CYTOTAXONOMY

Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com
Department of Botany
Ravenshaw University, Cuttack

CYTOTAXONOMY

Taxonomy is a multifacet interdisciplinary subject of plant science and its phylogenetic problems are duly solved by applying the importance of cytology. Nature of pollen grains and a large number of morphological characters in numerical taxonomy for the cause of classification. Cytology has made an important contribution to taxonomy during last few decades. Actually cytological characters such as chromosome number, morphology, their behavior and structure at meiotic phase of cell-division use to bear considerable taxonomic values which create a branch of biology dealing with the relationships and classification of organism is known as Cytotaxonomy. It is comparative studies of chromosomes. As the cytologic data are directly derived from nucleus, the seat of hereditary material, they may be used for understanding the evolution and relationships of population. The chromosome number is usually constant in a species which makes it as an important taxonomic character. Chromosomes also very in forms, size, volume and in the amount of distribution of heterochromatin. These characteristics of  Karyotypes are taxonomically useful where the individual chromosomes are large enough for detailed microscopic observation. The chromosome number can be a plesiomorphic characteristics of a large clade or a recurrent trait which arose independently in two or more clades.  Chromosome numbers are usually determined at mitosis and quoted as the diploid number (2n), unless dealing with a polyploidy series in which case the base number or number of chromosomes in the genome of the original haploid is quoted. In this branch another useful taxonomic character is the position of the centromere. Meiotic behavior may show heterozygosity of inversions. This may be constant for a taxon, offering further taxonomic evidence. Cytological data is regarded as having more significance than other taxonomic evidence. The class monocotyledons have usually got large sized chromosome than the dicotyledonous. In general, woody plants have got smaller chromosomes than in their herbaceous relatives.

Examples:

Ø  In family Ranunculaceae, the chromosome number and chromosome morphology have keenly provided prime basis for more natural arrangement of genera and tribes. Two major tribes of family Ranunculaceae namely Helleboreae and Anemoneae have got genera base chromosome numbers of 7, 8 and 9 and both the tribes have got genera with large and small chromosome types.

Ø  The genera Aquilegia and Isopyrum of Heeboreae, Thalictrum and Anemonella of Anemoneae have got base number 7 with small type chromosomes. These four genera have thus been segregated in a separate tribe called Thalictrea.

Ø  The genera Agave and Yucca placed in two separate families, Amaryllidace & Liliaceae respectively, with 3 long and 25 short chromosomes. Their Karyotype similarity justifies the cause of inclusion in a single family Agavaceae as has been done by Hutchinson.

Ø  The two genera of family Brassicaceae, Physaria and Lesquerella were recognized by many as a single genus.

Palynotaxonomy

According to G. Endtman (1952) pollen grains morphology pay a pivotal role in solving taxonomic problems. Latter Erdtman (1969) also published an excellent review on the application of palynology in taxonomy. Investigation in this line become more aggravated by the use of Electron Microscope in pollen studies. Following pollen characters are used in taxonomic studies:

1)      Size and shape.

2)      Exine sculpturing.

3)      Apertures

4)      Ultrafine structure

5)      Pollen associations

6)      Nuclear number in pollen.

Size and Shape

The size are minute, small, medium, large, very large and gigantic. The shapes also varies with different views i.e. circular, prolate, perprolate, plano convex or biconvex.

Exine sculpturing

The surface of the pollen grains may be smooth or they may be variously sculptured which consist of two types:

a)      Excrescences Type :

1)      Spinulose

2)      Granulose

3)      Gemmate

4)      Tuberculate

5)      Clavate

6)      Baculate (rod-shaped)

b)      Depression Type:

1)      Striate (Lumina parallel)

2)      Regulate (Lumina anastomosing)

3)      Reticulate

4)      Foveolate (Lumina circular with closely-set)

5)      Scrobiculate (Lumina circular & distanthyplaced)

6)      Fossulate (Lumina elongated)

 Aperture

Based on the number, position and character (NCP) of aperture, the pollens are consisted of different types:

1.      Number: 1 -- Many.

2.      Position: Proximal, distal, intercalary, lateral, zonal or global.

3.      Characteristics: Colpate (furrow), Porate (Circular), Inaperturate.

Ultrafine structure

The observation of pollen grain under Transmission Electron Microscope provides a lot of considerable taxonomic valueat species, generic and family level.

Species Level

The pollen characteristics help in differentiating the species within a single genus.

Examples:

In Anemone: Based on germinal aperture, the different species of these genera can be distinguished.

Ø  Anemone obtusiloba : The pollens are 3-zonocolpate

Ø  Anemone rivularis : Pantocolpate

Ø  Anemone alchemillaefolia : Pantopovate

Ø  Anemone fulgens: Spiraperturate

In Bauhinia : Based on the exine pattern, the different species of this genus can be assigned as such.

Ø  Bauhinia acuminata: Pilate

Ø  Bauhinia vacemosa : Reticulate

Ø  Bauhinia krungii: Striate

Ø  Bauhinia retusa : Vervucate

Ø  Bauhinia malabarica : Spinulate

Ø  Bauhinia purpurea : Reticulate / tuberculate

Genus Level

Family Salicaceae consists of two genera, Salix and Populus that can be distinguished on the basis of  pollen characteristics.  The genus Populus is provided with spherical pollen grains without distinct aperture whereas Salix contains 3-furrowed aperture.

Family Phytolaccaeae consists of 22 genera. The pollen studies on two genera Rivinia and Phytolacca indicate that they can be distinguished easily on pollen characteristics. The pollen of Rivinia is Pantocolpate while Phytolacca is provided with 3 zonocolpate.

Family Level

In Araceae and Lamnaceae : Hutchinson in his Arales included both Araceae and Lamnaceae. The family Araceae is europalynous, with 1-2-4- colpate, 3-potate or inaperturate, with pollen grains provided with exine sculpturing while Lemnaceae is stenopalynous with 1-porate and spinous exine.

In Bombacaceae: Bentham and hooker divided this family into four subfamilies

Ø  Malvaceae

Ø  Ureneae

Ø  Hibisceae

Ø  Bombaceae

Later, Engler treated Bombacaceae as a seprate family. The exine of most of the members pf Malvaceae  is spinous but that of Bombacaceae is reticulate. This study supporting the separation of Bombacaceae as a separate family is justified.

In Berberidaceae : Family Berberidaceae includes 12 genera. Modern taxonomist removed the genus Podophyllum from Berberidaceae and placed it in a separate family, Podophyllaceae. The pollen grains in Podophyllum remains united, but they are free in other genera, supporting the removal of Podophyllum.

In Orchidaceae: According to Vij and Kashyap (1978), there are three groups of pollen grains:

1.      Single pollen grain: Cypripedium cordigeratum

2.      Tetrads : in tribe Neottieae and Epidendrieae.

3.      Perfect massulae: Orchidaceae and some members of Neottieae.

 

Homology and Homoplasy in Plant Taxonomy

Sanjeet Kumar

Homology and Homoplasy in Plant Taxonomy

Homology is referred as similarity between organisms originating from common ancestry. The term homology was first introduced by Sir Richard Owen in 1843. The word is derived from “Homologia” in Greek which means “agreement”. It denotes structure and organs that have evolutionary correspondence, regardless of their current function. On the other hand, homoplasy can occur from independent evolutionary origin but not by common ancestry. The term homoplasy was coined by Lankester in 1870. It refers to analogous structures which show similarity and may perform the same function, but that are not derived from a structure found in a common ancestor. The wings of bats and insects are analogous because they both function for flight, but evolved from different primitive structure  so we can say this is the example of homoplasy. Homoplasy is due to convergent evolution, parallel evolution or character reversal. Convergence is the independent evolution of similar features in two or more different lineages.  In plant for example, saprophytic leaves of Lycopodium and gametophytic leaves of Porella evolved independently as photosynthetic appendages (In non-vascular plants, photosynthesis usually occurs in the uppermost part of the plant, resulting in an abundance of small stem- or leaf-like appendages). Reversal is the loss of derived feature with the replacement of an original ancestral condition. For example, the reduced flowers of Lemna minor lack the perianth by secondary loss, thus reverting to a condition, prior to the evolution of a reproductive shoot having a perianth like structure.  Evaluation of structure in terms of homology, analogy and homoplasy can be valuable in determining whether apparently similar organisms have evolved in a convergent (Coming closer together, esp. in characteristics or ideas) or parallel manner, and prior knowledge of the evolutionary history of particular species, aids in identifying homologous and analogous structure. Independent information is also important in making such assessments, but it should be obvious (easily seen, recognized, or understood) that parallel evolution following divergence (The degree by which things diverge) of lines tends to result in homologies, while analogies and homoplasy are likely results of convergent evolution.

In constructing a cladogram, a single branching pattern is selected from among many possibilities. The number of possible dichotomous branching of cladogram use to increase with a corresponding increase in the number of taxa for two taxa, there is only one cladogram.  

Homology vs.  Homoplasy

Homology                                                          vs.                                Homoplasy
Homology is any similarity between characters that is due to their shared ancestry	Homoplasy occurs when characters are similar, but are not derived from a common ancestor
Homoplasy often results from convergent evolution

Character : A character is any recognizable attribute of an organism.

Saprophytes: They  are living organisms that feed on dead organic matter.

Gametophytic: the gamete-bearing individual or phase in the life cycle of a plant having alternation of generations

Analogous: Performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds.

Perianth: In flowering plants, the perianth consists of the calyx and the corolla, but in liverworts, the perianth is the sterile tubelike tissue that surrounds the female reproductive structure.

Lemna minor : It is also known as Common Duckweed or Lesser Duckweed. It is occurring everywhere that freshwater ponds and slow-moving streams occur, except for arctic and subarctic climates. It has one, two or three leaves each with single root hanging in the water. As more leaves grow, the plant divide and become separate individuals. It is an important food resource for many fish and birds.

Ancestor: Any person from whom one is descended.

Clade: A group of organisms that share a common ancestor / lineage / monophyletic group.

Convergent evolution: The independent development of similar structures in different groups. It is thought to be the result of similar environmental selection pressures on different groups.

Dichotomous branching: A type of branching in which the apical meristem divides into two more or less equal apices.

Cladogram: Cladogram is a diagram used in cladistics which shows relations among organism. It looks like a series of “Y” or forks in a road. At each branch, or “Y” junction, novel characters of evolutionary origin are used to separate off one group from the rest.It is not however an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to descendants or how much they have changed. The branching off points represent a hypothetical ancestor which would have the combined traits of lines above it. Although traditionally such cladograms were generated largely on the basis of morphological characters, DNA and RNA sequencing data and computational phylogenetics are now very commonly used in the generation og cladograms.

Cladistics: It is an approach to classification in which items are grouped together based on whether or not they have one or more shared unique characteristics that come from the group’s common ancestor and are not present in more distant ancestors.

William Bertram Turill & Alpha-Omega Taxonomy

Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com
Department of Botany
Ravenshaw University, Cuttack

William Bertram Turrill was an English botanist. He was born in Woodstock. He worked in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and was responsible for many innovations including a mathematical classification of leaf shapes. He received the Order of the British Empire in 1955 and the gold medal of the Linnean Society in 1958, He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1958. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Turrill when citing a botanical name. He did a approach regarding the stages of taxonomic study as Omega taxonomy. Our level of knowledge about plants use to varies, of course, in different ways. For instance we know far more about the vascular plants than about the lower green plants; about plants of the North Temperate regions than about those of the Tropics; and about plants of great economic value than about those of little commercial interest. According to Valentine and Lave, there are three stages of floristic study:

1.      The evolutionary phase: Involving collection and subsequent classification from a limited range of herbarium specimens.

2.      The systematic phase: Extensive herbarium and field study of a wide selection of material of each taxon are carried out.

3.      Biosystematic phase:  Detailed genetical and cytological studies.

Davis and Heywood rightly added a fourth stage:

4.      The Encyclopedic phase: Data forms a very wide renge of disciplines are assembled to form a good predictive type of classification.

Earlier, Turrill had expressed the same idea differently and perhaps more usefully, because his notion emphasized the continuousness of these phases. Turrill spoke of an Alpha taxonomy, equivalent to the first and second of the above form phases, based solely upon more or less external morphological characters.  The term “Alpha” refers to alpha taxonomy being the first and most basic step in Taxonomy. He also proposed Omega taxonomy which is based upon all available characters. Turrill, while commenting upon our attempts in this direction said “some of us please ourselves by thinking we are now grouping in “Beta” taxonomy. In 1963, Davis and Heywood were more certain.  The concept of alpha omega taxonomy ties in well with the view put forward at the start of present study where alpha taxonomy forms the basis of biology while the final accumulation of all data is ultimately incorporated into omega taxonomy. In botany, an alpha taxonomist who names taxa is called an Auctor . Names of certain authorities are sometimes abbreviated. It was quite common during the early years of Linnaean Taxonomy. It is no longer done in zoology but a system of abbreviations is still used in botany. Many of the more well known species of plants were described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, published in 1753, and this is considered the formal starting for the botanical code. Thus the common buttercup is Ranunculus acris L., where the “L” is the standardized abbreviation for Linnaeus.

For a long time the term “taxonomy” was used for what is today seen as alpha taxonomy. Over time, the term “taxonomy” has gained several other meanings and has thus become potentially confusing. To some extent it is being replaced, in its original meaning by “alpha taxonomy”. As such, alpha taxonomy deals mostly with actual organisms, fossils species and lower ranking taxa. Higher ranking taxa including clades and grades mostly are the province of  “beta taxonomy” more commonly called systematic. Systematics as a science deals with the relationships between taxa, especially at the higher levels. These days systematic is greatly influenced by data derived from DNA from nuclei, mitochondria and chloroplast. This is sometimes known as molecular systematic which is becoming increasingly more common, perhaps at the expense of traditional morphological taxonomy.

Traditional Skills of Primitive Tribal Groups of Odisha

Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Department of Botany
Ravenshaw University
Cuttack.

Traditional Skills of Primitive Tribal Groups of Odisha

Hill Kharia

1.      Collection of honey, resin and arrowroot.

2.      Broom stick making

3.      Mat making

4.      Khali stitching and pressing.

Dongaria Kandha

1.      Embroidery.

2.      Wood carving and decorating.

3.      Wall painting.

4.      Comb making.

5.      Pineapple cultivation and fruit processing.

Paudi Bhuyan

1.      Broomstick making.

2.      Mat making

3.      Basketry.

4.      Litchi cultivation

5.      Tussar rearing

6.      Changu dance.

Chuktia Bhunjia

1.      Bamboo basketry.

2.      Settled cultivation.

Mankardia

1.      Basket and rope making out of siali fiber, sabai grass and jute.

2.      Monkey catching.

Birhor

1.      Rope making.

2.      Khali stitching and pressing.

Lodha

1.      Sabai rope making

 Juang

1.      Wood carving

2.      Comb making

3.      Shifting cultivation

4.      Changu dance

Kutia Kandha

1.      Broomstick making

2.      Khali stitching and pressing

3.      Shifting cultivation

4.      Cultivation of turmeric, mustard etc.

Bonda

1.      Weaving of clothes and carpet.

2.      Bead necklaces

3.      Vegetable cultivation

4.      Archery.

Lanjia Saora

1.      Icon.

2.      Wood carving

3.      Stone terracing & Water management in cultivable land.

4.      Cashew plantation and processing.

Didayi

1.      Bamboo basketry

2.      Weaving

3.      Broomstick making

4.      Archery

(Source: Primitive Tribal Groups of Orissa, Ota et al., 2008)

Diversity and medicinal properties of Dioscorea bulbifera L.: A valuable wild tuber crop of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

This article is going to publish
here is only abstract

Diversity and medicinal properties of Dioscorea bulbifera L.: A valuable wild tuber crop of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

Sanjeet Kumar, Shanti Prava Behera, Prakash Kumar Tripathy, Ankita Singh, Shkati Kant Rath and  Padan Kumar Jena

Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack- 753003, Odisha

Abstract

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest is located in the district Mayurbhanj of the state, Odisha. Government of India declared SBR as a Biosphere Reserve in 1994. UNESCO  added the National Park to its list of Biosphere Reserve in May 2009. The National Park has total area of 2,750 Km² and the average elevation of 559.31 meters. It has a mixed type of vegetation such as semi-evegreen, tropical moist broadleaf and tropical moist deciduous forest. It is the hub of different tribal communities living in 64 villages inside the SBR. The major aboriginals are Mankardia, Kharia, Kolho, Santhal, Munda etc. They do agriculture for short periods and depend on wild plants for their food and medicine. Among their wild foods Dioscorea species are important as per availability and consumption rate. These wild tubers locally known as “Ban Aalu” or “Sanga”. The common Dioscorea species available in SBR are Dioscorea puber, Dioscorea hispida, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea oppositifolia etc. Among Dioscorea species, Dioscorea bulbifera is more common. It has sound ethnobotanical values and also frequently used as food by the tribal communities of SBR. It is used against syphilis, toothache, aphthae, psoriasis, rheumatism, aphrodisiac, rejuvenator, tuberculosis, leprosy, urinal troubles and diabetics. It is also taken as cooling agent to reduce body heat during summer and as contraceptive by the tribal ladies. The tubers and bulbils are eaten as vegetables and snacks after much preparation due to their bitterness. It is very popular food as main meal along rice. Dioscorea bulbifera is frequently found in Gurguria of SBR. It is also rich at Ghatkumari, Kasipani, Bakua , Sanuski  etc. The availability of this valuable wild tuber crop is declining due to various anthropogenic activities. Therefore urgent need to take appropriate steps for the conservation of this plant for sustainable use of bioresource. It will be helpful for the documentation of ethnobotany and development of new drugs.

Assessment of Wild Tuber Crops of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest is situated in central part of district Mayurbhanj, Odisha. It is close to the interstate boundary with West Bengal in North-East and Jharkhand in North-West. It is having a compact mass of natural mixed forests such as semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, Sal forest, Grassland and Savana spreading over an area of 5,569 km²  lying between 21⁰ 10’ to 22⁰ 12’N and 85⁰ 58’ to 86⁰ 42’ E. SBR derives its name from the abundance of “Semul” or “Red Silk Cotton” in this forest.  Tuber crops are the most important food supplement after cereals. Tribal people have included tubers in their dietary habit due to their nutritional importance. Tubers are rich in calorie, dietary fibre & carotenoids such as a carotene and anthocyanin. Tubers are medicinally important because they have the capacity to either prevent or cure some ailments. They have anti-microbial and anti-diabetic actions. They also can be used in production of fish poison and cosmetics. About 11 major wild tuberous plants species,  those are used as food are found in SBR. They include Alocasia macrorrhiza L. (Maan Kanda), Lasia spinosa L. (Kanta Alu) frequently found in Jashipur, Costus speciosus Koenig. (Kau Kauta), Pueraria tuberose Willd. (Bhui Kakharu), Solena amplexicaulis Lam.(Ban Kundri) & Amorphophalus paeoniifolius Dennst. (Olua) rich in Ghatkumari,  Alocasia Montana Roxb.(Ban Kanda) found in south part of SBR, Colocasia esculenta L.(Bansaru), Remusatia vivipara Roxb. (Telia Kand) & Amorphophalus bulbifer Roxb. (Ban oal) found in Kashipani. Alocasia fornicate Roxb. (Ban Kanda) found in Gurguria. Apart from these 11 species 10 Dioscorea species are found in SBR. They include D. Alata (Khambo Alu), D. Belophylla Voigt. Ex Haines (Kunda Alu), D. Bulbifera L. (Pita Alu), D. Puber Bl. Enum (Kosa Alu) found in Jashipur, D. Glabra Roxb. (Konta Alu), D. Hamiltonii Hook. (Suta Alu), D. Hispida Dennst. (Banya Alu), D. Pentaphylla L. ( panja sanga) found in Bisoi, D. Oppositifolia L. ( pani aalu  ), D. Wallichii (Suta alu) found in Karanjia. D. pentaphylla, D. Alata, D. Puber, D.bulbifera produce bulbils which have been using as food as well. Knowledge on Dioscorea species as wild tubers has gradually declined & even disappearing with increased modernization & migration of tribal & rural people to urban areas in search of livelihood. Therefore documentation & revalorizing indigenous knowledge on these valuable crops is urgently needed to promote nutritional health of the local aboriginals for conservation of diversity & sustainable development. Also there is need for estimation of primary metabolite for the documentation of nutritional values with assessment of anti-nutritional factors. Screening of phytochemical & anti-microbial activity is necessary. This will help to fight against microbial resistance & manufacture of new drugs.

Ethnobotanical and Morphological variations of Mahakaal (Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.) in three geographical zones of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

This article is going to publish



Sanjeet Kumar

ABSTRACT

Ethnobotanical and Morphological variations of Mahakaal (Trichosanthes tricuspidata  Lour.) in three geographical zones of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha

P. K. Tripathy, Sanjeet Kumar, Shanti Prava Behera and P. K. Jena

Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack- 753003, Odisha

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest is situated in the district of Mayurbhanj, Odisha. It is spreading over an area of 5,569 km² lying between 21⁰ 10’ to 22⁰ 12’ N and 85⁰ 58’ to 86⁰ 42’E. SBR is a treasure of medicinal plants. Among them wild cucurbits are common which are frequently used as medicine by the aboriginals of SBR. The common cucurbits are Trichosanthus tricuspidata (Lour.), Trichosanthus cucumerina (L.), Cucumis melo (L.), Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) Jeffrey., Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.), Mukia maderaspatana (L.), Luffa aegyptiaca (Mill.) etc. Among them Trichosanthus tricuspidata (Lour.) is common and very popular due to its red attractive fruits. It is locally known as Mahakaal. It is a climber commonly found over tree. It has white flowers with reddish fruits when ripen. It has sound ethnobotanical values. Fruits are used in asthma, leprosy and rheumatism. Seed are effective against fever. Mankardia tribal community use its fruit paste against eczema. Kharia tribe use the seeds for abortion. Richness of Mahakaal is declining at SBR due to anthropogenic activities. Therefore an attempt was made to study the therapeutic medicinal values and morphological variations in three locations Gurguria, Nawana and Karangia of SBR. Ampelographic and ampelometric study of leaf, flower and fruits character were carried out during 2010-2012. Fruit colour varied from Blood Red to Pink. Flower dimension varied from 2.4 to 3 inches. Leaf varied from 5.0 × 4.0 to 6.0 × 5.0 inches. Size of fruits varied from 5.44 × 5.01 to 6.24 to 5.82 cm. The number of seeds per fruit varied from 65 to 122. Weight of seeds per fruit varied from 61.77 g to 101.34 g. Richness of Mahakaal is more in Karanjia followed by Gurguria and Nawana. Variation of qualitative and quantitative character showed high morphological diversities. Variability of Mahakaal in SBR might be considered as characterising the large gene pool for conservation.