Direct shoot organogenesis from hypocotyl explants of Jatropha curcas L. an important bioenergy feedstock

Multiple shoots were induced on hypocotyl segments reared from in vitro germinated seedlings of Jatropha curcas L., using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with N⁶‐benzyl adenine (BA) and kinetin (kin) either alone or in combination with indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA). The combined treatment of 7.05 μm kin and 1.425 μm IAA resulted in maximum shoot production with an average shoot bud initiation of 12.1 per explant. The regenerated microshoots were transferred to root induction medium containing half‐strength MS salts supplemented with either indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) or IAA. Rooting of microshoots was best achieved on half‐strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (9.8 μm ). Rooted plantlets were subsequently acclimatized under green house condition and the plantlets showed 70% survival.     

Microbial dehalogenation: 3-chloropropanoic acid (3-CPA) degradation as a case study

The rapid growth of chemical industries has resulted in increased production of halogenated compounds in the form of solvents, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, intermediates for chemical synthesis etc.; that have subsequently added up in the environment. However, dumping of these compounds in the environment have directly or indirectly resulted in many health hazards to the animals including human being. Therefore, now a day’s microbial based degradation of these halogenated compounds is considered as a cost effective and potential method of treatment. 3 Chloropropanoic acid (3-CPA) is a less studied beta-chlorinated aliphatic compound and is widely used in agricultural industry as a herbicide and is highly toxic in nature. There is hardly any report that describes the microbial based dehalogenation mechanism and degradation of this haloacid pollutant. This review narrates the biochemical process involved in the microbial dehalogenation process in general and degradation of 3-CPA in particular. Here we have also elucidated the metabolic potential of 3-CPA, its degradation pathways with proposed future research aspects.     

Extraction,Recovery, and Biostability of EDTA for Remediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

Chelation removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil is seen as a viable remediation technique. A useful chelating agent should be strong, reusable, and biostable during metal extraction and recovery operations. This work tested the extraction, recovery, and biostability of EDTA as a potential remediating agent. Parameters, including EDTA concentration, soil type, soil content, washing cycle, precipitant concentration and type, and pH, were varied and tested during metal extraction and recovery operations. Factors, including EDTA concentration, aqueous and 5% soil slurry, presence of Pb, acclimated and unacclimated activated sludges, along with abiotic control, were varied and studied in the biodegradation of EDTA. The results showed that EDTA was able to extract lead completely from the tested soils, amenable to recovery by addition of cationic and anionic precipitants in the alkaline pH range, relatively biostable even under conditions very favorable toward biodegradation. Thus, EDTA is a strong, recoverable, and relatively biostable chelating agent that has potential for soil remediation application.