Silica nanoparticles synthesis and applications in agriculture for plant fertilization and protection: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rapidly rising population is calling for the production of more food, yet biotic and abiotic stresses caused by pests and climate change...     

Characterization and optimization of conditions for biodegradation of sella-rice mill effluent

The sella-rice mill effluent is a major environmental pollutant requiring proper treatment before disposal. The present study has been conducted to isolate and characterize micro-organisms capable of growing on sella-rice effluent and to optimize conditions for its rapid bioremediation. Using three different types of media (LB, YEPDA and PDA), a total of 139 isolates were isolated from effluent samples collected from three different locations. Out of these, 45 isolates were found to utilize starch on starch medium, eight isolates showing high efficiency. For the optimization of conditions for maximum utilization of starch by selected isolates, parameters such as effect of addition of carbon and nitrogen sources, effect of growth factors, temperature and pH were studied. Maximum growth (absorbance of 2.10) and starch-utilization (varying in the range of 2.33 to 3.62) was observed on starch medium supplemented with peptone and yeast extract at 30 degrees C with a pH of 6.0. These bacterial isolates also reduced the amount of starch (80.10%), BOD (64.24%) and COD (75.0%) of sella-rice mill effluent after 15 days of incubation. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, the selected isolates were found to belong to the genera Lactobacillus and Micrococcus.     

Foliar Metal Content and Changes in Epidermal Traits of LAGERSTROEMIA PARVIFLORA (L.) Roxb.

A comparative study of the physico-chemical properties of soil, leafmetal content and foliar surface traits in Lagerstroemia parviflora(L.) Roxb. plants, growing in an iron-rich mineralized and anon-mineralized area was carried out. Metal accumulation wasmaximum in summer; in the peak growing season, it declined duringthe rainy season but picked up again in winter. In leaves sampled froma mineralized region, epidermal cells were much smaller in size buthigher in number per unit area. Changes in the number and size of glandular papillae were also observed. Characteristic non-glandular,elongate trichomes with acute tip were also recorded in mineralizedpopulations. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the foliarsurface configuration revealed distortions in epicuticular wax structuresand wider cuticular striations with typically parallel arrangement inthese populations.The present study shows that high Fe-accumulation in leaves of L.parviflora during the exponential growth phase as well as changes inthe epicuticular structures may be indicators of metal stress in the populations of the mineralized area.