Globba wengeri (C.E.C. Fisch.) K.J. Williams, former state flower of Mizoram, a rare and critically endangered plant species, commonly known as ‘dancing girl’, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, is reported in this communication for the first time from Serchhip District in Mizoram at an elevation of about 1187 m a.s.l. It was found on moist, watery and rocky slopes. The plant is under severe threat in the natural habitat and therefore, further studies are required to determine life history and particular survival threats of this species.
Heavy metals are known for their phytotoxicity and commonly used in agrochemicals to control plant pathogens. Accumulation of heavy metals in soil may occur through extensive use of heavy metal-based agrochemicals over time or from industrial pollution. However, this study was focussed on the immediate effect of the heavy metal, Copper (Cu) contamination on soil microbial population and soil enzyme activities (viz. acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, urease & dehydrogenase). Soil with graded doses of Cu was prepared by treating soil samples with varying concentrations of Copper (ll) sulphatepentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O) where three levels of CuSO4.5H2O (50, 100 & 200 mg/kg soil) treatments were formulated along with control. A significant decrease in soil microbial population and soil enzyme activities was observed in all treatments.
Although a large number of metals are essential for growth, some can be harmful for living cells. This is because of the fact that heavy metals can form complexes with protein molecules which render them inactive. The experiment was designed to carry out the effect of heavy metal (copper) on phosphatase enzyme activity and biomass of Aspergillus niger. We have observed that CuSO4 had negative effect on the growth of Aspergillus niger, phosphatase activity and plant biomass. The effects of CuSO4 upon the growth of fungal mycelium both in solid and liquid culture was observed after 3 days of incubation. The study revealed that control attained the highest growth rate, while application of varying concentrations of CuSO4 hampered and retarded the growth of fungal mycelium correspondingly.
The members of Podostemaceae, commonly called river-weeds, are with very peculiar vegetative form; revealing many unique morphological, anatomical and ecological characters from other angiosperms. They undergo an annual cycle of colonization, establishment of a canopy of mature plant, and dies back when the water level drops. The annual pattern is dictated by high and low water periods. Physico-chemical analysis showed that the largest population of the species occupied an area of full sunlight. Water samples from the two study sites viz. Janiaw and Umtienger localities, both from East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, India, showing high pH indicated less human activities of different kind. It is also determined that the species inhabits clean rivers, thus, they serve as an indicator of clean water. They occur primarily in low nutrient condition. Further, it was also observed that dissolved oxygen is the most essential factor for successful establishment of these plants, rather than other nutrients and pH. Toxic discharge of effluents from industries and agrochemical residues are serious threat to podostemads that has unique ecological requirement.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.