Informatics Publishing Limited

P. Arun Kumar ¹, R. Nirmala ², E. P. Bhavya ³

Affiliations
1 National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station, Bengaluru Karnataka, IN
2 Department of Food and Agricultural Process Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore T.N., IN
3 Department of Food and Agricultural Process Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore T.N.

Abstract

Green leafy vegetables are common in the Indian diet. A variety of greens are consumed in different parts of the country. Leafy vegetables are highly perishable and their shelf life depends on duration and conditions of storage. In the view of the increasing demand for products with a fresh-like quality which are very nutritious and easily available in the local market, a research has been conducted to assess the quality of the drumstick leaves by using different packaging materials and methods under different storage conditions. Influence of packaging conditions on minimally processed drumstick leaves were studied during 12 days of storage at 50C. The pretreated drumstick leaves were packaged in Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene materials of different thickness namely, 150, 250 and 350 gauges under normal ambient air and refrigerated condition and stored in ambient (25±20 C), refrigerated (5±20 C) temperatures with quality analysis under a day interval for twelve days. The results observed for different conditions with respect to the quality deterioration revealed that 350 gauge thick LDPE was found to be the best in maintaining the colour and the reduction in vitamin C content(150 mg/ 100 g), beta carotene content (4793 μg/100 g) was found to be less during the storage and it was also observed that the rate of increase in the microbial load i.e. fungi, bacteria was less with the values 2.96 x106 and 1.21 x104, respectively at the end of storage period

Keywords

Packaging, Storage, Conditions, Shelf-life, Drumstick Leaves

Full Text

     

P. Arunkumar ¹, R. Nirmala ¹, E. P. Bhavya ¹

Affiliations
1 Dairy Engineering Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station, Adugodi, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Jaggery is a specific type of sugar popular in India derived from sugarcane juice. A study was conducted to evaluate jaggery quality by packaging jaggery in different material and packaging conditions. The results revealed that, the best packaging material for storing jaggery in ambient atmosphere was triple layered vacuum packaging material followed by double layer and single layer material. The change in total colour, sucrose content, hardness, reducing sugar content, moisture content, porosity and microbial load in jaggery were observed to be very minimum in jaggery packaged under vacuum in triple layer material. Not much variation was observed in the ash content at the end of storage period. Further, the jaggery product stored under the above condition had scored highest values in the sensory evaluation.

Keywords

Packaging, Storage, Jaggery quality

Full Text

     

R. Nirmala ¹, B. Ramanujam ¹, R. J. Rabindra ¹, N. S. Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 Project Directorate of Biological Control (leAR) Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road Hebbal, Bangalore 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The pathogenicity of twelve fungal isolates belonging to Beauveria basiana (Bals.) Vuill., Metarhizium allisopliae (Metschinikoff) Sorokin and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) against Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gossypii Glover and Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch was studied using detached leaf bioassay technique. All twelve isolates of thc three fungi were found to be pathogenic to A. craccivora and A. gossypii at a concentration of 1x107 spores/ml. All isolates except Bb3 and Bb4 of B. bassiana were pathogenic to R. maidis. The mortality ranged from 2 to 74 per cent in A. craccivora, 14 to 80.8 percent in A. gossypii and 6 to 50 per cent in R. maidis. Bb5a isolate of B. bassiana caused highest per cent mortality in A. gossypii (80.8%.) and R. maidis (50%) indicating its broad spectrum action. VII isolate of V. lecanii recorded maximum mortality (80.8%) of A. craccivora. R. maidis was relatively less susceptible to the three fungi than A. craccivora and A. gossypii. The LC50 of Bb5a for three days old nymphs of A. gossypii was 6.57x105 spores/ml. The LT₅₀ of Bb5a for three days old nymphs of A. gossypii was highest (9.67 days) for the lowest dose of 106 spores/ml, which decreased with increasing concentration. The highest dose 109 spores/ml recorded the lowest LT₅₀ of 1.76 days.

Keywords

Aphis craccivora, Aphis gossypii, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopiiac, Rhopalosiphum maidi, Verticillium lecanii.

Full Text

   

R. Nirmala ¹, B. Ramanujam ², R. J. Rabindra ², N. S. Rao ²

Affiliations
1 Entomology section, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore-641007, IN
2 Project Directorate of Biological Control (ICAR), Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road Hebbal, Bangalore, 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Four isolates in each of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschinikoff) Sorokin and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas, pathogenic to key pests of crops like, coffee berry borer, coconut rhinoceros beetle, cashew stem borer, citrus and coffee green scale etc. were assessed for the colony growth on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), biomass and spore production in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) and dry spore production in rice grown through di-phasic production system. The isolates Bb5a (B. bassiana), Ma4 (M. anisopliae) and V15 (V. lecanii) were found fast growing with the colony diameter of 6.3, 8.1 and 5.7cm, respectively on PDA after 15 days of incubation. Biomass production in PDB was comparatively higher in shake cultures than in stationary cultures for all isolates except Bb4, BbSa, and V13a. Among the B. bassiana isolates, biomass production in stationary cultures was highest in Bb4 isolate (0.78 g/100ml) and in shake culture in Bb3 isolate (1.02g/100ml). Ma2 in stationary eulture (0.8g/100ml) and Ma3 isolate in shake cultures produced maximum biomass (l.09g/100ml). V1 2a isolate among V. lecanii isolates produced maximum biomass in stationary culture and shake culture (0.77 and 1.03g/100ml, respectively). M. anisopliae isolates formed mycelial pellets of various sizes under shake culture condition in PDB, In two-stage system of mass production, the maximum spore production on rice was observed in BbSa, Ma4 and V15 isolates (96.0, 49.8 and 17.5 x 10⁸ spores g⁻¹) and maximum spores per gram of rice were harvested in Bb5a, Ma2 and V12a isolates (28.00, 45.50 and 15.60 mg g⁻¹). Maximum viable spores per gram of spore dust were recorded in Bb5a, Ma4 and V15 isolates (4.7 x 10¹⁰, 2.5 x 10¹⁰ and 1.7 x 10⁹g⁻¹). Taking into consideration of quantity of spore dust production and viable spores in the spore dust, Bb5a, Ma2 and V12a were identified as potential isolates for large-scale production of dry conidial powder.

Keywords

Beauveria bassiana, Biomass, Metarhizium anisopliae, Radial Growth, Spore Production, Verticillium lecanii.

Full Text

   

S. Easwaramoorthy ¹, R. Nirmala ¹, G. Santhalakshmi ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Crop Protection Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore 641 007, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae is found on the larvae of sugarcane internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) under field conditions at Coimbatore. In laboratory tests, the fungus caused 20.0 to 83.3 per cent mortality in third instar larvae and 10.0 to 90.0 per cent mortality in fourth instar when treated with different doses ranging from 10⁴ to 10⁹ spores/ml. The time taken to kill the larvae varied from 5.6 to 13.1 days in third ins tar and 5.9 to 9.9 days in fourth instar. The mean number of spores produced per dead larva varied from 0.17 × 10⁹ to 0.48 × 10⁹ in third instar and 0.92 × 10⁹ to 1.52 × 10⁹ in fourth instar.

Keywords

Chilo sacchariphagus indicus, First Report, Metarhizium anisopliae, Pathogenicity.

Full Text

   

S. Easwaramoorthy ¹, R. Nirmala ², G. Santhalakshmi ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Crop Protection Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore 641007, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Division of Crop Protection Sugarcane Breeding Institute Coimbatore 641007, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

In a survey for natural enemies in sugarcane fields at Harinagar, West Champaran district, Bihar, the coccinellid, Micraspis univittata (Hope) was recorded for the first time in sugarcane ecosystem. The biology of the coccinellid and its predatory potential were worked out at Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, using the sugarcane aphid,Melanaphis sacchari (Zehnt.) as the laboratory host. The mean duration of development of M. univittata was 18.8 ± 0.6 days and the adult longevity was 37.7 ± 7.7 days. The predatory potential of grubs was 373 ± 39.6 aphids while the adults preyed on 3659.1 ± 865.9 aphids. The grubs and adults also preyed upon different stages of other sugarcane pests like shoot and internode borers. But they failed to feed on nymphs of whiteflies and eggs and nymphs of pyrilla.

Keywords

Biology,Micraspis univittata, Predatory Potential, Sugarcane Aphids.

Full Text

   

B. Singaravelu ¹, R. Nirmala ¹, S. Easwaramoorthy ¹

Affiliations
1 Section of Entomology, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore 641 007, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

A granulovirus was found to infect sugarcane top borer, Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker for the first time. In a preliminary study, the virus infection in field population was found to vary from 1.6 to 14.4 (̅X = 5.8) percent. In the laboratory test, the virus caused mortality of final instar larvae up to 55.2 percent in 4 to 8 days after infection.

Keywords

Baculovirus, Granulovirus, Natural Infection, Pathogenicity, Sugarcane Top Borer.

Full Text

   

R. Nirmala ¹, R. Rajkumar ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Sathyabama University, Rajiv Gandhi Road, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai - 600119, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, SSN College of Engineering, Chennai – 603110, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Understanding the mechanics of buried pipes is complicated due to the imprecision in the properties of the soil envelope. This paper deals with the study of behavior of flexible Un-Plasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride pipes buried in loose and dense sand backfill. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A design methodology is proposed for prediction of the performance of pipes using the finite element method ANSYS. The pipe soil interaction under static loading conditions is investigated. Height of the soil above the pipe varies with the ratios of diameter of the pipe. The numerical results are compared with the available values calculated using the theoretical approach Spangler Deflection theory. Findings: Provision of geogrid reinforcement above the crown of buried pipe is suggested to minimize the vertical deflection of buried Un-Plasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride pipes.

Keywords

Backfill, Pipe - Soil Interaction, Soil Envelope, Static Loading

Full Text

   

R. Nirmala ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Commerce, Govt P.G. College, Hissar, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Supply chain management is an integral part of any organization. Mumbai dabbawala operation is widely recognized as an outstanding example of excellence in supply chain management. Because of its popularity Prince Charles of United Kingdom & Richard Branson (Founder & Chairman of Virgin group) paid a visit to 'dabbawalas' operations site during their visit to India. In this paper I have tried to explain the supply chain management of Mumbai dabbawala & reasons for their success.

Keywords

Supply Chain Management, Dabbawala Operation, Success.

Full Text

     

K. P. Jaiganesh ¹, B. Sreedharren ², G. Arunachalam ³, R. Nirmala ⁴, R. Nepolean ⁴

Affiliations
1 Division of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Thanthai Roever College of Pharmacy, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Nehru College of Pharmacy, Thrissur, Kerala, IN
3 PGP College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, IN
4 Thanthai Roever College of Pharmacy, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Jatropha curcas, Linn., is a large shrub belongs to the family of Euphorbiaceae. The present investigation aims to find out the pharmacognostical characters which includes macroscopy, histology, powder microscopy, physico chemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical screening and antibacterial potential of the leaf of Jatropha curcas, Linn., by adopting standard procedures. This present study reveals that pharmacognostical identity of this plant. Ethanol extract (25, 50 mg/ml) exhibits significant antibacterial activity against Escherchia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Micrococcus luteus by disc plate method using Ofloxacin as a standard (10μg/ml).

Keywords

Pharmacognosy, Jatropha curcas, Phytochemical Screening, Antibacterial Activity.

Full Text

     

Wilson Nicolau Fernandes ¹, R. Nirmala ²

Affiliations
1 İnstitute of Nursing Education, Government of Goa and Research Scholar, Department of Management Studies ,Goa University, Goa, IN
2 Department of Management Studies, Goa University, Goa, IN

Abstract

The nursing practice is dynamic and is highly influenced by the medical and technological development, but the core of nursing practice “care” has remained the same. In the recent years work environment is given importance and organizations are keen to know how stress and burnout affect nurses’ work, health and life. Efforts had been made to identify the stressful situations affecting nurses and to recognize the early signs of stress to burnout so that adverse health effects and nurse turnover can be avoided. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated the nursing shortage in India in 2020. This paper will highlight the literature published in the recent times in the area of workplace stress and coping strategies used by nurses in Indian context. Researchers also attempted to identify research gap and provide direction for future research

Keywords

Nurses, Occupational Stress, Coping Strategies, Indian.

Full Text