Composition and diversity of five major forest types in moist temperate climate of the western Himalayas     

Sumeet GAIROLA  Chandra M. SHARMA  Sarvesh SUYAL  Sunil K. GHILDIYAL 《中国林学(英文版)》2011,13(2):139-153

The present study was undertaken in five major forest types (dominated by Quercus semecarpifolia, Quercus floribunda, Acer acuminatum, Abies pindrow and Aesculus indica, respectively) between 2400 and 2850 m a.s.l. in a moist temperate forest of the Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim was to assess the variation in composition and diversity in different vegetation layers, i.e., herb, shrub and tree, among these five forest types. Diversity indices, such as the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, density, total basal cover, Simpson’s concentration of dominance index, Simpson’s diversity index, Pielou’s equitability, species richness, species heterogeneity and β-diversity, were calculated to understand community structures. Dominance-diversity curves were drawn to ascertain resource apportionment among various species in different forest types.  相似文献   

Human gene expression as a tool to determine horticultural maturity in a bioactive plant (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench)     

Brovelli EA  Rua D  Roh-Schmidt H  Chandra A  Lamont E  Noratto GD 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2005,53(21):8156-8161

A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. Plants of selected development stages were also assayed for total polysaccharides and compared for their immune-modulating effects on the THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line by means of a gene expression study. Although the concentration of cichoric acid did not change significantly during the course of the study, stage 1 (advanced vegetative) had the highest concentration of total polysaccharides and exhibited the most potent induction activity on immune-modulating cytokines such as interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These findings suggest that the use of gene expression may be an effective tool not only to standardize botanical extracts but also to optimize harvest time.  相似文献   

Increase in the Nitrogen Content of Soil by the Introduction of Earthworms into Soil     

Takashi Ozawa  Chandra Prasad Risal  Ryoko Yanagimoto 《Soil Science and Plant Nutrition》2005,51(6):917-920

The contribution of an earthworm species ( Amynthas vittatus ) to the increase of the nitrogen content of soil was examined. Three specimens of adult earthworms were introduced into 300 g of soil (Gray Lowland soil, silty clay) supplemented with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose in a container and incubated for 32 d at 22°C in the dark. The contents of total-N, NH₄-N and NO₃-N, and the population of aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil significantly increased after incubation with the earthworms, while the natural abundance of ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N) in soil decreased. The amount of nitrogen in the earthworms did not decrease during the incubation in the microcosm. Both acetylene reduction activity of the microcosm and incorporation of ¹⁵N to soil from atmospheric ¹⁵N₂ were significantly enhanced by the introduction of the earthworms into soil, though the observed increment of nitrogen in soil was much higher than the estimated one based on the nitrogen-fixing activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the earthworms increased the nitrogen content of soil, presumably due to the enhancement of the nitrogen-fixing activity of the soil from the microcosm by the earthworms.  相似文献   

Supplemental saline drip irrigation applied at different growth stages of two bell pepper cultivars grown with or without mulch in non-saline soil     

Dagobiet Morales-Garcia  Katrine A. StewartPhilippe Seguin  Chandra Madramootoo 《Agricultural Water Management》2011,98(5):893-898

The effect of supplemental saline (2.5 dS m⁻¹) drip irrigation and black polyethylene mulch on two cultivars of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) was investigated under field conditions using a randomized complete block design with split-split plot restriction. The research included six irrigation treatments (main plots): (i) non-saline irrigation control applied throughout growth (None), (ii) saline irrigation from transplanting until formation of the first fruit set (S1S2), (iii) saline irrigation from transplanting until appearance of the first flower and from first harvest to final harvest (S1S4), (iv) saline irrigation from appearance of the first flower to first harvest (S2S3), (v) saline irrigation from fruit set to final harvest (S3S4), and (vi) saline irrigation throughout growth (All); two mulch treatments (subplots): (i) black mulch and (ii) bare soil; and two bell pepper cultivars (sub-subplots): (i) Early Sunsation and (ii) Red Knight. Production of fully ripened fruits was higher in mulched plants regardless of saline irrigation treatments. In humid areas with non-saline soil, supplemental saline drip irrigation could be used with black polyethylene mulch to save water while maintaining fruit production.  相似文献   

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) profile of an insecticidal compound of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trochus radiatus</Emphasis> and assessment of mucus-associated bacterial extracts     

Mary Elizabeth K. Gnanambal  K. C. Ramya Devi  P. Hareesh Chandra  Edward J. K. Patterson 《Phytoparasitica》2011,39(2):121-127

The current study is based on the screening of novel insecticides from new sources that have not being exploited hitherto. The major objectives of this research work were to extract marine molluscs, Lambis lambis, Trochus radiatus and Chicoreus ramosus, from Tuticorin coastal waters using different solvents to test their insecticidal properties and partially purify the active components. The ethyl acetate extracts of L. lambis and T. radiatus showed 100% mortality of Sitophilus oryzae, at a concentration of 200 μg ml⁻¹. The LC₅₀ values for ethyl acetate extracts of L. lambis, T. radiatus and C. ramosus were found to be 67.08, 348.86 and 571.42 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. With regard to bacterial metabolites, at a concentration of 200 μg ml⁻¹ the ethyl acetate extract of A3 was able to elicit an activity of 40% and that of strain A1 – 20%. The LC₅₀ values of the bacterial metabolites were also investigated. Upon chromatographic separation of active ethyl acetate extracts of T. radiatus, the 100% methanol column-purified fraction was found to have an activity of 30% at a concentration of 10 μg against S. oryzae. The purity of the partially pure active compound was observed to be 72.78% on analysis with high pressure thin layer chromatography.  相似文献   

Naturally derived micelles for rapid in vitro screening of potential cholesterol-lowering bioactives     

Kirana C  Rogers PF  Bennett LE  Abeywardena MY  Patten GS 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2005,53(11):4623-4627

A high plasma cholesterol level, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, indicates increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Plasma cholesterol levels are influenced by diet and cholesterol biosynthesis, uptake, and secretion. Cholesterol uptake involves solubilization into complex phospholipid spherical bodies termed micelles that facilitate the transport of lipids through the gut brush border membrane into enterocytes. In vitro assays reported to date to determine potential cholesterol-lowering effects of various compounds require artificial micelle preparations that are elaborate and time-consuming to prepare. The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of artificially prepared micelles with naturally derived micelles from pig's bile and to test their ability to assess potential inhibitors of cholesterol uptake. The suitability of pig's bile-derived micelles was tested both at the level of the micelle and at cellular uptake using cultured Caco-2 cells. Known cholesterol uptake inhibitors at the micelle (green tea catechins) and at the Caco-2 cell (beta-lactoglobulin-derived peptide, IIAEK) were used as reference inhibitory compounds. It was concluded that pig's bile was a rapid, reproducible, convenient, and cost-effective source of micelles for cholesterol micelle solubility and cellular uptake assay systems and is suitable for screening purposes focused on identifying potential cholesterol-lowering agents.  相似文献   

Potential of Eisenia foetida for Sustainable and Efficient Vermicomposting of Fly Ash     

S. K. Gupta  Anamika Tewari  Richa Srivastava  R. C. Murthy  Saurabh Chandra 《Water, air, and soil pollution》2005,163(1-4):293-302

Vermicomposting of fly ash has been attempted, using red earthworm, Eisenia foetida. Fly ash, which was obtained from thermal power station, was mixed with cowdung in different proportions (20, 40, 60 and 80%). These mixtures were used as feed for earthworms, and after 30 days, vermicast recovery, worm zoomass and numbers of juveniles produced were recorded. A total of six runs each of 30 days were conducted during the whole study. Concentrations of heavy metals in different mixtures of fly ash–cowdung, before and after vermicomposting and in the earthworms used in the study were also estimated. Results show maximum output of vermicasts and maximum number of juveniles produced was in reactors with 40% fly ash while maximum weight gain by earthworm was in 20% fly ash vermireactors. Performance of vermireactors up to 60% fly ash was more or less similar but at 80% fly ash, there is a marked reduction in overall performance of the reactors. Chemical analysis of different samples of fly ash–cowdung mixtures prior to vermicomposting revealed high concentrations of zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and copper. Chemical analysis of vermicomposted samples showed 30–50% reduction in heavy metals up to 60% fly ash and 10–30% reduction in 80% fly ash. Metal analysis of earthworms revealed considerable bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their body. The Present study indicates the feasibility of E. foetida for mitigating the toxicity of metals and up to 60% fly ash–cowdung mixtures can be used for sustainable and efficient vermicomposting.  相似文献   

Characterization, quantification, and bioactivities of anthocyanins in Cornus species   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Seeram NP  Schutzki R  Chandra A  Nair MG 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2002,50(9):2519-2523

Cornus mas, Cornus officinalis, Cornus controversa, and Cornus kousa (Cornaceae) bear edible fruits that are consumed in parts of Europe and Asia. This study undertook the investigation of the presence and levels of anthocyanins in the fruits of these Cornus species by HPLC. The anthocyanins present in Cornelian cherries, C. mas, are delphinidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (1), cyanidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (2), and pelargonidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (3). C. officinalis contains only anthocyanins 1-3, similar to C. mas, but in different proportions. However, C. controversa contains anthocyanins 1-3 among other anthocyanins, but Chinese dogwood, C. kousa, did not contain 1-3. The contents of pure anthocyanins 1, 2, and 3 in 1 kg of fresh fruits of C. mas, C. officinalis, and C. controversa were 280, 1079, and 710 ppm; 11, 77, and 230 ppm; and 600, 1000, and 700 ppm, respectively. In cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and -II enzyme inhibitory assays, anthocyanins 1-3 (all 40 microM) showed activities of 9.2 and 11.7%; 7.6 and 12.4%; and 5.3 and 7.8%, respectively, compared to Naproxen (54.3 and 41.3%; 10 microM), ibuprofen (47.5 and 39.8%; 10 microM), Celebrex (46.2 and 66.3%; 1.67 ppm), and Vioxx (23.8 and 88.1%, 1.67 ppm). In the antioxidant assay, anthocyanins 1-3 (all 40 microM) showed activities of 70.2, 60.1, and 40.3%, respectively. At 10 microM concentration, commercial synthetic antioxidants tert-butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, and vitamin E gave 83.2, 79.7, 82.1, and 10.2% of antioxidant activity, respectively.  相似文献   

Long‐term effects of leguminous cover crops on microbial indices and their relationships in soils of a coconut plantation of a humid tropical region     

R. Dinesh 《植物养料与土壤学杂志》2004,167(2):189-195

In this study, leguminous crops like Atylosia scarabaeoides, Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides, and Pueraria phaseoloides. grown as soil cover individually in the interspaces of a 19‐yr‐old coconut plantation in S. Andaman (India) were assessed for their influence on various microbial indices (microbial biomass C, biomass N, basal respiration, ergosterol, levels of ATP, AMP, ADP) in soils (0–50 cm) collected from these plots after 10 years. The effects of these cover crops on . CO₂ (metabolic quotient), adenylate energy charge (AEC), and the ratios of various soil microbial properties viz., biomass C : soil organic C, biomass C : N, biomass N : total N, ergosterol : biomass C, and ATP : biomass C were also examined. Cover cropping markedly enhanced the levels of organic matter and microbial activity in soils after the 10‐yr‐period. Microbial biomass C and N, basal respiration, . CO₂, ergosterol and levels of ATP, AMP, ADP in the cover‐cropped plots significantly exceeded the corresponding values in the control plot. While the biomass C : N ratio tended to decrease, the ratios of biomass N : total N, ergosterol : biomass C, and ATP : biomass C increased significantly due to cover cropping. Greater ergosterol : biomass C ratio in the cover‐cropped plots indicated a decomposition pathway dominated by fungi, and high . CO₂ levels in these plots indicated a decrease in substrate use efficiency probably due to the dominance of fungi. The AEC levels ranged from 0.80 to 0.83 in the cover‐cropped plots, thereby reflecting greater microbial proliferation and activity. The ratios of various microbial and chemical properties could be assigned to three different factors by principal components analysis. The first factor (PC1) with strong loadings of ATP : biomass C ratio, AEC, and . CO₂ reflected the specific metabolic activity of soil microbes. The ratios of ergosterol : biomass C, soil organic C : total N, and biomass N : total N formed the second factor (PC2) indicating a decomposition pathway dominated by fungi. The biomass C : N and biomass C : soil organic C ratios formed the third principal component (PC3), reflecting soil organic matter availability in relation to nutrient availability. Overall, the study suggested that Pueraria phaseoloides. or Atylosia scarabaeoides were better suited as cover crops for the humid tropics due to their positive contribution to soil organic C, N, and microbial activity.  相似文献   

Reverse phase passive haemagglutination test for the detection of rinderpest antigen     

R. P. Bansal  R. C. Joshi  B. Sharma  U. Chandra 《Tropical animal health and production》1987,19(1):53-55

Reverse phase passive haemagglutination [RPHA] test was applied for the detection of rinderpest antigen in various organs of rinderpest infected cattle. The results of RPHA were compared with counter immunoelectrophoresis [CIE] and single radial haemolysis [SRH] test. RPHA was as sensitive as CIE and SRH in detecting rinderpest antigen.  相似文献