Efficient micropropagation of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck from cotyledonary explants suitable for the development of commercial variety

In vitro regeneration of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Family: Rutaceae) has been performed via direct and indirect organogenesis. For indirect organogenesis, callus was induced and proliferated from leaf explants derived from in vitro grown seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) alone or in combination with benzyl adenine (BA) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). For direct organogenesis, explants were placed on MS media containing BA alone or in combination of NAA and gibberellic acid (GA3). Well-developed microshoots were treated with different concentrations of NAA for rhizogenesis (a two-step procedure). Different responses to these treatments were recorded depending upon the procedure used. It appears that 4.53 μM 2,4-D in combination with 5.37 μM NAA induced 93.33% callus and proliferate 86.67% of callus into 6.93 shoots per explant. Exogenous addition of 4.44 μM BA in combination with 1.54 μM GA3 enhanced shoot multiplication rate significantly (17.73±1.69 shoots/explant) in comparison to control (0.00±0.00 shoots/explant). Microshoots were rooted best (75.00±14.43%) under the treatment 100μM NAA for 48 hrs. and rooted plantlets were transferred to soil, following acclimatization were taken to maturity in the polyhouse.Keywords: Malta, Himalaya, benzyl adenine (BA), callu

Influence of kinetin on in vitro rooting and survival of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora L.)

A study concerning the influence of cytokinins on shoot regeneration by using different stem segments derived from in vitro raised seedlings and their subsequent rooting was conducted in banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora L.). Cytokinins play an important role in shoot regeneration and their multiplication. In the present study, cytokinins particularly kinetin (Kn) influenced in vitro rooting and subsequent survival of these in vitro raised plants in addition to shoot multiplication. It was found that the microshoots raised via kinetin treatment rooted very well (94.44%) without any basal callus formation in comparison to microshoots raised via other cytokinin treatments (that is, BA and 2-iP). In addition to this, these in vitro raised plants showed maximum survival rate (90%) during hardening process. On the basis of available literature this is a unique and significant study regarding the comparative effect of different cytokinins on in vitro propagation study of Q. leucotrichophora by using different stem segments, particularly the influence of kinetin in vitro rooting and survival of in vitro raised plants in addition to shoot multiplication. This significant study could be useful for large scale production of successfully hardened plants so that it would be helpful in conservation of this important Himalayan forest tree species.Keywords: Quercus leucotrichophora, acclimatization, cytokinins, in vitro rootin

Phytochemicals, mineral contents and antioxidant property of wild edible fruits of Sikkim Himalaya

This study aimed to investigate four wild edible fruits of Sikkim Himalaya viz. Baccaurea sapida, Diploknema butyracea, Machilus edulis and Spondias axillaris for their mineral, phytochemicals (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, flavonoids, lycopene, and total phenolic contents) and antioxidant property. The total phenolic and lycopene contents were found maximum in  S. axillaris subsequently in by M. edulis, D. butyraceae and B. sapida. S. axillaris also showed the highest antioxidant activities and contains significantly higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium and iron. The amount of ascorbic acid was observed highest in D. butyracea, followed by S. axillaris, B. sapida and M. edulis, whereas β-carotene was found to be highest in M. edulis. Results reinforce the promotion of these underutilized wild edible fruits, especially, S. axillaris and M. edulis as natural sources of phytochemicals, minerals and antioxidant compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries.   

Phytochemicals, mineral contents and antioxidant property of wild edible fruits of Sikkim Himalaya

1014-1021This study aimed to investigate four wild edible fruits of Sikkim Himalaya viz., Baccaurea sapida, Diploknema butyracea, Machilus edulis and Spondias axillaris for their mineral content, phytochemicals (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, flavonoids, lycopene and total phenolic contents) and antioxidant property. The total phenolic and lycopene contents were found maximum in S. axillaris subsequently in M. edulis, D. butyraceae and B. sapida. S. axillaris also showed the highest antioxidant activities and contains significantly higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium and iron. The amount of ascorbic acid was observed highest in D. butyracea, followed by S. axillaris, B. sapida and M. edulis, whereas β-carotene was found to be highest in M. edulis. Results reinforce the promotion of these underutilized wild edible fruits, especially, S. axillaris and M. edulis as natural sources of phytochemicals, minerals and antioxidant compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries

Studies on artemisinin, morphotypic and genetic characteristics of seventeen species of Artemisia growing in Indian Himalayan Region

272-279Seventeen species of Artemisia L. growing in the Indian Himalayan region were investigated for artemisinin content, morphological and genetic characters. During the investigation, artemisinin content was found to be in the range of trace to 0.12%. The highest was in A. dracunculus (0.12%) and A. roxburghiana (0.12%). The essential oil content was found in the range of 0.03-1.5%, A. dracunculus showed 1.5% oil (w/v) followed by A. nilagirica (0.6%) and A. maritima (0.6%). The AFLP analysis revealed 25.4% (Hind-ACC & Mse-CAC) to 67.38% (Hind-ACA & Mse-CAG) polymorphism while overall it was 51%. The dendrogram generated from AFLP data classified 8 species in one cluster (I) and 9 in another (II). The important pathway genes (HMGR, ADS and CYP71AV1) showed higher expression in A. dracunculus, A. roxburghiana and A. sieversiana. Based on the chemical analysis, the presence of a high amount of essential oil and artemisinin in A. dracunculus and A. roxburghiana suggested that these could be important medicinal plants for future research