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In the present investigation, we have tested antitermite responses ofCapparis deciduastem, root, flower, and fruit extracts and pure compounds toOdontotermes obesusin various bioassays. Crude stem extract has shown very high susceptibility and very low LD50values, that is, 14.171 μg/mg in worker termites. From stem extract, three pure compounds were isolated in pure form namely, heneicosylhexadecanoate (CDS2), triacontanol (CDS3), and 2-carboxy-1, 1-dimethylpyrrolidine (CDS8) which have shown very low LD50value in a range of 5.537–10.083 μg/mg. Similarly, one novel compound 6-(1-hydroxy-non-3-enyl)-tetrahydropyran-2-one (CDF1) was isolated from flower extract that has shown an LD508.08 μg/gm. Repellent action of compounds was tested in a Y-shaped glass olfactometer in which CDF1 compounds have significantly repelled termites to the opposite arm. Besides this,C. deciduaextracts have shown significant reduction (P<0.05and 0.01) in termite infestation in garden saplings when it was coated on cotton tags and employed over tree trunks. Further,C. deciduasstem extract was used for wood seasoning, which gave very good results as test wood sticks have shown significantly (P<0.05and 0.01) very low termite infestation.

Capparis deciduas and its combinatorial mixtures were evaluated to observe the anti-termite efficacy against Indian white termite Odontotermes obesus. These have shown very high termiticidal activity and wood protection in the soil. It is proved by very low LD 50 values i.e. 0.0218mg/g and 0.021mg/g obtained in stem fractions CDS3 and CDS7 respectively. When other ingredients, were used to prepare combined mixtures with C. decidua these have shown synergistic action and caused very high termite mortality in termites. Besides this, both tag binding and wood seasoning experiments significantly cut down (p<0.05 and 0.01 level) in termite infestation in garden saplings and in seasoned dry wood planted in the garden soil. Above treatments have successfully obstructed the ascending and descending movements of termites and prohibited mud plastering and tunnel formation in workers. It was found statistically significant at the level 0.05. @JASEM

Phytoplasma is recognized as the serious constraints for the many economically ornamental plants all around the world. It may reduce the quality and yield of ornamental plants and is recognized internationally because of its unspecifi c symptoms, severe losses, and diverse epidemiology. The epidemics of these diseases have compelled the withdrawal of many ornamental plant species such as gladiolus, lily, chrysanthemum, and rose from cultivation. So far, more than 42 ornamental plant species were reported as infected by phytoplasma. The general symptom includes fl ower malformation, growth abnormalities, yellowing or decline of leaves, elongation and etiolation of internodes, witches' broom, stunting, little leaf, and virescence. The knowledge on the diversity and identifi cation of phytoplasma has been explored with the molecular tools and techniques showing that phytoplasma infecting the ornamental plant Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris belongs to a major 16Srl group. The other known groups of phytoplasmas are 16Srll, 16Srlll, 16SrV, 16SrVl, 16SrVll, 16SrlX, 16SrX, 16SrXll, 16SrXlll, and 16SrXV. For the detection of phytoplasma in the infected plant parts or tissues, the 16S rRNA gene fragments were amplifi ed using phytoplasma universal primer pairs P1/P7 in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by primer pairs R16F2n/R16R2 in the nested PCR. Nevertheless, for the fi ner detection of phytoplasma-related Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris, DNA samples were used to extend the RP and Tuf gene fragments by PCR using aster yellows group-specifi c primer pairs RP(l)F1A/RP(l)R1A and fTufAy/rTufAy, respectively. However, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of RP gene fragments digested with Alul, Msel, and Tsp5091 restriction enzymes indicates the presence of aster yellows group. The aim of the present chapter is to provide an overview of the phytoplasma-associated diseases in ornamental plants, their mode of transmission, and the molecular techniques employed to detect the phytoplasma in the infected plant parts or tissues.

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Vitamin C (VC) is a well-known antioxidant and strong free radical scavenger. Its antioxidant activity is useful for protection of cellular macromolecules, particularly DNA, from oxidative damage induced by different agents. This study was undertaken to evaluate the optimum level of VC in attenuating the chromosome aberrations (CAs) and DNA damage after iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ) acute administration in Wistar rats. The results exhibited that the increase of CAs and DNA damage induced by FeSO 4 , 200 mg Fe/kg, could be reduced significantly by VC pretreatment at the dose of 500 mg/kg (p<0.001), but not in the 100 mg/kg group. The findings provide evidence that VC at the dose of 500 mg/kg exerted a possible protective effect against FeSO 4 induced CAs and DNA damage. The possible mechanisms of VC may be attributed to its property as a free radical scavenger or to its indirect action in reducing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

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