Induced polypoid in Eclipta alba for their medicinal and ecological importance

Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk commonly known as Bhangraya which belongs to a large and highly natural family Asteraceae. This family is highest in scale of evolution among angiosperms. The plant is highly medicinal and commonly used in scorpion sting, jaundice, in preparation of hair dye, headache, and elephantiasis. It is a fast colonizing weed and commonly grows in different environmental conditions in form of a small prostrate or a fully erect plant. This is species is highly plastic and capable of forming populations through the adjutant of their genetic system according to the environment in which they happen to grow. An induction of artificial polyploid by 0.4 % aqueous solution of colchicine was successfully made in Eclipta alba for the first time. The data obtained from the experimentally treated materials have further been analyzed with all implications to understand the effect of colchicine on chromosome structure, behavior and doubling the number. The artificially produced tetraploid showed n = 22 bivalents as compared to normal bivalents n = 11 in diploid plant. Different combination of univalent, quadrivalents and other multivalent were also recorded. Morphologically tetraploid plants showed slower rate of growth, thicker and wider leaves, swollen stem base, increase in the height of plant and larger seeds. Decreased stomatal frequencies were also observed. The data of chromosomal association, chaisma frequency and half chaisma per chromosome clearly indicate their plastic nature to form new population, showing their role in ecological adaptation. However, the polyploid thus raised did slow autopolyploidy in nature. The main aim of such research project is * To know the cause of morphological variations like prostrate and erect form of Elicpta alba which may be an outcome of environmental influences or some genetical factor is associated with such variations? * To produce polypoid of Eclipta alba for the benefit of the human being which can be well exploited in several ways including their medicinal properties. * The result of experimental manipulation will strengthens the contention that this species is highly plastic and capable as forming populations and holds a clue to understand adaptability of the species in different environmental condition. * That the chemical environment within the cell can change the meiotic behavior of a species