International Journal of Plant Sciences

Vandana Tyagi ¹, Veena Gupta ², S. P. Singh ³

Affiliations
1 Germplasm Exchange Division, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, IN
2 Division of Germplasm Conservation, NBPGR, Pusa, New Delhi, IN
3 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Augmentation of new genetic resources either through indigenous collections or by importing from other countries is an important activity of any crop improvement programme. Indian history had witnessed the invasion of many world communities like British, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabians, Muslims etc with whom a diverse genetic base of many crop plants were also introduced in the country's flora. Many of these species have been adapted well and naturalized in Indian climate and are being used in various facets of life. The pharmaceutical industry is also backed by many such plants. Of the forty major commercial medicinal plants utilized by the Indian pharmaceutical companies, about 27 per cent have originated in other countries. The percentage is still higher in case of commercial aromatic plants viz., 52 per cent of the total aromatic component. The gradual increase in the utilization of exotic plants by the pharma-aroma-companies is because many plants have been introduced into cultivation and are now a part of regular agriculture system. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi under ICAR is instrumental in providing this genetic variability of medicinal plants at both fronts. The import of plant genetic resources into India is governed by Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import Into India) Order, 2003. Access to genetic resources of Indian origin by foreign nationals is governed by Biological Diversity Act, 2002 of Government of India based on the principle of 'Sovereign rights of Nations' as promulgated under the legally binding Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992. The Convention provides for appropriate access to genetic resources and transfer of relevant technologies on mutually agreed terms, subject to prior informed consent.

Keywords

Access, BDA, Import, Medicinal Plants, NBPGR

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Veena Gupta ¹, Archana Singh ¹, P. B. Singh ¹, D. B. Parakh ¹

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

An insight into local healthcare systems and traditional knowledge about medicinal plants is always instrumental in providing nascent ideas to pharmaceutical industries to develop strategic research programmes for the identification of new bioactive compounds for the production of synthetic drug molecules. Many a times this undocumented information is lost much before it is realized by the users since it passed from generation to generation orally. For strengthening the proper usage and conservation of the medicinal traditions prevailing in the Chanawada village of Girwa block in Udaipur, a survey was undertaken to document the medicinal plants used by the tribal inhabitants of the area. Traditional uses of 24 medicinal plants occurring in wild habitat were recorded and are being presented in this paper.

Keywords

Medicinal Plants, Health Care

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Vishal Singh ¹, Veena Gupta ²

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, IN
2 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Accelerated ageing test was conducted in laboratory on seeds of 20 different accessions of Perilla frutescens (L.) Brittion to understand the effect of deterioration on seed health and viability. Seeds were aged for 48 and 72 hours though accelerated ageing treatment (100% RH and 440 C temperature) and were analyzed for various physiological and biochemical parameters. The germination percentage, vigour index, speed of germination and seedling length decreased as the accelerated ageing period increase in all seed lots. Average increase in the electrical conductivity values of  seed leachates over control was 106.55 per cent after 48 hrs and 170.27 per cent after72 hrs of ageing treatment. Total soluble protein declined by 30.83 per cent after 48 hrs and 50.34 per cent after 72 hrs of accelerated ageing. Thousand seed weight was positively correlated with speed of germination and germination percentage and was negatively correlated with lipid peroxidation and decrease in soluble proteins. Lipid peroxidation values increased significantly in aged seed lots over the control.

Keywords

Seed Ageing, Germination, Seed Vigour, Protein Profile, Lipid per Oxidation

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