Sweta Sharma

Investigation of the manganese stress on wheat plant by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The present paper deals with the investigation of the changes in chemical contents of the leaf of wheat seedling stressed by excess manganese using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. The infrared spectra of the leaves of control and manganese-treated wheat plants have been recorded in the spectral region 485–4000 cm−1 at a resolution of 4 cm−1. The recorded spectrum has been analyzed with the help of curve-fitting method for the quantitative estimation of chemical contents and conformational changes. The study indicated changes arising in the polysaccharide, lignin, amino acid, secondary structure of protein, and lipid in the leaves of control and manganese-treated wheat plants. Manganese treatment increased the amount of cellulose, lignin, and amide II till 200 μM concentration, while a decrease was observed at 1000 µM concentration. Manganese induced conformational changes in the secondary structure of protein which was indicated by shifting of the bands to the higher wavenumber and change in the β sheet/α helix ratio. In addition, manganese stress decreased lipid content in the leaves of the wheat seedlings. The study demonstrates the potential of attenuated total reflectance FTIR for the non-invasive and rapid monitoring of the plants stressed with heavy metals.

Label-free and rapid spectroscopic evaluation of ripening of Syzygium cumini fruit

ABSTRACT In the present investigation, attempts have been made to obtain the spectral signature of the fruit jamun and to estimate the changes in biochemical composition that take place in the process of ripening of the fruits. The changes in exocarp, mesocarp, and seed of the fruit in raw and ripe stages have been investigated with the help of label-free, nondestructive, and rapid techniques: laser-induced fluorescence and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. For this, the fluorescence spectra of the different parts (exocarp, mesocarp, and seed) of the raw and ripe fruits of jamun excited by 405 nm violet diode laser have been recorded in the spectral region 400–900 nm. The spectrum shows the spectral signature of anthocyanin, flavonoids, carotenoid, and chlorophyll. The observed decrease in the intensity of chlorophyll bands and simultaneous increase in the intensity of anthocyanin and carotenoid bands is regarded as indicator of the ripening of the fruit of jamun. Also, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectra have been recorded in the spectral region 4000–485 cm−1 for the identification of functional groups associated with different biochemical altered during ripening process of the fruits of jamun. The analyses of the recorded infrared spectra show the presence of carbohydrates, cell wall components, phenolic compounds, nucleic acid, and amide. The quantitative estimation of the biochemical content in the different parts of jamun fruit during the ripening process has been done through calculating the area of the band by curve fitting. The determined spectral signatures can be utilized for the effective monitoring of jamun fruit.

Microfilaria in fine needle aspirate of giant cell epulis.

Dear Editor, Lymphatic filariasis is very common in tropical countries like India. It is estimated that 600 million people are living in areas endemic for lymphatic filariasis in South-East Asia. There are about 60 million people infected in the region and 31 million have clinical manifestation of the disease. Their larval forms (microfilaria) have been detected in blood smears and fluid aspirates, as a part of routine diagnostic procedure for detection of filariasis. They have also been incidentally reported from various uncommon sites including the head and neck, regions like the salivary gland, thyroid, oral ulcers, and malignant tumours of maxillary antrum. To the best of our knowledge their coexistence with giant cell epulis has not been reported so far. We would like to mention here one such case. A 35-year-old female patient presented with a rapidly increasing, purple brown, exophytic, sessile upper mandibular gingival swelling for the last one month. The adjoining teeth were separated and loosened (Figure 1). X-ray showed no bony involvement. Fine needle aspiration was performed and smears were stained with Leishman Giemsa stain. Smears showed osteoclast-type giant cells along with numerous microfilariae lying in graceful sweeping curves with uniform tapering ends against a background of inflammatory cells and blood. On higher magnification these larvae showed the presence of a hyaline sheath along with numerous discrete nuclei extending from head to tail but not up to the tip. They were identified as Wuchreria bancrofti (Figure 2). Subsequent biopsy confirmed the swelling as giant cell epulis. Filarial worms are nematodes that dwell in subcutaneous tissue and lymphatics. Of eight filarial species described, W. bancrofti is distributed worldwide. In India, the annual incidence is 85 per 1000 individuals with an average number of 1.57 episodes per year. Their larval forms that are usually found in blood have also been reported in aspirates of body fluids and tissues from various unusual sites. The morphology Correspondence: Dr Vatsala Misra, Department of Pathology, M.L.N. Medical College, Allahabad 211001, Uttar Pradesh, India. Tel.: +91 532 2256319; Fax: +91 532 2256274; E-mail: vatsala.m@rediffmail.com Figure 1. Mass seen in oral cavity of the patient.

Early Diagnosis of Mercury Stress of Wheat Seedlings Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was the non-destructive and rapid evaluation of the phytotoxicity of different concentrations of mercury (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 mM) on the biochemical profile of wheat seedlings using attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with principal component analysis. Infrared spectra of the leaves of control and mercury-treated wheat seedlings were recorded in the spectral region from 4000 to 485 cm−1. The preprocessing of the recorded spectra by second derivation enhanced the specificity of the infrared bands. The area of the bands estimated by curve fitting was used for the relative quantitative estimation of the biochemical changes involved. The principal component analysis of the acquired spectral measurements discriminated between the biochemicals of the control and mercury-treated wheat seedlings. The result showed that mercury (0.2–1 mM) significantly enhanced the content of the cell wall polysaccharides, amino acids, β-sheet component of proteins, and lipids in the leaves accompanied by reduction in the amount of α-helix. The change in β-sheet/α-helix ratio indicated mercury induced structural changes in the secondary structure of proteins. The increase in the levels of methylene bands and carboxyl bands indicates changes in lipid configuration and peroxidative damage caused by mercury. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of ATR–FTIR in combination with principal component analysis as an environmental monitoring tool for the identification of plant populations affected by environmental factors like heavy metal stress prior to the appearance of visual signs of toxicity.

Effect of manganese stress on the mineral content of the leaves of wheat seedlings by use of X-ray fluorescence excited by synchrotron radiation

Abstract The present study describes the potential of the synchrotron radiation based X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy technique for the rapid, sensitive, user friendly and simultaneous monitoring of the changes in the elemental profile of the wheat seedlings stressed by excess manganese (Mn). For this, X-ray fluorescence spectra of the leaves of the control and Mn treated wheat seedlings have been recorded by synchrotron radiation X-ray of energy 15 keV. The analyses of the recorded spectra show the presence of elements chlorine, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, nickel, and zinc. A calibration-free approach, PyMca has been used for the quantitative estimation of the detected elements in the leaves of the control and Mn treated wheat seedlings. The excess supply of Mn to wheat seedlings results in the accumulation of manganese in the leaves of the seedlings. The accumulation of manganese in wheat seedlings negatively affects the uptake and translocation of calcium, potassium, and iron while it has stimulating effect on the uptake of copper and zinc.

Steady state and time resolved laser-induced fluorescence of garlic plants treated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles

ABSTRACT The study involves investigation of the effect of the interaction of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with garlic plant by spectroscopy techniques. For this, garlic plants have been grown in the laboratory under controlled conditions of light flux, temperature, humidity, and nutrient media. The growth and biomass parameters in terms of shoot length, fresh, and dry mass are found to increase upon the treatment of titanium dioxide nanoparticles while a reduction is observed in the root length of the garlic plants. The steady state laser-induced fluorescence, time resolved laser-induced fluorescence, and ultraviolet visible spectra of the control and titanium dioxide nanoparticles-treated plants have been acquired. The curve fitting data reveal that titanium dioxide nanoparticles decrease the intensity and fluorescence intensity ratio of red and far red chlorophyll fluorescence bands indicating increase in the photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll content. The evaluation of life time of the excited chlorophyll molecule shows that life time is effected by the treatment of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The results pertaining to ultraviolet visible measurement indicate increase in the concentration of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and quercetin in the leaves of garlic plants treated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Nondestructive and Rapid Probing of Biochemical Response of Arsenic Stress on the Leaves of Wheat Seedlings Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The goal of the current study is to characterize the changes in the biochemical composition of the leaves of wheat seedlings stressed by arsenic at concentrations of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mM using laser induced chlorophyll fluorescence and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The chlorophyll fluorescence spectra of the leaves of control and arsenic treated wheat seedlings showed increase in the intensity and intensity ratios of chlorophyll fluorescence bands indicating decrease in the photosynthesis performance and chlorophyll content of the leaves of wheat seedlings treated with arsenic. The infrared spectra of the leaves of control and arsenic treated wheat seedlings were obtained from 4000 to 485 cm−1 at a resolution of 4 cm−1. Multivariate principle component analysis of the preprocessed spectra suggest significant biochemical discrimination between the control and arsenic treated seedlings. Arsenic treatment decreased the concentration of cellulose while increasing the pectin, hemicellulose, xyloglucan, and lignin levels in the wheat seedling leaves. The exposure to arsenic also increased the spectral signatures of α-helix, β-sheet, amino acids, glutathione, lipids, and carboxyl compounds. These changes in the biochemicals indicate their physiological roles in mediating arsenic stress in wheat seedlings. The study also demonstrates the applicability of spectroscopic techniques for the non-invasive and rapid monitoring of the metabolism and physiology of the vegetation stressed by metals and metalloids before visual signs of toxicity appear.

Detection of Vibrational Spectroscopic Biomarkers of the Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on Wheat Seedlings Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to evaluate the biochemical changes in the leaves of wheat seedlings exposed to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) nondestructively and rapidly using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence. The 18 nm size gold nanoparticles are synthesized by citrate reduction. For analyzing the effect of gold nanoparticles on wheat seedlings, the treatment of gold nanoparticles was applied to the seedlings through roots and following the spectroscopic measurement of biochemical signatures. The laser-induced fluorescence measurement has been performed to access the effect of gold nanoparticles on the chlorophyll concentration of wheat seedlings. The decrease in the fluorescence intensity and the fluorescence intensity ratio on the treatment of gold nanoparticles indicates increase in the concentration of chlorophyll in the leaves of wheat seedlings. The attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrarred spectroscopy in combination with principal component analysis has been used to visualize the biochemical changes in the cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, amino acids, proteins, and lipid of the leaves of wheat seedlings by recording infrared spectra in the region from 4000 to 400 cm−1. Principal component analysis applied to the preprocessed infrared data clearly distinguishes the spectral variability between control and gold nanoparticle treated seedlings. The study shows that exposure of gold nanoparticles increases the concentrations of cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin, and lignin in the leaves of wheat seedlings. The increase in these chemicals indicates the modulation of cell walls of the wheat seedlings by the gold nanoparticle treatment. The exposure to gold nanoparticles also enhances the expression of lipid and proteins in the leaves of wheat seedlings.

Spectroscopic characterization of some Cu(II) complexes

3-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde semicarbazone (HMBS) is a biologically active compound which has several potential donor sites. This compound has been used for complexation with Cu(II) ions to synthesize complexes of general formula [Cu(HMBS)2X2] where X is Cl−, NO3− and CH3COO−. Cu(II) is a d9 system for which 2D term is generated. Under Oh symmetry, this term splits into 2Eg and 2T2g. the ground term 2Eg is doubly degenerate and hence suffers strong Jahn-Teller effect and accordingly the further splitting of terms occur to lower the symmetry from perfect Oh. Here, the ligand occupies four planar positions while the two axial positions have been varied by using different ions like Cl−, NO3− and CH3COO−. These variations on the axial positions also add to the distortion in Oh symmetry. Under strong distortion, the electronic spectral band splits into multiplets exhibiting tetragonal distortion in complexes. The extent of distortion has been derived by the derivation of the two radial parameters Ds and Dt...