Prasann Kumar

Role of Secondary Metabolites for the Mitigation of Cadmium Toxicity in Sorghum Grown Under Mycorrhizal Inoculated Hazardous Waste Site

Apart from the many primary metabolites like carbohydrate, proteins, fats, and hormones, a number of organic compounds in plants are not synthesized in the principle stream, but they are most important for the plant functions. These compounds are secondary metabolites broadly classified in terpenes, alkaloids, and phenols. Nowadays, heavy metal contamination is the greatest concern worldwide. The role of secondary metabolites is well acquainted with facts that it imparts the significant effect in the mitigation of heavy metal toxicity in the plants. The FTIR data of the experiments indicate clearly that phenols, aldehyde, and ketones will play the critical role in the regulation of heavy metal toxicity in plants.

Combating Heavy Metal Toxicity from Hazardous Waste Sites by Harnessing Scavenging Activity of Some Vegetable Plants

Heavy metal contamination is of special concern due to widespread reports emanating both from India and abroad about various diseases and disorders observed both in human and livestock due to metal toxicity. Land and water resources are worst affected due to anthropogenic interventions. Degradation of natural resources is perhaps one of the gravest lapses mankind has ever made in its journey of progress and civilization. The use of specially selected and engineered metal accumulating plant genotypes for environmental clean up is an emerging frontline technology called ‘Phytoremediation’ which describes a system wherein plants alone or in association with soil organisms can remove or transform contaminants into harmless and often valuable forms. Excessive heavy metal accumulation can be toxic to most plants leading to reduction in seed germination, root elongation and biomass production; inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis as well as disturbance in cellular metabolism and chromosome distortion. For studying the heavy metals load of sewage sludge and their effect on crop quality in relation to non applied sites, solid sludge and vegetable plants such as Momordica charantia (Bitter gourd), Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Spinacia oleracea, Capsicum annuum (Chilli), Luffa cylindrical (Smooth gourd), Amaranthus viridis (Red Saag) and Basella spp. (Pui) were collected from seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) from West Bengal, India viz. Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager, and from the Periurban areas viz. Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur(N/C/E),Nadia/Chakdaha/Pumlia(N/C/P), Nadia/Chakdaha/Sikarpur(N/C/S), Nadia/Chakdaha/Tatla(N/C/T) and their heavy metal concentration was measured using atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer. The Overall results from all the sites of sampling suggest that Amaranthus has more scavenging capacity for Cd and Pb, while Spinacia oleracea for Cr. Therefore, if these plant genotypes are cultivated in sites abundant with above heavy metals, these would scavenge the heavy metal toxicity from the soil.

Three stage vacuum system for ultralow temperature installation

We use a three stage vacuum system for developing a dilution fridge at VECC, Kolkata. We aim at achieving a cooling power of 20μW at 100mK for various experiments especially in the field of condensed matter and nuclear physics. The system is essentially composed of four segments-bath cryostat, vacuum system, dilution insert and 3He circulation circuit. Requirement of vacuum system at different stages are different. The vacuum system for cryostat and for internal vacuum chamber located within the helium bath is a common turbo molecular pump backed by scroll pump as to maintain a vacuum ~10−6mbar. For bringing down the temperature of the helium evaporator, we use a high throughput Roots pump backed by a dry pump. The pumping system for 3He distillation chamber (still) requires a high pumping speed, so a turbo drag pump backed by a scroll pump has been installed. As the fridge use precious 3He gas for operation, the entire system has been made to be absolutely leak proof with respect to the 3He gas.

Biodiversity Informatics and Digitalizing the Biodiversity of India

India is blessed not only with rich biological diversity but also with the associated indigenous knowledge system of the same. The population burst, industrialization, urbanization, environmental pollution and global climate change are some of the factors that lead to the loss of biological resources. Biodiversity is the key to the functioning and sustenance of life forms in the ecosystem. Due to its importance, it becomes imperative to digitalize valuable biological resources that exist in India and its neighboring region.

Heavy metal scavenging capacity of Mentha spicata and Allium cepa

The use of specially selected and engineered metal accumulating plants for environmental cleanup is an emerging frontline technology called ‘phytoremediation’ which describes a system wherein plants in association with soil organisms can remove or transform contaminants into harmless and often valuable form. During the present study the solid sludge and plants were collected from seven Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) viz. Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager, and from the Periurban areas viz. Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur (N/C/E), Pumlia (N/C/P), Sikarpur (N/C/S), Tatla (N/C/T). Around 6–10 individual samples were mixed together and one average sample was compiled for analysis. Comparative study of heavy metals concentration in the roots and shoots of Pudina (Mentha spicata) and Onion (Allium cepa) showed their high heavy metals scavenging capacity. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in the roots of pudina (Mentha spicata) and Allium cepa (onion), at STP ranged from 0.833 to 1.88, 6.84 to 7.96, 25.3 to 21.56, and <0.05 mg kg−1, respectively. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in the shoots of plants at STPs ranged from 0.43 to 1.96, 6.20 to 32.6, 26.7 to 24.43, and <0.05 mg kg−1, respectively. Therefore, above-mentioned plant species may be selected according to their scavenging capacity for heavy metals from soils and sludges.

Future Habitat Loss: Greatest Threat to the Soil Microbial Biodiversity

Rapid land use and climate are projected to cause broad scale global land cover transformation that will increase microbial species extinction rates. Countries rich in threatened species, which are also projected to have relatively high total future habitat loss, are concentrated around the equator. Various forms of pollution coupled with habitat fragmentation are responsible for the loss of microbial diversity in soil. The article describes means of sustainable management of the soil microbial diversity.