INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS - India Environment Portal

40
Proc. 98th Indian Science Congress, Part II : Abstracts of Symposium/Invited Lecture
inoculations. In forest ecosystems richness and diversity of ectomycorrhizal
communities strongly contrast with low number of woody species. Scores of
fungal species are commonly associated with single tree. Besides two recognized
hotspots (Western Ghats and Northeastern Himalaya), India is endowed with
biodiversity rich regions in Central India managed by Department of Forestry. It
is noticed that some parts have been explored extensively while others (including
Central India) remain untouched. The lack of information on ectomycorrhizal
fungi is due to a number of reasons including the fact that complete surveys of
fungal diversity at species level even for a small geographic region is an
exhaustive task. Moreover, these ectomycorrhizal mushrooms fruit on a sporadic
basis. The purpose of this investigation was to record the species diversity of
ectomycorrhizal mushrooms in central India. Once species diversity of a region
is assessed, database prepared may be used as reference to access and monitor
particular ecosystem in future.
The mycological expedition (2004-2008) to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
forests (sponsored research project under DBT, New Delhi) documented
ectomycorrhizal mushrooms of this region. About 61 ectomycorrhizal mushroom
species including 9 genera were identified. Out of 61, 38 were Agaricales (61%),
11 Boletales (17%), 12 Sclerodermatales (19%). Russula was found to be the
dominant genus inhabiting Sal (Shorea robusta) forests. The interdependence of
vegetation with fungi of this region occurring in various forest types is discussed.
37. Production of Nutraceuticals Through Plant Biotechnological Processes
G. A. Ravishankar
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department
Central Food Technological Research Institute,
Mysore-570 020
Keywords : nutraceuticals, pharma food, phyto chemicals
Studies on human nutrition are presently focusing on the aspects of prevention
of nutritional disorders and also protection from diseases. Thus, preventive medicine
through food has been receiving preference for enhancement of health status and
for disease prevention. The latest terminologies for such specialized foods are -