Abstract Detail

Tropical Biology Section

Kumar, Narendra [1], Samad, Abdul [2], Banerjee, Suchitra [3], Bagchi, GD [1].

Phenotypic, molecular, chemical and reproductive variability in medicinally important Sida species.

The genus Sida consists of several medicinally important species that are widely used in the preparation of different formulations according to the Indian Systems of Medicines. About 12 species of Sida are growing in different parts of India and four of them, having medicinally significant properties, are taken up for the present study. These Sida species, namely S.acuta, S.cordata, S.cordifolia and S.rhombifolia, impart serious problem of proper identification in the raw materials in spite of their phenotypical variability. In order to optimize guidelines for proper characterization of these species, detailed analysis of reproductive behavior, RAPD based molecular evaluations and chemical profiling have been carried out during the present study. Incidentally, a distinctive Sida population has been come across during initial phase of the study which stands apart from other four aforementioned species in phenotypic, molecular and chemical characters as well as in its reproductive behavior. The plants of such distinctive population remained intermingled with the other four species but retained its distinctiveness. While analyzing the similarity value, new population phenotypically fairly resembles S.acuta. RAPD analysis also shows higher genetic similarity of this population with S.acuta (similarity coefficient 0.678) than S.rhombifolia (0.521). Relatively lower genetic similarity of this population has been noted with S.cordifolia and S.cordata (0.489 and 0.478 respectively). Additionally, the four aforementioned species demonstrated normal flowering and up to 98-99% seed formation, while the plants of the new populations exhibited self incompatibility due to twirling and upward movement of the pollen tubes at the upper region of the ovary. Such abnormality led to extremely low seed formation (1-2%). Scanning Electron Microscopic studies of the pollen grains and seeds also substantiates the above observations in surface ornamentation characters. Chemical profiling further exemplifies the distinctiveness of this population as it expresses the hybrid-like chemical profile between S.acuta and S.rhombifolia. The entire study will be discussed which may possibly open the idea of naming a new species (?) in this genus.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Central Institute of Medicinal and Atometic Plants (CIMAP), Taxonomy and Pharmacognosy, Near kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, Uttar pradesh, 226015, India
2 - Central Institute of Medicinal and Atometic Plants (CIMAP), Plant Pathology Division, Near kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226015, India
3 - Central Institute of Medicinal and Atometic Plants (CIMAP), Biotechnology Division, Near kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226015, India

Keywords:
Sida
Species
Phenotypic
variability
molecular identification
Reproductive biology
chemical diversity
SEM.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 7
Location: 552A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 7002
Abstract ID:349