New Visions in Biological Science Vol. 4

Genetic Engineering which involves the removal of genetic material from one organism and splicing it into the chromosomes of another is today set to revolutionize agriculture. It has given rise to a new set of organisms known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs or Transgenic). The major advantage of GMO crops are yield increases as well as reduction in pesticide and herbicide use. Genetically Modified crops are today flourishing across the globe particularly in five leading countries namely the US, Argentina, China, Canada and Brazil. Worldwide, 181.5 million hectares were planted with GMO crops in 2014 with the US accounting for 40.28% of that average. About 5% of all canola, 13% of all corn, 31% of all cotton and 51% of soybean grown across the world today are genetically engineered. Notwithstanding their high potential caution need to be exercised in the adoption and consumption of GMO crops in Nigeria. Their health and environmental implications are yet to be subjected to long term scientific investigations. Fallouts from past scientific discoveries give credence to this call. For instance, nobody knew at the time DDT was discovered that DDT sprayed over a broad area would be bio-magnified through the food chain and concentrated hundreds of thousands of times in the human body. When CFCs were created, they were hailed as great discovery - inert compounds that were great carriers for aerosol sprays. Only when millions of tons of CFCs were liberated into air many years later was their scavenging effect on ozone in the upper atmosphere discovered. This paper therefore aims not only to highlight the benefits derivable from this new technology but also the need to exercise caution in the adoption and consumption of GM crops in Nigeria.

Studies on maturation, spawning and fecundity are essential for estimation of reproductive potential of a population as well as fishery management. Maturation and spawning of the puffer fish Lagocephalus lunaris was reported from Visakhapatnam during January 2008 to December 2009 to understand reproductive potential of their population. The present observations showed that males are smaller than females. Sex-ratio indicated that females were dominant in the catches and the sex ratio for male to female was 1: 1.17. Chi-square (X2) analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p< 0.05) between sexes in their occurrence during April 2008, November 2008 and June 2009. The size at first maturity was found to be 141 mm total length for females of L. lunaris. A scale of six stages of maturity of gonads has been identified in females of L. lunaris. Spawning takes place throughout the year with peak during April to June and September to December. Gonad Somatic Index has been found to be high during January, April, June, September and December in females. Fecundity varied from 103355 to 298795 ova.

Administration of probiotic feed like Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus lactis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the diets confer beneficial effect to the host animal. In this study the nutritional value of probiotic feed and its utilization are studed. The probiotics alter the enzymes, microbial metabolism and improve the weight gain and survival rate. Probiotic diets are being incorporated together with prebiotics in recent years. Probiotics with synbiotics elicit synergistic and more favorable actions. Increased advantage of formulated probiotic and its benefits in maintaining good water quality and rapid increase in growth of L. rohita were evaluated and characterized in this study, promising feed and novel strategy to be used in aquaculture from this research study. The selection of probiotics in aquaculture improved growth, attachment to the intestinal mucus and production of beneficial compounds can be considered for improving the growth.

Sandstone  monuments  may  support  the  broad  categories  of  microorganism  that  are active  in  process  of  biodeterioration. Sandstone monuments have the compound of consortia of Bryophyte and fungi. Fungi  is considered  the most  effective  group  of microorganism causing  biodeterioration  of  sandstone  monuments. Fungal  units  grows in  the  outdoor  conditions  in  presence  of  low  amount  of  nutrition  and  water  it  can start  fungal  colonization and  the  biodeterioration  processes. Observing microorganisms on cultural heritage objects does not automatically assume that they actually change the physical properties or chemical composition of the sandstone. Our research study goals are Seclusion as well as Recognition of Fungi by utilizing molecular methods RFLP as well as RAPD. Eleven  fungal  species  were isolated  having  dominance  over sandstone  structures  of  the  different  monuments. During  the  investigation  it  was  observe  that Aspergillus  species  are  dominant  than Rhizopus  species.  Micro fungi  cause  discoloration  and  mechanical  exfoliation  of different  monuments  that  was  analyzed  production  of  dark  pigments, Hyphae penetration  and  organic  Acid  during  the  identification  using  molecular  technique. Therefore, in this review, we summarise the current knowledge about Rhizopus.

Our biomes and morphoclimatic domains are important not only as natural resources in our country but stand out as environments of great natural wealth on the planet. Parasitoids are exceedingly small insects that live for at least part of their life inside a host. This host is usually another insect (usually the pest of the crop) that ends up dying from parasitism. The aim of this study is to describe the parasitoids collected in Brazilian biomes. The mini review consists of a bibliographic summary of parasitoids of the Order Hymenoptera parasitoids collected in the following Biomes in Brazil. The research was carried out in studies related to the theme with emphasis on the quantitative aspects of the superfamily, family, subfamilies, genera, and species (Taxonomic groups). A bibliographic search was carried out that contained papers published from 2006 to May 2021.The mini review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás from June to August 2021using the Electronic Scientific Library Online (Scielo) and internet. Brazilian biomes are important not only as natural resources in our country but stand out as environments of great natural wealth on the planet. Brazil is one of the few countries in the world that hold the so-called biological megadiversity, that is, important ecosystems, still healthy.

Human-animal conflict is an important paradigm in a rapidly urbanising world. Various species, especially carnivores have to adapt to an ever-changing environment. This is amplified in riparian ecosystems, which are ecologically sensitive to change brought about by anthropogenic activities. This study aimed to assess fisher perception of Smooth Coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in an estuarine, urbanised landscape of Goa, India. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with the objective of understanding the current status of the species and fisher-otter interactions in the human-modified khazan areas of the Zuari estuary. The questionnaire was designed to procure data in four areas, namely otter presence, current and historical populations in the area; observed feeding habits; status as pests; and economic damages attributed to the species. Otter presence was reported in all the surveyed areas of the Zuari estuary. This study indicated a mixed perception of the fishers towards otters in terms of their status as pests, as well as incurred economic damages. Furthermore, the study also gave a preliminary insight into the abundance of L. perspicillata in the surveyed areas. The overall threat faced by the species in terms of fisher-otter conflict was found to be minimal in the landscape, with the absence of high degree retaliatory behaviour on the part of the fishers.

Sea cucumbers have bioactive compounds with health efficacies. These active compounds can be used as raw material products for marine aquaculture. This study aims to determine the potential of sea cucumber intestine-associated bacteria as a product of bioindustry materials through investigation of their characteristics using the GC-MS method. The solid-liquid method is used in the extraction process. Open Column Chromatography (OCC) is used in the fractionation process. Anti-bacterial sensitivity test was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion method. This study found 26 bacterial isolates resulting from the isolation of black sea cucumber symbionts (Holothuria atra). Of the 26 bacterial isolates, 9 bacterial isolates were found to have antibacterial activity against MDR bacteria. Two isolates were selected from the 9 test results, namely T.1.2 which formed a 7.3 mm zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli and 7.8 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and T.1.13 which was only active against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibition zone of 8.2 mm. Identification of selected isolates showed that isolate T.1.2 matched with Bacillus manliponensis species with 97% homology and that isolate T.4.1.25 matched with Bacillus oceanisediminis with 95% homology. GC-MS analysis found Methyl hexadecanoate/methyl palmitate, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) -1,2-benzene dicarboxylate, 9-Octadecenal, Glycerol-1,3-dihexadecanoate and Diisooctyl-1,2-benzene dicarboxylate in sea cucumber intestine-associated bacteria. Diisooctyl-1,2-benzene dicarboxylate can be used as raw materials for plastic which is usable as raw materials for bioindustry. The study concluded that the bioactive compounds of sea cucumber intestine-associated bacteria found in H. atra are useful as a raw ingredient of marine aquaculture products because they contain natural ingredients for plastic raw materials.

Objective: PCR-DGGE was used to examine the bacterial communities associated with sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal agent of soybean stem rot.

Methodology and Results: Fungal sclerotia were buried in soil amended with organic matter and incubated under flooded conditions for 15 or 30 days in a greenhouse and in the field.  The viability and associated bacterial communities of the recovered sclerotia were investigated. In samples from soil amended with rice straw or wheat bran and flooded for 30 days, DGGE band patterns revealed the greatest bacterial diversity.  In the greenhouse, for example, the diversity index from organic amendment under 30 day flooding was greater than 1.80, whereas the index for other treatments was less than 1.5. In the field experiment, this pattern was similar. The diversity index derived from DGGE band patterns had a negative relationship with sclerotial viability or disease incidence. The nucleotide sequences of the DGGE bands revealed that members of the Clostridiaceae were dominant in samples that had been flooded for 30 days, whereas Oxalobacteraceae, Nocardiaceae, and Actinomycetaceae were major groups under unflooded conditions.

Conclusion: This is the first report of a soil bacterial flora associated with S. rolfsii sclerotia under flooded conditions.

The aim of this was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of plant powders of Bauhinia variegata and Croton sparsiflorus against the fourth instar larvae of Aedes albopictus L., Anopheles stephensi L., and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Derivatives of plants are enriched with active molecules with exceptional mosquitocidal properties and can be advanced as low cost environmentally friendly bio pesticides. The macerated leaf powders of B. variegata and C. sparsiflorus were tested against different mosquito species up to 24 h exposure period with the concentrations of 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, and 200 mg/100 mL of tapwater. The LC₅₀ value of C. sparsiflorus leaf powder exhibited 136.43, 150.53 and 163.74 mg/100 mL against A. albopictus, A. stephensi, and C. quinquefasciatus Say respectively. The B. variegata leaf powder exhibited the LC₅₀ value of 133.27, 124.99 and 135.34 mg/100 mL against A. albopictus, A. stephensi, and C. quinquefasciatus Say respectively. The present investigation clearly demonstrates that C. sparsiflorus showed cent percent mortality followed by B. variegata against different mosquito species. With further isolation and identification of bioactive molecules from B. variegata and C. sparsiflorus can be evaluated and developed novel bio pesticide against mosquitoes as well as other insect pests.

Very meagre research work has been done on fusarium fruit rot diseases of banana  and their management in India, therefore to extend the shelf life of banana fruits and to reduce the losses caused by post-harvest diseases; it is felt worthwhile to carry out the investigations on fusarium fruit rot diseases of banana and its management under south Gujarat condition. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken. In the present study, nine fungicides were evaluated against F. musae using poison food technique on PDA medium at different concentrations among them mancozeb 75 WP at 2500ppm, azoxystrobin (20%) + difenoconazole (12.5%) at 1000ppm and propiconazole (25 EC) at 500ppm and 1000ppm were found to be the utmost superior because of cent per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of F. musae under in vitro. Whereas, in vivo evaluation lowest fusarium fruit rot severity was observed with propiconazole (25 EC) at 1000ppm in pre (6.61%) and post- inoculation (6.7%) treatments at 8 days after inoculation. While azoxystrobin (20%) + difenoconazole (12.5%) at 500ppm and chlorothalonil (75 WP) at 2500ppm were found least effective in controlling the fusarium fruit rot severity in pre and post inoculation treatments at 8 days after inoculation.

‘Silver’ is indeed a magic metal which has been a part of human kind since ancient times. On account of its strong anti-microbial activity, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have occupied a central position in pharmaceutical and consumer products. In spite of its large scale applications in consumer products, organismal toxicity of AgNPs is also well reported. Therefore the present study was undertaken to study developmental and immunogenic responses of laboratory synthesized AgNPs using Drosophila melanogaster as model system. Present study has dealt with the extensive characterization of AgNPs to understand their biological consequences especially genetic, chromosomal and developmental biological endpoints using Drosophila as model system. Laboratory synthesized PVP- coated AgNPs were characterized to ascertain their size, shape and surface morphology. By virtue of their direct binding with the amines, AgNPs showed dose dependent effects on various biological processes. Doses beyond 0.1 mM were found to affect adversely on life cycle, fecundity, longevity and courtship behaviour for male mate preference. Interestingly, AgNPs were also found to affect the injury- triggered melanogenesis in larvae indicating compromised innate immunity as well as melanin synthetic pathway. Same phenomenon of absence of melanization was reiterated in adults. These findings demonstrate AgNP mediated developmental and immunogenic consequences in Drosophila which is one of the best studied animal model systems.

India is the world's largest mango producer, but it has the lowest productivity among the top five countries. Pest complexes that damage fruits, flowers, stems, and leaves are one of the most serious issues confronting the mango industry. Mango is attacked by over 400 pests worldwide. Many Cecidomyiidae species, particularly those of the genus Procontarinia, attack mango leaves. Procontarinia matteiana (Kieffer & Cecconi) is the most common and widespread species, and it is a well-known pest of mango in Asia and Africa. The adult midge is a minute fly that dies after copulation and oviposition within 24 hours of emergence. On the leaves, there are small wart-like galls. Heavily galled leaves curl up and drop prematurely. As a result, it reduces photosynthesis efficiency and disrupts the tree's normal physiological activity, resulting in lower mango fruit yields. As a result, a study was conducted on selected uniform plants (cv. Himsagar) at a private orchard in Chhotajagulia, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, to evaluate the bioefficacy of new insecticide mixtures along with conventional insecticides against mango leaf gall midge in two consecutive seasons (2017-18). The objective of the study is to expedite the bioefficacy of different newly introduced insecticides and insecticidal modules along with conventional insecticides and biopesticides for effective management of mango leaf gall midges. The investigation was undertaken in a randomised block design, with three replications of each treatment and an untreated water spray check. The experiment consisted of eight treatments, including the control. Five hundred leaves were chosen at random from a branch to examine and calculate the percentage of newly formed and mature galls on fresh leaves. At weekly intervals, the damage was assessed by counting total leaves versus infested leaves. According to the results of the study, the combination of beta-cyfluthrin 9% +imidacloprid 21% 300 OD@ 75 g a.i/ha was the most effective to reduce leaf gall infestation, followed by thiamethoxam 12.6% + lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% 247 ZC @ 22 g a.i/ha.

The objective of the study was to know and estimate the biodiversity of butterflies in the Jogimatti Forest of Chitradurga district, Karnataka, India. As Butterflies from their aesthetic appeal, are good pollinators and highly sensitive to any environmental fluctuation and are considered as good bio-indicators of the health of their habitat. The outcome of survey has revealed presence of 39 species of butterflies belong to 5 family dominated by Nymphalidae (44%), Pieridae (28%), Lycaenidae (13%) Papilionidae (10%) and Hespiridae (5%). With respect to species number and total 430 Nymphalidae (136) and Pieridae (178) butterflies are more. The findings of the study revealed that, Common mormon, Common emigrant, Plain tiger, Common cerulean and Indian cupid are the dominanat butterfly species from their respective families. Jogimatti forest of Chitradurga district has a favourable environmental condition that accommodates butterfly diversity where we can explore more about the host plants responsible for the variety of butterflies.

The current study presents a list of Molluscan species found in Hattikuni Reservoir in the Yadgir District of Karnataka, as well as their richness. The research was carried out over a two-year period, from February 2014 to January 2016.  The collection of molluscan fauna was done in all the three seasons by repeated visit to the site.  From the reservoir, eleven molluscan species were collected and identified, nine of which are Gastropods and two of which are Bivalves. The two species belongs to Bivalves are Parreysia corrugate and Lamellidens corrianus were found in the reservoir, interestingly these two species of Bivalve and Lymnea luteola, L. acuminata, Melania (Palitia scabra) and M. scabra var elegans were the more dominant Gastropdes in the reservoir. The study revealed that higher higher dominance of Gastropoda than Bivalvia in the reservoir can be considered as bio-indicators of pollution and ecosystem health.