In vitro regeneration from different ages of petioles of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.)

Jatropha curcas L. is an important non-edible oil yielding plant growing in wasteland and dry lands. The experiment was conducted to study the plant regeneration of J. curcas from different ages of petioles. Petioles explant grown on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid and 0.2 mg/l kinetin showed the highest frequency of callus induction and the same medium was found to be best suited for callus growth in 1st petiole. Percent of somatic embryo formation was higher (35.16%) from the 1st petiole explant on 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron with 0.4 mg/l gibberellic acid. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l N6-benzylaminopurine, 0.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid, 0.25 mg/l kinetin recorded the higher somatic embryo germination percentage (66.85%). MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron, 0.1 mg/l N6-benzylaminopurine, 0.4 mg/l gibberellic acid was found to be best medium for shoot elongation. Among the auxins tested, the higher frequency of root formation was observed in MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid compared to indole-3-butyric acid and indole-3-acetic acid. The survival rate of in vitro rooted plantlets was dependent on the type of explant source and it varies from 47 to 60%.Keywords: Euphorbiaceae, petiole, callus, indirect organogenesis, biodiesel, plant growth regulatorAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 265-273, 8 January, 201

Influence of altitudinal variation on the anti-oxidant capacity of essential oil of Syzygium densiflorum from Southern Western Ghats, India

Background: Syzygium densiflorum is a vulnerable tree species belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Objective: To investigate the influence of altitudinal variation on the anti-oxidant potential of leaf essential oil of Syzygium densiflorum. Materials and Methods: The leaf essential oil has been isolated using hydrodistillation process and their scavenging ability was determined using five in vitro assays such as 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP), 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. Statistical analysis: The results were analysed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) following Duncan′s multiple range test. Results: Leaves from lower altitude showed higher activity against hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and ferric ion and moderate activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Leaves from higher altitude essential oil exhibits potent activity against hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical compared with the standard. Conclusions: Comparatively lower altitude leaf essential oil showed potent anti-oxidant activity confirming the fact that altitudinal variations have profound effect on the anti-oxidant potential of Syzygium densiflorum