FLORA of the INDIAN EPIC PERIOD: ONCE LOST, the DIVERSITY of GENE POOLS CANNOT BE RESTORED - OUR EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSIBILITY Ashish Dubey1, Manju Lata Zingare *, Md

FLORA OF THE INDIAN EPIC PERIOD: ONCE LOST, THE DIVERSITY OF GENE POOLS CANNOT BE RESTORED - OUR EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSIBILITY Ashish Dubey1, Manju Lata Zingare *, Md. Aslam Ansari, Prasanna Lata Zingare2 1Department of Botany, Govt. Shaheed Bhagat Singh P.G. College, Jaora, Ratlam, M.P., 457226, India 2Department of Biotechnology, Govt. Digvijay Autonomous P.G. College, Rajnandgaon, C.G., 491441, India *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT The Indian epic flora are a fundamental part of the Indian culture and apart from having medicinal importance they also have religious value. Their present diversity of species is the result of a very long and slow process of genetic change and adaptation. The time necessary for the emergence of new species, and even for the accumulation of genetic variants at individual gene loci within species, greatly exceeds the time since the emergence of Homo sapiens. New techniques of molecular biology combined with recent theories in population genetics allow us to assess the time dimension of genetic change; these suggest that some genetic polymorphisms may have originated over a million generations ago. In other words, once lost, any particular genetic adaptation cannot be regained in any realistic time interval. These plants provide many services that we take for granted. However due to growing population, increasing anthropogenic activities, rapidly eroding natural ecosystem, etc. the natural habitat for a great number of herbs and trees are dwindling. Biotechnological approaches can prove beneficial for the conservation of these important plants. These plants have maintained their existence to date since the epic period and if once lost, they cannot be regained in any realistic time interval. So it is our evolutionary responsibility to conserve these plants for the future generations. KEY WORDS Conservation, Flora, Indian epic period

INTRODUCTION developed known as Ayurveda, mostly dealing India was one of the foremost developed with human philosophy of health including countries in ancient times. Learned persons of utilization of medicinal plants [8]. There are vedic culture were aware regarding unimaginable records in ancient scripts regarding periodic obligation of plants for the sustenance of life. conferences, seminars and also workshops in There are a number of verses in ancient literature selected areas where exchange of knowledge was depicting this generosity of plant kingdom. No often manifested. Even it was mentioned that wonder that many such plants species have been women scholars like Maitrai, Gargi contributed revered as God [8]. One of the oldest treaties in the some knowledge about medicinal plants and their world is Rigveda (4500 BC-1000 BC) where healing maintenance.

properties of some herbs are mentioned in the

form of sonnets, which were often recited in We produce here the names of few plants and

religious rituals. Later on a special faculty was trees of epic period, in Sanskrit language, their 305

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botanical names, local Hindi or English names and (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_the_Indian Sargas (Chapters) in which these species have _epic_period) been mentioned (Table 1, Fig. 1). Table 1. The names of flora of Indian epic period, in Sanskrit language, their botanical names, local Hindi or English names and Sargas (Chapters) in which these species have been mentioned.

Sanskrit name of Location in S.no plant Botanical name Indian names Indian epic Parvaa Shloka epics (Devanagari) Agnimukha Bhilawa, Bhela, Aranya Semecarpus Matanga 1. ( ) Bhallaataka Ramayana Kanda 3.73.5 अग्ननमुख anacardium hermitage Sarga 73 Arjuna Arjuna, Kishkindha ( ) 2. अ셍ुनु Terminalia arjuna Arjunasaadaddaa, Ramayana kanda 4.1.81 Pampa Lake Sanmadat, Sarga 1

Aranya 3.11.74 Agastya’s Ramayana kanda hermitage Sarga 11

3. Asoka ( ) Saraca asoca Ashoka अशोक Anusasna XIII.54.4 King Kusika Mahabharata parva country

Malada and Ashvakarna Bala Kanda 4. Vateria indica Dhupa, Ralla Ramayana 1.24.15 Karusha ( ) Sarga 24 अश्वकर्ु provinces Malada and Zizyphus Bala Kanda 5. Badari ( ) Ber, Bora Ramayana 1.24.16 Karusha बदरी mauritiana Sarga 24 provinces Aranya Dendrocalamus Bamboo, 6. Bansha ( ) Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.15.21 Panchvati ब 車स strictus bansalochana 15 Bhava, Bhavya, Bhavishya, Bhavan, Mahabharata Anusasana King Kusika 7. Bhavya ( ) Dillenia indica XIII.54.5 भव्य Vaktrashodhan, Parva country Pichchilbeeja Ramayana Pampa Lake Kishkinda 4.1.78 kanda Bilva ( ) 8. बब쥍व Aegle marmelos Bel Sarga 1 Van Parva Dvaita forest Mahabharata III.174.23 kurukshetra Saraswati river Champaka Michelia Anusasana King kusika 9. Champa Mahabharata XIII.54.5 (च륍ऩक) champaca parva country

Kishkindha

10. Chandana (चद車 न) Santalum album Chandana Ramayana kanda Sarga 4.1.82 Pampa lake

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Devadaru Kishkindha 11. Cedrus deodara Deodar trees Ramayana kanda Sarga 4-43-13 Himalayas ( ) देवद 셁 43 Dhavda, Bakli , Dhau Kishkindha Anogeissus 12. Dhava ( ) , Dhawa, Dhawra, Ramayana kanda Sarga 4.1.81 Pampa lake धव latifolia Dhaora 1 Kishkinda Jangli madan mast 13. Hintala ( ) Cycus circinalis Ramayana kanda Sarga 4.1.83 Pampa lake हहन्त ऱ ka phool 1 Balanites Hinganbet, Ingudi, 14. Inguda ( ) Mahabharata Shalya Parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati River इ敍गुद roxburghii Hingoli, Hingun Aranya Matanga 15. Jambu ( ) Syzygium cumini Jamun, Jambul, Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.73.3 셍車बू hermitage 73 Aranya Anthocepalus Ramayana Matanga 16. Kadamba ( ) Kadamba kandaSarga 3.73.4 कद車ब Cadamba hermitage 73 Aranya Ramayana Matanga 17. Karavira ( ) Nerium indicum Kannhera kandaSarga 3.73.4 करवीर hermitage 73 kerda, kair, karir, 18. Karira ( ) Capparis deciduas Mahabharata Shalya Parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati River करीर kirir, karril Kishkinda Karnikara Ramayana Pampa Lake 19. Cassia fistula Amaltas kanda 4.1.73 ( ) कर्र्कु र Sarga 1 Aranya Saccharum 20. Kasha ( ) Kans grass Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.15.22 Panchvati क श spontaneum 15 Kashmarya 21. Berberis vulgaris Kashmal Mahabharata Shalya Parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati River (क श्मय)ु Pandanus Kewada, Ketaki, Mahabharata Anusasana King Kusika 22. Ketaka ( ) XIII.54.4 के तक tectorius Keura, Gagandhul parva country Aranya 23. Khadira (खहदर) Acacia catechu Khair, Khadira Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.15.18 Panchvati 15 Kishkindha Kichaka Venu Bambusa Mahabharata Where River 24. Kaantaa baans kanda Sarga 4.43.37 ( ) arundinacea Sailoda flows कीचक वेर्ू 43 Kishkindha Kimshuka Butea Palas, Dhak, 25. Ramayana Kanda Sarga 4.1.75 Pampa lake ( 車 ) monosperma Khakara, Kakracha ककशुक 1 Aranya Phoenix 26. Kharjura ( ) Pindakhajur Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.15.18 Panchvati ख셍ूरु dactylifera

15 Kovidara Bauhinia Kurukshetra 27. Kachanar Mahabharata Drorna parva VII.153.24 (कोववद र) variegata war

Kishkinda Kurantaka Vajradanti, Koraanti- 28. Barleria prionitis Ramayana kanda Sarga 4.1.80 Pampa lake ( ) piwali

कु र赍टक 1 307

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Kishkindha Mehandi, Mendee 29. Kurvaka ( ) Lawsonia inermis Ramayana kanda 4.1.82 Pampa lake कु रवक English:Henna, Hina, Sarga 1 Kuṭasalmali Kishkindha Eastern side of 30. Ceiba pentandra Kapok tree Ramayana kanda 4.40.39 the ( ) कू टश 쥍मऱी Sarga 40 Jambudvipa

Vasanti, Kishkindha Madhavi Gaertnera Madhumalati, 31. Ramayana Kanda Sarga 4.1.77 Pampa Lake ( ) racemosa Haladvel, म धवी 1 Madahavilataa Aranya Madhuka Agastya 32. Madhuka indica Mahuwa, Mahuli Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.11.74 ( ) hermitage मधकू 11 Bel/Beli, Mogra, Kishkindha 33. Malati (म ऱती) Jasminum sambac Mallika, Kampupot, Ramayana kanda Sarga 4.1.76 Pampa lake

Melati 1 Kishkindha Jasminum 34. Malati ( ) Chameli, Jati Ramayana Kanda Sarga 4.1.76 Pampa lake म ऱती grandiflorum 1 Nagachampa, Kishkinda 35. Naga (न ग) Messua ferrea Naagakeshara, Ramayana kanda 4.1.78 Pampa lake Naagachaafaa, Sarga 1 Kishkinda Naktamala Karanja, kiramal, 36. Pongamia pinnata Ramayana kanda 4.1.82 Pampa lake ( ) Kidamar न啍तम ऱ Sarga 1

Cities Murachi, Kishkinda Narikela Jatapura, 37. Cocos nucifera Coconut Palm Ramayana kanda 4.42.11 ( ) Avanti and न ररके ऱ Sarga 42 Angalepa Plaksha, Bengal fig, Ramayana Pampa Lake Nila (नीऱ) Indian fig, East Kishkinda 4.1.79

Indian fig, Indian kanda

38. Ficus bengalensis Banyan or simply Sarga 1

Nyagrodha Banyan, also borh, Mahabharata Kurukshetra nyagrodha and wad Drorna parva VII.153.24 (न्यग्रोध) war or Vad/Vat Hindi:Kamal, English:Indian lotus, Ramayana Kishkinda 39. Padma ( ) Nelumbo nucifera 4.1.76 Pampa lake ऩद्म sacred lotus, bean of Sarga 1 India, or simply lotus Kishkindha Himalayan wild Ramayana 40. Padmaka ( ) Prunus cerasoides kanda Sarga 4.43.13 Himalayas ऩद्मक cherry 43 Artocarpus 41. Panasa ( ) Kat-hal Mahabharata Shalya parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati river ऩनस heterophyllus Aranya Ramayana 42. Parnasa ( ) Ocimum sanctum Tulasi kanda Sarga 3.15.18 Panchvati ऩर् ुस 15 Pangara, Dadap, Aranya Paribhadraka Matanga 43. Erythrina indica Mandar, Ferrud, Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.73.5 ( ) hermitage

ऩररभद्रक Panara 73 308

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Paarijaat, Praajakt, Parijata Nyctanthus Mahabharata 44. Harsinghar, Seoli, Shailya parva IX.36.60 Sarasvati river ( ) arbortristis ऩ रर셍 त Khurasli Salvadora Mahabharata 45. Pilu ( ) Jaal, Pilu Shailya parva IX.36.59 Sarasvati river ऩीऱु oleoides Mahabharata Shailya parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati river

Pipal, Pimpalla, 46. Plaksha ( ) Ficus religiosa Aranya प्ऱऺ Bodhi Matanga Ramayana Kanda sarga 3.73.3 Hermitage 73 Aranya Buchanania Chironji, Chanhar, Matanga 47. Priyala ( ) Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.73.3 विय ऱ lanzan Piyal, Achar hermitage 73 Undi, Undala, Aranya Punnaga Calophyllum Unang, Surangi, 48. Ramayana Kanda Sarga 3.15.16 Panchvati ( ) inophyllum Surpunka, Sultan ऩुन्न ग 15 champa, Kishkindha 49. Rakta (र啍त ) Rubia cordifolia Indian Madder Ramayana kanda 4.1.82 Pampa Lake Sarga 1 Dvaita forest Rohitaka Tecomella Mahabharata III.174.23, 50. Rohida, Desert teak Vana parva Kurukshetra ( ) undulata III. 241.67) रौहीतक Sarasvati river Mango, Indian: Mahabharata Anusasana King Kusikas’s 51. Sahakaras Mangifera indica Aamba, Aamra, Aam, XIII.54.4 Parva Country Amb Yuddha Sanjivani Sellaginella Mt. Dronagiri 52. Sanjivani Ramayana kanda 6.89.16 ( ) byropteris Himalayas स車셍ीवनी Sarga 89 Semal, Shaalmali, Kishkindha Shalmali laala-saanwar, 53. Bombax ceiba Ramayana kanda 4.1.82 Pampa lake ( ) Deokapaas, Shimal, श 쥍मऱी Sarga 1 Savari, Shembal Ramayana Panchvati Sarga 15 3.15.22 Khejdi, sami, 54. Shami ( ) Prosopis cineraria Mahabharata शमी Jant/Janti, Sangri Kamboja Sabha parva II.47.4 country

Siras, Shirisha, Kala- Dvaita Forest, Mahabharata 55. Shirisha ( ) Albizzia lebbeck siris, Chichola, Van Parva III.174.23 Kurukshetra, शशरीष Chichwa Sarasvati River Khaankann, mirajollee, khakhin, Mahabharata Anusasana King Kusika 56. Shyama ( ) Salvadora persica miraj, jhak, pilva, XIII.54.6 शय म Parva Country kharjal, rhakhan, thorapilu Simsipa, Sinsipa, Kishkindha Krishnasara, Ramayana

57. Simsupa ( 車 ) Dalbergia latifolia Kanda Sarga 4.1.81 Pampa Lake शशशुऩ Gurusara, 1

Krishnasimsapa 309

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Nirgundi, Nirguddi, Kishkindha Sindhuvara Ramayana 58. Vitex negundo Sambhalu, Shivari, Kanda Sarga 4.1.81 Pampa Lake ( ) शसन्धवु र Nisida, Nigudi 1 Aranya Pterocarpus Rakta chandana, Laal Matanga 59. Surakta ( ) Ramayana kanda Sarga 3.73.5 सुर啍त santalinus chandan hermitage 73 Aparajita, saukarnika, Ramayana Kishkinda 60. Supuṣpi ( ) Clitoria ternatea ardrakarni, 4.1.77 Pampa lake सुऩुष्ऩी Sarga 1 girikarnika, Sankhupushpam Tari (Hindi), Tal (Bengali), Nungu Aranya Borassus (Tamil), 61. Tala ( ) Ramayana Kanda Sarga 3.15.16 Panchvati त ऱ flabellifer Thaati/Munjalu 15 (Telugu), Munjal (Urdu) Kishkindha Cinnamomum Daalachini, Tejpat, 62. Tilaka (ततऱक) Ramayana Kanda 4.1.78 Pampa Lake iners Tamaal saala Sarga 1 Diospyros Bala Kanda Malada and 63. Tinduka ( ) Tendu Ramayana 1.24.15 ततन्दकु melanoxylon Sarga 24 Karusha Aranya Lagerstroemia Taaman, Jarul, Mota- 64. Tinisa ( ) Ramayana Kanda Sarga 3.15.16 Panchvati तततनश speciosa bondara 15 Uddalaka Kishkindha 65. Cordia myxa Lasora, Bhokara Ramayana Kanda 4.1.81 Pampa Lake ( ) उद्द ऱक Sarga 1 Kishkindha Vakula, Bakulla, 66. Vakula ( ) Mimusops elengi Ramayana Kanda 4.1.78 Pampa Lake वकु ऱ Maulsari, Ovalli Sarga 1 Sanskrit- Punnaga Indian:Undi, Undala, Varanapushpa Calophyllum Anusasana King Kusika 67. Unang, Surangi, Mahabharata XIII.54.6 ( ) inoplyllum parva country व रर्ऩुष्ऩ Surpunka, Sultan champa Vasanti, Kishkindha Hiptage Madhumalati, 68. Vasanti ( ) Ramayana Kanda 4.1.77 Pampa Lake व सन्ती benghalensis Haladvel, Sarga 1 Madahavilataai Dvaita Forest, 69. Vetas (वेतस) Calamus rotang Rattan Palm Mahabharata Van Parva III.174.23 Kurukshetra, Sarasvati River Vibhitaka Terminalia Baheraa, Behaddaa, 70. Mahabharata Shalya Parva IX.36.58 Sarasvati river (ववभीतक) bellirica Bibheeta

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Figure 1. Some of the flora of Indian epic period

Kashmarya (Kashmal) Ketaka (Kewada) Kimshuka (Palas) Kovidara (Kachanar] Berberis vulgaris Pandanus tectorius Butea monosperma Bauhinia variegata

[Berberidaceae] [Fabaceae] [Fabaceae] [Fabaceae]

Kurantaka (vajradanti) Kurvaka (Mehendi) Kutasalmali (Kapok tree) Naga (Naagakeshara) Barleria prionitis Lawsonia inermis Ceiba pentandra Messua ferrea

[Acanthaceae] [Lythraceae] [Malvaceae] [Calophyllaceae]

Nila (Indian fig) Padma (Kamal) Paribhadraka (Pangara) Parijata ( Harsinghar)

Ficus bengalensis Nelumbo nucifera Erythrina indica Nyctanthus arbortristis

[Moraceae] [Nelumbonaceae] [Fabaceae] [Oleaceae]

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Rohitaka (Rohida) Sanjivani (Sanjivani) Shalmali (Semal) Shami (khejdi) Tecomella undulate Selaginella bryopteris Bombax ceiba Prosopis cineraria

[Bignoniaceae] [Selaginellaceae] [Malvaceae] [Fabaceae]

Sindhuvara (Nirgundi) Supuspi (Aparajita) Tinisa (Jarul) Vakula (Maulsari) Vitex negundo Clitoria ternatea Lagerstroemia speciosa Mimusops elengi

[Lamiaceae] [Fabaceae] [Lythraceae] [Sapotaceae]

NEED FOR CONSERVATION years. The colonization of the terrestrial Homo sapiens arose and became the dominant environment by life forms began approximately species on earth in the last 1 / 20,000 of the time 500 to 600 million years ago, and during this most elapsed since the origin of life. In this relatively recent 10% of evolutionary history all of the short time, humans have altered both the physical diverse forms of terrestrial life that comprise our and the biological worlds in profound ways. The environment appeared. We cannot repopulate our changes that we are making in our environment world with species that have been lost, nor can we are detrimental to biological diversity and expect to regain the use of lost genetic variants ultimately to ourselves. The biodiversity of plants within the timescale of human existence [12]. that surrounds us provides us with food, fiber, medicine and energy [12]. To gain perspective on our biological resources and to formulate wise strategies for managing our The accumulation of this biodiversity has been a world, we must consider the following questions:

very slow process when measured in human What do we know about the processes that have timescales. Biodiversity is the product of a vast produced the biological diversity of our world?

history of evolutionary change - about 3.5 billion And how have we attempted to place a value on 312

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biological diversity through our conservation of mutational change in molecules that the activities. monocotyledonous class of flowering plants (e.g., grasses, palms, orchids) separated from within the a. Timescales and diversity dicotyledonous class (eg, cotton, sunflowers, How long does it take to acquire the unique apple trees and so on) approximately 200 million genetic attributes that mark distinct species? The years ago [17] . temporal thread that binds generations is the transmission of the hereditary information Let us move from these ancient events in encoded in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The terrestrial evolution to the accumulation of preservation of form and function depends on a genetic diversity within species. A commonly highly efficient system for the replication of DNA, accepted definition of species is a group of so that the information transfer from one individuals that are able to breed with each other generation to the next is nearly error free. [9]. As a consequence, the members of a species Paradoxically, some errors are essential to provide share a common gene pool. As the populations evolutionary flexibility. The ultimate source of that compose a species diverge from one another biological diversity derives from mutational through time, evolution barriers to reproduction change in DNA molecules [12]. begin to emerge. These include chromosomal rearrangements, behavioral divergence and Owing to the powerful tools of molecular biology, changes in flowering time. New daughter species our understanding of the genetic dimension of are born. The essential characteristic of a species evolutionary change has advanced enormously is that the members share a common evolutionary over the past decade. These tools have provided future [12]. us with a direct means of studying the pattern of mutational changes in DNA molecules among How extensive is the genetic diversity contained diverse life forms. Based on comparative studies, within species' gene pools? What factors control we now know that the error rate for DNA diversity levels and how long does it take to reach replication is very low (approximately 5 x 10-9 base a given degree of diversity within a species' gene substitutions per nucleotide per year) [13]. We have pool? According to biochemical assays of genetic also learned that a number of mechanisms cause diversity conducted over the past 25 years, most mutational change, including the insertion and of the 470-plus tested plant species have deletion of DNA sequences and the transposition extensive levels of genetic diversity [5] and plant of DNA sequences (e.g., with respect to the breeders exploit genetic diversity to improve chloroplast genome [2]. domesticated species. Similarly, natural selection depends absolutely on genetic diversity to If we can determine the number of mutations that produce adaptive responses to environmental separate different species and if the mutation rate changes [12]. is constant, we can calculate the time it took to accumulate the observed level of mutational Levels of genetic diversity within species are divergence. This notion of a molecular clock has controlled by mutation rates, the size of the

been widely employed in evolutionary biology. To breeding population (effective population size),

cite but one example of a molecular clock and the pattern and strength of natural selection.

argument, it is estimated from the accumulation (Effective population size is calculated as the 313

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harmonic mean of population sizes taken over these locally adapted populations remain part of time.) While mutation rates are reasonably the same species because genetic migration constant across most life forms, patterns of among populations maintains a common effective population size and selection are highly evolutionary trajectory for the species as a whole. specific and depend on the unique history of the Species cannot exist as dynamic evolutionary species in question. For example, species that entities without sufficient habitat. One of the have expanded from glacial refugia may have most fundamental generalizations of ecology is much larger current numbers but their effective the relation between the size of a habitat and the population size is still dominated by the number of species that can live there [11]. Reducing bottleneck imposed by the glacial era. (Refugia are the size of a habitat means reducing the number areas of relatively unaltered climate inhabited by of species that live there. In addition, habitat loss plants and animals during a period of continental can ultimately reduce the ecosystem services climatic change.) Hence the time it took to achieve required to sustain human activities. a given degree of genetic diversity depends on the species. The age of genetic variants within a The enormous expansion of the global human species can be estimated by coalescence theory [6]. population has engendered an unavoidable Coalescence theory is a recent development in conflict between biological diversity and the population genetics that relates mutational activities necessary to accommodate population diversity for a particular gene to past episodes of growth. The battle field is habitat. To expand our selection and to the effective population size can, agricultural, urban, industrial and other needs, we in turn, be related to the age of genetic variants. must convert habitat that supported a variety of To apply coalescence theory, researchers obtain biological activities into space for human use. How DNA from a sample of individuals. For each do we manage the environment to sustain human individual, DNA sequence data are determined for life in the long term while still meeting the needs a specific gene. According to the theory, the of present populations? The obvious answer is present-day sequences all trace back to a common that we adopt societal rules to conserve habitat ancestral sequence called the coalescent. The age and thereby to conserve the biological heritage of the coalescent depends on mutation rate and upon which we depend. effective population size. Gene genealogies can also be used to detect natural selection. c. Saving our ultimate resources The loss of species and valuable gene pools is b. Space needed for evolution proceeding at an accelerating pace. Once gone, Species are composed of systems of populations this lost genetic diversity will not be regained for a called metapopulations [7] that are spread across long time - vastly longer than the total history of an environment or landscape. A given human existence. Man depends on the biological environment is spatially heterogeneous [15], that is, world for survival. Other species are the ultimate local environments differ from each other. In each source of the energy, food, fiber and many of the local environment, particular genetic variants of a medicines that we consume. While we have species are more likely to survive and reproduce managed to convert the biological and physical

successfully, and natural selection favors those resources of the earth to human use with

variants. Over time a given population adapts to increasing efficiency, we have simultaneously

its local environment. While genetically different, degraded the resource base for future human 314

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generations. This, coupled with a vastly expanding medicinal plants, by inoculation of growth- human population, threatens our ability to sustain promoting fungi. our current standard of living into the future [12]. 3. Genetic Transformation BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS FOR Genetic transformations improve yield and quality CONSERVATION OF INDIAN EPIC FLORA of medicinal plants, which involve the alteration or Most of the medicinal plants either do not introduction of genes which improve the produce seeds or seeds are too small and do not secondary metabolite synthesis in plant, which are germinate in soils. Thus mass multiplication of mainly responsible for their medicinal properties. disease free planting material is a general Genome manipulation is the general aim of the problem. In this regard biotechnology is a boon for genetic transformation with medicinal plants by conservation of these important plants. developing techniques for desired gene transfer into the plant genome in order to improve the 1. Micropropagation (Invitro regeneration) biosynthetic rate of the compounds of interest. An Micropropagation is the technique of in vitro essential strategy in this regard is the choice of the multiplication of large number of plants from its correct marker genes for genetic transformation, part, whether it is leaves, seeds, nodes and tubers as it assists to analyze the transformed cell. Many etc. In the recent years, tissue culture has researchers are mainly focusing on the mechanism emerged as a promising technique to obtain of transfer and integration of the marker and genetically pure elite populations under in vitro reporter genes. Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. conditions. It a fast and dependable method for rhizogenes are virulent for plants. They contain a production of a large number of uniform plantlets large megaplasmid (more than 200 kb), which in a short time. Moreover, the plant multiplication plays a key role in tumor induction. During can continue throughout the year irrespective of infection the T-DNA, a mobile segment of Ti or Ri season and the stocks of germplasm can be plasmid, is transferred to the plant cell nucleus maintained for many years [9]. and integrated into the plant chromosome and transcribed. Genetic transformation facilitates the 2. Mycorrhization growth of medicinal plants with multiple durable Plant production by micro propagation technology resistances to pests and diseases. There are more is limited by the acclimatization stage, one of the than 120 species belonging to 35 families in which most critical stages of this process. A high transformation has been carried out successfully percentage of micro propagated plantlets are lost by using Agrobacterium and other transformations or damaged during transfer from test tube techniques [3]. conditions to in vivo environment. It would be useful to acclimatize plantlets during the in vitro 4. Establishment of DNA banks period to reduce the stress during transfer ex The establishment of DNA banks is one of the ex vitro. For this reason, mycorrhizal technology can situ conservation method which is planned be applied. Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal activity. The extraction of genetic material, and fungi (AMF) into the roots of micropropagated storage should be made readily available for

plantlets plays a advantageous role [16, 1]. As a molecular applications. DNA resources can be

result, the mycorrhizal technology can be applied maintained at -20ºC for short- and midterm

for the conservation of rare and endangered storage (i.e. up to 2 years), and at -70ºC or in 315

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liquid nitrogen for longer periods. Other objectives growing world population, increasing of the creation of DNA banks may be related to anthropogenic activities, rapidly eroding natural training or distribution to scientists with an ecosystem, etc the natural habitat for a great interest in different areas of biology. DNA banks number of herbs and trees are dwindling. Many of assembled as a means to replace traditional them are facing extinction. To cope up with methods of conserving genetic resources. For alarming situation, the recent exciting many species that are difficult to conserve by developments in biotechnology are proving to be conventional means (either as seeds or beneficial. India has a long history of conservation vegetatively) or that are highly threatened in the policy aimed at preserving useful genetic variants wild, DNA storage may provide the ultimate way for agriculture, animals as well as ecosystems that to conserve the genetic diversity of these genetic are crucial to the quality of human life. Today, diversity of these species and their populations in population pressures are intensifying the conflict the short term, until effective methods can be between the need to preserve biological resources developed [4]. and the need of an expanding population to use land and raw materials. A major challenge will be 5. Cryopreservation to develop approaches to conservation that meet Cryopreservation is an important technique for our obligations to both present and future long term storage of tissues/plants. This requires generations. Certainly, a concerted effort involving liquid nitrogen (-196οC). Some important DNA collaborations of field biologists familiar with the banks are as below: (i) The Royal Botanic Garden, status of threatened and endangered species with Kew, UK, which contains PGR DNA specimens, and reproductive scientists, geneticists, and others presently the world’s largest and the most with expertise and resource banking should be comprehensive PGR DNA bank, consisting of over undertaken to match conservation and 20,000 DNA specimens representative of all plant technological opportunities. Identification of the families. (ii) The US Missouri Botanical Garden has taxa at risk and the systematic collection of collection of more than 20,000 plant tissue samples as opportunities arise, consistent with the samples, and provide raw material for the conservation management of threatened and extraction of DNA for its subsequent use in endangered species, offer increased opportunities conservation research. (iii) The Australian Plant for preventing extinction and for the preservation DNA Bank of Southern Cross University, which was of gene pools. The plants of the Indian epic period established in June 2002. It contains are a part of our cultural heritage and religious representative genetic information from the beliefs, these plants have maintained their entire Australian flora. (iv) DNA bank of Leslie Hill existence to date since the epic period and if once Molecular Systematics Laboratory of the National lost, they cannot be regained in any realistic time Botanical Institute (NBI) in Kirstenbosch, South interval. So it is our evolutionary responsibility to Africa, in collaboration with the Royal Botanic conserve these plants for the future generations. Garden, Kew, which preserves genetic material of the South African flora [14]. REFERENCES [1]. Chandra, S., Bandopadhyay, R., Kumar, V., Chandra, R., CONCLUSION O. : Acclimatization of tissue cultured plantlets: from laboratory to land. Biotechnol Lett (DOI: The Indian epic flora are a fundamental part of the 10.1007/s10529-010-0290-0), (2010).

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*Corresponding Author: Manju Lata Zingare* Email: [email protected]

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