Search

• Hibiscus , a flowering plant (Malvaceae) renowned for medicinal and aesthetic value. • First in-depth report on the characterization of 19 different Hibiscus germplasms. • Revealed significant morphological, biochemical, and molecular diversity. • A multifaceted analysis of biochemical traits encompassing antioxidant properties. • Exhibited 34.75 % polymorphism among 19 Hibiscus germplasms using four molecular marker systems. Hibiscus , a popular ornamental plant of mallow family Malvaceae, is composed of more than 400 species of flowering plants. It is originally native to tropical Asia (China and India) and grows in warm-temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions worldwide. The basic chromosome number varies from x = 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20 and 39. In ancient times, it was only used for religious purposes (as offerings to God), but nowadays, it is considered of great significance as an ornamental as well as a medicinal plant. Important species found in this zone are Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., H. cannabinus L., H. storckii Seem., H. fragilis DC., H. schizopetalus (Mast.) Hooker. f. along with germplasms like Celia, Kali Jaba, Red Dragon, Cinnamon Girl, Brilliant, etc. have been identified to date. Still, there is a lack of proper documentation and characterization (based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular traits). With this aim in mind, the above research work was considered. On the basis of morphological parameters (plant height, flower weight, type of flower, etc.), Brilliant (T 1), Sudarshan Chakra (T 16), Storckii (T 15), and Golden Doublon (T 8) were similar but diverse from the rest of the germplasms. Likewise, Brilliant (T 1), Golden Doublon (T 8), Celia (T 2), and Versicolor Pinwheel (T 19) were rich in biochemical pigments viz., chlorophyll, carotenoid, lycopene, and anthocyanin content. In contrast, phenol and ascorbic acid were found to be highest in Spider (T 15), and antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP assay) were maximum in Oiseau Blue (T 12). Finally, a significant amount of genetic diversity was assessed with molecular markers, and 141 loci were produced using inter simple sequence repeats, start codon targeted, conserved DNA-derived polymorphism, and directed amplification of minisatellite-region DNA marker systems, out of which 49 loci were polymorphic (34.75 % polymorphism). On the basis of molecular diversity analyzed by network plot, unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering, and principal component analyses, Oiseau Blue (T 12) was found completely diverse from all the germplasms, placed separately in the dendrogram, and thus may be considered as a potential parent for the hybridization programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jute and kenaf are among the annually renewable fibre crops mainly grown over tropical and subtropical Asian countries. They are possibly the world's largest source of lignocellulosic bast fibre which is extracted from plants by a natural microbial process known as retting. But acute shortage of water for retting and the environmental pollution created from conventional system of retting has demanded for new method of retting. The new method of retting launched has been recognized as ribbon retting. In ribbon retting barks are removed from jute and kenaf plants mechanically or manually in the form of ribbon. The ribbons are coiled anti then allowed for retting in water with or without using a microbial inoculum. Ribbon retting has the following advantages over conventional retting: ( 1 ) It requires lesser volume of water, (2) it is faster, (3) it produces lesser environmental pollution, and (4) it produces improved quality fibre. Addition of efficient pectinolytic microbial inoculum may further boost up or improve the ribbon retting process. From the present study it is understood that inoculation of a specific mixed bacterial culture in combination with 0.5% urea as N-supplement caused faster ribbon retting of jute and kenaf. Ribbon retting conducted in cement retting tank was faster than that in polythene tank. The mixed bacterial culture in combination with urea produced stronger, finer and brighter coloured jute and kenaf fibre in comparison to uninoculated control. One hundred twenty-day-old plant was found most suitable for ribbon retting. Ribbon retted fibre with pectinolytic mixed bacterial culture in combination with urea obtained higher grade in comparison to uninoculated control. Such ribbon retted fibres produced standard and regular quality yarn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]