Withania somnifera

About: Withania somnifera is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2116 publications have been published within this topic receiving 43404 citations. The topic is also known as: Ashwaganda & Indian ginseng.

Overexpression of WssgtL3.1 gene from Withania somnifera confers salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Abstract: Overexpression of Withania somnifera SGT gene (WssgtL3.1) in transgenic Arabidopsis improves various agronomic and physiological traits and alters conjugated sterol levels to mitigate the effect of salt stress. Sterols are essential constituents of cell membranes that are involved in several biological functions, including response to various biotic and abiotic stresses by altering membrane permeability and signaling pathways. Sterol glycosyltransferases (SGTs) are enzymes that are involved in sterol modification by converting sterols into sterol-conjugates to play essential roles in adaptive responses. However, their roles under abiotic stresses are lesser-known. Among abiotic stresses, salinity imposes serious threat to crop yield worldwide, hence the present study intends to investigate the role of WssgtL3.1-overexpressed Arabidopsis plants under salt stress indicating the crosstalk between SGT gene and salinity to develop improved crop varieties with better stress tolerance ability. The findings revealed that overexpression of WssgtL3.1 gene in A. thaliana improved the resistance against salt stress in the overexpressing lines. Transgenic lines showed significantly higher germination rate, increased plant growth with less chlorophyll damage compared to wild-type (WT) control plants. Moreover, better tolerance also correlated with enhanced osmolytes (proline and soluble sugar), better membrane integrity, decreased H2O2 production and lesser MDA accumulation and Na+/K+ ratio with more negative osmotic potential in overexpressed lines. Additionally, in sterol profiling, significant enhancement in stigmasterol was also observed in transgenic lines than WT plants. Furthermore, in expression profiling, salt responsive genes LEA 4–5, sucrose synthase, and transporter of monosaccharide (ERD) significantly upregulated in overexpressing lines as compared to WT. Thus our data strongly support the defensive role of Withania somnifera SGT gene (WssgtL3.1) against salt stress and contribute to improved salinity tolerance in plants through sterol modulation.

Effect of dietary addition of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) powder on broiler performance

Abstract: Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) stem powder on growth performance, feed conversion ratio and economics of feeding in broilers. In experiment 1, treatments were T 1 : basal diet; T 2 : basal diet + ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder @ 1 g/kg of feed; T 3 : basal diet + ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder @ 2 g/kg of feed. In experiment 2, treatments were T 1 : basal diet; T 2 : basal diet + guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) stem powder @ 1 g/kg of feed; T 3 : basal diet + guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) stem powder @ 2 g/kg of feed. The chicks were fed with standard basal diets in three different growth phases i.e. pre-starter (0–10d), starter (11–21d) and finisher (22–42d). Supplementation of Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia significantly increased the overall body weights, weekly gain in body weight of broilers compared to the control group. However, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kilogram of live broiler production were similar among the treatment groups. The dietary addition of Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia reduced mortality rate compared to the control. Results indicated that ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) powder improved growth performance and reduced mortality, but did not have any effect on feed conversion ratio and economics of feeding in broilers.

Effect of UV-B Tolerant Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) onSeed Germination and Growth of Withania somnifera

Abstract: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. Six bacterial isolates, efficient in producing PGP compounds like IAA, Ammonia, HCN, Catalase and Siderophore were successfully isolated, characterized and designated as PG1, PGB3, PG5, PG7, PG9 and PG10. Prior to seeds grown in plastic pots, seeds were treated with PGPR isolates and seedlings were harvested after 21 days of inoculation. Results of first study showed seed inoculation significantly enhanced seed germination and seedling vigour of Withania somnifera. Also application of PGPR isolates significantly improves the percentage of seed germination and seedling vigour index under UV-B exposure. Subsequently to investigate the effect of PGPR isolates on the growth characteristics, a pot culture experiment was conducted. Most of isolates resulted in a significant increase of plant height, fresh and dry weight, and leaf area and leaf number. Results confirmed that bacterial inoculation had significant effect on stimulation of root and shoot growth. Our findings suggest that the use of PGPR isolates PG10, PG9 and PG7 as inoculants biofertilizers might be beneficial for growth of Withania somnifera.

A glycoprotein α-amylase inhibitor from Withania somnifera differentially inhibits various α-amylases and affects the growth and development of Tribolium castaneum.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Identification and characterisation of plant defensive molecules enrich our resources to design crop protection strategies. In particular, plant-derived proteinaceous inhibitor(s) of insect digestive enzymes appear to be a safe, sustainable and attractive option. RESULTS A glycoprotein having non-competitive α-amylase inhibitory activity with a molecular weight of 8.3 kDa was isolated and purified from seeds of Withania somnifera α-amylase inhibitor (WSAI). Its mass spectrometry analysis revealed 59% sequence coverage with Wrightide II-type α-amylase inhibitor from Wrightia religiosa. A dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylases from Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, Helicoverpa armigera and Tribolium castaneum was recorded. Interestingly, WSAI did not inhibit human salivary α-amylase significantly. When adults of T. castaneum were fed with WSAI (1.6 mg g−1), decrease in consumption, growth and efficiency of conversion of ingested food was evident, along with over fourfold increases in feeding deterrence index. A decline in larval residual α-amylase activity after feeding of WSAI resulted in a reduction in longevity of T. castaneum. CONCLUSION The study reflects the significance of WSAI in affecting the overall growth and development of T. castaneum. Pre- and post-harvest pest resistive capability makes WSAI a potential candidate for insect pest management. Further, the effectiveness of this inhibitor could be explored either in formulations or through a transgenic approach. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry

Genetic association among root morphology, root quality and root yield in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Abstract: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a dryland medicinal crop and roots are used as valuable drug in traditional systems of medicine. Morphological variants (morphotypes) and the parental populations were evaluated for root - morphometric, quality and yield traits to study genetic association among them. Root morphometric traits (root length, root diameter, number of secondary roots/ plant) and crude fiber content exhibited strong association among them and showed significant positive genotypic correlation with yield. Starch-fiber ratio (SFR), determinant of brittle root texture showed strong negative association with root yield. The total alkaloid content had positive genotypic correlation with root yield. So genetic upgradation should aim at optimum balance between two divergent groups of traits i.e. root yield traits (root morphometric traits and crude fiber content) and root textural quality traits (starch content and SFR) to develop superior genotypes with better yield and quality.