Asian Journal of Bio Science

V. Gomathi ¹, A. Ramalakshmi ², A. Ramanathan ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Fungus cultivating termites are important, highly specific insect microbe symbionts in Asia and Africa: The aim of this study was to determine physical, chemical and biological parameters of the fungus comb of Macrotermitinae collected from the different locations of Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. The pH of the fungus comb was 4.4 to 4.8 and moisture content about 46.92 to 52.80%. The Carbohydrate: Lignin ratio of old combs varied between 1.55 to 2.08 (w/w) and C: L ratio of New comb varied between 0.6 to 0.86 (w/w). The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of fungus comb varied from 0.75 to 1.8%, 0.175 to 0.193% and 0.075 to 0.08% on dry weight of fungus comb, respectively. The distribution of other fungi and also the symbiotic fungi Termitomyces in the nest of Macrotermitinae was also investigated in this study.

Keywords

Macrotermitinae, Fungus Comb, Microbial Population, Nutrient Content, Lignin Content.

Full Text

     

M. Iniyakumar ¹, A. Ramalakshmi ², P. Santhanakrishnan ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, IE
2 Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Crude glycerol, a by product of Jatropha biodiesel was used as carbon source for production of citric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica MTCC 35. Concentrations of crude glycerol ranging from 1 to 4 per cent were taken in buffered and unbuffered broth for the optimized production of citric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica MTCC 35. The amount of citric acid produced in buffered broth (11.2 gl^-1) was doubled when compared to unbufferd broth (5.2 gl^-1). Quantitative estimation through HPLC also confirmed the same.

Keywords

Citric Acid, Yarrowia lipolytica, Crude Glycerol-Biodiesel by Product.

Full Text

     

A. Ramalakshmi ¹, M. Iniyakumar ¹, S. Anthoni Raj ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to find out the influence of biofertilizers on soil physico-chemical and biological properties during cropping period at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Kovilpatti. The present study revealed that the biofertilizers inoculation resulted in the shift in the pH reducing the alkalinity slightly and the organic carbon content increased slightly in all the biofertilizer inoculated treatments compared to uninoculated soil. The available Nitrogen in soil was higher where Azospirillum was a component. The mycorrhiza and phosphobacteria increased the available soil Phosphorus status. The soil Potassium was found to be higher in co inoculation of Azophos and mycorrhiza. The soils of the biofertilizer inoculated plots exhibited a higher population of total bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in general than initial sample indicating an enhanced soil biological activity.

Keywords

Black Cotton Soil, Biofertilizers, Major Nutrients and Soil Microbes.

Full Text