Study of Morphology and Agar Contents in Some Important <i>Gracilaria</i>Species of Indian Coasts

This study reports the morphological, anatomical and agar content difference among various species of Gracilaria. The cortex was found 1-2 layered in G. edulis and G. eucheumatoides whereas 5-6 layered in G. foliifera and G. crassa. The medulla was 6-8 layered in G. edulis, 10-11 layered in G. foliifera, 14-15 layered in G. eucheumatoides and 8-10 layered in G. crassa. Similarly, distinct variations were observed in the structure of cystocarp of these taxa. The outer pericarp was 6-8 layered in G. verrucosa (attached type), 8-9 in Graciriopsis megaspora, 12-13 layered cells in G. edulis, 9-11 layered in G. foliifera, 12-15 layered in G. eucheumatoides and 11-14 layered in G. crassa. The tubular nutritive filaments were radiating type in G. edulis whereas these were penetrating and radiating type in G. foliifera. In G. crassa, the same was produced from a small swollen short base and in G. verrucosa (attached type) it was long. Further, in G. eucheumatoides and Gracilariopsis megaspore, nutritive filaments were not observed. Among various species of Gracilariales studied in this work, agar from Gracilaria verrucosa (floating type or sterile type) showed highest yield with gel strength 260 gm/cm2 and viscosity 10 milipass. Based on the agar quality,

Actinomycetes from Soil of Lachung, a Pristine High Altitude Region of Sikkim Himalaya, Their Antimicrobial Potentiality and Production of Industrially Important Enzymes

Investigations on actinomycetes are profoundly significant area of research since they form major resource for bioactive compounds, antimicrobials, anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, and biological control agents. A total of 59 actinomycetes were isolated from the soil sample collected from Domang, Lachung, North Sikkim, Sikkim, India. Out of the total isolates, 26 isolates with unique and distinct characteristic features were selected and analysed for antimicrobial activity as well as extracellular enzyme production. Out of 26 isolates, 17 (66%) isolates exhibited different level of growth inhibition against the test microorganism. 12 (47%) isolates showed antifungal activity and six (23%) isolates showed antibacterial activity. Most of the isolates showed antifungal activity. Isolate RCS260 was found to exhibit maximum growth inhibition (60%) against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides MTCC 8021. Isolate RCS252 showed maximum growth inhibition (67%) against Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441. Out of 26 isolates, 14 (54%) isolates exhibited chitinase activity, 25 (96%) isolates showed cellulase production, 20 (77%) isolates produced amylase enzyme and 17 (65%) isolates showed positive for protease activity. Potential isolate RCS260 has been characterized and identified as Streptomyces vinaceus strain RCS260 while isolate RCS252 was identified as Kitasatospora aburavienis strain RCS252. The antagonistic profile of strain RCS260 highlights its potential as antifungal agent against phytopathogens.

Functional peptides in Asian protein rich fermented foods:production and health benefits

The richness and diversity of protein rich fermented foods are chiefy observed in many Asian countries.They are potential source of wide range of biologically active peptides depending on the protein source and starter culture used for fermentation.The major protein rich fermented foods popularly consumed in Asian countries include fermented soybean,fermented milk and fermented fsh products.These foods are fermented using diferent starter cultures including lactic acid bacteria(LAB),Bacillus species,yeast and flamentous fungi.Fermentation by individual starter culture results in unique products by a series of enzymatic hydrolysis,leading to production of a diversity of bioactive peptides responsible for health benefts.Bioactive peptides in Asian protein rich fermented foods have been reported for exhibiting antihypertensive,antioxidant,antibacterial,antidiabetic and anticancer properties.This review is focused on Asian protein rich fermented foods,associated microbes and bioactive peptides responsible for health benefts.

Value-addition of water hyacinth and para grass through pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction

Hydrothermal liquefaction(HTL)and pyrolysis(Py)of Loktak lake biomass mixture of water hyacinth(WH)and para grass(PG)were carried out at 260-300℃ and 300-500℃ to compare the products yield and chemical characteristics of the products.In case of HTL,the maximum bio-oil yield was obtained 13.34 wt.%at 280℃ while for Py,the maximum bio-oil yield was observed 38.8 wt.%at 350℃.The obtained bio-oils and bio-chars were analyzed using GC-MS,FT-IR,NMR,TGA,TOC,and SEM.GC-MS analysis of the bio-oils were showed that the HTL bio-oil majorly contains of nitrogen containing compounds whereas the Py bio-oil contains majority of phenolic compounds.Other compounds like ketones,alcohols,acids were also observed in bio-oil.Higher intensity broad band at 3300-3500 cm^(−1) was observed in the Py bio-oil compared to HTL bio-oil.TGA and proximate analysis of bio-char revealed the higher devolatilization occured during the HTL compared to Py process.The surface morphology of the HTL bio-char was found to be rough and fragmented as compared to the pyrolysis bio-char,clearly showing the biomass macromolecules breakdown differently in HTL and Py process.

Solid state anaerobic digestion of water poor feedstock for methane yield:an overview of process characteristics and challenges

Solid state anaerobic digestion(SSAD)of water poor feedstock may be a promising technology for energy recovery.Feedstocks having high solid concentration like lignocellulosic biomass,crop residues,forestry waste and organic fraction of municipal waste may be the appropriate feedstock for its biochemical conversion into energy carries like biomethane through SSAD.Compared to liquid state anaerobic digestion(LSAD),SSAD can handle higher organic loading rates(OLR),requires less water and smaller reactor volume and may have lower energy demand for heating or stirring and higher volumetric methane productivity.Besides these,pathogen inactivation may also be achieved in SSAD of biodegradable waste.Around 60%of recently built AD systems have adopted SSAD technology.However,the process stability of an SSAD system may have several constraints like limited mass transfer,process inhibitors and selection of digester type and should be addressed prior to the implementation of SSAD technology.In this article,a comprehensive overview of the key aspects influencing the performance of SSAD is discussed along with the need for mathematical modelling approaches.Further to this,reactor configuration for SSAD and digestate management requirement and practice for solid-state condition are reviewed for a better insight of SSAD technology.