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Background Majority of the post-harvest agri-residues from agricultural activity in Punjab, India, is burnt in the field resulting in the loss of soil fertility and release of large amounts of air pollutants. In an effort to reutilize the selenium-accumulated waste wheat and paddy straw from seleniferous region of Punjab, two varieties of edible mushrooms, Pleurotus sajor-kaju and Volvariella volvacea, were cultivated on Se-rich wheat and paddy straw, respectively. Results Se concentration in Se-enriched P. sajor-kaju and V. volvacea (43.5 ± 2.1 and 35.0 ± 1.1 lg/g) was significantly higher than control (5.2 ± 1.0 and 5.57 ± 0.07 lg/ g), respectively. The antioxidant activity as depicted by total phenol content, total oxidant activity, DPPH scavenging, metal chelation and lipid peroxidation inhibiting activity of extracts from Se-fortified mushrooms were significantly higher (p.05 to p.001) than control mushrooms. Conclusion The increased antioxidant activity is attributed to be induced by the accumulation of selenium by these species of mushrooms, indicating the antioxidant nature of selenium in biological systems. Further, the present study also demonstrates the use of Se accumulated agricultural residues as substrates for producing Se-rich mushrooms as potential sources for Se supplementation/ nutraceutical applications.

Techniques of establishing Angiopleris evecta plants in vitro were studied. Soaking of A. evecta spores in water for 24 hours markedly reduced spore contamination. Soaking of the spores in 1 -2 % of sodium hypochlorite for less than 5 minutes allowed satisfactory disinfestation without affecting spore viability. Lower concentration of minerals (1/4 MS), presence of charcoal in the medium and exposure of the spores to light were crucial for spore germination and gainetophytc development of A. evecta. Keywords:  Angiopleris evecta I King fern / spore / MS medium / bleach / light / tissue culture / sporophyte / gamctophytc

Effects of genotype and explant orientation on shoot regeneration from cotyledonary explants of tomato were studied using 10 commercially important cultivars. The explant orientation affected shoot regeneration in all the tested genotypes. Cotyledons placed in abaxial (lower surface facing down) orientation consistently produced better shoot regenerative response and produced greater numbers and taller shoots compared to those inoculated in adaxial (upper surface facing down) orientation. Genotypic variation in terms of shoot regeneration response, number of shoots, and shoot height was apparent. Wounding of cotyledonary explants increased shoot regeneration response. However, shoot height was much lower in shoots regenerated from wounded explants compared to those that originated from intact cotyledons. Shoots produced from wounded cotyledons were abnormal in their form and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]