The genus Saraca L. (Leguminosae) is a universal panacea in herbal medicine. The present study investigates the comparative pollen morphology of four species of Saraca viz. S. asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde, S. declinata (Jack) Miq., S. indica L., and S. thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain growing in India to reveal differences of their pollen structures to aid taxonomic and evolutionary values. The detailed morphology and surface structure of pollen grains were studied and described using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of Saraca showed isopolar, para-syncolporate, tricolporate, with radially symmetric, prolate and prolate-spheroidal structure. The surface of pollen of S. indica is rugulate with large lirae but in S. declinata, the surface is micro-rugulate to vermiculate with relatively thin lirae and that of S. thaipingensis is indistinct as the psilate surface with a frequent protuberance and fewer perforations were observed along with the gemmae like structure. Exine ornamentation helped to separate S. indica and S. asoca. Exine thickness varies from 3-4 μm. Presence of protuberance and exine thickness varies among individuals of the species spread over different locations. Present work also provides a unique palynological identity and interrelationship of these four species based on cluster analysis taking 23 pollen characters with the help of statistical method like the plotting of ternary graph. Ternary plots also helped to calculate the level of plasticity of each character in the intra-and inter-specific level.

Somatic chromosome study from root tip cells using the squash technique of the cytological method and seed protein profile of 5 varieties of Lens culinaris (Lentil) through SDS-PAGE were investigated. Karyotype analysis showed gross uniformity in morphology. Somatic chromosome number 2n = 14 is constant for all the varieties. Chromosomes are mostly long to medium in length with secondary constrictions in one pair of chromosome. Primary constrictions in chromosome ranged from nearly median to nearly submedian in most of the cases. Notwithstanding the gross homogeneity, karyotype analysis revealed minute differences in details. Each lentil variety is thus characterized by its own karyotype, serving as one of the identifying criteria. The seed protein profile revealed that varieties are very close to each other with respect to similarity index that ranged from 0.594 to 0.690. With regard to seed protein banding patterns, slight polymorphism (14.285%) indicating low genetic diversity has been identified among the 5 varieties. A dendrogram indicates one variety is plesiomorphic and rest varieties are apomorphic. All the experimental varieties of lentil studied here show low genetic diversity due to their similar genetic base, indigenous genetic resources and conservative nature of the seed protein.Ó 2016 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf

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The structural and quantitative diversity of Kranz anatomy of nineteen Indian varieties of sugarcane was studied in relation to brix content or yield of sugar. The nature and distribution of Kranz tissue and types of vascular bundle in the leaf blade have also been described and discussed. In hand made transverse sections of leaf blade of sugarcane varieties, two different sizes (large and small) of vascular bundles were found. The large vascular bundles were characterized by the presence of metaxylem vessels on the either side of protoxylem. The small vascular bundles entirely consist of metaxylem but lack of protoxylem. Variation of Brix content of the basal, middle and top part of Culm of nineteen varieties was also observed. Statistically, average Brix content was positively correlated with the total area of the photosynthetic cells as well as bundle sheath cells and the linear regression curve followed the straight line.