Plant morphology, physiological characteristics, accumulation of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of Prunella vulgaris L. under UV solar exclusion

BACKGROUND: Prunella vulgaris L. has been an important medicinal plant for the treatment of thyroid gland malfunction and mastitis in China for over 2000 years. There is an urgent need to select effective wavelengths for greenhouse cultivation of P. vulgaris as light is a very important factor in P. vulgaris growth. Here, we described the effects of natural light (control) and UV solar exclusion on the morphological and physiological traits, secondary metabolites contents and antioxidant activities of P. vulgaris. RESULTS: The results showed that UV solar exclusion resulted in remarkable alterations to morphological and biomass traits; significantly reduced the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents; significantly enhanced the ratio of chlorophyll a to b; and significantly increased the carotenoid and anthocyanin contents in P. vulgaris. UV solar exclusion significantly increased the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and slightly decreased the glutathione (GSH) content. UV solar exclusion significantly increased the soluble sugar and H2O2 contents and increased the soluble protein content but significantly decreased the proline content and slightly decreased the MDA content. The secondary metabolite contents (total phenolics, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, hyperoside, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid) and in vitro antioxidative properties (DPPH· and ABTS·+scavenging activities) were significantly increased in P. vulgaris spicas under UV solar exclusion. Additionally, the total polysaccharide and total flavonoids contents were slightly increased by UV solar exclusion. The salviaflaside content was significantly reduced by UV solar exclusion. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that P. vulgaris activates several antioxidant defence systems against oxidative damage caused by UV solar exclusion.

Evaluation of Different Morpho-Physiological Traits of Pre-Release Early Sugarcane Clones.

Five promising early sugarcane clones (2006 T3, 2006 T8, 2006 T19, 2006 T23 and 2006 T36) from yield trials along with two checks (Co C 671 and Co 94008) were evaluated for identification of sugarcane clones suitable for delayed harvest and crushing” at Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Chittoor, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, during 2011-2012. The data on different growth parameters viz., Germination per cent, Plant height, SCMR values and Leaf area index were recorded at different crop growth periods. The highest germination count was recorded with 2006 T36 followed by Co C 671 and Co 94008, whereas the lowest count was recorded with 2006 T23. Among the clones 2006 T3 and 2006 T36 recorded the highest plant height at different crop growth periods (90, 120, 240 DAP and at harvest) along with two standards (Co C 671 and Co 94008), while the clone 2006 T23 recorded the lowest plant height. The highest SCMR values and LAI was recorded with Co C 671, Co 94008 followed by 2006 T36 and 2006 T3 at different crop growth periods (60, 90, 120 and 150 days), whereas, the clone 2006 T23 recorded the lowest SCMR and LAI values. The data recorded on different yield attributes viz., cane diameter (cm), cane length (cm), number of millable canes and cane yield at harvest showed that 2006 T36 and 2006 T3 recorded the higher cane yields along with checks, while the clone 2006 T23 recorded the lowest cane yield.

General and specific combining ability estimates of physiological traits for moisture stress tolerance in groundnut (arachis hypogaea l.).

The combining abilities for physiological traits in peanut were examined to understand the type of gene action governing these traits, and to identify peanut genotypes suitable for use as parents in breeding for improvement in physiological traits. Substantial genetic variability was observed among the hybrids for the traits studied. The genotypes, TPT-4 and ICGV-91114 were found to be good combiners for developing early flowering types, while ICGV-91114, TCGS- 584, TPT-4 and JL-220 were good combiners for developing early maturing. For SPAD chlorophyll meter reading was K-1375 was best general combiner. Among the parents K-1375, TIR-25 and TCGS-647 were found to be superior as evident from its highest significant positive general combining ability effects for specific leaf area. The best good combiner for transpiration rate was ICGV-91114 and for photosynthetic rate was TIR-25. For water use efficiency only the genotype, TPT-4 was the best combiner. Best performing parents for harvest index were JL-220 and TPT-4. The hybrid, TPT-4 x TIR-25 was the specific hybrid for high water use efficiency. For SPAD chlorophyll meter reading only one cross, K-1375 x TCGS647 was considered to be the good performing hybrid. Two hybrids viz., TIR-25 x TCGS- 647 and ICGV-91114 x JL-220 were found to be good specific combiners for harvest index. A perusal of results of combining ability analysis indicated considerable non-additive gene action in the inheritance of majority of the attributes studied. The non-fixable dominance deviation and epistatic effects are likely to hinder improvement through simple pedigree selection, which is commonly followed in groundnut. Alternatively intermating of the F2 segregants followed by recurrent selection and pedigree breeding can harness the different kinds of gene - effects. Repeated selection and inter-mating of segregating materials for two or three cycles, makes it possible to achieve simultaneously improvement in physiological attributes.