Journal of Research and Development

Centre of Research for Development

University of Kashmir

Print ISSN: 0972 - 5407 Online ISSN: 0972 - 5407

Habitat destruction is one of the significant causes of biodiversity loss around the globe. Conservation of wildlife and its habitat thus demands serious attention through robust protected area (PA) network. Efficient management of PAs plays a key role towards achieving this goal. Baltal-Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) located in the Kashmir Himalaya represents one such PA that lacks proper documentation and management of its faunal diversity and habitats. This study presents an overview of the distribution and abundance of wild fauna and livestock in the area. Our results validate the ecological significance of the area in terms of its faunal assemblage and biogeography. Besides documenting seven species of global conservation significance, the study provides the evidence for landscape connectivity and species movement across the adjacent Trans-Himalayan region. We also observed overstocking, livestock depredation, increasing number of permanent Yatri camps, and nomadic human settlements in the area, and evidence of their negative impact on wild ungulate space use. These issues could hinder conservation efforts in the area. The information generated through this study will help preparing an efficient management action plan necessary for the protection, conservation, and management of this unique landscape and its inhabiting rich fauna.

Lactobacillus sakei probio65 is a bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria, capable of inhibiting the growth of microbial pathogens mainly from enterobacteriaceae family. In order to optimize bacteriocin production without the use of Soya peptone in media, as it is found to be an allergen for many people, this study evaluated the effect of MRS-SP enriched culture broths towards Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Optical density measurements were the principle parameter to assess the growth of the p65 in varios formulations. Different yeast extract, amino acid and vitamin mixture concentrations were taken into consideration while optimizing the media. MRS-SP supplemented with 0.4% of amino acid mixture, 0.4% cysteine, 0. 002% vitamin C showed promising results for inhibiting the given pathogens both in CFS and CCB state with average zone of inhibition from 10-13mm by disc diffusion method. pH regulated to 7.0 at inoculation during the use of the amino acids and after 20:00h of incubation at 37 ͦ C, found to be around 4.00 with high anti-pathogenic activity. Lactobacillu. sakei P65 is widely used in South Korea, Japan and China in biopharmaceutical and dairy industry, in order to specifically detect it within mixed strains. By whole genome sequencing four novel genes were identified and a specific primer is designed for one of them

Biofilms are the consortium of microorganisms encased within the slimy sheath of Extracellular Polymeric Substance. These are rampant in nature, comprising a pivotal strategy used by microbes to endure severe environmental conditions. The microorganisms inhabiting the biofilms display a stratified structure, in which the role of every species is fixed and pre-determined as per the environmental suitability and synchronization. The role of quorum sensing in facilitating the communication processes in biofilms in magnificent. Biofilms can have positive impacts as well as negative repercussions, particularly with respect to industrial setting or on medical devices. In recent years, the role of biofilms in bioremediation has been realized and its potential for bioremediation is enormous and magnificent with respect to water, soil and air. The only pre-requisite for optimising such things is that the complete microbial profile, architecture and kinetics of biofilms should be known. The role of biofilms in bioremediation has attracted the role of microbiologists towards this field because of its widespread application in environment, industry and health.

The expansion of trout culture in Kashmir valley has a significant scope and this goal can be achieved by maintaining healthy brood stock, developing artificial feed with high nutritive value and by prevention and control of various diseases. The reproductive biology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) kept in captivity at Laribal hatchery, Dachigam National park, Jammu and Kashmir was studied from February 2018 to March 2019. This study aims to illustrate gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices and to correlate them with different phases of gonadal development. The ovary and liver samples were taken and were weighed for estimation of GSI and HSI. The maximum gonadosomatic index (12.33 ± 1.04%) and minimum hepatosomatic index (0.82 ± 0.08%) were observed in January, indicating that December- February was the peak spawning period for rainbow trout. It was also observed that June-August was the growing/ immature phase, September-November was the developing phase, December- February was the spawning phase and March-May was the post-spawning phase.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a significant innovation that bolsters regular public activity and monetary movement. It contributes essentially to the reasonable development of the nation's economy and takes care of different social issues. Lately, AI has stands out as the way to development in created nations, for example, Europe and the United States just as creating nations for example, China and India. This emphasis is for the most part on the advancement of new data innovation (Information Communication Technology). what's more, mechanical innovation (Robotic Technology). Albeit recently created AI innovations are at the front line of extricating explicit examples, they do exist numerous confinements. Numerous ICT models depend vigorously on enormous information, have no self-idea work, and are perplexing. New innovation, as corporate organizations and Deep learning, develop. Right now, concentrate all the more comprehensively the scope of the field of computerized reasoning, its assets that feature its figuring power, its brilliant gadgets, and future advancements. On the splendid side, this paper illuminates the terrible impacts of man-made consciousness.

Among natural bio-agents, the potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) which solubilize fixed forms of K by various mechanisms including acidolysis, exchange reactions, complexolysis and production of organic acids and make potassium (K) available to plants. In this study bacterial isolates were obtained on modified Aleksandrov medium containing mica powder as potassium source. From the 25 bacterial isolates, isolated from rhizospheric region of Pinus (Pinus wallichiana) south kashmir, india , 7 bacterial strains (KSB3, KSB8, KSB9, KSB13, KSB18, KSB24 and KSB25) were selected which exhibiting highest potassium solubilization on solid medium and characterized on the basis of cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics.

The present experiment was aimed at the ecofriendly management of Pieris brassicae. Total of five Neem based insecticide were evaluated against various behavioral parameters of Pieris brassicae at KVK-Kargil Zanskar during 2019 to 2020. Neem based products such as Organeem (5000ppm @1-2 ml/liter), Neem oil (0.25% EC @ 20 mg azadirachtin/liter), Astha killer (1000ppm @1ml/liter), killer 15(1000ppm @1ml/liter)and killer 30 (1000ppm @1ml/liter) were evaluated at standard field rates for oviposition deterrence, feeding inhibition, larval mortality and adult movement. Standard concentrations were tested under filed and laboratory conditions against P. brassicae starting from first larval egglaying till adult. Significant (P < 0.01) differences were recorded in oviposition deterrence and mortality on both treated and untreated control under both experiments. Conducting Chi-square test thecumulative larval feedingwas found significant.The egg count per leaf oviposited was lower in treated plants compared to untreated, and asignificant differences were detected among the neem insecticides. Feeding inhibition and larval mortality were significantly at 1st instar stage. Similarly, the treated plants showed deterrence to larval feeding and larvae dropped from the leaf, resulting in minimal damage. Larval survivals were reduced significantly under treated plots compared to control.Effects of pesticides on adult movements were recorded in open field conditions immediately after treatments and variation were noted. Taking this into account we concluded that all neem-based biopesticides have considerable effect on many behavioral characteristics of P.brassicae under cold arid conditions of Ladakh.

The high gradient rivers of Himalaya are the most vital source of water supply in one hand and cause of flooding on the other hand in the Himalayan provinces of India, with recent examples being Kashmir and Assam floods. Therefore, in order to understand the dynamics of the Mawar basin, the whole basin has been sub-divided into 22 sub-watersheds and consequently 28 morphometric parameters have been calculated under the four main categories: drainage network, basin geometry, drainage texture and relief characteristics. The numerous morphometric characteristics have been correlated with one another in order to better understand their underlying link and control over the hydrogeomorphology of the basin. The findings show that the area is well drained by first and second order streams, with the highest drainage area, resulting in a difficult topography with deep incised valleys. High run-offs are generated by the high and steep relief rivers, moderate to high permeability of the surface is generally in circular sub watersheds with a high circularity ratio. Sub watersheds with these parameters infer these are vulnerable to flooding, soil erosion, and debris flow. Due to increased erosion and slope characteristics, fourth and fifth order streams flowing along local fault zones may cause landslides. Furthermore, as the incision of streams along the week Karewa and fractured fault zones increases, the silt load of the streams increases, potentially triggering flash floods. Tectono-morphic landforms created along the Mawar River are influenced by abrupt topographic discontinuities along the river's 6th order stream profile at various locations. The importance of examining the morphometric features of the Mawar basin is that it will assist future watershed and hazard management studies. The region is subject to regular flash floods and landslides due to the steep topography. Hence, such type of studies will provide knowledge and database for decision making for strategic planning and delineation of prioritized hazard management zones.