Indiscriminate over exploitation from natural source to meet the growing demand by industry coupled with low seed viability, lack of vegetative propagation methods and insufficient attempts for replenishment of wild stock of different important plant species have contributed to its threatened status. So realizing the threat of extinction and to meet the growing needs, the alternate method for propagation is micropropagation. This technique is used not only for those plants which are difficult to be propagated through conventional practices, but also for the mass multiplication of existing stocks of germplasm for biomass production and conservation of important, elite and rare plant species that are threatened or on the verge of extinction [1]. In all reports, protocols described are based on conventional micropropagation system (CMS). This CMS explained most common methods of micropropagation (Table 1), which involve initiation/bud proliferation, the shoot multiplication followed by rooting via a semi solid medium. Although CMS have been highly successful in terms of multiplication yields, it has become increasingly important to improve productivity and uniformity of commercially important material in reduced cost, time and space [2]. Hence an improvement in plant tissue culture techniques for the mass propagation of commercial plants is highly desirable [3]. An alternative that has shown potential to improve the efficiency of protocols for in vitro multiplication is the use of a double-phasic culture system (DPS). In this method, the explants remain in the semi-solid medium and the liquid medium is added over periodically throughout the culture, thus Low cost and time saving tissue culture techniques by improving process efficiency and better utilization of resources without compromising the quality of the plants are of high priority for commercial utilization. In this report a double phase culture system (DPS) i.e. a semisolid phase with rooting media at the bottom with a layer of shooting media in liquid phase, was standardized and compared with conventional micro propagation system (CMS) by taking Rauwolfia serpentine L. Bent. as a model. In CMS the shoots were raised first followed by two subsequent subculture then they were transferred to rooting media for root induction for which it will take more than 12 weeks but under DPS, plantlets with well developed roots and shoots can be produced simultaneously in a single culture vessel within 08 weeks without shoot manipulations/repeated subculture. It was found that the rate of multiplication (98.7), shoot length (9.8) and shoot thickness (5.2) was higher in DPS in comparison to CMS. The no. of roots/shoot (8.7), root length (5.3cm), root thickness (6.1mm) was found higher in DPS than that of the CMS. Percentage survival of plantlets was 98.5 % in DPS, while it was only 70% in CMS. The culture period was reduced by 44% in DPS compared to the CMS. In DPS nutrient cost/plantlet, energy cost/plantlet and labour cost also reduced by 35.36%, 40.66% and 33.33% respe...

An experiment was carried out to assess the efficacy bentonite clay supplementation in the diet of white pekin ducks, experimentally fed with aflatoxin B1 contaminated diet (96 ppb) on production performance, and biochemical parameters including oxidative stress indices. The experimental birds (n=72) were provided with standard duck feed and ad libitum water. The grower white pekin ducks, aged 9 weeks, were randomly divided into six groups containing twelve birds in each group. The birds of group I served as healthy controls and was fed with basal diet without addition of toxin or bentonite clay. The birds of group II were provided with a diet with toxin level of 48 µg/kg of feed. The grower ducklings of group III to VI were fed with a diet containing 96 µg of toxin/kg of feed. The experimental feed was provided from 9th week of age (grower stage) for a period of 6 weeks. The birds of group IV, V and VI were provided with feed containing 96 µg aflatoxin /kg of feed along with bentonite clay at the dose rate of 1, 2 or 3g of clay/ kg of feed, respectively. The birds fed with aflatoxin-treated diet showed decreased body weight gain, and there was significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight gain by 4th week of experiment in group II and III. However, the body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in bentonite clay supplemented group IV, V, and VI, as compared to toxin-exposed positive group II and III. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) increased significantly in Group II and III by 4th week. At the end of 6th week, group II and III showed significantly higher FCR. Significantly decreased serum triglyceride level and increased cholesterol level was recorded in group II and III in comparison to all other groups on 4th week. There was significant decrease in creatinine level in group IV, V, and VI compared to group II and III on completion of 4th week of the experiment. The activity of GGT increased significantly in all aflatoxin exposed groups. The feeding of aflatoxin contaminated feed increased the erythrocytic malonaldehyde (MDA) production and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. It is concluded from the experiment that bentonite clay supplementation in the diet at the dose rate of 3g/ kg of feed reduced the toxic effects of aflatoxin on production performance and oxidative stress in white pekin ducks.