Vol.5 No.4 – 3: Production of Heliomycin from Actinomycete and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activities

By: Abdulla A. Mahmoud,Ehab A. Essawy, Mohga S. Abdalla, and Mohamed S. Abdelfattah

1Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo , Egypt

Abstract

Heliomycin (1) was isolated from the culture broth of actinomycete AB5. The structure of the isolated compound (1) was characterized by spectroscopic methods including NMR and mass spectrometry data.The influence of cultural parameters affecting the production of biomass including different culture media, pH values, temperatures and incubation periods were investigated. Maximum production of secondary metabolites (2.78 g/l) was found in the culture medium of Waksman at initial pH 7.5 for four days at 35ºC. The antimicrobial activity of heliomycin (1) was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Production of Heliomycin from Aquatic Actinomycete and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activities

Download PDF

Vol.5 No.4 – 2: Salt Tolerance Associated With Molecular Markers In Alfalfa

By : 1Clara R. Azzam*,  2 Zainab M. Abd El Naby  and 2 Nabila, A. Mohamed

1Department of Cell Research, Field Crop Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt

2 Department of Forage Research, Field Crop Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Breeding for salinity tolerance in open-pollinated crops depends on broad genetic variation in order to selection for vigorous plants under salinity stress. Objective: To compare yield of some local alfalfa cultivars under saline and non-saline soils and to develop molecular genetic markers associated with salt tolerance using RAPD and ISSR analysis, thereby providing a basis for alfalfa salt-tolerance breeding and research. Methods: A two years field trial was carried out during 2013/14 and 2014/15 in Galbana Village at Sahl El-Tina site., North Sinai Governorate with 13 cuts after establishing period. Three local parental cultivars, nine selected population for salt stress under different stress levels (three initial EC’s: 8.73, 10.63 and 12.43 dSm-1), a new tolerant pop, and three exotic varieties were included in the experiment under initial EC’s (10.83). Results: Under Egyptian conditions local cultivars: Siwa and Ismaelia were qualified as more adapted to salinity stress conditions than the exotic cultivars. New tolerant pop. ranked as the top yielding across all tested parental populations followed by Siwa and Ismaelia tolerant selected populations. New valley population had the lowest fresh, dry and protein yield over all studied populations. The tolerant selected populations were out yielded than their parental cultivars. A total of 16 alfalfa populations were analyzed at the molecular level to develop molecular markers associated with salt tolerance using seven RAPD and five ISSR primers. All primers succeeded to generate reproducible polymorphic DNA products. RAPD primers produced eight positive specific markers and six negative specific markers for salt tolerance in alfalfa population Sinai-1, while ISSR primers produced 12 positive specific markers and six negative specific markers for salt tolerance in alfalfa. The dendrograms were generated using pooled RAPD, ISSR and the combined analysis of their data divided the alfalfa populations into two main clusters. The first cluster consisted of population Sinai 1 alone, while the second one contains all other evaluated populations. Conclusion: The new tolerant pop. could be considered as a new promising population and more adapted to salt stress.

Salt Tolerance Associated With Molecular Markers In Alfalfa 1-converted

Download PDF

Vol.5 No.4 – 1: Bioremediation Protocols of Hydrocarbon Contamination: A critical Appraisal of a Case Study of Soil Contamination

By: Yousef Albalawi1, Furat Al-Faraj2

1Environmental Specialist.

Department of Chemical Safety and Hazardous Waste Management.

General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, Saudi Arabia

2School of Engineering, University of Bolton, United Kingdom Programme leader of MRes in Environmental Management

Abstract

Soil contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons is a widespread and global environmental contamination concern that needs to be carefully treated and controlled. This research investigates, compare, and analyse the viability of bioremediation technologies for the ex situ remediation of hydrocarbon polluted soils. It also outlines the most appropriate bioremediation technique. Results showed one of the important advantages of necrophytoremediation as a remediation protocol. The degradation amount of oil in different treatments follows this sequence: pea straw (PS) > combination of pea straw and Bacillus consortium (BAPS) > Bacillus consortium (BA) > natural attenuation (NA). The same amount of “bacteria” was added into treatment BAPS and BA. Necrophytoremediation using pea straw has a positive effect on the degradation of TPH by 96% during 12 weeks of treatment; the same pattern was followed for the combination of necrophytoremediation and bioaugmentation (pea straw and Bacillus consortium) with 95% total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) reduction. Natural attenuation and bioaugmentation microcosms modified with Bacillus were the least practical with TPH reduction of 79% and 76% respectively. The findings from this study recommend researching the possibility of relying on in situ necrophytoremediation as valuable, economical and invulnerable method for enhancing the bioremediation efficiency of oil contaminated soils.

Bioremediation Protocols of Hydrocarbon Contamination A critical Appraisal of a Case Study of Soil Contamination-converted

Download PDF