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Wednesday 31 August 2016

Water-repellent coatings prepared by modification of ZnO nanoparticles

Published Date
August 2012, Vol.94:352356doi:10.1016/j.saa.2012.03.079
Short communication

Title 

Water-repellent coatings prepared by modification of ZnO nanoparticles

  • Author 
  • R.P.S. Chakradhar ,,
  • V. Dinesh Kumar
  • Surface Engineering Division, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore 560017, India

Abstract 

Superhydrophobic coatings with a static water contact angle (WCA) > 150° were prepared by modifying ZnO nanoparticles with stearic acid (ZnO@SA). ZnO nanoparticles of size ∼14 nm were prepared by solution combustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal that as prepared ZnO has hexagonal wurtzite structure whereas the modified coatings convert to zinc stearate. Field emission scanning electron micrographs (FE-SEM) show the dual morphology of the coatings exhibiting both particles and flakes. The flakes are highly fluffy in nature with voids and nanopores. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrum shows the stearate ion co-ordinates with Zn2+ in the bidentate form. The surface properties such as surface free energy (γp) and work of adhesion (W) of the unmodified and modified ZnO coatings have been evaluated. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy reveals that surface defects play a major role in the wetting behavior.

Graphical abstract 

FE-SEM micrographs of superhydrophobic ZnO@SA coating with different magnification (a) 4k×, (b) magnified view of (zone A) 20k×, (c) magnified view of (zone B) 20k× and (d) 25k×.

Highlights

► Water repellent coatings were prepared by modifying ZnO nanoparticles. ► Surface properties of the coatings were evaluated. ► EPR spectroscopy reveals that surface defects play a major role in wetting behavior.

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 Table 1
Table 1.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386142512003216

Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extract–assisted biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity

Published Date
March 2015, Vol.41(2):24922496doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.10.069

Title 

Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extract–assisted biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity

  • Author 
  • Li Fu a,b,,
  • Zhuxian Fu b
  • aInstitute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Botanical Garden, Mem. Sun Yat-Sen, Nanjing 210014 P. R. China
  • bGolden Yuanta Construction Engineering Co., Ltd, Zhejiang 311200, China

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  • ⁎ 
    Corresponding author at: Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Botanical Garden, Mem. Sun Yat-Sen, Nanjing 210014 P. R. China.


For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272884214015946

Genetic variability and recombination analysis of the coat protein gene of Strawberry mild yellow edge virus

Published Date
Volume 45, Issue 4, pp 401–409


Title 

Genetic variability and recombination analysis of the coat protein gene of Strawberry mild yellow edge virus

  • Author 
  • A. K. Torrico
  • M. G. Celli
  • E. E. Cafrune
  • D. S. Kirschbaum
Original Paper
DOI: 10.1007/s13313-016-0426-3


Cite this article as: 
Torrico, A.K., Celli, M.G., Cafrune, E.E. et al. Australasian Plant Pathol. (2016) 45: 401. doi:10.1007/s13313-016-0426-3

Abstract

Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV) has been detected in most of the strawberry production regions worldwide. However, little is known about differences between distinct isolates. The aim of this study was to enhance the knowledge about the genetic variability of different SMYEV isolates, exploring the phylogenetic relationships and assessing recombinant events among them. The coat protein (CP) gene of 12 Argentinian SMYEV isolates was sequenced. There were 729 nucleotides (nt) in all of the isolates, encoding a protein of 242 amino acids (aa). Argentina isolates shared 81.5–99.6 % nucleotide identity. The comparison of these isolates with 30 SMYEV sequences from other countries published in the GenBank, revealed an identity ranging from 81.6 to 99 %. The phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of four possible subgroups, with the Argentinian isolates being included in all of them. Recombination analysis indicated that 16–2 (KP 284155) Argentinian and AJ577342 Chilean isolates are recombinant and that they are a result of recombination events where parts of the genome were exchanged between different SMYEV sequences.

References







For further details log on website :
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13313-016-0426-3

An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia

Published Date
Volume 45, Issue 4, pp 377–387

Title 

An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia




Original Paper
DOI: 10.1007/s13313-016-0424-5

Cite this article as: 
Le, D.P., Smith, M.K. & Aitken, E.A.B. Australasian Plant Pathol. (2016) 45: 377. doi:10.1007/s13313-016-0424-5

Abstract

In Australia, Pythium soft rot (PSR) outbreaks caused by P. myriotylum were reported in 2009 and since then this disease has remained as a major concern for the ginger industry. From 2012 to 2015, a number of Pythium spp. were isolated from ginger rhizomes and soil from farms affected by PSR disease and assessed for their pathogenicity on ginger. In this study, 11 distinct Pythium spp. were recovered from ginger farms in Queensland, Australia and species identification and confirmation were based on morphology, growth rate and ITS sequences. These Pythium spp. when tested showed different levels of aggressiveness on excised ginger rhizome. P. aphanidemartumP. delienseP. myriotylumP. splendensP. spinosum and P. ultimum were the most pathogenic when assessed in vitro on an array of plant species. However, P. myriotylum was the only pathogen, which was capable of inducing PSR symptoms on ginger at a temperature range from 20 to 35 °C. Whereas, P. aphanidermatum only attacked and induced PSR on ginger at 30 to 35 °C in pot trials. This is the first report of P. aphanidermatum inducing PSR of ginger in Australia at high temperatures. Only P. oligandrum and P. perplexum, which had been recovered only from soils and not plant tissue, appeared non-pathogenic in all assays.

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For further details log on website :
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13313-016-0424-5

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