Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of red and far-red light on inhibition of hypocotyl elongation in ecotypes of Betula pendula Roth

Berhanu A. Tsegay^1*, Jorunn E. Olsen², and Olavi Juntttila³

¹Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.

²Dept. of Biology and Nature Conservation, Agricultural University of Norway, N-1430 Ås.

³Department of Biology, University of Tromso, Norway.

Accepted 10 August, 2004

Abstract

Plants sense the quality, quantity, and duration of light signals and use them to optimise their growth and development. These signals are perceived by special light receptors of which the phytochrome pigment system is one of the most important for photomorphogenetic responses. Using special diodes that emit monochromatic light, we studied the effect of red (R), far-red (FR) and R+FR combinations on hypocotyl elongation of latitudinal ecotypes of Betula pendula. Continuous R and FR inhibited hypocotyl elongation equally, but inhibition was higher when seedlings were irradiated by continuous R+FR. In all cases, inhibition increased with increasing irradiance, from 0.75 µmol m^-2 s^-1 to 76 µmol m^-2 s^-1. Moreover, seedlings treated by R or R+FR synthesised more anthocyanins than those exposed to FR. Accumulation of anthocynins increased with increasing irradiance up to about 19 µmol m^-2 s^-1.

Key words: Anthocyanin, diode, ecotype, monochromatic, photomorphogenesis, photosynthetically active radiation, skotomorphogenesis.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study on transformation of cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene into cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis)

Lv lingling¹*, Lei Jianjun², Song-Ming³, Li Liyun⁴, Cao Bihao⁵

¹Southern Subtropical Crop Research Institute,  Zhan Jiang, Guang Dong , 524091 China.

²South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, Guang Dong, 510642 China.

³Southwest Agricultural University, Chong Qing, 400716 China.

⁴Agriculture & Industry & Commerce Secondary professional School, Zhan Jiang, Guang Dong , 524091China.

Accepted 26 August, 2004

Abstract

Cowpea Trypsin Inhibitor (CpTI) gene was transferred into cauliflower by agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, and 14 transgenic cauliflower plants were obtained. Cotyledons and hypocotyls were used as explants. The putative transformants were assayed by PCR and Southern blotting analysis. The results indicated that CpTI gene was transferred into cauliflower successfully. The result of preliminary insect-resistant assay showed that the transgenic plants were more resistant to Pieris rapae than non-transgenic plants.

Key words: cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis), agrobacterium, mediated genetic transformation CpTI gene, transgenic plant.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of microbial systems for bioremediation of petroleum refinery effluents in Nigeria

Ojumu, T.V.¹, Bello, O.O.², Sonibare, J.A.² and Solomon, B.O.²*

¹Bioprocess Engineering Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

²Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 September, 2004

Abstract

The potential of various organisms to catabolize and metabolize organic compounds has been recognized as potentially effective means of disposing of hazardous wastes. Phenolic compounds has long been recognized as one of the most recalcitrant and persistent substance in petroleum refinery effluents. This is a cause of some concern because of the high toxicity and of this compound. Bioremediation of phenolic compounds has been recognized as a potential solution for the disposal of phenolic compounds due to its scale ability, cost effectiveness and simplicity. The two species of Pseudomonas, P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescence were studied for their bioremediation potential on Refinery effluent with respect to phenol biodegradation in a batch reactor. Phenol was degraded completely by the two species. While P. aeruginosa completely mineralize phenol at the 60^th hour of cultivation, only 75% (23 mg/l) of phenol was degraded by P. fluorescence; complete degradation was achieved at the 84^th hour of fermentation. There was highly positive correlation between phenol biodegradation and the microbial growth. (r = +0.994 and r = +0.980 at P <0.05 for P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescence, respectively). The maximum specific growth rate (m_max) and inhibitory constant (K_i); 0.019(h^-1) and 30.89 mg/l, and 0.011 (h^-1) and 33.43 mg/l were obtained from Haldane model for P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescence, respectively. The study revealed the high potency of these strains and the possibility of using them in bioremediation of petroleum refinery and petrochemical waste waters.

Key words: Bioremediation, phenol, biodegradation, Pseudomonas, refinery effluents.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Identification of over producer strain of endo- -1,4-glucanase in Aspergillus Species: Characterization of crude carboxymethyl cellulase

Habib Onsori^{1 ,3}*, Mohammad Raza Zamani², Mostafa Motallebi², Nosratollah Zarghami³

¹Department of Biology, Islamic Azad university, Marand, Iran.

²National Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Iran.

³Department of Molecular Biochemistry and RIA, Applied Drug Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Accepted 13 September, 2004

Abstract

Cellulases are a group of hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading cellulose to smaller sugar components like glucose units. These enzymes are produced by fungi and bacteria. The aim of this research was to identify a Aspergillus species with over production of endo- -1,4-glucanase. Properties of endo- -1,4-glucanase/carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) from a culture filtrate of the Aspergillus sp. was also studied. Aspergillus sp. (R4) was selected as over producer of endo- -1,4-glucanase among 13 different species. SDS-PAGE activity staining with 1% Congo Red solution revealed three protein bands showing cellulolytic activity. The molecular weights of these proteins were estimated to be approximately 18.5, 23 and 28 kD. Also, conservative region of endo- -1,4-glucanase coding gene was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified fragments with 1204 bp and 399 bp were confirmed by restriction pattern with HindII and PstI enzymes.

Key words: Aspergillus sp., Endo- -1, 4-glucanase, CMCase, SDS-PAGE, PCR.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Hydrolysis of raw tuber starches by amylase of Aspergillus niger AM07 isolated from the soil

Omemu, A. M. ¹*; Akpan, I ¹; Bankole, M. O. ¹ and Teniola, O. D. ²

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

²Biotechnology Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), PMB 21023 Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 July, 2004

Abstract

Eight Aspergillus niger strains which produced strong starch degrading amylase were isolated from the soil using a medium containing Remazol Brilliant Blue (RBB) starch as substrate. Amylase production was detected by the disappearance of the blue colour around the colony. Among the isolates, A. niger AM07 produced the largest clear zone (7.0mm) on Remazol Brilliant Blue (RBB) agar plate and also gave the highest amylase yield (806 U/ml) in solid-state fermentation process, hence it was selected for further studies. The crude amylase preparation of A. niger AM07 had temperature and pH optima activities at 60^o C and 4.0 respectively. The optimum substrate concentration was 3 %. The action of the crude amylase of A. niger on raw tuber starches of yam, cassava, sweet potato and cocoyam were studied in comparison with the well known maize starch which is a cereal starch. The crude amylase was able to hydrolyze all the raw starches tested. Hydrolysis was significantly (p<0.05) dependent on starch source and length of incubation. At 72-h incubation time, raw cassava starch gave the highest yield of 200.1 mg/g with a conversion efficiency of 198.91% while raw maize starch gave a yield of 109.6 mg/g with 108.95 % conversion efficiency. Raw cocoyam starch was more resistant to hydrolysis and incubation of cocoyam starch beyond 24 h, resulted in decreased yield of reducing sugars. Thin layer chromatography showed glucose as the main sugar produced with low level of maltose.

Key words: Amylase, Remazol Brilliant Blue, tuber starches, and hydrolysis.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2005 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic and nongenetic effects on the number of ovarian follicles and oocyte yield and quality in the bovine local (Oulmes Zaer), exotic breeds and their crosses in Morocco

A. Fassi Fihri¹, H. Lakhdissi², L. Derqaoui², Kh. Hajji¹, M. Naciri¹ A. Goumari³

¹Laboratory of Zoology and General Biology, Department of Biology, College of Science, University Mohamed V. Rabat, Morocco.

²Department of animal reproduction, Obstetrics and artificial insemination. Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco.

³Department of Statistics, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco.

Accepted November 15, 2004.

Abstract

The effects of genetic and non genetic factors on the number of ovarian follicles and oocyte yield and quality in the bovine local breed (Oulmes Zaer), exotic breeds and their crosses in Morocco was investigated. In this study, females in very bad body conditions (BCS < 2) were not slaughtered and the average. The body condition scores (BCS) was 2.94 ± 0.89. Although some individual values were out of the normal ranges, mean values of total proteins, albumin, urea, -OH and GOT remain normal and were 77.83 ± 8.74 g/l, 32.4 ± 4.41g/l, 4.43 ± 2.13 mmol/l , 0.83± 0.48 mmol/l et 45.55 ± 11.95 UI/l, respectively. The mean number of ovarian follicles per cow (2-8 mm) was high (22.98 ± 8.41) whereas the oocyte yield (and 2.60 ± 1.53) was very low. The effects of genetic group, age and BCS on the number of follicles, oocyte yield and the quality were significant.

Key words: Cows, follicular population, oocyte yield and quality.