Kalyan Kumar Mukherjee

Enhanced rate of multiplication and rooting through the use of coir in aseptic liquid culture media

In the quest for cheap and suitable eco-friendly matrix with liquid culture to facilitate rooting three matrices, viz. paddy straw, jute and coir were chosen. Of the three matrices, coir was selected due to its higher water retention capacity compared to the other two matrices. Coir was used with aseptic liquid media for rooting of ten plant species, viz., Nicotiana tabacum, Andrographis paniculata, Chenopodium album (2n=54), C. album (Broad leaf diploid), C. album (Narrow leaf diploid), C. murale, Beta vulgaris (Sugar beet and Table beet), B. palonga (Indian spinach), Tectona grandis and Musa spp. Higher number of roots with profuse root hairs were recorded in all the plant materials in liquid medium with coir compared to conventional agar-gelled media. Apart from rooting, the rate of multiplication, maintenance and concomitant hardening were also found to be more effective in comparison to agar-gelled media. The economical aspect of use of coir instead of agar is also discussed.

Micropropagation of Tectona grandis: Assessment of Genetic Fidelity

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to analyze genetic fidelity of micropropagated teak (Tectona grandis L.) clones with respect to subcultural passage. Of the twenty primers screened, no variation in RAPD profiles was noticed in the in vitro clones of fifth, tenth, fifteenth and twentieth passage in comparison to the in vivo mother plants. Only one micropropagated plant of twenty-fifth subcultural passage, however, differed from the in vivo ones. It revealed the appearance of a new polymorphic DNA fragment (molecular mass 379 kb) in case of primer OPB-08. This primer, manifesting detectable variation, may be utilized as a diagnostic marker for assessing genetic fidelity of micropropagted teak plants.

Speciation in Chenopodium in West Bengal, India

Two diploid cytotypes of Chenopodiumalbum have earlier been proposed as the probable ancestors ofhexaploid C. album in Gangetic Plainof West Bengal on the basis of cytomorphological data. The present study withthe diploid cytotypes of C. album (onebroad leaved, another narrow leaved), one wild species, C.murale and the hexaploid C.album utilizing parameters like seed protein, isozyme,RAPD, tissue culture along with conventional cytomorphological data supports ourearlier hypothesis of allopolyploid origin of hexaploid C.album. The results indicate that all the three diploidprogenitors have contributed for the evolution of present day semi-cultivatedhexaploid C. album. This study furthersuggests that the diploid cytotypes had been evolved sympatrically.

Trichomes: their Diversity, Distribution and Density in Acclimatization of Teak (Tectona grandis L.) Plants Grown in vitro

Diversity, distribution and density of trichomes were studied in relation to other morphological and physiological parameters of in vivo and in vitro teak (Tectona grandis L.) plants with the objective to understand their role in hardening and acclimatization of micropropagated plants. Less diversity and scanty distribution of trichomes of in vitro leaves in comparison to the in vivo ones were correlated with water loss of the former plants leading to low rate of survival after transplantation. The probable cause for absence of certain types of trichome in in vitro plants was also discussed.

Investigations on a new Beta (Chenopodiaceae)

Both the common sugar beet and Indian spinach (locally called Palong) have so far been considered to be the same species, Beta vulgaris L. Critical morphological, karyological, and biochemical studies revealed that Indian spinach is strikingly different from B. vulgaris and is described here as Beta palonga Basu & Mukherjee sp. nov.

Direct organogenesis in Indian spinach

An efficient and reproducible protocol for plant regeneration through in vitro culture of Indian spinach (Beta palonga) is reported. Shoot buds were obtained both from blade petiole transition zones and midribs of fully expanded leaves. Murashige and Skoogs basal medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid and benzyladenine (each at 1 mg l−1) resulted in high frequency shoot organogenesis. Histological studies showed that the origin of shoot primordia was sub epidermal.An efficient and reproducible protocol for plant regeneration through in vitro culture of Indian spinach (Beta palonga) is reported. Shoot buds were obtained both from blade petiole transition zones and midribs of fully expanded leaves. Murashige and Skoogs basal medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid and benzyladenine (each at 1 mg l−1) resulted in high frequency shoot organogenesis. Histological studies showed that the origin of shoot primordia was sub epidermal.

Esterase as a Marker to Study the Genetic Fidelity of Micropropagated Banana

Isozymic profiles of different micropropagated banana (Musa spp.) cultivars (Giant Governor, Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Champa, Kachakel and Chatim) of West Bengal, India were assessed at different subcultural passages. Variation with respect to the banding pattern was noticed only in esterase but not in peroxidase and acid phosphatase. Of the six cultivars, four showed variation both at isozymic and yield level. Two cultivars (Kachakel and Chatim) maintained their esterase profile and genetic stability even after twenty subcultural passages.

Biochemical studies on palm pollen

Abstract Striking similarities and wide diversity in the phenolic compounds and isozyme profiles were recorded in the pollen grains of Phoenix sylvestris, Areca catechu and Cocos nucifera (Palmae). Morphologically, pollen grains of three species showed similar trends. The results of the chromatographic and electrophoretic studies were concordant with current systematic classification of Palmae.

Biochemical Studies on Ipomoea Pollen to Understand Species Homology

Abstract Studies on pollen phenolic compounds and isozyme profiles of twelve species of Ipomoea to trace the linkage and homology between the species, through UPGMA method, revealed two broad clusters or groups. The trend of clustering and species composition of each group for both the parameters were close to each other and almost in accordance with phylogenetic interpretation with minor variations. The variations are probably due to the fact that phenolics and isozymes are different biomolecules.

Image-Analysis Based on Seed Phenomics in Sesame

ABSTRACT The seed coat (testa) structure of twenty-three cultivated (Sesamum indicum L.) and six wild sesame (s. occidentale Regel & Heer., S. mulayanum Nair, S. prostratum Retz., S. radiatum Schumach. & Thonn., S. angustifolium (Oliv.) Engl. and S. schinzianum Asch) germplasm was analyzed from digital and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images with dedicated software using the descriptors for computer based seed image analysis to understand the diversity of seed morphometric traits, which later on can be extended to screen and evaluate improved genotypes of sesame. Seeds of wild sesame species could conveniently be distinguished from cultivated varieties based on shape and architectural analysis. Results indicated discrete ‘cut off values to identify definite shape and contour of seed for a desirable sesame genotype along with the con-ventional practice of selecting lighter colored testa.