Current Science

K. Haridasan ¹, A. A. Mao ², M. K. Janarthanam ³, A. K. Pandey ⁴, S. K. Barik ⁵, S. K. Srivastava ⁶, P. C. Panda ⁷, Geetha Suresh ¹, S. K. Borthakur ⁸, B. K. Datta ⁹, B. Ravi Prasad Rao ¹⁰

Affiliations
1 TDU, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bengaluru 560 106, IN
2 Botanical Survey of India, Shillong 793 003, IN
3 Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa 403 206, IN
4 Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, IN
5 CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow 226 001, IN
6 Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun 786 006, IN
7 Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC), Bhubaneswar 751 105, IN
8 Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati 781 014, IN
9 Department of Botany, Tripura University, Agartala 799 022, IN
10 Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 515 003, IN

Abstract

Conservation of biodiversity, a growing concern today, faces multiple challenges. Although ecosystem approach has been recommended as a solution, conservation of threatened species is difficult as they are spread across the ecosystems and are often restricted to microhabitats. In this article, the importance of taxonomy, herbarium and field germplasm bank in conservation of threatened species is discussed. It is concluded that individually each of these measures has important role to play in conservation. They also complement each other in reversing the threat perspective of the species.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Conservation, Germplasm Bank, Herbarium, Taxonomy.

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C. R. Deb ¹, G. R. Rout ², A. A. Mao ³, S. K. Nandi ⁴, R. K. Nilasana Singha ³, D. Vijayan ³, T. Langhu ¹, Z. P. Kikon ¹, S. Pradhan ³, Mohd Tariq ⁴, D. Swain ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami 798 627, IN
2 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751 003, IN
3 Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong 793 003, IN
4 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

To prevent extinction of threatened species, in vitro regeneration protocols for the propagation of six threatened species were standardized. The regenerated micro-shoots were ischolar_mained in nutrient medium supplemented with low concentrations of auxin. The well-developed plantlets were successfully established in field conditions, thus improving the probability of self-sustenance of the introduced populations. The success story of these six threatened species reaffirms the role of in vitro propagation in conserving plants facing the threat of extinction.

Keywords

Conservation, In vitro Regeneration, Microshoots, Threatened Species.

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N. Lyngdoh ¹, S. Chakraborty ², G. Ravikanth ², A. A. Mao ³, A. K. Pandey ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Tree Improvement, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat 791 102, IN
2 ATREE, Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur Post, Bengaluru 560 064, IN
3 Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata 700 064, IN
4 College of Horticulture and Forestry, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi 284 003, IN

Abstract

Amentotaxus assamica D.K. Ferguson (common name: Chinese yew) belongs to the gymnospermic family Taxaceae. It is one of the two members of this family found in India, the other being Taxus wallichiana. Amentotaxus is a tall dioecious tree reaching a height of 20 m with horizontal or drooping branches. It is confined to small pockets in the Eastern Himalaya, specifically in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The tree finds usage for making pillars and posts in house construction. Following the ‘critically endangered’ status assigned to the species by the Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritization (CAMP) workshop (February 2003), attempts have been made to locate and assess its population status. Gajurel et al.¹ recorded 22 individuals along with five saplings and two seedlings from Mithumna, Dalai Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, the site from where the plant was first reported by F. Kingdom War in 1928. Das et al.² reported a fairly large population at Turoo forest, Sagalee subdivision, Pampum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh, having tree density of 40 individuals/ha.

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