Nutritive value of canola (Brassica napus L.) as affected by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

Comparative evaluation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria viz. Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter vinelandii Khsr1 and chemical fertilizers was made on growth, protein, and oil yield as well as quality of canola (Brassica napus L.) cv. Rainbow. The A. brasilense and A. vinelandii were applied as seed inoculation at 10⁶ cells/mL. The recommended doses of urea (150 kg/ha) and diamonium phosphate (180 kg/ha) were applied as sources of chemical fertilizers. First dose of chemical fertilizers was applied at the time of sowing while other three doses were applied at 45 days interval. The chemical fertilizers were highly effective in increasing leaf chlorophyll content, number of branches per plant, number of siliqua per branch, number of seeds per siliqua, and total seed yield. A. brasilense treatment increased the leaf and seed protein content (32 and 21%) as well as seed size as measured by % increase in 1000 seed weight. A. vinelandii treatment resulted in significant increase (4%) in seed oil contents but the glucosinolate and erucic acid (C22:1) contents of oil was decreased significantly. Maximum oleic acid (C18:1) content was found in seed oil of A. vinelandii treatment; whereas, significantly higher linolenic acid (C18:3) content was recorded in A. brasilense treatment. It is inferred from the present investigation that A. brasilense and A. vinelandii could be highly effective in improving yield and nutritive value of canola oil.     

Interaction of Azo Dye with Cationic Surfactant Under Different pH Conditions

The aggregation induced by Alizarin Yellow R (AYR) in the cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), was investigated by measuring their UV–visible absorption spectra. Conductance measurements as a function of surfactant concentration below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) were studied. CTAB aggregation takes place at the concentration far below its normal CMC in the presence of AYR. Both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions affect the aggregation process in aqueous solution. The dye effect on the CMC of CTAB was noted by a specific conductivity method as well. AYR–CTAB binding constant (K_s) and water–micelle partition co-efficient (K_x) were quantified with the help of mathematical models employed to determine the partitioning of organic additives in the micellar phase. The number of dye molecules per micelle was estimated at particular CTAB concentrations above CMC, during this study.     

Antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects of dietary plants against sodium nitroprusside induced lipid peroxidation in the mouse brain and liver

The antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts of 6 medicinal plants, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula (black and yellow), Terminalia arjuna, Balsamodendron Mukul, and Alium sativum against lipid peroxidation in mouse tissues were investigated. Extracts showed inhibition against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced by pro-oxidant (5 μM sodium nitroprusside) in the mouse brain and liver. Extracts displayed high free radical scavenging activities against DPPH (IC₅₀, 23.23±1.2 μg/mL, P. emblica), 20.24±0.9 μg/mL (T. chebula yellow), 17.33±1.1 μg/mL (T. chebula black), 19.44±0.45 μg/mL (T. arjuna), 56.59±2.1 μg/mL (Balsamo-dendron Mukul), and higher than 200 μg/mL (A. sativum). Higher antioxidant and inhibitory effects of T. chebula black are attributed to a higher phenolic content, Fe(II) chelating ability, reducing ability, nitric oxide radical scavenging, and free radical scavenging activity. Oxidative stress in the brain and liver could potentially be managed/prevented by dietary intake of these plants.     

Incidence and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes isolated from poultry carcasses in Porto,Portugal

The occurrence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in 63 samples of Portuguese poultry carcasses obtained from two local butcher shops and one canteen in the city of Porto, Portugal, and the susceptibility of these bacteria to antimicrobial agents allowed for use in human or animal therapeutics were evaluated. All poultry samples were contaminated with Listeria spp., and L. monocytogenes was isolated from 41% (26 of 63) of the samples. Other Listeria species, including L. innocua, L. welshimeri, and L. seeligeri, were also isolated from poultry samples. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method was used for the identification of all of the Listeria isolates; this method showed total conformity with the conventional method of biochemical identification and proved to be more reliable, faster, and less arduous. In addition, high percentages of Listeria spp. (84%) and L. monocytogenes (73%) isolates were found to be resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents of different groups, and 12 different resistance profiles were recorded. The frequency of the resistance of L. monocytogenes isolates to enrofloxacin and clindamycin is notable. The results of this study suggest a high incidence of L. monocytogenes on Portuguese poultry products available for consumers and indicate that poultry could be a potential vehicle of foodborne infections due to strains of L. monocytogenes that are resistant to antimicrobial agents.     

Winter wheat quantity or quality? Assessing food security in Uzbekistan

Winter wheat is the most important cereal in Uzbekistan. Although the processing industry recognizes the low quality of local wheat, the present land use policy prioritizes production quantity, and wheat of better quality is imported to improve local flour. Yet, with increasing world market prices, Uzbekistan has to decide whether to continue allocating considerable resources for imports or to start investing in local quality improvements. This study therefore analyzed wheat production in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan by (a) assessing the economic feasibility of local production vs. imports; and by (b) evaluating the current N-fertilizer management at field level in order to identify options for improving quality. Demand for wheat in the region currently falls short of supply by 79,000 t but under favorable world market prices, funds for importing additional wheat could be covered by cotton sales. Prices above $148 USD t⁻¹ support the present land use policy to cultivate wheat but the baking quality of the crop is low. Higher N rates and/or an additional application of N at anthesis significantly increased grain quality. Additional costs for changes in N management, however, are currently not compensated by the price premiums at the State mills. Thus, in the absence of price incentives, it is unrealistic to expect producers to maximize quality production. Consequently, administrators must give quality greater attention by creating incentives through price differentials for higher quality, and encouraging awareness programs on wheat quality and improved on-field N management.     

Synthesis of Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles through Flow-Focusing Microfluidic-Assisted Nanoprecipitation

Polycaprolactone nanoparticles (PCL NPs) were produced by a liquid nonsolvent nanoprecipitation process in a flow-focusing microfluidic device and optimized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential ζ. The effects of flow rate ratio (FRR), total flow rate (TFR), the organic solvents tetrahydrofuran and dimethylformamide (DMF), the surfactants polyvinyl alcohol and Tween 80, and polymer molecular weight on the size, PDI, and ζ of PCL NPs were investigated. A stability study was performed to compare the effect of the surfactants on the characteristics of PCL NPs over 7 d. The smallest particles are produced at the highest FRR, TFR, and polymer molecular weight and lowest polymer concentration in DMF. The presence of both surfactants results in smaller NPs.     

Optimised synthesis of ZnO‐nano‐fertiliser through green chemistry: boosted growth dynamics of economically important L. esculentum

Mounting‐up economic losses to annual crops yield due to micronutrient deficiency, fertiliser inefficiency and increasing microbial invasions (e.g. Xanthomonas cempestri attack on tomatoes) are needed to be solved via nano‐biotechnology. So keeping this in view, the authors’ current study presents the new horizon in the field of nano‐fertiliser with highly nutritive and preservative effect of green fabricated zinc oxide‐nanostructures (ZnO‐NSs) during Lycopersicum esculentum (tomato) growth dynamics. ZnO‐NS prepared via green chemistry possesses highly homogenous crystalline structures well‐characterised through ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The ZnO‐NS average size was found as small as 18 nm having a crystallite size of 5 nm. L. esculentum were grown in different concentrations of ZnO‐NS to examine the different morphological parameters includes time of seed germination, germination percentage, the number of plant leaves, the height of the plant, average number of branches, days count for flowering and fruiting time period along with fruit quantity. Promising results clearly predict that bio‐fabricated ZnO‐NS at optimum concentration resulted as growth booster and dramatically triggered the plant yield.Inspec keywords: zinc compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, nanostructured materials, nanofabrication, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, crystallites, biomedical materials, nanomedicineOther keywords: ZnO‐nanofertiliser, green chemistry, boosted growth dynamics, L. esculentum, mounting‐up economic losses, micronutrient deficiency, fertiliser inefficiency, microbial invasions, Xanthomonas cempestri, nanobiotechnology, zinc oxide‐nanostructures, Lycopersicum esculentum, high‐homogenous crystalline structures, ultraviolet spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, crystallite size, morphological parameters, seed germination, germination percentage, plant leaves, ZnO