DESIGNER GENOTYPES for
Environmental and Industrial Applications
by Umesh C. Lavania, INSA Senior Scientist, CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, India
Intense root-web for deep penetrating roots for thick and shallow roots
Soil binding sub-soil carbon sequestration rich in essential oil
It is a miracle plant that can : grow under drought/soil stress, water logging, sewage / waste water, 4-11 pH, 5-50 C
It is traditionally use for its : aromatic roots in perfumery,
hedges for contour protection
Has attracted global attention, and now grown in over 100 countries for its multifarious environmental applications :
Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizaniodes L. Roberty) – is a native of India
A B
A
B
A B
Relative comparison of growth / flowering, root growth and root thickness (TS) of the two (A and B) morphotypes of vetiver used
Indian Vetiver could be differentiated into Two distinct geographical complexes
Inherent heterozygosity expressed through segregating seed progenies promises genetic diversity for scoring plant types for specific applications
India being the native home of vetiver enjoys the position of advantage to harness natural repertoire of genetic diversity for its multiple applications and effective implementation.
Morphotypic and reproductive diversity
Diversity in root-architecture - for no. of primary / secondary / tertiary roots
Diversity in root- thickness and Stele – Cortex ratio
The oil is specifically accumulated in the innermost cortical cell layers adjacent to the endodermis and also in the lysigenous aerenchyma in naturally grown C. ziazanioides (A, C).
Bacteria are found in the oil specific cell layers in natural C. ziazanioides (C) but missing in non-oil forming and in-vitro grown Vetiver.
A
D
B
C
A
<bacteria
<oil
<no oil
<oil
no oil >
<no bacteria
Root anatomy shows relevance of bacterial association in essential oil synthesis
Diversity in cortical sclerenchyma
Diversity in essential oil secretory cells
<oil
<oil
India being the native home of Vetiver offers repertoire of genetic diversity to select / develop designer genotype
Conflict of interest
However, the seed forming genotypes that offer such an opportunity are not suitable for ecological plantations, lest they become weedy / invasive
Vetiver is prospective candidate for environmental conservation
Vetiver plant diversity offers multifarious opportunities to select suitable plant types for specific industrial and environmental applications | |
Essential Oil | Essential oil distilled from roots is a perfume in its own right, and is variously used in perfumery, aromatherapy and pharmaceutics |
Soil stabilization and disaster management | Tufted web forming roots facilitate stabilization of degraded soil and prevention of soil erosion along slopes, river banks and ponds |
Phyto-remediation and pollution mitigation | Vetiver is an ideal candidate for remediation of mine overburden spoil dumps, soil and water bodies contaminated with toxic metals and industrial effluents, wherein the absorbed toxic components are mainly confined to roots. |
Carbon Sequestration | Deep penetrating roots reaching deep into the soil serve as a potential means of Carbon Sequestration into sub-soil likened to trees. |
To optimally realize the phyto-technogical potential of vetiver grass we need to identify / develop designer plant types suiting to specific applications, and deploy appropriate strategies for implementation | |
For Oil based Industrial Applications | We need plant types that yield economic harvest of essential oil / oil quality, befitting in a suitable cropping system. |
For Ecological Plantations | We need non-seeding and low oil plant types sporting root and plant physiography suitable for desired application |
Scoring of available phytodiversity and application of genetic manipulation strategies have led to the identification of ideal plant types for specific applications | |
CIMAP-KHUSINOLIKA
Yield at six month
A
C
B
VETIVER ROOT OIL
Khusinol crystals & molecular structure (bicyclic Cadinane)
Vetiver grass for Long-term Carbon Sequestration
To reduce atmospheric carbon it is desirable that carbon is blocked into subsoil horizon to minimize its recycling back to atmosphere
This can be best achieved by either :
Deep rooted forest trees are most suitable to realize this objective
In the absence of above, Vetiver Grass is the suitable alternative option for Carbon Sequestration, complementing Human Welfare
Vetiver is the most suitable alternative option for carbon sequestration in sub-soil horizon
Development of designer genotypes for implementation
Therefore,
Selected a suitable genotype with fast growth potential and minimum fertility
We looked for strategic solutions that minimizes seed fertility
Changed to polyploid to realize seed infertile designer genotype
Vetiver is the most suitable alternative option for carbon sequestration in sub-soil
horizon likened to forest trees
2x
2x
4x
4x
4x
4x
Diad and pollen grain formation in diploid (2x) and tetraploid (4x)
A developed clone has the potential to sequester 1 Kg atmospheric C into sub-soil annually from 1 M2
Vetiver Plant named – CIMAP FORAGIKA : A multi-purpose clone
for improved soil binding, phytoremediation and forage
Check (left) vs clone FORAGIKA (right)
Leaf of Check (upper column) and BL(lower column) showing VS of leaf exhibiting sclerenchymatous
thickness, SEM showing leaf surface with cuticular wax / and after wax washing. The selected clone FORAGIKA
is soft/ less sclerenchyma, and has much less cuticular wax suitable for better palatability.
Check
Selected
Clone
Nutritional Quality
Crude Protein= 14 %,
Carbohydrate =1.5%,
Crude fibre 0.25 %
Ca = 0.17 %
K = 1.97%
Na = 0.07 %
Vetiver grass as a fodder
S2 BL
Localization of Fe in root tissue as observed in vetiver grown on Iron Over burden soil
Phyto-absorption potential of Vetiver grass (mg kg-1 DW)
Fe = 556
Cu = 56.35
Zn = 12
Cr= 10
Mn= 28
Vetiver Grass for Phytoremediation
Vetiver plantations at the iron ore overburden soil dump site : Clone FORAGIKA help facilitates rehabilita-tion of such dump sites
Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 45, 185–190 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-021-01087-2
Vetiver Grass Environmental Model for Rehabilitation of Iron Over-Burden Soil:. An Ecosystem Service Approach.
Deep penetrating tufted roots shall enable carbon sequestration in subsoil horizon
March of Vetiver Grass Technology : Vetiver Oil | ||
| Then (before 1980) | Now |
Material Source | mainly Wild | Cultivation |
Digging | Manual | Mechanical |
Distillation | Traditional (Degh-Bhapka) | Steam Distillation |
Oil Concentration (v/w) | 0.2% | 2.0 % |
Distillation Duration | 18-24 hrs | 10-12 hrs |
Crop Duration | 18 months | 6-8 months |
Oil Production in India | 50-60 Tonnes | 600-700 Tonnes |
March of Vetiver Grass Technology : Environmental Applications | |
Then (before 1980) | Now |
Hedges for Contour Protection | Plantations for Contour Protection / Slope Stabilization / Bioengineering / Pollution mitigation |
Roots for Curtains / Refrigeration Shoots for Thatching | Value added Handicrafts |
Mainly in India | In over 100 Countries across the Globe |
Prospective Applications | For Carbon Sequestration Forage crop Genomics approach for qualitative and quantitative enhancement in oil productivity |
Thanks
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40009-021-01087-2#:~:text=and%20institutional%20affiliations.-,Supplementary%20Information,-Below%20is%20the