Genotypic variations in agro-morphological and physico-chemical traits in ethnic aromatic rice (Oryza sativa) landraces of Odisha

Nineteen traditional aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties of Odisha, India were assessed for morphological, agronomical, biochemical and cooking characteristics to identify superior genotypes for breeding with regard to quality characters. Significant variability was observed in morphological, agronomical and cooking characteristics among the rice varieties. Kalajira (IC 355057) had maximum number of grains per panicle (204 numbers) with high fertility (89.12%). Hence, this could be used as donor for improvement of indigenous aromatic varieties for higher productivity. Badsahbhog and Basumati possessed the intermediate alkali value and amylose content. Chatianaki possessed long kernel length after cooking and high elongation ratio. Gyanbhog showed high hulling, milling and head rice recovery. Therefore, the head rice recovery of Gyanbhog and amylose content of Basumati (23.5%) could be used as donor plants in rice improvement programmes

Microscopic characterization of some medicinal plants and elemental analysis of Triphala (three fruits) with anticarcinogenic properties

Medicinal plants are the local heritage and assets to a country that are to be collected, preserved, characterized, scientifically analyzed and utilized in treating particular ailments. Several important medicinal plants from different parts of the world are yet to be indexed, characterized and tested for their medicinal values. Adulteration (mixing cheaper materials with the original herb) is a prime concern in herbal medicine for which proper scientific characterization of specific plant parts of each is essential. In this study characterizationof some medicinally important plant species (Alstonia scholaris,Ephedra sinica,Zingiber officinale,Phyllanthus emblica,Terminalia bellirica, T. chebula) were done. Anatomical studies of transverse sections of the leaves of Adhatoda vasica Nees, stems ofAlstonia scholaris L. R. Br. and Ephedra sinica Stapf.and fine sections of rhizomes from Zingiber officinale Rosc. were carried out.The characteristic presence of typical vascular bundlesfollowing double staining methods and distribution of specific types of tissues helped us to identify and standardize the constant anatomical features. The standardized anatomical features helped us to detect the particular medicinal plants species. A combination of three fruits with medicinal values is called ‘Triphala’consisted of ‘Amlaki’ (Phyllanthus emblica), ‘Bibhitaki’ (Terminalia bellirica) and ‘Haritaki’ (Terminalia chebula), used for boosting immunity.  In the Ayurvedic medicine, Triphala is recommended as an aqueous drink. In this study, microscopic and elemental analyses were attempted for the purpose of identifying morpho-anatomical characteristics of Triphala components, which could serve as markers for the authentication of this herbal product. Thinly cut sections and macerated tissue samples of three fruit samples were mounted in 70% glycerin and observed with a Leica DM-750 microscope equipped with LV-4.4 software. Starch grains, epidermal tissue, and cell wall structures were observed and compared for each species. Brown and yellow storage products, tannin and oil droplets were found in globular cells of T. bellirica and T. chebula. Elemental analysis was carried out using an Elementar CHNS analyzer (vario MICRO cube) to determine total carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in fruit tissue. The results showed a significant variation in the amounts of carbon between samples.Â

Molecular Stress Physiology of Plants

XVII, 440 p. 97 illus., 46 illus. in color.onlin

VARIATIONS IN PHYTOCONSTITUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN ECOTYPES OF OXALIS CORNICULATA L. AND OXALIS DEBILIS KUNTH

Objective: The present study aims at the comparative analysis of phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activities of four ecotypes of Odisha, India, each of Oxalis corniculata L. (OC-Eco-1, OC-Eco-2, OC-Eco-3, OC-Eco-4) and Oxalis debilis Kunth. (OD-Eco-1, OD-Eco-2, OD-Eco-3, OD-Eco-4) of the family Oxalidaceae.Methods: The ecotypes were collected from four districts (Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khurda) of Odisha, India. The qualitative phytochemical screening was done to test glycosides, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. Further analysis of phytochemicals was also screened through TLC and HPTLC. Antimicrobial potentiality of leaf extract of various ecotypes was studied against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus epidermis by disc diffusion method.Results: Tannin and terpenoids estimation revealed that significantly high amount of phytoconstituents were present in OD-Eco-3 of O. debilis. The methanolic leaf extracts of each ecotype were screened for qualitative analysis of phytochemical through TLC and HPTLC that showed maximum 16 compounds in O. debilis (OD-Eco-3) a new report, as compared to O. corniculata. All the four ecotypes of O. debilis showed some new HPTLC bands (Rf 0.96, 0.90, 0.90, 0.81) as compared to O. corniculata that occupied 7.70%, 22.38%, 23.79% and 34.42% of peak area respectively. Cluster analysis on the basis of HPTLC banding pattern showed a close affinity among ecotypes of each species. Crude extracts showed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and S. epidermis. Leaf extracts of ecotypes of O. corniculata showed zones of inhibition and MIC better than that of O. debilis against S. epidermis.Conclusion: The findings significantly reported some new compounds for the first time in O. debilis. The study also indicated a promising potential of antimicrobial activity of O. debilis which was the first report

Molecular phylogenetic relationships among four species of the mangrove tree genus Bruguiera (Rhizophoraceae), as revealed by chromosome and RAPD markers

Analysis of karyotype, nuclear DNA content and RAPD markers were performed in four species of Bruguiera (Rhizophoraceae) of Bhitarkanika mangrove forests, Orissa, India. Detailed karyotype analysis revealing 2n=34 in B. cylindrica and 2n=36 in B. gymnorrhiza was reported for the first time and 2n=34 in B. parviflora and B. sexangula was confirmed. On the basis of the common types of chromosomes present among Bruguiera, two distinct groups were found; one consists of B. cylindrica and B. parviflora and the other of B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula. The symmetrical karyotype with same chromosome types grouped B. cylindrica and B. parviflora together and presence of Type E chromosomes placed B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula in a separate group, suggesting their closer affinity in their respective group. Analysis of chromosome length, volume, INV and 4C DNA content confirmed this division. Nuclear DNA content was two-fold higher (~17.0 pg) in the second group than in the first (~8.0 pg). The amplification products generated through RAPD revealed 1-9 amplicons with size variations from 600 bp to 2 500 bp with 49.31% genetic similarity between B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula and 47.10% in between B. cylindrica and B. parviflora. The high copy number marker band (~ 1 100 bp) yielded in OPN-15 primer in B. parviflora the characteristic DNA marker, which was cloned and used as probes for assessment of genetic diversity, and demonstrated its close genetic affinity to B. cylindrica. B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula also produced similar marker bands of ~600 bp and ~2 200 bp in the same primer. All of the cytological, 4C DNA content and RAPD data confirmed the existence of two taxonomically distinct groups of Bruguiera: one consisting of B. cylindrica and B. parviflora and the other of B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula as placed earlier (1862) in the tribe Rhizophoreae by Bentham and Hooker, on the basis of the flowering habits of Bruguiera. Genetically, the B. sexangula and B. gymnorrhiza group was found to be very closely, rather than distantly, related to B. parviflora and B. cylindrica. Our results demonstrate that molecular markers together with cytological evidence provide an effective tool to access the existing interspecific genetic polymorphism in mangrove species, to solve the taxonomic problems and to design their conservation strategy