The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different storage conditions on seed viability of mush bean, variety Mash-3. Three factors were included period and seed moisture content. Viability and Moisture content were determined in control which were 91.0 and 8.0 percent respectively. The maximum germination percentage was observed in seeds with low moisture content. There was a decline in germination percentage after 90 days of storage at all temperatures in seeds with high and medium moisture contents. High moisture content and high temperature decreases germinability of seeds. The storage life of mashbean can be increased by lowering temperature and seed moisture content during storage.

Metallic nanoparticles including CuO are considered toxic when released in the environment. However, the toxicity is concentration dependent. In present investigation, we report toxicological consequences of CuO nanoparticles under In vivo and In vitro conditions to Brassica nigra L (a model legume plant). To investigate LD50 (lethal dose), the seeds were germinated in presence of CuO NPs (1-1000 mg/L for In vitro and 10-200 mg/kg soil for In vivo condition). In both, In vitro and In vivo cases no or positive effect was observed on plant length, fresh and dry weight up to threshold concentration. Above that negative effect was observed on all physiological parameters. Under In vitro conditions Total phenolics and flavonoids (TPC and TFC), total antioxidative potential (TAC), total reducing power (TRP) and free radical scavenging activity fluctuated in Brassica plantlets by change in NPs concentration. While under In vivo application in Brassica plantlets TPC, TAC and TFC increased up to some concentration and then decreased while increasing the NPs concentration. Minor significant change was observed in TRP and DPPH based free radical scavenging activity continuously increased by increasing NPs concentration. HPLC analysis was performed for determination of rutin, gallic acid and caeffic acid in plants. All the three antioxidative molecules were found at varying concentration when plants were grown in presence of CuO NPs. The results conclude that under In vivo and In vitro condition NPs have different toxicity to plants which results in differential plant response to scavenge the free radicals and oxidative stress.

Enzymes have been used for the production of a large number of industrial products but the higher cost of enzymes minimized their industrial uses. On the other hand, burning of lignocellulosic biomass leads to environmental pollution such as smog production which ultimately causes health problems. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as a cheap substrate for many industrial processes can reduce the environmental pollution and the extraction of enzymes from microbes can resolve the high cost problem of industrial enzymes. This study aimed to produce and characterize the endoglucanase from Phaeolus spadiceus by Solid State Fermentation (SSF) of the sugarcane baggase. The results showed that endoglucanase activity was maximum at 30o C, 70 % moisture level and pH 6.5 after 72 hours (3 days). Further, endoglucanase was characterized for optimum pH, temperature, effect of metal ions and kinetics parameter. Optimum temperature and pH was observed as 30 0C and 6.5 respectively and the values of Vmax and Km were 333.11 µM/mL/min and 24.75 mM respectively. This study concluded that P. spadiceus produces active endoglucanase that can be used for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. It can be used as potential microbe for cheap industrial enzymes and to reduce the environmental pollution.

Due to unique physiochemical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have acquired substantial attention in the field of research. However, threats of ecotoxicity and phytotoxicity have limited their biological applications. In this study in vivo experiments were performed to determine the effect of CuO (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) and ZnO (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) NPs on growth, and antioxidant activities of Brassica nigra. The results showed that CuO NPs did not affect the seed germination while presence of ZnO NPs in the soil generated an inhibitory effect. Both CuO and ZnO NPs positively influenced the growth of stem and other physiological parameters i.e. stem height increased (23%) at 50 mg/kg CuO while root length decreased (up to 44%) with an increase in the concentration of NPs. Phytochemical screening of apical, middle and basal leaves showed elevated phenolic and flavonoid contents in the range of 15.3-59 μg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/mg Dry Weight (DW) and 10-35 μg Querceitin Equivalent (QE)/mg DW, respectively, in NPs-treated plants. Antioxidant activity was higher in CuO NPs-treated plants as compared to ZnO and control plants. Results conclude that CuO and ZnO NPs at low concentrations can be exploited as nanofertilisers in agriculture fields.

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of storage temperature and storage period on seed viability of a wheat variety, Rawal-87. The seed moisture content and seed viability were determined in control which were 8.0 percent and 90 percent respectively. The interaction among storage period and storage temperature was statistically significant. In wheat, the maximum seed viability was observed at -20 and 5EC after 12 months storage. A decline in germination percentage was observed at 50EC after 4 months. Germination percentage was higher when petri dishes were used for germination tests. During germplasm storage of wheat, storage temperature and storage period play an important role.