The objectives of the Winter Fog Experiment (WIFEX) over the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India are to develop better now-casting and forecasting of winter fog on various time-and spatial scales. Maximum fog occurrence over northwest India is about 48 days (visibility <1000 m) per year, and it occurs mostly during the December-February time-period. The physical and chemical characteristics of fog, meteorological factors responsible for its genesis, sustenance, intensity and dissipation are poorly understood. Improved understanding on the above aspects is required to develop reliable forecasting models and observational techniques for accurate prediction of the fog events. Extensive sets of comprehensive groundbased instrumentation were deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Major in situ sensors were deployed to measure surface micrometeorological conditions, radiation balance, turbulence, thermodynamical structure of the surface layer, fog droplet and aerosol microphysics, aerosol optical properties, and aerosol and fog water chemistry to describe the complete environmental conditions under which fog develops. In addition, Weather Forecasting Model coupled with chemistry is planned for fog prediction at a spatial resolution of 2 km. The present study provides an introductory overview of the winter fog field campaign with its unique instrumentation.

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For three consecutive years Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton (var. Mech 162) and its isogenic non Bt counterpart were assessed for the risks of transgenic crop on the soil ecosystem under Indian subtropical conditions. To observe effect of Bt cotton on soil biochemical properties, activities of dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase and urease soil enzymes were assayed at its different growth stages i.e., seedling, vegetative, flowering, bolling and harvesting stages. To observe effect of Bt cotton on soil microorganisms, number of nematodes, collembola and ants representing micro, meso and macrofauna, respectively were observed in Bt and non-Bt cotton plants rhizosphere at different growth stages.Results showed no significant difference (P<0.05) in alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase and urease activity between Bt and non-Bt cotton rhizosphere during crop growth period. However, dehydrogenase activity was significantly high (P<0.05) in the Bt cotton rhizosphere as compared to non Bt cotton rhizosphere through out the observation period. At most of the growth stages numbers of micro, meso and macro fauna were more in Bt cotton rhizosphere as compared to non Bt cotton rhizosphere. The temporal and spatial variations observed in number of nematodes, collembola and ants between Bt and non Bt cotton plants rhizosphere were significant. The present study shows that the Mech 162 variety of Bt cotton was not posing any risk to soil microorganisms and soil biochemical properties.

A soluble and thermostable peroxidase enzyme (POD) was extracted from the leaf of Citrus medica. The enzyme was purified 15.10-fold with a total yield of 28.6% by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme came as a single band on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) PAGE. The molecular mass of the enzyme was about 32 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 6.0 and 50°C temperature. The enzyme was active in wide range of pH (5.0-8.0) and temperature (30-80°C). From the thermal inactivation studies in the range of 60-75°C, the half-life (t(1/2)) values of the enzyme ranged from 8 to 173 min. The inactivation energy (Ea) value of POD was estimated to be 21.7 kcal mol(-1). The Km values for guaiacol and H(2)O(2) were 8 mM and 1.8 mM, respectively. This enzyme was activated by some metals and reagents such as Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mg(2+), Co(2+), ferulic acid, and indole acetic acid (IAA), while it was inhibited by Fe(2+), Zn(2+), Hg(2+), and Mn(2+), L-cysteine, L-proline, and protocatechuic acid.

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