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Abstract: Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (Syn. P. emodi Wale) a perennial rhizomatous herb found in alpine region distributed in the entire range of Himalayas from Ladakh to Sikkim at an altitude of 3000–4200masl is an preferred commercial source of Podophyllum lignans. It contains three times more Podophyllotoxin than the American species, Podophyllum peltatum. The present study was aimed to investigate variation of Podophyllum lignans contents based on six marker compounds viz. Podophyllotoxin; Deoxypodophyllotoxin; Picropodophyllotoxin; Podophyllotoxin β-d-glucopyanoside; Isopicropodophyllone; 4′-Demethyldeoxypodophyllotoxin, β-d-lucopyanoside, in P. hexandrum population growing at three locations. Further, ontogenetic and morphogenetic variations of Podophyllum lignan contents were studied to investigate dynamics of accumulation of these compounds. Representative collections from three locations viz., Panikhar, Padam and Tangoli located in Trans Himalayan semi-desert region of Zanskar valley were harvested at three stages (dormancy, active growth and maturity). Plants were dissected into root, rhizome and rhizome-buds, dried separately and assayed for Podophyllum lignan contents by high performance liquid chromatography. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Grewia asiatica L., an Asian shrub, is indigenous to India. Despite its immense importance in the Ayurvedic and traditional systems of medicine scientific and commercial exploration has been neglected. In this direction, we undertook systematic studies to understand the sexual system, breeding behaviour and reproductive phenology deployed by the species. Our results suggest that the species practices mixed mating as a consequence of temporal dichogamy of protandrous type and herkogamy with stigma slightly above stamens. Sequential floral evocation in acropetal order and profuse visitation by pollinators predispose G. asiatica to receive cross pollen. In a situation of non-receipt of pollen through insect pollinators, self-fertilization is prevalent by recurvation of receptive stigma towards dehiscent anthers. Seed set efficiency and fruit maturation are independent of pollen genotype (self/cross). Pre-emergent reproductive success (PERS), a measure of number of viable seeds that enter the ambient environment, was around 21%, which is indicative of moderate reproductive success. A self-compatibility index (SCI) and self-fertility index (SFI) showed values of 0.66 and 0.55, respectively, indicating the self-fertile and self-compatible nature of G. asiatica . The present study provides a detailed exposition of various reproductive features and breeding system prevalent in G. asiatica . These aspects are fundamental to understand the efficiency or failure of a species for genetic variation, crop improvement and evolutionary success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]