Trianthema

Abstract: Effects of salinity on growth, protein content, proline, catalase and antioxidant enzyme activity in callus of three halophytes of the Thar Desert; Salsola baryosma, Trianthema triquetra and Zygophyllum simplex were evaluated. Callus tissues were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium containing different concentrations of NaCl (50, 100 and 200 mM). Increase in dry weight and soluble proteins were observed in the callus exposed to lower salinity (50 and 100 mM NaCl) in all the three species, whereas on the medium containing 200 mM NaCl, significant decrease in these two growth parameters was recorded. Under the salinity stress maximum proline accumulation was found in S. baryosma with parallel increase in soluble sugars. Among the three species, T. triquetra callus showed maximum CAT activity with 50 and 100 mM NaCl treatment, whereas the enzyme activity decreased at 200 mM NaCl treatment in all three species. The antioxidant potential steadily elevated under salt treatment in all the above three species using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. Whereas, superoxide dismutase (SOD) quenching were recorded maximum at low (50 and 100 mM) concentrations in all the three species. However, T. triquetra callus showed maximum total phenolic content (TPC) 15 mg GAE g−1 with the elevated concentration of NaCl up to 200 mM, and S. baryosma callus showed lower TPC as compared to both species. A significant correlation between antioxidant capacity and TPC was observed indicating that phenolic compounds are the major contributors to the antioxidant potential in these halophyte species. FRAP and DPPH activity of Z. simplex showed maximum correlation (R = 0.992), as compared to other two species. We can conclude that all the three species exhibit a protection mechanism by sustaining growth parameters and antioxidant capacity. Due to high antioxidant property of all these species, the plant extracts may be included in nutraceutical formulations.

Abstract: Horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum L) a member of family Aizoaceae is a common weed in a host of crops such as maize, soybean, sugar cane vegetables and cotton in Pakistan and elsewhere. In order to quantify the impact of Trianthema portulacastrum on maize, experiments were conducted at Agricultural Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan for two crop seasons, viz. 2006 and 2007, using open pollinated variety. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block design with split plot arrangements, having, three replications per treatments. Four maize plant spacing (15, 20, 25 and 30 cm) were kept in main plots, while weed densities (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 m-2) were allocated as sub-plots. Data were recorded on days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to maturity, plant height (cm), numbers of ears plant-1, rows ear-1, kernels ear-1, ear weight (g), 1000-kernel weight (g), maize leaf area index, biological yield (t ha-1), grain yield (t ha-1), harvest index (%) and weed (T. portulacastrum) biomass (t ha-1). All growth parameters except for the number of ears plant-1 and rows ear-1 were affected by planting season, plant spacing and weed density. Plant spacing of 15 cm produced higher grain yields of 2.85 and 2.66 t ha-1 compared with 2.30 and 2.08 t ha-1 in wider plant spacing of 30 cm for the planting seasons of 2006 and 2007, respectively. However, for both years, yield components like ear weight and kernels ear-1 of individual plants were reduced with parallel decrease in plant spacing. Similarly, weed-free control plots produced higher grain yields of 3.04 and 2.87 t ha-1 vis-a-vis the grain yields of 2.14 and 2.0 t ha-1 in plots having weed density of 18 plants m-2 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Plant spacing of 15 cm also resulted in higher biological yields of 6.96 and 6.69 t ha-1 in comparison with 30 cm spacing producing 5.92 and 5.85t ha-1 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In the same vein, control plots had biological yields of 7.28 t ha-1 and 7.09 t ha-1 as compared with 5.81 t ha-1 and 5.65 t ha-1 in plots having weed density of 18 plants m-2 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Plant spacing of 15 cm resulted in lower fresh weed biomass of 0.91and 0.88 t ha-1 compared with plant spacing of 30 cm producing higher weed biomass of 1.33 and 1.21t ha-1 in the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007, respectively. Likewise, the lower weed density of 3 plants m-2 resulted in lower weed biomass (0.97 t ha-1 in 2006 and 0.93 t ha-1 in 2007) compared with higherweed density of 18 plants m-2 (1.55 t ha-1 in 2006 and 1.49 t ha-1 in 2007). Decreasing plant spacing and increasing weed density of T. portulacastrum delayed tasseling, silking and maturity of grains. The T. portulacastrum infestations in plots having 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 plants m-2 resulted in yield losses of 4.2, 11.1, 18.6, 20.4, 27.2 and 29.5 % in 2006. The parallel figures for 2007 were 9.3, 14.3, 18.3, 23.2, 25.1 and 30.2 % in 2007. The two years of research showed that narrow spacing enhanced the competitive ability of maize crop and suppressed weed growth which eventually resulted in higher yields. Trianthema portulacastrum was a strong competitor to maize, and its infestation may inflict substantial yield losses, although the competitive ability was dependent on plant spacing and weed density. Plant spacing alone was not effective in suppressing T. portulacastrum; therefore, other cultural practices should also be integrated with optimum spacing to reduce the yield losses in maize crop

Abstract: Many herbal remedies individually or in combination have been recommended in various medical treatises for the cure of different diseases. Trianthema decandra Linn., (Family: Aizoaceae) commonly known as gadabani (Hindi) and vellai sharuni (Tamil) is a prostrate herb distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, and also found abundantly in India. It has been recognized in different system of traditional medicines for the treatment of diseases and ailments of human beings. It has been known since ancient times for curative properties and has been utilized for treatment of various ailments such as burns and wounds, known for antimicrobial properties, many infectious condition and bacterial infections, fever, tooth ache, hepatoprotective, analgesic, anti- inflammatory, antidiabetic and other skin disorders. In the traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Unani, Trianthema.decandra and its species are used for anti- inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant. A wide range of phytochemical compounds including terpenoid, alkaloid and flavanoids have been isolated from this genus and but not in this species.