Aparbal Singh

Endophytic Bacteria from Ocimum sanctum and Their Yield Enhancing Capabilities

Endophytes are beneficial microbes that reside intercellularly inside the plants. Interaction of endophytes with the host plants and their function within their host are important to address ecological relevance of endophyte. Four endophytic bacteria OS-9, OS-10, OS-11, and OS-12 were isolated from healthy leaves of Ocimum sanctum. These isolated microbes were screened in dual culture against various phytopathogenic fungi viz. Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium solani, Alternaria solani, and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Of these, strain OS-9 was found to be antagonistic to R. solani, A. solani, F. solani, and C. lindemuthianum while OS-11 was found antagonistic against A. solani only. The growth-promoting benefits of the endophytes were initially evaluated in the glasshouse by inoculated seeds of O. sanctum. Treatment with endophytes OS-10 and OS-11 resulted in significant enhancement of growth as revealed by increase in fresh as well as dry weight. Further, field trials involving two genotypes OS Purple and CIM-Angana were conducted with strains OS-10 and OS-11. The growth-promoting effect was visible on both the genotypes tested as the endophytes significantly enhanced fresh herbage yield (t/ha). Interestingly, these endophytes increased the content of essential oil particularly in cultivar OS Purple and thereby increasing the total oil yields. Molecular characterization of strain OS-11 indicated the strain to be highly related to the type strain of Bacillus subtilis.

Essential Oil of Leaves and Inflorescence of Schinus terebinthifolius: An Exotic Plant of India

Abstract An oil produced from the leaves and inflorescence of Schinus terebinthifolius. Reddi grown in India was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Forty-one compounds were aidentified accounting for 86.4% of the oil. The major components were found to be α-pinene (24.4%), limonene (11.9%) and p-cymene (14.3%).

Osteochondroma of the talus in a male adolescent.

Osteochondroma of the talus is rare but must be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of any swelling in this part of the skeleton. This article describes the differential diagnosis and treatment of osteochondroma of the talus in a male adolescent. Careful surgical planning in all cases of benign-appearing lesions of small bones will prevent the recurrence of this lesion and its complications.

The successful use of intercropping for weed management in medicinal yam (Dioscorea floribunda mart and gal)

Abstract Herbicides (fluchloralin, methabenzthiazuron, diuron oxyfluorfen, simazine, thiobencarb and alachlor), organic mulch and intercropping with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and blackgram (Vigna mungo L.), In comparison with unweeded and weed free check, were studied during the rainy seasons (July‐Sept) of 1982 and 1983 in a 2 year crop of medicinai yam. Simazine 2 kg/ha was most effective in arresting weed dry matter but like other herbicides was phytotoxic to medicinal yam. The weed free check gave maximum tuber yield. Organic mulch, yam plus cowpea and yam plus blackgram were similar in effect and superior to any of the herbicides. The yam plus blackgram association proved most economical due to the additional grain yield of 10–5 and 8 q/ha obtained in the first and second years of study, respectively.

NEW PRACTICES IN THE CULTIVATION OF THE MINT, MENTHA ARVENSIS IN THE INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

India is the worlds dominant producer of crude Mentha arvensis oil, and exporter of its processed derivative, natural menthol. This status has been achieved through superior product price competitiveness resulting from progressive agronomic improvements that include a transition from cultivation of this mint as a semi-perennial to an annual crop. This paper describes and analyses recent developments in Indian M. arvensis cultivation. Observations were made during 1998/99 and 1999/2000 in the fields of 295 farmers in the central Indo-Gangetic plains area. The criteria recorded included: mint cultivars used; the planting, weeding, irrigation, pesticide application and harvesting schedules; crop health in relation to diseases and pests; yields of the harvested herb and the distilled essential oil; the oil menthol content; and the net income. Most of the farmers used the cultivar, Kosi. The performance and returns of Kosi transplanted in April had proved superior to Kosi and Shivalik suckers and to transplanted Shivalik. The returns from late-transplanted Kosi were in the range of Rupees (Rs) 25 000 to Rs 40 000 ha −1 (Rs 50≈US

Chemical Composition of the Leaf Oil of Eucalyptus radiata Sieb, ex DC subsp. robertsonii (Blakely) L. Johnson et D. Blaxell: A Rich Source of Eucalyptus Oil of Pharmacopoeia Grade

1), similar to those from Kosi suckers and much higher than for both transplanted and suckers of Shivalik. This survey revealed that rotations of rice ( Oryza sativa ) with chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) and mint, and pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan ) with wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) and mint could be profitable in the central Indo-Gangetic plains. They also conserved inputs and were preferable to the conventional rice-wheat rotation. A re-survey in the summer of 2002 confirmed that recommendations made to farmers have led to the adoption of the Kosi and Himalaya cultivars in 80% of the survey region and that 70% of mint cultivation in the area occurs in the summer season.

Effect of Hay Storage on Oil Yield and Quality in Three Cymbopogon Species (C. winterianus, C. martinii and C. flexuosus) during Different Harvesting Seasons

ABSTRACT The essential oil content of the leaves of Eucalyptus radiata Sieb, ex DC subsp. robertsonii (Blakely) L. Johnson et D. Blaxell. varied from 6.7% to 8.4% (DWB) during different seasons. GC/MS analysis of the oil led to the identification of 24 constituents comprising 96.3% of the oil. The major component was 1,8-cineole (74.25%) followed by α-terpineol (11.6%) and limonene (4.5%). The oil content is highest among all the reported Eucalyptus species and as it is devoid of α-and β-phellandrene, it complies with the specifications of the British and U.S. Pharmacopoeias for Eucalyptus oil without any rectification

Suitability of organic mulch (distillation waste) and herbicides for weed management in perennial aromatic grasses

ABSTRACT Hay storage of Cymbopogon martinii and C. winterianus, either in the shade or in the open, was found to be advantageous during summer and rainy seasons, respectively. Maximum enhancements of 31.4% and 18.0% in oil content over the fresh distilled herbs were recorded in 5 and 7 days respectively. The safe limit of herb storage varied according to the species and storage conditions. Storage of C. flexuosus herbage always caused a reduction in oil content except during the summer when it was not affected for three days under shade storage. Temperature and humidity were found to play a vital role in biosynthesis/accumulation of essential oils in stored herbs.

Essential Oil Quality and Yield with Respect to Harvest Index in Tagetes minuta Cultivated in Sub Tropical Plains of North India

Abstract Poor economic return from perennial aromatic grasses during a planting year results from the high cost of cultivation, on account of planting, and lower yields, largely due to slow crop growth rate and high vulnerability of aromatic grasses to weeds, which are poorly managed In the absence of suitable weed control measures. Field experiments were established in July 1982 to examine the suitability of organic mulch (distillation waste of citronella Java) and herbicides in three important perennial aromatic grasses, citronella Java (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt), lemongrass (C. flexuosus (D.C.) Stapf) and palmarosa (C. martinii Stapf var. motia) for two harvest years (1981–82 and 1982–83) under a subtropical climate at Lucknow. Weeds caused an average 40% reduction in herb and oil yields in the first harvest year as against 6% In the second. Organic mulch 3 t/ha, oxyfluorfen 0–5 kg/ha, diuron 1.5 kg/ha and simazine 1.5 kg/ha gave herb and oil yields equal to weed‐free check, and proved superior to...

Essential Oil Composition of the Inflorescence of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Collected at Different Stages of Flowering from Kumaon Region of Western Himalaya

Abstract Planned studies were carried out to determine the most appropriate stage of economic harvest in Tagetes minuta by examining dry matter partitioning, essential oil yield and quality of oil at different growth stages grown in Lucknow conditions at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India, during winter season 2002–2003. The maximum essential oil yield (1.01 g/plant and 56.1 kg/ha) was obtained upon harvesting at post fowering stage (seed setting stage). Advantage in essential oil yield at this stage was 130%, 34.5% and 36.5% yield enhancement over pre-flowering, 50% and 100% flowering stages, respectively. Flowers and leaves contained the maximum essential oil 2.14% and 1.89% (dry weight basis), respectively. Relative contribution of leaf, flower and stem to essential oil production was 40.7%, 37.8% and 21.5%, respectively. In the oil quality analysis, dihydrotagetone (77.1%) was the predominant component in oil from the leaves while (Z)-β-ocimene, limonene and (Z)-tagetone were the major constituents in the flower oil. The study suggests that T. minuta should be harvested at the post-flowering stage for realizing maximum essential oil yield and its desirable major chemical constituents. The study also differentiated the quality of leaf and fower oil for chemical constituents.