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ThesisItem Open Access Bioutilization of spent mushroom compost for remediation of heavy metal rich effluents(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Avneet Kaur; Katyal, PriyaThe present study was conducted to use spent mushroom compost (SMC) as a low cost effective biosorbent combining the advantage of biosorption and bioaccumulation approach for remediation of heavy metal rich effluents. Effluent samples were collected from two Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) located at Ludhiana (L-CETP) and Jalandhar (JCETP). Samples were analysed for various physico-chemical parameters, whereby DO (43.92 mg/l) and BOD values (13.2 mg/l) were low in L-CETP whereas COD value (320 mg/l) was higher than permissible limit (250 mg/l) indicating that sample was polluted with organic contaminants. In J-CETP, DO (92.0 mg/l) and BOD (71.5 mg/l) values were high while COD value was low (240 mg/l) indicating that sample has indigenous microflora. Total solids (TS) and Total dissolved solids (TDS) were found to be high in J-CETP. Metal profile of effluent samples was estimated using Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICAP-AES). In Ludhiana CETP, Cr was dominant heavy metal with a concentration of 226.62 ppm, followed by Ni 28.12 ppm and Pb 0.77 ppm. In Jalandhar CETP, the concentration of Cr was 1.83 ppm, followed by Pb 0.39 ppm and Ni 0.10 ppm. Heavy metal tolerance was determined by growing cultures of Pleurotus florida, Agaricus bisporus, Volvariella volvacea and Calocybe indica in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates amended with heavy metals. Cultures of white rot fungi were most sensitive to Hg and least sensitive to Cr. Among the four selected strains, Volvariella volvacea was found to be highly resistant to Cr with 22.5% inhibition of growth at 250 ppm. SMC of selected white rot fungi was dried, grinded and analysed for various physico-chemical parameters whereby low values of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin indicated their degradation during the process of composting and mushroom growth. Batch experiments were carried out in erlenmeyer flasks to study the effect of various parameters like pH, temperature and initial metal concentration on biosorption. Maximum removal of Cr was obtained at Ci-50 mg/l, pH-4-6 and temperature-25°C. Experimental results were well fitted to Langmuir isotherm than to Freundlich isotherm. These standardized conditions were used to study metal uptake from effluent samples by SMC packed in a bioreactor. Maximum removal of Cr was achieved with contact time of 2 hrs with A. bisporus SMC, 3hrs for P. florida SMC and 1.5 hrs for C. indica SMC. FT-IR spectrum analysis of SMC showed shift in peaks at 2918 cm-1 to 2980 cm-1 due to stretching of CH and CH2 group, 1744.7 cm-1 to 1739.6 cm-1 because of masking of protonated carboxyl group and peak at 1500 cm-1 showed the presence of lignin group in treated and untreated spent compost.ThesisItem Restricted Production and marketing of sesamum in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Avneet Kaur; Grover, D. K.The present study is undertaken to study the economic analysis of sesamum production vis-àvis its major competing crops. This analysis is based on secondary data (1964-65 to 2017-18) and primary data pertaining to the year 2017-18. The data have been collected from 60 farmers from major sesamum growing districts of Punjab. The study has brought out that there was major decline in area, production and yield of sesamum during the last five decades. Sesamum has been found a less input intensive crop in terms of irrigations, fertilizers and plant protection material etc. as compare to paddy and basmati cultivation. Total variable cost of cultivation in case of sesamum was much lower (` 5530 acre-1) in comparison to (` 17763 acre-1) for paddy and (` 17311) for basmati. The corresponding gross returns have been estimated as ` 17644 acre-1, ` 49226 acre-1 and ` 58034 acre-1. Though, sesamum cultivation yields relatively lower absolute returns, yet the benefit-cost ratios were found much higher in case of sesamum cultivation (3.19) as compared to 2.77 in paddy cultivation. About 58.42 per cent of produce was marketed in immediate after post-harvest period, of which a major chunk was marketed through the channel, “Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer” while producer’s share in consumer rupee was maximum in channel, “Producer-Consumer”. To broad-base sesamum cultivation in the state the various biotic and abiotic constraints to be taken care of, were more incidences of disease, insect/pest, weeds, lack of quality seeds/high yielding variety of seeds, lack of price information and price variability etc.ThesisItem Open Access Hormetic studies of 2,4-D in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and associated dicotyledonous weeds - Medicago denticulata Willd. and Rumex dentatus L.(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Navjyot KaurThe present study entitled, “Hormetic studies of 2,4-D in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and associated dicotyledonous weeds - Medicago denticulata Willd. and Rumex dentatus L..” was conducted to test the effect of low doses of 2,4-D on wheat and associated dicotyledonous weeds. Low concentrations of 2,4-D failed to accelerate either germination or seedling growth of Triticum aestivum and tested four weed species – Phalaris minor, Avena ludoviciana, Medicago denticulata and Rumex dentatus. The application of 2,4-D herbicide inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of these weeds in a dose dependent manner with higher concentrations being more inhibitory. Foliar applied 2,4-D in range of 5-20 g ha-1 increased the chlorophyll content index (CCI) and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) values in wheat as compared to control and maximum value of CCI and Fv/Fm was recorded at 20 g/ha 2,4-D showing hormetic effect of 2,4-D at low doses upto flag-leaf stage of crop. Wheat yield and yield attributing parameters were not boosted significantly by low doses of 2,4-D ranging from 5 to 50 g ha-1. No significant difference between control and treated plants at harvest indicates that growth stimulation by low doses of 2,4-D was not sustained over time. The foliar application of 2,4-D at low concentrations ranging from 5-50 g ha-1 did not exert hormetic effects in R. dentatus and M. denticulata as application of different doses of 2,4-D led to a reduction in seed production potential of these weeds.ThesisItem Restricted Effect of chlorpyrifos on the reproductive system of Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) and Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Hundal, S.S.The present study was field-laboratory integrated approach to evaluate effects of pesticide on earthworms. The agricultural fields of South West (S-W) Punjab (Malout, Bathinda and Muktsar regions) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana were surveyed to monitor chlorpyrifos residues and check species and population density of earthworms. The residue level ranged from 0.014-0.044 mg/kg in Malout region, 0.018-0.116 mg/kg in Bathinda region and 0.010-0.056 mg/kg in Muktsar region of Punjab. The Metaphire posthuma was the predominant species found in S-W Punjab and PAU, Ludhiana and Lampito mauritii was also inhabiting these regions. The biochemical, histological, cytological and genotoxicity studies were also performed on former abundant species. The investigation revealed that the biological alterations were more pronounced in Kharif season than Rabi. Higher AchE activity during Rabi season and elevated GST activity during Kharif season was recorded in earthworms .The histological alterations were only observed in earthworms of S-W Punjab. Low differential, total coelomocyte count and higher DNA damage was reported in Kharif. The comparative study showed that PAU, Ludhiana is a zone with good agricultural practices. In laboratory two ecologically different earthworms i.e Metaphire Posthuma (endogeic) and Eisenia fetida (epigeic) were exposed to different doses of chlorpyrifos (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 ml/l) in an artificial soil test following OECD guidelines. The significant decrease was observed in body weight, cocoon and hatchling number of both earthworms, at higher doses of chlorpyrifos (7.5 and 10.0 ml/l). The mortality as a result of morphological alterations was observed at higher doses of chlorpyrifos in earthworms. Further, these higher doses led to inhibition of activity of AchE and GST, decrease in total, differential count of coelomocytes and high DNA damage. Histological alterations were also observed in gonads of M. posthuma and E. fetida on exposure to higher doses. The field and laboratory studies revealed that earthworms are excellent bioindicators for assessing soil contamination caused by pesticides. The species specific response was observed, M. posthuma was found to be more sensitive as compared to E. fetida so, can used as standard test species to evaluate pesticidal toxicity.ThesisItem Restricted Partitioning of zinc and its associated metabolites in diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Nirmaljit KaurThe present investigation entitled “Partitioning of zinc and its associated metabolites in diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes” was undertaken in the Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2016-17. Seeds of sixteen genotypes with diverse zinc content were procured from the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The studies were conducted in two experiments, in the first experiment sixteen rice genotypes were raised in the nursery and; physiological and biochemical parameters of rice genotypes were quantified from 35-days old seedlings. The chlorophyll pigments, hill activity, total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, free amino acids, starch and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were recorded higher in PR113 and PR121, whereas these were lower in RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as compared to the rest of the genotypes. Grain weight, grain yield and grain zinc uptake also followed similar trend. Hence, PR113 and PR121 were characterized as zinc efficient, whereas, RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as zinc inefficient. These zinc efficient and zinc inefficient genotypes were put to further experimentation. The zinc content and zinc associated traits were quantified during three stages of development: maximum tillering, anthesis (50% flowering) and maturity. The chlorophyll content, hill activity and SOD activity increased significantly from maximum tillering to anthesis stage and these parameters were also higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to zinc inefficient genotypes. The total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, free amino acids and starch increased significantly from maximum tillering to anthesis stage, whereas decreased from anthesis to maturity. These metabolic reserves were higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. The plant height, leaf area, flag leaf area, leaf weight, number of tillers and internodal length was also higher in zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. The leaf, tiller, spike and grain were separated at each representative stage of growth for quantifying weight, zinc content and zinc uptake. A higher dry matter accumulation as well as zinc remobilization from the vegetative to reproductive parts of the plant was observed in the zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the inefficient ones.Panicle characteristics, viz., panicle length, panicle number per m2, filled spikelet percentage and percent grain filling were high in zinc efficient genotypes, whereas low in zinc inefficient genotypes. On the contrary, panicle sterility was high in the zinc inefficient genotypes. Yield and yield contributing traits, viz., test weight, grain weight per plant, grain yield and harvest index were high in the zinc efficient genotypes as compared to the zinc inefficient genotypes. Based on the present investigation, PR113 and PR121 have been characterized as zinc efficient and RYT Biofort1 and RYT 3403 as zinc inefficient genotypes.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation Of Option Strategies In Different Scenarios And Identification Of Fundamental Determinants Of Exchange Rate Movement: A Study Of Indian Currency Market(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Kapur, SandeepEmpirical literature lacks in quantum of studies on option payoffs especially in context of Indian foreign exchange contracts. The present study was undertaken to study the option payoffs especially in context of Indian foreign exchange contracts. The study has tried to assess the bullish, bearish and neutral option payoffs with underlying USD-INR contract. The study was done for a period of 68 months from October 2010 to June 2016. Three bullish option strategies namely long call, short put and covered call were applied and their pay offs were assessed for different moneyness. Payoffs of three bearish option strategies namely long put, short call and bear call spread was also assessed. In addition, four neutral strategies namely long and short straddle; and long and short strangle were employed. Various combinations of options using ATM, ITM and OTM calls and puts were formed and analysed. The findings of the study show that under bullish option strategies 2%OTM covered call strategy performed better with least coefficient of variance. 2%OTM short call and ATMC ATMP long straddle performed better with least coefficient of variance in bearish and neutral option strategies respectively. No statistical significant differences were recorded when compared for different moneyness in the any respective strategy. The study also attempted to find various macroeconomic variables which affect the movement in USD-INR exchange rate. Monthly data related to 11 variables was taken for the time period starting from 1st May, 1998 to 30th June, 2015. It was found that the predictor variables such as ratio of export to import for India, foreign exchange reserve, 10-year bond yield of India has a positive impact on the USD-INR, whereas other predictors i.e. index of industrial production, foreign institutional investor flow, brent crude oil, S&P500 has a negative impact on the USD-INR.ThesisItem Open Access Microbial production of tannase using agro waste(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Avneet Kaur; Katyal, PriyaTannase (tannin acyl hydrolase, E.C.3.1.1.20) is an inducible enzyme that has wide applications in different food and feed industries including production of beverages, cosmetic chemicals and in clarification of beer and fruit juice. It has also been used for bioremediation of tannins from effluents of leather industries. Attempt was made for isolation of tannase producing microbes (bacteria/fungi) from tannery effluents using tannic acid supplemented media. On the basis of qualitative (zone of hydrolysis) assay, four fungal isolates – AV1, AV2, AV3 and AV4 were found to be more efficient than bacterial isolates for tannase production and the maximum zone was shown by AV3 isolate i.e. 2.3 cm. For the morphological characterization of fungal isolates, lactophenol cotton blue staining and Scanning Electron Microscopy were done. Isolate AV1, AV2, AV3 and AV4 were found to show morphological similarities to genera Penicillium, Fusarium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma, respectively. Quantitative tannase production by the selected four isolates (AV1, AV2, AV3 and AV4) for seven consecutive days revealed AV3 to be the maximum tannase producer (25.33 U/ml) on 5th day of incubation. Four different agrowastes i.e. spent tea powder, coconut coir, corn husk and fruit baggase were used as substrates for tannase production using selected isolate AV3 and the maximum tannase production (35.62 U/ml) was obtained using spent tea powder as substrate at pH 5.5 and temperature 40oC. Optimization of process parameters for maximum tannase activity with central composite design using response surface methodology reveals maximum tannin hydrolysis (93.33µMmin-1) at a temperature of 600C, pH 8.0 and 5% substrate concentration. On partial purification, by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis using membrane-70, activity of the tannase increased to 153.33µMmin-1 and the yield of the enzyme was 83.33%. Partially purified enzyme was used for detannification of pomegranate juice and was found to reduce tannin content from 2.76 mg/ml to 1.03 mg/ml but with slight decolorization of juice.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON BIODEGRADATION OF ENDOSULFAN BY BACTERIAL SPECIES FROM AGRICULTURAL SOILS.(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2012) Avneet KaurFor bioremediation of endosulfan, nine bacterial species isolated from sugarcane field soils and identified using 16S rDNA sequence homology. These could cause only partial endosulfan metabolization (maximum of 50.22%) coupled with appearance of toxic endosulfan sulphate as metabolite. Evaluation of earlier identified 15 bacterial species resulted in selection of Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, Bacillus alkalinitrilicus and Pseudomonas fulva causing 86.58, 81.30 and 71.58 % endosulfan reduction, respectively. These bacterial species could grow over a wide range of pH (4.0-11.0) and temperature (25-37°C), but optimally at pH of 6.0-6.5 and 37°C, though growth was more rapid in shake than stationary cultures. However, whereas, B. frigoritolerans was sensitive to high salt concentrations, P. fulva & B. alkalinitrilicus grew optimally at salt concentration of 3.0 and 4.0 %, respectively. Maximum endosulfan degradation by B. frigoritolerans and P. fulva was not affected by presence of additional carbon and/or nitrogen sources suggesting the endosulfan metabolization by these species to be inducible by endosulfan only. In case of B. alkalinitrilicus, improvement in endosulfan reduction by the presence of additional C and/or N sources (80.58 to 95.14%) established the constitutive nature of endosulfan degradation. Whereas B. alkalinitrilicus holds potential for bioremediation of endosulfan in nutrient enriched agricultural soils and sewage water, B. frigoritolerans and P. fulva could find equal exploitation for endosulfan degradation in nutrient deficit environments.