Photosynthesis is a fundamental process in plants that enables them to produce their own food. However, this process can be influenced by multiple factors including external factors such as sunlight, nutrients availability and gas concentrations. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of heavy metal stress on the plant Jacobaea maritima (L.) Pelser & Meijden. Three different heavy metals, namely cadmium, chromium, and lead, were applied to the plants at five concentrations ranging from 50-250 ppm (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250). The growth of the plants was observed, and several parameters including net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), leaf stomatal conductance (C), and the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) were measured. The results revealed that the chlorophyll content was higher in the Cr150 concentration (5.47±0.4). The chlorophyll values for Pb-100 (9.4±0.35) and Pb-250 (9.8±0.26) were in close proximity to each other. The Cd-100 concentration showed the highest chlorophyll content. The net photosynthetic rate was least affected in Pb-150 (30.98±0.75), while Cr-100 (4.05±0.09) exhibited the greatest impact. Transpiration rate increased slightly in plants treated with Pb, but significantly decreased in Cd-treated plants. The Cr-50 concentration (0.19±0.02) showed the lowest transpiration rate. Leaf stomatal conductance was reduced significantly in all treated plants, with Cr-100 showing the least variation (2298.25±1.85). The photosynthetic active radiation capability was reduced in all treated plants, with Pb-treated plants exhibiting nominal reduction and Cd- and Cr-treated plants experiencing substantial reduction. Statistical analysis confirmed significant variations in the measured parameters following heavy metal treatment.

Microbial extracellular enzymes occupied a prominent place in industrial sector due to their multifunctional ability. Extensive application of these, gap between production and demand is widening. In order to fulfil this gap, researchers focusing on various strain improvement methods such as recombinant and non-recombinant mutagenesis. In the present research work we made an attempt to screen high yielding industrial important extracellular alginase producing Bacillus tropicus CUIMW1718 strain by treating with inexpensive mutagens such as UV, EMS and EtBr. In this indigenous strain was subjected to Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, Ethidium bromide (EtBr), Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, followed by cross mutation of Ultraviolet (UV) irradiated strain with Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) and Ethidium bromide (EtBr). High yielding mutant strains were selected based on zone of clearance.

Rapid urbanization and increase in population have evoked tremendous attention for biofuelsproduction to combatshortage of fuels, environmental concerns, foreign exchange savingsand socioeconomic issues.In recent years biodiesel production from agro-industrial feedstocks such as waste vegetable oil, animal fat, grease, non-edible fruit oils etc.,acquired prominent place to fulfil the gap between production and demand. The present investigation has been undertaken to explore a noveland environmentally friendly process for developing biodiesel production technology by subjecting dried fruits of Lagerstroemia speciosa to mild ultrasonication at 33KHz for 20 min at 35±2ºCfor obtaining high lipid yield, precursor for the production of biodiesel by transesterification.The biodiesel compounds 2,4di-tert-butylphenol, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) methyl ester, 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, methyl stearate, cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid methyl ester, 18-methylnonadecanoate were recognized as the main compounds in GC-MS analysis.