Rejuvenation and Adventitious Rooting in Coppice-Shoot Cuttings of <i>Tectona grandis</i>as Affected by Stock-Plant Etiolation

The effect of stock-plant etiolation on adventitious rooting of single-node leafy cuttings (SNCs) made from coppice shoots from different age groups of donor plants were investigated for teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.). When donor plants age were 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old, they were coppiced and maintained in the dark for etiolation, while a parallel set was kept in normal light in an open environment. After 20 days, coppice shoots were made into SNCs which were cultured under intermittent mist for rooting. Stock-plant etiolation significantly increased percent rooting, shoot and root length, and number of roots per SNC, but callusing at the base of SNCs decreased. Etiolated SNCs have shown 71.7% rooting, whereas for controls (non-etiolated), the response was 41.7%. The effect of aging on callusing, rooting and sprouting of etiolated and non-etiolated coppice shoots cuttings varied widely. Aging of donor plants decreased rooting and sprouting capability in SNCs and increased callusing at the base of etiolated cuttings. The results showed that stock-plant etiolation in 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old donor plants hastened rooting potential by rejuvenation of coppice shoots.

Growth Characteristics, Biomass and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Variation of Garhwal Himalaya’s Fodder and Fuel Wood Tree Species at the Nursery Stage

Fodder and fuel wood deficiency in the Himalayan region is well recognized. Rural inhabitants are exploiting these forest resources for their livelihood for generations which leads to severe deforestation. The aim of this study was to identify the fast growing fodder and fuel wood tree species of Garhwal Himalayas at nursery stage with wider relevance and great potential for extensive afforestation programmes. Seed of Bauhinia purpurea L., Bauhinia retusa Roxb., Bauhinia variegate L., Celtis australis L., Ficus nemoralis Wall., Ficus roxburghii Wall., Grewia optiva Drummond, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Melia azedarach L., Ougeinia oojeinensis (Roxb.) Hochr., Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus, Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth. and Toona ciliate M. Roem. were collected from the superior trees and seedlings were raised. After one year and one month of establishment at the nursery, the growth characteristics, biomass and chlorophyll fluorescence (dark-adopted Fv/Fm) of each species were also recorded. G. optiva had shown the highest growth in terms of height, basal diameter increment and number of branches, while production of leaves was more on O. oojeinensis. Biomass and chlorophyll fluorescence (maximum quantum yield or photochemical efficiency of PSII) was found highest in Q. leucotrichophora which indicates photosynthetically this species was most active among the studied fodder and fuel wood tree species. The information in this communication could be utilized for developing various conservation and sustainable strategies in the Garhwal Himalayas to mitigate

Antimicrobial activity of crude and semi-purified fractions of Warburgia ugandensis against some pathogens

Objective:To investigate in vitro antimicrobial activities of leaves and heartwood crude and semi-purified fractions of Warburgia ugandensis(Canellaceae)(W.ugandensis)on some pathogens.Methods:were prepared.Six bacteria[Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae),Escherichia coli(E.coli),Pseudomonas aeruginosa Crude and semi-purified fractions of the leaves and heartwood of W.ugandensis(P.aeruginosa),Shigella boydii(S.boydii),Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)and Streptococcus pneumonia]and one fungus(Candida albicans)were tested by agar well diffusion and broth dilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC).Results:S.boydii and S.aureus were found to be the most susceptible bacterial isolated in agar well diffusion and broth dilution method of both the crude and petroleum ether extracts,while K.pneumoniae was the most resistant bacterium isolated under the same condition except in chloroform fraction.K.pneumoniae had shown MIC value of 10 mg/mL in the leaves and heartwood in both the crude and petroleum ether extract.S.boydii and S.aureus had shown the MIC value of 1.0 mg/mL in the crude extract for the both leaves and heartwood;Whereas the petroleum ether semi-purified fraction had shown 0.5 mg/mL in the heartwood.In the crude extract,E.coli and P.aeruginosa exhibits similar MIC value of 1.75 mg/mL.In semi purified petroleum ether extract,E.coli had MIC value of 1.0 mg/mL;Whereas P.aeruginosa had shown no change in crude extract.Candida albicans revealed equal MIC value of 1.0 mg/mL for the both crude and semi-purified fractions of the leaves and heartwood.Conclusions:The crude and semi-purified fractions of W.ugandensis have considerable effect on pathogens.Semi-purified petroleum ether fraction has better antimicrobial activity in both agar well diffusion and broth dilution method.This study further shows the potential of W.ugandensis for further study in order to be use as a modern drug.