EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENT IN PALMAROSA (CYMBOPOGON MARTINII)

 Objective: The aim was to examine the responses viz., herbage yield, essential oil content and oil composition to varying levels of gibberellic acid(GA3), kinetin and indole acetic acid (IAA) in Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii).Methods: Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and oils composition was analyzed by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was evaluated by in-vivo assay. Protein content was evaluated by Lowry method.Chlorophyll was estimated by Arnon method.Results: Plant growth was improved by GA3 significantly, and the increase was maximum at 100 ppm concentration in plant height, leaf area, tillernumber and herbage yield. Chlorophyll content, protein content, NR activity and oil content increased in the plants due to GA3 treatment comparedto untreated plants, and the increase was maximum at 100 ppm concentration. Effect of IAA and kinetin was similar to GA3 but maximum effect wasobserved at 50 ppm concentration. Geraniol content of the essential oil of Palmarosa increased due to GA3 and kinetin treatment while percentage ofgeranyl acetate decreased.Conclusion: On a comparative basis, among the three promotional hormones, GA3 was most effective in stimulating growth, essential oil content, leafarea, tiller number and metabolic parameters (protein content, chlorophyll content and NR activity).Keywords: Cymbopogon martinii, Essential oils, Plant growth regulators, Oil compositon.Â

Microbial beta glucosidase enzymes: recent advances in biomass conversation for biofuels application

The biomass to biofuels production process is green, sustainable, and an advanced technique to resolve the current environmental issues generated from fossil fuels. The production of biofuels from biomass is an enzyme mediated process, wherein β-glucosidase (BGL) enzymes play a key role in biomass hydrolysis by producing monomeric sugars from cellulose-based oligosaccharides. However, the production and availability of these enzymes realize their major role to increase the overall production cost of biomass to biofuels production technology. Therefore, the present review is focused on evaluating the production and efficiency of β-glucosidase enzymes in the bioconversion of cellulosic biomass for biofuel production at an industrial scale, providing its mechanism and classification. The application of BGL enzymes in the biomass conversion process has been discussed along with the recent developments and existing issues. Moreover, the production and development of microbial BGL enzymes have been explained in detail, along with the recent advancements made in the field. Finally, current hurdles and future suggestions have been provided for the future developments. This review is likely to set a benchmark in the area of cost effective BGL enzyme production, specifically in the biorefinery area