Conservation

The present study was done for the assessment of endemic succulent plant wealth of Nilgiris. The survey was conducted during 2017 - 2020. The survey in different localities of Nilgiris resulted in identifying a total of 48 succulent flowering plants belonging to 15 families and 27 genera. Among the different families Orchidaceae was leading by 35.4% (17 Spp.) of total endemic plant species followed by Balsaminaceae by 27 % (13 Spp.). Five endangered species explored in the genus are Impatiens neobarnesii C. E. C. Fisch., Impatiens pendula Heyne ex Wight & Arn., Impatiens nilagirica C.E.C.Fisch., Conchidium nanum (A.Rich.) Brieger and Gloriosa superba L. It is concluded that there are no previous reports on the endemic succulent flora in the Southern Western Ghats of Nilgiris, India. Hence, the locality should be further analysed to design conservation measures for the management of these endemic species with environmental quality.

Tissue culture of medicinal plants is widely used to produce clones and has been found in the conservation of threatened plants species face risk of extinction. Vajradanti is an ethno-medicinally important plant showing pharmacological effects such as anti-microbial, anti-helminthic, anti-fertility, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-arthritic, hepato-protective, diuretic, cytoprotective, antidiarrhoeal, analgesic, anti-leukemic, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic properties. Micropropagation in most of the plant species involve proliferation of explants using MS medium. There are scanty reports on tissue culture and regeneration of Vajradanti. However, no effective in vitro regeneration protocol has been developed for this medicinally important plant. Development of high frequency regeneration pathway was undertaken using shoot tip and nodal segments of Barleria prionitis on MS medium supplemented with auxin and cytokinins alone and in various combinations.