Very valuable and useful info. Thanks for sharing.
On May 11, 2:10 pm, Satish Phadke <[email protected]> wrote: > The link may not work so I have copied the contents of an article related to > one interesting plant we had discussed earlier. I think Pankaj Oudhia ji has > more knowledge on > this.http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIPU&showST=... > > http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=... > > Dr Phadke Satish > > Green group conducts DNA barcoding of Ramkand Kalyani Sardesai TNN > > Pune: Sahyadri Genes, a Kolhapur-based environmentalcum-research group, and > the department of botany, Shivaji University, have carried out DNA barcoding > of the Ramkand plant, which, according to popular legend, was consumed by > Lord Rama while in exile. > The study, which establishes that the plant is a monocot and not a > tuber, has been published in the recent issue of ‘Current Science’. > Speaking to TOI, Mansingraj Nimbalkar, president, Sahyadri Genes, said, > “For several years, the exact identity of Ramkand has remained a mystery for > both plant researchers and students. Though the tuber is being sold for > several years, especially at places of pilgrimage, its source is one of the > best kept secrets by vendors. The name and information provided by vendors > give an impression that the tuber was eaten by Lord Rama during his days of > exile. Previous efforts to identify the plant have proved unsuccessful. The > only material available for study are the thin slices sold by vendors.” > During the study, the team initially found it difficult to establish its > identity as a monocot. “Though the anatomical study showed a cell structure > typical to the monocot, it only confused us further. This is because, > monocots have adventitious roots and not a tap root.” > The DNA was extracted from the slices obtained from a vendor at Jyotiba > hill temple at Wadi Ratnagiri in Kolhapur district. The slices were > approximately 4.5 inches in size and two to three mm in thickness. > The sequence was used to find similarities with the other submitted > sequences. The search showed that the sequence was 89 per cent similar to > the Agave sisalana — a monocot. > “To confirm this further, we checked more plants of the Agave genus. The > leaves enclosing the rosette and juvenile inflorescence (soft middle portion > of the plant) were removed, which exposed the core of the rosette. The core > was soft and similar in dimension to that of the Ramkand plant,” said G B > Dikshit, professor, department of botany, Shivaji University. > Taxonomist S R Yadav explained the significance of the DNA barcoding. > “It is a major step forward as the plant has proved to be difficult to > place. Over the last 25 years, I have approached leading botanists in the > country to help me identify the Ramkand, but they could not,” he said. > Moreover, the study dispels the myth about the plant being a tuber. “The > origin of the plant is being carefully concealed by vendors, but Ramkand, > which is sold to devotees in the name of Lord Rama, is actually not > recommended for human consumption. In fact, it can prove to be poisonous,” > he said. > “One variety of the Agave genus is used to make a syrup for diabetic > patients, but, by and large, the species are not meant to be eaten. Since it > is sold in thin slices and people consume it in small quantities, it may not > have had any noticeable after-effects. But it is important that people know > the facts,” Yadav said. > > The Ramkand plant
