ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

energy) and Atriplex (shoots for fodder and seed for
oil) for phytoremediation of distillery spent wash was
completed. Phragmites and Arundo having very high
organic matter production may provide organic
substrate (filler) for bio-composting of spent wash a
technology presently considered to be the most
ecofriendly. The plantation of proposed herbaceous
species (surface feeder for moisture and nutrients)
with tree (deep feeder) will not only improve
landscape and its general environment, but it will
also prevent ground water pollution.
Mercury resistant E.coli strains have been isolated
from different mercury polluted sites of India viz
Yamuna river sites I, II, and III, Delhi; Hindon river,
Ghaziabad; Kalu river; Bombay; GTB Hospital,
Delhi; Floodwater, Delhi; Kalindi Kunj, Delhi;
whereas the sample collected from the Dal Lake,
Srinagar, Kashmir, was taken as control. Amplicons
of putative merA genes were purified and cloned into
plant expression vector pB1121. These recombinant
vectors had been screened out by PCR and
restriction digestion for the presence of the putative
merA gene was performed. Construct of mercuric
reductase gene (merA) in plant binary vector was
made and it was mobilized in to Nicotiana tabaccum
callus. It is under selection and screening process.
After transgenics screening, molecular analysis of
transgenics and its field trial studies will be initiated to
utilize the outcomes of this research study. Present
investigation revealed that the seven selected
strains used in the study showed significant level of
tolerance against HgCl of the different E.coli
2
isolates. Dal Lake sample showed maximum
tolerance to HgCl i.e., 55µg/ml, and the sample
2,
collected from Kalu river tolerated the lowest
concentration of HgCl (25µg/ml). The isolated E.coli
2
showed the following order of incidence of mercury
resistance : Dal lake > Kalu River> Flood Water >
Yamuna River > GTB Hospital
IASST, Guwahati assessed physiochemical
characteristics including heavy metals of the soil
near the five Group Gathering Stations (GGSs)
operated by the ONGC Limited for their eventual
remediation and reclamation. It was found that
concentration of trace elements in fruits and
vegetables from contaminated soil were found to be
higher. The degradation was monitored by
gravimetric loss of the crude oil with time. The results
of the study suggest that the degradation was
prominent at pH 7.5.
Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded
Ecosystems, University of Delhi collected data on
functional diversity among rhizosphere bacteria
which was analyzed to understand their ecological
significance in nutrient enrichment and colonization
potential of the host grass species. Bacterial isolates
which produce extremely efficient siderophores for
chelation of iron and trace elements were identified.
Rhizospheres of these grasses harbour a high
proportion of multi-functional bacteria, which need
detail investigation. Lysogeny seems to be one of the
important strategies among rhizosphere bacteria for
their persistence, survival and multiplication in
nutrient-stressed and degraded habitats and in
assisting the host plant for better colonization and
biomass production. Phages form an important
component of rhizosphere bacterial community and
understanding of their role in evolution in structure
and function of rhizobaterial community will lead to
improvement of efficacy of microbial biotechnologies
useful for restoration of stressed and degraded
habitats. Plant growth promoting ability of selected
rhizobacterial isolates using host grass species and
other model plant species is being initiated.
Cleaner Technologies (including Hydrogen
production from waste, desulphurization,
chemicals /value added products from waste
etc.)
Enterobacter cloacae IIT-BT 08, a facultative
anaerobic bacterium has been reported to be a high
yielding strain for biological hydrogen production.
Spent media from dark fermentation by Enterobacter
cloacae strain DM11 is found to have the ability to
photo produce hydrogen by Rhodobacter spheroides
strain O.U 001 in a hybrid reactor system with
maximum conversion efficiency of acetate into
gaseous hydrogen about 81%. In a batch system, the
127 Research and Development