Mamiyil Sabu

A new variety of Musa velutina H. Wendl. & Drude (Musaceae) from Assam, North-East India

Musa velutina var. variegata, a new variety from Assam, North-East India is described and illustrated based on morphology. This extremely rare variety was found only in Makum Area of Tinsukia District in Assam. A detailed description, distribution, ecology, phenology, illustration, colour plates and relevant notes are provided. A key to the Sect. Rhodochlamys in North-East India is provided.

Prospects for discriminating Zingiberaceae species in India using DNA barcodes.

We evaluated nine plastid (matK, rbcL, rpoC1, rpoB, rpl36-rps8, ndhJ, trnL-F, trnH-psbA, accD) and two nuclear (ITS and ITS2) barcode loci in family Zingiberaceae by analyzing 60 accessions of 20 species belonging to seven genera from India. Bidirectional sequences were recovered for every plastid locus by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons in all the accessions tested. However, only 35 (58%) and 40 accessions (66%) yielded ITS and ITS2 sequences, respectively, by direct sequencing. In different bioinformatics analyses, matK and rbcL consistently resolved 15 species (75%) into monophyletic groups and five species into two paraphyletic groups. The 173 ITS sequences, including 138 cloned sequences from 23 accessions, discriminated only 12 species (60%), and the remaining species were entered into three paraphyletic groups. Phylogenetic and genealogic analyses of plastid and ITS sequences imply the possible occurrence of natural hybridizations in the evolutionary past in giving rise to species paraphyly and intragenomic ITS heterogeneity in the species tested. The results support using matK and rbcL loci for barcoding Zingiberaceae members and highlight the poor utility of ITS and the highly regarded ITS2 in barcoding this family, and also caution against proposing ITS loci for barcoding taxa based on limited sampling.

Significance of gingers (Zingiberaceae) in Indian System of Medicine - Ayurveda: An overview

Background: Family Zingiberaceae consists of the large number of medicinal plants and is well-known for its use in ethnomedicine and play a major role in Indian System of Medicine, Ayurveda. Objective: The aim of this study is the documentation of Zingiberaceous plants used in Ayurveda, adding information to the systematics, vernacular names and chemistry with experimental data. Materials and Methods: The live plants were collected from wild and successfully conserved at Herbal Garden of Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal. The experimental data of each species has been collected from the various sources. The photographs were taken and all relevant data documented. Results and Conclusion: A total of 13 species belonging to 7 genera of Zingiberaceae were documented. The work will be useful to students and researchers as it provides an easy access to Zingiberaceous plants used in Ayurveda.

Notes on the rediscovery, taxonomic history and conservation of Musa mannii H. Wendl. ex Baker (Musaceae)

Musa mannii has been considered as extinct in the wild. There is no information on any collected specimen ever; the description by Baker in 1892 was based on a living specimen, and neotypification is based on a figure drawn of that living plant, published after description. Recently, M. mannii was rediscovered after a lapse of more than a century growing wild in northeastern India. Detailed description, illustration, photographs, distribution, ecological data, taxonomic history and additional notes are provided. IUCN status has been assigned here as Critically Endangered in the wild and conservation measures to be undertaken based on a field study are also provided.

Impatiens roingensis (Balsaminaceae): a new species from northeast India

Impatiens roingensis from Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, is described as new. A detailed description of the plants, their distribution and ecology along with colour photographs are provided for ease of identification.

A new variety of Musa sikkimensis Kurz and notes on the taxonomic identity and history of Musa sikkimensis (Musaceae) from North-East India

A new variety of Musa sikkimensis is described here as M. sikkimensis var. simmondsii. Notes on taxonomic identity and history of M. sikkimensis are provided. Isoneotype for M. sikkimensis and lectotype for Musa hookerii are designated. Detailed description, photographs and notes on distribution and ecology of both the taxa are provided for easy identification.

Amomum sahyadricum (Zingiberaceae), a New Species from the Western Ghats, India

Abstract.  The new species Amomum sahyadricum V. P. Thomas & M. Sabu (Zingiberaceae) is described and illustrated from the Western Ghats, India. The new species is related to A. muricatum Bedd., but differs from it in the smaller habit (33–60 cm vs. 70–150 cm in A. muricatum), the prominently raised veins on the adaxial surface of the leaf lamina (vs. immersed venation), the fleshy and thick bracts (vs. membranous bracts), 2-horned bracteoles, the calyx with three mucronate teeth, dorsal corolla lobe mucronate at apex, and the rugose to muricate fruits (vs. echinate fruits). IUCN status, distribution, phenology, and ecological details are provided.

Molecular evolution of A PR-5 protein gene in Zingiber species with contrasting breeding systems

In Zingiber species, mode of propagation ranges from obligatory asexual multiplication in ginger through mixed breeding in Z. zerumbet to predominant sexual reproduction in Z. cernuum and Z. neesanum. Pattern of resistance towards soft rot disease caused by the oomycete pathogen Pythium also varies among these species, from resistance in Z. zerumbet to high susceptibility in Z. officinale. In this study, nucleotide diversity of a defense gene, PR5 and a non defense gene, methionine synthase were compared in Zingiber species with contrasting breeding system. As a whole, the analysis revealed higher levels of nucleotide diversity in PR5 genes as compared to methionine synthase, and evidence for transient episodes of positive selection experienced by this gene in the past. Contrary to expectations, the nucleotide diversity was higher in obligatory asexual Z. officinale, suggesting the possibility of accumulation of deleterious mutations. Results indicate accelerated evolution of PR5 genes in Zingiber species; perhaps to co evolve adaptive variants against evolving pathogen populations.

Taxonomic history of Meistera acuminata (Thwaites) Škorničk. & M.F.Newman (Zingiberaceae) with notes on typification, affinities and variations

ABSTRACT A new synonym Meistera muricata is proposed for M. acuminata. The nomenclatural and identity confusions were resolved with typification in this paper. Detailed descriptions, illustration, photographs, etc. are provided. The affinities and variations of specimens are also discussed.

Chemical Composition of Rhizome Essential Oils of Amomum agastyamalayanum and Amomum newmanii from South India

Abstract Chemical composition of rhizome essential oils of Amomum agastyamalayanum and A. newmanii from south India were analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. Major constituents in A. agastyamalayanum rhizome oil were allo-aromadendrene (16.2 %), β-pinene (8.7 %) and (E)-caryophyllene (8.5 %). Santolina triene (42.2 %) and α-pinene (17.1 %) were the major constituents in A. newmanii rhizome oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes and other constituents in A. agastyamalayanum/A. newmanii rhizome oils were 16.3 %/73.7 %, 10.4 %/ 6.9 %, 48.8 %/13.1 %, 19.4 %/3.4 % and 2.1 %/1.0 %, respectively. This is the first chemical profiling study of these two endemic Amomum species.