African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Table of Content: 30 October, 2013; 12(44)

October 2013

The reproducibility of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus strains with XD9, M13 and OPI-02 MOD primers

We optimized the conditions for generating random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus strains by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Several factors can cause the amplification of false and non reproducible bands in the RAPD profiles. We tested three primers, OPI-02 MOD, M13 and XD9 throughout this study. In addition, we tested different concentrations of primer, DNA template...

Author(s): Fatima Ghazi, Zineb Benmechernene, Mebrouk Kihal and G. Candan Gurakan

October 2013

Genetic diversity in Cucurbita pepo landraces from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Genetic variation in seven selfed and unselfed Cucurbita pepo landraces from districts in KwaZulu-Natal Province was investigated using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Out of 36 primers screened nine were selected, which gave 100 clear and bright fragments, out of which 94 (94%) fragments were considered polymorphic. The sizes of bands ranged from 75 to 1800 bp. The number of bands per primer ranged between...

Author(s): Nontuthuko R. Ntuli, Alpheus M. Zobolo, Pangirayi B. Tongoona, Nokuthula W. Kunene

October 2013

Genetic structure of populations of Mugil cephalus using RAPD markers

Genetic structure of four populations of Mugil cephalus from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India was studied using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Five selective primers provided distinct and consistent RAPD profiles in all the four populations. The bands in the range 400 to 1200 bp were scored for consistent results. The RAPD profiles generated by all the five primers...

Author(s): E. Suresh, V.K.Tiwari, M. Sekar, M. Sankar and A. Kathirvelpandian

October 2013

Evaluation of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush.) as rootstock for salinity tolerance at seedling stage under in vitro conditions

In vitro approach was adopted to study the effect of salinity on survival and growth of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush.) seeds. North-West (Punjab) part of India has been facing a major problem of soil salinity for citrus orchards. Therefore, it is logical to study the salinity tolerance of common citrus rootstock, rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush.), grown in the region. The seeds were treated with nine different...

Author(s): L K Sharma, Manisha Kaushal, Sukhwinder Kaur Bali and O P Choudhary

October 2013

Guttation fluid as a physiological marker for selection of nitrogen efficient rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2008 and 2009 to use guttation fluid as a physiological marker for the screening of more nitrogen efficient rice genotypes on the basis of relationship between Guttation Fluid (GF) oozed by leaf tip and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), grain yield (GY) and biological yield (BY) amongst five rice (KRH-2- hybrid, Kasturi- aromatic, Krishna Hamsa, Tulsi and...

Author(s): Hukum Singh, Amit Verma and Alok Shukla

October 2013

An alternative safer and cost effective surface sterilization method for sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) explants

Regardless of its serious health effect, mercury chloride is frequently utilized for surface sterilization to mitigate microbial contamination in sugarcane tissue culture. The current study aimed at finding an alternative safer and cost effective sterilization method to substitute mercury chloride. In the study, sugarcane shoot tip blocks were treated with three concentrations (1, 3, and 5% active ingredient of...

Author(s): Tilahun Mekonnen, Mulugeta Diro and Manju Sharma

October 2013

Influence of plant growth regulators on indirect shoot organogenesis and secondary metabolite production in Aconitum violaceum Jacq.

Influence of plant growth regulators on indirect regeneration and secondary metabolite production in Aconitum violaceum Jacq. was evaluated. Among the different plant growth regulators studied, 2.5 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.25 µM kinetin (Kn) promoted the highest frequency of callus production for indirect regeneration. 6-Benzyl aninopurine (BAP) was more effective in improving shoot...

Author(s): Janhvi Mishra Rawat, Balwant Rawat, Anup Chandra, Subhash Nautiyal

October 2013

Phospholipid fatty acids analysis-fatty acid methyl ester (PLFA-FAME) changes during bioremediation of crude oil contamination soil

This study aims to develop certain perspectives based on the principle of on-site remediation of the soil through biological means known as "bioremediation" against soil pollution issues resulting from fuel contamination in our country and to reveal the fatty acid profile in the final soils. The fatty acid profile of the soils was pointed out by testing the activity of three basic bioremediation applications...

Author(s): Esin (Eraydın) Erdoğan,Fikrettin Şahin, Ayten Namlı

October 2013

Larvicidal activity of extracellular secondary metabolites from a Stereum species Hill ex Pers. (JO5289) against the dengue fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Linn) (Diptera: Culicidae)

The main objective of this investigation was to find mosquito larvicidal secondary metabolites from a basidiomycete – Stereum species (JO5289) – against Aedes aegypti. The Stereum species (JO5289) was collected in July 2005 from undisturbed habitat in Londiani forest in Rift Valley province, Kenya. Extracellular crude extracts from Stereum species (JO5289) produced strong activity against A. aegypti larvae....

Author(s): Dennis Kipngeno Chirchir, Russell Ben Omondi Ouma, Peter Kiplagat Cheplogoi and Josiah Ouma Omolo

October 2013

Aphanomyces frigidophilus, fungus-like organisms isolated from water of springs in Białystok, Poland

Investigations into occurrence of fungus Aphanomyces frigidophilus in water of springs Dojlidy Górne, Jaroszówka and Pietrasze within the town BiaÅ‚ystok in Podlasie Province, Poland were conducted in Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn of the year 2005. Samples were processed in the laboratory by routine methods commonly used to isolate these organisms. Bait method with the use of hemp seeds Cannabis...

Author(s): Bożena Kiziewicz, Javier Diéguez-Uribeondo, and Maria P. Martín

October 2013

Activity guided isolation and characterization of antioxidant and antibacterial agents from some local Nigerian plants

This study aimed to present the activity guided fractionation, isolation and characterization of antioxidants and antibacterial agents from combined mixture of plants (Vitex doniana, Diospyros mesipiliformis, Acacia polycantha, Pirinari macrophylla, Ficus sycomorus and Parkia biglobosa) and that of Pergularia tomentosa. Combined Mixture of Plants (CMP) is used locally in ratio of 1:1 for the treatment of bacterial...

Author(s): Sanusi Wara Hassan­, Surjeet Verma, Santosh Kumar Srivastava, Suaib Luqman,  Usha Gupta and  Nusrat Masood

October 2013

Immobilization of the Candida rugosa lipase onto a Scirpus grossus L.f. fiber as biocatalyst for biodiesel synthesis via hydrolysis-esterification

This study aimed to immobilize the Candida rugosa lipase (C. rugosa lipase) on ground Scirpus grossus L.f. fibers by glutaraldehyde-crosslinking to form a hydrolysis-esterification catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. The effects of different glutaraldehyde concentrations and solvent for 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) activation of the fibers on the resultant immobilized lipase activity, protein loading, degree of...

Author(s): Sireerat Charuchinda,, Pichaya Kensingh and Warawut Chulalaksananukul,

October 2013

Impact of a blood-sucking parasite on the chemical composition of fatty acids in the white muscle of garfish (Belone belone, Belonidae) from Tunisian coasts (Central Mediterranean)

The objective of this study was to compare the composition of fatty acids in the garfish (Belone belone) white muscle removed from parasitized and non parasitized specimens. The chemical analysis results revealed low contents of total fatty acids for both parasitized and non-parasitized specimens.  Their values, less than 2 g/100 g of fresh muscle, allowed the classification of the garfish as a lean fish. High...

Author(s): Rafika Fehri-Bedoui, Mohamed Ali Ben Smida, Hassen Mejri and M’hamed El Cafsi

October 2013

Novel antibacterial activity of Terfizia claveryi aqueous extract against clinical isolates of corneal ulcer

Terfizia claveryi was examined for in vitro antibacterial activity using the disc diffusion, well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). T. claveryi exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against all clinical isolates of corneal ulcer tested, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa which showed the maximum antibacterial activity with mean...

Author(s): Yousef H. Aldebasi, Salah M. Aly, Manzoor A. Qureshi and Habeeb Khadri