RESUMO
Crop residues in agriculture pose disposal challenges and contribute to air pollution when burned. This study aims to use pigeonpea and maize stalks to produce biochar at different pyrolysis temperatures. Biochar can serve in carbon sequestration, as a soil amendment, and as an alternative fuel source. Pyrolysis was conducted at 400, 500, and 600 °C to examine the effects on physicochemical properties, fuel, and energy related properties. Increase in temperatures resulted in decrease of biochar yield, volatile matter, and O/C and H/C atomic ratios, while ash content and essential nutrients increased. Yield was observed to be higher in pigeonpea stalks derived biochar compared to maize stalks derived biochar at same pyrolysis temperatures. The yields of pigeonpea stalks derived biochar at 400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C are 34, 33 and 29%, respectively, and the yields of maize biomass-derived biochar at 400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C are 29, 28, and 26%, respectively. The organic carbon content is found to be higher in the biochar samples prepared at 600 °C, i.e., 10.44%, and 10.39% for pigeonpea and maize-derived biochar, respectively. The essential elements of biochar were increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature except nitrogen which is conversely related to temperature. The biochar obtained through pyrolysis at 400 °C demonstrated superior characteristics compared to biochar produced at other temperatures. It exhibited a higher biochar yield, with approximately 84.60% for pigeonpea and 64.85% for maize fixed carbon content. Additionally, the energy retention efficiency was higher, reaching 67.33% for pigeonpea and 42.70% for maize-derived biochar at a pyrolysis temperature of 400 °C. The fixed carbon recovery efficiency was also notable at around 200.44% for PPS and 142.37% for maize biochar which is higher compared to biochar produced at other temperatures. Furthermore, the higher heating value (HHV) was approximately 30.75 MJ kg-1 for both the biochars, indicating their suitability as alternative solid fuels. A significant CO2 reduction potential of 84 CO2 eq kg-1 and 55 CO2 eq kg-1 was observed for pigeonpea and maize biochar, respectively. Hence, biochar is a promising and effective option for carbon sequestration, offering environmental benefits.
RESUMO
Rice tungro disease is caused by the combined action of Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV). The RTBV is involved in the development of symptoms while RTSV is essential for virus transmission. We attempted to study the mode of action of RTBV in the development of symptoms. The tungro disease symptoms were attributed to viral interference in chlorophyll and carotenoids biosynthesis, photosynthesis machinery, iron/zinc homeostasis, and the genes encoding the enzymes associated with these biological processes of rice. The adverse effects of virus infection in photosystem II (PSII) activity was demonstrated by analyzing the Fv/Fm ratio, expression of psbA and cab1R genes, and direct interaction of RTBV ORF I protein with the D1 protein of rice. Since ORF I function is not yet known in the RTBV life cycle, this is the first report showing its involvement in regulating host photosynthesis process and symptoms development.
Assuntos
Homeostase/genética , Insetos Vetores/virologia , Oryza/virologia , Complexo de Proteína do Fotossistema II/metabolismo , Doenças das Plantas/virologia , Tungrovirus/fisiologia , Proteínas Virais/metabolismo , Animais , Meios de Cultura/química , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Ferro/química , Ferro/metabolismo , Fases de Leitura Aberta , Complexo de Proteína do Fotossistema II/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica , Tungrovirus/genética , Proteínas Virais/genética , Waikavirus/fisiologia , Zinco/química , Zinco/metabolismoRESUMO
The methanolic extract of M. longifolia (MLME) and a compound a triterpene, derivative of madhucic acid (dMA) isolated from the leaves of M. longifolia, were investigated for their possible neuropharmacological activities in mice using phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, spontaneous motor activity, marble burying test and Eddy's hot plate method. LD50 for MLME and dMA were 100 and 10 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Both MLME and dMA (10 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg oral route respectively) exhibited significant increase in phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, greater reduction in spontaneous motor activity and marble burying activity, confirming their sedative nature. Both MLME and dMA also exhibited considerable antinociceptive activity in experimental animals. The results suggest that both MLME and dMA have CNS depressant activity in mice.
