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Thesis

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2022 - 20234
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Subject: Zoology × Start date: 2022 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Amphibian diversity and abundance in relation to pesticide residues in rice fields and village ponds
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Shelly; Rajwinder Singh
    Six amphibian species were recorded from transplanted rice crop fields of both Ludhiana (Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, Euphlyctis adolfi, Fejerverya limnocharisi and Hoplobatarachus tigerinus) and in Panchkula (Hoplobatrachus crassus in place of Euphlyctis adolfi). However, 36.03-37.93% increase in amphibian population was recorded in unsprayed as compared to sprayed transplanted rice crop fields, respectively from Ludhiana and Panchkula. Total mean population in unsprayed fields was 37.05% higher as compared to sprayed fields. Increase in body weight of males (2.96-14.21%) was more than females (3.87-11.17%) in unsprayed than sprayed fields. Villages ponds included four species with Ludhiana as 22.23% more abundant than Panchkula. On land, population was 61.86-67.80% more than water. Residential areas included three species with Panchkula 2.32% more abundant than Ludhiana. Positive correlation was found between amphibian population with atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Pesticide residues were below the limit of quantification (0.01 mg kg-1) in soil, excretory contents and water samples without any amphibian morphological abnormality. Our findings imply that amphibian species may prefer agricultural environments, permanent ponds with good vegetation cover or crops and devoid of urbanization. Rice ecosystems helps amphibians in completing their life cycle, as rice cultivation practices provides a landscape mosaic of hydroperiods which further increases the diversity of regional species by providing habitats for a variety of species.
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    Integration of Mesocyclops aspericornis and plant based products for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Navkiran Kaur; Kocher, D.K.
    Aedes aegypti is responsible for the spread of various public health diseases. Oils from neem seed kernels and eucalyptus leaves were extracted in laboratory and their larvicidal, ovicidal and pupicidal efficacy was tested. Testing different concentrations of neem oil @ 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm and eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion @ 50, 60 and 70 ppm revealed 400 ppm and 70 ppm respectively as the effective concentration against Ae. aegypti larvae (Ist and IInd instars taken collectively). Ovicidal efficacy test indicated that neem oil @ 300 ppm and eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion @ 70 ppm inhibit 100% egg emergence. Exposure to different concentrations of both plant based oils also showed significant pupal mortality irrespective of the sex. Studies of predatory potential of Mesocyclops aspericornis was conducted by using copepods and larvae in different ratios @ 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 which indicated the combination @ 1:3 was effective combination. The predatory potential of M. aspericornis was found to enhance after the integration with prepared oils like M. aspericornis: Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 200 ppm neem oil and M. aspericornis: Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 60 ppm eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion both under laboratory and simulated conditions, also it improved the predation success and predatory behaviour of M. aspericornis. Biochemical studies indicated that exposure to sub lethal combinations of M. aspericornis and extracted plant based oils significantly reduced the total soluble proteins and activity of α-amylase in the larvae of treated sets. Moreover, exposing Ae. aegypti larvae to sub lethal combinations of M. aspericornis and plant based oils increased the duration of total development period along with significant reduction in body size of both male and female as in comparison to control set. Larvicidal efficacy retention of effective combination trails i.e M. aspericornis : Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 200 ppm neem oil and M. aspericornis : Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 60 ppm eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion was effective for 19 and 12 days, respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heavy metal reproductive toxicity and its amelioration by combination of curcumin and ascorbic acid in male albino rats
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Vatika, Kamal; Navdeep Kaur
    The reproductive toxicity caused by mixture of As, Cd and Pb in drinking water and its amelioration with curcumin and ascorbic acid was studied in male albino rats.There was a significant decrease in sperm parameters(motility, viability, count); content of protein, lipid; activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase (except cauda of LDHM), testosterone and TSH in plasma and significant increase in sperm abnormality; content of cholesterol (except copus of LDHM), phospholipids, fatty acid (except cauda of LDHM) and malondialdehyde level (MDA), FSH and LH in plasma; changes in histoarchitecture in testis and caput, corpus and cauda epididymis due to treatment with combination of heavy metals in low dose(LDHM) and high dose (HDHM) for 60 and 90 days.The non-significant variation was observed in sperm abnormality, sertoli cell number in seminiferous tubules, caput epithelial height, protein and cholesterol content in caput epididymis, lipid content and activity of SOD in caput and corpus epididymis as well as TSH in plasma of LDHM+High dose Curcumin and Ascorbic acid (C+A); activity of catalase in caput and corpus epididymis in all ameliorated groups as compared to control in both 60 and 90 days of treatment. The DNA damage was higher in testicular sperm and various protein bands were absent in testicular tissue and sperms of LDHM and HDHM treated rats whereas the combination of curcumin and ascorbic acid (both low and high doses) protected the DNA damage and showed restoration of absent protein bands in 60 and 90 days of treatment. Thus, Curcumin and Ascorbic acid have the ameliorating potential against reproductive toxicity caused by mixture of heavy metals in drinking water.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on antifertility effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum Linn.) on house rat, Rattus rattus (Linn.)
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Rana, Priyanka; Rajwinder Singh
    Present study was conducted to investigate anti-fertility effects of fenugreek seed alcoholic extract (FSAE) against male and female Rattus rattus at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2018-20. FSAE treated baits 1, 2 and 3 containing 30, 60 and 90% fenugreek seed powder in WSO bait were fed to rats for 15 days in bi-choice conditions. Results revealed that percent acceptance and mean active ingredient ingested varied from 15.9732.24% and 0.59-1.33 g/kg bwt in R. rattus, respectively in different treatments. Antifeedant index (%) varied from 37.40-67.85% showed development of habituation towards treated baits. Weight of reproductive organs of both sexes was significantly reduced. A significant reduction in progressive sperm motility, concentration, viability and increase in sperm morphological abnormalities in males and significant alternation in length of estrous cycle with prolonged di-estous and shortened estrous stages of females fed on treated bait 3 was recorded. There was significant reduction in number of both germ and sertoli cells in different stages (12) of seminiferous epithelial cycle (identified by haematoxylin-eosin) in male and number of ovarian follicles in ovary, endometrium thickness and diameter of uterine glands in uterus of female. Significant influence on different hormone levels was observed in R. rattus fed on treated bait 3. Reversibility was also recorded after 15 days of termination of treatment. Reduction in breeding success (50%) was recorded as compared to control. FSAE treated bait 3 was further evaluated under indoor grain stores, where active ingredient consumption was 1.18% for 21 days. Due to insufficient consumption of active ingredient, low anti-fertility effect was observed as witnessed by minimum effect in R. rattus reproductive parameters. Present study indicates significant effect of FSAE treated bait 3 (90%) in reducing reproductive potential and inducing sterility in R. rattus under laboratory conditions, but the effect was reversible after 15 days of treatment. To get the field efficacy of FSAE as antifertility agent against R. rattus, the acceptability of FSAE treated bait 3 must be enhanced. So, alcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds (90%) may be used as a potential anti-fertility agent and can be used in Integrated Rodent Control programme.