GERMPLASM CHARACTERIZATION, IDENTIFICATION AND IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF ELITE GENOTYPES OF Saussurea costus (FALC.) LIPSCH - AN ENDANGERED MEDICINAL HERB
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Date
2023-12-16
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch (Asteraceae), commonly known as kuth is a perennial,
medicinally important endangered medicinal herb of the Indian Himalayan region. The roots are
known for their abundant metabolic compounds with medicinal attributes, rendering them highly
valuable for numerous therapeutic applications. Its natural propagation through seeds is slow, taking
3-4 years for a plant to grow and mature. Due to the high demands of roots, overexploitation and
illiterate harvesting has become a major concern for its endangered status in the Himalayan region.
Therefore, biotechnological approaches may be beneficial for conserving, restoring and sustainable
production of secondary metabolites in this herb to a greater extent. In the present investigation, the
EST-SSRs related to the bioactive compounds biosynthesis were developed from the root
trancriptome data of S. costus and subsequently subjected to determine genetic diversity and
population structure. Molecular markers analysis classified S. costus genotypes into two major groups
i.e., cluster A (≥ 2500 m amsl) and cluster B (<2500 m amsl) according to their respective elevations.
Due to the restricted gene flow and ability to adapt to their local environment, the population genetic
structure showed the admixture of two genetic pools among the S. costus genotypes procured from
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The biochemical composition of two diversified locations was
further evaluated using leaf and root tissues of S. costus with different solvents (methanol, ethanol and
ethylacetate) and found that the methanolic root extract from higher elevation exhibited maximum
accumulation of compounds qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, cell suspension culture
technique also revealed the maximum biomass accumulation and costunolide production in in vitro
root induced calli. From the cell suspension culture and its potential to produce costunolide in vitro, it
was concluded that suspension culture could be a suitable alternate to meet its market demand by
overcoming unrestricted trading, relentless harvesting, and reckless management of this valuable
endangered medicinal plant.