Development of micro satellite markers for a critically endangered species, Ceropegia fantastica from the Western Ghats, India

Ceropegia fantastica L. (Asclepiadaceae) is a highly endemic and endangered species in the Western Ghats of India. Fourteen microsatellite markers were developed for C. fantastica. Eight microsatellite primers screened had 2–5 alleles per locus and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.48 to 0.83 and 0.48 to 0.62, respectively. The primers were also evaluated for their cross amplification against two related species Ceropegia hirsuta and Ceropegia oculata. The microsatellites developed for this species could be used for addressing population genetics of this endemic and critically endangered species.     

Molecular phylogeny of Ceropegia (Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae) from Indian Western Ghats

Ceropegia includes more than 200 species distributed in the Old World ranging from the Canary Islands to Australia. In India, there are about 50 species described on a morphological basis as belonging to Ceropegia, and most of them are endemic to the Western Ghats. To investigate evolutionary relationships among Indian Ceropegia taxa and their allies, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted to include 31 Indian taxa of Ceropegia and Brachystelma and their congeners from other geographical regions using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and three noncoding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences, including intergenic spacers trnT-L and trnL-F, and trnL intron. The Western Ghats Ceropegia species were found to be most closely related to Indian Brachystelma, with the two genera being placed sister to each other in the ITS phylogeny or with the Brachystelma clade nested within one of the two subclades of Indian Ceropegia in the cpDNA phylogeny. In contrast, Ceropegia species from other regions and African Brachystelma all formed separate clades basal to the Indian Ceropegia–Brachystelma clade. Thus, it can be concluded that the classical morphology-based delineation of the two genera needs revision to reflect their phylogenetic relationships, which are more in accordance with their geographical origin than with morphology.     

New species of Phaeoramularia, Pseudocercospora and Stenella from Western Ghats of India

Four new species of the hyphomycete genera Phaeoramularia viz. Ph. caesalpinae, Pseudocercospora viz., Ps. tiliacearum, Stenella, viz. S. argyreiae and S. grewiae occurring on Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae), Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae), Argyrea sp. Lour (Convolvulaceae) and Grewia sp. L. (Tiliaceae), respectively are described and illustrated here. All these fungi were collected from Western Ghats of India.     

A new species of Cycas from the Malabar Coast, Western Ghats, India

A new cycad species,Cycas annaikalensis, has been discovered from the Malabar Coast of the southern Western Ghats of India. Although geographically distributed in a small population within the range ofC. circinalis, it can be distinguished from the other described IndianCycas species by its distinct habitat, habit, morphology of vegetative and reproductive parts, and anatomy of leaflets.     

Length–weight relationships of three freshwater cyprinid fish species from Chalakudy River,South Western Ghats,India

This paper provides length‐weight relationships (LWRs) for three freshwater cyprinid fish species: Barbodes carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849), Hypselobarbus kolus (Sykes, 1839) and Tor khudree (Sykes, 1839) from the Chalakduy River in South Western Ghats of India. Fish samples were collected on a monthly basis between April 2011 to March 2012 using gill nets of different mesh sizes (3.5–10 cm). LWRs for these three species had not been previously reported in FishBase.     

A new species of Beilschmiedia (Lauraceae) from the Western Ghats,India

Beilschmiedia tirunelvelica is described and illustrated as a new species from the Western Ghats of Agasthiyamalai Biosphere Reserve, India. The differences to similar taxa are provided with dichotomous key and table.     

A new species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from the Western Ghats, India

Eugenia shettyana, is described and illustrated as a new species from the Western Ghats, India. The differences to similar taxa are discussed.     

Exploring microbial bioactive molecules from Western Ghats,India

Western Ghats are designated as world heritage sites and global biodiversity hotspots. Microbial diversity in this forest area has been largely neglected and is getting attention since the end of the last millennium. In this review, we have studied and organized various microorganisms from Western Ghats and their diversity, important characteristics and potential biotechnological applications. Microorganisms from Western Ghats have been explored individually for potential bioactive molecules. While most of the microorganisms were analyzed for antimicrobial activities, there have been studies on microbial promotion of plant growth. The microbes analyzed included from aquatics, soil, rhizosphere, phyllosphere and even as endophytes. There have been microorganisms which have shown antioxidant and anti-cancerous activities. There are microorganisms capable of degrading plant wastes and also xenobiotics. Microorganisms capable of producing industrially important enzymes have also been reported. The present review explores largely neglected microbial diversity with respect to their ability to produce potential bioactive biomolecules.     

A new species of Oberonia (Orchidaceae) from Western Ghats of Kerala,India

A new Oberonia species, O. muthikulamensis (Orchidaceae), is described and illustrated from Muthikulam forest, Western Ghats of Kerala, India. It is compared with a closely morphologically similar species, O. sebastiana, endemic to Western Ghats.     

A new species of Ceropegia (Asclepiadaceae) from India

Ceropegia schumanniana , a new species belonging to Asclepiadaceae is described from the Western Ghats of India.     

Gomphia barberi,a new species of Ochnaceae from Tirunelveli Hills,Western Ghats of India

Gomphia barberi sp. nov. (Ochnaceae) is described with an illustration from the Tirunelveli Hills of southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India.     

Pinda shrirangii,a new elegant species of Apiaceae from the northern Western Ghats,India

A new species, Pinda shrirangii Gosavi & Chandore, is described and illustrated from a high-elevation region of northern Western Ghats, India. The new species is closely allied to the only other species in the genus, Pinda concanensis (Dalzell) P.K.Mukh. & Constance which was also described from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra state of India. Coloured photographs and illustrations are provided to facilitate the identification.     

Two new species of Cololejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. from Western Ghats,India

Introduction. During a recent floristic survey of liverworts from Western Ghats, India, two interesting liverworts of genus Cololejeunea were collected from forests in Mahabaleshwar in the state of Maharashtra.

Methods. After critical investigation, they have been described as new to science and both species, C. ghatensis G.Asthana & A.Srivastava sp. nov. and C. mehrana G.Asthana & A.Srivastava sp. nov. are illustrated and described here.

Key results. Cololejeunea ghatensis is an epiphyllous species growing on angiosperm leaves and has been collected near Chinaman Waterfall, Robbers Cave, Connaught Peak and Polo Ground area. Cololejeunea mehrana has been collected near Monkey point and the latter has an interesting habitat as it was found growing on moss leaves. Cololejeunea ghatensis is monoicous and C. mehrana is dioicous.     

Genetic diversity across natural populations of three montane plant species from the Western Ghats, India revealed by intersimple sequence repeats

We analysed genetic diversity across the natural populations of three montane plant species in the Western Ghats, India; Symplocos laurina, Gaultheria fragrantissima and Eurya nitida using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. These markers revealed genetic diversity within the populations of these plants from Nilgiri and also between two populations of S. laurina from Nilgiri and Amboli. Genetic variation within and between populations was analysed using various parameters such as total heterozygosity (HT), heterozygosity within population (HS), diversity between populations (DST), coefficient of population differentiation (GST), genetic distance (D) and gene flow (Nm). Total heterozygosity (HT) was higher for S. laurina (0.238) than for G. fragrantissima (0.172) and E. nitida (0.182). Two populations of S. laurina, separated by > 1000 km, showed a high within-population variation (53.7%) and a low gene flow (Nm = 0.447). upgma phenograms depicted a tendency of accessions to group according to their geographical locations in all the three plant species. The insight gained into the genetic structure of these plant populations might have implications in developing in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.     

Psychotria henryana (Rubiaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats,India

Psychotria henryana (Rubiaceae), a new species from the hills of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu at the core zone of Kalakad‐Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and Agasthiyamalai Biosphere Reserve on the southern Western Ghats of India, is described and illustrated.     

Total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of Saptarangi (Salacia chinensis L.) fruit pulp

Salacia chinensis L. has various beneficial properties including antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. The S. chinensis fruit pulp (SCFP) was extracted with four different solvents (Methanol, ethanol, acetone and water) and was screened for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (AOA). The AOA was assessed by evaluating the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelating assay. Methanolic SCFP extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (3.20?±?0.12 mg GAE/g FW) whereas, ethanolic extract showed highest flavonoid content (0.31?±?0.68 mg RE/g FW). The methanolic extract possesses highest antioxidant activity towards DPPH (92.44 %), FRAP (1.939 O.D) and metal chelating activity (74.16 %). AOA (DPPH and FRAP) was significantly correlated with TPC. The results indicated that SCFP is a good natural source of antioxidant compounds for use in food and pharmaceutical industry.     

Strobilanthes kannanii – a new species of Acanthaceae from the Western Ghats,India

Strobilanthes kannanii, a new species of Acanthaceae from southern Western Ghats is described and illustrated. It shows similarity to S. sessilis in some vegetative, floral and palynological characters. Notes on the habitat, distribution, and affinities are also provided along with color images and line drawings.     

Eriocaulon balakrishnanii (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats of India

A new species, Eriocaulon balakrishnanii (Eriocaulaceae) from the Western Ghats of Karnataka State in India is described and illustrated. This species is allied to E. robusto-brownianum and E. lanceolatum but differs in a number of characters from both.