Ascorbic Acid Heterosis in Chili Peppers (Capisucm L.)

Chili pepper is the most important world wide grown and consumed spice and vegetable crop because of its colour, taste, pungency, flavour and aroma. The nutritive value of chili pepper is largely determined by ascorbic acid content. The fruits at five ripening stages viz. M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 from 18 parents and 40 F1 hybrids were analyzed for ascorbic acid content and per cent heterosis over mid and better parents. Among the parents and hybrids CA2 (208.0±0.68(M1), 231.0±0.66(M2), 280.0±0.31(M3), 253.0±0.34(M4) and 173.7±0.27(M5)) and H37 (211.0±0.45(M1), 248.6±0.32(M2), 298.0±0.35(M3), 272.3±0.70(M4) and 188.0±0.17(M5)) showed higher ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) FW. Hybrid H27 (CA25XCA10) manifested highest per cent heterosis over mid parent (92.34%) and better parent (79.32%) respectively. The results revealed that ascorbic acid content increased from green to red while, decreased in red partially dried and red fully dried fruits. Crosses H37, H27, H25, H26, H36, H35 and H31 were best for ascorbic acid content and per cent heterosis over mid and better parents could be suggested for further evaluation programmes to develop chili pepper varieties with good nutritive values

In vitro plant regeneration from leaf explants of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal (Ashwaganda) - an important medicinal plant

Withania somnifera (L) Dunal (Ashwaganda) is a Solanaceous herb having numerous medicinal values widely used in traditional Ayurvedic drug preparations. An efficient protocol for in vitro plant regeneration via direct adventitious shoot proliferation from leaf explants of Ashwaganda is developed. MS medium containing 1.5mg/l BAP and 1.5mg/l IAA was found to be the best medium for maximum in vitro response i.e., 100(% shooting) and 68(shoots/explant). An improved in vitro shoot bud elongation and rooting was achieved on MS medium fortified with 0.15mg/l GA3 and 5mg/l IBA  respectively. Rooted plants were hardened and transplanted in earthen pots and were showed 80-90% survival during transplantation

Cytogenetic studies of F1 Hybrid Capsicum annuum L. x Capsicum chacoense (Hunz).

            Interspecific F1 hybrid between Capsicum annuum var. cerasiformis (cultivated) and Capsicum chacoense Hunz. (wild) was obtained. The F1 hybrid resembled C. chacoense parent more in gross morphological features such as growth habit, leaf structure and position, shape and size of the fruit. The mean chiasma frequency in the F1 hybrid was less compared to either of the parents indicating reduced homologies between the parental taxa. The meiotic studies further revealed that the two parents involved in the cross differed from each other by two translocations, an inversion and some minor structural alterations. The hybrid was weak and highly sterile (pollen and seed). Isolating mechanisms such as hybrid weakness and hybrid sterile on operative among the parental taxa

SDS-Page Seed Storage Protein Profiles in Chili Peppers (Capsicum L.)

Seed protein banding patterns (SDS-PAGE) were studied from eighteen genotypes of chili pepper (Capsicum L). A total of 21 protein polypeptide bands with molecular weight ranging from 18.6 to 72.0 kD were recorded. Among the genotypes �CA18�, �CA21� and �CA27� represented maximum number of protein bands (12). Band no. (11) and (5,12) are exclusive to C. annuum L. and C. frutescens L. genotypes respectively. Average percent similarity was highest (100%) between �CA2� and �CA8� genotypes and the UPGMA dendrogram represented low genetic diversity. The study revealed that considerable intra and inter-specific differences were found in the genotypes. The variability of protein profiles in the genotypes suggested that these selected genotypes can be a good source for crop improvement through hybridization programs

Tree diversity, stand structure, and community composition of tropical forests in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

Species diversity and density of trees were assessed in four 1-ha plots (at 457–925 m in elevation) in the Eastern Ghats of the Andhra Pradesh region comprising mostly of tropical deciduous forests based on a census of all trees with girth at breast height ≥ 15cm. We compared tree community characteristics like stem density, basal area, diversity, and species composition of four plots using a tree dataset of eight belt transects (5 m×1000 m) in the study area. A total of 2,227 individuals of 44 families, 98 genera, and 129 species were recorded. Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Anacardiaceae, showed the greatest importance value index. It was noticed that the most species were contributed by Euphorbiaceae and the tree density varied from 435 ha–1 to 767 ha–1 with an average basal area of 25.82 m2/ha. Shannon–Weiner index (H') ranged from 3.76 to 3.96, the Simpson index ranged from 0.96 to 0.97, evenness index ranged from 0.60 to 0.78, and species richness index ranged from 10.04 to 11.24. At present the biodiversity of these forests are under threat due to the anthropogenic and upcoming mining activities. The present study will help us to understand the patterns of tree species composition and diversity in the Eastern Ghats of India

Ascorbic Acid Contents in Chili Peppers (Capsicum L.)

The genus Capsicum commonly known as chili pepper is a major spice crop and is almost cosmopolitan in distribution. The nutritive value of chili pepper is largely determined by ascorbic acid content. The fruits at five ripening stages viz., (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5) from seventeen cultivars of Capsicum annuum L and one cultivar of Capsicum frutescens L were analyzed for ascorbic acid content. Among eighteen genotypes the C. annuum var. IC: 119262(CA2) showed higher ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) FW i.e., 208.00.68 (M1), 231.00.66 (M2), 280.00.31 (M3), 253.00.34 (M4) and 173.70.27 (M5). The study revealed that the gradual increase in ascorbic acid content from green to red and subsequently declined in the lateral stages (red partially dried and red fully dried fruits). The variability of ascorbic acid content in the genotypes suggests that these selected genotypes may be use full as parents in hybridization programs to produce fruits with good nutritional values

Litsea glutinosa (Lauraceae): Evaluation of its Foliar Phytochemical Constituents for Antimicrobial Activity

The phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Litsea glutinosa revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, volatile compounds, amino acids and carbohiydrates. The antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibition concentration values were determined for these phytochemical constituents as crude extracts using the agar well diffusion and two-fold serial dilution methods. The results indicated that Bacillus subtilis was the most susceptible bacterium with high inhibition zones for the methanol and chloroform extracts of 31 mm and 26 mm, respectively. The MIC values indicated that extracts possess good antimicrobial activity with significant MIC value against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pneumoniae at 31.2 µg/ml concentrations. The extracts showed marked antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi. Among the bacterial strains, gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than the gram-negative. All the 13 microorganisms tested showed dose dependent susceptibility towards the phytochemicals present in the foliar extracts. The study suggests that Litsea glutinosa leaves possess potent antimicrobial activity and can be a good source for the development of new antibiotics

<i>Bridelia retusa</i> (L.) Spreng. Fruits: Antimicrobial Efficiency and their Phytochemical Constituents

Antimicrobial analysis of hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Bridelia retusa fruits was performed by agar well method and minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by serial two-fold dilution method. Seven human pathogenic bacteria species including Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and three fungal species were used in the study and the results indicated that the Gram positive bacteria and fungi were more sensitive than the Gram negative bacteria, to both solvent and aqueous Bridelia retusa fruit extracts. Moreover, Enterococcus faecalis was found as the most sensitive bacteria, whereas Proteus vulgaris and Aspergillu niger were the most resistant to the tested extracts. Phytochemical analysis of fruits revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloid, saponins and terpenoids, which have been implicated in antimicrobial activities. Hence, it would be recommended to explore the maximum potential of Bridelia retusa in the medicinal and pharmaceutical field and investigation are endorsed for further application useful in phytomedicine

In Vitro Shoot Bud Differentiation from Hypocotyl Explants of Chili Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important spice crop in tropical and subtropical countries. In vitro plant regeneration was obtained from 15th day old hypocotyl explants of three chili pepper cultivars (Capsicum annuum L., var. �X-235�, var. �PC-1� and var. �Pusa Jwala�). Among the genotypes of Capsicum L. var. �X-235� responded better than the var. �PC-1� and var. �Pusa Jwala�. MS medium containing BAP (4.0 mg/l) and IAA (0.5 mg/l) was found to be the best medium for the production of maximum number of shoot buds in all the genotypes of chili pepper i.e., 6.80�0.16 (var. �X-235�), 5.00�0.19 (var. �PC-1�) and 4.80�0.12 (var. �Pusa Jwala�). The shoots were rooted on MS medium fortified with IBA (0.5 mg/l). Rooted plants were hardened and transplanted to the soil. The plants showed 80-90% survival during transplantation

Analysis of Several Popular Cultivars of Madagascar Periwinkle (<i>Catharanthus roseus</i> (L.) G. Don.) using Biochemical Markers

Band designs of esterase (EST), peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) isozymes in several selected cultivars of Catharanthus roseus by using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were investigated in this study. It was confirmed that cultivar differences in isozyme polymorphism can be revealed by applied electrophoretic patterns. Three isozyme systems produced a total of 16 bands with polymorphism ranged from 66.6-100%. Considering the patterns of isozyme variations in the five cultivars of Catharanthus roseus, it is evident that the cultivar ‘First kiss coral’ displayed crimson red petal with large white eye’ displayed demarked profiles of EST, PO and PPO isozymes than other cultivars. This is the first report on isozyme polymorphism in members of the Cathanarathus roseus (L.) G.
 Don