Informatics Publishing Limited

Jitendra Singh , P. Bhatnagar , P. S. Chauhan , A. Mishra , C. K. Arya , S. K. Jain , A. Kavita

Abstract

Maturity has important implications in harvesting fruits at proper stage so as to have developed proper marketing as well as quality attributes. Immature fruits are more prone to shrivelling and mechanical damage and develop inferior flavour when ripe. Overripe fruits tend to become soft with more susceptible to postharvest physiological disorders than fruits picked at the proper maturity. Thus, for all kinds of fruits, harvest maturity is important Different fruits manifest different signals at the time of maturity. A phasic variation is noted in shape, size, colour, flavour, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, polyphenol, tannin, enzyme activity, nutrient composituion, etc. as the fruit approaches harvest maturity Of course, growers perception works well in judging maturity. Actually, a fruit is considered worth harvesting when it attains proper stage of maturity in terms of physical and biochemical parameth quality.

Keywords

Maturity Standards , Harvesting, Fruits, Biochemical Changes, Ripening

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H. D. Choudhary ¹, M. C. Jain ², M. k. Sharma ³, P. Bhatnagar ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry,Jhalawar Rajastan, IN
2 Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar Rajastan, IN
3 Department of Soil Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar Rajastan, IN
4 Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry,Jhalawar Rajastan

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at Fruit Research Farm, Department of Fruit Science at College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar during July, 2012 to April, 2013 to study the individual effect of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco.). The results revealed that application of GA3@ 100 ppm showed superior results with respect per cent increase in plant spread (20.59%) and crown volume (38.42%) over control on 150 days after treatment. The physical characters of fruit like maximum increase in diameter (horizontal and vertical), weight, volume and number of sacs per fruit, minimum days taken to first harvesting and complete harvesting was recorded with the spray of 100 ppm GA3, which was closely followed by 30 ppm 2,4-D. The minimum peel thickness, number of seeds per fruit and average seeds weight per fruit was recorded with 30 ppm 2,4-D treatment. The maximum number of fruit per tree, fruit retention per cent and yield per plant and per hectare was recorded with the spray of 30 ppm 2,4-D which was significantly higher to control.

Keywords

NAA, GA3, 2,4-D, Triacontanol, Plant Growth, Physical Characteristics of Fruits, Yield

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Pratibha Sharma ¹, N. Mathur ¹, A. Singh ¹, P. Bhatnagar ², M. Sogani ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, Rajasthan, IN
2 Department of Life Sciences, International College for Girls, Jaipur 302020, Rajasthan, IN
3 Department of Biotechnology, Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre, Jaipur 302022, Rajasthan, IN

Abstract

Microorganisms perform several processes on the earth, many of which are of critical importance. Heterotrophic microbes are very much helpful in wastewater treatment. Wastewater is one of the main issues in the context of environmental pollution. The concern becomes more intense if the wastewater comes from health care industry as hospital effluents are heavily loaded with pathogenic microorganisms, pharmaceuticals partially metabolized, radioactive elements and other toxic chemical substances, such as, antitumor agents, antibiotics and organohalogen compounds. Indeed, some of the substances found in wastewaters are genotoxic and are suspected to be a possible cause of cancer. Besides treatment of wastewater, microorganisms also perform a chief task in monitoring the toxicity of wastewaters prior to treatment as well as after treatment. Hence, through this review the authors intend to draw attention on the evaluation of possible biological toxicity and mutagenicity of hospital wastewaters using biological assays. A range of toxicity and genotoxicity bioassays has been developed to establish the toxicity level of wastewater against different organisms, such as, bacteria, algae, plants, invertebrates, fish and mammals. Problems with standardization of the organisms, requirements for special equipment and skilled operators, long duration of the assay, lack of reproducibility and crucially, sacrificing a great number of animals (in case of animal bioassays) are the major disadvantages associated with animal and plant bioassays. Therefore, evaluation of biological effects using short term microbial bioassays (a rapid, simple, sensitive and cost effective method) seems to be relevant tool for assessing the mutagenic potential and health hazard caused by hazardous effluents (as from hospitals) to human beings and other higher aquatic and terrestrial organisms, upto a considerable extent.

Keywords

Short Term Microbial Bioassays, Biological Toxicity, Genotoxicity.

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F. Syed ¹, I. Soni ¹, P. J. John ¹, P. Bhatnagar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302004, IN

Abstract

Pesticides are known for their toxicity on the mammalian systems including the embryonal development. Cyfluthrin (trade name: Baygon, Solfac) is used commonly in almost every household in India. It is reported to be neurotoxic, hepatotoxic and haematotoxic in rats and to cause miscarriages and resorptions in pregnant rabbits. It was therefore planned to assess its teratogenic potential in Swiss albino mice. Pregnant dams were orally administered two doses of the insecticide (16 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg body weight) during the organogenetic phase i.e. days 5-14 of gestation. There occurred a dose related decrease in the weight gained by the females during the gestation period. The higher dose affected the litter size, number of live fetuses, resorptions and the average fetal weight significantly. The fetal anomalies observed were reduced ossification of the skull bones and phalanges and widened cranial sutures.

Keywords

Cyfluthrin, embryotoxicity, mice, teratogenecity

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