Morphology, flow cytometry and molecular assessment of ex-vitro grown micropropagated anthurium in comparison with seed germinated plants

Micropropagated and seed propagated plantlets of anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Lind. cv. CanCan) were transferred to similar field condition and growth stage. A comparative study was conducted using morphological parameters, ploidy level assessment as well as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The in vitro generated anthurium plants exhibited comparable vegetative growth and more sucker production when compared to plants propagated through seeds. No variation in ploidy level was established through flow cytometric study. Genetic assessment through ISSR showed no polymorphism in banding pattern. It was revealed that there was no significant variation between micropropagated and seed propagated plants at ploidy and molecular level assuring the trueness of the micropropagated anthurium clones and their commercial applicability.Key words: Anthurium andreanum Lind, Ex vitro performance, ISSR, morphological competence, ploidy level

Standardization of an in Vitro Regeneration Protocol in Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus Ex. Hooker F.)

An experiment was undertaken to develop an improved in vitro regeneration protocol in gerbera. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with various growth regulators at different concentrations for callus induction and organogenesis. Newly emerging leaves of Gerbera cv. Rosalin were used as explants. Experimental results showed that maximum rate (74.07%) of formation of callus with good growth was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 2.0mgL-1 2,4-D + BAP 0.5mgL-1. Best shoot regeneration (57.8 %) with maximum shoot number (12.0) was achieved on with BAP 2.0mgL-1 + NAA 0.5mgL-1 fortified MS medium. Maximum (66.7 %) and earliest (12.3 days) root formation in shoots was recorded on IBA 3.0mgL-1is 1/2MS media. Survival rate of regenerated plantlets was maximum (73.33 %) in the potting mixture containing garden soil, sand and vermicompost (1:1:1)

Studies on Yield and Yield Components of Spray Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cv. Amal under Various Sources of Nitrogen

An investigation was undertaken to study the yield and yield components of spray-type chrysanthemum cv. Amal under variaous sources of nitrogen. The treatments considered different levels (100%, 75%, 50% or 25%) of four sources of nitrogen viz., urea, calcium ammonium nitrate, mustard cake and neem cake, alone or in combination of two or more of these. Results revealed that maximum stem length (62 cm) of cut flower and flower yield, number of flower heads (6387) and weight (4071.48 g/sqm) were mostly achiveved by application of total recommended dose of nitrogen through a combination of 25% N as neem cake + 25% N as mustard cake + 25% N as CAN + 25% as urea, and the treatment increased flower yield by 57.96% over treatment with nitrogen solely through urea. Flower size, individual flower weight, shelf and vase life of flower as well as anthocyanin content in floral tissue were higher in combined application of all oil cakes and urea and maximum under treatment combination of 50% recommended dose of nitrogen supplied through mustard cake, 25% N through neem cake and 25% N through urea. Anthocyanin content of flower tissues increased gradually upto 20 days from opening of the flower and, thereafter, declined sharply

Comparative Performance of Spray Chrysanthemum Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open-Field Cultivation at Different Dates of Planting

Fifteen cultivars of spray chrysanthemum were evaluated in polyhouse and open-field, with three planting dates from mid-July to mid-August during 2003-05. Overall plant growth, flower stem length, number of flowers per plant, shelf life and vase life of flower were found to be maximum under 15th July planting compared to 30th July and 15th August plantings both under polyhouse and open-field conditions. Flower size and flower yield (g/plant) was highest under 30th July planting in polyhouse condition, whereas, in open-field it was the 15th July planting. Early flowering was recorded in 15th August planting both in polyhouse and open-field. Cultivar Arati showed maximum flower stem length and flower yield. Some of the other cultivars, viz., Yellow Anemone, Sarad Mala, Apsara Violet and Aditi also exhibited high yield both under polyhouse and open-field conditions. Polyhouse always recorded higher yield than open-field. Cultivar Yellow Anemone planted on 15th July recorded highest number of flowers per plant regardless of growth environment. Highest flower yield (794.94g) per plant was recorded in cv. Arati in 30th July planting under polyhouse, while, it was maximum in 15th July planting in open-field

The Implications of Demonetization and Currency Constraints on Indian Tourism – A Perspective Analysis

A landmark decision by the Government of India on the 8th of November 2016, viz, demonetization, propped up monetary repercussions of high magnitude the nation has ever witnessed.  The ‘Ifs and Buts’ of demonetization are being widely debated (of course at this juncture the government machinery and banks need to announce the positive outcomes such as stoppage of terrorist funding and black money, etc. as claimed earlier) albeit in the  days that followed after the announcement it became explicit that the decision was taken without adequate preparedness. The whole process, though seemingly transparent, has had on impact on the lives of all the citizens leading to the initial optimism expressed by a great number of people waning into contempt an

In vitro regeneration and conservation of an endangered medicinal plant sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina L.)

An investigation on in vitro plant regeneration of endangered medicinal plant Rauvolfia serpentina L. was carried out. The newly emerging leaves were used as explants, which were transferred to half strength MS medium along with various combinations of growth regulators for callus regeneration. The half strength MS medium fortified with 5.0 mgl-1 2,4-D and 2.0 mgl-1 NAA was found most suitable for qualitative (light green colour) and quantitative callus production (86%). The shoot regeneration (81.67 %) and elongation (5.67 cm) was highest in full MS medium supplemented with 6.0 mgl-1 BAP and 2.0 mgl- 1 GA3 and consequently, the root initiation was highest (55%) in half strength MS medium containing 3.0 mgl-1 IBA. The regenerated plantlets were preserved for nine months in good condition through repeated subculturing on full strength MS media. The callus were kept in storage by repeated sub-culturing in in vitro condition on MS medium fortified with 0.2 mgl-1 2,4-D and the preservation could be extended for nine months in its best condition. It was evident that, the regeneration capacity of callus was reduced as the time of callus storage was increased

Effect of plant growth regulators and activated charcoal on in vitro growth and development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. var. Dura) zygotic embryo

The effect of plant growth regulators and activated charcoal (AC) on in vitro regeneration and plantlet development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. var. Dura) zygotic embryos were assessed. Zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with a blend of 0.05 or 0.1 mg/L of each plant growth regulators (PGR) (gibberellic acid, 6-benzlaminopurine and α-naphthaleneacetic acid) without or with 2 g/L AC. The growth and development of the embryos were affected by the types of media formulations. Zygotic embryos cultured on MS medium supplemented with both PGR and AC enhanced shoot initiation and subsequent plantlet development, while PGR supplemented MS media without AC led to abnormal growth, suggesting that AC is indispensable for oil palm plantlet regeneration in vitro. The best medium for growth and development of plantlets was MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L PGR and 2 g/L AC which significantly increased plantlet height (9.4 cm) as well as root length (4.4 cm) than the remaining media formulations.Key words: Activated charcoal, oil palm, plant growth regulators, zygotic embryo

In-vitro cormel formation and changes of biochemical composition in calli during morphogenesis in gladiolus (Gladiolus × grandiflorus)

The present investigation was carried out for in-vitro cormel formation and to study the changes of biochemical composition during shoot and root differentiation from callus in gladiolus (Gladiolus × grandifforus L.). Cormel tip was used as explant for in-vitro regeneration on MS media supplemented with different plant growth regulators. Maximum callus formation was observed on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l 2,4-D with excellent callus growth. The inducted calli were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA for best shooting followed by on ½ MS medium fortified with 3.0 mg/l IAA for best rooting. After two weeks of root initiation, the whole cluster of rooted plantlets was equally divided into two halves and the divided clusters were subcultured on cormel induction media. The different stages of morphogenesis, viz. non-differentiating callus, differentiating green callus, shoot differentiating callus and root differentiating callus were used for biochemical analysis. Maximum (55.0 %) and earliest (56.0 days) formation of cormels was observed on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l NAA elevated with 6% sucrose with good cormel size of up to 7.0 mm diameter. Decrease in metabolities like starch, reducing sugars and total phenols while, increase in total soluble proteins was found during shoot and root differentiation. Activities of enzymes, viz. polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase increased during shoot and root differentiation. From the present investigation, it was proved that metabolic and enzymatic activity during in-vitro morphogenesis help gladiolus for rapid organogenesis and multiplication through cormel formation

In vitro direct rhizogenesis from Gerbera jamesonii Bolus leaf

The present report describes an original protocol for in vitro direct induction of roots from leaf explants of gerbera for the first time. Since gerbera has immense potential as a premium cut-flower, the major attempts were made on in vitro mass propagation chiefly through in vitro multiple shoot proliferation or callus regeneration. Nevertheless, rhizogenesis could be impending an unattempted method with its yet-to-be known advantages. In our study, the optimum conditions for direct root induction from leaf explants were assessed employing tissue culture technique. Leaves were inoculated to MS medium containing no or variable auxin sources and concentrations namely, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid or α-naphthaleneacetic acid for root induction. It was evident that the maximum root induction (with a frequency of 92.6 %) occurred on MS media fortified with 1.5 mg l−1 IAA, wherein root induction was observed as early as 11 days of culture and an average of ~19 roots with ~13 mm length was obtained from 4 cm2 leaf segment after 45 days of culture. Stereo microscopic observation revealed the induction of roots and gradual developmental stages of rhizogenesis. The efficiency of direct root induction without any interim growth stages (such as, callus or shoots) in our study offers a reproducible system that could provide a model protocol for more comprehensive developmental studies on root growth

Influence of auxin and its polar transport inhibitor on the development of somatic embryos in Digitalis trojana

The present study reports the role of auxin and its transport inhibitor during the establishment of an efficient and optimized protocol for the somatic embryogenesis in Digitalis trojana Ivan. Hypocotyl segments (5 mm long) were placed vertically in the Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with three sets [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) alone or 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) alone or IAA-TIBA combination] of formulations of plant growth regulators, to assess their differential influence on induction and proliferation of somatic embryos (SEs). IAA alone was found to be the most effective, at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l, inducing similar to 10 SEs per explant with 52% induction frequency. On the other hand, the combination of 0.5 mg/l of IAA and 1 mg/l of TIBA produced significantly fewer (similar to 3.6 SEs) and abnormal (enlarged, oblong, jar and cup-shaped) SEs per explant with 24% induction frequency in comparison to that in the IAA alone. The explants treated with IAA-TIBA exhibited a delayed response along with the formation of abnormal SEs. Our study revealed that IAA induces high-frequency SE formation when used singly, but the frequency gradually declines when IAA was coupled with increasing levels of TIBA. Eventually, our findings bring new insights into the roles of auxin and its polar transport in somatic embryogenesis of D. trojana