Ethnobotanical Study of Herbaceous Flora along an Altitudinal Gradient in Bharmour Forest Division, District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh, India.

The present ethnobotanical study was carried out in Holi (Deol, Kut, Dal, and Lahaud Dhar) forest range and in Bharmor (Seri, Bharmour, Malkauta, Bharmani, Harsar, Dhancho, Sundrasi, Gorikund, and Manimahesh) forest range to obtain information on the plants used by the local inhabitants for several purposes. A total of 54 plants were recorded in this study. The plants are employed to treat simple diseases (cough, cold, fever, and burns) and some serious diseases (typhoid, jaundice, and kidney disease).

In vitro morphogenic response of different explants of Gentiana kurroo Royle from Western Himalayas-an endangered medicinal plant.

Micropropagation offers a great potential to produce millions of clonal individuals through tissue culture via induction of morphogenesis. The aim of this work was to obtain an efficient protocol for callus regeneration for Gentiana kurroo Royle. The morphogenic response of different explants (leaves, petioles, roots) varied and responded differently for regeneration according to combinations of growth regulators.

Rapid in vitro propagation, conservation and analysis of genetic stability of Viola pilosa.

A protocol for in vitro propagation was developed for Viola pilosa, a plant of immense medicinal value. To start with in vitro propagation, the sterilized explants (buds) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators. One of the medium compositions MS basal + 0.

Molecular characterization and intermolecular interaction of coat protein of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus: implications for virus assembly.

Coat protein (CP) and RNA3 from Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV-rose), the most prevalent virus infecting rose in India, were characterized and regions in the coat protein important for self-interaction, during dimer formation were identified. The sequence analysis of CP and partial RNA 3 revealed that the rose isolate of PNRSV in India belongs to PV-32 group of PNRSV isolates. Apart from the already established group specific features of PV-32 group member's additional group-specific and host specific features were also identified.

Effect of pre-cooling, fruit coating and packaging on postharvest quality of apple.

Freshly harvested apple fruits cv.'Royal Delicious' were subjected to Surface coating with 1, 1.5, 2% neem oil (Azadirachta indica) and 10, 15, 20% marigold flower (Tagetes erectus) extracts with pre cooling on apple storage quality was tested.

Dissipation kinetics of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole on apple (Malus domestica) and soil--a multi location study from north western Himalayan region.

A new combinational fungicide formulation trifloxystrobin 25%+tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75WG), introduced as a part of resistance management strategy, was studied for dissipation behaviour on apple fruits. Nativo 75WG was sprayed twice at the rate of 400 g and 800 g a.i.

Plant growth promoting traits of phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria isolated from apple trees in trans Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh.

Two hundred and six phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria (PSB) were isolated from rhizosphere soil (RS) and root endosphere (ER) of apple trees from different sites of four locations viz., Chamba, Shimla, Kinnaur and Kullu of Himachal Pradesh, Northern India, and were screened for plant growth promoting traits (PGPTs) by using culture dependent procedures. Indole acetic acid (IAA) production was detected in 50 isolates (24.

A biodegradation study of forest biomass by Aspergillus niger F7: correlation between enzymatic activity, hydrolytic percentage and biodegradation index.

Aspergillus niger F7 isolated from soil was found to be the potent producer of cellulase and xylanase. The residue of forest species Toona ciliata, Celtris australis, Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburghii was selected as substrate for biodegradation study due to its easy availability and wide use in industry. It was subjected to alkali (sodium hydroxide) treatment for enhancing its degradation.

Effect of blending and storage on quality characteristics of blended sand pear-apple juice beverage.

Juice from sand pear and apple was extracted by grating the fruits following extraction using hydraulic press. The juice after extraction was filtered, heat pasteurized and packed in glass bottles followed by processing. Suitability of blending sand pear juice with apple juice was evaluated.

Utilization of wild apricot kernel press cake for extraction of protein isolate.

The kernels of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) stones are utilized for extraction of oil. The press cake left after extraction of oil was evaluated for preparation of protein isolate for its use in food supplementation. The apricot kernels contained 45-50% oil, 23.

Antimicrobial activities of rhizobacterial strains of Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains isolated from rhizosphere soil of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Sunrise).

Under the present study, an attempt was made to characterize rhizobacteria i.e. Pseudomonas and Bacillus species isolated from rhizosphere of carnation to evaluate their growth promoting effect on carnation so as to select and develop more efficient indigenous plant growth promoting and disease suppressing bioagents of specific soil type and specific plant type.

Purification and characterization of bacteriocin produced by strain of Lactobacillus brevis MTCC 7539.

Bacteriocin, an antimicrobial agent having potential for food biopreservation was purified from Lactobacillus brevis (a safe food-grade bacteria isolated from Vari Kandal, a traditional fermented food of Himachal Pradesh by adopting a novel repeated washing method. Its purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE. The relative molecular mass of bacteriocin was 93.

Bacteriocin: safest approach to preserve food products.

Start of the 21st century with its universal call to feed the hungry is an appropriate time to refocus attention on food security and especially the impact of biopatenting on poor communities who are the primary victims of hunger in our world. Antibacterial metabolites of lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus spp have potential as natural preservatives to control the growth of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in food. Among them, bacteriocin is used as a preservative in food due to its heat stability, wider pH tolerance and its proteolytic activity.

Comparison of genetic transformation in Morus alba L. via different regeneration systems.

Three different regeneration systems, viz. direct regeneration of adventitious shoot buds from explant, regeneration through callus cultures and somatic embryos were compared to see their effect on transfer of neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene (gus) to Morus alba clone M5, through Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Pre-conditioning and co-cultivation durations had a marked effect on transformation frequency.

Characterization of a new bacteriocin produced from a novel isolated strain of Bacillus lentus NG121.

The new bacteriocin is produced from Bacillus lentus NG121 isolated from Khameera - a traditional fermented food from Himachal Pradesh, India which has been reported for the first time in the literature to produce bacteriocin and exhibited very high activity units of 20 x 10(5) AU (Arbitrary Units)/ml. This bacteriocin was partially purified and was further characterized to assess its preservation characteristics. It showed strong antimicrobial activity against the most challenging and serious test indicators like Listeria monocytogens and Staphylococcus aureus.

Antimicrobial Properties of Achyranthes aspera.

Chloroform and methanol root and shoot extracts of A. aspera showed good amount of antibacterial activity against Klebsiella sp. While pet.

Production of solasodine by Solanum laciniatum using plant tissue culture technique.

Leaf and hypocotyl explants of 15 days old aseptically grown seedlings of Solanum laciniatum were cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA (2 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l) for callus initiation. For maintenance and proliferation of callus MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (1 mg/l) and kinetin (0.

Comparative role of proteins in transport of HCH-isomers in desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forskal and bovines.

The studies on binding of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) with carrier proteins were carried out to establish the role of proteins in the transport of insecticides in insects. Sephadex G-200 column chromatography resolved haemolymph of adult male desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria into three major protein peaks. There was significant binding of gamma-HCH with first protein peak (F1).

Genetic transformation of Robinia pseudoacacia by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Transgenic Robinia pseudoacacia plants were obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer. Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harbouring a binary vector that contained the chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) genes was co-cultivated with hypocotyl segments of in vitro raised seedlings of Robinia. Parameters important for high efficiency regeneration and transformation rates included type of explant, pre-conditioning of explants and appropriate length of co-cultivation period with Agrobacterium.

Partial molecular characterization of some kiwi fruit cultivars by RAPD markers.

Molecular variability among seven cultivars of A. deliciosa var. deliciosa was investigated through RAPD markers.

Use of meristem tip culture to eliminate carnation latent virus from carnation plants.

A successful protocol for meristem tip culture to eliminate carnation latent virus from carnation cv. scania has been described . The virus was found to be mechanically transmissible to Chenopodium quinoa, C.

Distinguishing clonal apple rootstocks by isozymes banding patterns.

Molecular characterisation of clonal apple rootstocks using isozymes was carried out to identify isozyme polymorphism in seven clonal apple rootstocks and to identify the most characteristic and stable enzyme markers for each individual rootstock. Five enzyme systems were studied out of which polyphenol oxidase, malate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and peroxidase were useful in discriminating among the rootstocks. The peroxidase enzyme system showed maximum variation and esterase showed the least variation among the rootstocks.

Swertia spp: a source of bitter compounes for medicinal use.

Swertia is an important genus used in Indian medicine. A comprehensive review on this genus is presented in this article.