Applied Botany

Dwarf varieties of Helianthus annuus, Tagetes erecta, T.Patula and other plants belonging to Asteraceae are cultivated as ornamental garden plants in Nepal and India. Leaf spots and blight, downy mildew, mycoflora of floral parts, collar rot, Necrosis, charcoal rot and other of Asteraceae already reported. Leaf spots caused by the pathogen Albugo spp. bring 12% loss in productively. Akoijam & chandel (2010), Bhatia et.al (2005), Biga(1955), chander (2003), Dube (1985), chavhan et.al (2008), kumar & Dewivedi (1981), Kulkarni et.al (2007), Lakhmod et.al (2007&2007), Mayee & Datur (1986), Pandey & Tewari (2017), Singh et.al (1999), Kulkarni et.al(2007), Singh et.al (1999), Singh (1980) , Sinha (2011), Suryawanshi et.al (2015) & Thirumalachar et.al (1949) have well studied Asteraceae and possible pathogens in their own ways.

Soft rot of fruit causing disintegration of cells and dissolution of middle lamellae due to the action of enzymes secreted by Erwinia sp.The colour of fruit also changes to brown- blackish in a part or the whole part damaging tissues of the fruit and the watery secretions leads to 10-15% loss in the productivity in the Districts of Sunsari and Morang of Province No. 1 and adjoining area of India. Bacterial wilt is also produced by Erwinia sp. Singh (1968)16. Toxins also produced by Erwinia sp., which cause disturbance in metabolic activity of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. Erwinia sp. is seed borne and soil borne pathogen.

The plant family Boraginaceae worldwide distributed and its contained 145 genera. Carolus Linnaeus described the Cordia genus in the format of Cordia L., Sp. Pl. 1: 190 (1753). The genus Cordia L. (Boraginaceae) is a medicinally important taxon. The first species of Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. has been used for the treatment against fever, ulcers, dyspepsia, ringworm, etc. It has also been reported for its activities such as analgesic, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory actions. Another second species, C. sinensis Lam., which is endemic to the northern Western Ghats, is a potential medicinal plant and is presumed to have similar biochemical activities. Since the species is consumed mainly in the crude form, it is difficult to establish the identity based on only leaf or stem characters. A comparative study has been carried out to authenticate the identity of these two species based on foliar anatomical characters. The anatomical sections of a leaf (TS), and petiole (TS) of both the species were observed under the bright-field microscope, and characters were documented. Though the diagrammatic outline of the leaf sections is similar, detailed anatomical characters are significantly different. The structure and number of the trichomes are observed abaxial and adaxial sides of the leaves. The trichomes were also found to be useful characters for identification. In the case of leaf, the number and arrangement of vascular bundles, arrangement of collenchyma at the lower epidermis, palisade cells, and distribution of storage cells are the major characters to differentiate both species. During the study, we also observed the detailed characters of the cuticular layer, trichomes, and stomatal characters. Rananculious type stomata and the presence of cystoliths in the basal cell of the trichome are the common characteristics observed in both species. On the basis of the primary study, the species can be differentiated based only on foliar anatomical characters. 

To find the effect of Nitrogen and phosphors on growth and yield of Lentil investigation was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and technology of Kashmir, Shalimar at Pulse Research Sub Station (Habak) Srinagar during rabi 2010-11 the experiment consist of two factors viz four Nitrogen levels (N0 ,N15, N30 and N45) and four phosphorus levels (P0,P25,P50 and P75) was laid out in a randomized block design replicated thrice. The study relieved that point height and dry matters accumulation showed significant and consistent increased at all growth stages up to 45 kg Nha -1 where as LAI and numbers of branches per plant increased significantly with Nitrogen application up to 30 kg Nha-1.The Phosphorous application significantly increased growth characters viz , plant height number of nodules LAI and No of branch plants and dry matters accumulation up to 50 kg P205,ha-1 . The interaction affect of seed yield between N&P was significant where highest with treatment combination of 30 kg N+50kg P205 ha-1 and 45 kg N+50kg P2o5 ha- 1 respectively. Proved beneficial for highest seed yield of Lentil under temprate condition of kashmir.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of flavonoid and alkaloid extracts of various plant parts of V. negundo and A. paniculata was investigated using Disc Diffusion Assay against four Gram negative (E. aerogens, R. planticola, A. tumefaciens and K. pneumoniae) and one Gram positive bacteria (B. subtilis). Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts was evaluated by micro broth dilution method, while minimum bactericidal concentrations were determined by sub culturing the relevant samples. The extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities with zones of inhibition ranging from 9 to 23.5 mm. A. tumefaciens was found to be most susceptible organism in the investigation against which all the extracts showed positive response. Stem free flavonoid extract of V. negundo and stem bound flavonoid extract of A. paniculata was recorded as most active extract as it showed significant zone of inhibition against all the tested pathogens. The range of MIC and MBC was recorded 1.25-0.039mg/ml. Results of the present study reveal that extracts of both the selected plants are showing great antimicrobial potential against tested pathogen, and may be exploited for future antibacterial drugs.

Kas area as a part of the “Sahydri Sub-cluster” has been declared as the World Natural Heritage Site list of the UNESCO-IUCN. Considering this it is essential to document the existing diversity of various life forms of this area. The present checklist of fungal flora of Kas is an attempt to unravel the unexplored and hidden fungal wealth. Kas is the high level ferricrete surrounded by dense stunted semi-evergreen forests which harbors myriad fungal diversity. The checklist gives the preliminary count of fungal diversity from Kas and surrounding areas. An intensive search of literature records is reported which shows 53 species of fungi and lichens belongs to 23 families and 31 genera. The present checklist of fungi from Kas and surrounding is a value addition in the floristic study of the world natural heritage sites.

Phellinus is a genus of fungi belonging to the family Hymenochaetaceae from order Aphyllophorales. Phellinus spp. causing white rot of various kinds in live standing or dead gymnospermic and angiospermic wood occurs worldwide. A total number of 427 records (310 species, 06 sub-species, 42 varieties and 69 formas) of Phellinus are reported worldwide so far. The current study was based on thorough world literature survey for the host range of Phellinus species. About 91 plant families shows infection of Phellinus spp. Amongst all the families, genera of Fabaceae are found to be most susceptible, followed by Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Cupressaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Meliaceae, Pinaceae, Rubiaceae Arecaceae, Fagaceae and Olecaceae are also amongst the most frequently infected families. Quercus is the most frequent host of Phellinus.

An attempt has been made to survey biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with five xerophytes from Ghodnadi area Dist. Pune, Maharashtra. The xerophytes surveyed were Argemon Mexican, Linn., Aristolochia bracteata, Rrtz.,  Chlorophytum tuberosum, Baker., Scilla indica, Baker., Tribulus terestris, Linn., Soil samples and roots of these plants were collected from four different localities. Five genera with twenty one species were reported from Ghodnadi area. The genus Glomus was dominant with 13 species. It was followed by Acaulospora with 4 species, two species of Scutellospora  were reported.  Whereas one species each of Gigaspora and Sclerocystis was reported from above area. The maximum number of AM propagules per 100 gm soil was 1980 and minimum was 4 per 100 gm soil.  The percentage root infection was ranging between zero and 90 percent.

The responses of photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence along with changes in growth were observed in Jatropha curcas L. seedlings subjected to waterlogging. The growth characteristics, electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were determined. The activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in leaves increased with the increase duration of waterlogging, implying an integrated pathway involving catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase for protection against the detrimental effects of activated oxygen species under waterlogging, but decreased in the recovery period. A strong reduction in photosynthetic and growth characteristics was observed as a results of waterlogging. Decrease in leaf area expansion and stomatal conductance seemed to be the main cause for impairing photosynthesis-carbon assimilation, linked with biomass yield eventually. Further, the ratio between variable to initial chlorophyll fluorescence and the maximum quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II explored damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Strong nonlinear correlation between physiological parameters and duration of waterlogging was observed.

Temperature influences the life cycle of fruit plant in a variety of manners. Adverse effect of high temperature has been noted during both vegetative and reproductive growth stages in various fruit crops. The best responses for every plant either for vegetative growth or for its reproductive potentials are obtained in the cardinal temperature ranges, which includes minimum, maximum and optimum. The adverse effect of temperature on fruit plants occurs when crosses its limits. These effects are either due to direct injuries or due the reduced activity of enzymes and disturbed metabolic processes.