The herbicidal activity of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal against the noxious weed parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) was evaluated. In a laboratory bioassay, the effect of aqueous, methanol and n-hexane shoot and root extracts of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% w/v concentrations (on a fresh weight basis) of W. somnifera were tested against the germination and seedling growth of parthenium. In gener...

The allelopathy of alien plants is critical to their successful invasion. In nature, two can co-invade the same habitat. Changes in forms nitrogen may have potential alter invasion process by causing alterations allelopathy. This study aimed evaluate individual and combined from Asteraceae family, Solidago canadensis L. Conyza (L.) Cronq. examined effects aqueous leaf extracts with different (N...

Bacterial ring rot disease, caused by the gram-positive bacterium C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, is readily spread by planting infected seed potatoes. Zero tolerance levels have been set in the United States, Canada, and the European Union in an effort to eradicate the disease (26). Despite zero tolerance levels that have existed for 50 years in the United States, potato ring rot remains ...

the use of plants to remediate contaminated soil has been the most rapidly developing component in environmental cleansing. although total concentration of heavy metals in soil is used for regulatory review, it also is beneficial to assess the potential for ecosystem impact through a series of bioassays. one commonly used bioassay is seed germination. in current research study effect of contami...

A novel, partial life-cycle bioassay using Chironomus tentans in artificial streams was developed for evaluating the effects of metal mine effluent. The utility of this bioassay was compared to an existing beaker life-cycle bioassay under laboratory conditions. Chironomus tentans larvae were exposed to 45% (v/v) treated metal mine effluent from day 11 through hatching of the second generation. ...

Micro-organisms isolated from composts were assayed in vitro for inhibition of mycelial growth and conidium germination of Fusarium culmorum. Eleven bacterial isolates inhibited mycelial growth, and of these seven also inhibited germination of conidia. However, inhibition of mycelial growth was only reproducible for three bacteria. Five fungal isolates were found to have antagonistic effects on...

The use of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts (Praneem) given orally for abrogation of pregnancy in subhuman primates is described. Oral administration of Praneem was initiated after confirmation of pregnancy using Leydig cell bioassay estimating rising levels of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) in the blood from day 25 onwards of the cycle and continued for six days. Termination of pregnancy w...