DNA Barcoding of Endangered Sacred Plant (Stereospermum suavelons) in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India

In the present investigation, DNA barcodings were made for the sacred trees of Main (Big) Temples in Cuddalore district, namely, Stereospermum suavelons to document their reliable identification, conservation, discrimination, similarities and evolutionary trend among them and with their related taxa for future use.  DNA isolation from leaf samples of present study species was carried out by using a modified CTAB method and good isolation was got for the species studied.Gradient PCR amplification was performed for the isolated DNA using matK gene and the primers matK472F & matK1248R.  The amplification success was 90-95%. PCR amplification was tested with 1 % agarose gel electrophoresis using ethidium bromide and the products were confirmed.  The PCR products were sent to Xcelris Labs Ltd. Sydney House, Premchand Nagar Road, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad 380054, India, for DNA sequencing and sequences were got for the species with the success rate of 95 %.  Pairwise sequence alignments were made with BLAST and multiple sequence alignments are made with ClustalW, and based on the sequence alignments, dentrograms were constructed using software Mega 5 and Neighbor joining method to study the phylogenetic aspects of the species studied and with their related taxa. Keywords: DNA barcoding, matK gene, matK472F, matK1248R, sacred plants, Stereospermum suavelons, Phylogenetic tree, identification, conservation and documentation

Successful breeding and hatchery experiments of the spineless cuttlefish Sepiella intermis at Tuticorin shellfish hatchery

Cuttlefishes lay the eggs in asses in sheltered and calm areas in the inshore waters. Egg masses of this cuttlefish were collected from Manapad near Tuticorin, east coast of India in September 1998 and kept in filtered seawater. Hatching started the very next day and it took 10 days for the entire egg mass to hatch out and release the young ones. The mantle length of the hatchlings was 2 mm. Initially the hatchlings were fed with mysids but subsequently they were given a mixed diet of Acetes and mysids. Based on the present results it can be stated that cephalopod culture is possible through hatchery produced seeds. With grow out period of 75 to 90 days it will be possible to take three crops per year

Ethnopharmacological Values of Sacred Trees of Big Temples in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu State, India.

Ethnopharmacological values: This study provides a significant ethnopharmacological informations, about the sacred plants of big temples in cuddalore district, tamilnadu state qualitatively and quantitatively. Ethanobotanical studies are very important to reveal the multi sort values of plants in the world in past and present. In this way since this is the first ethanobotanical study which records the traditional important medicinal values of sacred plants of big temples in cuddalore district. Materials and methods: The information was obtained through open and semi-structured interviews with 35 (22 males, 13 females) knowledgeable local people and traditional healers.  The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, conservation status of the plants, usage value and relative importance were determined.Results: A total of six species of sacred plants, mostly trees, belonging to six families were studied in this investigation. They were used to treat 30 diseases and 12 major ailment categories. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part.  Based on IUCN red data, the identified sacred plants include one least concerned species, one vulnerable species and two endangered and threatened species.  The ailment categories of Gastro-intestinal problems had the highest percentage (83.3) of use plant species (Table-5). The most important species according to their high use value (UV) were Aegle marmelos (0.97) and Prosopis cineraria (0.94) which are the most frequently and popularly used plants.  The species which had the highest Relative Importance (RI) values are Aegle marmelos (1.80) and Ficus religiosa (1.71).Conclusion: As a result of the present study, it can be concluded the sacred plants play an important role in the health care of human being and people rely on medicinal plants to treat various ailments and diseases.  In addition, the ethnomedicinal plants with high UV and RI values might give some useful leads for further pharmacological inverstigation. Keywords: Sacred trees, Conservation, Ethnopharmacology, Ethano-medicine, Sthalavriksha, Big Temple Cuddalore district

Studies on DNA barcoding of sacred plant - Ficus religiosa L.

In the present investigation, DNA barcoding were made for the sacred trees of Main (Big) Temples in Cuddalore district, namely Ficus religiosa, to document their reliable identification, discrimination, similarities and evolutionary trend among them and with their related taxa for future use.  DNA isolation from leaf samples of present study species was carried out by using a modified CTAB method and good isolation was got for the species studied. Gradient PCR amplification was performed for the isolated DNA using matK gene and the primers matK472F & matK1248R.  The amplification success was 90-95%. PCR amplification was tested with 1 % agarose gel electrophoresis using ethidium bromide and the products were confirmed.  The PCR products were sent to Xcelris Labs Ltd. Sydney House, Premchand Nagar Road, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad 380054, India, for DNA sequencing and sequences were got for the species with the success rate of 95 %.  Pairwise sequence alignments were made with BLAST and multiple sequence alignments are made with ClustalW, and based on the sequence alignments, dentrograms were constructed using software Mega 5 and Neighbor joining method to study the phylogenetic aspects of the species studied and with their related taxa

E-Learning approach in Teacher Education

There has been an increasing interest in e-learning in teacher training at universities during the last ten years. With the developing technology, educational methods have differed as well as many other processes. Firstly, a definition on e-learning as a new approach should be given. E-learning could shortly be defined as a web-based educational system on platform with Internet, Intranet or computer access. In this model, the lessons planned were simulations and software’s for students on polymers and metals. Nine experiments were designed on the topic. Students were interviewed and administered laboratory attitude scales at the end of the experiments.  The study concluded that the experiments in the new model were appropriate to teacher training programs and could successfully be administered to large groups

A case of abnormal petasma in the penaeid prawn, Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne-Edwards)

Instances of anomalies in the structure of the external genital organs of crustaceans are on record. Recently, George (1963) and Susseelan (1968) have described partly developed petasma in the female specimen of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) and M. affinis (H. Milne-Edwards) respectively

Preliminary experiments on breeding of cephalopods

The results of preliminary experiments on hatching and rearing of a squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana and a cuttle fish Sepia aculeata are described. The hatchling survived for a maximum of 10 days

Ranching of clams in the Ashtamudi lake

Ranching of clams in the Ashtamudi lak

Ornamental shell industry of Ramanathapuram coast

As many as twelve shell craft Industries established at KeelaVaral and Ramaswaram cater to the demand of the internal and external market of ornamental shells in India and abroad. Several species of molluscan shells which occur in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay constitute the raw materials for these industries. Apart from very rare SPECISS, 15 important species are regularly exploited for this purpose. The Genus /.a/n^/s commonly known as 'Spider conch' is very Important among them by virtue of its abundance. Of the 9 species of Lambis known from India, only 3 species art abundant in this coast Exploitation of these shells are mostly by skin diving and to a limited extent by trawl, gill and drag nets employed mainly to catch finfishes, lobsters and crabs. This paper mainly deals on the ornamental, curious and religious values of molluscan shells, their Industry, types of shells and species used by the industry, varied products, marketing, employment opportunities and certain aspects of costs and earning of the industry

Observations on the setting of spat and growth of Crassostrea madrasensis in Vaigai estuary at Athankarai

The setting of spat of the edible oyster Crassostrea madrasensis on different kinds of spat collectors like oyster shells, wooden pieces, concrete pieces, concrete slabs, tiles, bamboo frames and coconut shells kept in Vaigai estuary at Athankarai was studied. It was observed that there was spat fall on concrete pieces with irregular surfaces given lime coating, on oyster shells given a coating of cement or lime and lime coated curved tiles. Oyster spat set in stray numbers on bamboo frames, Mangalore tiles and coconut shells, spat fall took place between January and April and generally only small numbers of spat were seen to set on spat collectors in the other periods of the year. Oysters attained an average size of 86.7 mm and a maximum of 110 mm at the end of one year. Average and maximum sizes of 89.6 mm and 130 mm were attained at the end of 14 months and growth of oysters was very much retarded late