March 2026 Volume 12 Issue 1

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

Assessment of Heat Stress Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Using Pollen Viability and Germination Test

Nandini Singh and Abhilasha Gautam

  • Pages: 1-8
    • <p>Heat stress constitutes a key abiotic stress affecting Wheat productivity in light of climate change at present. The high temperatures prevailing during the critical phases of plant development such as anthesis and grain fill phase negatively impact pollen fertility and grain fill. Consequently, yield is reduced due to impaired fertilization. Hence, it is crucial to identify heat-tolerant wheat genotypes. The different screening procedures that can be used include pollen viability test and pollen germination test, which have been found to be relatively fast and accurate in assessing heat resistance at the reproductive stage. The pollen viability test is conducted using the differential staining procedure in determining the physiological condition of the pollen grain, while the pollen germination test determines the capacity of the pollen grain to form a pollen tube. This review will be centered on the effects of heat stress on the physiology of wheat plant focusing on its pollen biology. Specifically, the basic concepts and procedures involved as well as the importance of using pollen screens in crop breeding programs will be highlighted together with its strengths and weaknesses. In recent years, pollen-based screening techniques have received substantial attention owing to their simplicity, sensitivity, and efficiency. Viability tests of pollen grains, usually based on staining methods, including acetocarmine and TTC staining, give rapid insights into pollen quality and metabolism. On the other hand, pollen germination tests represent a functional approach that measures the potential of pollen grains to germinate and produce pollen tubes in controlled environments.</p>

CRISPR-Based Technologies in Diagnostics and Cancer Research: Advances, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Komal Kumari and Avantika Dwivedi

  • Pages: 1-9
    • <p>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has revolutionized molecular biology, enabling precise genome editing and highly sensitive diagnostic applications. This review integrates recent advances in CRISPR-based diagnostics and gene editing, particularly focusing on point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and cancer research. CRISPR-Cas systems such as Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13 have demonstrated exceptional potential in detecting infectious and non-infectious diseases with high specificity and sensitivity. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing has emerged as a powerful tool in cancer research for understanding tumorigenesis, identifying therapeutic targets, and overcoming drug resistance. This review highlights current developments, applications, and future directions of CRISPR technology in diagnostics and oncology.</p>

Development Analysis & Enhancement of Eco-Friendly Plastic Derived From Potato Starch

Tanya Srivastava, Samakshi Verma

  • Pages: 1-10
    • <p>Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant global environmental issue due to the widespread use of nonbiodegradable plastics made from petroleum in sectors such as packaging, agriculture, healthcare, and industry. Traditional plastics can remain in ecosystems for hundreds of years, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, the buildup of microplastics, and negative impacts on both human and animal health. To address these issues, biodegradable plastics made from renewable resources have been developed as sustainable alternatives. Among these, starch-based bioplastics, especially those made from potato starch, have attracted considerable interest due to their biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, abundance, and environmentally friendly characteristics. This review paper examines the environmental impact of traditional plastics, the development and importance of biodegradable polymers, and the use of starch as a viable raw material for producing bioplastics. The study delves into the physicochemical characteristics of potato starch, techniques for creating thermoplastic starch, and the role of plasticizers like glycerol. It also explores recent progress in enhancing mechanical strength, water resistance, and industrial use. Furthermore, it discusses the biodegradation processes, practical uses, challenges, and future outlook of starch based biodegradable plastics.</p>

Automation & Smart Culture Media in Microbiology

Mahak Kushwaha, Samakshi Verma

  • Pages: 1-9
    • <p>Automation and the advent of intelligent culture media have revolutionized contemporary microbiology by boosting the efficiency, precision, and dependability of detecting and identifying microbes. Traditional microbiological methods, which depend largely on manual processes and subjective analysis, are being increasingly supplanted by automated systems that reduce human error and enhance consistency. Sophisticated technologies like the VITEK 2 system facilitate swift identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing through integrated databases and optical detection methods. Simultaneously, the advent of smart culture media, such as chromogenic, fluorogenic, and biosensor-based types, enables the immediate and direct observation of microbial growth and metabolic processes. These media employ specific substrates that interact with microbial enzymes to generate distinct color changes or signals, allowing for fast and precise identification. Recent advancements also involve the integration of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and IoT-based monitoring systems, which further boost automation and allow for real-time data analysis.</p>

Fermentative Conversion of Fruit and Vegetable Waste into Bioethanol through Microbial Fermentation

1Bhagya Laxmi and 1Shraddha Sahu*

  • Pages: 1-9
    • <p>Waste fruits and vegetables are a problem for the environment and require recycling. Waste biomass feedstock is a source of renewable energy resources and an amount of energy production potential and the 10-15 % energy required from global demands and solved from the issue of fuel scarcity, fossil fuel exhaustion, and greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as a renewable bio-energy is very importance in recent years for a greener earth and global matter against world air pollution. Simple, complexity and highest Carbohydrate are content of fruits and vegetables residues, these also are sugar, which may be used as fresh material, as raw for producing of bioethanol through microbial culture. 80 % bioethanol in recent studies are obtained from the food stock sugar, starch in compared to lignocellulosic material more interest is generated. It is the purpose of the study to explain levels of the fermentation and pretreatment process, involved in fruits and vegetables biomass, and conditions which influence microbial culture and ethanol yield.</p>
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