In vitro propagation of Aristolochia bracteata Retz. - A medicinally important plant

A direct and indirect propagation system has been established for the medicinally important plant Aristolochia bracteata Retz. using inter-nodal segments as explants. The surface sterilization of A. bracteata inter-nodal segments was carried with different concentration of mercuric chloride such as 0.05%. 0.1% and 0.15% for different time duration. Among them, 0.1% mercuric chloride for 2 min showed low percentage contamination  and highest (96%) percentage of microbes free explants. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators for direct and indirect regeneration. Highest percentage of callus induction (82.3 ± 0.57) from inter-nodal segments was observed on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L of 2,4-D. Three types of calli viz.,  friable, semi-friable and compact calli were observed from the inter-nodal segments. Highest frequency of shoot proliferation (61.5 ± 0.43) was observed in Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with 1.0 mg/L of 6 - Benzyl Amino Purine in combination with 1.0 mg/L α - Naphthalene  Acetic Acid. Maximum number of shootlets regeneration (2.6 ± 0.15) was also observed from the same medium. The in vitro derived calli were sub-cultured for shoot regeneration. The Murashige and Skoog’s medium fortified with 1.0 mg/L of 6 - Benzyl Amino Purine in combination with 0.5 mg/L of α - Naphthalene Acetic Acid showed the highest percentage (73.2 ± 0.43) shoot proliferation from the inter- nodal segments derived calli.  The in vitro raised shootlets were sub-cultured on ½ strength Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with various concentrations of IAA and IBA for root formation. Highest percentage, maximum number of rootlets/shootlet and mean length of rootlets were observed in ½ Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of IBA. Sixty eight percentages of plantlets were established in the earthen pots.ÂÂ

Checklist of Mosses (Bryophyta) of Bodamalai Hills in Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu

Bodamalai Hills, situated on the Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, were explored for mosses (bryophyta) for the first time. As a result a checklist of mosses has been prepared comprising 52 species belonging to 38 genera and 21 families. The dominant families with the maximum number of species are Pottiaceae, Bryaceae, Stereophyllaceae, Sematophyllaceae and Brachytheciaceae. The dominant genera are Brachymenium and Bryum and the dominant species are Barbula javanica and Bryum capillare