Institute Of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Research Articles

Bibliometric Study of CSIR- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) during 1990 – 2019” published in SRELS Journal of Information Management volume 57 (6) December 2020 pages 309-318

No Abstract.

Mitigation of indoor air pollutants using Areca palm potted plants in real-life settings.

Deterioration of indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a serious concern as people spend lots of time indoors and prolonged pollution exposure can result in adverse health outcomes. Indoor plants can phytoremediate a wide variety of indoor contaminants. Nonetheless, few experiments have demonstrated their efficacy in real-time environments. Therefore, the present study aims to experimentally assess the efficiency of Areca palm potted plants in phytoremediation of primary indoor air pollutant viz. total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) levels from real-world indoor spaces, for the first time. Four discrete naturally ventilated experimental sites (I-IV) situated at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) were used. For over a period of 4months, the sites were monitored using zero plants as a control (1-4week), three plants (5-8week), six plants (9-12week), and nine plants (13-16week), respectively. Present results indicate that Areca palm potted plants can effectively reduce the TVOCs, CO2, and CO levels by 88.16% in site IV, 52.33% and 95.70% in site III, respectively. The current study concluded that Areca palm potted plants offer an efficient, cost-effective, self-regulating, sustainable solution for improving indoor air quality and thereby human well-being and productivity in closed and confined spaces.

Recent varietal development of flower crops in India

Indian floriculture is characterized by the cultivation of flowers that are basically suited for garland making, worship and decoration. This industry has been shifted from traditional loose flowers to cut flowers for niche and export markets. there is need to develop more and more varieties which are climatic resilient; tolerance to various biotic and abiotic varieties. In recent times, number of varieties was evolved from various institutes/Universities of India for commercial production of flowers. ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru; CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; CSIR- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow; CSIR- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource technology, Palampur, tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana are pioneer in scientific front on floricultural crops. The varieties of commercial flowers such as Rose (16), Gladiolus (17), Crysanthemum (25), marigold (06), carnation (02), tuberose (01), gerbera (03), etc. have been released and added value to our cultivated wealth of flower crops. Some of the recently developed varieties of commercial flowers in India from public sector are reviewed hereunder.

Effect of elevated [CO2] and temperature on growth, physiology and essential oil composition of Salvia sclarea L. in the western Himalayas

Salvia sclarea is one of the important aromatic crop of the world, but very less information is available on the effect of elevated [CO2] and temperature on growth, essential oil content and composition of this crop and realistic data from field experiments are lacking. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at ambient (390μmolmol−1 CO2) and elevated [CO2] under Free Air [CO2] Enrichment (FACE, 550±30μmolmol−1 [CO2]) and elevated temperature under Free Air Temperature Increment (FATI, 2.5–3.0°C above ambient) facilities at the CSIR- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Palampur, India during 2013–2014. Different growth and yield parameters of the plant viz. dry biomass accumulation, number of leaves/plant, plant height, leaf area/plant and essential oil composition were studied. Total dry biomass production was 162.4% and 21.4% higher in FATI and FACE, respectively, as compared to ambient (control). Number of leaves/plant and leaf area/plant increased by 58.0% and 64.9% in FATI but decreased by 16.8% and 30.9% in FACE compared to ambient, respectively. Among different photosynthetic pigments, glutathione content was found to be increased by 18.3% in the FACE along with induction of antioxidative enzymes. In addition, under FATI condition violaxanthin and neoxanthin were found to be decreased by 23% and 18%, while de-epoxidation state increased by 16% over ambient. However, in case of essential oil components, linalyl acetate and linalool content were found significantly higher in FATI and FACE, respectively.

Bioorganic Nutrient Source Effect on Growth, Biomass, and Quality of Natural Sweetener Plant Stevia and Soil Fertility in the Western Himalayas

The effects of bioorganic nutrients on stevia were studied during 2011 and 2012 at Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India. Bioorganic nutrient sources were evaluated in fourteen treatment combinations. Results showed that number of leaves plant−1, leaf area plant−1, and fresh and dry leaf biomass plant−1 were significantly greater with the application of farmyard manure (FYM) 15 Mg ha−1 + vermicompost (VC) 5 Mg ha−1 + stevia seedlings treated with phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and azotobacter as compared to the control but plant height and the number of branches were not significantly affected by various treatments. This superior combination also resulted in considerably greater amounts of phosphorus (P) in stem (1.18 percent) and potassium (K) in leaf (2.39 percent). Stevia plants supplied with VC 7.5 Mg ha−1 + stevia seedlings treated with PSB and azotobacter recorded greater stevioside (7.2 percent) and total steviol glycoside (8.4 percent). Application of organic manures in combination with biofertilizers enhanced soil organic carbon and available nutrient status of soil as compared to control.

Irradiance stress and plant spacing effect on growth, biomass and quality of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) – an industrial crop in western Himalaya

A study was carried out over 2 years (2009 and 2010) at the CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India, to investigate the effect of irradiance stress and plant spacing on growth, biomass yield, essential oil content and composition in wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.). Four shade levels (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) and three plant spacing (45 × 30, 45 × 45 and 60 × 45 cm) were tested as per split plot design. Heavy shading (50% and 75%) strongly reduced the total essential oil content in fresh leaves and flowers. The essential oil content of leaves, flowers and the total oil increased up to the 25% shade level and declined thereafter, with a decrease in irradiance level. Ocimene and dihydrotagetones concentration in leaf oil decreased with decrease in irradiance level; however, tagetone and ocimenone showed the reverse trend. In flower oil, ocimene decreased with an increase in shade levels. Fresh leaf, stem, flower, leaf + flower biomass, and total biomass was significantly higher in the 45 × 30 cm spacing level. Essential oil content in flowers of T. minuta grown in 25% shade at 45 × 45 and 45 × 30 cm spacing recorded significantly higher essential oil content than other treatments.

English

Medicinal plants provide cure for several human and animal diseases. As a pre-requisite towards manipulating gene expression and engineering metabolites, efficient RNA isolation protocol from medicinal plants is needed. In the present study, four recent protocols of RNA isolation were compared based on the electrophoretic pattern as well as, the A260/A280 and A260/230 ratios of RNAs isolated from an important medicinal plant species namely,Rhazya stricta as well as, nine other medicinal plants grown in the Mecca region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The protocols of modified SDS acid phenol and Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT) resulted in the most abundant high-quality RNAs. Synthesized cDNAs were checked by real time-qPCR and differential display-PCR (DD-PCR). The extracted RNAs of the IHBT protocol were proven to be more suitable for downstream molecular applications, especially metabolic engineering.   Key words: SDS acid phenol, Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT), real time-qPCR, DD-PCR, metabolic engineering.

Effect of Transplanting Date on Growth, Yield and Oil Quality of Tagetes minuta L. in Mid Hill of North -Western Himalaya

A field investigation was conducted at CSIR- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Palampur to study the effect of transplanting date on duration of phenophases, aerial biomass partitioning and essential oil productivity in wild marigold (Tagetes minuta). Tagetes crop was transplanted on six dates commencing from April 12 to June 26, 2008 at fortnightly interval. All the phenophases were hastened when the transplanting was delayed. Plant height, leaf number and branches/ plant were significantly higher in the crop which was transplanted in the month ofApril. Dry matter accumulation in different plant parts of tgetes was significantly higher in April 26 transplanted crop. In accordance with these results, herb yield was significantly higher in the crop which was transplanted on April 26. Delay in transplanting significantly decreased essential oil content. Delay in transplanting also caused variation in composition of the oil in the stem, leaf and flower. Flowers and leaves accumulated maximum essential oil. The proportion of dihydrotagetones (39.1 %) was higher in leaf oil while the presence of cis- ocimene (36.5 %) and ocimenones (41.3 %) in flower oil was recorded.

Evaluation of Transplanting Time Effect on Characteristic Growth, Essential Oil and its Composition in Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea L.) in North-Western Himalayas

The yield and composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of inflorescences from clary sage (Salvia sclarea Linn.), that transplanted at fortnightly interval was analysed using GC-MS during 2008–2009 at Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India. Planting were done in six consequent meteorological standard weeks (MSWs) starting from February 20 to May 6, 2009 corresponding to 8th MSW to 14th MSW. Planting time coincided with distinct changes in weather parameters and consequently significant variation in the performance of the crop was observed. The essential oil content of clary sage varied from 0.033 to 0.216 % during different transplanting dates. Sixteen components were identified which represented 91.34 – 96.34 % of the oil. Delay in transplanting from March 7 decreased the oil content and yield. Linalyl acetate was identified as the most abundant component in all the samples examined, followed by linalool. In March 7 transplanted plant, oil sample were enriched with higher percentage of major constituents as linalool (28.2 %), α-terpineol (12.48 %) and Linalyl acetate (31.00 %), as compared to other samples of Salvia sclarea oil.

Modulation of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) phenophases towards the varying temperature regimes – a field study

Field experiments were conducted during 2007 and 2008 at experimental farm of Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, (CSIR) Palampur (HP), India to study the performance of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta) under changing temperature regimes over the crop growth period. The established agroclimatic indices for temperature studied elsewhere in the domain viz., relative temperature disparity (RTD), growing degree days (GDD), heliothermal units (HTU) and photothermal units (PTU) were computed for different varied dates of sowing the crop. Distinct changes in weather parameters concomitant to different sowing time consequently caused significant variation in the performance of the crop. The results indicated that the early sown crop had longest crop span (224 days) than the late sown crop (102 days), from sowing to harvesting. The mean GDD accumulation from sowing to harvest ranged from 1378 to 2518°C days HTU from 6781 to 15706°C days hour and PTU from 17400 to 33052°C days hour. Total biomass, and content and yield of essential oil were correlated with different heat units calculated during the crop growth seasons. All the agroclimatic indices had positive correlations with biomass, oil content and oil yield. Thus, these indices seem to be effective in taking into account and expressing the effect of varying ambient temperature on the duration between the phenological events for comparing the crop response to the ambient temperature between different phenological stages.

Climate change and large-scale degradation of spruce: common pattern across the globe

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 38:261-263 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00792 AS WE SEE IT Climate change and large-scale degradation of spruce: common pattern across the globe Sanjay Kr. Uniyal1,*, Anjali Uniyal2 1Biodiversity Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), PO Box #6, Palampur 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India 2Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, PO Box #18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001, Uttarakhand, India *Email: suniyal@ihbt.res.in ABSTRACT: Massive degradation of spruce Picea spp. forests, due to increased temperatures, has been reported from many parts of the world. We have detected large-scale yellowing of Picea smithiana Boiss. in the western Himalayas, where temperatures have increased by 0.6°C in the last 3 decades. Large-scale degradation of P. smithiana has never been observed in the Himalayan region to date. KEY WORDS: Picea smithiana · Spruce · Himalayas · Forest conservation · Global warming · Temperature Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Uniyal SK, Uniyal A (2009) Climate change and large-scale degradation of spruce: common pattern across the globe. Clim Res 38:261-263. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00792 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 38, No. 3. Online publication date: April 21, 2009 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.

Effects of Growth Regulator Application on Growth, Flower, Oil Yield, and Quality of Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea L.)

ABSTRACT The effects of growth regulator applications (kinetin, IAA and Paclobutrazol) on field grown Salvia sclarea L. were studied during 2005 to 2006 at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India. Growth was monitored by measuring plant height, canopy spread, leaf number, primary branches, and yield characteristics (inflorescence length and flower and oil yield). Quality was evaluated. Maximum height and leaf numbers were observed after application of kinetin 10 μL L−1 and IAA 50 μL L−1, respectively. Maximum flower and oil yield were observed after application with 40 μL L−1 paclobutrazol (PBZ) application. Application of 80 μL L−1 paclobutrazol application increased the linalool-linalyl acetate content of the plant about 12% higher than the untreated control.

Effect of planting date on growth, development, aerial biomass partitioning and essential oil productivity of wild marigold ( Tagetes minuta) in mid hills of Indian western Himalaya

A field investigation was conducted at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur during the year 2005 to study the effect of planting dates on duration of growth and development in wild marigold ( Tagetes minuta). Duration of growth phases (vegetative phase to budding phase and budding phase to 50% flowering phase), aerial biomass partitioning and essential oil production were analysed. Plantings were done in seven consequent meteorological standard weeks (MSWs) starting from the 30th MSW (30 July–5 August). Planting time coincided with distinct changes in weather parameters and consequently significant variation in the performance of the crop. The results indicated that the crop planted in the 30th and 31st MSW had the longest duration of growth and highest aerial biomass. But it partitioned more biomass towards the stem, whereas the crop planted in the 35th MSW produced significantly less biomass than the former and partitioned more towards leaf and flower and had maximum essential oil content and production. The crop planted at the 36th MSW had the minimum field duration of growth of 50 days, but the partitioning towards leaf and flower were higher than the longest field duration of growth (30th MSW). The study clearly indicated that planting dates had profound influence on growth and development of T. minuta as reflected from the significant variation on growth phase duration, aerial biomass partitioning, herb and essential oil yield.

First report of alstroemeria wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum in India

Hybrids of Alstroemeria spp. (Alstroemeriaceae), commonly called Peruvian Lily, are an exotic, rhizomatous and perennial cut flower crop widely cultivated under protection in India. Nine hybrids (cvs Alladin, Amor, Capri, Cinderella, Pluto, Rosita, Serena, Tiara and No. 14) were procured from three locations in India by the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in 2000–2001. During cultivation, plants of all cultivars exhibited leaf chlorosis and slight vein clearing on outer leaflets, followed by leaf yellowing and abscission, discolouration of stem vascular tissue and death. Fusarium oxysporum was consistently isolated when sections of discoloured stem vascular tissue were surface sterilised (2% sodium hypochlorite) and incubated on potato dextrose agar or carnation leaf agar. Single-spore isolates were identified based on morphological characters (Nelson et al., 1983). Conidiophores were unbranched or branched short monophialides. Microconidia were abundant, generally single celled, oval to kidney shaped and produced only in false heads 5–12 × 3–3·5 μ m. Macroconidia were abundant, slightly sickle-shaped and thin-walled, with an attenuated apical cell and a foot-shaped basal cell 35·0–60·0×3·0–5·0 μ m. Chlamydospores were single or in pairs and profusely distributed. Thepresence of chlamydospores and microconidia borne in false heads on short monophialides distinguished the fungus from closely related Fusarium species. The culture has been deposited in the Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC 7677) of the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India. The identity of the culture was also established by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (White et al ., 1990) (GenBank Acc. No. AM 261761). Pathogenicity tests were done twice in a screen house on 8-week-old plants of cv. No. 14. Wounded roots were submerged for 10 min in a conidial suspension (1 ×10 6 conidia per mL in sterile tap water), while control plants were dipped in sterile tap water. Seedlings were transplanted into pots and maintained in a polytunnel. Symptoms observed on inoculated plants were similar to those in commercial glasshouses, including leaf wilt (3 weeks after inoculation), chlorosis, necrosis and plant death. The pathogen was re-isolated from the stems of affected inoculated plants to confirm Koch’s postulates. The control plants did not exhibit symptoms. Root rot complex of alstroemeria caused by F. oxysporum in association with Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani was earlier reported in Canada (Chang & Mirza, 1993) and Germany (Chang et al ., 1994). This is the first report of Fusarium oxysporum causing alstroemeria wilt in India.

Coat protein sequence shows thatCucumber mosaic virus isolate from geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) belongs to subgroup II

A viral disease was identified on geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) grown in a greenhouse at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, exhibiting mild mottling and stunting. The causal virus (Cucumber mosaic virus, CMV) was identified and characterized on the basis of host range, aphid transmission, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), DNA-RNA hybridization and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A complete coat protein (CP) gene was amplified using degenerate primers and sequenced. The CP gene showed nucleotide and amino acid homology up to 97%-98% and 96%-99%, respectively with the sequences of CMV subgroup II. The CP gene also showed homologies of 75%-97% in nucleotide and 77%-96% in amino acid with the CMV Indian isolates infecting various crops. On the basis of sequence homology, it was concluded that CMV-infecting geraniums in India belong to subgroup II.

Ornithogalum: a new host of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) from India

Ornithogalum thyrsoides (family Hyacinthaceae) is an ornamental cut flower crop which has a long vase life and is resistant to extreme temperatures. Plants have been reported to be infected with Ornithogalum mosaic virus (OMV) and Tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) (Burger & Wechmar, 1995). Ornithogalum plants growing in a floriculture field at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, were found exhibiting severe mosaic on the leaves. The causal virus was found to be transmitted mechanically, causing local lesions on Chenopodium album and C. amaranticolor, and systemic mosaic on Nicotiana clevelandii, N. glutinosa, N. megalosiphon and N. tabacum cv. White Burley. In ELISA, the virus reacted with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-specific antibodies procured from Agdia (USA). Leaf dip preparations from virus-infected plants in electron microscopy revealed the presence of ∼29 nm isometric particles. In immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), the virus was readily trapped and decorated with CMV-specific antibodies. Total RNA was isolated from healthy and naturally infected ornithogalum, as well as from inoculated plants, using RNAqueous (Ambion, USA) as per the manufacturer's instructions. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using the CPTALL primer pair (Choi et al., 1999). Amplicons of expected size (∼950 bp) were obtained in virus-infected and inoculated plants. No amplification was observed in healthy ornithogalum plants. PCR-amplified products were cloned and sequenced (AJ745092). BLAST searches revealed the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequence showing 97 and 93–95% similarity with the available sequences of CMV subgroup II, respectively, confirming the association of CMV with the severe mosaic on ornithogalum. This is the first definitive report of CMV infecting ornithogalum.

Detection and identification ofPrunus necrotic ringspot virusinPelargonium

Rose geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are important essential oil bearing plants of great demand in national and international markets. Geraniums are susceptible to several viruses; however, the incidence of Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV) was not reported until recently. During the survey of geranium plantations in experimental fields of the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India, Ilarvirus-like symptoms were observed. To identify the causal virus, the plants were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using antibodies of different Ilarviruses. Initial results showed the presence of PNRSV in geranium. This diagnosis was confirmed by Northern hybridisation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. Coat protein gene sequence showed 97–99% amino acid homology with other PNRSV isolates. It was concluded that rose geraniums are natural hosts of this virus.

Occurrence of Cucumber mosaic virus in Gerbera jamesonii in India

Gerbera jamesonii (family Asteraceae) is a popular perennial ornamental cut flower and potted plant with considerable economic importance. In a survey of gerbera grown in floriculture fields at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur and nearby nurseries, color break symptoms on the petals, asymmetrical ray florets, and deformed flowers were observed during 2003-2004. The virus evoked chlorotic local lesions on Chenopodium album, C. amaranticolor, and C. quinoa, while systemic mosaic was observed on Cucumis sativus, Nicotiana benthamiana, N. clevelandii, N. glutinosa, and N. tabacum cv. Samsun. The virus was transmitted nonpersistently by Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii and was identified as Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with CMV-specific antibodies (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). Polyhedral particles approximately 29 nm were observed with electron microscopy of leaf dips from symptomatic gerbera leaves. Total RNA was isolated from the infected gerbera plants and N. glutinosa by using RNAqueous (Ambion, Austin, TX). CMV-specific primers (1) were used to detect the virus with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction that produced an amplicon predicted size of approximately 540 bp, but the virus was not detected in healthy controls. Sequence alignment of the amplicons (533 bp) utilizing BLAST resulted in 91 to 99% homology with the partial intercistronic region and partial coat protein gene (1042-1574 bp) (gene sequence submitted to EMBL database with Accession no. AJ634532) of CMV RNA3 in subgroup I. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV on gerbera in India. Reference: (1) C. De Blas et al. J. Phytopathol. 141:323, 1994.

Rubus ellipticus, a Perennial Weed Host of Prunus Necrotic Ring Spot Virus in India.

Rubus ellipticus is a perennial shrub occurring in natural vegetation of the temperate and subtropical Himalayas. For several years, plants of R. ellipticus in and around the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology in Palampur were seen with mild mosaic and chlorotic symptoms on leaves followed by necrotic ring spots. Infected plants often recovered from the symptoms. The causal agent was mechanically transmissible to several herbaceous hosts including Cucumis sativus, Chenopodium album, C. quinoa, Cucurbita maxima, C. pepo, Melilotus alba, Trifolium repens, and Zinnia elegans. The virus incited chlorotic local lesions followed by systemic necrotic lesions or ring spots and severe stunting on C. sativus. Several aphid species (Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii, A.fabae-solanella, Brevicoryne brassicae, and Macrosiphoniella sanbornii) were tried as viral vectors, but all failed to transmit the virus. Virus has been detected in pollen and fruit of infected plants. Ilarvirus-like particles, 27 nm in diameter, were observed in partially purified extracts of symptomatic plants of R. ellipticus and in experimentally infected C. sativus plants, but not in healthy plants. The isolate was distantly serologically related to apple mosaic virus and unrelated to tobacco streak virus. Presence of Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV) in symptomatic plants was also confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with antiserum from American Type Culture Collection and Agdia, Inc. (Elkhart, IN). This is the first report of a viral disease in R. ellipticus. The presence of PNRSV in a new weed host may become an important constraint to production of susceptible agronomic crops around Palampur.