Indian Journal of Biology

Orchids (Family Orchidaceae) are ornamentally valuable and unique group of flowering plants. They are valued mostly for their long lasting and diverse morphology of flowers. Some orchids are highly prized due to their application in food, flavor and medicinal industry. Seed germination and vegetative propagation are the methods through which orchid plants regenerate in nature. Both these methods of regeneration are quite slow to fulfill orchid demand. Plant tissue culture technique has been used extensively in multiplication of orchids. Although seed germination produces heterogenous population but most of orchid species are multiplied by asymbiotic seed germination. Propagation through protocorm-like-bodies (PLBs) or direct from explant regeneration is quite more advantageous to multiply orchids. Artificial seed technology is another method used for orchid multiplication, transport and conservation of endangered orchid species. Culture of medicinal orchids for production of bioactive metabolites could be used as substitute for dependence on natural population.

Keywords: Orchids; Propagation; Protocom like bodies; Thidiazuron; Secondary metabolite; Synthetic seed.

Background:
In
USA,
an
adult
has
a
daily
intake
of
caffeine
which
is
2.4
mg
kg−1
body
weight.
Caffeine
is
taken
in mostly as coffee and most of the people think that it has a direct or an indirect relationship with their health (Madeira, Boia, Ambrósio, & Santiago, 2017). This is a clear indication that people think that caffeine is affecting their health but they are not sure how. Previous studies have shown that caffeine behaves as a stimulant drug which makes a person very active through a very prominent increase in a person’s productivity, (Yamato et al., 2002). This information will be drawn in from this source to determine the reason for the increment of productivity. It has also been listed that caffeine basically affects the parts of the brain which are responsible for a person’s emotional response (The hippocampus) and these have always been the target organs for researchers (Yamato et al., 2002). This information links neurotransmitters directly to caffeine as hippocampus area is largely governed by the action of neurotransmitters (Tao & Auerbach, 2000).

Keywords: Caffeine; Enzymes; Neurotransmitters; Acetylcholine; Heart rate; Troponin; Adrenaline; Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase; Blood pressure.

Increasing concentration of green house gases in the atmosphere have already been documented and proved undoubtedly. Global Climate as a whole, is a phenomena which is affected or balanced by many interlinked processes of various systems in atmosphere, ocean etc. Considerable concerns have been made regarding human induced climate change as changed weather will certainly going to affect agriculture. Previous ice core samples and ocean sediments depicts climate change events in history also. Nevertheless, the present scenario of global warming is supposed to be due to escalating concentration in atmospheric green house gases, which change the heat balance of the earth surface. The recent trend includes in global sea level and northern hemisphere snow cover, rising global mean temperatures and increased extreme climatic events in India during last few decades. Various General Circulation Models have projected the global warming could shift temperature zones, rainfall patterns and agricultural belts. Receding glaciers due to global warming are also reported in case of various studies on Dokriani glacier in Gangotri valley, Parbati glacier in Himachal’s Beas basin and other different glaciers. The glaciers are also breaking. The warming may account for about 0.8 to 3 inches of the total expected sea level rise, while the retreat of glaciers and ice may account for about 0.8 to 2 inches. As predicted by the various climate models, by 2100 a rise of 1.8 to 4oC is expected in the average global temperature. Productivity of most cereals would drastically affected due to increase in temperature and decrease in water availability. Increased events of droughts and floods are likely to increase production variability. To mitigate the adverse effect of climate change, conservation of the natural resources and their effective use, proper water conservation techniques and change in the priorities in research and technology should be ensured in future. Adoption of techniques like minimal tillage, residue management and increased production and use of biofules may be helpful in reducing the Green House Gases emission into the atmosphere.The strategies must include breeding of drought and water stress tolerant varieties,improvement in irrigation and water use efficiency of crop plants, reducing atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases by adoption of various ecofriendly techniques, increase in productivity of existing farmed area and reduce deforestation and paddy plantation which contribute to CH4 emission and modification of microclimate for increasing productivity of crop.

Keywords: Changing climate scenarios; Global climate or in regional climates.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a communicable disease brought about by intense respiratory disorder coronavirus 2 caused by SARS-CoV-2 which remains a significant issue in global health, economics and society. Since its emergence from December 2019. It was initially known to be a zoonotic disease but as it started spreading the transmission from human-to-human has become a more prominent scenario and symptomatic people are the most frequent source of COVID-19 spread. Asymptomatic people also considered as source of this disease. Since the first report of cases from Wuhan city of China, at the end of 2019 cases have been reported in all continents except for Antarctica. On 11th March, WHO has declared the novel corona virus outbreak a global pandemic. COVID-19 has spread widely around the world, affecting more than 70 countries. COVID-19, the disease caused by the new corona virus, can lead to hospitalization and even death for young and middle-aged adults, it has caused the most severe health issues for adults over the age of 60 with particularly fatal results for those 80 years and older. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses can lead to more intense symptoms and complications in the disease. Top experts in the field of infectious diseases are considering the chances for a possible resurgence of Covid-19. Research indicates that COVID 19 spread could boost in cold and dry conditions. This pandemic has felt a big effects on employment in all over the world because of lockdown, reduction in production and also unavailability of labours etc. The outbreak of COVID-19 has severely disrupted value chains focused on advanced manufactured goods. To ultimately combat the new emerging COVID 19 pandemic, it is desired that to develop an effective and safe vaccine against this SARSCoV-2 virus. Many countries like India, UK, America, Germany, China, Russia etc. are trying to develop the vaccine against this disease which are now in human trial phase.

Keywords: Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; Asymptomatic; Resurgence; Vaccine.

The production and estimation of protease by Aspergillus flavus has been done by using cotton seeds, rice bran and sugarcane bagasse as substrates. OD was recorded at 660 nm. Protease activity and specific activity was calculated daily till 6th day of incubation. The best substrate for maximum protease production was found in sugarcane bagasse and high protease estimation has been observed between 4-7 days of incubation. The study proved that locally isolated fungal species is able to produce a very high level of protease under SSF using inexpensive agro-residual substrates, which can be useful in industries.

Keywords: Aspergillus sp.; Protease; Protein assay.

Waste has been a major environmental issue everywhere including the Doda region of Jammu and Kashmir, due to the increase in the population and the standard of living of people. High standards of living of ever increasing population have resulted in an increase in the quantity and variety of waste generated. It is now realized that if waste generation continues recklessly then very soon it would be beyond rectification. Management of solid waste has, therefore, become very important in order to minimize the detrimental aftermaths of solid wastes. The Municipal Solid Waste generated from different activities in the township and city areas are a subject of deep concern for its proper management. The improper management of the Municipal solid waste is a major cause for water, air and soil pollution. Despite some progress, municipal solid waste still remains one of the major challenges in environmental management. The results shows that the composition of the waste generated in study area is dominated by food wastes, grasses and leaves (89.59%) followed by plastic and wood (10.41%). The analysis also indicated that solid waste management capacity of the study area was under stress due to different reasons. Currently, the overall technical arrangement right from collection including transport, storage, discharge and disposal is still in poor condition, which leads to environmental and health risks. Finally, it is recommended that these problems should be solved in an integrated manner by improving legislation, environmental education and solid waste management facilities so as to reduce the risk on environmental and public health. The study carried out was first of its kind in the Doda town of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Keywords: Seeds; Solid waste; Characterization; Generation rate; Disposal; Solid waste management.

Minerals are inorganic compounds needed by your body to regulate chemical reactions and maintain structures. Medicinal plants are said to have high nutritive value and as a result of that they are prescribed for their therapeutic values. Medicinal plants contribute major part in the economic value of India. The seeds of Holoptelea integrifolia are rich source of minerals and oil. For this study, seeds of Holoptelea integrifolia were selected. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of nutritional value and to determine the oil yielding capacity of the seeds of Holoptelea integrifolia. Seed oil was extracted by n-hexane solvent by using Soxhelt apparatus. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the oil extract.The study revealed that the terpenoids and saponins are present and flavanoids and alkaloids, phenols, tannins, glycosides, anthraquinones, carbohydrates and proteins were completely absent. Total mineral content of the seeds were determined by the standard methods. Minerals analysis of the seeds of Holoptelea integrifolia reveals that the seeds contain phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, copper, iron and zinc.The quality and quantity of the oil in the seeds of Holoptelea integrifolia clearly suggest that the oil yielding capability of this plant can fulfill the future demands of the edible oil in the country and seeds are also balance our nutrition.

Keywords: Seeds; N-hexane; Phytochemical, Minerals.

The harmful effect of any pollutant which entered into water bodies can be assessed by investigating the health of aquatic fauna. The present investigation was aimed to study the effect of sublethal concentration of chlorpyrifos on glycogen, protein and lipids and nucleic acids contents in different tissues of freshwater cat fish, Heteropneustes fossilis after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours exposure. The result showed the declined level of glycogen, protein, lipids and nucleic acid contents in the tissues of experimental group of fishes as compared to control. The overall results revealed that sublethal concentration of chlorpyrifos effects on the nucleic acids contents in vital tissues of Heteropneustes fossilis leading to decrease in the content of biomolecules.

Keywords: Chlorpyrifos; Heteropneustes fossilis; Biomolecules; Organophosphrous pesticides.