No abstract

As the epigeic earthworms are known to be efcient and potential biodegrades and nutrient releasers, tolerant to wide range of ecological disturbances, aids in litter communication and efcient decomposers. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to nd out the inuence of various organic wastes (such as False Ashoka waste-FAW (Polyalthia longifolia), Parthenium wastePW (Parthenium hysterophorus), Cotton residue waste-CRW (Gossypium), Lawn grass waste-LGW (Agrostis) and Cattle manure-CM) on the production of worm biomass and vermicompost by the epigeic earthworm, Perionyx excavatus along with control compost experiments without worms (in triplicates) to know the potentiality of this worm species in processing of various organic wastes for the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein and vermicompost as biofertilizer. Both compost and vermicompost experimental pots were terminated after 35 and 70 days time intervals. Observations were made with respect to number of old and new adult worms, new sub-clitellates, juveniles, cocoons with their weight were noted to determine the total worm biomass (Gross biomass), biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold Increase in Worm Number (FIWN). Percent compost and vermicompost produced out of different organic waste were also calculated at the end of each experiment at35 and 70 days. The results of the present study revealed that the biomass of Perionyx excavatus such as Gross worm biomass (GWB), Worm biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold increase in worm number (FIWN) increased from 35days to 70 days time intervals in all the organic wastes (FAW, PW, CRW, LGW and CM). It was maximum in CM and minimum in FAW among all the organic wastes. There is a signicant variation was noticed in worm biomass production (GWB, WBR, and FIWN) among and between all the organic wastes except between few organic wastes at 35 and 70 days time intervals. The vermicompost production was more as compared to normal compost in all the organic wastes. Further, both compost and vermicompost production were more in CM followed by LGW, CRW, PW and minimum in FAW among all organic wastes. The signicant difference was also observed in the production of compost and vermicompost among and between different organic wastes except between few organic wastes at different time intervals. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus is an efcient epigeic earthworm species, effectively used in vermicomposting for the production of vermicompost and as well as in vermifarming in the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein. Further, earthworm biomass, compost and vermicompost production primarily depends on nature of organic wastes and secondly on the potentiality of earthworm species used in the experimental studies.

Medicinal value of earthworms has been known since centuries, this is evident from history of ancient southeastern countries like China, Japan and Vietnam. The present study was carried out to evaluate antifungal activity by using different epigeic earthworm species, Eudrilus eugeniae, Eiseina fetida, Perionyx excavates and standard drug Itraconazole as positive control against Candida albicans, The agar well diffusion method was used for antifungal assay maintained at 37 °C for 24 hrs. The results of the present study revealed that antifungal activity i.e. Zone of Inhibition was more in Eudrilus eugeniae (EE) followed by Perionyx exacavatus (PE) but no antifungal activity was observed in Eisenia fetida (EF). Again zone of inhibition in EE was comparatively more (15.33±0.33) at 10μg/ml concentration than that of 20μg/ml (10.33±0.33) and 30µg/ml (10.66±0.33) respectively, whereas antifungal activity was only seen in 30 µg/ml (11.33±0.33) in PE. Further, antifungal activities of EE & PE were comparatively less than that of standard drug (Itraconazole) as positive control at 5µg/ml in the present study. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the samples of EE showed much higher antifungal activity as compared to with other two species PE & EF. The present study also suggests that the biomolecules or bioactive compounds present in particular earthworm tissue are going to inuence against various pathogenic microorganisms, such earthworms can be useful in further purication of biomolecules that can be used for new drug discovery in pharmaceutical applications.

No abstract