Saeed A. Siddiqui

Studies in the Lentibulariaceae 8. The Development of Gametophytes in Utricularia dichotoma Labill.

Summary The ovules are anatropous, unitegminal and tenuinucellate. Nutritive tissues differentiate at the chalaza and in the funicle. The megaspore tetrads are linear and sometimes T-shaped or inverted T-shaped. The megaspore tetrads which can not be classified by the usual terminology may occasionally develop. The development of female gametophyte conforms to the Polygonum type. Twin embryo sacs at different stages of development have been observed. The anther wall layers develop according to the Basic type of D avis (1966). The microspore tetrads are generally tetrahedral and occasionally decussate. The pollen grains are shed at 3-celled stage.

Biotechnological strategies for the conservation of medicinal and ornamental climbers

Since time immemorial human beings are utilizing plants, apart from food and shelter, as medicine to cure ailments and ornamentals as aesthetic value. The recognized plants for medicinal uses mostly belong to tree, shrub and herbs, but there is another group of plants categorized as CLIMBERS . The climbing habit is a key innovation in angiosperms evolution. Climbing plant taxa have greater species richness than their non-climbing sister groups. Although it is considered as highly diversified clades but a much neglected group of the plants. In contrast with either erect or prostrate species, which occupy a narrow range of the light, climbers may use a very broad range of light availability. With the occupation of such an expanded ecological niche-ranging from forest floor to understory to forest canopy- a greater exposure to different pollinator, fruit/seed dispersers and herbivores would be granted. Almost one-third of the plant families includes climbers and contributes significantly to the function of any forest system. Climbers are not well investigated by the researchers, however considerable information has been gathered in this book, which delineates for the researchers and readers to exploit medicinal and ornamental climbers for their benefit. As concerted efforts have not been made to popularize climbers for medicinal and aesthetic uses, the contributions made in this book will provide a platform to move ahead for better utilization of climbers in the service of human beings. This book offers an insightful look on different biotechnological interventions for the conservation of medicinal and ornamental climbers. The book starts with a discussion on the evolution and diversification of climbers among the angiosperms. Thereafter chapters describe various approaches of conservation, biotechnological strategies like micropropagation, synseed production, genetic transformation for the quality improvement, production of bioactive compounds under in vitro conditions. This book also provides a compilation of standardized in vitro micropropagtion protocols for some threatened climbers. It also includes chapters on various molecular markers and their application in medicinal and ornamental climbers for their desired improvement. The book provides an essential information for advanced students, teachers and research scientists it the field of plant biotechnology, pharmaceutical industries and medical sciences

Lentibulariaceae 11. The development of endosperm and embryo inUtricularia cornuta Mixch

The development of endosperm conforms to the Scutellaria type of Schnarf. Variations in the plane of early cell divisions in the development of endosperm have been recorded. The embryogeny usually conforms to the Capsella variation of Onagrad type, sometimes Chenopodiad type and rarely Ruta variation of Onagrad type.

Somatic Embryogenesis: A Valuable Strategy for Phyto-Climbing Diversity Conservation

Somatic embryogenesis is the production of embryo-like structures from somatic cells without any gametic fusion. With a low frequency of chimeras, a high number of regenerants, and a limited level of somaclonal variations, somatic embryogenesis is more attractive than organogenesis as a plant regeneration system. Somatic embryos arise both naturally (in vivo) and in culture conditions (in vitro) either direct or through callus (indirect embryogenesis). Secondary embryogenesis is a special case of indirect somatic embryogenesis where secondary somatic embryos are produced through already induced primary embryos as initial explants. Coordinated behavior of morphogenic cells determines single- or multiple-cell origin of somatic embryos. In vitro conditions and plant growth regulators (PGRs) (exogenously added to the culture medium and endogenous PGRs) both are responsible for the induction of embryogenesis. Various extracellular proteins, arabinogalactan proteins, lipochito-oligosaccharides, and genes such as SERK, LEAFY COTYLEDON, BABY BOOM, and WUSCHEL regulate somatic embryogenesis. Being bipolar in nature, somatic embryogenesis is one of the good approaches to speed up the clonal propagation of plants. Synseed preparation is another important aspect of somatic embryos that can be used for germplasm conservation. However, poor germination of embryos is a major limitation of somatic embryogenesis in many plants. The present chapter provides a review on somatic embryogenesis in various medicinal and ornamental climbers.