS compounds were tentatively identified for the concerned activities mentioned above. This work reports for accounting the detailed study of P. parvum and which can be further entailed for the treatment of various neurological disorders.

Microbial degradation of poultry feather biomass in a constructed bioreactor and application of hydrolysate as bioenhancer to vegetable crops.

Bioconversion of recalcitrant keratinous biomass is one of the greatest ways to utilize products of feather hydrolysis and recycle them into bionetwork. Present study revealed 87% degradation of poultry feathers within 48 h in a constructed bioreactor using Chryseobacterium sp. RBT. The resulting feather hydrolysate (FH) was rich in soluble protein (3.56 ± 0.18 mg/ml), amino acids (3.83 ± 0.20 mg/ml), and macro and micro nutrients like N (8.0302%), P (0.3876%), K (0.5532%), Cu (0.0684%), Mg (0.8078%), Mn (0.2001%), Ca (0.4832%), Zn (0.0442%), and Fe (0.0330%). HPTLC analysis of FH revealed presence of tryptophan, cysteine, methionine, phenylalanine, glycine, valine, tyrosine, lysine, leucine, and serine as the primary amino acids. Field studies were conducted to apply FH as the bioenhancer to commercially important crops like brinjal and chilli through root drenching (20%, v/v). FH showed positive impact on the growth and development of plants along with early flowering and improved crop yield. In addition, nutritional quality of brinjal and chilli in terms of protein, amino acids, reducing sugars, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant was elevated. Therefore, promotion and utility of by-products generated in feather degradation would be an effective strategy focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and problems associated with the waste management.

Processing Effect on L-DOPA, In Vitro Protein and Starch Digestibility, Proximate Composition, and Biological Activities of Promising Legume: Mucuna macrocarpa.

Objective: In the present investigation, the effect of different cooking processes on L-DOPA level, phenolics contents, in vitro protein (IVPD) and starch digestibility (IVSD), and proximate composition with in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of Mucuna macrocarpa (MM) has been evaluated. Methods: The L-DOPA and major phenolics acids quantification of processed samples were done by a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) technique. Proximate composition, elemental quantification, and in vitro protein and starch digestibility of the samples were carried out by using spectrophotometric analysis. The anti-inflammatory activities of samples were evaluated by a human red blood cells (HRBCs) membrane stabilization test and bovine serum albumin (BSA) anti-denaturation assay. Antioxidant potential of processed beans was carried out by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylendiamine (DMPD) assays and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Results: The processed MM beans showed a significant reduction of L-DOPA (6.30%), phytic acid (25.78%), tannin (19.79%), and saponin (25.59%) in the boiling, autoclaving, and roasting processes. RP-HPLC quantification of major phenolics acids was also affected by the differential process as compare to the raw seed sample. The processed seeds also showed considerable improvement of in vitro protein (26.93%) and starch (20.30%) digestibility, whereas the anti-inflammatory potential and antioxidant potential of MM beans were decreased in the processed samples, indicating a reduction of antioxidant molecules. Conclusion: The differential process showed considerable changes in the proximate composition, in vitro digestibility, and biological potential. The present study recommends the utilization of MM beans after autoclaving and boiling for maximum nutritional potential with health benefits.

Synthetic biology stretching the realms of possibility in wine yeast research.

It took several millennia to fully understand the scientific intricacies of the process through which grape juice is turned into wine. This yeast-driven fermentation process is still being perfected and advanced today. Motivated by ever-changing consumer preferences and the belief that the 'best' wine is yet to be made, numerous approaches are being pursued to improve the process of yeast fermentation and the quality of wine. Central to recent enhancements in winemaking processes and wine quality is the development of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains with improved robustness, fermentation efficiencies and sensory properties. The emerging science of Synthetic Biology - including genome engineering and DNA editing technologies - is taking yeast strain development into a totally new realm of possibility. The first example of how future wine strain development might be impacted by these new 'history-making' Synthetic Biology technologies, is the de novo production of the raspberry ketone aroma compound, 4-[4-hydroxyphenyl]butan-2-one, in a wine yeast containing a synthetic DNA cassette. This article explores how this breakthrough and the imminent outcome of the international Yeast 2.0 (or Sc2.0) project, aimed at the synthesis of the entire genome of a laboratory strain of S. cerevisiae, might accelerate the design of improved wine yeasts.

Reconstruction of molecular phylogeny of closely related Amorphophallus species of India using plastid DNA marker and fingerprinting approaches.

Plastid DNA markers sequencing and DNA fingerprinting approaches were used and compared for resolving molecular phylogeny of closely related, previously unexplored Amorphophallus species of India. The utility of individual plastid markers namely rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, trnLC-trnLD, their combined dataset and two fingerprinting techniques viz. RAPD and ISSR were tested for their efficacy to resolves Amorphophallus species into three sections specific clades namely Rhaphiophallus, Conophallus and Amorphophallus. In the present study, sequences of these four plastid DNA regions as well as RAPD and ISSR profiles of 16 Amorphophallus species together with six varieties of two species were generated and analyzed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference based construction of phylogenetic trees indicated that among the four plastid DNA regions tested individually and their combined dataset, rbcL was found best suited for resolving closely related Amorphophallus species into section specific clades. When analyzed individually, rbcL exhibited better discrimination ability than matK, trnH-psbA, trnLC-trnLD and combination of all four tested plastid markers. Among two fingerprinting techniques used, the resolution of Amorphophallus species using RAPD was better than ISSR and combination of RAPD +ISSR and in congruence with resolution based on rbcL.

Evaluation of L-dopa, proximate composition with in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Mucuna macrocarpa beans: A future drug for Parkinson treatment

Objective:To investigate L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa,anfi-Parkinson drug),anti-inflammatory activity,proximate nutritional composition and antioxidant potential of Mucuna macrocarpa (M.macrocarpa) beans.Methods:L-dopa content was determined and quantified by high performance thin layer chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) methods.Anti-inflammatory activity was performed by in vitro protein denaturation inhibition and human red blood cell membrane stabilisation activity.Proximate composition and elemental analysis were also investigated.The antioxidant potential (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl,N-N-dimethyl-phenylenediamine and ferric-reducing antioxidant power) of M.macrocarpa beans were evaluated by using different extraction solvents.The RP-HPLC analysis also quantified significant phenolics such as gallic acid,tannic acid,p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid.Results:RP-HPLC quantification revealed that M.macrocarpa beans contain a high level of L-dopa [(115.41 ± 0.985) mg/g] which was the highest among the Mucuna species from Indian sub-continent.Water extract of seed powder showed strong antiinflammatory and antioxidant potential.Proximate composition of M.macrocarpa beans revealed numerous nutritional and anti-nutritional components.RP-HPLC analysis of major phenolics such as tannic acid (43.795 mg/g),gallic acid (0.864 mg/g),p-coumafic acid (0.364 mg/g) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (0.036 mg/g) quantified successfully from M.macrocarpa beans respectively.Conclusions:This study suggests that M.macrocarpa is a potential source of L-dopa with promising anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and nutritional benefits.

Assessment of genetic diversity in Mucuna species of India using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and inter simple sequence repeat markers.

Genus Mucuna which is native to China and Eastern India comprises of perennial climbing legume with long slender branches, trifoliate leaves and bear green or brown pod covered with soft or rigid hairs that cause intense irritation. The plants of this genus are agronomically and economically important and commercially cultivated in India, China and other regions of the world. The high degrees of taxonomical confusions exist in Mucuna species that make authentic identification and classification difficult. In the present study, the genetic diversity among the 59 accessions of six species and three varieties of M. pruriens has been assessed using DNA fingerprinting based molecular markers techniques namely randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and combined dataset of RAPD and ISSR. Also, genetic relationship among two endemic species of Mucuna namely M. imbricata and M. macrocarpa and two varieties namely IIHR hybrid (MHR) and Dhanwantari (MD) with other species under study was investigated by using cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis. The cluster analysis of RAPD, ISSR and combined dataset of RAPD and ISSR clearly demonstrated the existence of high interspecific variation than intra-specific variation in genus Mucuna. The utility and efficacy of RAPD and ISSR for the study of intra species and interspecies genetic diversity was evident from AMOVA and PCoA analysis. This study demonstrates the genetic diversity in Mucuna species and indicates that these markers could be successfully used to assess genetic variation among the accessions of Mucuna species.

Bio-functionalized silver nanoparticles: a novel colorimetric probe for cysteine detection.

Chemical interactions between nanoparticles and biomolecules are vital for applying nanoparticles in medicine and life science. Development of sensitive, rapid, low-cost, and eco-friendly sensors for the detection of molecules acting as disease indicator is need of an hour. In the present investigation, a green trend for silver nanoparticle synthesis was followed using leaf extract of Calotropis procera. Silver nanoparticles exhibited surface plasmon absorption peak at 421 nm, spherical shape with average size of 10 nm, and zeta potential of -22.4 mV. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles were used for selective and sensitive detection of cysteine. Cysteine induces aggregation in stable silver nanoparticles owing to selective and strong interaction of -SH group of cysteine with silver nanoparticle surface. Cysteine-induced silver nanoparticle aggregation can be observed visually by change in color of silver nanoparticles from yellow to pink. Cysteine concentration was estimated colorimetrically by measuring absorption at surface plasmon wavelength. Limit of detection for cysteine using silver nanoparticles is ultralow, i.e., 100 nM. The mechanistic insight into cysteine detection by silver nanoparticles was investigated using FT-IR, TEM, DLS, and TLC analysis. Proposed method can be applied for the detection of cysteine in blood plasma and may give rise to a new insight into development of eco-friendly fabricated nanodiagnostic device in future.

Innovative use of Mucuna monosperma (Wight) callus cultures for continuous production of melanin by using statistically optimized biotransformation medium.

Melanins are predominantly indolic polymers which are having extensive applications in cosmetics, agriculture and medicine. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing melanin production by Mucuna monosperma callus cultures was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM). Standardization of four factors was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized levels of factors predicted by the model include tyrosine 0.978gL(-1), pH 5.85, SDS 34.55mgL(-1)and copper sulphate 21.14mgL(-1) tyrosine, which resulted in highest melanin yield of 0.887gL(-1). The optimization of medium using RSM resulted in a 3.06-fold increase in the yield of melanin. The ANOVA analysis showed a significant R(2)-value (0.9995), model F-value (1917.72) and probability (0.0001), with insignificant lack of fit. Optimized medium was used in the laboratory scale column reactor for the continuous production of melanin. Uninterrupted flow column exhibited maximum melanin production rate of 250mgL(-1)h(-1) which is the highest value ever reported using plant as a biotransformation source. Melanin production was confirmed by spectrophotometric and chemical analysis. Thus, this study demonstrates the production of melanin by M. monosperma callus, using a laboratory scale column reactor.

Purification and characterization of RNA allied extracellular tyrosinase from Aspergillus species.

Production of L-DOPA, an anti-Parkinson's drug, using biological sources is widely studied in which tyrosinase is known to play a vital role. Tyrosinase is an omnipresent type 3 copper enzyme participating in many essential biological functions. Understanding properties of tyrosinase is essential for developing useful tyrosinase-based applications. Hence, extracellular tyrosinase from Aspergillus flavus UWFP 570 was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE ion exchange chromatography up to 8.3-fold. Purified protein was a riboprotein in nature containing significant amount of RNA which was confirmed colorimetrically and by electrophoresis. Removal of RNA reduced the activity and altered the conformation of tyrosinase as suggested by spectroflurometric results. Optimum pH and temperature of this 140 kDa protein were 7 and 40 °C, respectively. Copper sulphate and magnesium chloride enhanced the activity whereas in contrast FeCl3 inhibited the activity completely. Purified tyrosinase transformed L-tyrosine (5 mM) to L-DOPA within 5 h.

Statistically optimized biotransformation protocol for continuous production of L-DOPA using Mucuna monosperma callus culture.

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine), a modified amino acid, is an expansively used drug for the Parkinson's disease treatment. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing L-DOPA production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Mucuna monosperma callus. Optimization of the four factors was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized levels of factors predicted by the model include tyrosine 0.894 g l(-1), pH 4.99, ascorbic acid 31.62 mg l(-1)and copper sulphate 23.92 mg l(-1), which resulted in highest L-DOPA yield of 0.309 g l(-1). The optimization of medium using RSM resulted in a 3.45-fold increase in the yield of L-DOPA. The ANOVA analysis showed a significant R (2) value (0.9912), model F-value (112.465) and probability (0.0001), with insignificant lack of fit. Optimized medium was used in the laboratory scale column reactor for continuous production of L-DOPA. Uninterrupted flow column exhibited maximum L-DOPA production rate of 200 mg L(-1) h(-1) which is one of the highest values ever reported using plant as a biotransformation source. L-DOPA production was confirmed by HPTLC and HPLC analysis. This study demonstrates the synthesis of L- DOPA using Mucuna monosperma callus using a laboratory scale column reactor.

Nopalea cochenillifera, a potential chromium (VI) hyperaccumulator plant.

Hexavalant chromium [Cr(VI)] tolerance and accumulation in in vitro grown Nopalea cochenillifera Salm. Dyck. plants was investigated. A micropropagation protocol was establish for a rapid multiplication of N. cochenillifera and [Cr(VI)] tolerance and accumulation was studied in in vitro grown cultures. Cr concentration was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy in roots and shoots to confirm plant's hyperaccumulation capacity. Plants showed tolerance up to 100 µM K(2)Cr(2)O(7) without any significant changes in root growth after 16 days treatment; whereas, chlorophyll content in plants treated with 1 and 10 µM K(2)Cr(2)O(7) were not so different than the control plant. The levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increasing concentration of chromium. Exposures of N. cochenillifera to lower concentrations of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (≤ 10 µM) induced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly (p < 0.001) but higher concentrations of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (>100 µM) inhibited the activities of CAT and SOD. Roots accumulated a maximum of 25,263.396 ± 1,722.672 mg Cr Kg(-1) dry weight (DW); while the highest concentration of Cr in N. cochenillifera shoots was 705.714 ± 32.324 mg Cr Kg(-1) DW. N. cochenillifera could be a prospective hyperaccumulator plant of Cr(VI) and a promising candidate for phytoremediation purposes.

Exploring the phytoremediation potential of cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm. Dyck.) cell cultures for textile dye degradation.

Cactaceae Nopalea cochenillifera cell cultures and intact plants (cladodes) transform various toxic textile dyes, including Red HE7B into less phytotoxic, non-hazardous metabolites. The [tentative] pathway analysis demonstrates that Red HE7B is transformed into 3-amino-5-imino-5,8-dihydronaphthalen-2-ol, 2-amino-6-(carboxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-aminophenol, and phenoL The significant induction of the activities of intracellular laccase (687%), tyrosinase (219%), azoreductase (144%), and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol reductase (167%) indicated the involvement of these enzymes in the transformation pathways of Red HE7B but these enzymes have not been definitively linked to the phytotransformation of this toxic dye. The present foundation work could add another plant candidate for phytoremediation of undesirable products from industry wastes and harmful chemicals.

Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.: a potential halophyte for the degradation of toxic textile dye, Green HE4B.

Sesuvium portulacastrum is a common halophyte growing well in adverse surroundings and is exploited mainly for the environmental protection including phytoremediation, desalination and stabilization of contaminated soil. In the present investigation, attempts have been made on the decolorization of a toxic textile dye Green HE4B (GHE4B) using in vitro grown Sesuvium plantlets. The plantlets exhibited significant (70%) decolorization of GHE4B (50 mg l(-1)) that sustain 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) within 5 days of incubation. The enzymatic analysis performed on the root and shoot tissues of the in vitro plantlets subjected to GHE4B decolorization in the presence of 200 mM NaCl showed a noteworthy induction of tyrosinase, lignin peroxidase and NADH-DCIP reductase activities, indicating the involvement of these enzymes in the metabolism of the dye GHE4B. The UV-visible spectrophotometer, HPLC and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the samples before and after decolorization of the dye confirmed the efficient phytotransformation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the products revealed the formation of three metabolites such as p -amino benzene, p -amino toluene and 1, 2, 7-amino naphthalene after phytotransformation of GHE4B. Based on the FTIR and GC-MS results, the possible pathway for the biodegradation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl has been proposed. The phytotoxicity experiments confirmed the non-toxicity of the degraded products. The present study demonstrates for the first time the potential of Sesuvium for the efficient degradation of textile dyes and its efficacy on saline soils contaminated with toxic compounds.

Phytodegradation of the triphenylmethane dye Malachite Green mediated by cell suspension cultures of Blumea malcolmii Hook.

Cell cultures of Blumea malcolmii Hook., developed in the laboratory, rapidly decolorized textile industry effluent along with a variety of dyes with diverse structural properties. Most rapid decolorization was observed in case of Malachite Green (93.41% decolorization within 24 h). The cells were capable of tolerating and degrading high concentrations of the dye, thus making them remarkable systems for phytoremediation studies. The enzymatic analysis during decolorization of Malachite Green showed the induction of enzymes such as laccase, veratryl alcohol oxidase and DCIP reductase indicating the involvement of these enzymes in the degradation of the dye. The cell cultures also mediated the remediation of textile industry effluent by bringing about a decrease in the BOD, COD and ADMI values of the effluent within 48 h. Phytotransformation was confirmed with the help of HPLC and the probable fate of metabolism of the dye was predicted with the help of GCMS analysis.

Biochemical characterization of laccase from hairy root culture of Brassica juncea L. and role of redox mediators to enhance its potential for the decolorization of textile dyes.

In vitro transgenic hairy root cultures provide a rapid system for physiological, biochemical studies and screening of plants for their phytoremediation potential. The hairy root cultures of Brassica juncea L. showed 92% decolorization of Methyl orange within 4 days. Out of the different redox mediators that were used to achieve enhanced decolorization, 2, 2'-Azinobis, 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) was found to be the most efficient. Laccase activity of 4.5 U mg(-1) of protein was observed in hairy root cultures of Brassica juncea L., after the decolorization of Methyl orange. Intracellular laccase produced by B. juncea root cultures grown in MS basal medium was purified up to 2.0 fold with 6.62 U mg(-1) specific activity using anion-exchange chromatography. Molecular weight of the purified laccase was estimated to be 148 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme efficiently oxidized ABTS which was also required for oxidation of the other tested substrates. The pH and temperature optimum for laccase activity were 4.0 and 40°C, respectively. The purified enzyme was stable up to 50°C and was stable in the pH range of 4.0-6.0. Laccase activity was strongly inhibited by sodium azide, EDTA, dithiothreitol and L: -cysteine. The purified enzyme decolorized various textile dyes in the presence of ABTS as an efficient redox mediator. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the enzymatic process involved in phytoremediation of textile dyes by using hairy roots.

Detoxification of a carcinogenic paint preservative by Blumea malcolmii Hook cell cultures.

Phytoremediation is considered as an effective viable alternative to remediate the contaminated sites, industrially hazardous chemicals and other toxic pollutants. This bioremediation option offers a safe, cheap and eco friendly alternative to existing physical and chemical remediation technologies as well as other biological sources. The wall paint preservatives consist of several harmful and carcinogenic compounds causing serious environmental concerns. In the present study, an actively growing Blumea malcolmii Hook cell suspensions were established successfully on MS+CM (20%) +2,4-D (5 mg l(-1))+Gln (100 mg l(-1))+sucrose (3%) and were used to detoxify a paint preservative Troysan S 89 (a mixture of carbendazim, diuron and ochthilinone). FTIR and UV spectral analytical studies revealed the phytotransformation of Troysan S 89 by Blumea cell suspension cultures. The non-toxic nature of the products formed after phytotransformation was confirmed by phytotoxicity, cytogenotoxicity while non-carcinogenic nature by Ames tests. The novelty of the present study is effective communal degradation of a mixture of three toxicants in Troysan S 89 by cell suspension cultures of Blumea. This work suggested that Blumea cell suspensions might be able to contribute to the wider and safer application of phytoremediation.