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Clonal variations in seed characters and germination in Hevea brasiliensis
Get PDFThe principal form of dissemination for most plant species is seeds, an important source of biodiversity conservation. For rubber plantations, seeds are the initial material for seedling production. In Cameroon, there is limited information related to clonal seed characterisation and early growth performance. This study sorts to characterise Hevea brasiliensis seeds from GT 1, PR 107, PB 217, PB 235, and PB 260 clones and evaluate the germination rate and seedling early growth characteristics to enable planning for nursery management. Clone GT 1 had the highest seed length (3.98 cm), seed kernel weight (3.4 g) and total seed weight (4.75 g). Clone PB 235 had the heaviest shell (1.96 g). There was no significant correlation between seed size, germination percentage and early seedling growth for the different clones. Clone PR 107 had the lowest per cent seed germination, with just 55 per cent of its seed germinating after two weeks, whereas clone PB 217 had the highest seed germination (92.5%). Seedling height, seed germination percentage and shell weight were significantly correlated. The results of this study provide some useful information for rubber nursery managers
Effect of growth regulators concentrations on in vitro multiplication of three elite sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Genotypes using shoot tip culture
Get PDFConventional vegetative propagation of sugarcane generally has low multiplication rate and allows distribution of diseases. Micropropagation is the only practical means of achieving rapid, large-scale production of disease-free quality planting material. Experiments on shoot tip culture initiation and shoot multiplication were laid out in completely randomized design with 2x3x3 and 4x5x3 factorial treatment arrangements respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Duncan's multiple range tests. With regard to shoot multiplication, genotype Q200 showed a maximum of 13.59 shoots per explant with 5.83cm shoot length on a medium fortified with 2 mg/l BAP alone, while genotype Q217 produced a maximum of 15.28 shoots per explant with 5.37cm mean shoot length on a medium supplied with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 0.25 mg/l kinetin. Likewise, Co-0238 produced a maximum of 13.56 shoots per explant with a mean shoot length 6.50 cm on medium fortified with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5mg/l kinetin
Susceptibility of different Malvaceae crops to herbivory induced by adult Podagrica spp.
Get PDFPodagrica uniforma Jacoby and P. sjostedti Jacoby are two important flea beetles that cause economic damage to several Malvaceae crops in Africa. Host preference by the beetles was evaluated under field conditions in 2017 and 2018 using fourty different crops in the family Malvaceae. The setup was a randomized complete block design with three blocks. Both P. uniforma and P. sjostedti highly preferred the okra genotypes, but the cotton genotypes were not damaged in both years. More than 80% of the crop leaves had beetle-induced buckshot(s) except for cotton (0%) and jute mallow (<55%). Leaf tissue removal exceeded 40% of the total leaf area of kenaf. Damages induced by the beetles disrupted plants’ fitness, caused high leaf abscission and many crop stands were lost in both years. Only the okra fruits were damaged by the beetles, and plots with the Dwarf LP variety of okra recorded the highest crop loss (>43%) in both years. NHAe47-4, LD-88, and Dwarf LP okra genotypes were the first three Malvaceae crops that were most susceptible to Podagrica spp. attacks, while cotton genotypes were ranked as the least preferred crops. In conclusion, P. uniforma and P. sjostedti exhibited broad oligophagy in a polyculture of Malvaceae crops. While okra, kenaf, roselle, and jute mallow showed varying degrees of susceptibility to the beetles’ attacks, the cotton genotypes appeared to be outside the host range. The potential of utilizing this beetle-Malvaceae interaction information in agroecosystems to minimize Podagrica spp. infestation and crop losses were discussed
Antioxidant and anti-proliferative potential of Cardiospermum halicacabum stem extracts against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells
Get PDFCancer is the most important health care problem worldwide. An estimated 10 million new cases worldwide are recorded annually, of which 46% are in developed countries. Breast cancer is one of the second most common malignant tumors in the world. All forms of cancer treatment, including surgical treatment, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are often poor and often toxic to the normal cell. Therefore, there is still an urgent need for new cancer treatment options. More research is now being done to determine which compounds occur naturally. The current study aims to extract Cardiospermum halicacabum L. for the prevention and treatment of cancer. A few methods may account for the perceived therapeutic effects, most importantly direct cytotoxicity. These herbal medicines when combined with regular antioxidant and anticancer drugs may be helpful in combining the antioxidant and anticancer effects and reducing the side effects associated with common drugs
Molecular phylogeny of Annonaceae species from Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve based on two chloroplast gene regions
Get PDFIn this study, based on molecular biology techniques, the matK and trnL-F regions of ten Annonaceae species grown in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Vietnam were successfully amplified and sequenced for the first time. Along with other highly homologous DNA sequences from the GenBank database, the molecular phylogeny of ten studied species was also established. By using the alignment tool of NCBI database, the percentage of identity among sequences of studied species was also presented. The study aims to partially contribute to the further understanding of the evolutionary relationships among Annonaceae species
Dissection of genetic diversity present in eggplant populations using simple sequence repeat markers
Get PDFEggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is the third most important solanaceous vegetable and most diversified within species spread across the world-geographical area. A study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity among the selected fifty-four eggplant genotypes (sub-categorized into five sub-population) using twenty-three SSR markers. The Analysis of Molecular Variance among the five sub-population of eggplant revealed the existence of 90.67% variation within populations and 9.34% variation among populations. The SSR markers analysis revealed important locus-wise information like mean Observed-Heterozygosity (0.216), mean Expected-Heterozygosity (0.496), Shannon’s Information Index (0.879), mean number of different alleles (3.209), mean number of effective alleles (2.535), Fixation-Index (0.649). Further, Phylogenetic-analysis clearly categorize genetically distinct individuals in which the most diversified clusters was cluster-1 (C1) out of total of five clusters and especially, wild cultivars were grouped into cluster-5 (C5). The obtained results can be used in eggplant breeding and germplasm conservation in a resourceful manner
Comparative adaptogenic properties of Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng
Get PDFAdaptogens are natural (herbs) or synthetic compounds (levamisole) used to maintain stability in human body. The plant based adaptogens were mainly used to enhance the physical endurance and metal health of patients. However, adaptogens are widely studied for their ability to protect and cope up the body against physical, chemical and biological stress and related diseases. Panax ginseng and Withania somnifera are natural adaptogens, used to attenuate stress & related disorders without increasing oxygen consumption. This review deals with a detailed description of adaptogenic potential of Panax ginseng and Withania somnifera in improving human health. It also focuses on the similarity and mechanism of action of Panax ginseng and Withania somnifera as adaptogens on human stress induced disorders
Molecular characterization and antioxidant activity of Volkameria inermis L.
Get PDFThe present investigation aimed to study the genomic characterization and free radical scavenging potential of a traditional plant Volkameria inermis. A chloroplast genome rbcL was used in molecular characterization and it revealed the phylogeny and evolutionary affinities of V. inermis with the outgroups of the family through BLAST search based on Neighbor-Joining (NJ) analysis. The free radical scavenging potential of various extracts of V. inermis was observed at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/mL) in DPPH and ABTS in vitro models. Ascorbic acid (DPPH) and Trolox (ABTS) were used as standard. In DPPH assay, among the different extracts (hexane, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, methanol and water) tested, methanol showed maximum scavenging activity with the IC50 value of 28.33μg/mL followed by acetone with the IC50 value of 31.937μg/mL. The other extracts, ethanol and water extracts showed moderate activity with the IC 50 value of 82.558 μg/mL and 81.758μg/mL; chloroform and hexane showed very lower antioxidant activity and the IC50 values are 518.776μg/mL, 1066.16μg/mL accordingly. In ABTS assay, methanol was observed as a highly active extracts with the IC50 value of 70.196μg/mL followed by ethanol extract (103.078μg/mL). The results showed that the methanol extract exhibits strong antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS assays. The scavenging efficiency showed dose dependent increase in concentration absorption compared to Ascorbic acid and Trolox. Our findings provide the molecular identification and evidence for the potential of Volkameria inermis as a source of natural antioxidants
Traditional aromatherapy in the clinical context of a therapeutic community for the treatment of substance use disorders
Get PDFWestern medicine and psychotherapy have historically overlooked the potential of engaging the sense of smell for therapeutic purposes. However, in other medical traditions, such as that of the Peruvian Amazon, specific therapeutic interventions based on the use of aromatic plants are commonly performed in conjunction with other healing modalities. Traditional specialized healers locally known as perfumeros conduct such healing sessions. This research describes how this kind of traditional Amazonian aromatherapy is used in the context of Takiwasi center, a therapeutic community specialized in the treatment of substance use disorders. Participant observation was carried out by shadowing the healers in charge of specific aromatherapy sessions including the so-called plant baths, sahumerio, and saunas. Additionally, semi structured interviews were conducted with several members of Takiwasi’s therapeutic staff, and non-peer reviewed publications and audio-video materials present in the Takiwasi archive were consulted and used as original data for this research. Data on users that received a plant bath from July 2019 to February 2021, were also acquired and discussed. The cosmology beyond this kind of traditional aromatherapy includes concepts such as “energetic body” and “spiritual entities”, opening the discussion on something beyond the mere materialistic aspect of aromatic chemistry and pharmacology