Preeti Chaturvedi

Cryptogams represent some of the oldest and ecologically highly significant life forms on Earth that play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, soil formation, ecological succession, carbon sequestration, and environmental monitoring. They are essential components of ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and creating conditions favorable to the survival of other groups of plants and animals. Besides their ecological functions, cryptogams are also highly significant in horticulture, biofertilization, traditional medicine and different industrial sectors

Background: Butea pellita Hook.f. ex Prain, a critically endangered and endemic shrub of Uttarakhand, India, lacks documented phenological records crucial for its conservation. Aim: This study investigates the phenological patterns of B. pellita to provide insights into its seasonal life cycle and regeneration strategies. Methodology: Field observations over two years (2022 & 2023) in Patwadangar village (29.33°N, 79.43°E) recorded key life cycle events, including vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, and dormancy. Results: B. pellita exhibited a nine-month growth cycle, with shoot emergence in April, peak flowering in June-July, and seed maturation by November. Pollination was primarily facilitated by bees and butterflies, while natural regeneration relied on rootstock proliferation. Conclusion: The study highlights significant challenges for conservation, including low seed viability and poor germination rates. These findings provide crucial insights for undertaking conservation strategies, and emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to ensure the long-term survival of this species in its natural habitat.

Background: Traditional medicine relies heavily on plant-based remedies for immune system modulation, offering advantages of affordability, reduced toxicity, minimal side effects, and better accessibility compared to synthetic alternatives. Symplocos paniculata (Thunb.) Miq. has been traditionally used in ethnomedicine for various ailments, though its chemical composition and therapeutic properties remain inadequately studied. Objectives: Thus, this study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of leaf and bark extracts from S. paniculata. Material and Methods: The study employed qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening methods, along with in vitro assays including DPPH radical scavenging and metal chelation for antioxidant activity, and protein denaturation for anti-inflammatory effects. GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the phytoconstituents. Results and Conclusion: Phytochemical screening revealed diverse compounds, with leaf extracts showing higher concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins compared to bark extracts. Bark extract demonstrated superior antioxidant properties with DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 = 61.37 μg/ml) and metal chelating (IC50 = 30.06 μg/ml) activities. Moderate anti-inflammatory activity was observed, with leaf extract showing slightly higher potency (IC50 = 222.81 μg/ml). GC-MS analysis identified terpenes, phytosterols, and fatty acids as major constituents in both extracts. The study provides scientific validation for traditional medicinal applications of S. paniculata through comprehensive characterization of its phytochemical profile and demonstration of significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, establishing its potential for pharmaceutical development.

This study reports the diversity of bryophytes of Berinag (Dist. Pithoragarh), Uttarakhand (India). In the investigation, a total of 33 species were reported, out of which eight were liverworts and 25 were mosses. Majority of the taxa were terricolous and corticolous. Liverwort species belonged to six genera of five families and two orders whereas mosses belonged to 24 genera of 17 families and eight orders. Out of the 10 orders dealt in the present work, Hypnales was the largest consisting of seven families, nine genera, and nine species followed by Dicranales and Marchantiales both consisting of three families, five, and four genera, respectively. In mosses, Bryaceae was the dominant family consisting of three genera and four species followed by Calymperaceae, Leucobryaceae, Anomodontaceae, Leskeaceae, and Polytrichaceae. Out of 25 mosses, 15 were acrocarpous and 10 were pleurocarpous. Aytoniaceae was dominant among liverworts. Marchantia, Frullania, and Bryum were the dominant genera of the region.

Drought is a leading threat that impinges on plant growth and productivity. Nanotechnology is considered an adequate tool for resolving various environmental issues by offering avant-garde and pragmatic solutions. Using nutrients in the nano-scale including CaP-U NPs is a novel fertilization strategy for crops. The present study was conducted to develop and utilize environment-friendly urea nanoparticles (NPs) based nano-fertilizers as a crop nutrient. The high solubility of urea molecules was controlled by integrating them with a matrix of calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs). CaP NPs contain high phosphorous and outstanding biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were used to characterize the fabricated NPs. FE-SEM determined no areas of phase separation in urea and calcium phosphate, indicating the successful formation of an encapsulated nanocomposite between the two nano matrices. TEM examination confirmed a fiber-like structure of CaP-U NPs with 15 to 50 nm diameter and 100 to 200 nm length. The synthesized CaP-U NPs and bulk urea (0.0, 0.1% and 0.5%) were applied by foliar sprays at an interval of 15 days on pre-sowed VL-379 variety of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.), under irrigated and drought conditions. The application of the CaP-U NPs significantly enhanced different plant growth attributes such as shoot length (29.4 & 41%), root length (46.4 & 51%), shoot fresh (33.6 & 55.8%) and dry weight (63 & 59.1%), and root fresh (57 & 61%) and dry weight (78 & 80.7%), improved pigment system (chlorophyll) and activated plant defense enzymes such as proline (35.4%), superoxide dismutase (47.7%), guaiacol peroxidase (30.2%), ascorbate peroxidase (70%) under both irrigated and drought conditions. Superimposition of five treatment combinations on drought suggested that CaP-U NPs at 0.5 followed by 0.1% provided the highest growth indices and defense-related enzymes, which were significantly different. Overall, our findings suggested that synthesized CaP-U NPs treatment of finger millet seeds improved plant growth and enzymatic regulation, particularly more in drought conditions providing insight into the strategy for not only finger millet but probably for other commercial cereals crops which suffer from fluctuating environmental conditions.