Latest Science News
Scientists isolate fungi that can boost plant growth even under less water conditions
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By S Suresh Ramanan
Scientists at the Bharathiar University, engaged in studying the ecology of soil microbes that colonize plant roots, have isolated a fungus that can enhance plant growth even in water deficit conditions.
Numerous types of soil microbes colonize plant roots. Among them, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) are predominant and they are well-known for mobilizing soil nutrients, particularly phosphorous. Of many of soil microorganisms that are found associated with the plant roots, some may be disease-causing pathogens too. Sometimes two groups of soil microorganisms can be found in the same plant roots.
Researchers examined this phenomenon in the roots of tomato plants that hosts both Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and a dark septate endophytic fungus.
Endophytic fungi live inside the plant tissue symbiotically. The researchers have identified this endophytic fungus as Nectriahaematococca. The melanin pigment produced by the fungus gives its characteristic dark colour and hence it is called Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi.
The researchers cultured this fungus in the lab and subsequently assessed its role in promoting plant growth in water deficit conditions. They maintained two sets of potted tomato plants, one set treated with fungus inoculum and another set without any treatment. They used field soil as such in the experiment, so as to ensure that native soil microorganisms can still colonize the plants. They induced water deficit condition by restricted watering to the plants.
After eight weeks, the team measured the plant height, stem thickness, leaf area, biomass and proline content. The level of proline content directly corresponds to the abiotic stress tolerance level. The team recorded better growth parameters and higher proline concentration in the potted tomato plants treated with N. haematococcaculture. Simultaneously, they examined the roots under microscope, which revealed that colonization of dark septate endophytic fungi did not inhibit native arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. Scientists believe that secondary metabolite production in plants due to endophytic fungi colonization did promote plant growth.
Speaking on the scope of taking this research output to the field, Dr T. Muthukumar says “we have done preliminary studies on development of user-friendly carrier-based formulations ready for use in fields. This would benefit 29% of non-mycorrhizal vascular plant species which includes a large number of crops in the cabbage family. We are working on a bioformulation involving elite fungal strains that could be used for a wide range of crop and forestry species”.
Both arbuscular mycorrhiza and dark septate endophytic fungi occupy the same niche within the roots, although arbuscular mycorrhiza is more abundant than endophytic fungi in roots of tropical plant species. Nevertheless, dark septate endophytic fungi have certain advantages in addition to the production of phytohormones. Researchers believe dark septate endophytic fungi may act as a backup system to help plants under conditions where AM fungi may be nonfunctional.
The research findings have been published in Indian Journal of Microbiology and the team included PiramanagayamPremaSundaraValli and Dr T. Muthukumar from the Root and Soil Biology Lab ofBharathiar University, Coimbatore. (India Science Wire)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Chandrayaan-3: ISRO postpones plans to reactivate Vikram Lander, Pragyan Rover on September 23
After Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon on August 24, both Vikram and Pragyan functioned effectively for a duration of 14 Earth days. The Rover was put on sleep mode on September 2, while the Lander was on September 4.
The Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday postponed the plans to reactivate Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover to September 23.
After Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon on August 24, both Vikram and Pragyan functioned effectively for a duration of 14 Earth days. The Rover was put on sleep mode on September 2, while the Lander was on September 4.
They were put on sleep mode for approximately 16 Earth days before the lunar night enveloped the south pole of the Moon.
Speaking on Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover, Nilesh Desai, Director of Space Application Centre said that earlier we planned to reactivate the Pragyan Rover and Vikram Lander on the evening of September 22, but due to some reasons we will do it on September 23, said Desai.
He further said a plan to take out the Lander and Rover from the sleep mode and reactivate it, adding that, we had a plan to move the Rover to almost 300 to 350 metres but due to some reasons, the Rover has moved 105 metres there.
In collaboration with MyGov, ISRO has invited the citizens to participate in the Chandrayaan-3 Mahaquiz. The step was taken with the motive to honour India’s amazing space exploration journey. This will help to explore the wonders of the moon and show our love and passion for science.
In order to participate in the Chandrayaan-3 Mahaquiz, the participants would be required to create an account on the MyGov website. There is a cash prize for the winners and it also allows individuals to download the certificate.
Earlier, the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard the Pragyan rover also detected aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen, as expected.
ISRO also shared a graph of the observation on X, illustrating the temperature variation of the lunar surface at various depths, as recorded during the probe’s penetration.
India News
Aditya L1 successfully undergoes 4th earth-bound manoeuvre: ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organisation said that the Aditya L1 spacecraft successfully underwent the fourth earth-bound manoeuvre on Friday.
The Indian Space Research Organisation said that the Aditya L1 spacecraft successfully underwent the fourth earth-bound manoeuvre on Friday. This is India’s first space-based mission to study the Sun.
ISRO took to X, formerly Twitter and informed that the fourth earth-bound manoeuvre (EBN4) was performed successfully. ISRO’s ground stations at Mauritius, Bengaluru, SDSC-SHAR and Port Blair tracked the satellite during this operation, while a transportable terminal currently stationed in the Fiji islands for Aditya-L1 will support post-burn operations, the Indian space agency added.
ISRO further said that the new orbit attained is 256 km x 121973 km. The next manoeuvre Trans-Lagragean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I), a send-off from the Earth is scheduled for September 19, around 02:00 Hrs. IST, it added.
ISRO’s Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space-based mission, that will study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1). This is located approximately 1.5 million km from the planet Earth.
Earlier, all three earth-bound manoeuvres were successfully performed in September month.
During the spacecraft’s 16-day journey around the Earth, the manoeuvres were performed. During this time, the spacecraft will gain the necessary velocity for its further journey to L1.
After completing the fourth earth-bound orbital manoeuvres, the ISRO’s Aditya L1 solar mission will further undergo a Trans-lagrangian1 insertion manoeuvre. This will mark the beginning of its nearly 110-day trajectory to the destination around the L1 Lagrange point.
Another manoeuvre to bind Aditya L1 to an orbit near L1 after arrival at L1 point. This is to be a balanced gravitational location between the Sun and the Earth.
Around L1, the satellite will spend its whole mission life in an irregularly shaped orbit in a plane roughly perpendicular to the line joining the Sun and the Earth.
On September 2, the Aditya L1 spacecraft was successfully launched by ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) from the Second Launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
The Aditya L1 was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235×19500 km around the Earth after a flight duration of 1 hour 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
Latest Science News
Aditya L1 successfully undergoes third earth-bound manoeuvre, fourth to take place on September 15: ISRO
India’s first solar mission, the Aditya L1 spacecraft, successfully underwent its third earth-bound orbit raising manoeuvre on Sunday, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.
India’s first solar mission, the Aditya L1 spacecraft, successfully underwent its third earth-bound orbit raising manoeuvre on Sunday, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.
The Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru oversaw the orbit-raising manoeuvre, with Mauritius, Bengaluru, and Port Blair ground stations tracking the satellite during the critical operation. India’s first solar mission is now one step closer to its ultimate destination after this successful manoeuvre, with the satellite’s new orbit at 296 km x 71767 km.
ISRO shared this picture on its official Instagram page.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the next manoeuvre for September 15 at around 2 am. The mission to study the sun, which is part of ISRO’s ambitious plans, was launched successfully on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft has already completed two orbital manoeuvres around the Earth and is set to perform one more before being placed in transfer orbit towards the Lagrange point L1. It is expected to reach its destination after 125 days. Earlier, the Aditya-L1 satellite shared a breathtaking image of the Earth and the Moon.
The spacecraft will observe the Sun from the Lagrange point 1 or L-1 point, which is located 1.5 million km away from the Earth. ISRO states that a spacecraft placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point can continuously view the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. This provides a significant advantage in observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real time.
The mission aims to study various aspects of the sun, such as the physics of the solar corona and how it is heated, the acceleration of solar wind, the coupling and dynamics of the solar atmosphere, the temperature anisotropy and distribution of solar wind, and the causes of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and flares, as well as near-earth space weather.
The successful launch of the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, carried by the PSLV rocket, is a remarkable achievement for ISRO, which is one of the leading space agencies in the world. Prior to the sun mission, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-landed near the south pole of the moon, making India the first country to achieve this feat in that region and the fourth on the moon’s surface.
