Life Sciences

An efficient protocol was described for rapid callus induction and regeneration from internodal explants of Vitex negundo (Verbenaceae) which is a woody, aromatic and medicinal plant. For callus induction and regeneration, Particular plant growth regulators were used, which are auxins such as 2,4-D and NAA in combination with cytokinin BAP. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS, 1962) medium augmented with different concentrations of auxins and cytokinins individually and in mixture of combinations for callus induction.

Batch absorption studies were carried out to evaluate the Pb2+ adsorption capacities of different fired clay soils with different particle size distributions. Adsorption efficiency was observed to increase with an increase in clay content. Adsorption efficiencies of the fired clay soils were also influenced by the firing temperature, the solutions acidity, initial Pb2+ concentrations, shaking time and adsorbent dose.

Anemia is a common health problem among women throughout the world. However, there has been minimal research on farm women’s concepts of anemia. The present study was thus undertaken with the objective to assess the agro-socio-economic factors related to haemoglobin content of farm women, of West Bengal, India. The study was confined to the women of age group of 19-60 years. A total of 211 women were selected randomly. Their haemoglobin (%) was measured by collecting blood samples.

Dyes are coloured substances which can adhere to the surface of material and are used to give colour to paper, food stuffs and various textiles such as cotton, wool, synthetic fibre, silk etc. Dyeing of textiles has been practiced for thousands of years. The present work focuses on dyeing of cotton and wool by dyes like malachite green and vasantha colour. Also the dyeing properties of cotton without using the mordant is also analysed.

The prevalence of post operative wound infections and its antimicrobial resistance pattern may vary from region to region and was included in this study. A battery of 108 post operative wound cases were included thereby various potential bacterial pathogens isolated from 94 patients and 134 isolates were possibly recovered. Among them Staphylococcus aureus (29.8%) predominated, followed by Escherchia coli (14.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia (11.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3%), Proteus mirabilis (1.5%), Serratia marcescens (0.7%) and Candida albicans (0.7%).

Chandrakundam pond is one of the significant holistic faith ponds in Bhimavaram Town, Andhra Pradesh, India. In the present study aim is to assess the quality of Chandrakundam pond water for determining whether its suitability for drinking purposes otherwise sea water intrusion. For present study the Chandrakundam pond water samples were collected seasonally, pre-monsoon and monsoon during the year of 2013 from four different sampling stations.

Verticillium dahliae Kleb., the cause of Verticillium wilt is a major threat, which is known as “cancer” in cotton. However, currently available conventional fungicides are less effective due to its long persistency as mycelia and microsclerotia. The objective of the present study was to find out the optimum and most effective treatment for the suppression of this drastic disease. Ten modern fungicides alone and in combination with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and sodium alginate (SA) were tested under laboratory conditions.

Mango Malformation Diseases (MMD) is one of the serious threats, causing tremendous economic losses every year to mango growers/contractors. In the current study, six fungi were isolated from primary and secondary tissues of malformed parts of the inflorescence. The fungi identified as Fusarium nivale, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. semitectum, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus niger. F. nivale was isolated predominantly from the diseased samples collected from Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Tando Allah Yar and Sanghar districts. F.

Two hundred and twenty two water samples were collected from August 2008 to April 2009, which including 49 samples from 13 water purification plants in Basrah governorate (13 samples prior entering to the plants, 13 from precipitation, 10 from filtration tanks and 13 samples from the water coming out of these plants). Furthermore 127 samples of tap water were collected from 18 districts around Basrah governorate. Also 46 samples were collected from tankers which supplying Reverse Osmosis (RO) in 19 different places and from five RO water supplying plants in the governorate.

In the present study aimed to evaluate the growth inhibitory effect of Hibiscus rosasinensis, Azadirachta indica, Ficus religiosa and Ocimum sanctum leaves extracts on Esherichia coli, Salmonella typhii, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogen. Aquous plant extracts were tested against 4 bacteria. Gel diffusion method, were used in this investigation. The antibacterial activity of Azadirachta indica plant extract was exhibited maximum zone of inhibition against Esherichia coli 14 mm (Mean value in Dia.), when compared with other medicinal plant extracts.