Variation in phenotypic characteristics of ASD Costa Rica hybrids of oil palm in India

• Indian Journal of Horticulture, 67(2), 2010

• Murugesan P., Gopakumar S.

• Directorate of Oil Palm Research, Regional Station, Palode, Pacha, 695 562, Thiruvananthapuram.

• Abstract: Eighteen Costa Rican (C65711, C11067, C11239, C11225, C11143, C11146, C65635, C11044, C11076, C11053, C65893, C11142, C65758, C11169, C11163, C11189, C11092 and C11075) and two Palode (65D × 111P and 120D × 111P) hybrids of representative palms were evaluated for phenotypic characteristics by nut component analysis. No Dura contamination is reported in any of the hybrids. The analysis revealed that the variation was high for shell weight (57.7%) followed by kernel weight (40.3%) and nut weight (39.8%). Mean highest kernel weight was recorded in C65711 of ASD Costa Rica and single dry kernel weight showed a range from 0.48 (C11075) to 1.35 g (C65711) while single nut ranged from 1.57 g (C65635) to 3.97 g (Palode). The individual palm analysis indicated that the hybrids of ASD Costa Rica namely, C11146, C 65635, C11044, C65758, C11092 and C11075 had very thin shell and palm number 112 (C65711) and 78 (C11189) had high kernel weight. The present investigation revealed a good potential for improving palm kernel utilizing promising hybrids of ASD Costa Rica by hybridization or introgression to generate desirable segregates that posses large kernels.

Epidemiology of Brucellosis in Occupationally Exposed Human Beings

• Indian Journal of Animal Research, 44(3) 2010

• Kumar Arvind,  Kumar Ajith, Sadish S., Latha C., Kumar K., Kumar A.

• Division of Veterinary Public Health College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Pookot, - 673 576, India

• Abstract: A serological survey was undertaken to assess the extent of brucellosis in human beings of Lakhidi district in Kerala. A total of 365 serum samples were examined for the presence of Brucella agglutins. The sera were screened by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) and the samples, which showed a positive reaction, either by RBPT or STAT or both, were subjected to Heat Inactivation Test (HIT) and 2-Mercaptoethanol Test (MET).The human sera revealed 2.74% seroprevalence for brucellosis by RBPT and 1.74% by STAT. Only three out of ten showed an agglutination titre positive for brucellosis in HIT whereas one out of ten were positive in MET. Seroprevalence of brucellosis was recorded only among farmers (2.78%). Females recorded a relatively higher (3.45%) seroprevalence than males (2.33%). Human reactors positive for brucellosis were aged above 40 years. None of the sera collected from patients joint pain and veterinary or paraveterinary staff were positive for the disease. Of the serological tests, RBPT detected the highest number of samples as positive for brucellosis followed by STAT, HIT and MET. It was also observed that, of the RBPT and STAT positive cases, HIT recorded more positivity than MET.

Metal Tolerance and Biosorption Potential of Bacillus pumilus

• Poll Res 29(2): 351-357 (2010)

• Aji M. Thomson and G. Muraleedhara Kurup
  

• E Mail: gmuraleedhara_kurup@rediffmail.com

• Abstract: Contamination of environment with toxic heavy metals is a significant problem. Conventional techniques applied to remove heavy metals from polluted water are ineffective for dilute or low concentration metal ions. For this reason, the examination of effective and innovative method becomes an important need. Biosorption process, using microbial biomass as a biosorbent has gained great attention. After a preliminary screening the most suitable bacteria for an application, which is resistant to copper, zinc and iron was isolated from the metal contaminated soil. Metal tolerance in terms of growth rate and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was investigated. The adsorption isotherms obtained experimentally obeyed the Freundlich Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Maximum adsorption levels according to the Langmuir adsorption models were 2.94mg/gm for copper, 1.07 mg/gm for zinc and 1.34mg/gm for iron. Biosorption was found to be higher at lower metal concentration as compared to higher concentration. The main parameters influencing biosorption namely pH and contact time had been examined. The adsorption kinetic experiments indicated that a contact period of 30 minutes was sufficient to attain equilibrium. The optimum pH for Bacillus pumilus was between pH 4 and 5for iron, and between 5 and 7 for Copper. The bacteria was able to remove 75%of copper, 76% of iron and 70% zinc out of the solution under optimum conditions. The results suggested that Bacillus pumilus may find promising application for removal of copper, zinc and iron ions from contaminated aqueous systems.

Assessment of Water quality characteristics of soda water

• Poll Res 29 (2): 289-294 (2010)

• Mahadevan Komath and P.S. Harikumar , CWRDM, Kozhikode

• Abstract: The present paper deals with the study of water quality of branded and locally available soda water. The soda water samples collected from different places of Calicut city were subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis. The parameters analyzed were pH, electrical conductivity, color, turbidity, hardness, chlorides, iron, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphate-p, fluoride, total coliforms, feacal coliform and E. coli. The samples were also subjected to heavy metal analysis. 66% of branded soda samples and 50% of locally available soda water meet the carbonated water specifications recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Lehar, the branded soda water recorded a high total dissolved solids of 560mg/L and chloride value of 388 mg/L. Rich well showed high value of 0.2830 mg/L and 0.1350 mg/L with regard to copper and lead respectively.

Antioxidative Response of Oreochromis mossambicus (peters) to WAF of Bombay high crude oil.

• Poll Res 29 (2): 235-240 (2010)

• Jehosheba P. Mathews and Babu Philip

Dept. of Biochemistry, S.N.M. College, Maliankara, Kerala

• Abstract: Oreochromis mossambicus (peters) a fresh water toleost was exposed to 1.5 ppm, 3.0 ppm and 5.0 ppm concentrations of water-accommodated fractions (WAF) of Bombay high crude oil for 21 days and different parameters like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAST), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), Glutathione reductase (GR), Hydroperoxides and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated in liver, gill, heart, muscle and blood. A significant dose-dependent change was observed in liver, gill, heart and muscle tissues.

Catfish Clarias is vanishing from the waters of Kerala

Current Science 99(6), 2010,pp 713

V. V. BINOY
Department of Zoology,
MES KEVEEYAM College,
Valanchery 676 552, India
e-mail: vvbinoy@gmail.com

The air-breathing freshwater fish Clarias is represented by three species in the aquatic ecosystems of Kerala: Clariasbatrachus Hamilton (the walking catfish), Clarias dayi Hora (Malabar catfish) and Clarias dussumieri Valenciennes (Valenciennes clariid). Compared to C.dayi, which inhabits the waters of the Wyanad hills, C. dussumieri and C.batrachus are common in water bodies ranging from shallow channels to large ponds and rivers. Moreover, C. batrachusis a major species in the paddy-field
fishery of Kerala. However, the populations of these species are declining sharply in Kerala and Clarias has became rare now.