NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJMS Vol.30(3) [September 2001]

Microbial L–asparaginase from mangroves of Andaman Islands

Wed, 29 Aug 2001 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Microbial L–asparaginase from mangroves of Andaman Islands

Authors: Shome, Rajeswari; Shome, B. R.

Abstract: Bacterial strains from mangroves of Andamans were assayed for L-asparaginase enzyme. One hundred and eight (54%), of total 200, isolates synthesized L–asparaginase, growing at pH 7.2 and 37°C temperature. Only two gram negative strains appeared to be potent for large-scale production.

Page(s): 183-184

Age and asymmetry studies on the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) collected from the Red Sea coast of Yemen

Wed, 29 Aug 2001 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Age and asymmetry studies on the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) collected from the Red Sea coast of Yemen

Authors: Jawad, L.A.; Taher, M.M.A.; Nadji, H.M.H.

Abstract: Asymmetry analyses have been carried out for some bilateral characters of Rastrelliger kanagurta collected off the Red Sea coast of the Republic of Yemen. The results show that the level of asymmetry is high in the eye lens weight and low in the post-orbital length. The results also show that the level of asymmetry of post-orbital length and eye lens weight increases with the increase of the length of the fish.The ocular lens diameter and weight tested as an age indicators showed that the technique cannot be adopted for age determination of this species.

Page(s): 180-182

Benthic foraminiferal responses to bottom water characteristics in the Palk Bay, off Rameswaram, southeast coast of India

Wed, 29 Aug 2001 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Benthic foraminiferal responses to bottom water characteristics in the Palk Bay, off Rameswaram, southeast coast of India

Authors: Kumar, V; Manivannan, V

Abstract: Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the shallow shelf sediments of the Palk Bay, off Rameswaram were studied qualitatively and quantitatively. The study revealed that the microfaunal assemblage consisting of 108 benthic foraminiferal species belonging to 50 genera of 27 families. Various bottom water parameters were determined and correlated with the foraminiferal population and seasonal distribution of living population was evaluated. The ecology and distribution of eight widespread and abundant foraminiferal species of the study area viz. Spiroloculina communis, Quinqueloculina seminulum, Triloculina insignis, T. trigonula, Ammonia beccarii, A. tepida, Pararotalia nipponica and Osangularia venusta were discussed in detail. Increase in temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen content of the bottom water were observed as favourable factors promoting the abundance of living population in the study area.

Page(s): 173-179

Water soluble polysaccharides of marine algal species of Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) of Indian waters

Wed, 29 Aug 2001 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Water soluble polysaccharides of marine algal species of Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) of Indian waters

Authors: Siddhanta, A. K.; Goswami, A.M.; Ramavat, B. K.; Mody, K.H.; Mairh, O.P.

Abstract: Cold and hot water extracts of four different species of Ulva viz. U. reticulata, U. lactuca, U. rigida and U. fasciata were studied for their polysaccharide (PS) contents. In both the cold (CWE) and hot water (HWE) extracts relatively higher yield of polysaccharides were obtained in Ulva fasciata (6.5 and 16% respectively). Ulva lactuca was found to contain higher amounts of protein (33.1% in CWE), uronic acid (35.7% in HWE) and sulfate (23.8% in HWE). Cold water extracts were found to be enriched with hexose sugars, comprising a part of structural polysaccharide, whereas the hot water extracts were rich in rhamnose, xylose as well as glucose. The average molecular weight of these polymers were found to be in the range 1.14 to >2.0x10⁶ Da. Seasonal variation of PS of U. fasciata were also studied alongside. For this, cold and hot water soluble polysaccharides (PS) were isolated separately from the samples of Ulva fasciata Delile, collected monthly from a single location during the season of algal growth (September-March) of the year 1995-96 from the west coast of India. Yield (17-21%) and viscosity (203 247 cps) of HWE were high during the active period of growth (October-February) of algae. Given the abundance of Ulva species in Indian waters coupled with the potential utilities of their polysaccharides, the results obtained in this investigation would be useful in product development and bioprospecting strategies.

Page(s): 166-172