jbas
Editor’s Choice : Black Watermelon Bug, Coridius viduatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Dinidoridae) in Hatay Region of Turkey
|
|
|
Abstract: Black watermelon bug, Coridius viduatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Dinidoridae) is one of the most important pest of watermelon in many of African countries. This species is known to be present in Turkey. Although several studies on this species have been done in countries where it is present, it was not sufficiently studied in Turkey. This pest was observed first time on squirting cucumber [Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Richard (Cucurbitaceae)] in Hatay province in 2004. This plant species is the natural host of several viruses creates significant problems in cucurbit plants in the Mediterranean basin. The studies were conducted in both laboratoryand natural conditions in 2007 and 2008. Biological stages of the pest was investigated and determined. Furthermore, damage of the pest on four different cucurbit species [watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Matsum. and Nakai), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), squirting cucumber (E. elaterium) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Stadl.)] was investigated. In these studies, it was observed that the pest was able to complete its life cycle when only squirting cucumber and watermelon were used as food sources. Keywords: Cucurbitaceae, black watermelon bug, Ecballium elaterium, Heteroptera, viruses.Download Full Article |
|
|
|
Abstract: The key objective of this study was to devise a continuous ZeeWeed® membrane-based, immersed, microfiltration (MF) laboratory scale fermentation system for ethanol production with cell retention to achieve effective ethanol productivity, flux rates and sugar utilization. The new bioreactor was compared to the fermentation kinetics’ of the ultrafiltration unit.A synthetic glucose based medium was fermented by fresh, baker’s yeast to produce ethanol. The cells were not recycled; the medium was continuously withdrawn by filtration through an internal, immersed hollow-fiber cartridge. In this way, the inside of the membrane was exposed to the ethanolic solution, while broth with viable yeast cells remained outside the membrane. This design, with a cell retention system, provided much less membrane fouling (loss of about 76% of the original water flux after 96 hours of filtration) than while using the ultrafiltration (UF) external hollow-fiber membrane with cell recycling (loss of 97% of the original water flux after 2-3 hours of operation). Both modules converted at least 95% of glucose with biomass concentration of 30 g/L, and the final ethanol concentration of 62 g/L. However, the UF membrane became plugged after only 2 hrs of operation. The ZeeWeed® membrane operated successfully for 96 hrs with a final flux of 4 L/h m2 with ethanol concentration of 62.4 g/l, biomass yield 0.34 g/g and cell viability of 95.3%. This concept could be successfully used for biofuel production. A very strong positive correlation was observed between the biomass and EtOH concentration (R=0.98; at p<0.05). Keywords: Continuous ethanol fermentation, hollow fiber, cross-flow microfiltration, membrane bioreactor, cell retention, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Download Full Article |
|
|
|
Abstract: Objective:To acquire monoclonal hybridoma cell lines against fummonisin B1(FB1) and extract monoclonal antibody against FB1. Methods: Coupling antigens of FB1-KLH and FB1-BSA with chemical methods and immune 6-8 weeks old female BALB/c mice with FB1-KLH. Integrating spleen cells with sp2/0 myeloma cells to acquire hybridoma cell lines secreting McAb against FB1. The method of multiple subclones was used to select cell lines stably secreting McAb. McAbs was got from ascites and purified. The subclass of antibody was measured and the molecular weight was identified. The specificity and sensitivity of McAb were identified with indirect competitive inhibition ELISA. Results:The results of serum from immuned mice showed that after five times of immunization the titer stables at 1×10-6, and the McAb belongs to IgG1 subclass, the light chain was κ, the molecular weight of heavy and light chain were 55kDa and 32kDa, respectively. ELISA results showed that McAb could react with FB1. The linear range indirect competitive inhibition ELISA is 10-500ng/ml. Conclusion:The monoclonal hybridoma cell lines and the high specificity,high sensitivity of FB1-McAb was Keywords: Fummonisin B1, hybridomacell lines, monoclonal antibody. Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Design and Development of Efficient Domestic Electric Cum Solar Oven
|
|
|
Abstract: An improved design is proposed to investigate the characteristic study of an electric cum solar oven (ECSO) using circular cover in which both solar energy and electricity have been utilized as energy source for different food items. The newly designed solar oven has been fabricated by employing indigenous raw materials and it provides more reliable performance than the previously used solar oven for cooking of agricultural products and conventional food items. The new observations show that the cooking process of products is dependent on both the circular shape and climate conditions. The electrical heating has been used in combination with the solar energy to enhance the oven heating during the periods of lesser sunshine. The base of the oven was made up of the electric heating plate that is controlled by timer and an electric thermostat is used to control the heating of the oven. The performance and parameters obtained from the newly designed solar oven are found to be excellent than that obtained from previously known solar ovens for cooking of various edibles. It is shown that this newly designed solar oven can be efficient for cooking and preservation of all edible stuffs and appearance of cooked food products. The performance of the solar cooker has been checked under the local climate conditions of Faisalabad city to observe its efficiency with satisfactory results. Keywords: Circular cover, ECSO, agriculture products, edibles and climate conditions.Download Full Article |
|
|
|
Abstract: Application of nitrogen fixing biofertilizer, such as Azotobacter, has a potential for reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nitrogen fixing biofertilizer addition to common practices of urea and fresh cattle manure usages for maize (Zea mays L.) growing on N2O emission. The field experiment was conducted at GunungKidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The treatments were addition of fresh cattle manure (M), fresh cattle manure added with nitrogen fixing biofertilizer (MB), urea (U), urea added with nitrogen fixing biofertilizer (UB), and control (no N fertilizer added). Nitrogen contents of the added urea and fresh cattle manure were adjusted to be equal. Urea and fresh cattle manure were given three times throughout the experiment period, i.e. 12, 30, and 48 days after planting (DAP). Urea was given at a rate of 44, 29, and 15 kg.ha-1, respectively while fresh cattle manure was given at a rate of 6000, 4000, and 2000 kg.ha-1, respectively. The emitted N2O was collected using a closed-chamber method at 24, 42, 60, and 72 DAP and were determined using Gas Chromatograph. Soil properties including available N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) and organic C contents were also analyzed. On the harvesting time, the harvest index and the grain yield were determined. Biofertilizer addition influence decomposition process of cattle manure and urea that led to mineralization and nitrification of residual organic matterand hence to cause soil NH4+N in the order concentration of M treatment > MB > U > UB>C, and soil NO3--N of MB treatment > M > U > UB>C. Reduction of NO3-N was resulted in the highest N2O emission of M >U>MB>UB>C(P < 0.01). The grain yield, and harvest index of maize wereresulted in the order value of MB> UB > U > M>C treatments.Available mineral N and soil organic C contents strongly affected N2O emission (P < 0.01).The results suggested that biofertilizer addition to common agricultural practices reduce N2O emission and simultaneusly increased grain yield, and harvest index of maize. Keywords: Azotobacter, urea, cattle manure, nitrous oxide.Download Full Article |