Non-timber forest products (NTFPs): a viable option for biodiversity conservation and livelihood enhancement in central Himalaya

The present study aims to document detail information of some of the selected wild edible having enormous potential for livelihood enhancement and socio-economic development by making a variety of value added products. To this end, some of the wild edibles of central Himalaya were selected and prioritized for harnessing their economic potential along with their detail information in terms of distribution, ethnobiology, phenophases and appropriate time of harvesting so as to make communities well aware about the resource availability and their harvesting period round the year. The cost-benefit analysis of each value added product prepared from selected wild edibles was worked out in detail and these analyses revealed that total monetary output, as well as the net return, is very high for all value added products prepared. Since wild edible fruits or other edible parts can be collected from wild free of cost except labour is involved in collection of these wild edibles bio-resources. In addition, information on a participatory action research framework & approaches for promoting participatory conservation of these wild edible species were also highlighted for appropriate management of these resources. The present attempt provides a practical example of sustainable utilization of wild edibles, their potential in livelihood improvement of local people, distribution and phenophases and availability in natural conditions, participatory conservation of these wild edibles may help policy planners at the regional and national levels to link livelihood/socio-economic development with conservation.     

CERTAIN EMBRYOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF CYTOKININ SD 8339 IN CONVERTING SEX OF A MALE VITIS VINIFERA (SYLVESTRIS)

Certain embryological and biochemical effects of the cytokinin (SD 8339) in converting flower sex from male to hermaphrodite were studied in a clone of Vitis vinifera L. (sylvestris). The cytokinin accelerated the meiotic division of the megaspore mother cell, mitotic divisions of the megaspore and cells of pistillate tissue, and increased the rate of protein synthesis in flower buds. Two working hypotheses for the possible mode of action of the cytokinin in sex conversion are presented.     

Phenological features in relation to growth forms and biomass accumulation in an alpine meadow of the Central Himalaya

Phenological records of 50 plant species were made during 1988–89 in an alpine meadow (30° 10-30° 13 N lat. and 79° 39-79°-41 E long.) of Central Himalaya located between 3100–3750 m elevation. The growth initiation occurred when temperature began to rise continuously and the resulting in snowmelt. The peaks of the various phenophases succeeded one after another in time, within a period of about four months (from May to September) which is longer than the period reported for the alpine sites of higher latitudes. The period of growth initiation appeared to be related to growth form, the species showing earlier growth initiation (when temperatures were lower) deployed leaves to lower heights, close to the ground. A majority of forbs completed growth cycle earlier than the grasses. For example, one group represented by Trachydium roylei reached peak growth a few weeks before did another group of species, represented by Danthonia cachemyriana, which is indicative of niche separation of the respective group of species. Activities of accumulation of live and dead shoot biomass were clearly separated in time in most communities, the former occurring from May to August, and the latter mainly in September. Nomenclature: Osmaston (1926).     

The Transmembrane Region of Guard Cell SLAC1 Channels Perceives CO2 Signals via an ABA-Independent Pathway in Arabidopsis

The guard cell S-type anion channel, SLOW ANION CHANNEL1 (SLAC1), a key component in the control of stomatal movements, is activated in response to CO₂ and abscisic acid (ABA). Several amino acids existing in the N-terminal region of SLAC1 are involved in regulating its activity via phosphorylation in the ABA response. However, little is known about sites involved in CO₂ signal perception. To dissect sites that are necessary for the stomatal CO₂ response, we performed slac1 complementation experiments using transgenic plants expressing truncated SLAC1 proteins. Measurements of gas exchange and stomatal apertures in the truncated transgenic lines in response to CO₂ and ABA revealed that sites involved in the stomatal CO₂ response exist in the transmembrane region and do not require the SLAC1 N and C termini. CO₂ and ABA regulation of S-type anion channel activity in guard cells of the transgenic lines confirmed these results. In vivo site-directed mutagenesis experiments targeted to amino acids within the transmembrane region of SLAC1 raise the possibility that two tyrosine residues exposed on the membrane are involved in the stomatal CO₂ response.     

Directing and Potentiating Stem Cell-Mediated Angiogenesis and Tissue Repair by Cell Surface E-Selectin Coating

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising approach for treatment of a number of diseases, including delayed and non-healing wounds. However, targeted systemic delivery of therapeutic cells to the dysfunctional tissues remains one formidable challenge. Herein, we present a targeted nanocarrier-mediated cell delivery method by coating the surface of the cell to be delivered with dendrimer nanocarriers modified with adhesion molecules. Infused nanocarrier-coated cells reach to destination via recognition and association with the counterpart adhesion molecules highly or selectively expressed on the activated endothelium in diseased tissues. Once anchored on the activated endothelium, nanocarriers-coated transporting cells undergo transendothelial migration, extravasation and homing to the targeted tissues to execute their therapeutic role. We now demonstrate feasibility, efficacy and safety of our targeted nanocarrier for delivery of bone marrow cells (BMC) to cutaneous wound tissues and grafted corneas and its advantages over conventional BMC transplantation in mouse models for wound healing and neovascularization. This versatile platform is suited for targeted systemic delivery of virtually any type of therapeutic cell.     

Clinical and experimental mycotic corneal ulcer caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and the effect of oral ketoconazole in the treatment

Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from a case of keratomycosis. The patient, a 12-year-old boy presented with large corneal ulcer with hypopyon. The direct microscopic examination of scrapings revealed hyaline, septate mycelium. In vitro some antimycotics (amphotericin B,5-fluorocytosine, oxiconazole, amorolfine and ketoconazole) were tested against A. fumigatus by agar dilution method. Ketoconazole with minimum inhibitory concentration of 30 g/ml after 11 days of incubation was most effective against A. fumigatus. Experimental corneal ulcer was produced by injecting intralamellary spore suspension (2.5×10⁶ c.f.u.) into the right eyes of previously immunosuppressed albino and black wild types of rabbits. The extent of ocular infection was graded up to 32 days. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration and large destruction of corneal stroma. Oral ketoconazole therapy exhibited partial response followed by relapse. The black type of rabbit appeared more suitable as an animal model for mycotic keratitis.This paper was presented at the X^th congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology at Barcelona, Spain from June 27 to July 1, 1988.