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Suhani Sabharwal , K. K. Dhir

Abstract

The in-vivo morpho-physiological responses to kinetin application in Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) were studied during three consecutive annual reproductive flushes from bud development onwards to seed set (prior standardization with endogenous levels). The number of buds and flowers per inflorescence was higher in treated branches as compared to the control. Physiological responses were observed to be kinetin-specific. Year 1 sample proteins, total sugars and reducing sugars measured higher following kinetin at 0.5 mM as compared to kinetin at 0.2 mM. The response to year 2 treatments was even better, being significant in 0.5 mM kinetin samples. Year 3 kinetin treatments produced poor flowering response, poor juvenility and low contents of the above compounds as compared to the control. The enzyme assay measuring the activities of invertase, protease, acid- and alkaline phosphatases wasconsistent with the biochemical responses to the kinetin treatments. In control, a shorter regeneration phase seems to lead to lower productivity in terms of floral inflorescence and fruit set. Therefore, it is suggested that the application of kinetin may regulate the reproductive phase resulting in improved organ-biomolecule production.

Keywords

Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Reproductive Studies, Kinetin Application

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D. R. Ramesh Singh , K. K. Dhir , S. P. Vij , H. Nayyar , Kamaljit Singh

Abstract

Terminalia chebula Retz. is a multipurpose medicinal plant found in all deciduous forests of India. It is a hardy moderate size tree species that can grow with very little care and can be integrated in to farm forestry profitably. Full potential for revegetating Siwalik hills requires to be exploited throughout North India. Studies were carried out on three provenances of Haryana State to ascertain regeneration status of this important indigenous tree that was considered only as a source of NWFP of medicinal and dyeing fruits. Studies have indicated it produces firewood and , in scarcity time , fodder also. Natural variation in fruits have been found to be heritable and beneficial variations could be harnessed to make this tree more acceptable to farmers. Under a programme called 'TREIMP' sustained efforts are being made to produce seedlings and supply to the growers without loss of time involved in transfer of technology.

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Kamal Jit Singh , Harsh Nayyar , Archana Dutta , K. K. Dhir

Abstract

Vegetative propagation studies on the adventitious ischolar_maining of jojoba stem cuttings were made in response to the hormonal effects, ischolar_maining media and seasonal variations. The young sprouts of 1-2 year old branches were better than their green terminal shoot tips. Quick dip (20-30 sec) method of IBA proved to be effective. Yellowing of the underground portion of stem cutting marked the first morphological sign of ischolar_main initiation. IBA 24.6 mM with boric acid 0.5 mM as an additive was best utilized in causing rhizogenesis irrespective of the season. The ischolar_maining percentage success for stem cuttings was highcst (75%) in thc month of April but the survival of the ischolar_mained cuttings was better in February and September trials. Perlite and agropeat mixture (1:1) proved to be the most suited ischolar_maining medium for the purpose of adventitious ischolar_main formation in jojoba. However, for subsequent survival of the plantlets with well-formed ischolar_main system it is essential to transfer them to the soil and sand mixture. The ischolar_mained stem cuttings had no bearing upon the best ischolar_maining phase for their survival.

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Suhani Sabherwal , K. K. Dhir

Abstract

The in vivo morpho-physiological responses to spermidine application in Neem (A. indica) were studied during three consecutive annual reproductive flushes from bud development onwards to seed set (prior standardization with endogenous levels). The number of buds and flowers per inflorescence was higher in treated branches as compared to the control. Physiological responses were observed to be polyamine-specific. Year 1 sample protein, total sugar and reducing sugar measured higher following spermidine at 0.2 mM as compared to spermidine at 0.5 mM. The response to year 2 treatments was even better, being significant in 0.2 mM spermidine samples. Year 3 spermidine treatments produced poor flowering response, longer juvenility and low contents of the above compounds as compared to the control. The enzyme assay measuring the activities of invertase, protease, acid- and alkaline phosphatases was consistent with the biochemical responses to the spermidine treatments. In control, a shorter regeneration phase seems to lead to lower productivity in terms of floral inflorescence and fruit set. Therefore, it is suggested that the application of spermidine may regulate the reproductive phase resulting in improved organ/biomolecule production.

Keywords

Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Reproductive Studies, Spermidine Application

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Suhani Sabherwal , K. K. Dhir

Abstract

The protein profiles in neem (A. indica) were studied during the annual reproductive flush from bud formation to seed set. Four different zones of activity observed were designated as PRO-I, PRO-II, PRO-III and PRO-IV in the zymogram. It was proposed that decreased protein expression during early pre-anthesis as well as post-pollination fruit-set was due to general inhibition of quantified protein. Besides, specific banding patterns for the various growth stages also point to a definite affect in modulating active metabolism. Hence, decreased protein activity also delayed morphological expression with faint low intensity bands. High frequency bands following flowering and ovary development were point indicators for active protein metabolism and morphogenesis. This resulted in rapid growth as well as healthy fruit-set. The zymogram pattern during such periods traced high mobility, intense zones of activity. The short regeneration phase in neem leads to pharmaceutically significant product of floral inflorescence to fruit set, therefore, it is suggested that protein profiles may be the key in regulating the reproductive phase resulting in improved morpho-physiological characteristics.

Keywords

Azadirachta indica, Electrophoresis, Neem, Protein Profiles, Reproduction

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Suhani Sabherwal , K. K. Dhir

Abstract

The in vivo morpho-physiological responses to kinetin-GA₃ and kinetin-spermidine combination treatments in Neem (Azadirachta indica) were studied during annual reproductive flushes from bud development onwards to seed set. The buds and flowers per inflorescence were higher in kinetin-spermidine treated branches than kinetin-GA₃. Protein, total sugars and reducing sugars measured higher following 0.5 mM kinetin/0.2 mM spermidine treatments as compared to 0.5 mM kinetin/0.5 mM spermidine. 0.5 mM kinetin/0.5 mM GA₃ treatments produced poor flowering response, longer juvenility and low contents of the above biochemical analyses than 0.5 mM/0.2 mM GA₃. The enzyme assay of invertase, protease, acid- and alkaline phosphatases matched the biochemical responses to the growth regulator treatments. In control, a shorter regeneration phase leads to lower productivity of floral inflorescence and fruit set. Therefore, it is suggested that the application of kinetin-spermidine combination treatment may regulate the reproductive phase resulting in improved morpho-physiological characteristics.

Keywords

Azadirachta indica, GA3, Kinetin, Neem, Reproduction, Spermidine

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P. N. Mehra ¹, K. K. Dhir ¹

Affiliations
1 Panjab University, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

The paper deals with the ecological distribution and enumeration of species of ferns and fern-allies from the Dalhousie hills covering an area of 170 sq. km and altitudinal range between 600-3,000 m. A total of 88 species of ferns and 6 of fern-allies have been reported. Athyrium proliferum, A. gymnogrammoides, A. mackinnoni and Polypodium sub-amoenum are first records from the area.

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