An efficient in vitro regeneration system was developed for Rauvolfia serpentina L. through direct and indirect organogenesis from nodal and leaf explants. Among the different growth regulators, MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP, 0.5mg/l IAA and 0.02mg/l NAA found best for the multiple shoot formation from nodal segments. In this combination 98% explants produced multiple shoots and the average number of shoots per explants is 13∙4. The frequency of callus induction and multiple shoot induction from leaves was highest 88% in MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP, where mean number of shoots/explants was 12.5. The highest frequency of root induction (80%) and mean number of roots/plantlets (10) were obtained on half strength of MS medium containing 0.2 mg/l IBA. The rooted plantlets were transferred for hardening following acclimatization and finally were successfully established in the field.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.53(2), 133-138, 2018

Due to urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals have become the common environmental pollutant throughout the world. Chromosomal studies are one of the important tools to estimate the genome damaging property of these metals. This research was done to analyze the genotoxic effects of metals such as cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in mung bean (Vigna radiata) root tips. The experiment was set in such a way that mild metal treatment (0.01 mM) was given before respective high metal treatments (0.1 and 0.5 mM) separately, with the aim to know whether low/mild metals can alleviate metal tolerance in mung bean seedlings. Results demonstrated that metals treatment resulted in growth and mitotic index reduction. Among all the tested metals, Cd was found to cause more negative effect on growth of mung bean seedlings with length of 6.12 cm and 13.41% mitotic Index (MI) with the highest total aberrations (27.91%) at 0.5 mM Cd. Positive correlation was found between mitotic index and seedling length while a negative correlation was recorded between chromosomal aberrations with mitotic index and seedling length. Among these abnormalities C-mitosis, sticky chromosomes, and disturb metaphase were the most common aberrations irrespective of the metal. Furthermore, it was also observed that seed priming with respective mild metal concentration improves the seedling length, MI, and reduces the effect of metal stress by lowering the chromosomal aberrations in both 0.1 mM and 0.5 mM concentrations as compared to metal stress alone.

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This study reported the biologically active Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of the novel azo dye ligand pyrimidin-2-yl-4-[(E)-(2,4,6-trioxohexahydropyrimidin-5-yl)diazenyl]benzenesulfonamide. The structures of synthesized metal complexes were established on spectroscopic and physico-chemical techniques. From the spectral studies, it confirms that the azo ligand coordinates to the metal center through a bidendate manner via barbutaric acid -OH, azo-N as a donor site. The thermal studies reveals that all the complexes exhibits good thermally stability and also the presence of water molecule for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes. The prepared metal chelates have been examined for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Xanthomonas campestris, Klebsiella pneumonia and E. coli by using agar well diffusion method. The data revealed the ability of the complexes to inhibit the growth of some microorganisms, among all the compounds Co(II) complex showed the highest activity. The antifungal activity of the compounds were tested against two strains, whereas Ni(II) complex showed the highest activity against fungal strains. Lastly, the probable binding sites of metal complexes with receptor RpsA were studied by molecular docking studies.