Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Vishwas S. Patil ¹, Sharmishtha V. Patil ², H. V. Deshmukh ³, G. R. Pathade ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Lal Bahadur Shastri College, Satara-415 002, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Botany, Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara-415 002, Maharashtra, IN
3 Department of Microbiology, Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara-415 002, Maharashtra, IN
4 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major problem in Maharashtra. Attempt is made to isolate salt-tolerant, thermotolerant, nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilising Azotobacter spp. from the saline soil of Khodashi village in Satara district. Eight Azotobacter spp. were isolated from the saline soils. They were confirmed based on morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. They were tested for saline and thermal tolerance. The phosphate solubilizing potential of the these Azotobacter isolates was qualitatively evaluated by the formation of halos (clear zones) around the colonies growing on solid medium containing tribasic calcium phosphate as a sole phosphorus source. The results showed that phosphate solubilising, salt tolerant and thermotolerant Azotobacter spp. could be a promising source for the development of saline-alkali soil-based agriculture.

Keywords

Azotobacter spp., Saline Soil, Salt Tolerant, Thermotolerant, Phosphate Solubilising.

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Fateneh Bajoul Kakahi ¹, Satish Kulkarni ¹, G. R. Pathade ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Science, Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The pulp and paper industries produce large amount of toxic and strongly coloured waste effluents, causing severe water pollution. This paper is the state of the art review of microorganisms for pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment and presentation of available treatment processes. A comparison of most usable treatment processes is presented. Fungal treatment is found to be efficient in colour removal. Combination of anaerobic and aerobic treatment processes are considered to be efficient in removal of soluble biodegradable organic pollutants.

Keywords

Paper and Pulp Industry, Wastewater Treatment, Microorganisms, Colour Removal.

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P. Mirlekar Bhalchandra ¹, G. R. Pathade ²

Affiliations
1 National Centre for Cell Science, Pune University Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 001, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The human body is colonized by an enormous population of bacteria (microbiota) that provides the host with coding capacity and metabolic activities. Among the human gut microbiota are health-promoting indigenous species (probiotic bacteria) that are commonly consumed as live dietary supplements. Recent studies are starting to provide insights into how probiotic bacteria sense and adapt to the gastrointestinal tract environment. In this Review, the application of lactic acid bacteria as probiotics using the well-recognized model probiotic bacterial genera Lactobacillus from gut of silk worm Bombyx mori has been discussed as examples. Recent researches have demonstrated that probiotics can prevent pathogen colonization of the gut and reduce the incidence or relieve the symptoms of various diseases caused by dysregulated immune responses. Therefore, probiotics, through their effects on the host immune system, might ameliorate diseases triggered by disordered immune responses. Caveats remain and, because the beneficial effects of probiotics can vary between strains, the selection of the most suitable ones will be crucial for their use in the prevention or treatment of specific diseases.

Keywords

Bombyx mori, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacteriocins, Probiotics.

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M. V. Gurav ¹, G. R. Pathade ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, K. W. College, Sangli-416 304, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The temple wastes consist of vegetable material (mainly flowers, leaves, fruits, sugar, jaggery, etc.), milk and milk products, grains and water most of which are biodegradable and contain elements required for growth of microorganisms. Temple wastes are released in water bodies or dumped on the available places of land creating severe environmental pollution and health hazards, hence, it was thought to attempt use temple waste for preparation of microbiological media to cultivate common microorganisms in the microbiological laboratories. In the present study, temple waste extract was used to prepare microbiological nutrient media for cultivation of common bacteria (at pH 7.4 of medium) like Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi (at pH 5.4 of medium) like Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum (molds), Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Torulla (yeasts). For bacteria, the standard control medium used for comparison was nutrient agar, while for fungi it was Sabouraud's agar. The results were highly encouraging where more luxuriant growth of both bacteria and fungi was obtained on the temple waste microbiological media in comparison to standard controlled media. Thus, temple waste based microbiological nutrient media can be used to cultivate common microorganisms, which will be highly economical as compared to costly standard and commercial microbiological media.

Keywords

Temple Waste, Waste Management, Microbiological Media, Ecofriendly Treatment.

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A. V. Mane ¹, M. S. Ambawade ¹, G. R. Pathade ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Fergusson College, Pune-411-004, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The seeds of Triticum aestivum var. MP LOK1 were sown in earthen pots and cadmium chloride treatment was given. The plants were treated with increasing concentrations of cadmium chloride i.e., 25, 50 and 100 ppm. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of cadmium chloride on the photosynthetic pigments, polyphenol, proline and antioxidative response in Triticum aestivum. It is evident from the results that chlorophyll content of the wheat was not much affected by the lower levels of cadmium chloride but significantly affected at 100 ppm level. It was slightly increased only at 25 ppm by 5.10%. The polyphenol content of the leaves was increased at 25 and 50 ppm of the cadmium chloride but decreased by 16.54% at 100 ppm of the metal salt. Maximum increase in proline content was found as 27.36% at 100 ppm of cadmium chloride. The increased levels of polyphenols at elevated levels of cadmium chloride might be to tolerate higher levels of cadmium stress. The elevated activities of catalase and peroxidase under metal salt probably came for maintenance of cellular membranes while decrease at elevated levels of cadmium chloride might be due to the toxic nature of cadmium chloride. The details of the parameters studied are discussed in the present paper.

Keywords

Triticum aestivum, Cadmium Chloride, Chlorophylls, Proline, Polyphenols, Antioxidants.

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S. A. Salunkhe ¹, G. R. Pathade ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara-415 002, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Microbiology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

In the present paper 25 different types of market, home and laboratory made mango (Mangifera indica) pickle samples were tested for their possible genotoxicity owing to widespread adulteration in market pickles with chemical preservatives, colouring agents and low quality ingredients. Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity tests were performed using Ames' test and using standard chemical mutagens (aminopyrene, sodium azide and nitrosoguanidine). The 66.7% of packed market pickles showed positive antimutagenicity test; and 33.3% positive antimutangenicity test. 100% loosely sold pickles showed mutagenicity test positive and antimutagenicity test negative. Among home-made pickles, 60% showed antimutagenicity test positive, and 40% mutagenicity test positive. The laboratory-made pickles showed negative mutagenicity test and positive antimutagenicity test in all the pickles. The primary findings about the quality of pickles consumed by vast population showed that they are of poor chemical quality and alarming at their potential genotoxicity. On the contrary, the laboratory-made pickles prepared without any chemical preservatives and chemical colourants, and with selective quality ingredients and selective microbial culture mix showed that all the samples have antimutagenicity test positive and mutagenicity test negative.

Keywords

Pickles, Genotoxicity, Ames’ Test, Mutangenicity Test, Antimutagenicity Test.

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D. G. Kadam ¹, G. R. Pathade ², P. K. Goel ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, DBF Dayanand College, Solapur-413002, Maharashtra, IN
2 P.G. Deptt. of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN
3 Deptt. of Pollution Studies, Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Microbial succession in casts of Eudrilus eugeniae and in the control (compost without earthworms) was studied over a period of 120 days of incubation by maintaining optimum moisture conditions throughout the experiment. Total viable counts of different types of microorganisms such as total viable bacteria, total viable Gram negative bacteria, total phosphate dissolving bacteria, total fungi, total phosphate dissolving fungi, total actinomycetes, phosphate dissolving actinomycetes, total Azotobacter population and total nitrifying bacteria were noted as colony forming units per gram (CFUs/g) in casts and control using suitable growth media.

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H. V. Deshmukh ¹, G. R. Pathade ², P. K. Goel ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Y. C. Institute of Science, Satara-415 001, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, IN
3 Department of Pollution Studies, Y. C. College of Science, Karad-415 124, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The study was made to see the biomethanation potential of 14 commonly present weed plants alone and in combination with some agro-industrial wastes like distillery, sugar, dairy and farmhouse. The plants were used in the original form and after mild alkali treatment to see effect of softening of the tissues. There was a marked increase in biogas production after pretreatment in almost all the plants. The mixing of agro-industrial wastes also enhanced the capability of weeds to produce biogas. In general, Ipomoea carnea showed the best results alone as well as in combination with the wastes, especially distillery waste. The use of these plants can be made to supplement the conventional substrates like dung in rural areas to augment the biogas production.

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