Introduction:Early blight is a common disease of tomato, which is caused by Alternaria solani. Objectives:This work was accompanied to find an alternative to chemical fungicides and to screen tomato varieties against Alternaria solani. Methods:The infected leaves were collected from five tomato fields of Shere-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka and were cultured for the identification of the infectious fungus and The phytobiocidal role of six plants against Alternaria solani was evaluated in vitro model. Results & Discussion:Alternaria solani was identified as the infectious fungus. The growth of the test fungi Trichoderma spp. viz., Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum collected form NAMDEC and Trichoderma sp collected from field of BCSIR was monitored as optimum P H . All the selected Trichoderma spp. were antagonistic to A. solani. Antagonistic capacity of the Trichoderma spp. was tested by dual culture, volatile as well as non-volatile method. It was observed, T. viride was most effective in the reduction process of A. solani and T. harzianum. T. viride also showed highest inhibition in volatile and non-volatile trials. Six plant extracts viz., Adhatoda vasica (Nees), Azadirachta indica (A Juss). Ocimujm sanctum (L), Allium sativum (L), Datura metal (Linn) and Zingiber officinale (Rose) were selected to evaluate their in vitro efficacy of 5%, 10% and 20% concentration against the A. solani. Allium sativum was the most effective one against A. solani, followed by Azadirachta indica. The efficacy of five fungicides viz., Bavistin 50WP, Mancozeb 80WP, Indofil M-45, Sulcox 50WP and Tall 25EC were evaluated for their fungitoxicity against the A. solani at 100, 200,100, 600 and 800 ppm. Tall 25EC was the most effective fungicide against Alternaria solani followed by Mancozeb 80WP. After screening the five tomato varieties against A. solani, it was revealed that BARI Tomato-9 had the highest Percentage of Disease Index (PDI) and the leaf of BARI Tomato-7 had the lowest Percentage of Disease Index (PDI). Conclusion:The extract of Allium sativum was effective to control Alternaria solani at prescribed concentration. The highest PDI was found in BARI tomato-9 against Alternaria solani.

Abelmoschus is a genus of about fifteen species belongs to the family Malvaceae. The herb, popularly known as Lady's Finger or Okra (in English) is a nutritional source used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. The plant is widely distributed from Africa to Asia, Southern Europe, and America. This comprehensive account provides a botanical description of the plant, its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities focusing anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-adhesive, gastro-protective, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulating actions. Most of the pharmacological effects can be explained by the constituents like tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids and glycosides present in all plant parts. However, future efforts should concentrate more on in vitro and in vivo studies and also on clinical trials in order to confirm traditional wisdom in the light of a rational phytotherapy. The present review is an overview of phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological studies that support many of the traditional ethnomedicinal uses of the plant.

An efficient protocol was developed for shoot proliferation and plant regeneration of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees. (Acanthaceae) - a rare medicinal shrub of Bangladesh, through in vitro culture using shoot tip and nodal explants. Best shoot induction was observed on MS with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA, in which 84.2% of nodal explants responded to produce maximum number (12.4 ± 0.66) of shoots per culture. In vitro raised shoots rooted on half-strength MS with 0.5 mg/l IBA + 0.5 mg/l NAA. For acclimation and transplantation, the plantlets in the rooting culture tubes were kept in normal room temperature for 7 days before transplanting in pots where plantlets were reared for three weeks. The survival rate of regenerated plantlets was 85%. Key words: Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus, Shoot proliferation, Plant regeneration   D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i2.10236   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(2): 135-141, 2011 (December)

The present study describes a protocol for high frequency plant regeneration of Physalis minima. Shoots were induced by culturing nodal segments and shoot tips from 15 day old seedlings. About 29 and 32 shoots were found to be induced from nodal segment and shoot tip explants, respectively, cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP. When shoots were subcultured on the fresh medium with same component as mentioned above, the shoots were elongated. Shoots rooted well when they were excised individually and implanted on half-strength MS medium with 0.3 mg/l NAA, where 98% shoots rooted within 12-15 days. In vitro grown plantlets with strong root system were successfully established in normal room temperature for seven days before transplanting in pots where they were reared for three weeks through successive acclimatization. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred to the soil with 90% survival rate. Key words: Physalis minima; Medicinal plant; Shoot proliferation; Micropropagation; Regeneration DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i4.4597 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(4), 453-456, 2009

Introduction: The present research work was undertaken with a view to developing a suitable protocol for in vitro plant regeneration of economically important plant (Glycine max) (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute BARI- 5) variety, via both direct and indirect organogenesis from in vitro grown seedlings. Methods: For micropropagation explants were cultured on MS and half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators (cytokinins and auxins). In the present study for inducting of callus, among 3 different hormone combinations, the suitable medium was 3.32 mg/L 2, 4-D containing MS medium and the callus was deep green in color. Different type of media like MS, 1/2 MS and MS with different (6-Benzyl Amino Purine) BAP concentration was used for seed germination of Glycine max. 100% of seed germination was observed in MS +1 mg/L BAP containing the medium. Results: In the present investigation, different concentration of cytokinins and auxins{BAP, 2, 4-D, and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA)} were used individually or in combinations with MS medium to observe their effect on multiple shoot regeneration from the cotyledonary nodal segment. 100% shoot formation from cotyledonary nodal segment was recorded in 1.5 mg/L BAP and 0.15 mg/L BAP + 0.025 mg/L NAA containing MS medium, the best number of shoot was 10.9±2.0 found in MS + 1.5 mg/L BAP containing medium and highest length of shoot was 2 cm recorded in 1.5 mg/L BAP + 0.3 mg/L (different concentrations of Giberrellic acid) GA3 containing MS medium. In addition, for root induction in vitro raised well developed and elongated shoots were excised and cultured on MS and 1/2 MS medium supplemented with various concentration of Indole-3-Butyric acid (IBA). It was observed that MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L IBA and 1/2 MS medium containing 0.25 mg/L IBA was optimal for root induction. In which 100% shoots rooted well within 13 days of culture. The highest average number of roots per shoot was 6 recorded in MS +0.5 mg/L IBA containing the medium and highest average length of root was 8 cm recorded in 0.1 mg/L IBA containing MS medium. Conclusion: The most effective surface sterilization treatment for explants of Glycine max has been found in 0.1% HgCl2 solution for 15 minutes.