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Forty-seven apricot genotypes were used to assess genetic diversity (GD) based on morphological and SRAP (Sequence-related amplified polymorphism). Six qualitative and 16 quantitative characters were studied among the genotypes. Twenty combinations of SRAP markers were used, and 115 polymorphic bands out of 134 bands were observed. The overall GD estimated, as percentage polymorphic loci (85.06%), Nei’s genetic diversity (0.27±0.19), and Shannon’s information index (0.40±0.25) were high. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed higher GD (92%) within the groups of apricot. The unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) demonstrated that the apricot genotypes had a similarity range from 0.96 to 0.48, with a mean value of 0.72 similarity coefficient. Furthermore, UPGMA clustering and Bayesian-based STRUCTURE analysis revealed an intermixing in the clustering of apricot genotypes. There is no clear grouping between apricots according to their kernel taste and stone colour, which revealed that these genotypes have a similar genetic background. Knowledge gained from the present study has a practical utility in the management of germplasm conservation and breeding programmes.

Consumer concern about poor taste of fresh apricots is increasing and knowledge about the more suitable production requirement is essential. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on environmental effect on fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits from 162 genotype were collected from nine locations from 3006-3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The altitude had a marked influence on date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture and TSS content. For every 100 m increase in altitude, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 day, respectively. Inverse relationship between altitude and fruit weight (R2=0.310) was observed. For every 100 m increase in altitude the fruit weight decrease by 0.5 g. Fruit moisture content decreased significantly with increase in elevation (R2=0.585). Decrease in moisture content was 1.9% for every 100 m increase in elevation. Altitude showed linear relationship with fruit TSS content (R2=0.726). For every 100 m increase in altitude, the fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix. Knowledge from the present study on the impact of altitude on fruit quality characters provides a useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit quality

Genetic component influencing sugar contents and sugar profile in apricots is well documented. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on sugar contents and sugar profile in dried-apricots. Fruits from 108 genotypes were collected from six locations from 3006 to 3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The geographical elevation had a marked influence on the fruit sugar contents. Linear relationship between total sugar contents and increasing altitude was observed (R2 = 0.877, p ≤ 0.01). For every 100 m increase in altitude, total sugar increased by 64.8 mg/g DW. Sucrose was the highest individual sugar (57.8%), followed by glucose (19.4%), fructose (14.3%) and sorbitol (8.4% of total sugar). The relative proportion of sorbitol increased significantly with increasing altitude in fruits with brown seed coat (R2 = 0.849, p ≤ 0.01). Linear relationship between sucrose contents and increasing altitude was observed (R2 = 0.767, p ≤ 0.05). For every 100 m increase in altitude, sucrose contents increased by 49.1 mg/g DW. Fruit sorbitol contents showed linear relationship with increasing altitude (R2 = 0.899, p ≤ 0.01). Glucose levels increased with increasing altitude, while fructose contents showed inverse relationship with altitude. Therefore, results from the present study suggested that apricots growing at higher altitude contain higher sugar, sucrose and sorbitol. Knowledge from the present study provides useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit quality.

The present study focuses on development of a micropropagation protocol for true to type plants of Rhodiola imbricata, an endangered medicinal plant found in trans-Himalayan Leh-Ladakh region of India. It also aims at analyzing the pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites and antioxidant potential of in vitro and in vivo plants. Various cytokinins and auxins were tested for shoot proliferation and in vitro rooting of the microshoots, respectively. Random primers were used for checking genetic uniformity at different stages of micropropagation. Pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites of R. imbricata such as Rosavin, total polyphenols and free radical scavenging activity were analyzed by HPLC. Among different cytokinins used, BAP (5 µM) and TDZ (1 µM) were found to perform better in terms of shoot proliferation, shoot length and number of leaves as compared to other concentrations. For rooting of microshoots, a lower concentration of NAA (0.5 µM) yielded more efficient rooting of micro shoots (17.33 roots per micro shoot). In vitro rooted microshoots were hardened and showed 60% survival rate. The content of gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was higher in the in vivo plant. The amount of ferulic acid was higher in the in vitro raised plant when compared to field grown plant. Furthermore, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid were higher in the in vitro raised plants as compared to field grown plants. This work will facilitate in conservation of this endangered herb and provide necessary plant materials for various biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.

Akare SM, Tagade WY, Warghat AR, Naryal A, Bhardwaj A. 2016. Culturable fungal diversity associated with forest leaf litter from Bhandara District of Maharashtra, India. Biodiversitas 17: 349-358. Diversity of leaf litter fungi were carried out in 201011. Four samples were collected from Bampewada and Sakoli forest area of Bhandara District of Maharashtra, India. The Blotter paper method, Segment plate method and Serial dilution methods were used to assess the diversity of fungal species. Fungi were cultivated on potato dextrose agar, malt extract agar and czapek dox agar. A total of 31 species comprising 29 Ascomycetes and two Zygomycetes were recognized from 4 samples collected from Bampewada and Sakoli forest area. The most abundant group was Ascomycetes. The dominant species in both the forests were A. flavus, A. niger, Aureobasidium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp.1, Rhizopus stolonifer, A. caespitosus, Penicillium sp.2, A. nidulans, Helminthosporium sp. and Monodictys fluctuata. While, common species were A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, Beltrania rhombica and Fusarium oxysporum. The fungal diversity was higher in theSakoli forest than that of Bampewada forest. Differences were observed in percentage occurrence of fungal species between two forest areas. The reason may be that the quality of litters, different microenvironments and other characteristics in the Sakoli forest provided more resources for fungi than in Bampewada forest.