Timir Baran Jha

Bio: Timir Baran Jha is an academic researcher from Maulana Azad College. The author has contributed to research in topics: Shoot & Kinetin. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 62 publications receiving 1071 citations. Previous affiliations of Timir Baran Jha include Presidency University, Kolkata & University of Calcutta.

Somatic embryogenesis in Jatropha curcas Linn., an important biofuel plant

Abstract: Jatropha curcas L. is one potential source of non-edible biofuel-producing energy crop. Its importance also lies in its medicinal properties. The species is primarily propagated through heterozygous seeds, and thus the seed oil content varies from 4 to 40%. Moreover, due to its perennial nature, seed setting requires 2 to 3 years time. The seed viability and rate of germination are low, and quality seed screening is another laborious task; thus, seed propagation alone cannot provide quality planting material for sustainable use. Somatic embryogenesis, a powerful tool of plant biotechnology for faster and quality plant production has been successfully applied to regenerate plants in Jatropha curcas for the first time. Embryogenic calli were obtained from leaf explants on MS basal medium supplemented with only 9.3 μM Kn. Induction of globular somatic embryos from 58% of the cultures was achieved on MS medium with different concentrations of 2.3–4.6 μM Kn and 0.5–4.9 μM IBA; 2.3 μM Kn and 1.0 μM IBA proved to be the most effective combination for somatic embryo induction in Jatropha curcas. Addition of 13.6 μM adenine sulphate stimulated the process of development of somatic embryos. Mature somatic embryos were converted to plantlets on half strength MS basal medium with 90% survival rate in the field condition. The whole process required 12–16 weeks of culture for completion of all steps of plant regeneration. This protocol of somatic embryogenesis in Jatropha curcas may be an ideal system for future transgenic research.

In vitro clonal propagation of biodiesel plant (Jatropha curcas L.).

Abstract: In the present investigation, in vitro clonal propagation of seven-month-old Jatropha curcas L was achieved employing nodal explants Axillary shoot bud proliferation was best initiated on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium supplemented with 222 μM N-benzyladenine (BA) and 556 μM adenine sulphate, in which cultures produced 62 ± 056 shoots per nodal explant with 20 ± 018 cm average length after 4–6 weeks The rate of shoot multiplication was significantly enhanced after transfer to MS basal medium supplemented with 23 μM 6-furfuryl amino purine (Kn), 05 μM indole3-butyric acid (IBA) and 278 μM adenine sulphate for 4 weeks Both shoot number (308 ± 548) and average shoot length (48 ± 043 cm) were found to increase significantly About 52% of root induction occurred in MS basal medium supplemented with 10 μM IBA in 2–3 weeks Further elongation of roots with average length of 87 ± 135 cm was obtained in unsupplemented MS basal medium for 2–3 weeks The plantlets (12–16week-old) were successfully acclimatized in soil with 87% survival frequency

Jatropha curcas: a review on biotechnological status and challenges.

Abstract: Plant tissue culture and molecular biology techniques are powerful tools of biotechnology that can complement conventional breeding, expedite crop improvement and meet the demand for availability of uniform clones in large numbers. Jatropha curcas Linn., a non-edible, eco-friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable fuel-producing plant has attracted worldwide attention as an alternate sustainable energy source for the future. This review presents a consolidated account of biotechnological interventions made in J. curcas over the decades and focuses on contemporary information and trends of future research.

Production of genetically uniform plants from nodal explants of Swertia chirata Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.—an endangered medicinal herb

Abstract: Swertia chirata is an endangered Gentian species used as herbal medicine for various health ailments including liver disorders, malaria, and diabetes. The depletion of S. chirata from the wild for such applications is a concern. Slow rates of propagation because of poor seed germination and low seed viability are presently limiting factors for its large-scale commercial cultivation. For commercial plantation and conservation of existing germplasm, in vitro multiplication is an attractive solution. The present investigation has achieved production of genetically uniform plants from the nodal explants. Shoot regeneration was obtained in shoot-inducing medium containing half-strength Murashige and Skoog’s basal medium supplemented with 0.44 μM 6-benzylaminopurine and 4.65 μM 6-furfurylaminopurine. The highest number of shoots, at 18 per explant, regenerated when media was further fortified with 10 mM KNO3 and 75 mg l−1 of casein hydrolysate. Tissue culture regenerated plantlets were successfully transferred to the field and produced viable seeds. Studies of chromosome number and a comparative analysis of the DNA fingerprinting profiles indicate genetic stability of the regenerated plants.

In vitro propagation of cashewnut

Abstract: In vitro plant propagation was developed for seedling shoot tips, leaf axils, and cotyledonary nodes of cashew, Anacardium occidentale. Factors affecting multiplication rate included age of explant source, explant type, medium composition, light requirements, and transfer frequency. Cotyledonary nodes produced more buds than other explant types. Nodes had a 90% viability when transferred daily to fresh medium containing activated charcoal for 7 d while exposed to continuous dark. Cultures were then exposed to low light illumination with weekly transfers. The phytohormone composition producing the most buds was 2.32 μM kinetin, 9.12 μM zeatin and 4.40 μM BA. The highest frequency of rooted shoots was obtained by treating shoots with the bacterium, Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Plants also were recovered by induction of roots using auxin treatment on propagated shoots.

Biology and genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas L.: A review

Abstract: Bio-diesel is a fast-developing alternative fuel in many developed and developing countries of the world. The bio-diesel production from vegetable oils during 2004–2005 was estimated 2.36 million tonnes globally. Of this, EU countries accounted for about 82% and USA about 6%. Global bio-diesel production is set to reach some 24 billion litres by 2017. Shortage of edible oil for human consumption in developing countries does not favour its use for bio-diesel production. Hence non-edible oil from crops like Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata) is favoured for bio-diesel production and the trend is expected to continue. Especially J. curcas has gained attention in tropical and sub-tropical countries and has spread beyond its centre of origin, because of its hardiness, easy propagation, drought endurance, high oil content, rapid growth, adaptation to wide agro-climatic conditions, and multiple uses of plant as a whole. The full potential of J. curcas has not been realized due to several technological and economic reasons. One of the major reasons is the lack of high yielding varieties with high oil content. In this review, we attempt to discuss the currently available information on Jatropha species identity, taxonomy and description, distribution and ecological requirements of the species, possibilities of exploitation of genetic potentiality, exploitation of existing diversity for yield and oil content by direct selection, hybridization and creation of diversity by mutation, and biotechnological interventions.

In vitro manipulation and propagation of medicinal plants

Abstract: Well developed techniques are currently available to help growers meet the demand of the pharmaceutical industry in the next century. These protocols are designed to provide optimal levels of carbohydrates, organic compounds (vitamins), mineral nutrients, environmental factors (e.g. light, gaseous environment, temperature, and humidity) and growth regulators required to obtain high regeneration rates of many plant species in vitro and thereby facilitate commercially viable micropropagation. Well-defined cell culture methods have also been developed for the production of several important secondary products. An overview of the regeneration of medicinal plants by direct and indirect organogenesis and by somatic embryogenesis from various types of explants is presented, and the use of these techniques combined with other biotechnological approaches to improve medicinal plants through somaclonal variation and genetic transformation is reviewed.

Evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activity of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized using medicinally important plant extracts

Abstract: Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were synthesized by green chemistry approach using different plant extracts obtained from the leaves of Azadirachta indica, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Murraya koenigii, Moringa oleifera and Tamarindus indica. In order to compare their efficiency, the same copper oxide nanoparticles was also synthesized by chemical method. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, proteins and amino acids. FT IR spectra confirmed the possible biomolecules responsible for the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. The surface plasmon resonance absorption band at 220–235 nm in the UV–vis spectra also supports the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. XRD patterns revealed the monoclinic phase of the synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles. The average size, shape and the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles were determined by SEM, TEM and SAED analysis. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of elements in the synthesized nanoparticles. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three different free radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles was evaluated against four cancer cell lines such as human breast (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), epithelioma (Hep-2) and lung (A549), and one normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cell line. The morphological changes were evaluated using Hoechst 33258 staining assay. Copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green method exhibited high antioxidant and cytotoxicity than that synthesized by chemical method.

The commercial production of chemicals using pathway engineering.

Abstract: Integration of metabolic pathway engineering and fermentation production technologies is necessary for the successful commercial production of chemicals. The 'toolbox' to do pathway engineering is ever expanding to enable mining of biodiversity, to maximize productivity, enhance carbon efficiency, improve product purity, expand product lines, and broaden markets. Functional genomics, proteomics, fluxomics, and physiomics are complementary to pathway engineering, and their successful applications are bound to multiply product turnover per cell, channel carbon efficiently, shrink the size of factories (i.e., reduce steel in the ground), and minimize product development cycle times to bring products to market.