Research Journal of Recent Sciences _________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502 Vol. 1(7), 80-82, July (2012) Res.J.Recent Sci. International Science Congress Association 80 Short Communication Comparative Study of Seed Germination and Percentage of Fungal Infection of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.) Ingle Subhas* and Bnagale Sachin Department of Botany, D.K.A.S.C. College, Ichalkaranji, Dist. Kolhapur – 416115, MS, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in Received 22nd March 2012, revised 27th March 2012, accepted 7th April 2012Abstract Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dual.), is a medicinal plant. Presently, there are five different varieties are under in cultivation. These varieties shows different rate of seed germination and fungal infection .These variation in percent of seed germination and fungal infection are investigated in the present work by blotter method. Key words: Ashwagandha, cultivated and, wild varieties, blotter paper method. Introduction Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.) is popularly known as Indian Ginseng. It is an important medicinal plant. The roots of this plant, occasionally its leaves and seeds are used in ayurvedic and Unani medicines. It is commonly prescribed for hiccup, bronchitis, dropsy, rheumatism and female disorders; the roots of this plant also prescribed for general sexual weakness in human beings . Ashwagandha roots are used in many formulations prescribed in variety of manifestation viz. musculoskeletal conditions. It is a general tonic for overall health. Withania somnifera Dunal (ashwagandha, WS) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medical system of India. It is an ingredient in many formulations prescribed for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., arthritis, rheumatism), and as a general tonic to increase energy, improve overall health and longevity, and prevent disease in athletes, the elderly, and during pregnancy. Many pharmacological studies have been conducted to investigate the properties of ashwagandha in an attempt to authenticate its use as a multi-purposemedicinal agent. For example, anti-inflammatory properties have been investigated to validate. somnifera, dunal, withaferin, sitoindoside, solanaceae, Indian ginseng, and winter cherry. Results of these searches were reviewed to identify relevant articles. Ashwagandha contains very high concentration of metabolites like steroidal lactones, alkaloids and flavonoides, so it is used in more than 90 commercially ayurvedic formulations. This plant is cultivated in north western region of Madhay Pradesh, on about 400 ha.4-5 such valuable and economical important ayurvedic plant is infected by some fungi. The common diseases are leaf rust since many of ashwagandha’s uses have not been scientifically validated, skepticismcan naturally be expected when presented with an herb purportedly useful in so many ailments. In Ayurvedic medicine there is a class of herbs, including WS, known as adaptogens or vitalizers. Adaptogens cause adaptive reactions to disease, are useful in many unrelated illnesses, and appear to produce a state of nonspecific increased resistance (SNIR)6-7 to adverse effects of physical, chemical, and biological agents. They are relatively innocuous,have no known specific mechanism of action, normalize pathological effects, and are usually glycosides or alkaloids of a plant8-9. The chemistry of WS has been extensively studied and over 35 chemical constituents have been identified, extracted, and isolated10-12. The biologically active chemical constituents are alkaloids (isopelletierine, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) phenylbutazone (100mg/kg) was given as a positive control. WS was found to cause considerable reduction in inflammation. Acute phase reactants of the bloodmonitored by crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed changes in the concentration of many serum proteins (2-glycoprotein, major acute phase 1- protein, and pre-albumin) in the WS group. Aecidium withaniae tuem), leaf spot (Colletotichum capsiciSyd. Butter and Bisby) damping off cause by Pythium debaryanum. The wilt infection commonly seen the results in wilting, death and decay of underground parts. The roots and infected plant shows cottony growth of fungus it was seen the basal part of infected plant. The spoilage of seed occurs due to excess water and the percent germination is poor, fungal infection is more. Hence the present study of seed germination and fungal infection of Ashwagandha is carried out.Material and MethodsIn this experiment the germination of different verities like J.A.-20, W.S.-90-100, Indore general, Posida, Nagori, and Wild varieties of Ichalkaranji area. These seeds are collected from different regions like as mahathama phule Agriculture University, Rehire, Marathawada Agriculture University Parbhani, and Ichalkaranji field area. Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502Vol. 1(7), 80-82, July (2012) Res. J. Recent Sci. International Science Congress Association 81 The different methods are used for germination studies (sand, soil, agar plate method, towel paper method and blotter paper method). Among the followed methods are used the Blotter paper method, is found to be more suitable for germination as it is well documented by Thapliyal and Thapliyal, 2005.10 Healthy and each 10 infected seeds are selected from each variety. These seeds are dipped for one minute in 0.1% Mercuric chloride solution. Then, washed thoroughly with sterilized distilled water and are placed in Petri plates.Incubated for germination at room temperature, up to 14 days. The observations are recorded as given in table-1 and figure.1 a,b. Result and DiscussionThe incubation studies reveled that, after 14 days, the germination is initiated, in different varieties of Ashwagandha. The percentage of seed germination is found to be higher in variety J.A-20. And, lower in fungal infection. The variety Nagori, W.S.-90-100 and wild varieties show medium seed germination, and medium fungal infection. The varieties posida and Indore general, shows low seed germination and higher fungal infection. ConclusionThe results of present work revealed that some varieties, like Posida, Indore general. Having low seed germination and higher fungal infection. There is necessity of treatment of different growth hormones, fungicides, nutritional sources and efficacy plant parts. So as to increase the productivity this plant Ashwagandha production is need to be increase day to day. Acknowledgement The author is thankful to the Principal Dr. Milind Hujare, D.K.A.S.C. College Ichalkaranji, Dist. Kolhapur (M.S.) 416115 and Dr.C.R.Patil D.K.A.S.C.College, Ichalkaranji. For cording necessary facilities and help in investigation and encouragement. References1.Kattimani K.N., Reddy Y.N. and Rajesh war Rao B.R., Influence of pre- sowing seed treatment on seedling vigor, root length, and dry root yield of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) under semi– arid climate of Hyderabad, J. Medicinal and Aromatic plant sciences,proceeding of national seminar, 22(4A) and 23(1A) (2000)2.Gupta M.L., Mishra H.O., Kalra and Khanuja S.P.S., Root rot and wilt, a new disease of Ashwagndha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dual) caused by Fusarium solani, J. Medicinal and Aromatic plant sciences,26(2), 285-287 (2004)3.Sreerekha M.V., Patel K.V., Bhatnagar R. and Sriram S., Distribution of total Withanoloides in various plant part of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) accession as influenced by light and dark reaction cycle, J.Medicinal and Aromatic plant sciences26: 681-683. (2004)4.Thapliyal Manish and R.C. Thapliyal, Recent Advances in research on seed technology of Medicinal plants Indian Scenario, J.Medicinal and Aromatic plant sciences, 27,230-237 (2001) 5.Khare M.N. (1996) Methods to test seeds for associated fungi, Indian Phytopath.49(4), 319-328, (1996) 6.Singh N., Nath R., Lata A., et al. Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), a rejuvenating herbal drug which enhances survival during stress (an adaptogen). Int J Crude Drug Res; 20, 29-35 (1982)7.Sharad A.C., Solomon F.E., Devi P.U., et al. Antitumor and radiosensitizing effects of withaferin A on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo, Acta Oncol,35, 95-100 (1996)8.Singh N., Singh S.P., Nath R., et al., Prevention of urethane-induced lung adenomas by Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal in albino mice, Int J Crude Drug Res,24, 90-100 (1986)9.Devi P.U., Sharada A.C., Solomon F.E. and Kamath MS. In vivo growth inhibitory effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on a transplantable mouse tumor, Sarcoma 180, Indian J Exp Biol.,30, 169-172, (1992)10.Devi P.U. Withania somnifera dunal (ashwagandha): potential plant source of a promising drug for cancer chemotherapy and radiosensitization. Indian J Exp Biol, 34, 927-932, (1996) 11.Devi P.U., Sharada A.C. and Solomon F.E., In vivo growth inhibitory and radiosensitizing effectsof withaferin A on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, Cancer Lett; 95,189-193, (1995)12.Bangale Sachin and Bamane Sambaji, Synthesis, Characterization and Hydrophilic Properties of Nanocrystalline ZnFe Oxide, Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 1(ISC-2011), 202-206 (2012) Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502Vol. 1(7), 80-82, July (2012) Res. J. Recent Sci. International Science Congress Association 82 Table-1 Comparative study of seed germination of Ashwagandha varieties and fungal infections H –Healthy seed, I-Infected seed Figure -1 (a and b) Comparative study of seed germination of Ashwagandha varieties and fungal infections Method Variety Germination % Fungal infection % Blotter paper Method H I H I W.S-90-100 60 32 30 20 Nagori 50 30 20 40 J.A.-20 75 40 25 31 Indore General 40 30 40 40 Posida 40 30 20 30 Wild variety 60 50 40 38 (a) (b)