Multiplication of Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) using cotyledons and leaf explants

Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) is an important natural dye yielding plant. To improve theregeneration capacity of annatto, the effects of explants size, plant growth regulators, lightregime and leaf position were evaluated using cotyledons and leaf explants derived fromseedlings. Explants having entire lamina with petiole showed maximum response. Thecotyledonary explants produced highest regeneration frequency (78.1%) and maximumnumber of shoots (12.4) on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 20 μM benzyladenine (BA). Leaf explants on MS medium containing 20 μM BA gave 67% regenerationfrequency and 11.3 new shoots per explant. A photoperiod of 16/8 h (light/dark) was foundto be superior to continuous dark or light. Position of leaf on the seedling had significantrole in organogenic response and is found decreasing from the base to shoot apex. Theregenerated shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 10 μM IBA. The rootedplantlets were transferred initially in the growth chamber and then moved to a green house.The present protocol can be utilized for the mass multiplication and also for effective genetictransformation aimed at the improvement of annatto

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Not AvailableGenetic diversity and structure in Amorphophallus spp. Blume ex Decne. using morphological and ISSR markersNot Availabl

Hypercrosslinked polystyrene sulphonic acid catalysts for the esterification of free fatty acids in biodiesel synthesis

New sulphonic acid catalysts supported on hypercrosslinked polystyrene have been studied in the esterification of oleic acid with methanol and in the rearrangement of α-pinene to camphene and limonenes. The catalysts have been characterised in terms of specific surface areas and porosities, affinities for water and for cylcohexane vapours, and both concentrations and strengths of acid sites. They have been compared with conventional macroporous polystyrene sulphonic acids (Amberlysts 15 and 35) and SAC-13, a composite between Nafion and silica. The results show that the hypercrosslinked polystyrene sulphonic acids, despite exhibiting relatively low concentrations of acid sites and acid site strengths below those of Amberlysts 15 and 35, are very much more catalytically active than conventional resins in reactions such as the esterification in which high acid site strengths are not required. It is thought that this is due to the highly accessible acid sites throughout the catalyst particles. Reusability studies are reported and it appears that the temperature at which the catalyst is used is important in controlling and minimising catalyst deactivation