NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.44(01) [January 2006]

Effect of T-2 toxin on growth, performance and haematobiochemical alterations in broilers

Title: Effect of T-2 toxin on growth, performance and haematobiochemical alterations in broilers

Authors: Pande, V V; Kurkure, N V; Bhandarkar, A G

Abstract: Administration of dietary T-2 toxin in 120 days old broiler chicks led to significant lower body weights and increase in feed conversion ratio from 2^nd week of age. There was significant reduction in haemoglobin and packed cell volume in T-2 toxicated birds at 4 ppm level only. The other hematological parameters like TEC, TLC and absolute leucocyte count did not showed any variation due to T-2 toxin in feed. Significant reduction in serum total protein and cholesterol levels and rise in serum uric acid and LDH levels of broilers were observed due to dietary T-2 toxin. The result suggests that T-2 toxin is toxic to broilers even at very low concentrations.

Page(s): 86-88

Aluminium toxicity induced poikilocytosis in an air-breathing teleost, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

Title: Aluminium toxicity induced poikilocytosis in an air-breathing teleost, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

Authors: Naskar, Ranu; Sen, N S; Ahmad, M Firoz

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to assess the toxicity of acid alone and two different sublethal concentrations of aluminium, (25% and 75% dose of 96 hr LC₅₀ value in acidified soft water of pH 5) on red blood cells of a stenohaline catfish, C. batrachus for an acute exposure of 5 days. The scanning electron microscopic studies on all the three treated groups revealed several kinds of erythrocyte alterations and modifications with abnormal morphology. These included abnormal surface-wrinkling accompanied with excessive roughness on the membrane, erythrocytes with surface granulation in higher dose and finally the appearance of morphologically abnormal forms, the codocyte (target cell) and the stomatocyte. The results suggest that abnormality in the shape of erythrocytes could be linked to altered surface membrane area to volume ratio, decrease in cytoplasmic volume owing to reduced Hb content or increase in the amount of water content within the cell resulting from osmotic disequilibrium. In this context, the abnormal surface membrane morphology could be attributed to cytoskeleton fragility and defects in structural proteins. Further, the acid group exhibited a striking behavior of cellular adhesion and bonding to adjoining cell surfaces, culminating in several bunches which thereby reduces the surface area for gaseous exchange and could produce blocking effect while flowing through microcirculation.

Page(s): 83-85

In vitro clonal propagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand., a rare medicinal herb from immature floral buds along with inflorescence axis

Title: In vitro clonal propagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand., a rare medicinal herb from immature floral buds along with inflorescence axis

Authors: Sharma, Urvashi; Mohan, J S S

Abstract: A novel method of shoot regeneration from immature floral buds along with inflorescence axis in C. borivilianum, a rare medicinal herb is described. Using this explant, axenic cultures were established with very less contamination (10%). MS medium with 2 mg l^-1 kinetin and 0.1 mg l^-1 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid proved to be the best for multiple shoot induction. Maximum number (35) of shoot production was achieved in MS medium with 2 mg l^-1 benzylaminopurine. Rooting of shoots (86.7%) with maximum fasciculated roots (5) occurred on Knops medium containing iron and vitamins of MS medium with 2 mg l^-1 indole-3-butyric acid and 0.1% activated charcoal. Plant survival was 80% in four weeks after their removal from in vitro conditions. Per explant 34 hardened plants generated within 50 weeks. This protocol can be useful for large-scale clonal multiplication from immature floral buds with inflorescence axis and successfully used for germplasm conservation of this rare medicinal herb without destroying the mother plant.

Page(s): 77-82

Biosorption of Ni, Cr and Cd by metal tolerant Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. using single and multi-metal solution

Title: Biosorption of Ni, Cr and Cd by metal tolerant Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. using single and multi-metal solution

Authors: Ahmad, Iqbal; Ansari, Mohd Ikram; Aqil, Farrukh

Abstract: Fungi including Aspergillus and Penicillium, resistant to Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ were isolated from soil receiving long-term application of municipal wastewater mix with untreated industrial effluents of Aligarh, India. Metal tolerance in term of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 125-550 μg/ml for Cd, 300-850 μg/ml for Ni and 300-600 μg/ml for Cr against test fungi. Two isolates, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. were tested for their Cr, Ni and Cd biosorption potential using alkali treated, dried and powdered mycelium. Biosorption experiment was conducted in 100 ml of solution at three initial metal concentrations i.e., 2, 4 and 6 mM with contact time (18 hr) and pretreated fungal biomass (0.1g) at 25°C. Biosorption of all metals was found higher at 4 mM initial metal concentration as compared to biosorption at 2 and 6 mM concentrations. At 4 mM initial metal concentration, chromium biosorption was 18.05 and 19.3 mg/g of Aspergillus and Penicillium biomasses, respectively. Similarly, biosorption of Cd and Ni ions was also maximum at 4 mM initial metal concentration by Aspergillus (19.4 mg/g for Cd and 25.05 mg/g of biomass for Ni) and Penicillium (18.6 mg/g for Cd and 17.9 mg/g of biomass for Ni). In general, biosorption of metal was influenced by initial metal concentration and type of the test fungi. The results indicated that fungi of metal contaminated soil have high level of metal tolerance and biosorption properties.

Page(s): 73-76