Amal Kumar Mondal

Evaluation of electroelution and immunodiffusion as methods for purification and identification of the allergenic proteins of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. pollen

The total soluble proteins from the pollen of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., a potentially allergenic plant, was extracted and separated on a 12% SDS‐Polyacrylamide gel with an aim to identify the allergenic determinants responsible for causing respiratory disorders. The protein profile revealed nine prominent bands, which were designated as AE1 to AE9 lying within a short molecular weight range of 42.7 kDa to 97.4 kDa. Each protein fraction was recovered from the gel by electroelution and sent for skin tests to identify the allergenic fractions. All the protein fractions except AE3 (85.3 kDa), were found to be capable of inducing reactivity in sensitive patients. However, AE6 (59.7 kDa) and AE8 (45.0 kDa) proved to be the major allergenic determinants, while AE1 (97.4 kDa), AE2 (92.6 kDa), AE4 (73.3 kDa), AE5 (64.8 kDa), AE7 (52.4 kDa) and AE9 (42.7 kDa) are the minor contributors of allergenicity. Immunodiffusion analysis with pooled sera of patients sensitive to the total extract also revealed similar results.

Peroxidase isozyme profiles of immature and mature pollen of seven tropical plants from eastern India

Peroxidase isozyme profiles of the pollen collected from the immature and mature anthers (before and after anthesis) of seven tropical plant taxa from eastern India were studied in order to understand the development of Peroxidase isozyme activity with the maturity of the pollen. Considerable variation in the enzyme profiles was observed in all cases, except in Saccharum spontaneum with the individual isoforms showing a tendency to increase in their concentration and staining properties and with the simultaneous appearance of new bands, in certain cases, on maturity. Saccharum spontaneum showed no variation in its isozyme profile even on maturity.

Identification of the allergenic proteins of Cassia siamea pollen

Total soluble proteins from the pollen of Cassia siamea Lamk. were extracted and subjected to 80% ammonium sulphate precipitation. The total protein was then separated on a 12% SDS-Polyacrylamide gel which revealed 11 bands between molecular weight range of 45 kDa and 181kDa with another band having molecular weight less than 29kDa. Each band was recovered from the gel by electroelution and sent for skin tests. CS4 (97kDa). CS7 (63kDa), CS9 (53 kDa) and CS10 (45kDa) were the major allergenic components while CS2 (148kDa), CS3 (116kDa), CS6 (75kDa) and CS8 (60kDa) also induced reactivity in some patients. Immunodiffusion analysis with pooled sera of patients sensitive to the total extract confirmed the allergenicity of the bands.

Studies on the prospects and some problems of sand dune vegetation at the fragile coastal zones of West Bengal and Orissa, in Eastern India

Sand dunes are natural guard wall at coast line through out the world. The sand dune constitutes different types of plants with different habits but moreover all of the plants having stress tolerance capability and more or less soil binding capacity. The sand dune demands immediate attention for conservation as the vegetation is going towards destruction due to the development and other anthropogenic activities along the coastal areas. The sand dune also needs further study as several morphological, chemo-taxonomical variations are already been observed under different physiological conditions. This paper reports some preliminary study on the species found within the sand dune (including habit, habitat, morphological features, flowering time, floral biology, seed structure, pollen morphology and some biochemical studies) of several places along the coastal line of West Bengal and Orissa. Reasons behind the destruction of the sand dune have been studied and the strategies were also proposed for possible conservation and implementation of sustainable use of sand dune vegetation in coastal areas for the benefit of farmers particularly for food, fodder and health aspects.

Pollution tolerance performance index for plant species using geospatial technology: evidence from Kolaghat Thermal Plant area, West Bengal, India

Pollution is a global phenomenon which has completely transformed the socio-economic scenario in urban areas all over the world we also care about it. Although the plant has a number of benefits, the lack of treatment of the fly ash generated from this plant has been detrimental to the productivity and quality of the main commercial crops of the surrounding area and is also responsible for some changes in the land use pattern. Studies were made to assess the impact of a thermal power plant located at Kolaghat on vegetation and water in surrounding areas. Pollutant concentration in the area gradually increased along a belt in the prevailing wind direction and a gradient of structural and functional changes in aquatic plants was observed. Natural vegetation in the area varied significantly at different sites and on the basis of plant responses can be classified as insensitive, intermediate and sensitive repetitively. The effect of the power plant emissions on water, soil and eco-physiological characteristics such as chlorophyll content, relative water content, ascorbic acid, it’s seemed to be a function of the pollutant gradient existing in the area. There was a relationship between plant responses and changes in the chemical factors of water, soil and plants due to pollution of Thermal Power Plant. According to pollution tolerance performance index such types of plants species play an importance role for green development in Kolaghat Thermal Power area.

Circumscription of the families within Leguminales as determined by cladistic analysis based on seed protein

Comparative banding pattern of the seed protein of 17 taxa belonging to the three families Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Fabaceae was studied with the aim of testing the proposed delimitation of the order Leguminales (Fabales) into the three families or subfamilies and to assess the phylogenetic relationships within the three families. Cluster and pairing affinity or similarity index analysis of the data from total protein grouped the 17 taxa into three discrete clusters based on their families. Considerable amount of homology was observed in the banding pattern between the different taxa.

The morphological diversification of pollinia of some members of Asclepiadaceae

Most of the natural systems of plant classification have been based on exomorphic characters. The flower is a primary reproductive character considered to be more important than any vegetative characters. The mass of pollen grains is basically called pollinia. Like pollen, the pollinium is also the key character for the identification of specific plant species belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae (Dicotyledons) and Orchidaceae (Monocotyledons). Pollinial characters are now being used as important taxonomical tool for reassessing the different types of plant groups. The morphological nature of pollinia is specific in each genus. The morphological diversifications of pollinium of different genera of Asclepiadaceae were studied with the help of light microscope and phase contrast microscope (Leica-DM1000). The shape, size, position, orientation of pollinia, translator attachment, furrow position, etc are important criterion for the studies of pollinial morphology. This study analyzed the pollinial morphology of some selected plant taxa like Calotropis gigantea (L.) Ait., Daemia extensa R.Br., Dregea volubilis Benth, Gymnema sylvestre R.Br, Hoya globulosa Hook.f. and Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr. collected from different parts of West Bengal. Key words: Asclepiadaceae, Orchidaceae, morphology, pollinia.

DNA, peroxidase profile, and biochemical composition changes during the treatment in vitro of pollen of Argemone mexicana L. with SO 2

The allergenic pollen of Argemone mexicana L. a common road-side weed was subjected to artificial SO 2 fumigation at a concentration of 100ppm for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours and its effect on the total carbohydrate, lipid, free amino acid, DNA and RNA content as well as peroxidase isozyme and DNA profile studied. In comparison to the control (pollen exposed to charcoal-filtered air), the carbohydrate, lipid, DNA and RNA content decreased with the increase in the time of exposure to SO 2 , where as the percentage composition of free amino acid increased. Contrary, to this, the activity of peroxidase was found to increase with a change in the iso-peroxidase zymogram showing three new anionic isozyme bands. SO 2 affected the total DNA profile leading to the gradual breakdown of DNA with several bands observed on agarose gel electrophoresis with an increase in the time of fumigation.