Manipur Megaliths: From Menhirs of Social Status to Commemoratives

Though Manipur is a small hilly state of North East India, it is populated by various ethnic groups. The major ethnic groups are the Meeteis/Meiteis, the Naga tribes/Naga groups and the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups. Each ethnic group consists of a number of smaller groups and has very rich cultural elements of megalithic traditions, which are transmitted from one generation to the next. From the time of yore, various megalithic structures have been raised by various communities on different occasions. The most common type of megalithic structure is the menhir. Here, the author will discuss the megaliths of some tribes which belong to the so-called Naga group. In the past, all the communities were animists and followed their own traditional religions. They performed various rites and rituals along with feastings and raised megaliths, particularly monoliths, the menhirs of social status. Nowadays, most members of the Naga group are baptized Christians and have abandoned their age-old tradition. In this paper, the author tries to highlight the most significant changes that have taken place after the acceptance of the new religion, Christianity, as far as material allows

NeMedPlant: a database of therapeutic applications and chemical constituents of medicinal plants from north-east region of India

The North-East region of India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity region, containing many rare and endangered species. A curated database of medicinal and aromatic plants from the regions called NeMedPlant is developed. The database contains traditional, scientific and medicinal information about plants and their active constituents, obtained from scholarly literature and local sources. The database is cross-linked with major biochemical databases and analytical tools. The integrated database provides resource for investigations into hitherto unexplored medicinal plants and serves to speed up the discovery of natural productsbased drugs

Establishment of an Efficient In Vitro

An efficient in vitro regeneration protocol from seed culture has been established successfully for Dendrobium chrysotoxum, an epiphytic orchid having tremendous ornamental and medicinal values. Seed germination response was encouraging in Mitra (M) medium enriched with different combinations of auxins and cytokinins. Medium supplemented with 0.4% activated charcoal (AC), 2 mg/L 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP), and 2 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) produced best seed germination percentage in 2 weeks of culture. Incorporation of higher concentration of kinetin (KN) or BAP in combination with low auxin in medium induced pronounced shooting and leaf formation. Reduction in leaf development was evident when cytokinins exist singly in medium indicating synergistic effect of auxin and cytokinin in leaf induction. Presence of elevated level of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with low cytokinin content in medium generated more in vitro rooting, though IBA was found to be more effective in rooting induction as compared to NAA. The in vitro protocol for asymbiotic seed germination developed from the present investigation can be used for rapid mass propagation of this highly important Dendrobium orchid species

Differential Occurrence of Cuticular Wax and Its Role in Leaf Physiological Mechanisms of Three Edible Aroids of Northeast India

The localization of cuticular wax (CW) on the leaf epidermis and its interaction with the physiological mechanisms of three edible aroids, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma, were assessed. CW in the leaf tissues was visualized using scanning electron microscopy, which was higher in Colocasia (10.61 mg·dm−2) and Xanthosoma (11.36 mg·dm−2) than in Alocasia (1.36 mg·dm−2). Colocasia CW exhibited superhydrophobic properties with a higher static contact angle (CA) (>150◦) than Xanthosoma (99.0◦) and Alocasia (128.7◦). The higher CW in Colocasia and Xanthosoma resulted in better leaf chlorophyll stability, moisture retention ability, and cellular membrane integrity compared to Alocasia. CW acted as a protecting barrier against deleterious solar radiation in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). The glossy appearance of wax crystals in the Alocasia leaf cuticles resulted in higher SPF. Overall, Colocasia CW highly influenced the qualitative and protective mechanisms of the leaf. Our study sheds light on the pivotal role of CW in the physiological properties of aroid leaves, which would be useful for the selection of wax-rich plants for augmenting future breeding strategies. The information would also be useful for further exploration of the industrial potential of superhydrophobic wax crystals obtained from edible aroids.Fil: Pieniazek, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region; IndiaFil: Dasgupta, Madhumita. ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region; IndiaFil: Messina, Valeria Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Devi, Mayengbam Premi. ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region; IndiaFil: Devi, Yumnam Indrani. ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region; IndiaFil: Mohanty, Sansuta. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research; IndiaFil: Singh, Satyapriya. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research; IndiaFil: Sahoo, Bibhuti Bhusan. Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology; IndiaFil: Nongdam, Potshangbam. Manipur University; IndiaFil: Acharya, Gobinda Chandra. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research; IndiaFil: Sahoo, Manas Ranjan. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research; India. ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region; Indi

Orchid Micropropagation Using Conventional Semi-Solid and Temporary Immersion Systems: A Review

Orchids, with their astonishingly stunning flowers, dominate the international floricultural market. They are considered prized assets for commercial applications in pharmaceutical and floricultural industries as they possess high therapeutic properties and superior ornamental values. The alarming depletion of orchid resources due to excessive unregulated commercial collection and mass habitat destruction makes orchid conservation measures an extreme priority. Conventional propagation methods cannot produce adequate number of orchids, which would meet the requirement of these ornamental plants for commercial and conservational purposes. In vitro orchid propagation using semi-solid media offers an outstanding prospect of rapidly producing quality plants on a large scale. However, the semi-solid (SS) system has shortcomings with low multiplication rates and high production costs. Orchid micropropagation using a temporary immersion system (TIS) overcomes the limitations of the SS system by reducing production costs and making scaleup and full automation possible for mass plant production. The current review highlights different aspects of in vitro orchid propagation using SS and TIS and their benefits and drawbacks on rapid plant generation

Effect of Domestic Processing Methods on Dry Matter, Total Sugar, Phenolics and Mineral Composition in Different Developmental Stages of Parkia roxburghii G. (Don.) Pods

Parkia roxburghii is considered delicious in the Northeastern part of India, especially in the state of Manipur. Though it is widely used, information about the biochemical composition and its changes, after processing, is hardly available. In the present experiment, effect of processing methods on dry matter, soluble sugar, phenolics and mineral composition in different developmental stages of P. roxburghii pods were studied. Total soluble sugar (TSS), total phenols (TP), and orthodihydric phenols (ODHP) were determined as per the methods of Morris (1948), Bray and Thorpe (1954) and Mahadevan and Sridhar (1986). Sodium (Na), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and phosphorus (P) were estimated as per the procedures of Tandon (1993). Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) were analyzed in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Processing methods reduced dry matter, soluble sugar and phenolics in all the stages of the pod. TP and ODHP lost up to the extent of 72.78% in tender stage due to ordinary cooking, while higher loss of ODHP recorded in immature stage of the pod due to pressure cooking. Ca, Mg, K and Zn in different stages were found to be affected significantly by different methods of cooking, while no such changes were observed in case of S, P, Fe, Mn and Cu. The level of iron amongst the micro minerals is appreciably high recording up to 51.0 mg/100 g in the immature stage of the pod. As iron, zinc and manganese are antioxidant micronutrients, their higher presence in P. roxburghii might be of some nutritional importance

An Efficient Micropropagation Protocol for the Endangered European Shrub February Daphne (<i>Daphne mezereum</i> L.) and Identification of Bacteria in Culture

Daphne mezereum of the Thymelaeaceae family is a medicinal shrub occurring naturally in Europe and under legal protection in Poland. In the present study, a protocol developed for mass propagation of February daphne from nodal explants is presented. Micropropagation is one of the in vitro techniques that allow the preservation of rare and valuable plants by developing efficient methods for their propagation. In the proliferation stage, explants were cultured in the Woody Plant Medium (WPM) with different cytokinins, and in the rooting stage on the semi-solid WPM medium with perlite, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in various concentrations was used. The maximum proliferation rate (five shoots per explant) was observed on the medium containing 4.14 μM of meta-Topolin (mT). When the regenerated shoots were rooted in vitro in the presence of IBA in various concentrations, that of 19.68 μM induced the highest number of roots per shoot (6.63) and the maximal root length (2.15 cm). It is also worth remembering that plants are often colonized by different groups of microorganisms, which also affect the diversity of the ecosystem. The endophytic bacteria inhabiting the D. mezereum shoots are Mycobacterium

ISSR Marker Based Population Genetic Study of Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz: A Commercially Important Bamboo of Manipur, North-East India

Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz is an economically important bamboo of North-East India experiencing population depletion in its natural habitats. Genetic variation studies were conducted in 7 populations sampled from 5 districts of Manipur using ISSR molecular markers. The investigation was carried out as a primary step towards developing effective conservation strategies for the protection of bamboo germplasm. ISSR marker analysis showed significant level of genetic variation within the populations as revealed by moderately high average values of Nei’s genetic diversity (H 0.1639), Shannon’s diversity index (I 0.2563), percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB 59.18), total genetic variation (Ht 0.1961), and genetic diversity within population (Hs 0.1639). The study also divulged a high genetic variation at species level with Shannon’s diversity index (I), Nei’s genetic diversity (H), and percentage of polymorphic band (PPB%) recorded at 0.3218, 0.1939, and 88.37, respectively. Genetic differentiation among the populations (Gst) was merely 19.42% leaving 80.58% of genetic variation exhibited within the populations. The low genetic diversity between populations was consistent with AMOVA. The low genetic differentiation among populations coupled with existence of significantly high genetic diversity at species level indicated the urgent necessity of preserving and protecting all the existing natural bamboo populations in the region

Hyperoxidation of Peroxiredoxin 6 Induces Alteration from Dimeric to Oligomeric State

Peroxiredoxins(Prdx), the family of non-selenium glutathione peroxidases, are important antioxidant enzymes that defend our system from the toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). They are thiol-based peroxidases that utilize self-oxidation of their peroxidatic cysteine (Cp) group to reduce peroxides and peroxidized biomolecules. However, because of its high affinity for hydrogen peroxide this peroxidatic cysteine moiety is extremely susceptible to hyperoxidation, forming peroxidase inactive sulfinic acid (Cys-SO2H) and sulfonic acid (Cys-SO3H) derivatives. With the exception of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), hyperoxidized sulfinic forms of Prdx can be reversed to restore peroxidase activity by the ATP-dependent enzyme sulfiredoxin. Interestingly, hyperoxidized Prdx6 protein seems to have physiological significance as hyperoxidation has been reported to dramatically upregulate its calcium independent phospholipase A2 activity. Using biochemical studies and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, we investigated the roles of thermodynamic, structural and internal flexibility of Prdx6 to comprehend the structural alteration of the protein in the oxidized state. We observed the loosening of the hydrophobic core of the enzyme in its secondary and tertiary structures. These changes do not affect the internal dynamics of the protein (as indicated by root-mean-square deviation, RMSD and root mean square fluctuation, RMSF plots). Native-PAGE and dynamic light scattering experiments revealed the formation of higher oligomers of Prdx6 under hyperoxidation. Our study demonstrates that post translational modification (like hyperoxidation) in Prdx6 can result in major alterations of its multimeric status