Pale Yellow Research Articles

4-Diphenylaminobenzaldehyde-formulated isonicotinohydrazide for the rapid recognition of Cu2+ ions; Application of RGB tool, pharmaceutical samples, and DFT studies

High copper concentrations have been linked to several harmful illnesses in humans and negatively affect the kidneys and liver. The design and synthesis of simple and effective chemosensors for recognizing copper (Cu2+) ions are extremely significant. However, most of the colorimetric chemosensors have been developed using an intramolecular charge transfer binding mechanism based on donor-acceptor conjugation systems. This study aimed to fabricate a novel Schiff base colorimetric chemosensor, N'-(4-(diphenylamine) benzylidene) isonicotinohydrazide (DPBA-INH), with high sensitivity and selectivity towards copper ions in the semi-aqueous medium (DMSO: H2O, 7:3, v/v). The synthesized receptor DPBA-INH was distinguished using various spectroscopic methods, including NMR analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, HRMS, and ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. When exposed to sunlight, the receptor DPBA-INH with Cu2+ ion complexation exhibited a color change from orange to pale yellow. A Job's plot and electrospray ionization mass spectra confirmed the presence of complexation at a stoichiometric binding proportion of the receptor to Cu2+ ions of 1:1. The receptor DPBA-INH interacts with Cu2+ ions in a 1:1 stoichiometric manner with a detection limit of 1.40 × 10−7 M. The experimental results were supported by a theoretical DFT study. Moreover, the receptor effectively measured Cu2+ ions in pharmaceutical samples and test strip analyses. Furthermore, the rapid colorimetric recognition of Cu2+ ions in a semi-aqueous medium was achieved using DPBA-INH, which was demonstrated to be an excellent receptor. Notably, DPBA-INH was employed to detect copper ions in real water samples.

Freshness/spoilage monitoring of protein-rich foods by betacyanin-loaded gelatin/carboxymethyl cellulose halochromic labels

In the present investigation, easy-to-use colorimetric on-package labels were developed based on gelatin/carboxymethyl cellulose films loaded with betacyanin-rich Mirabilis jalapa extract (MJE) for freshness tracking of shrimp and minced meat. The effect of MJE addition (2 %, 4 %, and 6 % (w/v)) on the morphology, micro-structural, optical, and functional characteristics of the labels was assessed. The addition of MJE indicated dose-dependent improvement of antioxidant potential and light barrier capability of the labels but the reduction of their mechanical strength and water barrier properties. The labels underwent color changes (pinkish-red to yellow) after being exposed to different pHs (2–13), which was similar to the MJE solutions when immersed in buffer solutions. The halochromic label loaded with 6 % (w/v) MJE exhibited the highest sensitivity to ammonia. This label was also capable of detecting ammonia concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 mg/mL, with a visible color shift from red to pale yellow. When utilized for freshness monitoring of shrimp and minced meat, this label displayed noticeable color changes resulting from the accumulation of volatile ammonia and changes in pH during the spoilage of these samples. The labels were also biodegradable, disintegrating within ∼21 days to a great extent. As a result, we found that a label containing 6 % (w/v) MJE can be used as a biodegradable halochromic indicator in the food packaging industry for visual quality monitoring of seafood and meat products.

The influence of temperature on germination and seedling growth of sorghum

The extensification of agricultural activities to suboptimal areas, including dryland, is being considered. Sorghum as a drought-tolerant crop is usually cultivated in dryland areas in Indonesia. However local farmers are having difficulty in choosing quality seeds suitable for the specific area temperature condition. This study evaluated the physical quality of commonly used sorghum cultivars in Indonesia and their responses to several germination temperatures. The three sorghum cultivars used were Strong Brown (SB) Sorghum known as the local cultivar, Pale yellow (PY), and Light Brown (LB). The result revealed that each sorghum cultivar has specific seed characteristics, especially in the color, shape, and size of the seeds. The seeds of the Light Brown sorghum had the highest quality, followed by Strong Brown sorghum and PaleYellow sorghum cultivars based on both the tetrazolium test and the direct germination test. The optimum temperature for sorghum seed germination ranged from 25 to 35oC. Each sorghum cultivar has its specific temperature requirement for germination. Low temperature (20°C) potentially reduces the percentage of germination and delays the seed germination time of these three cultivars. LB cultivar has the highest relative growth rate (RGR) from the first week to the second week (R1), while the RGR from the first week to the third week (R2), LB sorghum cultivar is in the second position after the PY cultivar. Cultivar LB is suggested for cultivating in elevations 300-500 m asl, moreover cultivar SB elevations 50-250 m asl.

Salvia guidongensis sp. nov.: unraveling a critical evolutionary link in East Asian Salvia from Central China integrating morphology, phylogeny, and plastid genomics.

Salvia L., representing the largest genus within the mint family, is noted for its global distribution of approximately 1000 species, with East Asia, and particularly China, recognized as a critical center of diversity for the genus. Our research was conducted through extensive fieldwork in Guidong County, Hunan Province, China, where we identified a previously undescribed species of Salvia. The identification process involved detailed morphological observations, phylogenetic analyses, and plastid genomics. The newly discovered species, Salvia guidongensis, exhibits unique characteristics not commonly observed in the East Asian lineage of Salvia, including dual floral colors within natural populations-either pale purple or pale yellow. Morphologically, while it shares similarities with members of sect. Glutinaria, S. guidongensis is distinct in its floral morphology, stature, and specific foliar traits. Phylogenetic analysis places S. guidongensis in a unique clade within the East Asian lineage of Salvia, suggesting it may serve as an important evolutionary link. Additionally, we explored the plastome features of S. guidongensis, comparing them with those of closely related species. The discovery of S. guidongensis not only entriches the taxonomic tapestry of Salvia but also provides critical insights into the biogeography and evolutionary pathways of the genus in East Asia. By integrating morphological and molecular data, we validate the novel status of S. guidongensis and highlight its significance in bridging taxonomic and evolutionary gaps within Sect. Glutinaria of Salvia.

Development of halochromic electrospun labels for non-invasive shelf life assessment of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Incorporation of barberry anthocyanin extract in protein-based smart packaging.

Using barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) as a natural dye in combination with electrospinning technology represents a promising approach for the development of intelligent packaging systems. In this study, the influence of different concentrations of zein (16, 18, and 20%) and barberry anthocyanin-rich powder (BARP) (16, 18, and 20%) on the surface tension and rheological properties of the solution were evaluated. The most favorable nanofibers (NFs) were obtained from a solution containing 18% (w/w) zein under constant voltage. The surface morphology, size, and color-changing properties of electrospun NFs derived from zein polymers containing different concentrations of BARP (16, 18, and 20%) under various electrical fields (20, 22, and 24 kV) were evaluated. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the interaction of BARP within the zein-based NFs. The results indicated that the concentration of BARP had a noticeable impact on the physicochemical properties of the NFs. Furthermore, efficacy of the appropriately fabricated halochromic label was evaluated for monitoring the packed rainbow trout fillet during refrigerated storage. On the 10th day, a noticeable visual color turned from pink to pale yellow was observed in response to pH variations. Additionally, the TVN value confirmed the effectiveness of halochromic electrospun labels for non-invasive assessment of fish fillet quality.

Description of Microbacterium dauci sp. nov., a plant growth hormone indoleacetic acid-producing and nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from carrot rhizosphere soil.

A plant growth hormone indoleacetic acid-producing strain LX3-4T was isolated from a carrot rhizosphere soil sample collected in Shandong Province, China. It is Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, and has irregular short rod-shaped cells. LX3-4T shared high 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Microbacterium oleivorans DSM 16091T (99.4%), M. testaceum NBRC 12675T (98.6%), M. marinum DSM 24947T (98.5%), M. resistens NBRC 103078T (98.4%), and M. paraoxydans NBRC 103076T (98.3%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated gene sequences of 16S rRNA gene, housekeeping genes gryB and rpoB also showed the distinction between strain LX3-4T and other Microbacterium species. Furthermore, analysis of the average nucleotide identities (ANI), the average amino acid identity (AAI), and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain LX3-4T and its relatives revealed that strain LX3-4T represents a distinct species. The genomic DNA G + C content of the strain is 69.5%. It can grow at 25-37°C (optimum 37°C), pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum pH 6.0-8.0), and the range of NaCl concentration is 0-7% (w/v) (optimum 1-5%). The colonies on agar plates are smooth, translucent, and pale yellow. The main cellular fatty acids of strain LX3-4T are anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C16:0. The predominant respiratory quinones are MK-12 and MK-11. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, and an unidentified phosphoglycolipid are major polar lipids. The cell-wall sugar of strain LX3-4T is glucose. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contains glycine, alanine, lysine, and glutamic acid. In addition, this strain carries nitrogen fixation genes and can grow in nitrogen-free medium. Based on the polyphasic data, strain LX3-4T represents a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium dauci sp. nov. is proposed with strain LX3-4T (= CCTCC AB 2023103T = LMG 33159T) designated as the type strain.

Optical diagnostics in impact of ammonia energy ratio and diesel split ratio on combustion process and flame propagation in an Ammonia-Diesel Dual-Fuel engine

In the context of ammonia-diesel dual-fuel (ADDF) engines, challenges such as ignition difficulties and misfires emerge prominently at elevated ammonia energy ratios. To alleviate these challenges, this study aims to elucidate the effects of ammonia energy ratios (AER) and diesel split ratios (DSR) on the combustion process and flame propagation in an optical ADDF engine configuration. Utilizing optical diagnostics, including flame luminescence and high-speed photography, the study provided insights into combustion boundary conditions specific to ADDF engine operation. The results highlight that an increase in AER to 60 % results in a marked decrease in peak cylinder pressure, peak apparent heat release rate (AHRR), and the in-cylinder pressure rise rate. This is accompanied by a reduction in IMEP from 4.16 bar to 3.24 bar, indicating a decline in combustion efficiency upon greater ammonia addition. Flame luminosity exhibits a shift from a diesel-like blue hue to an ammonia-tinted pale yellow. This change coincides with a significant reduction in soot formation and restrictions in flame area and propagation speed, largely due to ammonia's intrinsically slower burning velocity and its chemical interplay with diesel. Implementing a dual injection approach further accentuates the peak in-cylinder pressure and AHRR, with the second injection playing a crucial role in ignition. Optimizing the DSR to 40 % improves combustion efficiency, attributed to enhanced fuel-oxygen interactions. Conversely, DSR values of 60 % and 80 % pose challenges. A reduction in diesel content in the subsequent injection leads to a leaner blend, subsequently affecting combustion efficiency, as indicated by reduced heat release rate and diminished IMEP. This study emphasizes understanding the ammonia-diesel interaction and the importance of choosing the appropriate DSR to exploit the advantages of ADDF engines.

Two new species of Parastagonospora and a new species of Phaeoseptoriella (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales) from grasslands in Yunnan Province, China.

During our investigation of microfungi on grasslands in Yunnan Province, China, three new fungal taxa associated with grasses were collected. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of the combined SSU, LSU, ITS, tef1-α, and rpb2 loci based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference were used to reveal the taxonomic placement of these fungal taxa. This study introduces Parastagonosporayunnanensis, Para.zhaotongensis, Phaeoseptoriellapoaceicola. Parastagonosporayunnanensis is characterized by ampulliform or globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells, with conidia that are cylindrical to subcylindrical, 0-1-septate, rounded at the apex and slightly truncate at the base. Parastagonosporazhaotongensis features similar globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells but with 0-3-septate, cylindrical to subcylindrical conidia. Phaeoseptoriellapoaceicola is distinguished by its globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells and phragmosporous conidia that are initially hyaline, turn pale yellowish at maturity, and are 7-septate, cylindrical to subcylindrical, either straight or slightly curved. These discoveries underscore the significance of exploring and accurately identifying fungal taxa within Ascomycota, highlighting the species richness and potential for new species discoveries in grass-based habitats. The findings from this study expand our understanding of the taxonomy and phylogeny of grassland-associated Ascomycota, providing a foundation for further ecological and taxonomic studies of these fungi within their natural environments.

Structural, Physical, Magnetic, and Dielectric Study of Glassy and Crystalline Bismuth Zinc Silicates

AbstractThe current study aims to thoroughly analyze the optical, magnetic, and dielectric properties of the glass and glass-ceramics in the system Bi2O3.ZnO.SiO2 with stoichiometric composition xBi12SiO20.(100-x)Zn2SiO4(x = 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, and 100). The systematic dependence on density, Bi2O3, and the presence of interphases was studied. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the glass-ceramic samples certify the changes occurring in structure from amorphous to crystalline form where more intense, sharp, narrow bands were observed. Both 10B and 30B samples display more ultraviolet (UV) absorbance than the remaining samples. Upon introducing Bi2O3, the glass sample's color gradually changed from brown to pale yellow. In the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) study, the highest (9.22 × 10-7 emu/g) and lowest (4.53 × 10-7 emu/g) magnetic susceptibility were noticed for 30B and 70B samples, respectively. Further, all glass ceramics display diamagnetic properties due to the existence of Bi ions. The glass-ceramic samples showed better dielectric properties than glass samples due to changes from the amorphous nature of the glassy phase (high dielectric loss) to the well-ordered structure of the corresponding glass-ceramic (low dielectric loss). The glass ceramic sample of 100B attained much lower dielectric loss values (0.002, f = 106 Hz) than the corresponding glass sample (0.01, f = 106Hz) which could be helpful for electric storage devices, i.e. capacitors, supercapacitors, batteries, etc. Besides, the high-quality factor (Q = 2758) of the same glass-ceramic sample makes it promising in Radio Frequency (RF) circuits or other high- frequency applications.

Liposome Based Near-Infrared Sensors for the Selective Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide.

Cyanine dye-based new amphiphilic compound NIR-Amp has been synthesised. NIR-Amp was embedded with phospholipids DOPC and DPPC to form liposomes based nanoscale chemical sensors NIR-Lip1 and NIR-Lip2. Here, two different phospholipids were used to demonstrate the influence of lipid structure, composition and fluidity on sensing of nanosensors. Both the probes show NIR absorption maximum at 790 nm and emission maximum at 815 nm. H2 S-triggered thiolation resulted a remarkable change in color from green to pale yellow. A decrease in UV-Vis absorption and emission in the NIR region was observed only with H2 S. NIR-Lip1 and NIR-Lip2 are highly selective for H2 S with a LOD of 0.57 μM and 1.24 μM, respectively. It was observed that in a solid-like gel state, NIR-Lip1 is slightly more sensitive towards H2 S than fluid-like NIR-Lip2. The H2 S sensing mechanism was confirmed by ESI-mass and infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis. Based on the high sensitivity and selectivity, NIR-Lip1 was employed to detect H2 S in vegetable samples. Further, the probes are found to be non-toxic and established for H2 S fluorescence imaging in live cells.

First Report of Erysiphe alphitoides Causing Powdery Mildew of Cocculus orbiculatus in China.

Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC. (Menispermaceae) is a vine traditionally used as a medicinal herb in Asia and grows primarily in wet tropical biomes (POWO 2022). In late April 2022, typical symptoms of powdery mildew were observed on leaves of C. orbiculatus on the campus of Nanjing Forestry University, China. Approximately 90% of the plants were infected. Superficial mycelia and conidia were amphigenous on the leaves, pale yellow, and severe infections caused necrotic discoloration of the leaves. Infected leaves were collected to identify the pathogen. Hyphae were hyaline and branched. Conidiophores were solidary, unbranched, straight, cylindrical, smooth, hyaline, 69.3 ± 11.1 × 7.9 ± 0.6 µm, (n = 50). Foot cells were mostly cylindrical, straight, rarely curved, smooth, hyaline, 53.2 ± 6.2 × 7.5 ± 0.4 µm, (n = 50). Appressoria were lobulate, solitary or in opposite pairs, hyaline to pale yellow. Conidia were single, ellipsoid, oval or doliform, hyaline or pale yellow, 38.6 ± 2.3 × 20.9 ± 0.8 µm, (n = 50). Conidial germ tubes developed at a subterminal position. No chasmothecia were observed. Representative specimens were deposited in the NJFU Herbarium (NF50000010). Based on these morphological characteristics, this fungus (MFJ 1-1) was provisionally identified as Erysiphe alphitoides (Takamatsu et al. 2007). To verify the identification of the pathogen, mycelia and conidia were obtained from diseased leaves and genomic DNA of the fungus (MFJ 1-1) was extracted. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) gene were amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 and LR0R/LR5, respectively (White et al. 1990, Rehner and Samuels 1994). The sequences were deposited in GenBank (ON612134 for ITS, ON620080 for LSU). BLAST results showed that the ITS and LSU sequences were highly similar to E. alphitoides [ITS: KF734882, identities = 632/633 (99%) LSU: MK357414, identities = 890/893 (99%)]. Phylogenetic analyses with the concatenated sequences using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood placed the isolate in the clade of Erysiphe alphitoides. Pathogenicity was confirmed by gently pressing the infected leaves onto five leaves per plant, and three healthy plants were inoculated. Three uninoculated plants served as controls. The plants were placed in a growth chamber with a 16 h photoperiod at 22 ± 2°C, 70% of relative humidity. Symptoms developed 10 days after inoculation, whereas the control leaves remained symptomless. The powdery mildew developing on the inoculated plants was identified to be E. alphitoides based on morphological characters and ITS sequences. This fungus has a worldwide distribution and a broad host range. Recently, Ipomoea obscura (Pan et al. 2020) and Aegle marmelos (Banerjee et al. 2020) have been found to be additional hosts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. alphitoides on C. orbiculatus in the world. This finding provides crucial information for developing effective strategies to monitor and manage this disease.

Pengembangan Sensor Antioksidan berbasis Kertas Zonamikro dengan Imobilisasi DPPH pada Sampel Ekstrak Tanaman

Development of a paper-based antioxidant sensor using DPPH reagent. This sensor is made using a screen-printing method to create a 5 mm diameter detection zone which is immobilized with DPPH reagents. The analysis was carried out in one step by immobilizing antioxidants/samples in the detection zone. After reduction by antioxidants, DPPH radicals become stable DPPH molecules, resulting in a change in color from purple to pale yellow. The purple intensity of DPPH was inversely proportional to the antioxidant activity of the sample and was measured using the help of ImageJ software. The optimal conditions for using DPPH reagents at a concentration of 5 mM and the volume in each detection zone were 3 µL. Characterization of this sensor analysis was carried out on gallic acid with the response time in the 12-minute, linearity with r = 0,9895, detection limit (LOD) value 0,0349 mM GAE, the quantitation limit (LOQ) value was 0,1164 mM GAE, with precision <2% (RSD), and meets the accuracy range of 97-103%. This sensor is then validated against DPPH spectrophotometry UV-Vis by analyzing antioxidant activity from plant extracts. The results showed no significant differences for the gallic acid equivalent for all samples obtained from the two methods at a confidence level of 97-103%, indicating that the method developed could be relied upon to analyze antioxidant activity from real samples. Finally, the paper-based antioxidant sensor is known to be stable for three days when stored in the refrigerator (2- 4 °C), stable for 2 hours at room temperature (25ºC), and makes paper sensors easy to use for end users.

Autophagic and phytochemical aspects of color changes in white petals of snapdragon flower during development and senescence.

Color change in petals is a clever strategy to attract more pollinators and one of the attractive features of edible flowers for consumers. Several physiological, phytochemical, and ultrastructural factors are involved in this process. However, this phenomenon is well underexplored in white petals. In this study, we investigated the color changes of the white petals of the snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Legend White') flower from different aspects during development and senescence. In the ultrastructural analysis, both epidermal and mesophyll cells were examined. During flower development, plastid transition and autophagy processes led to the fading of the green color of young petals and the reduction of starch content, chlorophyll, and carotenoids. The piecemeal chlorophagy was observed in the degradation of starch granules. Leucoplasts were converted into autophagosome-like structures and then disappeared. The presence of these structures was evidence of the transformation of the plastid to the vacuole. As the green color faded, phytochemical compounds were synthesized. With partial flower opening and progression of senescence, pH and phenolic compounds were responsible for color changes. The highest amount of phenolic compound was observed after the flower opening stages. However, Phenolic colored compounds or total anthocyanins became colorless under the influence of low pH. The decrease in starch content caused an increase in the lightness parameter, and the petal color changed to pale yellow.

Determination of Co2+ ions in blood samples: A multi-way sensing based on NH2-rich carbon quantum dots

Multiple forms of detecting Co2+ are reported in this work to quantify these ions in real blood plasma samples. Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) were used as a fluorescent nanoprobe. The CQDs were obtained from a bottom-up approach using a hydrothermal method and choline chloride and branched poly(ethyleneimine) as precursor molecules. Several spectroscopic and structural characterizations were performed. The efficient fluorescence quenching of CQDs related to the Co2+ ion was used for the detection of the analyte, generating a sensing strategy with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.98 μmol L−1. Furthermore, the interaction between the Co2+ ion with the CQDs resulted in the color change of the solution from colorless to pale yellow. Thus, a colorimetric Co2+ sensor was also developed, since there was an absorption band at 315 nm attributed to the formation of the complex CQD + Co2+. The colorimetric method showed an excellent sensitivity to Co2+, with a LOD of 3.01 μmol L−1. In addition, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) together with Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were used successfully to distinguish different concentrations of Co2+ and different interfering ions present in the solution. Finally, a real sample of blood plasma was properly treated and doped with different concentrations of Co2+, which was successfully quantified via fluorescent method. Therefore, the CQDs obtained in this work are a powerful and versatile Co2+ detection tool.

A chemodosimeter with high selectivity for ratiometric detection of mercury ions in buffer solution

A new isophorone-based chemodosimeter was designed and synthesized for a rapid, ratiometric and selective detection of Hg2+ ions in buffer solution. Hg2+ ions promoted the deprotection of the dithioacetal group of probe SWJT-11, leading to a red shift from 574 nm to 636 nm in its fluorescence spectrum, which also accompanied the change of solution color from yellow to pale yellow. The probe toward Hg2+ ions presented a good linear relationship in the 0–10.0 μM concentration range, with the LOD of 0.2 μM. In addition, the probe has been successfully used to detect Hg2+ ions in test strips and Chinese medicinal materials.

Zincorietveldite, Zn(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5, the zinc analogue of rietveldite from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA

AbstractThe new mineral zincorietveldite (IMA2022-070), Zn(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5, was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as yellow to orange–yellow blades in a secondary assemblage with bobcookite, coquimbite, halotrichite, libbyite, metavoltine, rhomboclase, römerite, tamarugite and voltaite. The streak is very pale yellow. Crystals are transparent with vitreous lustre. The tenacity is brittle, the Mohs hardness is ~2½ and the fracture is curved. Cleavage is excellent on {010}, good on {100} and fair on {001}. The mineral is easily soluble in H2O and has a calculated density of 3.376 g⋅cm–3. The mineral is optically biaxial (+) with α = 1.568(2), β = 1.577(2) and γ = 1.595(2); 2V = 70(1)°. Electron microprobe analyses provided (Zn0.720Mg0.109Fe0.091Mn0.046Co0.035)Σ1.00(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5. Zincorietveldite is orthorhombic, Pmn21, a = 12.8712(9), b = 8.3148(4), c = 11.2959(4) Å, V = 1208.90(11) Å3 and Z = 4. Zincorietveldite is the Zn analogue of rietveldite. The structural unit is a uranyl-sulfate chain that is also found in the structures of bobcookite, oldsite, oppenheimerite and svornostite.

TOXIC EFFECTS OF MERCURY ON CROP PLANTS AND ITS PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES - A REVIEW

The harmful effects of mercury lead to the inhibition of the growth and changes in biochemical constituents of food crops. Plants that are hyperaccumulators accumulate the mercury present in the air or in the soil which leads to growth retardation as well as affects the metabolic pathway regulation in plants. Several biochemical reactions happen due to the metallic accumulation such as lipid peroxidation, enzyme activation, chromosomal aberrations, and untimely cell death. Mercury causes a decrease in photosynthetic rate which turns the colour of the plants to pale yellow. Chlorophyll synthesis in the leaves was suppressed by mercury toxicity and increases the rate of oxidizing enzymes. Mitotic behavior as well as leakage of metabolites was adversely affected due to mercury toxicity. This review intends to understand the toxic effects occurring due to mercury accumulation and morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes occurring in different food crops.

Morphometric Characterization of Endomycorrhizal Fungi (Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae) from the Bouaflé and Niellé Areas in Côte d'Ivoire

Mycorrhizal symbioses, which are widespread in various terrestrial ecosystems, constitute a very important research topic for many biologists. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), belonging to the phylum Glomeromycota, take their name from their characteristic structures: arbuscules. Spores represent the main structures allowing the morphological identification and characterization of AMF. The spores directly extracted from soil samples were identified under an optical microscope. The diversity of AMF in maize rhizospheres in Bouaflé and Niellé areas was highlighted. Thus, 12 genera of AMF divided into 8 families have been identified. Spores of two families of endomycorrhizae (Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae) have been described. The spores of the Glomeraceae family represented by 4 genera <i>Glomus</i>, <i>Funneliformis</i>, <i>Septoglomus</i> and <i>Rhizophagus</i> are globose to subglobose, 45 to 200 µm in size. The spores have a single wall composed of 3 to 4 parietal layers. The outer layers stain with Melzer's reagent. The suspensory hypha often characterized by the presence of constriction, light brown in color is the extension of layer 2. Morphologically, the spores of Acaulosporaceae represented by a single genus <i>Acaulospora</i>, are distinguished by the globose to subglobose shape. The spores are whitish, pale yellow, golden yellow to orange-brown in color and 90 to 200µm in diameter. The subcellular structure of spores consists of a spore wall (outer wall) and two inner walls. The outer and inner walls of the spores consist of three parietal layers. The outermost layers are evanescent, hyaline whitish, orange-brown to pale yellow. The layers of the inner wall are adherent to each other appearing as a single layer. The surface of the spores, populated with projections of different shapes resembling often rudimentary hyphae, show scars and ornamentations. This study gives the essential of the status of AMF and revealed the morphometric and structural characteristics of some AMF.

Sensory characteristics ofbungong kayee(traditional Acehnese cake) as a local food enrichment

Bungong kayee is a traditional Acehnese cake which has a distinctive shape like leaves arranged to form a flower with a crunchy texture, has a white bone color to pale yellow. This color is obtained from the cooking process with oil using low heat so that it has a color almost the same as the cork egg cake. This study aims to determine the level of panelists' preferences for Acehnese traditional cakes in terms of sensory assessment in increasing the added value of local food. The sample used in this study is bongong kayee. Sample testing was carried out 3 times with different production times. The interval between production for sample testing is 1 week. The difference in production time is used to see the stability of the preference of the panelists for the sensory test of bungong kayee which remains the same or constant. Sensory evaluation used the hedonic scale 5 method with 35 panelists aged between 20-23 years from Teuku Umar University students, for the 3 test parameters were color, taste and texture. In the three productions the color values ranged from 4.40 to 4.51 (likes) while the hedonic test color values ranged from 5.11 to 4.29 (likes) from the three productions. And the hedonic texture test scores range from 4.26 to 4.69 (rather like). Based on the sensory test, the three test parameters namely color, taste and texture, overall the panelists preferred the bungong kayee cake in the third production compared to the first and second productions.

A New South American Freshwater Turtle of the Genus Mesoclemmys from the Brazilian Amazon (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae)

We describe a new species of small chelid turtle from perennial streams in the Araguaia River subbasin near Serra das Andorinhas State Park, São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil. It is morphologically distinct and the smallest known member of the genus Mesoclemmys, with an average straight-line carapace length (CL) of 144 mm and maximum recorded CL of 170 mm. The species has a moderate head width of approximately 20% of CL. The carapace and dorsal soft parts are blackish, the plastron is light brownish yellow with a blackish brown central plastral figure, and the ventral soft parts are pale yellow. It has the largest femoral scutes of any Mesoclemmys and its plastral contact formula is Intergular > Anal > Humeral > Femoral > Abdominal > Pectoral > Gular. We describe the shell and skull morphology of the new species and performed genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase, subunits I [COI] and 16S) to build a phylogenetic tree for the genus, which placed the new species as sister to M. vanderhaegei.