Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a medicinal plants and commercially use as non-caloric sweetener for diabetic patient. In the present study, a protocol was developed for in vitro micropropagation using 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kn) for the formation of multiple shoot proliferation and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for the induction of roots. Maximum shoot formation (7.82 ± 0.7 shoots per explants) was observed on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 BAP and 0.25 mg L-1 Kn. The maximum number of roots (30.12 ± 2.1 roots per explants) was obtained on a MS medium containing 1.0 mg L-1 IBA. The well rooted plantlets were successfully weaned and acclimatized in plant soil with survival rate of 83.3 %.

An efficient protocol for in vitro flowering was successfully established for Impatiens balsamina cv Dwarf Bush, an important medicinal plant, through tissue culture techniques. Shoot, stem and petiole explants obtained from 4 week-old aseptic seedlings cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of plant growth regulator (PGR) were used for in vitro flower induction. Gibberellic acid (GA3), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin (Kin) treatment singly applied in MS media (pH 5.8), could all stimulate flowering at 23-26 oC with photoperiod of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark. It was observed that shoot explants were more responsive than stem explants in floral formation. Regeneration was achieved via direct organogenesis. For shoot explants, the treatment that induced the highest rate of in vitro flowering (7.30 ± 0.16 flowers per plantlet) was 1.0 mg L-1 GA3. Ultrastructural and histological analysis of in vivo and in vitro flowers were done to discover any somaclonal variation. This research described a simple protocol for rapid in vitro flowering that will be very beneficial for further breeding, cytological and molecular biology research.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential of betacyanin pigment extracted from Hylocereus polyrhizus fruit pulp and peel as a natural colorant and to observe the effects of pH and light on betacyanin contents. Design/methodology/approach In this study, pigment from the pulp and peel of H. polyrhizus fruits was extracted using 80 per cent methanol and 80 per cent acetone. Effects of pH and light exposure during storage on betacyanin content were evaluated. The betacyanin extract, mixed with 20 per cent poly(methyl methacrylate) and coated onto glass slides, was tested with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaCl) to determine its durability. An ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectrophotometer was used for analyzing the betacyanin content. Findings Betacyanin pigment extracted from pulp using 80 per cent acetone as the solvent at pH 1.0 had the highest betacyanin content. Betacyanin content decreased when stored under exposure of light compared to storage in dark. In this study, increasing concentration of NaCl decreased the absorbance values at faster rates for betacyanin-coated glass slides. Research limitations/implications Acetone is volatile and evaporates rapidly. Pigments extracted with acetone were stored in glass vials which were closed tightly to prevent evaporation. Social implications The social implication is the use of natural pigments from cactus species as a valuable and eco-friendly source in a coating system without adverse effects for human health. Originality/value The method for detection of stability and effectiveness of betacyanin pigment used as a natural colorant for coating application was beneficial and recent for environment-friendly and natural plant-based product development.

In this study, the micropropagation of Impatiens balsamina was established from stem and shoot explants. The effects of GA 3 and glutathione on the morphogenesis of this species were also investigated, in order to induce in vitro flowering. It was found that the optimum in vitro plant regeneration was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L -1 GA 3 and in vitro flowering was also obtained from the same medium after 4 weeks of culture. To understand cellular behavior during in vitro flowering, Mitotic Index (MI), chromosome counts, measurement of mean cell and nuclear areas, DNA measurements and ploidy levels were analyzed from in vivo plants, in vitro grown plants and plantlets that flowered in vitro. The chromosome count was the same for all, 2x=2n=14 or n=7. However, it was observed that in vitro flowering plants of Impatiens balsamina had the highest percentage of polyploid cells (30.7%), based on a histogram plotted by the AxioVision 4.7 software. It was found that plant growth regulators, especially GA 3 , increased the polyploidy level of the meristematic root cells. behavior and acclimatization.RESUMO -Neste estudo, a micropropagação de Impatiens balsamina foi estabelecida a partir de explantes de caule e parte aérea. Os efeitos do GA 3 e da glutationa na morfogênese dessa espécie também foram investigados, de modo a induzir o florescimento in vitro. Verificou-se que a melhor regeneração in vitro de plantas foi obtida em meio MS adicionado com 1,0 mg L -1 de GA 3 , e o florescimento in vitro também foi obtido a partir do mesmo meio após quatro semanas de cultura. Para entender o comportamento das células durante o florescimento in vitro, o Índice Mitótico (MI), a contagem de cromossomos, a medição da área média de célula e núcleo, as medições de DNA e os níveis de ploidia foram analisados a partir de plantas in vivo, plantas cultivadas in vitro e plântulas que floresceram in vitro. A contagem cromossômica foi a mesma para todos: 2x=2n=14 ou n=7. No entanto, observou-se que as plantas de Impatiens balsamina com florescimento in vitro apresentaram a maior porcentagem de células poliploides (30,7%), com base em um histograma executado pelo software AxioVision 4.7. Verificou-se que os reguladores de crescimento das plantas, especialmente o GA 3 , aumentaram o nível de poliploidia das células de raiz meristemáticas.Palavras-chave: regeneração, ácido giberélico, glutationa, resposta de florescimento, comportamento das células e aclimatação.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential use of natural colorant extracted from fruit flesh and leaves of Cucumis melo L. (C. melo L.) in coating applications. Design/methodology/approach Carotenoids and chlorophylls compounds were extracted from C. melo L. fruit flesh and C. melo L. leaves with the best extraction solvents. Both compounds were tested at various pH for colour stability tests. Then, the most stable pH of both extracts was mixed with 20 per cent poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) together with tetrahydrofuran and acrylic polyol to form a coating system on glass slides. The coated glass slides were exposed to three different temperatures. The effects of heat on the coated glass slides were evaluated using spectrophotometer at 400-700 nm wavelengths. Findings Results revealed that carotenoids extracted from C. melo L. were less stable to be applied in coating applications since the colour degraded in a very short time; however, the chlorophylls extracted were more stable where the colour retained for longer duration. Originality/value The method of the plant pigment production of C. melo L. with PMMA was a modified method that could give other various applications as natural product based on plant pigments.