Carbohydrate and elicitor enhanced withanolide (withaferin A and withanolide A) accumulation in hairy root cultures of Withania somnifera (L.).

Leaves of Withania somnifera contained more withaferin A and withanolide A than roots indicating that these compounds mainly accumulate in leaves. With an increase in age of the plant, withaferin A was enhanced with a corresponding decrease in withanolide A. Hairy root cultures were induced from leaf explants using Agrobacterium rhizogenes and the transgenic nature of hairy roots was confirmed by partial isolation and sequencing of rolB gene, which could not be amplified in untransformed plant parts. In hairy roots, withaferin A accumulated at 2, 3 and 4% but not at 6% sucrose, the highest amount being 1733 mg/g dry weight at 4% level. High and equal amounts of withaferin A and withanolide A accumulated (890 and 886 mg/g dry tissue respectively) only at 3% sucrose. Increasing concentrations of glucose enhanced withaferin A and it peaked at 5% level (3866 mg/g dry tissue). This amount is 2842 and 34% higher compared to untransformed roots and leaves (collected from 210-day-old plants) respectively. Withanolide A was detected at 5% glucose but not at other concentrations. While chitosan and nitric oxide increased withaferin A, jasmonic acid decreased it. Acetyl salicylic acid stimulated accumulation of both withaferin A and withanolide A at higher concentrations. Triadimefon, a fungicide, enhanced withaferin A by 1626 and 3061% (not detected earlier) compared to hairy and intact roots respectively.

Rapid micropropagation via axillary bud proliferation of Adhatoda vasica Nees from nodal segments.

A protocol for rapid multiplication of Adhatoda vasica has been developed through nodal explants from field grown mature plants. The maximum number of shoots, i.e., 7.75 +/- 0.392 differentiated from split nodal halves on MS medium supplemented with BA (10.0 mg/l) during 4 weeks of culture. Maximum number of shoots formed per explant increased to ca. 30 within 6 weeks of subculture on medium containing BA (1.0 mg/l) and Kn (1.0 mg/l). The isolated shoots rooted 90% in MS medium containing IBA (0.1 mg/l) in 2 weeks. The rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil in glasshouse and subsequently in field. The plantlets rooted in liquid medium did not survive, but those rooted on solid medium showed more than 75% survival. In vitro raised plants grew successfully ex vitro till flowering.

Efficient regeneration of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) from shoot tip cultures.

A simple, genotype-independent and efficient method for plant regeneration using shoot tip explants of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) was established. Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2.5 mg l(-1)) and kinetin (0. 2 mg l(-1)) was used for induction of embryogenic calli. Development of numerous somatic embryos was observed within 10 days after transferring onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyl aminopurine (2 mg l(-1)) and indole 3-butyric acid (0. 5 mg l(-1)) under light (16 hr photoperiod). Histological observations confirmed the origin of somatic pro-embryoids and globular embryoids. Regenerated plants established in soil, grew normally and produced fertile seeds. RAPD analysis also revealed genetic uniformity of the regenerants. The short duration of time taken for regeneration (30-35 days) and its high frequency (78-87%) makes this system highly suitable for applications such as genetic transformation.

In vitro propagation of Acorus calamus Linn.--a medicinal plant.

High frequency in vitro propagation protocol was standardized from rhizome explants of A. calamus. Maximum shoot multiplication frequency was obtained on Murashige and Skoog's media supplemented with 4 mg/l 6-benzyl amino purine and 0.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid. Regenerated shoots were rooted in vitro or directly transferred to sterile soil and well developed roots were observed within two weeks. The rooted plants were successfully established in the field.

ABO blood groups and pulmonary tuberculosis in Warangal District of Telangana region.

Frequency distribution of ABO blood groups was studied in 100 male patients of pulmonary tuberculosis to know whether there was any relationship between the former and latter and it was compared with 6339 control healthy subjects. No significant association between ABO blood groups and pulmonary tuberculosis was found. No association existed even when divided by age group in incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis.