L. Rahman

An efficient in vitro procedure for micropropagation and generation of somaclones of rose scented Pelargonium.

Efficient protocols have been established for both direct and indirect regeneration of plants in Pelargonium graveolens Indian cultivar Hemanti (Algerian type). Murashige and Skoogs (MS) medium [T. Murashige, F. Skoog, A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15 (1962) 473-497] supplemented with 5.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA was optimal for direct regeneration of plants from leaf explants while 8.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA proved optimum for nodal explants for maximum number of shoots per explant. Callus induction was observed from nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA. Callus on further transfer to MS medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l NAA exhibited regeneration of maximum number of shoots. In vitro grown shoots of both direct and indirect origin rooted within 7-10 days following transfer to half strength MS medium with 1.0 mg/l IBA. Plantlets were acclimatized under glass house conditions with 90% survival. Randomly selected 85 individual Calliclones were subjected to field trial with 85-95% survival for two successive years along with control in randomized block design with three replicates. Screening of these calliclones revealed two distinct morphotypes, one with parental type highly dentated leaves (HDL) and the other with less dentated, round leaves (LDL). Only HDL calliclones flowered under field conditions. The LDL clones differed in several herb related agronomic characteristics such as plant height, herb yield, canopy size and number of branches per plant from the parental type as well as from the parent, which seems advantageous for commercial exploitation of such clones. The HDL clones closely resemble the parent in having higher content of citronellol than geraniol while the LDL clones contain almost equal contents of citronellol and geraniol in their essential oils as revealed by gas chromatography analysis. It is noticeable that the variability both in terms of agronomic characters and essential oil profiles among the clones were stable over 2 years of field trials.

Yield enhancement strategies for the production of picroliv from hairy root culture of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.

Fast-growing hairy root cultures of Picrorhiza kurroa induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes offers a potential production system for iridoid glycosides. In present study we have investigated the effects of various nutrient medium formulations viz B5, MS, WP and NN, and sucrose concentrations (1–8%) on the biomass and glycoside production of selected clone (14-P) of P. kurroa hairy root. Full strength B5 medium was found to be most suitable for maximum biomass yield on the 40th day of culture (GI = 32.72 ± 0.44) followed by the NN medium of the same strength (GI = 22.9 ± 0.43). Secondary metabolite production was 1.1 and 1.3 times higher in half strength B5 medium respectively in comparison to MS medium. Maximum biomass accumulation along with the maximum picroliv content was achieved with 4% sucrose concentration in basal medium. RT vitamin and Thiamine-HCl effected the growth and secondary metabolite production of hairy roots growing on MS medium but did not show any effect on other media. The pH of the medium played significant role in growth and secondary metabolite production and was found to be highest at pH 6.0 while lowest at pH 3.0 and pH 8.0. To enhance the production of biomass and Picroliv 5 liter working capacity bioreactor was used, 27-fold (324 g FW) higher growth was observed in bioreactor than shake flask and secondary metabolite production was similarly enhanced.

Utilization of Distillation Waste–Based Vermicompost and Other Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Improving Production Potential in Geranium and Soil Health

Vermicompost (VC) produced from distillation waste of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), farmyard manure (FYM) produced from animal excreta mixed with pine needle (Pinus sp.), and biofertilzer (Azotobacter) were utilized for this experiment. The plant growth attributes, biomass, and oil yield of geranium were significantly increased with integrated nutrient supply, and maximum increase was found in T8 treatments (N100P60 K60 + 5t VC). Soil organic carbon (Corg) significantly increased by 4.2% to 81.8% in T4 and T8 treatments, respectively, over the control. Data obtained on total nitrogen (Nt) and available N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) clearly showed that the integrated nutrient supply considerably improved the soil health and sustainability. The soil respiration and microbial biomass C (Cmic) and N (Nmic) were increased by the manures according to the application rate. The Cmic accounted for 1.8 to 2.7% of the soil Corg content and microbial N accounted for 3.9 to 5.8 % of Nt under different treatment combinations.

Integrated Nutrient Management on Biomass, Oil Yields and Essential Oil Composition of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and Residual Fertility in a Hilly Soil

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of combined use of farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers on biomass and essential oil yields, chemical and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen of soil grown with peppermint (Mentha piperita) in a hilly region, Bageshwar, India. Combined application of both farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers increased the biomass and oil yields of peppermint compared to sole inorganic fertilizers treatments. The treatments receiving both farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers improved the soil organic carbon and total N from initial value of 3.9 to 7.0 g kg-1 soil and 0.27 to 0.58 g kg-1 soil, respectively. A significant improvement has been noticed in soil respiration, soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen compared to inorganic fertilizer alone. Moreover, different proportions of inorganic fertilizers with farm yard manure had significant variation on available major soil nutrients. A significant correlation coefficient (r= 0.41* to 0.98**) was observed between yields and soil properties. The quality of essential oil was good and acceptable for the market.

VOLATILE TERPENOID COMPOSITION OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS, "CIM-HARIYALI": VARIABILITY IN NORTH INDIA DURING ANNUAL GROWTH

To investigate the seasonal influence on essential oil content and composition of rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) cultivar ‘CIM-Hariyali’ a study was conducted in Kumaon region of western Himalaya. Essential oil content was found to vary from 1.0% to 1.14% during the year. GC and GC-MS analyses enabled to identify thirty components representing 95.33% - 97.03% of the total oil composition. Main components of the oils were 1,8-cineole (22.61% - 23.85%), camphor (24.40% - 25.85%), α-pinene (10.74% - 12.59%), verbenone (4.90% - 5.77%), camphene (5.46% - 6.16%), β-pinene (3.28% - 4.02%), limonene (2.86% - 3.39%) and β-myrcene (1.89% - 1.95%). The study clearly showed that there were no drastic changes in the essential oil content and composition of rosemary due to season. Therefore, the crop may be harvested in any season to get good quality oil in hilly region of north India.

Chemical Composition of Volatile Fraction of Fresh and Dry Artemisia capillaris Thunb. from Kumaon Himalaya

Abstract In order to investigate the influence of drying, the essential oil from fresh, shade dried and sun dried flowering twigs of Artemisia capillaris was compared. The essential oil content was found higher in fresh herb (0.63 %) compared to dry materials (0.57 %). GC and GC-MS analysis enabled identification of twenty five components, representing 93.8 % - 95.0 % of the total oil. The major components of these oils were capillene (32.5 % - 39.6 %), γ-terpinene (26.4 % -34.3 %), eugenol (7.4 % - 10.1 %), β-caryophyllene (4.8 % - 7.9 %) and ρ-cymene (2.0 % - 5.1 %). Interestingly, capillene content was found to decrease, whereas γ-terpinene and eugenol increased on drying. The study suggested that the A. capillaris biomass should be distilled afresh for better oil yield and quality under hill conditions of Kumaon Himalaya.

AromaDb: A database of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant’s Aroma Molecules with Phytochemistry and Therapeutic potentials

In traditional, herbal medicine, and aromatherapy, use of essential oils and their aroma compounds have been known since long, for the management of various human diseases. The essential oil is a mixture of highly complex, naturally occurring volatile aroma compounds synthesized by medicinal and aromatic plants as secondary metabolites. Essential oils widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, sanitary, food industry and agriculture for their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, anticancer, neuroprotective, psychophysiological, and anti-aging activities. Moreover, volatile aroma compounds comprise a chemically diverse class of low molecular weight organic compounds with significant vapor pressure. However, aroma compounds produced by plants, mainly attract pollinators, seed dispersers and provide defense against pests or pathogens. However, in humans, about 300 active olfactory receptor genes are involved to detect thousands of different aroma compounds and modulates expression of different metabolic genes regulating human psychophysiological activity, brain function, pharmacological signaling, and therapeutic potential. Keeping in mind this importance, present database, namely, AromaDb (http://bioinfo.cimap.res.in/aromadb/) covers information of plant varieties/chemotypes, essential oils, chemical constituents, GC-MS profile, yield variations due to agro-morphological parameters, trade data, aroma compounds, fragrance type, and bioactivity details. The database includes 1,321 aroma chemical structures, bioactivities of essential oil/aroma compounds, 357 fragrance type, 166 commercially used plants, and their high yielding 148 varieties/chemotypes. Also includes calculated cheminformatics properties related to identification, physico-chemical properties, pharmacokinetics, toxicological, and ecological information. Also comprises interacted human genes affecting various diseases related cell signaling pathways correlating the use of aromatherapy. This database could be a useful resource to the plant’s growers/producers, an aroma/fragrance industrialist, health professionals, and researchers exploring the potential of essential oils and aroma compounds in the development of novel formulations against human diseases.