In the present analysis, we evaluated the effect of different microbial inoculants on growth and floral responses of Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. Two prevailing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) i.e., Funelliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis, along with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens, were examined in a pot experiment. Independent roles of these four microbes and their different combinations were used in sixteen treatments of G. rigens. The experiment was conducted in a polyhouse with five replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. The results of microbial inoculants were very effective for growth yield and flowering response over the control. Early flowering was noted in the combination of F. mosseae, A. laevis and P. fluorescens, which also showed the best results for flower head size, flower fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotene and phosphorus content. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) root colonization (%) and AM spore number were also the highest for the same treatment, whereas the number of leaves, number of buds and root length were maximum in the combined treatment (F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens). Overall, this study proposes that growers should consider microbial inoculants for the better yield and flower quality of G. rigens.

The belowground soil environment is an active space for microbes, particularly Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and P hosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) that can colonize with roots of higher plants. In the present experiment, we evaluated the combination of microbial inoculants with the different doses of urea and superphosphate in a complete randomized block design (CRBD). Three different doses of urea and superphosphate were tested, i.e., recommended dose, 75% of the recommended dose and 125% of the recommended dose, independently and in combination with three microbial groups viz . Glomus mosseae (AMF), Bacillus subtilis (PSB) and Nitrifying microorganisms ( Nitrosomonas + Nitrobacter , NN). Overall, there were 16 treatment combinations used, and studied the number of tubers per plant, the weight of tubers, moisture content, and the number of nodes per tubers which were best in treatment comprising of AMF + PSB + NN + 75% of urea + superphosphate. From our results, it is suggested for the growers to use a lesser quantity of fertilizers from the recommended dose along with some bioinoculants to maintain the soil fertility and also to achieve the yield targets by decreasing the cost of chemical fertilizers.

Gardens are unaccomplished without the showy, pricey investments of ornamental plants. Ornamental plants, especially the flowering plants, have a significant impact on human life. They offer fresh air to the surroundings and release the negativity from the environment. Ornamental plants intrigued humans with their alluring odour and unique. Besides this, many ornamental plants have other economic uses other than just decoration or traditional customs which has been discussed. Many plants are edible and used in several kinds of beverages as medicinal values. Important domiciliary plants that belong to Asteraceae with both ornamental and therapeutic benefits are reviewed in this paper, namely, Calendula, Echinacea, Achillea, Acmella and Tanacetum. These plants possess a high nutritive value and can be cooked or consumed as salads. With numerous pharmaceutical ac-tivities of these plants, we hope that this review will bring awareness for their alternative use.

Since ages plants with therapeutic effects are used for curing several human ailments. With the development in modern biotechnological tools, these therapeutic compounds could be overexpressed in the plants. This review aims to compile the valuable information from the examples in the literature, regarding the biotechnological tools those could be useful for the overproduction of health-promoting biochemicals in the medicinal plants. Gene level modification is all about creating improved variety of plants that are highly resistant to pests and pesticides or contain higher levels of nutrients than conventional plants. Plant secondary metabolites constitute an exciting and vital aspect of research, due to their chemical diversity, varied biological functions and pharmacological activities. Gene modification, through Agrobacterium mediated transformation , RNA interference or CRISPER/Cas9, has opened avenues of improvement in medicinal plants and provide an alternative production system of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites for their commercial exploitation.

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