scholarly journals Endophytic Fungal Diversity in Medicinal Plants of Western Ghats, India

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monnanda Somaiah Nalini ◽  
Ningaraju Sunayana ◽  
Harischandra Sripathy Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Healthy Plant ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Ethnobotanical Uses

Endophytes constitute an important component of microbial diversity, and in the present investigation, seven plant species with rich ethnobotanical uses representing six families were analyzed for the presence of endophytic fungi from their natural habitats during monsoon (May/June) and winter (November/December) seasons of 2007. Fungal endophytes were isolated from healthy plant parts such as stem, root, rhizome, and inflorescence employing standard isolation methods. One thousand five hundred and twenty-nine fungal isolates were obtained from 5200 fragments. Stem fragments harbored more endophytes (80.37%) than roots (19.22%). 31 fungal taxa comprised of coelomycetes (65%), hyphomycetes (32%), and ascomycetes (3%). Fusarium, Acremonium, Colletotrichum, Chaetomium, Myrothecium, Phomopsis, and Pestalotiopsis spp. were commonly isolated. Diversity indices differed significantly between the seasons (P<0.001). Species richness was greater for monsoon isolations than winter. Host specificity was observed for few fungal endophytes. UPGMA cluster analysis grouped the endophytes into distinct clusters on the basis of genetic distance. This study is the first report on the diversity and host-specificity of endophytic fungal taxa were from the semi evergreen forest type in Talacauvery subcluster of Western Ghats.

scholarly journals L-Asparaginase Activity of Fungal Endophytes from Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. (Apocynaceae), Endemic to the Western Ghats (India)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandramouli Manasa ◽  
Monnanda Somaiah Nalini
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Assay Method ◽  
Healthy Plant ◽  
Medicinal Tree ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Asparaginase Activity ◽  
The Western Ghats

“Endophytes,” the microbes residing within the plant tissues, are important sources of secondary metabolites. Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall., a medicinal tree, endemic to the Western Ghats with rich ethnobotanical history and unique chemical diversity, was selected to study fungal endophytes and evaluate them for L-asparaginase activity. Healthy plant parts were selected for the isolation of endophytes following standard isolation protocols. A total of 727 isolates belonging to 20 taxa were obtained. The isolates comprised of bark (11%), twig (22%), leaf (43%), fruit (12.0%), and seeds (12%). Endophytes such as Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Phomopsis, Verticillium, and Volutella colonized T. heyneana plant parts. Fusarium sp., Phomopsis spp., isolate Thlf01, and Fusarium solani were the dominant genera of bark, twig, leaf, fruits, and seed samples, respectively. The endophytes were screened for their ability to utilize L-asparagine by plate assay method. Fusarium spp. exhibited a high level of activity among the nine endophytes tested positive for L-asparaginase activity. Studies underline the potentials of endophyte-derived fungal L-asparaginases as sources of chemotherapeutic agents.

scholarly journals VEGETATION COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND PATTERNS OF DIVERSITY: A CASE STUDY FROM THE TROPICAL WET EVERGREEN FORESTS OF THE WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Giriraj ◽  
M. S. R. Murthy ◽  
B. R. Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Evergreen Forests ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
The Western Ghats

The composition, abundance, population structure and distribution patterns of the woody species having a girth at breast height of ≥ 10 cm were investigated in the tropical wet evergreen forests of the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the southern Western Ghats, India. A 3 ha plot was established with an altitudinal range of 1170 to 1306 m. In the study plot 5624 individuals (mean density 1875 ha−1) covering 68 woody species belonging to 52 genera and 27 families were enumerated. The mean basal area was 47.01 m2 ha–1 and the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were 4.89 and 0.95, respectively. Of these woody species nearly 51% are endemic to the Western Ghats. The four dominant species, Cullenia exarillata, Palaquium ellipticum, Aglaia bourdillonii and Myristica dactyloides, account for 34% of the trees and 67% of the basal area, and therefore constitute the main structure of the forest. Within this forest type, five species assemblages corresponding to altitudinal gradient were identified using correspondence analysis. Management of such mid elevation evergreen forests necessarily depends on knowledge of recognisable community types and their environmental variables. The present study provides essential background for formulating strategies for sustainable conservation of forest communities at the local level.

Occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in tropical forests across a rainfall gradient

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 818-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
T S Suryanarayanan ◽  
T S Murali ◽  
G Venkatesan
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Entire Plant ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Western Ghats

Fungal endophytes occur in leaves of angiosperm and gymnosperm trees. The occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in the leaves of trees growing in four different types of tropical forests in the Western Ghats were studied. One thousand five hundred leaf segments from five different hosts were screened for each forest type. Endophyte communities of trees of the semi-evergreen forest showed the highest species diversity. More endophyte isolates were recovered during the wet season. Although several genera of endophytes were common for different hosts growing in different forests, the dominant endophyte was different for different forest types. Our results suggest that although tropical trees individually may be endophyte rich, the overall endophyte diversity of the entire plant community is not exceptional.Key words: tropical forests, fungal endophytes, fungal diversity, foliar endophytes.

scholarly journals Comparative assessment of floristic structure, diversity and regeneration status of tropical rain forests of Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. N. Sathish ◽  
Syam Viswanath ◽  
C.G. Kushalappa ◽  
M. R. Jagadish ◽  
K. N. Ganeshaiah
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forests ◽  
Evergreen Forests ◽  
Regeneration Status ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

Tropical forests are one of the richest landscapes in terms of its richness, diversity and endemicity. The present study was carried out in the Central Western Ghats: one of the hottest hotspot of biodiversity. The aim of the study was to compare floristic diversity in tropical wet evergreen forest between northern and southern parts of Western Ghats of Karnataka. Kodagu district in southern part and Uttara Kannada district in northern part was chosen to assess the same, as these two districts cover highest forest cover in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. In each district all the evergreen forests were sampled with 1000 m X 5 belt transacts. Totally 22 such samplings were done both southern and northern part of Western Ghats. In each of these transacts all the trees measuring e” 30 gbh were enumerated and botanically identified to the species level and the same was used for computation of diversity indices. The richness and diversity was comparatively higher in southern part compared to northern part of Western Ghats, where as the richness of threatened tree species was comparatively higher in northern part of Western Ghats. In addition to the species richness and diversity, the paper also deals with the dominant tree species and families in both the region.

scholarly journals The woody flora of Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India - A checklist

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 20033-20055
Author(s):  
Naveen Babu Kanda ◽  
Kurian Ayushi ◽  
Vincy K. Wilson ◽  
Narayanan Ayyappan ◽  
Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

Documenting the biodiversity of protected areas and reserve forests is important to researchers, academicians and forest departments in their efforts to establish policies to protect regional biodiversity. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) is an important protected area located in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka state known for its diverse flora and fauna with distinct ecological features. For the last four decades the sanctuary has witnessed the loss of forest cover, yet the vegetation in few locations is relatively undisturbed. The current inventory was undertaken during 2019–2020 to provide a checklist of woody species from SWS under-researched earlier. The list comprises 269 species of trees, lianas and shrubs distributed in 207 genera and 68 families. The most diverse families are Fabaceae, Moraceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Lauraceae, Apocynaceae, Meliaceae, Malvaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Anacardiaceae, representing 48% of total woody flora. The sanctuary shelters 263 native and six exotic plant species. Thirty-nine species were endemic to the Western Ghats, five species to peninsular India and one species to the Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Four forest types, i.e., dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen forests, are represented in the sanctuary. Of the total species, only seven occurred in all forest types, while 111 species are exclusive to a single forest type. One-hundred-and-four taxa were assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List. Ten species that fall under Near Threatened, Vulnerable, and Endangered categories were encountered occasionally. The baseline data generated on plant diversity will be useful in highlighting the importance of these forests for species conservation and forest management. Such data form a cornerstone for further research. For instance, to understand the effect of invasive species and human impacts on the diversity of the region. 

Clonal propagation through stem cuttings and air layering in Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston an endemic tree Species of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-87
Author(s):  
Abdul Hussain ◽  
C. Anilkumar
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Clonal Propagation ◽  
Stem Cuttings ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Ideal Tool ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Western Ghats

Rooting trials conducted with stem cuttings and air layering in Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston, an important medicinal and fruit plant gave promising results after treatment with auxins such as IAA, IBA and NAA in different concentrations. Both stem cuttings and air layering from 10 year old plants have resulted a maximum rooting of 80% and 70% respectively through the application of IBA-1000ppm, in their natural habitats. The plants developed from stem cuttings and air layering was also survived with 90% success. Thus the standardized clonal propagation method in S. caryophyllatum through stem cutting and air layering reported for the first time can be taken as an ideal tool for the multiplication and subsequent resource base utilization of the species since the populations are prone to endangerment in its habitats.

Estimating seasonal abundance and habitat use of small carnivores in the Western Ghats using an occupancy approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 469-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riddhika Kalle ◽  
Tharmalingam Ramesh ◽  
Qamar Qureshi ◽  
Kalyanasundaram Sankar
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Palm Civet ◽  
Leopard Cat

Abstract:Rigorous population studies on many small carnivores are lacking in India. Presence-absence models with habitat covariates were applied to estimate seasonal occupancy and abundance of nine small-carnivore species from camera-trap data in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (2010 and 2011). We deployed 25 camera-trap stations in the deciduous forest, 21 in the semi-evergreen forest and 26 in the dry thorn forest. In total, 7380 trap-nights yielded 448 photographs of small carnivores: jungle cat (n = 72), leopard cat (n = 6), rusty-spotted cat (n = 11), small Indian civet (n = 89), common palm civet (n = 37), brown palm civet (n = 20), stripe-necked mongoose (n = 66), ruddy mongoose (n = 96) and Indian grey mongoose (n = 51). In the dry season, rusty-spotted cat was the rarest carnivore with an average abundance (λmean) of 0.24 ± 0.26, while ruddy mongoose was the most abundant (λmean = 0.90 ± 0.40). In the wet season, leopard cat was the rarest species (λmean = 0.048 ± 0.041) while grey mongoose was the most abundant (λmean = 0.68 ± 0.35). Abundance of jungle cat, common palm civet, ruddy mongoose and grey mongoose increased in the dry thorn forest whereas in the dry season abundance of small Indian civet decreased in this forest type. Abundance of leopard cat and small Indian civet was not influenced by habitat in the wet season. Deciduous forest was positively associated with abundance of rusty-spotted cat. Deciduous and semi-evergreen forests had a positive effect on abundance of stripe-necked mongoose while the latter was a positive predictor of abundance and occupancy for brown palm civet. Improved modelling approaches can account for the spatio-temporal variation in habitat use of small carnivores occupying specialized niches in heterogeneous tropical forests of southern India.

Testing pathogen host specificity: a reciprocal field experiment in two types of tropical forest on Hainan, China

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Zheng ◽  
He He ◽  
Lin Xiao ◽  
Shixiao Yu
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Soil Pathogens ◽  
Montane Rain Forest ◽  
Adult Trees

Abstract:The Janzen–Connell hypothesis suggests that highly specific pathogens decrease seedling survival close to the parent plant; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we tested the host specificity of soil pathogens to germinating seeds of Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi and Cryptocarya chinensis in tropical montane rain forest and cloud forest on Hainan, south China. Rhizospheric soils surrounding eight adult trees per species were collected in each forest type and divided into five soil treatments: parent, fungicide-sterilized, autoclave-sterilized, Fusarium-added and Pythium-added soils. Surface-sterilized seeds were sown in each of the five soil treatments and grown in two forest types. The seed germination percentages were significantly higher in sterilized soils (C. fleuryi, 41.5%; C. chinensis, 29.4%) than in non-sterilized soils (C. fleuryi, 28.3%; C. chinensis, 17.1%) in montane rain forest. The seed germination percentages in rhizospheric soil of conspecific parent trees were significantly lower in montane rain forest (C. fleuryi, 17.3%; C. chinensis, 10.5%) than in cloud forest (C. fleuryi, 37.1%; C. chinensis, 21.1%). Our results also suggest that the level of pathogen activity in each tree species varies depending on the environment. Our results support the hypothesis that host-specific pathogens shape tree species composition by differentially affecting seed germination under different environmental conditions.

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