eChapters

Purpose: Layering includes several forms of ground and aerial layering (goottie). When rooting is encouraged on the aerial part of a plant after wounding it is known as air layering or goottie or morcottage. When branches running parallel to ground are utilized, then the method is known as ground layering. Layering is the development of root on a stem while it is still attached to the mother plant. The root formation on the stem is stimulated by removing a ring of bark or by making a notch which cause an interruption in the downward movement of carbohydrates and auxins from the leaves and growing shoot tips. The materials accumulate near the points of treatment and helps in rooting. Root formation depends upon continuous moisture supply, good aeration and moderate temperature around the rooting zone. For the same reason the best result are obtained by these methods during monsoon month (July-Sept.) and spring (Feb. -March) from branches 1 to 2 years of age.

MAJOR INSECT-PEST OF MANGO

1. Mango hopper (Idioscopus atkinsani, I. niveosparsus, I. clypealis)

This is one of the most serious pests of mango. They are small greenish wedge-shaped insect. They cause serious damage to the crop at the time of flowering and fruiting. Both adult and nymphs suck sap from the tender plant parts, inflorescence, young shoots and panicles. They excrete sugary shirring substance on which shooty moulds develops. Cloudy and humid weather are favourable for their development.

The various systems of training the vines adopted in the vine-growing centres in India are as follows:

1. Head system
2. Bower system
3. Kniffin system
4. Overhead trellis

Growth

Growth means quantitative increase in the planwt body e.g., increases in the length of stem, roots, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of fruits etc.

Development

It refers to the qualitative changes from the initiation of growth to the death of a plant or plant parts like seed germination, formation of flowers, fruits and seeds, emergence of buds, leaves and falling of leaves and fruits.

Kitchen garden

Growing of vegetable crops in the backyard of residential houses to meet the requirements of the family all the year round. It is most ancient type of vegetable farming. Such type of gardening is practiced in cities where land is the limiting factor. Vegetables can also be grown on the roof of buildings if land is not available.

Aim of kitchen garden

The main aim is a kitchen garden in the maximum output and a continuous supply of vegetables for the table throughout the year.

Problem: Cost of cultivation depending upon the seed and time. More yields can be obtained during right time of sowing, but net profit is very less due to the glut in the market. We can get more return from early or late sown crop during both the season due to the high cost in the market.

Nursery

An area where the planting materials are raised for sowing or planting in garden or fields, in other words, the nursery industry involves the production and distribution of different kind of planting material.

Some of the vegetables sown directly in the field are Okra, Pea, Cowpea, Frenchbean Dolichosbean, Radish, Carrot, Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Ridge gourd, Spongegourd,Ashgourd, Muskmelon, Watermelon, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Roundmelon, Spinachbeet, Spinach, Coriander, Amaranthus, Lettuce, Fenugreek etc. Some vegetables are propagated through vegetative means like Colocasia, Ginger, Garlic, Potato, Sweet potato, Drumstick, Asparagus, Elephant foot, Pointedgourd and Ivygourd. But there are certain vegetables having very small seeds and first sown in the nursery for better care and to combat the main field. Such vegetables are Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Capsicum, Broccoli, Endive, Chicory, Cabbage, cauliflower, Khol-Khol, Kale, Parsley, Lettuce etc.

Raising of seedlings in the nursery beds is economic as well as easier to take care of young, tender seedlings against disease, insect pests and weeds. Better combat against biotic stress like bright sun, rains and low temperature and economisation by saving land, labour and capital to fetch higher market price.

Plant growth regulators are organic compounds occurring naturally in plants as well as synthetic, other than nutrients, which in small amounts promote, inhibit or modify any physiological process in plants.

Basically, PGRs are of two types

The different modes of reproduction applied in vegetable crops are

Asexual

In this case the vegetative parts of the plants viz. rhizomes, corms, tubers, bulbs etc whole or part there off are utilized to produce new individuals. The typical examples are potato, sweetpotato, parwal, artichoke, colocasia, zinger, turmeric elephant foot yam, etc. There are some vegetative crops which can be reproduced through bcth vegetative part as well as seed e.g. asparagus.

Important diseases of vegetable crops

1. Damping off: (Phytophthora parasitica, Pythium sp. Rhizoctomia solani):This is a disease of the seedlings at the nursery stage. Due to the attack of this fungus seedlings rot at the ground level and collaps.

Description of the important flowering trees

Description of the important foliage trees

Description of the important flowering shrubs

Description of important annuals

A. Winter season annuals (Seeds are sown in Sept.-Oct. and transplanting in Oct.)

Purpose-Planting of foliage and flowering trees, shrubs, climbers, annuals, perennials and lawn in a piece of land by adopting certain principles is termed as garden design. The objective of a garden layout by adopting a design to provide recreation, enjoyment and education to the society. Natural flora, religion, topography of land and climatic had played a major role in the development of garden designs. Basically there are two garden designs. In one the plantation of shrubs, trees, climbers etc. and lawns is done by adopting a geometrical design and maintaining bilateral balance whereas, in the other one the plantation is done by taking in account the topography and terrin of land, containing open lawns and cluster of trees. The former is called formal are artificial garden while the later is called as informal or landscape garden.

Shrubbery-An area of cultivated shrubs in a parkor garden is known asshrubbery or any area in the garden fully solely devoted to the shrub plantation is called shrubbery. These shrubs are maintained in formal way therefore require regular training, pruning and clipping. Maintenance of shrubbery is easy and become less costly if planted properly considering following point (See plate 22).

• Selection of hardy shrubs.
• Shrubs having profuse flowering and beautiful foliage.
• Selection of shrub according to soil.
• Shrub having slow growing habit and required less pruning and management.

Description of important spices and condiments

Description of important medicinal plants

Principle: The copper in the Fehling solution is reduced to red, insoluble cuprous oxide in the presence of invert sugars like glucose and fructose. The quantity of sugars solution liquids for complete neutralization of a known quantity of Fehling mixture is determined by titration using methylene blue as the indicator.

(Lane and Eynon Method)

Nowhere in the plant kingdom do ecology, evolution, and human affairs come together as intricately as phenomena involving secondary metabolites. The importance of these compounds is apparent in some of the earliest annals of human history. For example, Papaver somniferum, the original source of morphine and codeine, was known to the Sumerians in 4000 B.C. as hul gil (joy-plant). These two alkaloids, so important in human affairs for many years, probably evolved within the genus Papaver originally as protective compounds against herbivores. As a testament to the importance of secondary metabolites,

P. somniferum was one the first plants to be cultivated for a reason other than its caloric or nutritive value. Sadly, its importance has only increased over the time. Organic chemists of the nineteenth century were among the first to recognize and study the diversity of plant secondary metabolites and to analyze them both in terms of structure and function. The German organic chemists developed techniques to acetylate morphine and produce what they claimed at the time to be a non addictive version of the drug. However, acetylation product of morphine trade name Heroin, was vastly more addictive. The economies of several developing nations in Asia still depend on the acetylation of this plant secondary metabolite, and tens of thousands of lives each year are destroyed by its commercial importance. In another striking example of profitable secondary metabolites, acetylation techniques to salicylic acid, derived originally from the bark of willows, Salix, to create aspirin. The modern appreciation of these secondary metabolites from ecological and evolutionary perspectives had its spread outside of the plant-insect ecology community. The overwhelming array of chemicals found in plants was more than simply by-products of primary metabolism that served as waste products for these organisms that lacked excretory systems.

Ecologists and evolutionary biologists soon took up the cudgels, and the past 60 years have seen the development, testing, refinement, and, in some cases, rejection of models that describe the ecology and evolution of these “secondary” substances. With the functional roles of these compounds broadly acknowledged, several challenges presented themselves to scientists interested in their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Most obviously, the details of the processes underlying the interactions between each of these compounds and their target pest or pathogen became one of the most vibrant topics in ecological and physiological research.

2.1 Introduction

Dietary supplements from plant sources are sometimes referred to as phytopharmaceuticals. They are produced from fresh, dried or otherwise preserved plants or parts of plants. The active ingredients are usually not completely isolated but rather are obtained along with other naturally occurring components of the plant. These other components are often believed to influence the efficacy of the active ingredient. Sometimes the active ingredients are concentrated, and undesirable substances such as chlorophyll, tannins, or resins, are removed.

2.2 Cultivation

Most of the plants used for dietary supplements or medicinal purposes are cultivated, that is, grown in farms. Some, however, may be collected from the wild. Cultivation allows producers to have more control over quality and purity than does collecting plants from the wild. Cultivars (cultivated varieties) of a number of medicinal plant species have been developed to produce high yields of the desired constituents. Some plants that are grown commercially for medicinal purposes are propagated vegetatively (This means that new plants are grown from cuttings of old plants. Plants grown in this way are genetically identical to the parent plant). Some medicinal plants are grown from selectively bred hybrid seeds, while others are varieties of plants that are unchanged from their natural form.

Like in other crops, international research centres can contribute substantially towards solving the problems that limit ornamentals production because several research constraints are global in nature and need the research support by well staffed and adequately equipped research centres, which can make the work of national research programmes more efficient and accelerate the development of solutions. These international research centres can build a critical mass of scientists that is very important for effective research. It has almost established that successful research in individual crops has usually required the team efforts of specialists working in a range of disciplines like genetics, breeding, agronomy, physiology, pathology, entomology, economics, soils, statistics and chemistry, etc. These research centres are required to 1) Serve as catalyst for change 2) Collect, evaluate, maintain and utilize germplasm, 3) Generate and disseminate information 4) Provide training 5) Stimulate the formation of critical mass for research and 6) Assist national programmes achieving desired goals faster and more efficiently.

Abstract: Gomphrena, indigenous to India, is popular choice for borders, edging, making crafts and potpourris. Only few species are cultivated under tropical and sub-tropical regions. A little work has been done in its improvement. Research should be focused on varietal development for long photoperiod cultivation, tolerant to high temperature stress and medicinal values of the crop. Prospects of hybridization and mutation breeding need to be explored.

Perennial fruit trees build their woody architecture with some building blocks, i.e. modular units, known as metamer or phytomer (White 1979; Room et al., 1992; Hare Krishna, 2012). It consists of meristems initially an apex. When a meristem faces periods of dormancy during low temperature or pruning, later it appears as bud, whenever active, as such bud produces a growing point with sequence of meristematic tissues simultaneously called a sprout, i.e. extension unit or growth unit (Halle et al., 1978; Bell, 1991). The driving mechanism behind the pattern appears to be auxin production (and basipetal transport) when new shoots and leaves developed and are exposed to light (Sterck, 2005). Other feature of trees are to produce more xylems relative to phloem, accumulate xylem over time and may thus produce thick woody branches and stems. Further, attaining reproductive phase and reproduction processes compete with vegetative functions, depleting resources necessary for maintenance and growth (Fakhri et al., 1987).

The idea that reproduction, growth and defence interact within the individual and compete for limited resource is now considered an established principle. Because there are trade-offs between a plant’s various functions and the concept of source, and sink helps to explain allocation patterns at both the physiological and evolutionary levels. Logical approaches have extended this hypothesis to an explicit as source and sink framework in which the effects of defence allocation on rates of consumption can be weighed against the effects on growth (Coley et al., 1985; Mooney and Gulmon, 1982; Fakhri et al., 1987). The allocation to vegetative structures has compounding interest for plant growth, as plant life-cycles begins with pure vegetative growth (Abrahamson, 1979), also consistent with the idea that perennials must forego some reproductive expenditure to retain sufficient resources for perennation.

Bhendi is known by many local names in different parts of the World. For example it is called Lady’s finger in England, Gumbo in USA, bhendi in India Okra (Abelmochus esculentus L. 2n= 1 30) belongs to the family Malvaceae. Origin of okra is West Africa. Okra plant is an erect, herbaceous annual, 1-2 meter tall and forms fairly heavy tap root.

Botanical description

Cowpea belong to genus Vigna and species unguiculata (L) Walp (Syn V. sinensis Savi) of the family Leguminosae sub family Fabacae.

Floral biology

The flowers of cowpea are hermaphrodite. Self-pollination is effected though with some cross-pollination.

Climate and Soil

Cowpea is a warm season crop, and therefore it can be grown both in spring and in rainy seasons in the plains of India. It cannot tolerate cold weather, heavy rainfall and water logging.

Botany: The ash gourd(Benincasa hispida) belonging to the family cucurbitaceae is an annual creeping vine that can either climb structures or be allowed to spread out on the ground. This plant features large green leaves and thick stems covered with coarse hairs. The showy, golden yellow blooms appear early in the summer, and female flowers give way to round or spherical fruits. Young ash gourds are covered with a soft down that disappears with maturity. Fully matured gourds have a white, waxy coating covering the surface.

Field preparation:The field selected for seed production must not have been sown with ashguard in the previous season. This is done to avoid volunteer plants that cause admixture.After proper ploughing, at a spacing of 2.5 x 2 m distance take pits having 45 cm length, width and height. Ten days after that, apply 10 kg FYM and urea 30 g. Super phosphate 72 g and potash 19 g per pit. Then mix the above nutrients with soil and fill the pits and level them.

Soil and climate:Soil with neutral pH must be selected. Loam or clay loam soils are best suited. Higher organic matter will lead to production of vigorous seed.Seed is very sensitive to whether. Hence selecting the right season is necessary. Though ashgourd can grow through out the year, seed crop should be grown such that the seed matures in cool dry climate. This will facilitate proper ripening of fruits and reduce the pest and disease infection. Seasons are selected with this idea in mind. In

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a widely grown vegetable variety in India. It is one of the important members of the family Cucurbitaceae. The seed production can be done throughout the year in tropical climate and during spring, summer and rainy season in subtropical climates. In Tamil Nadu September – October is suitable for seed production. In hills seed production can be done during summer season.

Ribbed gourd (Luffa acutangula (L) Roxb.) belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae is a well known vegetable variety in India. The seed production can be done in both summer and rainy season.
Method of seed production

Bitter gourd is a cross-pollinated crop which occurs through bees. Seeds should be allowed to set by open-pollination in isolation. The isolation distance maintained between the fields of other varieties and the fields of the same variety not conforming to the varietal purity requirements for certification is 1000 metres for foundation and 500 metres for certified seed production.

Botany:Snake gourd belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae native to Southeastern Asia and Australia but cultivated throughout the world for its curved and oddly shaped fruits that appear like snakes hanging on the supports or ground. This subtropical plant grows very fast in warm climates and produces lots of fruits for a long time. It is suitable for growing for home garden and fresh market.

Climate and soil: Snake gourd is adapted to wide variety of soil and climatic conditions. It requires a minimum temperature of 18^oC during early growth, but optimal temperatures are in the range of 24–27^oC. Snake gourd tolerates a wide range of soil but prefers a well drained sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter. The optimum soil pH is 6.0–6.7, but plants tolerate alkaline soils up to pH

Varieties: CO1,CO2, PKM 1, PLR 1 and PLR 2.

Botany: Bottle gourds belonging to the family cucurbitaceae is an annual vine having white flowers and smooth, large, hard-shelled gourds. Brownish seeds are numerous in a whitish green pulp. Each seed is somewhat rectangular in shape with grooved notches near the attached end. Grown most often in warmer climates, this squash grows from 6 to 36 inches long and 3 to 12 inches in diameter.

Seeds leaves, flowers and young stems are all edible. Helpful in shedding extra calories. It contains higher concentrations of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium, Manganese, Protein, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Selenium. A rich source of minerals and vitamins, bottle gourds contains many healing and medicinal properties. The cooked vegetable is not only easy to digest but also contains cooling, calming (or sedative), diuretic properties. It contains low calories also has iron, Vitamin C and B complex. Regular consumption of this vegetable provides relief to people suffering with digestive problems, diabetics and convalescents.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) is a well known and widely cultivated vegetable variety of the family Cucurbitaceae. The seed production can be done in summer season (February - March) and in rainy season (April - May). In Tamil Nadu, sowing during July – August is best for seed production.

Remote sensing has proved its credibility beyond doubt in natural resources survey and environmental monitoring owing to its synoptivity, multispectral photographic capability and repetitive coverage. While its synoptivity gives unbiased information on the regional panorama of the earth surface, its multispectral possibility aids precise interpretation of various objects, as different terrestrial objects exhibit various spectral responses in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Amongst various terrestrial objects, water has a characteristic spectral response of its own, i.e. it permits the blue / red part of EMR (electromagnetic radiation, 0.4-0.8 µm) to penetrate inside. On the contrary, it totally absorbs the infrared part of EMR (0.8-1.5 µm). As such blue/red part of EMR penetrates the water bodies, the impurities and suspended sediments are seen very clearly in various shades of gray as and when the water bodies are shallow. Many workers, therefore, have used blue / red band of the satellite data in such water-quality studies^l-3. Hardy⁴ has observed that the infrared light in the spectral regions of 0.6-1.4 µm has the potential to map the turbidity in the ocean water, whereas Kritakos et al ⁵ have used the rationed data of visible and near infrared bands (0.4-1.1 µm) and obtained better results for water quality monitoring. Keeping such facts in mind, the blue/red band (band 2) of the IRS 1A satellite data was used to configurate the bathymetry along Madras coast in Bay of Bengal (Figure 1 a).

In the present study, the IRS lA band 2 data (0.52-0.59 µm) of March 1991 was used and subjected to edge enhancement studies for the coastal zone of Madras (Figure 1 a). Such edge enhancement normally sharpens the edges of two contrasting objects or sharpens the edges of objects of contrasting relief. In such edge enhanced data, few

Onion is one of the oldest cultivated plant species. Onion forms the bulb in the first year and the seed in the second year. The leaves arise from a shortened crown stem. The sheaths of the older or outermost leaves enclose the younger ones. The basal portion of the leaves encircles the stem, and thickens to form the bulb. The stem elongates during the second year forming the flower stalk. The onion has a fibrous root system extending to a depth of over one meter, but most of them are found in upper surface about one-half meter area.

Amaranth is an annual herb with erect growth and scarce to profuse branching habit. Flowers are borne terminally and in axils of leaves in clusters. Basic unit of inflorescence is called as glomerule. Flowers are small, unisexual and monoecious. Proportion of male and female flowers varies in an inflorescence. Each glomerule consists of a staminate flower and a number of pistillate flowers. The extent of cross pollination is governed by proportion of male and female flowers in an inflorescence and position of inflorescence in plant

Elephant foot yam is an underground stem tuber belonging to the family Araceae, one of the most popular tuber crops, extensively used as a favourite vegetable by millions of people in India. It has both nutritional and medicinal value and is usually consumed as cooked vegetable. It has high dry matter production capability per unit area than most of the other vegetables. Elephant foot yam is a remunerative and profitable stem tuber crop. The crop is gaining popularity due to its shade tolerance, easiness in cultivation, high productivity, less incidence of pests and diseases, steady demand and reasonably good price.

Botany

Cauliflower is highly cross pollinated crop due to self incompatibility. Flower is protogynous in nature. Stigma remains receptive 5 days before and 4 days after opening of the flower. The time taken from pollination to fertilization is 248 hours depending upon the temperature. The optimum temperature for fertilization and seed development is 12°C – 18°C. Bees are the major pollinators.

Method of seed production: There are two methods of seed production

1. in situ method (seed to seed method)
2. Transplanting method (Head to seed method)

For seed production, seed to seed method is recommended since the head to seed method in India has not been very successful. In seed to seed method (In situ method) the crop is allowed to over winter and produce seed in the original position, where they are first planted in the seedling stage.

ABSTRACT

The coastal ecosystem happens to be one of the most productive ecosystems. This ecosystem has been under different kinds of threats such as climate change and consequent rise in sea level, increase in population and depletion of natural resources. All this has given rise to an increase in the level of abiotic stresses such as salinity, alkalinity, and drought affecting the agricultural productivity in the coastal region. Salinization is posing an increasing problem in coastal and agricultural areas reducing plant productivity and yield. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses decreasing the plant productivity.

Salinity is a significant factor limiting agricultural productivity and affecting about 9x 10⁸ hectares worldwide. Poor quality of water for irrigation and current unsustainable irrigation practices has significantly resulted in salinization and other forms of soil damage. About one third of all irrigated land is affected by salt due to secondary salinization. It is estimated that 50% of all arable land will be salinized by the year 2050. The problem of secondary salinization is also becoming more serious as it represents loss of highly productive lands. Added to this is the problem of coastal salinity where intrusion of seawater into arable land due to erosion of coastal habitat has rendered it unsuitable for cultivation. Salt-affected soils (~11 million ha in South and Southeast Asia) are found along coastlines or in inland areas where evaporation is greater than precipitation.

Waste is not actually waste but is the by-product of various activities of human life. The unclean handling of these wastes creates problem for public health departments and local bodies. The classification of waste depends on the agencies that classify these wastes according to the area of interest and method of disposal viz. medical field, agricultural field, local bodies, industries etc.

In the present paper, the emphasis is given to the classification based on agricultural activities which includes a) Agricultural marketing waste b) Meat and fish marketing waste.

ABSTRACT

Dissected shoot tips from healthy suckers of banana var. Meitei Hei (local variety) were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators viz., NAA and BAP. After 15 days of incubation 50% of the shoot tips turned green in the medium with 5.0 mgl^-1 BAP. A maximum of 85.7% of the explants produced phenolic exudates in MS + 5.0 mgl^-1 BAP. After one month the explants were subcultured in fresh medium with the respective concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators. After 75 days of incubation an average of 2.20 microshoots were induced in 78.57% of the explants in MS + 5.0 mgl^-1 BAP. The regeneration of shoots, leaves and roots was more proportionate in MS + 0.1 mgl^-l NAA + 0.5 mgl^-1 BAP. Under the treatment the microshoots had an average height of 1.19 cm with 4.13 leaves and 2.40 roots. The multiple microshoots were separated and subcultured on MS + 0.1 mgl^-l NAA + 0.5 mgl^-1 BAP for proper development. After 120 days the completely regenerated plantlets were hardened under green house environment.

ABSTRACT

Direct shoot organogenesis from several explant types excised from in vitro grown plants of local elite tomato cv. PKM1 was studied in response to zeatin, BAP, IAA and NAA. Cotyledonary leaves were found to be the most responsive explants. High shoot bud induction rate (>25 shoot buds/cotyledonary explant) was obtained in the presence of 2 mg/l zeatin. The organogenic calli were subcultured onto the same shoot bud induction medium for shoot development. Among different growth regulators tested, zeatin @ 2 mg/ l induced more number of shoots per explant compared to BAP, IAA and NAA combinations. Rooting was efficiently induced on half strength MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IAA. The effects of various growth hormones on tomato regeneration on rooting were discussed.

ABSTRACT

In vitro culture induced genetic variation constitutes an important source of variability for the improvement in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). Hence attempts were made to standardize indirect method of in vitro plantlet regeneration in ginger using various explants like sprouted bud, shoot tip, leaf and pseudo stem. Explants from two cultivars of ginger viz. Maran and Rio-de-janeiro were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various levels of 2,4-D and in combination with different levels of BA. Cultures were incubated under two different culture conditions viz. light and dark. Callusing was observed in all the explants except mature leaf in MS medium supplemented with 2,4- D alone (1 - 2 mg l^-1) and in combination with BAP (0.5 - 3.0 mg l^-1). Shoot morphogenesis was achieved from one month old calli in MS medium supplemented with BAP (3.0 mg l^-1). Regenerated shoots were subcultured to medium of same composition for further shoot proliferation and rooting. Plantlets produced were hardened and planted out. From the present investigation, highly efficient protocol for indirect organogenesis in ginger could be developed and the response of two cultivars at various stages of morphogenesis could be studied in detail.

ABSTRACT

In vitro multiplication studies on two peach cvs namely Prabhat and Flordasun grown widely under agroclimatic conditions of Haryana were carried out using nodal and shoot tip explants. Amongst various media modification, M medium containing 1.5 mg^-1 BAP was found the best for shoot induction from both the explants. However, shoot tip showed better response in comparison to nodal explants. Shoot multiplication was highest on M⁷medium (MS+ 6 mg l^-1 BAP). Cultivar response did not differ significantly. Rooting was obtained on M medium containing 0.5 mg l^-1 NAA.

ABSTRACT

Bacopa monnieri (L.) or Herpestis monniera, commonly known as brahmi, purifies the blood, and is useful in scabies, leucoderma, syphilis, diarrhoea and pyresis. As Brahmi is a major ingredient in several ayurvedic preparations, there is growing demand for steady supply of planting materials. Conventional propagation methods are less efficient than in vitro propagation. However, there are only a few reports on the in vitro propagation of this plant. Therefore, an attempt was made to evolve an improved protocol for the in vitro propagation of Bacopa. Shoot tips and nodal buds along with a portion of the stem excised from field grown disease free plants were taken as the explants. After three weeks of establishment on MS basal medium, the sterile cultures were sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (0.5,1.0 and 1.5mg l^-1). Rooting was induced on in vitro proliferated shoots by culturing on MS basal medium with NAA 1.0 mg l^-1 and IBA 0.5 mg l^-1. Treatments with BA 1.0 mg l^-1 and IAA 1.5 mg l^-1 recorded the maximum number of shoots (40.9 and 35.2, respectively). The height of the shoots was also significantly influenced by the concentrations of IAA (1.5 or 1.0 mg l^-1) in combination with BA (1.0 mg l^-1), recording 5.4 and 5.5 cm. The shoots with an average length of 3.0 to 4.0 cm were kept for rooting. NAA (1.0 mg l^-1) in combination with IBA (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg l^-1) produced significantly greater number of roots. The length of the roots was also greater in this treatment. The plantlets were transferred to pots in a greenhouse and later to the field with ninety per cent survival.

ABSTRACT

Rubia cordifolia is an effective blood purifier in indigenous medicine. Habitat destruction and indescriminate harvesting is posing threat to its survival necessitating concerted efforts for conservation. The present study is an attempt to standardise in vitro multiplication protocol, a basic step for in vitro conservation, in Rubia cordifolia. Nodal explants cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with BA 1mg l ^-1 and IAA 0.2 mgl^-1 induced axillary bud break. The in vitro formed shoots developed roots on MS basal medium supplemented with IBA 1mg l ^-1. The plantlets were ready for plant out in 100 days of culture initiation and established well on planting out.

ABSTRACT

In vitro propagation of Plumbago rosea was attempted. One year old plants were used as the source of explants. Nodal explants were inoculated on half strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D 1.0 mg l^-1. Induction of callus was observed three weeks after inoculation. The calli were sub-cultured on half strength MS medium supplemented with BA (0.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg l^-1) and IAA (0.0 and 1.0 mg l^-1). Eight treatments with six replications were tried. Benzyl adenine 2.0 mg l^-1 promoted the proliferation of shoots (23.2). Rooting of micro shoots was obtained on MS medium supplemented with IBA 1.5 mg l^-1. The plantlets were then transferred to pots containing sand/soil mixture (1:1) and kept in a mist chamber. The survival rate was found to be 90 per cent.

ABSTRACT

Ipomoea mauritiana (L.) belonging to the Family Convolvulaceae is an important medicinal plant. The roots, leaves and flowers possess medicinal properties. It is used in indigenous medicine as a tonic, aphrodisiac, galactogogue, diuretic, carminative, expectorant and appetizer. It is useful in syphilis, inflammation, leprosy, diseases of blood and in the improvement of voice and complexion. Tender nodal portions from one year old disease free plants grown in pots were used as the source of explants. The explants were inoculated on half strength MS medium containing 3.0 per cent sucrose and 0.6 per cent agar supplemented with 2,4-D 0.5 mg l^-1. All the explants showed callus initiation after three weeks. The contamination free, one week old callus cultures were used for testing the effect of the different treatments. The treatments comprised of different combinations of BA (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mg l^-1) and NAA (0 and 0.1 mg l^-1) added to half strength MS medium. The highest rate of shoot regeneration was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with BA 4.0 mg l^-1. Rooting of the proliferated shoots could be induced on the same basal medium supplemented with IBA 1.0 mg l^-1 and NAA 1.0 mg l^-1. The regenerated plants were hardened in a humidity chamber and successfully transferred to pots, with 90 per cent survival.

ABSTRACT

In vitro clonal propagation of Smilax zeylanica Linn was attempted. Axillary buds from shoot tip and single node explants were induced to proliferate on half strength MS basal medium supplemented with BA (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg l^-1) and IAA (1.0 and 2.0 mg l^-1). Multiple shoots (6.0 - 10.0 per explant) developed from the axillary buds in about four weeks time in all the treatments tried. However, the highest rate of multiple shoot production was in the medium containing BA 1.0 mg l^-1 and IAA 1.0 mg l^-1. Maximum shoot length was also observed in the same medium. Rooting (83.3 per cent) of micro shoots could be induced on MS supplemented with NAA 0.5 mg l^-1. Individual rooted plantlets could be successfully transferred to soil and established in the field with 80 per cent survival.