Cellulose is the basic component of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) making it a suitable substrate for bioethanol fermentation. Cellulolytic and ethanologenic bacteria possess cellulases that convert cellulose to glucose, which in turn yields ethanol subsequently. Heterotermes indicola is a subterranean termite that causes destructive damage by consuming wooden structures of infrastructure, LCB products, etc. Prospectively, the study envisioned the screening of cellulolytic and ethanologenic bacteria from the termite gut. Twenty six bacterial strains (H1-H26) based on varied colonial morphologies were isolated. Bacterial cellulolytic activity was tested biochemically. Marked gas production in the form of bubbles (0.1-4 cm) in Durham tubes was observed in H3, H7, H13, H15, H17, H21, and H22. Sugar degradation of all isolates was indicated by pink to maroon color development with the tetrazolium salt. Hallow zones (0.42-11 mm) by Congo red staining was exhibited by all strains except H2, H7, H8, and H19. Among the 26 bacterial isolates, 12 strains were identified as efficient cellulolytic bacteria. CMCase activity and ethanol titer of all isolates varied from 1.30 ± 0.03 (H13) to 1.83 ± 0.01 (H21) umol/mL/min and 2.36 ± 0.01 (H25) to 7.00 ± 0.01 (H21) g/L, respectively. Likewise, isolate H21 exhibited an ethanol yield of 0.40 ± 0.10 g/g with 78.38 ± 2.05% fermentation efficiency. Molecular characterization of four strains, Staphylococcus sp. H13, Acinetobacter baumanni H17, Acinetobacter sp. H21, and Acinetobacter nosocomialis H22, were based on the maximum cellulolytic index and the ethanol yield. H. indicola harbor promising and novel bacteria with a natural cellulolytic tendency for efficient bioconversion of LCB to value-added products. Hence, the selected cellulolytic bacteria can become an excellent addition for use in enzyme purification, composting, and production of biofuel at large.

The aim of the study was to add latest scientific information regarding bee flora through pollen analysis available for honeybees in different districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. A total of 50 honey samples, natural (n=32) and branded (n=18) were collected and examined as per the method recommended by International Honey Commission. Natural honey samples were collected from beekeepers. Pollens of families Poacea (26.5%), Azadirachta spp. (22%), Citrus spp. (17.45%), Pisum spp. (16.41%), Ziziphus spp. (13.99%), Prosopis spp. (13.13%), Brassica spp. (8.57%), Malvacea (8.08%), Syzygium spp. (7.29%), Cassia spp. (6.2%), Acacia spp. (5.17%) and Eucalyptus spp. (4.35%) were common in both branded and fresh honeys. Whereas Morus spp. (8.5%), Moringa spp. (4.46%), Psidium spp. (4.23%), Bombax spp. (1.9%), Mangifera spp. (1.9%) were found in fresh honeys only. Similarly, four different types of Pollens (Melilotus spp. (8.6%), Alfa spp. (6.4%), Benincasa spp. (6.4%) and Halianthus spp. (4.3%)) were detected exclusively in various branded honeys Muqeet (n=4), Sary (n=2), Swat honey, Marhaba (n=3), Youngs (Beehive), Ubqari, Salman (Pak honey) Al-Shifa, Ponam, Langanase and Aftab Qarshi. There was a correlation (r=0.24) between pollens of same taxa and families in branded and fresh honeys. High quality pictures were taken by camera fitted on light microscope.