Browsing by Author "Harathi P.B"

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EFFICACY OF PLEUROTUS SAJOR CAJU AS AN EXCELLENT POTTING MEDIUM FOR GARDEN PLANTS
(Int J Pharm Bio Sci, 2016-01) Harathi P.B; Radha R; Gayathri M
Coir is a natural fibre found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut is used as a by-product of the coir manufacturing industry. Normally, they are dumped as agricultural wastes in the fields or disposed by burning which causes air pollution. Composting of coir pith is an alternate method to reduce pollution and it also serves as a source for the maintenance of organic matter of the soil. Coir pith is an ideal soil re-conditioner and soil substrate with excellent water holding capacity. Coir pith contains high quality of nutrients which keeps the soil healthy in a natural way. It acts as a top dressing that helps to maintain moisture content of the soil and re-conditions the soil. The proportion yielded effective growth of the plant and indicating its use as an excellent potting media for garden plants. Hence the objective of the present study focused on the efficacy of basidiomycetes fungus, Pleurotus sajor-caju for the cultivation of medicinal plant, Ocimum santum using the biodegraded coir pith.
EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROPLASTICS FROM LANDFILL SOIL (Article)
(Kalpana Corporation, 2025-01) Vinod, Veena; Amritha P.S; Harathi P.B
Recently, landfills have become the major sink of all the microplastic waste and hazardous materials that adhere to their surfaces. Hence, it is of utmost importance to detect and estimate the presence of microplastics in landfills to ascertain the fate and impact of these pollutants on the terrestrial environment. Therefore, in this study, the soil samples were collected from seven points of landfills from three layers, extracted using a standard protocol, examined under a stereomicroscope and identified using ATR-FTIR analysis. The abundance of microplastic was high in layer 1 with 64%. Fragments and fibers were abundant in all three layers. The microplastic of size range 0-1 mm were predominantly found in all the layers. Colours, such as white, transparent and blue, were abundant. In addition, the physico-chemical parameters of the site were also studied.
LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PRONASE INDUCED MELANIZATION REACTION IN THE HAEMOCYANIN OF SCYLLA SERRATA
(Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci, 2014) Harathi P.B; Remya Radha
Crustaceans are a large and diverse invertebrate animal group that contains a complex and well-organized innate immune response against a variety of microorganisms. In crustaceans, the defense system against microbes rests largely on cellular activities performed by haemocytes such as adhension, phagocytosis, encapsulation, nodule formation and melanisation. Hence an investigation has been conducted to generate melanization reaction in the mud crab, Scylla serrata by treatment with pronase. Experimental studies performed in vitro had shown that inactive phenoloxidase could be activated directly by treatment with exogenous protease or detergents. The optical density of pronase treated samples increased from 0.127 to 0.424 at 540 nm. The serum of S. serrata was further fractionated into haemocyanin and clarified serum (depleted from haemocyanin) and tested the ir responsiveness to pronase-treatment. Pronase treatment of clarified serum did not significantly induce colour change as well as its optical density at 540 nm. Treatment of haemocyanin with pronase resulted in change in colour of the serum from light blue to black. The optical density of these samples also enhanced from 0.049 to 0.173. The relationship among melanization reaction and HA activity generated after treatment of serum of S. serrata with pronase was analyzed by adding phenyl thio urea to pronase treated serum. This inhibited melanization reaction but did not affect the induction of HA activity.
RANGE EXTENSION OF LESSER-KNOWN ORCHIDS TO THE NILGIRIS OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA
(Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2022-08-27) Sulaiman M; Kiruthika K; Harathi P.B
The present paper records the extended distribution of orchids, viz., Oberonia chandrasekharanii V.J.Nair, V.S.Ramach. & R.Ansari, Peristylus plantagineus (Lindl.) Lindl., Porpax exilis (Hook.f.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen, and P. jerdoniana (Wight) Rolfe, to the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu.