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Volume 8 Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography Biodiversity Congress 2018
July 26-27, 2018
July 26-27, 2018 Melbourne, Australia
7th International Conference on
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Biodiversity conservation and enhanced medicinal properties in Asparagus racemosus Willd
Ashok Kumar and Parveen
Forest Research Institute, India
The natural resources for medicinal plants have unscientifically been exploited forcing rapid depletion in their genetic
diversity and biodiversity. Moreover, renewed global interest in herbal medicines may further deplete medicinal plant
wealth, as about 95 % collection of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical preparation is being carried out from natural forests.
Asparagus racemosus Willd, a member of family Liliaceae, is one of 32 plant species that have been priorities for cultivation
and conservation by the National Medicinal Plant Board of Government of India. Extremely limited research has been
carried out on genetic improvement and selection of desired types with higher root production and saponin content, a basic
ingredient of medicinal value. The saponin not only improves defense mechanisms and controls diabetes but the roots of
this species promote secretion of breast milk, improve lost body weight and considered as an aphrodisiac. It was emphasized
to select desired genotypes with sufficient genetic diversity for important economic traits. The evaluation of 20 seed sources
of Asparagus racemosus assembled different geographical locations of India revealed high degree of variability for traits of
economic importance. The maximum genotypic and phenotypic variance was observed for shoot height among shoot related
traits and root length among root related traits. The shoot height, genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, genotypic coefficient
of variance, phenotypic coefficient of variance were recorded to be 231.80, 3924.80, 61.26 and 1037.32, respectively, where
those for root length were 9.55, 16.80, 23.46 and 41.27, respectively. Maximum genetic advance and genetic gain were obtained
for shoot height among shoot-related traits and root length among root-related traits. Index values were developed for all seed
sources based on four most important traits and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Dehradun (Uttarakhand),
Chandigarh (Punjab), Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) and Solan (Himachal Pradesh) were found to be promising seed sources.
Biography
Ashok Kumar is a Scientist and Head of Genetics and Tree Propagation at Forest Research Institute, India. He has received numerous in-service awards/
recognitions like Brandis Prize, Dr. Y S Rao Forestry Research Award in the national and international level. His research interests are forest genetics, agriculture,
genetics and plant breeding.
Ashok Kumar et al., J Ecosyst Ecogr 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C4-041