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RESEARCH
INTERESTS
The
LAB uses tissue culture techniques for large-scale multiplication of some
economically important, endangered, ornamental and medicinal plants. The
newly started molecular biology section focuses on assessing the genetic
diversity using molecular markers
Achievements
Coconut (Cocos
nucifera) is an important crop of the coastal region.
- Zygotic embryos
of coconut have been cultured in vitro and plants have been successfully
transferred to soil.
- Somatic embryos
have been induced from leaf tissue of juvenile as well as mature palms
(coconut somatic embryo)
- Early stages of
embryos also have been obtained from anther culture
Cashew (Anacardium
occidentale) (Cashew1) kernels are a
valuable forex earners for the country. The kernels are processed manually,
and hundreds of rural women are employed in cashew factories for this
purpose.
- Multiple buds obtained
from cotyledonary nodes of cashew (cashew2 &
3).
- Rooted shoots (Cashew
4)
- An in vitro developed
cashew plantlet being transferred to the soil(cashew5)
- 4-yr old micropropagated
tree of cashew (cashew7)
- A fruit of the
first micropropagated cashew tree (cashew6).
- Direct somatic
embryogenesis from radical end of zygotic embryos of cashew cashew
8
- Cotyledonary stage
somatic embryos induced from cashew nucellus, a tissue of maternal origin.
(cashew 9). Experiments are being conducted
to germinate the embryos.
Protocols have been
worked out for micropropagation of ornamental plants like Millingtonia
hortensis (millingtonia, millingtonia2)
Mussaenda philippica
and Drynaria quercifolia (drynaria
1, drynaria 2, drynaria3).
Ayurveda
is a plant-based system of medicine in India. Due to habitat destruction
and over-exploitation for commercial purposes, natural stands of medicinal
plants are dwindling. Plant tissue culture techniques are a useful tool
for conservation of these plants.
Murraya koenigii
(murraya 1, murayya2),
Vernonia cineria,
Curculigo orchioides (curculigo1,
curculigo2)
which has proven anti-tumor activity, has been successfully micropropagated
at the LAB.
Gnetum
ula (Gnetum1) is an endangered gymnosperm,
endemic to the Western Ghats. This living fossil is endangered because
of habitat destruction.
- Somatic embryos
of Gnetum have been induced from nucellar tissue. (Gnetum2)
Maturation and germination of these embryos is being tried.
Saplings
of important forest trees are not available in large numbers because of
poor viability of seed and lack of methods of vegetative propagation.
Protocols
have been worked out for large-scale propagation of a number of forest
tree species such as
Ailanthus malabarica (Ailanthus1,
ailanthus2),
Lagerstroemia flos-reginae (lagerstroemia),
Butea monosperma (butea1, butea2,
butea3)
and Artocarpus incisus (artocarpus1,
artocarpus2)
- The LAB carried
out a study of the effects of large-scale deforestation on soil, flora,
fauna of the Dakshina Kannada district. Reforestation with non-native
trees causes considerable imbalance in the environment. In association
with the Sociology Department of the college, the LAB also studied the
socio-economic effects of such changes in village life especially with
regard to occupation of persons who depend on forest produce for their
work and livelihood.
Ongoing Projects
- Biotechnological
studies on finger millet
- Study of the molecular
aspects of regeneration in cashew
- Regeneration of
some medicinal plants using tissue culture
Collaborative Projects
- Study of Anti-tuberculosis
properties of ferns: Dr Smitha Hegde, LAB and Dr Y.Singh, Center for
Biochemical Technology, New Delhi
- Bioinformatics
approaches to elucidate metabolic pathway in yeasts: Dr Smitha Hegde,
LAB and Dr Parag Sadhale, Department of Microbiology, Indian Institute
of Science, Bangalore
- Assessing the genetic
diversity of finger millet accessions: Anuradha M., LAB and Dr Madan
Mohan, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,
New Delhi.
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