Synergism in Host Selection Behavior of Three Generalist Insects Towards Leaf Cuticular Wax of Sesame Cultivars.

Leaf cuticular wax plays important role in host selection, oviposition, and feeding of phytophagous insects. Thus, the role of cuticular wax of sesame (Sesamum indicum) cultivars (Savitri and Nirmala) in host selection of 3 generalist pests (Spilosoma obliqua Walker, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, and Spodoptera litura Fabricius) was investigated under laboratory conditions. The GC-MS and GC-FID analyses of leaf surface waxes of both cultivars indicated the presence of 14 n-alkanes from n-C9 to n-C44 and 12 free fatty acids (FFAs) from C9:0 to C20:0. The most predominant n-alkane and FFA of the cultivars were n-C26 (94.3 ± 7.27 µg leaf-1) and C18:1 (110.8 ± 10.07 µg leaf-1), respectively present in Savitri cultivar. The generalists used visual (color and shape), olfactory (odorous n-alkanes and FFAs), tactile (surface ultra-structure), and gustatory (cuticular wax) cues in a synergistic manner for their host selection through attraction (adults and larvae) followed by oviposition (adults) and feeding (larvae) on studied cultivars (Savitri > Nirmala). Their olfactory responses were maximum towards 2 leaf equivalent amount, whereas oviposition and feeding preference were maximum towards 4 leaf equivalent amount of the combined synthetic (4 n-alkanes (n-C16, n-C22, n-C24, n-C26) + 3 FFAs (C12:0, C14:0, C18:1)) mixture-treated intact leaf of cultivar Savitri. This finding can suggest that the synthetic blend (4 n-alkanes + 3 FFAs) in leaf equivalent amount (396.6 ± 4.13 µg leaf-1) or more from cultivar Savitri can be used as lures to develop baited trap. In addition, the cultivar Nirmala can be used as a resistant cultivar in the ecological pest management (EPM) framework of these target pest species.

Photophysics of a coumarin based Schiff base in solvents of varying polarities.

The present work reports detailed photophysics of a coumarin based Schiff base, namely, (E)-7-(((8-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methylene)amino)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (HMC) in different solvents of varying polarity exploiting steady state absorption, fluorescence and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The dominant photophysical features of HMC are discussed in terms of emission from an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) excited state. Molecular orbital (MO) diagrams as obtained from DFT based computational analysis confirms the occurrence of charge transfer from 8'-hydroxy quinoline moiety of the molecule to the coumarin part. The notable difference in the photophysical response of HMC from its analogous coumarin (C480) lies in a lower magnitude of fluorescence quantum yield of the former, particularly in the solvents of low polarity, which is rationalized by considering the higher rate of non-radiative decay of HMC in apolar solvents. Phosphorescence emission as well as phosphorescence lifetime of HMC has also been reported in 77K frozen matrix.

Fluorescence Behavior of Schiff Base-N, N'-bis(salicylidene) Trans 1, 2-Diaminocyclohexane in Proteinous and Micellar Environments.

Fluorescence properties of N, N'-bis(salicylidene) trans 1, 2-diaminocyclohexane (H 2 L) is used to probe the anionic (SDS), cationic (CTAB) and nonionic (TX-100) micelles as well as in serum albumins (BSA and HSA) and chicken egg white lysozyme (LYZ) by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence band intensity was found to increase with concomitant blue-shift with gradual addition of different surfactants. All the experimental results suggest that the probe molecule resides in the micelle-water interface rather than going into the micellar core. However, the penetration is more towards the micellar hydrocarbon core in nonionic surfactant (TX-100) while comparing with ionic surfactants (SDS and CTAB). Several mean microscopic properties such as critical micelle concentration, polarity parameters and binding constant were calculated in presence of different surfactants. The decrease in nonradiative decay rate constants in micellar environments indicates restricted motion of the probe inside the micellar nanocages with increasing fluorescence emission intensity and quantum yields. Further in this work, we also investigated the interaction behavior of the probe with different proteins at low concentrations under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4). Stern-Volmer analysis of the tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence quenching data in presence of probe reveals Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) as well as bimolecular quenching rate constant (Kq). The binding constant as well as the number of binding sites of the probe with proteins were also monitored and found to be 1:1 stoichiometry ratio.

Coumarin Based Fluorescent Probe for Colorimetric Detection of Fe3+ and Fluorescence Turn On-Off Response of Zn2+ and Cu2.

A new coumarin based Schiff-base chemosensor-(E)-7-(((8-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methylene) amino)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (H 11 L) was synthesized and evaluated as a colorimetric sensor for Fe3+ and fluorescence "turn on-off" response of Zn2+ and Cu2+ using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Upon treatment with Fe3+ and Zn2+, the absorption intensity as well as the fluorescence emission intensity increases drastically compared to other common alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions, with a distinct color change which provide naked eye detection. Formation of 1:1 metal to ligand complex has been evaluated using Benesi-Hildebrand relation, Job's plot analyses, 1H NMR titration as well as ESI-Mass spectral analysis. The complex solution of H 11 L with Zn2+ ion exhibited reversibility with EDTA and regenerate free ligand for further Zn2+ sensing. H 11 L exhibits two INHIBIT logic gates with two different chemical inputs (i) Zn2+ (IN1) and Cu2+ (IN2) and (ii) Zn2+ (IN1) and EDTA (IN2) and the emission as output. Again, an IMPLICATION logic gate is obtained with Cu2+ and EDTA as chemical inputs and emission as output mode. Both free ligand as well as metal-complexes was optimized using density functional theory to interpret spectral properties. The corresponding energy difference between HOMO-LUMO energy gap for H 11 L, H11L-Zn2+ and H11L-Cu2+ are 2.193, 1.834 and 0.172 eV, respectively.

Fluorescence properties of Schiff base - N,N'-bis(salicylidene) - 1,2-Phenylenediamine in presence of bile acid host.

Fluorescence properties of Schiff base - N,N'-bis(salicylidene) - 1,2-phenylenediamine (LH2) is used to study the micelles formed by aggregation of different important bile acids like cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and glycocholic acid by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence band intensity was found out to increase with concomitant red shift with gradual addition of different bile acids. Binding constant of the probe with different bile acids as well as critical micelle concentration was obtained from the variation of fluorescence intensity on increasing concentration of bile acids in the medium. The increase in fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence decay times and substantial decrease in nonradiative decay rate constants in bile acids micellar environment points to the restricted motion of the fluorophore inside the micellar subdomains.

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensor for detection of Zn2+ based on a Schiff base.

A Schiff-base fluorescent probe - 2-((E)-(quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)quinolin-8-ol (H7L) was synthesized and evaluated as a chemoselective Zn2+ sensor. Upon treatment with Zn2+, the complexation of H7L with Zn2+ resulted in a red shift with a pronounced enhancement in the fluorescence emission intensity in ethanol solution. Moreover, other common alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions failed to induce response or minimal spectral changes. Notably, this chemosensor could distinguish clearly Zn2+ from Cd2+. Fluorescence studies on H7L and H7L-Zn2+ complex reveal that the quantum yield strongly increases upon coordination. The stoichiometric ratio and association constant were evaluated using Benesi-Hildebrand relation giving 1:1 stoichiometry. This further corroborated 1:1 complex formation based on Job's plot analyses. This chemosensor exhibits a very good fluorescence sensing ability to Zn2+ over a wide range of pH.

A sensitive Schiff-base fluorescent chemosensor for the selective detection of Zn²âº.

A Schiff-base fluorescent probe - N, N(/)-bis(salicylidene) trans 1, 2 - diaminocyclohexane (H 2 L) was synthesized and evaluated as a chemoselective Zn(2+) sensor. Upon treatment with Zn(2+), the complexation of H 2 L with Zn(2+) resulted in a bathochromic shift with a pronounced enhancement in the fluorescence intensity in ethanol solution. Moreover, other common alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions failed to induce response or minimal spectral changes. Notably, this chemosensor could distinguish clearly Zn(2+) from Cd(2+). The stoichiometric ratio and association constant were evaluated using Benesi - Hildebrand relation giving 1:1 stoichiometry. This further corroborated 1:1 complex formation based on Job's plot analyses.

Biogenic synthesis of Ag, Au and bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles using aqueous extract of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) leaves.

In this paper, we have demonstrated for the first time, the superb efficiency of aqueous extract of dried leaves of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) in the rapid synthesis of stable monometallic Au and Ag nanoparticles and also Au/Ag bimetallic alloy nanoparticles having spectacular morphologies. Our method was clean, nontoxic and environment friendly. When exposed to aqueous mahogany leaf extract, competitive reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions present simultaneously in same solution leads to the production of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the kinetics of nanoparticles formation. UV-visible spectroscopic data and TEM images revealed the formation of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. Mahogany leaf extract contains various polyhydroxy limonoids which are responsible for the reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions leading to the formation and stabilization of Au and Ag nanopaticles.

Biogenic synthesis of Au and Ag nanoparticles by Indian propolis and its constituents.

In an attempt to find natural, environmentally benign, green-chemical agents for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, we have demonstrated for the first time the excellent efficiency of ethanol and water extracts of a natural, non-toxic material, Indian propolis and two of its chemical constituents, pinocembrin and galangin in the rapid synthesis of stable Ag and Au nanoparticles having wide spectrum of fascinating morphologies. Both of these two extracts were found to be extremely efficient in the synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles under alkaline condition. For a given metal ion precursor, the kinetics of particle synthesis were remarkably similar in all the cases, as it is evident from the absorption spectra monitored over time. Moreover they exhibited similar redox behavior under alkaline condition (pH approximately 10.62). The efficiency of the ethanol and water extracts of Indian propolis towards Ag and Au nanoparticles synthesis was compared with that of naturally occurring hydroxyflavonoids, pinocembrin and galangin isolated from Indian propolis; which are equally efficient in the rapid synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles and stabilization of the resultant particles.