INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

1-11

Authors: Bhot Meeta and Barua Meenakshi

Cassia sp. is well known in Indian system of medicine for their huge medicinal properties. In the present study, pharmacognostical, physico-chemical and phytochemical characters of leaves of Cassia tora and Cassia fistula were studied. Microscopic and fluorescence characters of powder of the leaves were studied for identification and characterization of various features. Physicochemical parameters like Foreign Organic matter (C. tora 1.5% ± 0.005; C. fistula 1.0% ± 0.002), Total Moisture (C. tora - 0.7% ± 0.002; C. fistula -1.5% ± 0.07), Ash Values (total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulfated ash) and Extractive values of leaves of both the plants were evaluated. Heavy Metals viz. As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg were found in permissible limit i.e. less than 0.01ppm in both the leaves of Cassia species. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, was also found in permissible limit (C. tora -23.67ppm; C. fistula- 5.07ppm). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenols, flavoniods, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenoids in the polar solvent extracts of both the plants. TLC finger print profile was also studied by observing the developed and derivatized TLC plate under UV (254 and 366nm) light. The present study reveals specific characteristics of the particular plant materials that can have a significant use in identification of crude samples and quality assessment of raw product i.e. impurities and adulterations, which can serve as a reference for further investigations.

21-28

Authors: Renuka TK and Chandak NA

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. The use of PGPR is steadily increasing in agriculture and offers an attractive way to replace chemical fertilizers. A total of six plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), designated as PGPR1, PGPR2, PGPR3, PGPR4, PGPR5, PGPR6 were isolated from the rhizosphere soil and were screened for production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and inorganic phosphate solubilisation. The isolate (PGPR6) showing both the activities was selected and characterised. The isolate was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescence. The amount of IAA produced and phosphate solubilised by PGPR6was estimated by standard methods. PGPR6produced 20mcg/ml of IAA and released 147mcg/ml of solubilised phosphate. The effect of varying concentrations of L-tryptophan and tricalcium phosphate on plant growth promoting activities of PGPR6 was studied on mung (Vignaradiata) seedlings. The optimum amount of L-tryptophan required by the isolate was found to be 5mg/ml. It was found that 0.5% is the optimum concentration of tricalcium phosphate required by the organism to support root development. The shoot length, root length, wet and dry weight of the seedlings were measured and recorded. The data was represented in graphical form. Pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of PGPR6on vigour index of plant. The vigour index of ‘TEST’ seed inoculated with PGPR6 showed higher value (1654) as compared to ‘CONTROL’ (521.05). Hence, Pseudomonas fluorescence is a potential PGPR which can be used as a biofertiliser.

37-41

Authors: Anthony Kayden*, Vishwakarma Arti and Patel Alpa

Ambernath taluka is situated in Thane district and has a varied geographical structure. It has hills which descend from Matheran ranges. Ambernath has wide range of Plant Biodiversity & few water bodies like lakes and Ulnas River flowing through it. Apart from that Ambernath also has semi urban and well developed residential areas, as well as heavily polluted industrial areas. As the locality concern environmental factors, pollution, topography and other essential factors affect the vegetation and further the flora and fauna of the area. In the present paper we have divided the taluka into four zones on basis of their type and environmental factors and studied the plant diversity of different locations of Ambernath. The zones are as follows 1) Hilly vegetated area 2) Semi urban area 3) Urban area 4) Industrial polluted area. Taking the surrounding factors in consideration plants have been recorded and classified and the characters have been noted.

47-50

Authors: Rathod LR, Naikade SM and Mote MR

Groundnut seeds are generally associated with certain saprophytic or parasitic micro-organisms which perpetuate in the seed lots on the advent of favorable conditions. Several species of fungi belonging to 5 genera were recorded from seeds of cultivar of Groundnut such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus ustus, Aspergillus fumigates. Among these fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger were found to dominant and causing seed rot and seedling blight Groundnut. Here we analyzed the biodiversity of Aspergillus species occurring on two important Groundnut varieties viz. LGN -1 and LGN-2.

57-61

Authors: Vaidya Sharda*, Karangutkar Manasi P, Chorge Sachin V and Kadam Priyanka

The kingdom fungi includes organisms that are saprophytic or parasitic. These life forms make an important tropic level of our ecosystem highly important in nutrient recycling. The current study focuses on fungal diversity in some green zones of MMRDA region with anthropogenic activity. The study also focuses on fungi associated fauna to find relation if any. The 26 species of Macrofungi and 20 species of soil fungi have found. The study shows thatthe fungal diversity in zones with limited or restricted human activity is high. An Arthropodan fauna is more associated with fungi for food. Also the diversity of fungi may depend on the plant community and soil factors, human interference such as monoculture and soil pollution may cause changes in fungal diversity of protected forest.

65-68

Authors: Patel Alpa K* and Yeragi SS

Ambernath taluka is situated in Thane district and falls under the plains at the foot of the slopes of the Sahayadri, and has a small part of Matheran ranges descending as small hills. This area has heavy vegetation includes many Medicinal plants; many people use the plants for satisfying their needs. They have knowledge of Traditional Medicines also. The present work is carried out for the ethno medicinal plants, which were used for curing various health disorders like dysentery, diarrhea, wounds, poison bites etc. Ethnobotany, as a research field of science, has been widely used for the documentation of indigenous knowledge on the use of plants and for providing an inventory of useful plants from local flora & ethnobotanical studies have been used for the discovery of new drugs. This paper discusses ethnobotanical approach of traditional medicinal studies.

73-75

Authors: Kamalinee Deodhar

Plant Diversity study is important aspect of botany. It is directly and indirectly related to the formation of environmental conditions. It also indicates the presence of dominant flora of particular area when data is analyzed. In this paper plant diversity of Kalamboli area is included. The present data includes plants of different families mostly Malvaceae, Tiliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, Solanaceae, Acanthaceae, Cruciferae, Portulaceae, Scrophulariaceae etc. The plants mentioned in the data are considered as roadside or weed plants but all of them are having some medicinal properties or useful properties and hence data collection for biodiversity should be done. It will help to make awareness among people for the conservation of such plants.