Historically, Bryophytes were accounted to be a monophyletic group and were placed in an inclusive Bryophyta. Some species are aquatic though some can adapt and live in arid regions. Bryophytes size ranges from microscopic to 12 inches in length, the average size is between 0.5 – 2 inches long and colors vary from green to black and sometimes colorless. Bryophytes plays a vital role in the biosphere even their size is insignificant. As a biotic factor in the environment, they provide food for numerous herbivorous birds and animals. They prevent soil erosion by carpeting the soil. Bryophytes cause the outer portion of rock to slowly crumble as they grow with lichens on rock surfaces. And because of it they contribute and help to soil formation. When mixed with the soil, bryophytes increase the water-holding capacity of the soil and the amount of organic matter in the soil. Some bryophytes like sphagnum or peat moss has some economicimportance. It is used as packing material for breakable or fragile objects such as figurines and dinnerware’s. It is also used as packing materials for transporting plants and plant parts, since sphagnum holds water and hence prevent plants from drying during transport. As a whole, bryophytes are of little economic importance to man.
Currently, the medicinal potential of bryophytes has received immense value in pharmaceutical industries and many phytochemicals have been isolated, characterized from this group. Native North Americans and Chinese are in forefront in bryological research compared to India. Traditional and ethnic uses of Indian bryophytes with description and illustration were seen in Hortus Malabaricus. Information about the medicinal use of bryophytes in terms of microbicidal, anti-inflammatory and antitumour are traced in developed countries. Despite, the long history of medicinal bryophytes used by tribal and local peoples their significant utilization in medicines is still scanty. Present report is an attempt to create awareness about this group of plants from Neyyar Wild Life sanctuary, Trivandrum, Kerala.
Water deficiency is the most significant abiotic stress factor for land plants. Most plants are unable to survive desiccation to the air dry state. There are however a few species from lower plant groups to flowering plants that tolerate desiccation known as resurrection plants. So, the present investigation was undertaken tostudy the biochemical changes in Pileamicrophylla against desiccation (1, 3, 5 and 7 days) and rehydration (30 min) stress. As an initial part of the study total sugar, protein and proline content were analyzed and showed a gradual decline during the stress periods. The SDS-PAGE analysis of protein indicated thedisapperance of certain bands in the desiccated and rehydrated samples (7D) when compared to the control indicating the denaturation of proteins during stress. Similarly, the appearance of new bands (15kDa on 3D and 20 and 17kDa on the 5D) were noticed suggesting the formation of stress related proteins to tide over desiccation. The amount of free amino acids increased in P. microphylla, in pace with desiccation periods. Constitutive increase in the level of proline (the stress amino acid) accumulation is seen when compared with the control i.e., 6 fold higher than that of the control, after exposed to desiccation for 5 D. Increase in proline level relating to exposure time of desiccation stress suggests its role as osmolyte. Similarly, a reduction in chlorophyll level and an increase in carotenoid were also observed during stress. Decrease of total chlorophyll content was observed with duration of desiccation. The decrease in chlorophyll a and b was recovered during rehydration up to 5 D. Further studies are warranted at molecular level in terms of stress proteins and genes involved in desiccation tolerance in this plant.
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