PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF Aerva lanata, Adathoda vasica, Pisonia alba, Sesbania grandiflora AND Indigofera aspalathoides

The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of various phytochemicals from ethanol, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform extracts of Aerva lanata (whole plant), leaves of Adathoda vasica, Pisonia alba, Sesbania grandiflora and Indigofera aspalathoides. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, resins, carbohydrates and proteins. The whole plant of A. lanata showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, carbohydrates and proteins. Flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, resins, carbohydrates and proteins are found in the leaves of Adathoda vasica. Flavonoids, glycosides and resins were found in the leaves of Pisonia alba. No phytochemical constituents were found in the chloroform extract of Pisonia alba leaves. Ethanol and methanol leaf extracts from Sesbania grandiflora and methanol leaf extract from Indigofera aspalathoides indicated that they contained most of the phytochemical compounds. The different extracts of plants have clearly indicated the presence of all the major phytochemicals, hence these plants can be used for the extraction of bioactive compounds

Biolistic DNA delivery and its applications in Sorghum bicolor

Biolistic DNA delivery has been considered a universal tool for genetic manipulation to transfer exotic genes to cells or tissues due to its simplicity, versatility, and high efficiency. It has been a preferred method for investigating plant gene function in most monocot crops. The first transgenic sorghum plants were successfully regenerated through biolistic DNA delivery in 1993, with a relatively low transformation efficiency of 0.3%. Since then, tremendous progress has been made in recent years where the highest transformation efficiency was reported at 46.6%. Overall, the successful biolistic DNA delivery system is credited to three fundamental cornerstones: robust tissue culture system, effective gene expression in sorghum, and optimal parameters of DNA delivery. In this chapter, the history, application, and current development of biolistic DNA delivery in sorghum are reviewed, and the prospect of sorghum genetic engineering is discussed