Applied Sciences Session:

Title:            Study of Cyanobacterial Biodiversity in Rice Fields of Central Bihar
Authors:       Pushpanjali Khare, Abha Singh, Chander Prabha, Sushma Kumari
Abstract:      The agroclimatic conditions of Bihar favours the growth of several rice cultivars along with luxuriant cyanobacterial population. This study was done to document the cyanobacterial diversity of central Bihar situated between 10◦ N and 85◦ 32 E. Five soil samples per field per site were collected, pooled and subjected to isolation, characterization and identification of the isolates. Out of the total 19 isolates, 11 were nitrogen fixing forms (Aulosira fertilissima, Nostoc muscorum, Anabaena oryzae, Scytonema mirabile, Gloeotrichia ghosei, Cylindrospermum muscicola, Calothrix fusca, Tolypothrix tenuis, Rivularia sps., Hapalosiphon sps. and Stigonema sps.) and 08 were non-nitrogen fixing forms (Aphanocapsa sps., Aphanothece sps., Gloeocapsa sps. and Gloeothece sps., Oscillatoria sps., Plectonema sps., Phormidium sps. and Lyngbya sps.). Nitrogen fixer were multicellular, filamentals and heterosystous, while non-nitrogen fixers were unicellular, colonial and filamentous forms. High frequency of Aulosira fertilissima, Anabaena oryzae and Nostoc muscorum were isolated from almost all the investigated sites. At the time of harvesting the rice fields were specifically dominated by the Aulosira fertilissima and Cylindrospermum muscicola. The presence of different cyanobacterial forms is correlated with their periodicity supporting the growth and development of rice plants.

Keywords:   Cyanobacteria, Biodiversity, Central Bihar, Nitogen Fixers, Non-Nitogen Fixers, Periodicy, Rice Cultivation
Pages:         626-631

Download Full Paper