Sesbania Species Research Articles

Study on Interspecific Hybridization between Daincha (Sesbania aculeatea) and Related Species

Wide hybridization can enrich crops' genetic background and diversity by comparing different species and integrating the different parental traits. In the present study, interspecific hybridization was performed between Daincha and two related sesbania species by hand emasculation and crossing technique. A total of 460 hybrids were obtained in the Sesbania aculeata X Sesbania bispinosa cross, but no hybrids were obtained in their reverse cross, indicating the same cross combination has a large difference in the reciprocal crosses and that the hybrid has certain unidirectionality. The hybrids looked more like their Sesbania aculeata parent in stem and leaf characteristics. A total of 570 hybrids were obtained in the cross Sesbania aculeata X Sesbania rostrata, while no hybrids were obtained by reverse cross combination. The hybrid showed intermediate morphological traits when compared to their parents. Developing hybrids and segregating populations are useful genetic resources and provide interspecific hybridization to enlarge the gene pool of Daincha species.

Nutritional prospective of Sesbania species: an underutilized wild legume from Northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

Nutrition plays very important role in longevity of life. Processed food has created various health disorders at a very alarming rate. Wild genotypes have potent nutritive characteristics which are relatively less explored. In the current investigation, two species of Sesbania were evaluated for their potent nutritional value. Sesbania grandiflora and Sesbania bispinosa seeds contained 37.78% and 30.2% crude proteins, 4.24% and 2.06% albumins, 7.20% and 5.16% globulins, 1.75% and 8.34% free amino acids, 34.91% and 59.08% total carbohydrates and 5.2% and 5.02% total lipids respectively. DPPH Radical scavenging assay revealed notable antioxidant potential with 62.27% and 65.45% inhibition respectively. Antinutrient analysis indicated the presence of total free phenols (0.29% and 0.63%), tannins (0.28% and 0.34%), phytic acid (1.70% and 1.59%) and trypsin inhibitor activity (41.8 and 54.4 TIU/mg) respectively. Both Sesbania species had excellent nutritional potential as well as antioxidant activity and a low antinutrient profile. Based on the findings, Sesbania species may be investigated further as a potential alternative food source in the near future, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, and may pave the way toward the wider aim of food security.

Effects of Salt Stress on Growth and Accumulation of NA<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup> And ca<sup>2+</sup> Ions in Different Accessions of Sesbania

Effects of salt stress on seedling growth and ion accumulation in 6 accessions of two Sesbania species viz. S. bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight (4 accessions: #1, #5, #7 and #59) and S. cannabina (Retz.) Poir. (2 accessions: #82 and #85), was evaluated in a hydroponic experiment under 0 (control) and 10 dS/m salinity stress. Salt stress significantly affected negatively seedling growth and different ion contents in 6 accessions of Sesbania seedling except for Na+. The relative values, per cent reduction over control, of all morphological and physiological descriptors, were significantly higher indicating superior salt tolerance in accession #59 compared to other accessions studied. The Na+ accumulation was higher in root compared to shoot; however, a reverse scenario was observed for K+ and Ca2+. No distinct difference in salt tolerance was observed between S. bispinosa and S. cannabina. Accession #59 could, therefore, be suggested for cultivation at salineprone areas of Bangladesh. However, it needs further confirmation at the farmer’s saline field condition. Bangladesh J. Bot. 51(1): 157-167, 2022 (March)

Stem Anatomical Descriptors of Four Sesbania Scop. Species And Their Systematic Implication

Stem anatomical features of four Sesbania Scop. species viz. S. bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight, S. cannabina (Retz.) Poir., S. sesban (L.) Merr., and S. rostrata Bremek. & Oberm., were examined to add some insights for identification of these species using quantitative anatomical descriptors. Sesbania stem is composed of epidermis, cortex, vascular tissues – phloem, cambium zone and xylem, and pith, which exhibit significant variations among the species in terms of their area and thickness. Sesbania sesban showed the largest area and widest epidermal cells. The close relationship between S. bispinosa and S. rostrata was found in the stem anatomical descriptors. Moreover, S. rostrata and S. cannabina were closer to some extent according to some anatomical descriptors; also rationalizing the external morphological similarities of these species. A dichotomous key of the studied Sesbania species was made. Dendrograms based on Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster analysis of stem anatomical descriptors also confirmed close relationships identified in previous phylogenetic analyses. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(2): 441-449, 2021 (December)

Organic Matter Decomposition and Nutrient Release from Different Dhaincha (Sesbania spp.) Genotypes

Purpose: An experiment was conducted at Field Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University during April to July 2018 to compare the biomass yield potential, decomposition and nutrients release pattern of different dhaincha genotypes.Research Method: Six dhaincha accessions from three Sesbania species, viz. S. bispinosa (accession #05, 71, 77 and 109), S. cannabina (accession #28) and S. sesbsan (accession #81), were used as experimental materials. Dhaincha was cultivated with standard cultivation procedure following a randomized complete block design with three replications and incorporated with soil at 60 days after sowing.Findings: There are wide variations in biomass yield, crude fi bre and crude protein among the accessions. The amount of crude fibre may be used as a descriptor of taxonomic importance. Accession #28 (S. cannabina) produced a significantly higher amount of crude fibre compared to other accessions. Soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient elements availability increased with the period of time and reached to a peak at 50 days after biomass incorporation (DAI) except K and S. The highest amount of SOM and N was recorded in accession #71 and the lowest in accession #81. The maximum amount of phosphorus and potassium was added by accession #05 and the minimum phosphorus and potassium by accession #28 and #81, respectively. The greatest amount of sulfur showed 5.25 ppm in accession #05 at 20 DAI and the smallest value 2.22 ppm in accession #28 at 60 DAI.Originality: It is evident from results that accession #71 can be recommended for cultivation in the farmer’s field for higher biomass yield and the maximum amount of nutrients release.

Distribution and diversity of alternate hosts of Maruca vitrata\xa0Fabricius in three West African countries

The evolution of resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins by insect pests is a major threat to Bt technology. However, the rate of resistance can be slowed with appropriate integrated insect resistance management (IRM) strategies. Surveys were conducted to identify alternate host species for Maruca vitrata (commonly called the legume pod borer or Maruca) that could serve as refuges for Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea in three West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso). Survey sites included 25 in northern Ghana, 44 in northern Nigeria, and 52 in north-central and southwestern Burkina Faso. Alternate hosts of Maruca identified from plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family that showed signs of Maruca damage on cowpea tissues were collected and dissected. Larvae that were found during these dissections were reared to adult moths in the laboratory then identified to species. The alternate host plants including species of Crotolaria, Sesbania, Tephrosia, and Vigna were the most frequently encountered among sites and locations. Flowering and podding of these plants overlapped with flowering and podding of the nearby (~200 m) cowpea crop. Abundance of these wild hosts and overlapping flowering patterns with the cowpea crop in most locations have the potential to sustain ample numbers of Bt susceptible Maruca that will mate with possible resistant Maruca and deter resistance development. Further quantitative studies, however, are required from each location to determine if actual Maruca production from alternate hosts is sufficient for a PBR IRM strategy. If verified, this approach would be compatible with the high dose/refuge IRM strategy that includes alternate hosts and non-Bt crops as refuges.

Mechanism and application of Sesbania root-nodulating bacteria: an alternative for chemical fertilizers and sustainable development.

Chemical fertilizers are used in large-scale throughout the globe to satisfy the food and feed requirement of the world. Demanding cropping with the enhanced application of chemical fertilizers, linked with a decline in the recycling of natural or other waste materials, has led to a decrease in the organic carbon levels in soils, impaired soil physical properties and shrinking soil microbial biodiversity. Sustenance and improvement of soil fertility are fundamental for comprehensive food security and ecological sustainability. To feed the large-scale growing population, the role of biofertilizers and their study tends to be an essential aspect globally. In this review, we have emphasized the nitrogen-fixing plants of Sesbania species. It is a plant that is able to accumulate nitrogen-rich biomass and used as a green manure, which help in soil amelioration. Problems of soil infertility due to salinity, alkalinity and waterlogging could be alleviated through the use of biologically fixed nitrogen by Sesbania plants leading to the conversion of futile land into a fertile one. A group of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria termed as "rhizobia" are able to nodulate a variety of legumes including Sesbania. The host-specific rhizobial strains can be used as potential alternative for nitrogenous fertilizers as they help the host plant in growth and development and enhance their endurance under stressed conditions. The review gives the depth understanding of how the agriculturally important microorganisms can be used for the reduction of broad-scale application of chemical fertilizers with special attention to Sesbania-nodulating rhizobia.

Extraction and Characterization of Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers. (Dhaincha) Seed Oil for Potential Engineering Applications.

Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers. (Dhaincha) is a member of family Fabaceae spread over several countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Sesbania aculeata, Sesbania drummondii, Sesbania grandiflora, Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania sesban, and Sesbania speciosa are other members of this family. The agricultural, nutritional and pharmaceutical applications of Sesbania species are known to farmers, villagers, and the tribes since ages and are well studied by researchers. However, the significance of Sesbania as an industrial crop has not been recognized till now. The objective of this study was extraction and characterization of Sesbania cannabina seed oil (SCSO) for potential engineering applications. The seed oil was extracted with hexane in a Soxhlet extractor. Yield was only 2.32% w/w due to long storage at high temperature in seed house. Sesbania cannabina seed oil methyl ester (SCSOME) was prepared via esterification and transesterification for analysis of fatty acid composition of extracted oil. SCSO has high iodine value (118 g I2/100 g) and high saponification value (185.79 mg KOH/g) making the oil suitable for use as candle stocks or in soap making. However, these applications were ruled out on account of being insignificant for oil available in limited quantity. The oil has high viscosity index (174.19), high onset (382°C) and offset (450°C) decomposition temperatures, endothermic nature, and shear rate thickening behaviour. These properties make SCSO a good candidate for application as specialty lubricant required under severe operating conditions of high temperature and high shear rate or as insulating and cooling transformer oil.

Morphological and Physiological Characterization of Sesbania genotypes

Background: Sesbania species are widely used in different agricultural systems providing green manure, forage, firewood, pulp, food, landscape decoration, control of soil erosion and soil improvement. The biomass yield and yield contributing descriptors of Sesbania depend on different physiological traits. Methods: An experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University to find out the morphological and physiological variability among four Sesbania genotypes. Sesbania species, viz. S. bispinosa, S. cannabina, S. sesban and S. rostrata, were used as experimental materials. Seeds were sown in 2.5 m × 2.0 m plots to maintain 200 plants m-2 following randomized complete block design with three replications. Seed length and width, 1000-seed weight, germination percentage, vigour index, seedling length and biomass yield parameters were recorded. Different growth data were recorded and physiological descriptors were calculated at every 10 days intervals up to 60 days after sowing (DAS). Result: The results revealed that the highest value of plant height, number of leaflets pair leaf-1, leaf length and biomass yield were found in S. bispinosa and the lowest in S. sesban at 60 DAS. Sesbania sesban produced higher biomass and studied growth descriptors up to 20 DAS and thereafter declined, however, other three species produced higher biomass and studied growth descriptors from 30 to 60 DAS.

BIOMASS YIELD ENHANCEMENT OF DHAINCHA (SESBANIA SPECIES) THROUGH CULTURAL PRACTICES

Three separate field experiments were conducted to exploit biomass yield potential of dhaincha (Sesbania species) by different cultural practices. A total of six accessions from three Sesbania species, viz. S. bispinosa (#05, 71, 77 and 109), S. cannabina (#28) and S. sesban (#81), were used as experimental materials. Experimental treatments were population densities, viz. 180, 240 and 300 plants m-2; sowing dates, viz. 30 April, 15 May, 30 May and 15 June, and fertilizer doses, viz. 0 (without N/control), 10, 20 and 30 kg N ha-1. All the experiments were designed following randomized complete block design with three replications. Experiments on population density and sowing dates were conducted in control condition (without any fertilizer application). The N-fertilizer was applied as top dress at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and crops were harvested at 60 DAS. The maximum biomass (10.07 t ha-1) was obtained from 240 plants m-2. At 30 April sowing, plants produced the tallest height (199.69 cm), widest base diameter (1.02 cm), highest fresh weight (62.07 t ha-1) and biomass yield (14.73 t ha-1). There were no significant differences in biomass yield and yield contributing descriptors between 20 and 30 kg N ha-1. Among the species, S. bispinosa was the best performer in terms of biomass yield and yield contributing descriptors. It may be concluded that S. bispinosa (accession #71) could be cultivated with the population density 240 plants m-2, at 30 April, without any fertilizer application. In case of later sowing/cultivation, the 20 kg N ha-1 could be applied for the maximization of biomass yield.

Fiber Yield, Physical and Biochemical Properties of Three Species of Sesbania

An experiment was conducted at Field Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to compare the fiber yield, physical and biochemical properties of three Sesbania species. A total of 38 accessions, 28 from S. bispinosa, 4 from S. cannabina and 5 from S. sesban were used as experimental materials. Seeds were sown @ 30 kg ha-1 on 23 April, 2016 following randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot size was 4.0×2.5 m2 maintaining at the spacing of 50 cm row to row and 15 cm plant to plant. Plants were harvested at 120 days after sowing and plant height, base diameter, plant fresh weight and dry fiber as well as dry stick weight were measured. The fiber yield was the highest in S. bispinosa (2.18 g plant-1) and the lowest in S. sesban (1.40 g plant-1). Fiber luster (%), strength (g tex-1) and crude fiber (%) showed significant differences among these three species. Both fiber luster and strength showed the highest value in S. cannabina (53.50% and 51.20 g tex-1, respectively) and the lowest in S. sesban (35.16% and 33.68 g tex-1). Crude fiber (%) was also the maximum in S. cannabina (41.41%) and the minimum in S. sesban (25.57%). It may, therefore, be concluded that fiber quality of S. cannabina was superior to other species and could be possible to blend with other natural fiber for industrial purposes.
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(2): 79-85

A Review of the Economic Botany of Sesbania (Leguminosae)

Sesbania is a genus in the family Leguminosae that has been widely used by people in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Southeast Asia. Information about Sesbania uses and their characteristics such as chemical compounds were obtained from 233 papers, reports and books. We found evidence for 22 Sesbania species being used. They were used for human food (10 species), animal food (9), poisons (1), medicines (10), environments (8), materials (7), fuel (2) and social purposes (1). Sesbania grandiflora and S. sesban were used more than the other species. Sesbania grandiflora was the only species with uses in all categories. Sesbania sesban was used in six categories. Sesbania grandiflora had the highest number of use records in almost all categories, except for fuel in which S. sesban had more records. The aerial parts, especially the soft, young parts were consumed by both humans and animals. Some Sesbania species contained high amounts of proteins (41% of protein in S. javanica), vitamin C (145 mg/100 g in S. grandiflora) and high amounts of calcium (666 mg/100 g in S. grandiflora). Sesbania species have been used to treat 20 subcategories of human disorders, and also as veterinary medicines. Sesbania possessed 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-N-pentadecanamide, 2-hydroxy-N-decanamide, betulinic acid, isovestitol, medicarpin, oleanolic acid 3-β-D-glucuronide, pinitol, saponin, sativan, sesbanimide, stigmasterol and triterpene acid 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside for which pharmacological properties had been tested. Sesbania also has cardioprotective, antidiabetic, antiurolithiatic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Sixteen microorganisms were found to be inhibited by Sesbania. Sesbania species are well-known for their use as green manures and seven species were recorded for this purpose. Sesbania also have properties that make them useful for pollution control. Regarding material uses, five Sesbania species were used for their fibers and Sesbania bispinosa was used in the production of fabrics. Besides the uses, Sesbania species also have other economic importance as weeds, pest host, and host for an economic plant. Eight species of Sesbania appear to have negative effects as weeds and pest-host and one species (Sesbania grandiflora) was the host for sandalwood. There was evidence that Sesbania could inhibit growth of animals and plants. Moreover, Sesbania seeds in too large doses are lethal to some animals. According to the vast advantages, the knowledge of Sesbania uses, including the safe dosages, should be passed on for the welfare of humans.

Phylogenetic Systematics and Biogeography of the Pantropical Genus Sesbania (Leguminosae)

The pantropical genus Sesbania (Leguminosae) comprises approximately 85 species and 34 infraspecific taxa. This genus is unusual ecologically in its predilection for wetlands, and morphologically distinctive among legumes, yet has never been comprehensively investigated for the phylogenetic integrity of its subgeneric classification. We subjected a broad sampling of Sesbania species to phylogenetic analysis using both nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data. The resulting phylogenies support the monophyly of Sesbania and two constituent subclades, one represented by the New World endemic Sesbania sections Daubentonia, Daubentoniopsis and Glottidium, and the second comprising the pantropically distributed S. section Sesbania and former S. subgenera Pterosesbania and Agati. The species-rich S. section Sesbania is paraphyletic with respect to S. subg. Agati and Pterosesbania, while S. sect. Daubentonia is paraphyletic with respect to S. sect. Daubentoniopsis. Based on these results we revise the sectional classification of Sesbania. The genus is consistently thoughweakly supported as sister to tribe Loteae. Rate and age estimates suggest that the Sesbania crown clade has an estimated mean age of approximately 18.9 Ma. This implicates long-distance dispersal as causing the pantropical distribution of the genus. Regardless, the New World is optimized as the ancestral area for Sesbania. The prevalence of Sesbania in riparian, wetland, and coastal systems combined with low levels of geographic phylogenetic structure suggested that hydrochory and local extinction potentially explain present-day distributions.

Germination and seedling growth of Sesbania species as influenced by seed size

An experiment was carried out at Plant Systematics Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to find out the effect of seed size on germination and seedling growth of three Sesbania species. Seed size was graded as small (3.1–3.5 mm), medium (3.6–4.0 mm) and large (4.1–4.5 mm); and three Sesbania species viz. S. bispinosa, S. cannabina and S. sesban, were used as experimental materials. The treatments were arranged in factorial experiment laid in completely randomized design having four replications. Though the effect of seed size on germination and seedling growth parameters followed similar trend, significant differences were observed among these three Sesbania species. Medium-sized seed produced the highest percentage of emergence and germination, and large-sized seed produced the highest seedling length, vigour index, and total biomass; although the numerical values did not differ statistically. The small-sized seeds were poor performer in all aspect of germination and seedling growth descriptors. The correlation matrix analyses showed that seed size, both length and/or width, highly correlated with root and seedling length, base diameter, vigour index and biomass yield of Sesbania spp. The medium to large-sized seed sown at relatively higher seed rate could be helpful for higher biomass yield of Sesbania spp. especially at the early growth stages.Progressive Agriculture 28 (4): 316-322, 2017

Screening of Sesbania accessions based on early biomass yield

Soft, succulent and readily decomposable Sesbania biomass is one of the best sources of organic matter and nitrogen for improvement of poor, nutrient deficit soils. To select high biomass yielding Sesbania accession(s), an experiment was conducted at Field Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Seeds of 105 accessions from 3 Sesbania species—S. sesban, S. bispinosa and S. cannabina, were sown in the field @ 60 kg/ha on 23 April 2016. The unit plot size was 3 × 2 m2 with a spacing of 50 cm (row-row) × 15 cm (plant-plant). Data on different yield descriptors were recorded at every 10 day intervals up to 60 days after sowing (DAS). Sesbania sesban produced higher biomass yield at the early growth stages (up to 20 DAS), however, S. bispinosa produced higher biomass at the later stages followed by S. cannabina and S. sesban. Therefore, S. sesban can be grown in a very short rotation [Boro rice-(dhaincha)-Jute-T. Aman rice-Mustard and/or Boro rice-(dhaincha)-T. Aus rice-T. Aman rice-Mustard]; and S. bispinosa for a longer period [Boro rice-(dhaincha)-T. Aman rice-Mustard] to maximize organic matter addition to the soil. Ten accessions of S. bispinosa performed better and produced biomass above 30 g/plant (c. 80 t/ha) within 60 DAS. These accessions could be selected for further study for their decomposability, organic matter accumulation, N2-fixing ability and may be processed to release as recommended cultivar(s).J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 15(2): 188-192, December 2017

Residual effects of different green manures on the growth and yield of wheat

Green manures can enrich soils with organic matter and nitrogen. An experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh to evaluate the residual effects of different green manures on the growth and yield of wheat (BARI Gom-26). The experiment containing nine treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were T1 [No green manure + 100% Recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)], T2 (Sesbania aculeata + 75% RDN), T3 (Sesbania aculeata + 50% RDN), T4 (Sesbania rostrata + 75% RDN), T5 (Sesbania rostrata + 50% RDN), T6 (Vigna radiata + 75% RDN), T7 (Vigna radiata + 50% RDN), T8 (Vigna mungo + 75% RDN), and T9 (Vigna mungo + 50% RDN). Residual effects of green manures with RDN significantly increased the yield attributes as well as grain and straw yields of wheat. Further, green manures exerted significant residual effects on grain, straw and total N uptake of wheat. Among various treatments with green manures, the performance of T4 (Sesbania rostrata + 75% RDN) was the best as it produced the highest grain yield (4.28 t ha-1), straw yield (4.74 t ha-1) and total N uptake (108.02 kg ha-1). The use of green manures slightly increased the organic matter content, total N and available P, K, and S contents of the post-harvest soils. As regards to the contribution of various green manures on yield contributing characters and yield of wheat, performances of two Sesbania species viz., S. aculeata and S. rostrata in association with 75% N fertilizer were effective.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 624-630

Sesbania: A Prospective Candidate to be Excavated for Anticancer Drugs

Dietary intake and incidence of cancer are correlated, which suggests that modification of food habits can be of great benefit for cancer prevention and cure. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of anticancer agents such as antioxidants and antimutagens and with the advent of vinca alkaloids, the search for novel anticancer compounds from plants has seen a rapid growth. The leaves, seed pods and flowers of the plants of the genus Sesbania belonging to the family Leguminosae, are used as cuisine and traditional medicine in many parts of the world and have potential roles in improving animal nutrition. Sesbania is oftquoted to have a blend of antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and chemopreventive properties. These diverse pharmacological properties can be attributed to the presence of several active metabolites and pharmacologically active compounds. Research from various groups have shown the pharmacological safety of different parts of various Sesbania species, both in vitro and in vivo, endorsing the need of instant clinical trials to validate their anticancer potential. Most of the information regarding antitumor activity of this genus is on Sesbania grandiflora which demands more deep-rooted studies on this species. This review highlights the importance of the genus Sesbania, indicating the need of including it as a major dietary component and as a target genus that has to be excavated further for identifying novel molecules, which can prevent and cure cancer. Keywords: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticancer, chemoprevention, Sesbania grandiflora, toxicity.

Physical localization of rRNA genes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and analysis of spacer length variants of 45S rRNA (slvs) genes in some species of genus Sesbania

The somatic chromosome numbers 2n = 12 in S. macrantha, S. coerulescens and 2n = 24 in S. simplicuscula were determined, additionally the contradictory chromosome numbers of S. bispinosa (2n = 12, 13, 14, 24) and S. pachycarpa (2n 12, 14) were determined as 2n = 24 and 2n = 14, respectively. The number of 5S rDNA sites in chromosome pair 1 was highly conserved in all the diploid and tetraploid species studied irrespective of their geographic distribution, suggesting that all diploid and tetraploid species/cytotypes of Sesbania analyzed in the present study are in close proximity. Cytogenetic mapping of the 45S multi-gene family was also carried out using fluorescence in situ hybridization. 45S rDNA was consistently located on short or long arms of two sub-metacentric chromosome pairs except on one chromosome pair in S. macrantha and on three chromosome pairs in S. bispinosa and S. cannabina. Out of these nine species, we observed the homogenization of intergenic spacer in six species and find only one spacer length variant (slv) located on one to three chromosome loci. However, three of the species were observed to have two slvs located on two different chromosomes. The species were grouped as per their evolutionary relationship on the basis of the results of the present study.

Absorption and translocation of copper, zinc and chromium by Sesbania virgata

Heavy metals (HM) incorporated to ecosystems as a mixture could interact and generate contamination, which might be mitigated through phytoremediation. The heavy metal tolerance of native species of Sesbania from the Argentinean Pampas is poorly documented. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of interactions between copper, zinc and chromium, in binary form, on Sesbania virgata biomass, absorption and translocation. The HM transfer from a contaminated soil to plants and into plant tissues are discussed in terms of the Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and the Transfer Factor (TF). In a pot experiment, HM were added either individually or in binary mixture solutions of Cu, Zn and Cr, in low or high doses. In all treatments, the main accumulation of HM appeared in plant roots, and Zn is more removed from soils by S. virgata (BCF average in roots Zn>Cr>Cu). In the binary mixture of Cu and Zn, Sesbania plants absorbed the highest concentrations of these metals. In contrast, Cr was more absorbed in the individual treatments. While the co-presence of metals resulted in a greater reduction in S. virgata biomass than the presence of a single metal, S. virgata tolerated and stabilized high concentrations of Cu, Zn and Cr. In view of this tolerance, S. virgata is excellent specie to be used for heavy metals phytostabilization in contaminated soils.

Characterization of galactomannans derived from legume endosperms of genus Sesbania (Faboideae)

Galactomannan polysaccharides extracted from seed endosperms of 12 species of the genus Sesbania (legume subfamily Faboideae) have been characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, dilute-solution viscometry, and oscillatory-shear rheology to determine their potential as aqueous thickeners. The molecular composition and chain-length distribution were found to be nearly identical, and thus galactomannans within this genus are presumed to share a common molecular structure (DSgal≈0.7, Mw≈2.5×106, PDI≈2). Solutions at c>c* exhibited shear-thinning behavior, and strong dependence of viscosity on concentration (η∼c5). Purified samples had Huggins’ constants near 0.5, and negligible surface activity based on pendant drop tensiometry. Seed characteristics such as shape, mass, and endosperm content were also assessed, and based on this investigation, some Sesbania legume endosperms are advantageous for industrial processing and could be adapted for guar gum replacement.