SCREENING AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BACILLUS SP PR01 FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PROTEASE ENZYME
The current study was attempted to isolate and characterize the protease producing Bacillus sp. Among the 3 strains isolated from soil sample collected f rom kuppam region, Chennai, India. One strain (PR01) exhibited potent proteolytic activity. Based on the morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization, the isolate (PR01) was identified as Bacillus sp. The strain was designated as Bacillus sp P R01. The maximum growth of Bacillus sp PR01was observed at pH 7. The optimum temperature for the growth of Bacillus sp PR01 was found to be 27 ° C an d incubation time for 2 days. The maximum growth was noted when yeast extract was used as a nitrogen source a nd dextrose was used as the carbon source. The production of enzyme Bacillus sp PR01 was carried out in production medium. The t otal protein concentration was determined and the specific activity was also performed by casein hydrolysis assay.
Protease production by Brevundimonas sp. and Trabulsiella guamensis isolated from contaminated soil
Microorganisms have ability to produce protease enzyme which predominates 40% of the international enzyme market. In present study, three strains of protease producing bacteria were isolated from soil using Gelatin agar media and named as G9, R8 and R5. The isolates were identified as Brevundimonas sp. (R8) and Trabulsiella guamensis (G9 and R5) according to morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. The maximum protease production was found to be at 37 °C and pH 7. These proteases are very stable in the presence of commercial detergents that indicates the promising usage in detergent industry. Maximum protease yield (94%) was found when wheat bran was used as the sole carbon source. All selected bacterial strains showed maximum protease production with 2% Inoculum concentration. These rarely reported protease producers Brevundimonas sp. and T. guamensis can be suitable candidates for detergent industry and biotechnological applications.
The infection process, sporulation and survival of Alternaria helianthi on sunflower
SUMMARY 
 
Electron microscopy was used to study the infection of sunflower leaves by Alternaria helianthi. Conidia germinated by producing one to many germ tubes which grew across the leaf surface before forming appressoria. The fungus directly penetrated its host through the cuticle and epidermis. Entry into the host through wounds and stomates was also observed. Extracellular sheaths were found to be associated with germ tubes and intercellular hyphae of A. helianthi. Conidiophores developed through collapsed stomates, from leaf veins, trichomes and also from mycelium growing across the host leaf surface. Microcylic conidia were produced directly from parent conidia under certain conditions. Studies using a volumetric spore trap showed that the airborne spore concentration followed a distinct periodicity with peaks occurring between 0900 and 1100 h each day. Laboratory studies showed that safflower, noogoora burr and bathurst burr could serve as alternative hosts for A. helianthi. The pathogen was readily isolated from sunflower crop debris from a diseased crop that had been harvested 1 yr earlier.