In vitro propagation of a rare medicinal fern of Western Ghats – Diplazium esculentum (Reytz.).

Present study aimed for in vitro culture of circinate part of young leaves of D. esculentum which is amongst the leafy vegetables consumed as vegetable by Paniya and Chetti tribes of Western Ghats. The circinate part of young leaves (crosiers), excised before the beginning of foliar expansion, was inoculated on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and cytokinin 6- benzylaminopurine (BA) in a range 0.5 to 2.5 mg L-1. Combinations of different concentrations of 2,4 D + BA, IBA + BA as well as of NAA+ BA were also tested in half strength MS medium with 3% sucrose and with pH 5.8. The best morphogenic response was obtained with half strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D 0.5 mg L-1 and BA 2.5 mg L-1, 3% sucrose, at pH 5.8. For rooting of the microshoots, half strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D ( 2 and 1 mg L-1 ) exhibited best results. Present study reports the successful in vitro culturing of D. esculentum.

Esterase as molecular marker for salt tolerance in regenerated plants of rice, Oryza sativa L.

Esterase variation was studied in plants regenerated from callus cultures of four rice (Oryza sativa) varieties, viz. pokkali, which is a moderately salt tolerant variety and three salt sensitive varieties MI 48, annapoorna and jyothi. Variation was studied at tillering stage of plants regenerated from callus culture and germinated from seeds. Somaclonal variants for salt tolerance could be detected using variation in esterase banding pattern and activity.