Studies on reproductive success of Aconitum heterophyllum under domestication
Loading...
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
YSPU
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Studies on reproductive success of Aconitum heterophyllum under
domestication” was carried out both in field as well as in laboratory during 2010-15. The field studies were conducted at twenty locations (10 wild and 10 domesticated) spread across different regions of Himachal Pradesh and at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Farm, Shilly located at an altitude of 1550 m; Latitude N 30054’30”; Longitude E 77007’30”. The laboratory studies were conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Forest Products, College of Forestry, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.). These studies were divided into six experiments namely (i) Inter-population studies on vegetative parameters under wild and domesticated conditions, (ii) Inter-population studies on floral biology under wild and domesticated conditions, (iii) Chromosomal studies ,(iv) Studies on sexual behaviour under wild and domesticated conditions, (v) Inter population studies on seed quality and germination and (vi)
Molecular studies. Vegetative characters as well as tuber yield were positively impacted by domesticated conditions which makes this species amenable for cultivation. Non significant variation in seed output was observed between domesticated and wild conditions indicating no effect of domestication on seed output. Maximum seed germination of 67.78% was recorded in seed sourced from population VIID (Nichar, Kinnaur), no significant difference was noticed in seed germination amongst the domesticated and wild populations. However of the twenty wild and domesticated populations, two populations under each condition, (IW) Sisoo and (VIW) Puikar, Lahaul & Spiti under wild condition; Solang Nalla, Kullu (XD) & Sisoo, Lahaul & Spiti (IID) under domesticated conditions were found to be best on the basis of morphological as well as yield characters. Based on floral characters like flower colour, no. of sepals, colour of anthers and no. of follicles per flower, population IIW (Chansal) appears to be unique amongst all wild populations. The flowers of this polulation were dark blue coloured in sharp contrast to bluish purple in all other populations. RAPD analysis also indicated this population to be genetically unique as it formed a singlet in dendrogram. Flowers were observed to be dichogamous (protogamy) and no difference in ploidy level was observed in all studied populations (2n=2x=16). Genetic diversity among the populations was confirmed by both RAPD and ISSR markers, with some populations found to be genetically similar. RAPD analysis revealed that populations VW (Moral Danda, Shimla) and IXW (Kalatop, Chamba) are genetically similar whereas population IIW
(Chansal, Shimla) formed a singlet indicating its genetic uniqueness. ISSR markers analysis revealed that populations VIIID (Topi Nalla, Chamba) and IID (Sisoo, Lahaul & Spiti) are also genetically similar. Both the marker systems have shown that populations (i.) populations VIID (Nichar) & VIIIW (Chot Kanda), (ii) populations VIIID (Topi Nalla) & IID (Sisoo), (iii.) populations VW (Moral Danda) & VID (Katgaon) are genetically closely placed, though their sites of occurrence happen to be quite far away from each other. The observations indicate suitability of Aconitum heterophyllum for domestication to be grown as a sole crop which improves its yield capacity with regard to its tuber (economic part) and seed (for propagation).
The study has indicated that: i) Under domestication, the yield characters of Aconitum heterophyllum improve making it suitable for cultivation.
ii) Domesticated populations like XD (Solang Nalla), ID (Shillaru, Shimla), IIID (Jagatsukh) and VIID (Nichar) were found to be the best as compared to others in terms of tuber yield.
iii) No significant difference in seed yield was observed under domestication conditions indicating that domestication does not adversely impact seed production potential.
iv) The population growing at Chansal (IIW), needs to be conserved as it was found to be unique on the basis of morphological as well as molecular characters.
Description
Keywords
sowing, developmental stages, planting, fungi, breeding, biological phenomena, germinability, yields, vegetative propagation, statistical methods