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A protocol for the production of complete plantlets through multiple shoots from the cotyledon-derived calli of ash gourd ( Benincasa hispida L.) is described. The embryos were excised from mature seeds and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurin (BAP, 1–5 μM). After 10 days the well-developed green cotyledons from the growing embryos were isolated and cultured on MS medium fortified with 2,4-D (1–6 μM). The cultured cotyledons gave rise to luxuriantly growing calli after 6 weeks. These calli were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP (1–6 μM) alone or in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA, 0.2 and 0.5 μM) for regeneration. The regenerated shoots were multiplied and rooted on quarter strength MS medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid or NAA (1–5 μM). The rooted shoots were transplanted to soil with 90% success.

An effective and reproducible protocol for the micropropagation ofKigelia pinnata L through high frequency callus regeneration is described. Seeds were surface sterilized before culturing on Gamborgs basal medium (B5 medium). After two weeks the cotyledonary node along with a portion of the hypocotyl were carefully excised from well-developed embryos and subcultured on B5 medium supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D and BAR The cultured cotyledonary node expiants showed callus formation at the base of the lower cut end of the hypocotyl. This callus showed shoot initiation after two weeks of subculture on the regeneration medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP alone or in combination with NAA. The highest number of shoot regeneration occurred on medium containing 5 γM BAP and 0.1 γM NAA. The optimum rooting of the regenerated shoots was observed on 1/2B5 medium supplemented with 4 γM IBA. Micropropagated plants were successfully established in soil in field condition with a survival frequency of 100%.

A rapid micropropagation protocol through induced multiple shoots from the cotyledonary explant of mulberry (Morus alba L) is described. The highest number of shoots (20.3) was obtained when explants from 14-d-old embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 7 μM thidiazuron for 45 d. Of the three cultivars used, cv. S-36 was the best followed by cv. K-2 and S-1. The shoots were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine for elongation. The elongated shoots were rooted on half strength MS medium containing 1 – 7 μM indole 3-butyric acid or 1-naphthalene acetic acid. The rooted plants were transplanted to soil with 90 % success. The emerged shoot primordia probably initiated from the pre-existing meristems since the shoot bud show definite vascular connection to the major vascular tissue.

The mulberry (Morus spp.) is an important tree in the sericultural industry because its leaves constitute the sole source of food for the Mori silkworm (Bombyx mori). Qualitative and quantitative improvements in mulberry varieties play a vital role in industrial advances. However, the perennial nature of the plants, coupled with the species prolonged juvenile period, slows this process. Plant tissue-culture techniques have been used extensively for stock improvement During the last thirty years, several researchers have reported success in plant regeneration from different expiants types. This review describes the major findings in mulberry tissue-culture research.

An efficient callus induction and plant regeneration system has been standardized for an ethnomedicinal plant, Elephantopus scaber Linn. Two explants i. e. seeds and leaf segments were used for callus induction. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 μM 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and 0.5 μM kinetin (Kn) gave the optimum frequency (89 %) of callus induction from seed explant. The results showed that the highest response in terms of percent callus regenerating (91 %) and number of shoots (56) per culture was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 6.0 μM N6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1.5 μM α naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The best rooting of regenerated shoots was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with 6.0 μM indole-3- butyric acid (IBA). On this medium, 100 % of the shoots produced roots with a mean number of 3.2 roots per shoot. The positive role of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) along with potting mix has been well established in the present study. Of the various potting mix employed for plant acclimatization, the highest response of 100 % plant survival was noticed when autoclaved garden soil, sand (2:1) and VAM was utilized as potting mix. Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) were used to establish the clonal fidelity of regenerated plantlets and the banding profiles from callus derived plants were monomorphic and similar to those of mother plant, thus ascertaining the true-to-type nature of these plants.

Background: Traditional medicinal plants could serve as a good supply of new dependable, biodegradable, renewable drugs and can be utilised for its anti‑bacterial activity directly or indirectly. Aims: To evaluate the phytochemical and anti‑bacterial properties of two morphologically similar indigenous medicinal plants Curcuma caesia and Curcuma aeruginosa belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. Materials and Methods: Evaluation of rhizome extracts using methanol was performed for the presence of active principles. Qualitative analysis was carried out for diverse phytoconstituents. Different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5.0 mg/ml) of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water serial extracts from the rhizome of C. caesia and C. aeruginosa were tested against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus haemolyticus and Bacillus cereus) and Gram negative (Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter aerogens, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens) bacteria. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCL) standards were strictly followed to perform anti‑bacterial disc susceptibility test using disc diffusion method. Statistical Analysis: All the values of the results were expressed as means of two independent experiments ± standard deviation. Results: Phytochemical screening of these two plants confirmed the presence of various bioactive substances and thus validating its use in herbal remedies. Anti‑bacterial studies showed varying degree of inhibitory action against all the tested bacteria. Among the Gram positive bacteria, acetone extract of C. caesia showed maximum activity against S. aureus and hexane extract of C. aeruginosa exhibited maximum activity against B. cereus. In Gram negative bacteria, chloroform extract of C. caesia showed maximum inhibitory action against S. marcescens, whereas the methanol extract of C. aeruginosa showed higher inhibitory action against S. typhi. Conclusions: The findings about present study suggest that the rhizome extract possess excellent anti‑bacterial potential that can be used for therapeutic purposes for many bacterial infectious diseases with proper evaluation procedures. The present study validated the use of these plants in traditional medicine and recommends for making new pharmaceuticals for therapeutic needs. Key words: Anti‑bacterial activity, Curcuma aeruginosa, Curcuma caesia, medicinal plants, plant extracts