Applied Botany

Pokhar is a small village from Purandar Taluka. The survey of the locality has been done and found some interesting fungi and lichens. In all total 13 species of fungi and lichens were reported from which 07 are non-lichenised fungi and 06 are lichenised fungi. The height indicator species like Collema has also found at low heights.

Pesticides or agro-chemicals play a pivot in controlling pests on agricultural and horticultural crops. SEVIN 50% W.D.P. based on carbaryl. 1. Naphthylmethyl carbamate, is a broad spectrum pesticide for control of pests on fruits, vegetables, forage, cotton and other crops, as well as poultry and pets. In order to know the extent of toxicity five different concentrations of the toxicant ( Sevin) are taken – LC0 (2.13 ml. l-1)) , LC10 (2.54 ml. l-1) ), LC50 (3.01 ml. l-1) , LC90 (3.25ml. l-1) , LC100 (3.35 ml. l-1) . Uni -algal, axenic culture of Anabaena cylindrica, Lemm. was inoculated and the survival percentage was determined. The ( LC10 ,LC50 , LC90) three lethal concentrations were chosen to study the differential effects of different concentrations of the pesticide (Sevin) on the blue-green alga, Anabaena cylindrica, Lemm. The changes in the ATPase activity (?g ip liberated hr -1 50 ml culture) of the alga Anabaena cylindrica, exposed to different concentrations of the pesticide, Sevin, at different days of exposure and recovery. The enzyme activity values were far less than the control value and even less than the inoculation day value, except the 3rd day of exposure. No significant recovery was marked, indicating total destruction of the enzyme system in the exposed alga. The percent change in ATPase activity showed non-significant negative correlation with the exposure period in conc. A and B. However, in conc. C, a negative significant (r= -0.974; p < 0.01) correlation was marked. The ATPase activity increased in Conc. A (2.5 ml l -1) up to 12th day of exposure, when compared to the control value and then the enzyme activity decreased. With the increase in pesticide concentration and exposure period, the enzyme activity significantly declined, when compared to the control value. A maximum of 93.5% and 99.1% decrease was recorded on 15th day of exposure and 15th day of recovery in conc. C.

The exploitation of biologically active secondary metabolites for useful applications, including therapeutic drugs, is far from new. Since ancient times, nature has been recognized as an important source of potential drugs; examples of early uses and benefits of natural products for human can be found in most major civilizations (Newman et al., 2000; Constantino et al., 2004). The use of natural products for medical purposes slowly developed into the scientific field of pharmacogenosy. However, this was not until the early 1800’s when the active principles from plants were isolated and characterized. Among the first active principles isolated were morphine atropine, colchicines and caffeine (Newman et al., 2000). Morphine, atropine, and caffeine are today listed as core medicines in the World Health Organization’s “Essential Drugs List”, which is a list of minimum medical needs for basic health care systems (WHO, 2005).

Of the several leaf surface characters, leaf architecture has drawn relatively less attention when compared to the epidermal studies which are in the limelight especially after the initiation of SEM studies. In the last decade, with the publication of Hickey’s work on the dicotyledons (1973, 1979) a new thought was provided to this field. A perusal of the past literature revealed that there are no specific reports on the leaf architectural features of the Commiphora wightti Arnott belonging to the family Burseraceae. Leaf architecture act as a pharmacognostic tool for identifying the adulterant because adulteration and misidentification of medicinal plants can cause serious health problems to consumers and legal problems for the pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the present investigation has been carried out to provide a detailed account of the same besides its evaluation for taxonomic purpose which showed apical orientation, simple leaf organization, lamina and base is asymmetrical, coriaceous texture without any gland. Type of venation is pinnate craspedodromous and semicraspedromous, higher vein order of the leaf is 5⁰.

The germination study was made to understand the genetic variability in Zea mays (L.) variety JKMH-1001which was subjected to chemical mutagenic treatments for two generations. The chemical mutagens namely, EMS, DES and Sodium azide were used. The mutagen treated seeds were tested for lethal dose of 50 per cent for all mutagens, separately and the dose at which 50 per cent of the seed germination was considered as LD50 values were grown in the field. The spectrum of chlorophyll mutation consisted of albino, chlorina, viridis and xandha. The morphological mutations observed at tall, dwarf, early maturity, late maturity, triangular leaf, bold size seed, long ear, short ear and male sterility in all the concentration recorded. In EMS was found to be more effective and efficient than the other mutagens. The effectiveness was producing germination and chlorophyll mutants. Effectiveness means frequency of mutations induced by unit dose/concentration of a mutagen. The efficiency means undesirable biological effect like lethality and sterility caused by the mutagen. The effectiveness and efficiency generally decreased with increased in the higher doses of the mutagens in certain level.

A watermould, isolated from the water samples taken from a ditch near the Botany Department in the campus of M.G. Postgraduate College, Gorakhpur (India), has been identified to be an oömycete having unusual affinities with other groups. The life cycle studies have shown certain typical features and indicated this member to be quite different from the existing seventeen genera of Saprolegniaceae. A stability of the characteristic features has been observed under variable cultural conditions with ± 5% variations.

The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties in some Iranian genotyps of sour cherry fruits. Knowledge of fruit biochemical properties is very important for perception of product behavior during harvesting, transportation, packaging, storing and regeneration programs. In this study, 10 Iranian sour cherry: SH101, SH102, SH103, … for SH110 were analysed. For evaluation of antioxidant capacity and its relation with total phenolics and flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity {measured with method: ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP)} and total phenolics and flavonoids in fruits extracts of aforementioned sour cherry genotyps were measured and then, correlation of these parameters were evaluated. The highest °Brix among the studied genotyps corresponded to ‘SH101’ and the highest fruit titratable acidity (TA) correlated to ‘SH104’. The highest values of vitamin C corresponded to ‘SH101’ and ’SH109’ had the lowest vitamin C. The highest and lowest values pH corresponded to SH106. Results revealed that ‘SH101’ and ‘SH110’ among the studied genotyps had the best antioxidant activity, flavonoid content and fruit quality attributes.

Hexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of twenty five plant species, including fourteen varieties of leaves, five varieties of whole plants, two varieties of barks and one variety of flower, fruit, seed and root were tested for ovicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus at 1000 ppm. During preliminary screening, significant ovicidal activity was observed in all four solvent extracts of Cleistanthus collinus, Hydrocotyle javanica, Leucas aspera, Murraya koeingii, Sphaeranthus indicus and Zanthophyllus limonella.  Solvent crude extracts of plants showing maximum ovicidal activity were selected and treated at 500 ppm. The percentage of egg hatchability significantly reduced in different solvent extracts of above mentioned plants and eggs treated with different plant extracts varied from 26.59 per cent  in diethyl ether extract of Murraya koeingii  to 82.61 per cent in hexane extract of Leucas aspera.

Zn-contaminated soils were rated for various levels of available (DTPA extractable) Zn viz. 0.42, 2.8, 4.5, 9.6 and 26.3 ppm and used to grow wheat (Tritium aestivum Linn.) plants. Effect of these soils on growth (length and dry matter production), visible symptoms of toxicity and biochemical constituents (protein, pigments and sugar contents and catalase activity) of wheat were evaluated. Plants grown at high Zn-contaminated soil (26.3 ppm) had visible symptoms of toxicity such as decreased growth, chlorosis and tip burning of young leaves and reduced leaf lamina. Length and dry matter yield of wheat were increased maximum at 4.5 ppm available Zn in soil. Pigment, sugar and protein contents were also stimulated upto 4.5 ppm of available Zn, whereas these values decreased with increase in Zn levels in soil. Antioxidative defense systems with respect to carotenoids and protein contents and catalase activity favoured the dry weight production in wheat which were grown at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil. Study revealed the tolerance of wheat found maximum at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil, where as tissue concentrations of root and shoot were 30.6 and 35.6 µg Zn g-1 of dry weight, respectively. High Zn concentrations (9.6 and 26.3 ppm) were not stimulatory to the wheat growth reduced biochemical constituents in cells and produced visible symptoms of toxicity in wheat.

The established vector for Kala-azar (VL) Phlebotomus argentipes is developing tolerance/resistance against the common insecticide (DDT). However, the insecticidal effect of wild plant i.e. Clerodendron infortunatum leaf (Hexane extract) was found effective in killing 63% sand flies that can be enhanced with formulation of lead molecules. Hence, its toxicity evaluation to humans is pre-requisite. Percentage Hemolytic Inhibition activity of the extract was observed with IC50 value of 25.80 mg/L, 18.68 mg/L & 15.90 mg/L at 450 nm, 490 nm & 655 nm wavelengths respectively. The extract was found non-toxic and safer to use as a new insecticide against Sand fly.