Micropropagation protocol of Oriental Hybrid Lilium cv. Ravenna was developed using bulb scale segments (Basal and Tip) as explants. Surface sterilization of healthy bulb scales with carbendazim 200 ppm for 30 min, then 0.1 percent mercuric chloride for 10 min, then 70% ethyl alcohol for 30 s was superior to all other treatments in recording highest culture asepsis (77.08%) and higher explant survival (86.12%). Explant survival was higher in basal segments (88.54%) compared to tip segments (85.52%). Highest culture establishment was recorded in basal scale segments (68.26%) followed by tip scale segments (55.21%). MS medium augmented with 0.50 mgl −1 Naphthalene acetic acid and 2.0 mgl −1 . 6-Benzylamino Purine recorded maximum culture establishment (76.17%), highest bulblet number/explant (5.52) with maximum length of shoots (2.20 cm) and number of leaves (3.39). This treatment combination of growth regulators resulted in highest shoot proliferation (83.33%) along with maximum shoot number (2.41explant −1 ), shoot length (2.35 cm) and leaf number (5.44) of micro shoots during proliferation stage. Rooting of explants was superior with Indole-3-butyric acid compared to Naphthalene acetic acid. Highest rooting of 92.71% along with maximum number of primary roots shoot −1 (12.06), maximum primary root length (3.17 cm) was documented in Murashige and Skoog medium added with Indole-3-butyric acid 1.50 mgl −1 with best ex vitro survival rate (98.96%) of rooted plantlets during primary hardening in perlite + vermiculite (1:1) mixture.

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Micrografting is an in vitro grafting technique which involves the placement of a meristem or shoot tip explant onto a decapitated rootstock that has been grown aseptically from seed or micropropagated cultures. Following early experiments of micrografting in ivy and chrysanthemum, the technique has been used in woody species, especially fruit trees. Major work was carried out in different Citrus species for the elimination of various viral diseases. In vitro micrografting has been used for improvement and multiplication of fruit trees as the technique has potential to combine the advantages of rapid in vitro multiplication with the increased productivity that results from grafting superior rootstock and scion combinations. Successful micrografting protocols have been developed for various fruit crops including almond, apple, cherry, chestnut, Citrus, grapes, mulberry, olive, peach, pear, pistacio, walnut, etc. Special techniques have been used for increasing the percentage of successful micrografts with the use of growth regulators, etiolation treatments, antioxidants, higher sucrose levels, silicon tubes, etc. The technique has great potential for improvement and large scale multiplication of fruit plants. It has been used on commercial scale for production of virus-free plants in fruit crops and viroid free plants in Citrus. Micrografting has also been used in prediction of incompatibility between the grafting partners, histological studies, disease indexing, production of disease-free plants particularly resistant to soil borne pathogens and multiplication of difficult to root plants.

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DH (Doubled haploid) is the immortal mapping population and an outcome of single meiotic cycle, contributed from male partner. An improved procedure was developed for high frequency androgenesis in japonica genotypes, K-332 and GS-88 and their F 1 s. A total of 207 fertile, green, di-haploid plants were generated from K-332 × GS-88 hybrids using the improved anther culture protocol. The investigation was carried out to evaluate callus induction potential and regeneration response for the genotypes and the derived F 1 s on N6 media and modified N6 media (N6 M ). Whereas, N6 failed to induce callusing, agarose solidified N6 M media supplemented with 4% maltose, growth regulators; NAA (2 mg/l), 2, 4-D (0.5 mg/l), Kinetin (0.5 mg/l), and silver nitrate induced high calli percentage of 27.6% in F 1 s, 9.5% and 6.7% in GS-88 and K-332 respectively. Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 3% sucrose, and the hormonal combination BAP (2 mg/l), Kinetin (1 mg/l) and NAA (1 mg/l) induced high green shoot regeneration rates (0–60.0%). The effect of cold pre-treatment at 4°C and the stage of anther collection and their interaction was studied. The effect of cold pre-treatment (CP) of collected boots at 4°C (for CP 2 : 2, CP 4 : 4, CP 6 : 6 and CP 8 : 8 days) at different stages of panicle emergence (BES 4-6 : 4–6, BES 7-10 : 7–10, BES 11-13 : 11–13, BES >13 : more than 13 inches was worked out in relation to the effect on response of calli induction, albino regeneration, green plant regeneration and number of shoots/green calli. CP referred to the number of days for which the collected boots were incubated before they were inoculated. BES was the length (inches) between flag leaf and penultimate leaf at the time of boot collection. We concluded that CP 6 and BES 7-10 showed better response to callus proliferation and regeneration of plantlets across genotypes. The appropriate pre-treatment, stage of anther collection and favourable media composition resulted in high calli induction and green plant regeneration rates in recalcitrant japonica genotypes. The modified N6 media resulted into efficient callus induction and is expected to be useful for studies which aim at rapid generation of mapping populations for genetic studies.

South Asia, the southern region of the Asian continent, comprises the sub-Himalayan countries including adjoining countries on the east and the west. South Asian borders are illogical, arbitrary, ill defined and physically varied. They are at the same time rigid and porous with regard to movement of people and goods. Bangladesh and India share a common border of 4096 km running through five states, namely, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Managing such a diverse border is a complex task but vital from the point of view of national security. There are 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India. The enclaves provide an important site for scrutinizing the connections between bordering practices and sovereignty claims. Uncertain borders not only raise bilateral tensions but also facilitate cross-border infiltration, illegal migration, smuggling and crime. Illegal migration has emerged as one of the major national security challenges. In pursuing this notion, it might be useful to consider soft border policies and efficient management of borders to make the movement of goods and people easier and more humane.

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