Lizawati LIZAWATI, Elis KARTIKA, Dedy ANTONY, Ragapadmi PURNAMANINGSIH
Abstract. The liberica coffee (Coffea liberica L. cv. Liberica Tungkal Composite) is a type of coffee that has been widely developed in the lowland areas of Jambi Province, Indonesia specifically in West Tanjung Jabung and East Tanjung Jabung Regencies. However, the mother tree of liberica coffee is old and attacked by many diseases, so that a fast seed propagation technique, tissue culture is an efficient plant propagation technique. This study aims to examine the interaction of auxin and cytokinin concentrations that are most optimal for the induction of somatic embryogenesis of liberica coffee. The experiment used a completely randomized design factorial pattern with 2 factors, the first factor was auxin 2,4-D and the second factor was cytokinin 2-iP treatment. The results revealed that application of different dosage of growth regulators 2,4-D and 2-iP in the forming of somatic embryogenesis of liberica coffee showed an interaction with the observational variables of span time for callus proliferation, percentage of explant forming callus, and callus size. The balanced application of growth regulators 2,4-D and 2-iP was able to induce the formation of somatic embryogenesis from liberica coffee immature leaf explants. The most optimal interaction for the development of embryo stages from globular, heart and torpedo is 5 μM 2,4-D + 5 μM 2-iP treatment.
Key words: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 2-isopentenyladenine; liberica coffee; somatic embryogenesis.
El-Sayed H. ZIEDAN
Abstract. Survey on cucumber plants at four Governorates in Egypt, revealed, root rot, gray mould blight and downy mildew a epidemic diseases. High incidence of root rot disease syndromes on cucumber plants in Kafr El- Sheickh (81.4%) followed by El - Giza (40%) Governorates, the common fungi associated were Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum with high frequency of F. solani (84.2%) in Kafr El- Sheickh followed by F. oxysporum (75.0%) in El- Giza Governorates. Gray mould disease incidence of immature cucumber fruits was (35%) mainly caused by fungal of Botrytis cinerea with high frequency (90%) in El-Gharbeia Governorate. Downy mildew disease incidence of cucumber plants caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis was epidemic in ElGharbeia Governorate (80.0%) with high disease severity. On the other hand, the minor diseases occurrence were powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera fusca, moderately recorded at El-Giza followed Kafr El- Sheickh Governorates and white stem rot caused by fungi of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in El-Beheira and El-Gharbeia Governorates respectively. So, the alternative fungicides such as biocontrol agents, chemicals non fungicides i.e., antioxidants, essential oils, and nanoparticles as eco-friendly agents will be consideration in integrated programme for avoiding diseases development to epidemic case, for improving yield quality and quantity.
Key word: Cucumis sativus; root rot; downy mildew; powdery mildew; gray mould; white rot; Fusarium spp.; Pseudopernospora cubensis; Podosphaera fusca; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Botrytis cinerea.
Sapna KALRA, Anita BHATNAGAR
Abstract. Aquatic environmental contamination owing to the sewage water discharge is one of the accelerating risks associated with urbanization, industrialization, and population expansion. At present, large amount of sewage water is generated and only 50% is treated up to the standards suggested for disposal or using it for agricultural purposes. Sewage water’s indigenous bacterial species assist in self-purification ability of the sewage water. The present research work was carried out to isolate, characterize and then analysing the potential biodegrading bacteria from sewage water. Later physiochemical were evaluated to find out the removal efficiency of sewage water. Total 19 bacterial strains (A-S) were isolated from the sewage water but only 3 bacteria viz. Bacillus cereus strain D, Exiguobacterium indicum strain J and Bacillus altitudinis strain Q showed protease producing as well as antipathogenic activity against E. coli bacteria. These three bacterial strains were used as pure culture and in consortium (comprising all three bacterial strains in 1:1:1 proportion) to treat the sewage water and were found to reduce pollution indicating parameters like BOD, COD, alkalinity, hardness, TDS, TSS, ammonia, nitrate and orthophosphate content. Percent reduction in BOD and COD followed the order: Consortium (65.81% and 58.02%) > Exiguobacterium indicum strain J (53.65% and 47.81%) > Bacillus altitudinis strain Q (50.51 and 44.16%) > Bacillus cereus strain D (44.38% and 40.15%) > Control (24.49% and 23.72%). Thus this bacterial treatment can be effectively used as eco-friendly efficacious sewage water treatment alternative so that the sewage water can be safely reused.
Key words: antimicrobial; bacterial strains; bioremediation potential; indigenous; sewage water
Chidinma Ogochukwu UKACHUKWU, Angela Chika UDEBUANI, Tochukwu Nicholas UGWU, Priscilla Nkeonye ABARA
Abstract. The study showed the genotoxic response of edible vegetables to PAH from spent engine oil in comparison to three PAH component (benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(ghi)perylene). Molecular characterization of exposed plant samples was carried out to determine the level of toxicity on the DNA. The result of the genomic effect of these pollutants revealed alteration at genetic level through DNA insertions, deletions. There was significant difference at (p < 0.01) in plants samples transplanted in different concentrations of PAH and spent engine oil polluted soil. The DNA estimation of plant samples was ascertained using Nano drop spectrophotometer. The DNA quality band was revealed in gel pictures. Furthermore, polymorphism was observed at 65%, 58% and 19% of A. hybridus and T. occidentalis using the three primers. This demonstrates the impact of PAH toxicity on edibles crops as the occurrence of DNA polymorphism as seen in the form of DNA band breakage and alteration suggest the toxicity level exerted on edible crops by this PAH.
Key words: genotoxicity; phylogenetic; polymorphism; PCR.