PETALS 2021

A VIRTUAL INDUSTRIAL VISIT TO YAKULT https://yakult.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/fullproce MARKET VALUEA virtual visit to the factory of Yakult located in Haryana, was conducted on 21st April, 2021 Yakult entered the Indian market in the year 2008 and the resource person Mr Tushar Kumar, as a collaborator with group Danone of France. Public Relations, Yakult gave a virtual tour of Yakult has the monopoly of the probiotics market manufacturing unit of the company. The event and has been rising ever since. The Haryana factory was coordinated by Dr Rubina Chongtham and unit of Yakult produces 1 lakh bottles per day. Dr Neha Yadav. It was an hour-long program which briefed us on the specifics of the history of probiotics, founder of Yakult, foundation of PRODUCTION the company as a worldwide brand, working of the factory from the raw materials to the The process of making the famous probiotic drink packaging and delivery. starts from the seed room where they culture the LcS needed to put in the final product. This room FOUNDER contains 3 tanks, first two tanks hold 160 litres Yakult was founded by Dr Minoru Shirota in the capacity whereas the third one has a capacity of early 1930s by a series of experiments to 400 litres. The dissolving tank mixes the milk and discover a good strain of bacteria capable of the sugar syrup which gives the drink its signature taste. the Lcs is added to the mixture later. living inside our stomach and reaching in the Depending upon which product is being manufactured the batches are divided into two, intestines. This strain was eventually named the original Yakult drink is allotted 12 tanks in after him and was called Lactobacillus casei st. culture and mixing room whereas only 8 tanks in shirota, also called LcS. Yakult was originally the same room are allotted to the Yakult lite founded in Taiwan, Japan and made its way to production. The homogenizer in the next room is the rest of the world. used to mix all the ingredients thoroughly and bring it to the right amount of viscosity. After the production of the probiotic drink, it is taken up for packaging. IBM is the bottle manufacturing machine they own which creates 11,000 bottles per hour. Then the drink is filled in these bottles and sent for proper labeling. The end products are packed in a packet of 5 and s Quality assurance is imperative for Yakult hence they have a team of qualified professionals to check the quality of the product. https://www.yakult.co.in/images/lcs-doc-img.jpg 51 | P a g e

If they don’t approve of the product, the whole batch is discarded to make a new one. Due to this reason Yakult has many certifications under its name including GRAS, USFDA, FSSAI, FOSHU and many more. https://yakult.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/fullprocess32-1.png The presentation showcased a number of case studies from doctors and patients especially suffering from gastrointestinal problems, etc. cured by regular usage of Yakult. A 5-and-a-half-year-old named Naina has extreme gastrointestinal issues but since she started drinking Yakult, her health is on a steady incline. This virtual visit taught us the production of a probiotic drink, its manufacturing process, its history and its quality control. This showed us the practical use of industrial microbiology and the workings of a giant industry. Operations and technicalities were described thoroughly and in a fun way through videos and presentation. At the end, our queries were answered to our contentment and the session came to an end. D.N.S.S. Srilatha B.Sc. (H) Botany, 3rd Year https://www.pngarea.com/pngm/168/8490456_cold-drinks-bottle-png-yakult-probiotic-drink-hd.png 52 | P a g e

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Dr Dharmendra K Mallick Memorial Alumni Lecture On Saturday, July 17th, 2021, a lecture was conducted on “Mendelian Genetics in Genomics Studies in remembrance of our beloved Dr Dharmendra K. Mallick sir. It was also the launch of an annual lecture series that will be conducted by the Botany Department, where alumni of the department will be invited to speak on topics of their expertise. The function started with an introductory speech on Dr Mallick’s work and achievements given by the TIC, Dr Aparna Nautiyal. She delivered an emotional account of his journey with his colleagues, students, seniors. It was indeed a moving experience for all of us. Our Principal, Prof Rajiv Aggarwal, stated that this is not the end as we have to promote knowledge beyond borders to make Mallick sir proud! He urged students to not lose hope but pursue their dreams even if they do not get recognition at first or are struggling with obstacles on their journey. He stated that hard work pays off eventually and is worth it because one should never give up on something they want just because other people say they can't have it. Following this, Dr Kuldeep Kumar who is also an alumnus of Deshbandhu college and one of the most beloved students of Mallick sir gave a short talk on Mendelian Genetics in Genomic studies. He is currently working as a scientist at a division of plant biotechnology in ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. After the lecture, a small question-answer round was conducted where students clarified their doubts and interacted with Dr Kuldeep to probe deep into his expertise on Mendelian genetics. The session was moderated by Dr Madhu Rani. By the end of the session, Aparna ma'am gave an emotional vote of thanks in the remembrance of Dr Mallick’s and all that he had done for her throughout her university career. She also encouraged staff members to take this opportunity and speak about how much they had learned from him over the years A great number of students and faculty joined the session and expressed their sorrow towards his demise and fondly remembered him. D N S S Srilatha B. Sc. (H) Botany, 3rd Year 54 | P a g e

Flight of Fantasy 1. कोरोना में जीने की एक आशा (कविता) 2. हाँा मंै थक गया हँा (कविता) 3. Almighty God (Poem) 4. AMF- A Sustainable Tool for Organic Farming & Blessing to Farmers. 5. Medicinal Plants in Indian Postage Stamp 6. Sea buckthorn: The wonder fruit of Ladakh 7. Antioxidant and immunity: good nutrients 8. कोशिि: खदु से एक (कविता) 9. िर्ाा ऋतु (कविता) 10. The World Needs a Hug: Feel Free to Plant a Tree 11. Personal branding is for everybody 12. Benefits of Aloe Vera 13. Brown Rice-A healthier option 14. Did You Know 15. Poor man's weatherglass: Lysimachia foemina 16. A Study of Selaginella bryopteris 17. Wild fruits of Uttarakhand 18. Puspanjali 19. The Music Therapy and Plants 20. The Incense Rise 55 | P a g e

1. कोरोनण मंे जीने की एक आशण माना की लगता यँा घर मंे बंद रहना एक सजा है। पर ऐ जजन्दगी इस बंददश मंे भी अपना अलग ही मजा है II ना बाहर जाये कोई, ना ममलने आए कोई, इस बात मंे भी लगता है अब की खुदा की रजा है II हर सड़क भी है खाली, सन्नाटा पसरा भारी , मंजर भी दकु ानों में अब ना कोई सजा है II दफ्तर नहीं है अब जाना, स्कल कॉलेज का ना कोई बहाना, इस भागम भाग जजन्दगी का अब यही फलसफा है II घर में रहें हम सारे, ये िक़्त साथ गजु ारंे, बच्चों के साथ खखलखखलाने का भी अब अलग ही मजा है II चचडड़यों की चहचहाट अब कानों मंे पड़ने लगी है, पडे ़ों के पत्तों की भी अब सरसराहट बढ़ने लगी है II प्रकृ तत के तनयमों के उल्लघं न की ये मनुष्य को सजा है, कु छ ददन और हम गजु ारें अभी अपनों के सहारे, यही इस िक्त की सबसे बड़ी इल्तजा है ।। -अपर्णा नौटियणल विभाग प्रभारी, एसोमसएट प्रोफे सर, िनस्पतत विभाग 2. हणँा मंै थक गयण 3. Almighty God हाँा मैं थक गया हाँ, पर उस थहकँा ान को नीदं नहीं हटा सकती, There is someone in this world Who has got the brightest sword उस थकान को मसफा मरे ी जजद हटा सकती है। हााँ मैं थक गया हाँ, बार-बार तनराश होकर, He can make a torpid dance And can fill one with charm. पर एक बार फफर, उठने की कोमशश करँा गा जरर। हााँ मंै थक गया हँा, खुद को झठी खशु ी ददखा कर, He is peerless, पर सच्ची खुशी पाने की एक जजद करँा गा जरर। The most fearless. हाँा मैं थक गया हाँ, अपनी नजरों मंे दोबारा चगर कर, He can improve the mulish & bullish And he loves even the foolish. पर मैं हार नहीं मानँागा, मेरे गरु र। He has got several names िक़्त जरर लगेगा, पर मंै महे नत कराँ गा भरपर, Along with worldwide fame. His heart is roomy सच हैं फक, हाँा मंै थक गया हाँ, Which shines like a ruby. मगर... अभी भी हारा नहीं हाँ, He is Sagacious whose heart is Spacious He is the Lord of Lords, अभी भी हारा नहीं हँा।। Yes, he is the almighty God!!! -चतै न्य धसु ्सण -Sandesh प्रथम िर्,ा बीएससी (ऑनस)ा िनस्पतत विज्ञान। B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st Year 56 | P a g e

4. AMF- A Sustainable Tool for Organic Farming & Blessing to Farmers INTRODUCTION The word ‘Mycorrhizae’ is derived from the two Greek words, ‘mycos’ and ‘rhizos’, meaning fungus and root, respectively. Mycorrhizal association forms a very dynamic and beneficial biological relationship that exists between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the phylum Glomeromycota, and roots of higher plants (vascular plants) (Panneerselvam et al., 2018). AMF belonging to the Glomeromycota phylum require a host for completing its life cycle. Mycorrhizal associations between a fungus and roots of higher plants are widespread in the natural environment. AMF are perhaps the most abundant fungi found in agricultural soils, making up between 5 and 50% of the total soil microbial biomass (Olsson et al., 1999), although their actual diversity is low (Helgason et al., 1998). The association can be categorized into one of seven types (Arbuscular, ectomycorrhizal, ectendomycorrhizal, ericoid, arbutoid, orchid, and monotropoid) based upon the involvement of fungus, and their resulting structures generated in the host root by the fungus-plant relation. Of all these different types of an association known, the most common is that of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), which involves a relatively smaller number of fungi, around two-thirds of all terrestrial plant species (Hodge et al., 2003). More than 80% of terrestrial plants form this AM association except some plants belonging to non-mycorrhizal families like Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae, and Urticaceae (Lambers and Teste 2013; Kumar et al. 2016). Apart from its acknowledged role in Phosphorus (P) uptake by the host plant, uptake of other micronutrients like Cu, Zn, Al, Mn, Mg, and Fe has also been demonstrated (Kucey and Janzen 1987; Purakayastha and Chhonkar 2001; Hajiboland et al. 2009a; Panneerselvam et al. 2013). In addition, AMF plays a vital role in a wide range of functions from stress reduction to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals (Hildebrandt et al. 2007). AMF is also involved in diverse functions such as soil health improvement, plant health improvement, and protection of plants against the pathogen (Begum et al. 2019). It is believed that the development of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis played a crucial role in the initial colonization of land by plants and the evolution of the vascular plants (Brundrett, 2002). AMF is one of the few plant-fungus associations with a fossil record and may even have facilitated the origin of land flora (Simon et al. 1993). The symbiosis is thought to have afforded green plants the opportunity to invade dry land ca 450 Myr ago and most extant terrestrial plants retain this association. Phylogenetic analyses studies confirmed an estimate for the origin of VAM-like fungi of 353–462 Myr ago, which is consistent with the hypothesis that VAM was instrumental in the colonization of land by ancient plants (Simon et al. 1993). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi perform various ecological functions in exchange for host photosynthetic carbon that almost always contributes to the fitness of hosts from an individual to community level (Hodge et al.2003). STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi is a type of mycorrhiza (endomycorrhiza) in which the symbiont fungus penetrates the cortical cells of the roots of higher plants (vascular plants) forming structures called arbuscule and vesicles. Arbuscules are believed to be sites of the exchange of materials between the host and the plant. Vesicles generally serve as storage structures, and when old, they could serve as reproductive structures. Arbuscules are intricately branched haustoria that are formed within a root cortex cell. They were named by Gallaud (1905) because they looked like little trees. Arbuscules are formed by repeated dichotomous branching and reductions in hyphal width, starting from an initial trunk hypha (5-10 um in diameter) and ending in a proliferation of fine branch hyphae (< 1 um diameter). According to various studies carried out so far on different species, arbuscules start forming approximately 2 days after root penetration (Brundrett et al. 1985). AMF is known to grow inside individual cells of the root cortex but remains outside their cytoplasm, due to invagination of the plasma membrane. Arbuscules can be dense and compact in structure and appearance (See slide below). 57 | P a g e

Diagrammatic view of the root cortex showing the Microscopic Slide View of Arbuscules (left) and Vesicles (right) (as seen under intricate network of AMF with the presence of magnification 40X) Arbuscules and Vesicles inside the cells Arbuscules are the major site of exchange between the fungus and host. This assumption is based on the large surface area of the arbuscular interface but has not been confirmed (Smith 1995). Arbuscule formation follows hyphal growth, progressing outwards from the entry point. Arbuscules are short-lived and begin to collapse after a few days, but hyphae and vesicles can remain in roots for months or years. Vesicles are usually formed between root cortex cells and are known to accumulate storage products in many VAM associations. Vesicles are initiated soon after the first arbuscules but continue to develop when the arbuscules senesce. Vesicles are hyphal swellings in the root cortex that contain lipids and cytoplasm. These may be inter- or intracellular. Vesicles can develop thick walls in older roots and may function as propagules (Biermann & Linderman 1983). Some fungi produce vesicles that are similar in structure to the spores they produce in soil, but in other cases they are different. ANATOMY OF AM MYCORRHIZAE AM colonized roots depending on the plant species form one of two general anatomical groups. These are the Arum-type and the Paris-type (Hodge et al., 2003). In the Arum-type, the intercellular hyphae spread rapidly in the root cortex. Short side branches of the fungal hyphae penetrate the cortical cells and the hyphae branches divide repeatedly to produce the characteristic arbuscule structure. These fine fungal branches invaginate the plant plasma membrane which is modified to form a peri-arbuscular membrane. Thus, the fungus is always located outside the plant cell cytoplasm with plant and fungal membranes separated by a specialized interfacial zone or 'apoplastic’ region. The arbuscule is the organ of phosphate exchange from fungus to plant. Arbuscules can be relatively short-lived and their production and degeneration in the root is a dynamic process. The Arum-type is commonly formed in many crop species and other cultivated herbaceous species. In the Paris-type the intercellular phase of the fungi is largely absent, but extensive intracellular hyphal coils develop which spread from cell to cell in the root cortex. Arbuscules might form on these coils but their occurrence is often low or absent altogether (Hodge et al. 2003). The Paris-type is known to occur mainly in ferns, gymnosperms, and some wild angiosperms (Smith & Read, 1997; Smith & Smith, 1997). As these plant species are not well studied yet, reports of the Paris- type are less frequently reported than that of the Arum-type. REPRODUCTION AMF do not reproduce sexually and produce no above-ground fruiting structures. The entire AMF life cycle occurs below ground, primarily in the rhizosphere. It is known that the Glomeromycota have generally coenocytic mycelium (occasionally septate) and reproduce asexually by spores called Glomerospores. LIMITATIONS USING AMF IN FIELDS AMF colonization in terms of association, composition, and diversity (number of species) is known to be affected by modern agricultural practices such as fertilization, biocide application, and monoculture (Douds and Millner, 1999; Johnson, 1993; Oehl et al., 2004). Also, monocultures, high 58 | P a g e

soil fertility, and high rates of tillage may stimulate the development of less beneficial communities of AMF. In general, these agricultural practices have negative impacts on AM association. Soils in the conventional agricultural system are AM fungi-deprived, particularly with regards to numbers of species (Eom et al., 2004; Helgason et al., 1998). Management practices typical of conventional high input systems, particularly P fertilizer application and the use of biocides, are known to be deleterious to AM fungal symbiosis (Bagyaraj et al., 1989; Kabir et al., 1998; Miller and Jackson, 1998; Thingstrup et al., 1998). BENEFITS OF AMF 1. AMF are soil-borne fungi that can significantly improve plant nutrient uptake and resistance to several abiotic stress factors (Sun et al., 2018). The most widely recognized role of AMF in the plant-fungus relationship is that of improving the uptake of nutrients by the host plant, especially of Phosphorus (P). Indeed, P nutrition is generally regarded as the main controlling factor in the plant fungal relationship (Thompson, 1987; Smith & Read, 1987; Graham, 2000). 2. AMF can play a significant role in crop growth in soil with low phosphorus availability. However, it has become increasingly evident that AMF also has an important role in the uptake of a range of other nutrients particularly zinc (Zn), but also including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) (Smith & Read, 1997; Clark & Zeto, 2000). 3. AMF may also be necessary for the long-term sustainability of ecosystems, particularly due to their role in the maintenance of soil structure, plant community structure and diversity. 4. AMF-mediated growth promotion is not only by improving water and mineral nutrient uptake from the adjoining soil but also by safeguarding the plants from fungal pathogens (Smith and Read, 2008; Jung et al., 2012). Therefore, AMF is vital endosymbionts playing an effective role in plant productivity and the functioning of the ecosystem. They are of key importance for sustainable crop improvement (Gianinazzi et al., 2010) 5. AMF benefits to the crop include improved nutrition (Lambert et al., 1979; Thompson 1987; Graham 2000; Srivastava et al., 2002), enhanced resistance to pests and disease (Schonbeck, 1979; Paulitz & Linderman, 1991; Linderman, 1994; Borowicz, 2001; Calvet et al., 2001) and improved water relations (RuizLozano & Azcon, 1995; Smith & Read, 1997; Mohammad et al., 2003) 6. Most agricultural crop species, except for those of the Cruciferae, Polygonaceae, and the Chenopodiaceae, can form AM fungal 17 associations and in most cases do so (Sylvia & Chellemi, 2001). However, the degree to which these benefits are manifested is dependent on many factors, both biotic and abiotic. These include fertilisation (Sanders, 1975; Jasper et al., 1979; Thomson et al., 1986; Braunberger et al., 1991), tillage (O’Halloran et al., 1986; Anderson et al., 1987; Evans & Miller, 1988; Douds et al., 1995), use of biocides (Sreenivasa & Bagyaraj, 1989; Kurle & Pfleger, 1994; Schreiner & Bethlenfalvay, 1997), use of organic amendments (Harinikumar & Bagyaraj, 1989; Douds et al., 1997; Kabir et al., 1998) and rotation design (Johnson et al., 1992; Miller, 2000; Menéndez et al., 2001). Hence, the precise role of AMF in improving yield and crop quality in the field is largely unquantified. 7. Organic farming systems may be less damaging to AMF because they exclude the use of water- soluble fertilizers and most biocides and generally have diverse rotations. Colonization by AMF is often higher on organic farms than on conventional farms and there is some evidence of an increase in species diversity of AMF on organic farms (Ryan and Tibbett, 2008). These differences appear primarily due to the lack of fertilizers containing readily soluble P on organic farms. 8. AMF does not substitute for fertilizer inputs as the nutrients taken up by the fungi primarily originate from the finite pool of soil available nutrients and their removal in farm products must be matched by inputs from off-farm sources. Indeed, high colonization by AMF may be considered an indicator of low soil available P. 9. AMF might act as a potential tool in replacing inorganic fertilizers in near future. Different research studies conducted on AMF during the past two decades have highlighted their countless benefits on soil health and crop productivity. Therefore, it is widely believed that AMF could be 59 | P a g e

considered as a replacement for inorganic fertilizers in the near future because the mycorrhizal application can effectively reduce the quantitative use of chemical fertilizer input especially of phosphorus (Ortas, 2012). Continuous use of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides has caused various problems to the soil, plants, and human health, through their damaging impact on the quality of food products, soil health, and air and water systems (Yang et al., 2004). Case Study (In Field) - Positive role for AMF in increasing nutrient uptake under field conditions A good example showing the impact of AMF use in Pic courtesy: Catherine N. Jacott, Jeremy D. practice comes from southern Queensland in Australia. Murray and Christopher J. Generally, phosphorus fertilizer is not been applied to agricultural soils in this region and they have a low Ridout - [1] doi:10.3390/agronomy7040075 index of phosphorus availability. Many crops exhibit P and Zn deficiency when grown after long bare fallows or after non-mycorrhizal rape (Brassica napus). The severity of this so-called long fallow disorder was shown to be directly related to AM inoculum density and P deficiency (Thompson, 1987, 1991, 1994). Crops more dependent on AMF, such as maize, were more susceptible to the long fallow disorder than those less reliant on AMF such as wheat (Triticum aestivum). Other examples of enhanced nutrient uptake in the field include, enhanced Zn uptake in wheat and pea (Pisum sativum) (Ryan & Angus, 2003), enhanced Zn, Cu, and P uptake in bean (Hamilton et al., 1993), both cases associated with high levels of native AM colonization, and inoculation of field plots with Glomus fasciculatum increasing growth and P uptake of garlic (Allium sativum) at low levels of P fertilization (Al-Karaki, 2002). CONCLUSIONS The sustainability of agricultural soil can be enhanced by introducing AMF in the field either through artificial inoculations or through AM-favouring crop and soil management practices (Panneerselvam and Saritha 2017; Sharma et al. 2012; Barea et al. 2005; Maiti et al. 2012). AMF association is symbiotic in which both partners are benefitted and facilitate plant uptake of water and nutrients from soil interphase and the fungus utilizes carbon and other metabolites provided by the plant (derived from photosynthesis) for its growth, development, and other physiological activities. AMF is not specific to its colonization but exhibits host preference in certain cases. Recent studies indicate that AMF diversity is being reduced by land use intensification (Oehl et al. 2003; Ciccolini et al. 2016). If this loss of fungal diversity persists, it can impair plant productivity and ecosystem functioning. An urge for carrying out research focused on increasing the benefits of AMF symbiosis in the field is the need of the hour to explore future avenues in farming for the progressing farmers as a tool in their hands. IMPORTANT REFERENCES 1. Barea, J.M., Pozo, M.J.; Azcon, R.; Azcon-Aquiller, C. 2005. Microbial co-operation in the rhizosphere. Journal of Experimental Botany. 56:1761–1778 2. Brundrett, M.C.; Piché, Y.; Peterson, R.L. 1985. A developmental study of the early stages in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza development. Canadian Journal of Botany. 63:184–194 3. Brundrett, M.C. 2002. Coevolution of roots and mycorrhizas of land plants. New Phytologist. 154 (2): 275–304 4. Hajiboland, R.; Aliasgharzad, N.; Barzeghar, R. 2009a. Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on uptake of Zn and P by two contrasting rice genotypes. Plant Soil Environment 55(3):93–100 60 | P a g e

5. Helgason, T; Fitter, A.H.; Young, J.P.W. 1999. \"Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonising Hyacinthoides non-scripta (bluebell) in a seminatural woodland\" (PDF). Molecular Ecology. 8 (4): 659–666 6. Helgason, T; Daniell, T.J.; Husband, R.; Fitter, A.H.; Young, J.P.W. 1998. Ploughing up the wood-wide web? Nature. 394: 431. 7. Hodge, A.; Gosling, P.; Goodlass, G.; Bending, G. 2003. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in Organic Farming. (Defra Project OF0333) 8. Hodge, A. 2003. Plant nitrogen capture from organic matter as affected by spatial dispersion, interspecific competition, and mycorrhizal colonization. New Phytologist. 157: 303-314. 9. Kucey, R.M.; Janzen, H.H. 1987. Effects of VAM and reduced nutrient availability on growth and phosphorus and micronutrient uptake of wheat and field beans under greenhouse conditions. Plant Soil 104(1):71–78 10. Kumar, U.; Panneerselvam, P.; Banik, A.; Annapurna, K. 2016. Lower frequency and diversity of antibiotic-producing fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere of Indian rapeseed–mustard(Brassica juncea L. Czern.). In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, pp 1–8 11. Lambers, H.; Teste, F.P. 2013. Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants: do non-mycorrhizal species at both extremes of nutrient availability play the same game? Plant Cell Environment. 36(11):1911–1915 12. Maiti, D.; Singh, R.K.; Variar, M. 2012. Rice-based crop rotation for enhancing native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) activity to improve phosphorus nutrition of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) Biology and Fertility of Soils. 48(1):67–73 13. Oehl, F.; Sieverding, E.; Ineichen, K.; Mäder, P.; Boller, T.; Wiemken, A. 2003. Impact of land use intensity on the species diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agroecosystems of Central Europe. Applied Environmental Microbiology. 69(5):2816–2824 14. Olsson, Pal Axel (1999). \"Signature fatty acids provide tools for determination of the distribution and interactions of mycorrhizal fungi in soil\". FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 29 (4): 303–310 15. Panneerselvam, P.; Saritha, B. 2017. Influence of AM fungi and its associated bacteria on growth promotion and nutrient acquisition in grafted sapota seedling production. Journal of Applied Natural Science. 9(1):621–625 16. Purakayastha TJ, Chhonkar PK (2001) Influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum L.) on the mobilization of zinc in wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) Biology and Fertility of Soils. 33:323–327 17. Ryan, M.H..; Tibbett, M. 2008. The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas in Organic Farming. Organic Crop Production – Ambitions and Limitations pp 189-229. Springer science Publications 18. Sharma, M.P.; Gupta, S.; Sharma, S.K.; Vyas, A.K. 2012. Effect of tillage and crop sequences on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and soil enzyme activities in soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) rhizosphere. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 82:25–30 19. Simon, L.; Bousquet, J.; Levesque, C.; Lalonde, M. 1993. \"Origin and diversification of endomycorrhizal fungi and coincidence with vascular land plants\". Nature. 363 (6424): 67–69 20. Smith, S.E.; Read, D.J. 1997. Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic Press, London. 21. Smith, F.A.; Smith, S.E. 1997. Structural diversity in (vesicular)-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. New Phytologist. 137: 373-388 - Dr Neha Yadav & Dr Aparna Nautiyal (TIC) Assistant Professor Associate Professor Department of Botany 5. Medicinal Plants in Indian Postage Stamp Indian Postal Department has issued several postal stamps of important and endangered medicinal plants, which are not only educative but informative in dealing with conservation strategy. A set of 4 stamps were issued in 1997 on Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Ghritkumari (Aloe barbadensis), Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina). 61 | P a g e

Continuing with the series that began on 28th October 1997, the Department of Posts issued another set of four stamps featuring Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) and Amla (Emblica officinallis). Dr Madhu Rani Assistant Professor Department of Botany 6. Sea buckthorn: The wonder fruit of Ladakh Botanical name: Hippophae rhamnoides Sea buckthorn, locally known as Tsermang/ Sastalulu is a bushy thorny shrub with red/orange berries. The plant has a very diverse usage ranging from medicine, cosmetics to beverages. According to research, the present international market value of this plant is 60 billion US dollars a year which is much enough to change the economy of cold desert Ladakh. The plant grows widely in the region and can be found at about 2400 m in Ladakh and Spiti valley. Uses- 1. Medicinal uses: The parts of the plants especially leave, and berries are fully loaded with medicinal compounds and nutrients including amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids and minerals. The berries and leaves can be used with tea, oil etc. to treat various diseases. It has strong antioxidant properties. Therefore, it maintains blood pressure and lipids. It helps in maintaining free radical level and prevents arthritis and atheroma. It is used to avoid or control various cardio-vascular diseases like angina and others like GI ulcer, gout and internal rashes. 2. Cosmetics: The oil produced from the berries and the cream from the leaves possess skin healing properties. The products are used to heal oxidative damage and has anti-aging properties. It hydrates the skin, removes tanning and helps in collagen formation. 3. Food and beverages: Juice extracted from the berries locally known as tsoskskyur is often used as an immunity booster. Fruit is also used in sweets, jellies, jams and puddings. 4. Fuel: The wood after drying becomes very hard and is stored as a fuel source for daily usage during winters. Ghulam Mohmad Jafri B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd year 62 | P a g e

7. Antioxidant and Immunity: Good Nutrients Living organisms need oxygen for life. However, such an indispensable element becomes harmful under certain conditions. Oxygen can produce highly reactive compounds called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Many of these reactive species are free radicals containing an unpaired electron and thus can either accept or donate an electron, making them highly unstable and reactive. Hydroxyl radical (-OH), the superoxide radical (O2), the nitric oxide radical (-NO) and the lipid peroxyl radical (ROO) are amongst the most important oxygen-containing radicals formed in the body. Free radicals can attack a number of macro-molecules including lipids, proteins and DNA resulting in cellular damage causing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, eye diseases to name a few. Free radicals and other ROS are derived either from the metabolic processes in the human body or from external sources. The former includes mitochondrial respiration, peroxisomal metabolism, phagocyte activity, arachidonate pathways, inflammation, ischaemia, exercise and reactions involving iron and other transition metals. External sources include exposure to radiation, ozone, cigarette smoke, air pollutant and industrial chemicals. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely react with free radicals to neutralize or terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Various spices, herbs, fruits, roots, and vegetables have been used since time immemorial by humans to reduce the risk or severity of a wide range of viral infections, by boosting the immune response, particularly among people with inadequate dietary sources and also by their anti- inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and viricidal functions. These nutrients in the foods can be consumed directly or through health supplements to mitigate the pathological effects induced by the SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections. In the following section, the beneficial effects of some of the nutrients are described. Zinc (Zn) Zinc is considered as the potential supportive treatment against COVID-19 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant as well as direct antiviral effects. Meat, poultry, and seafood are rich in zinc. Zinc is a trace mineral, and yet it is necessary for almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions. It plays a major role in the creation of DNA, growth of cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults, 19+ years is 11 mg a day for men and 8 mg for women. Pregnancy and lactation require slightly more, at 11 mg and 12 mg, respectively. Some plant foods like legumes and whole grains are also good sources of zinc, but they also contain phytates that can bind to the mineral, lowering its absorption. Shellfish: oysters, crab, lobster, Beef, Poultry, Pork, Legumes, Nuts, seeds, Whole grains, Fortified breakfast cereals. Vitamin D (VD) Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which plays a vital role in immune-boosting, antioxidant and antiviral responses. VD increases the levels of antioxidant NRF-2 and facilitates balanced mitochondrial functions, prevents oxidative stress-related protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. For most people, the best way to get enough vitamin D is taking a supplement because it is hard to eat enough through food. Vitamin D supplements are available in two forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol or pre-vitamin D) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Both are also naturally occurring forms that are produced in the presence of the sun’s ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays, hence its nickname, the sunshine vitamin, but D2 is produced in plants and fungi and D3 in animals, including humans. Vitamin D is primarily produced in the skin but many people have insufficient levels because they live in places where sunlight is limited in winter, or because they have limited sun exposure due to being inside much of the time. Also, people with darker skin tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin D because the pigment (melanin) acts like a shade, reducing production of vitamin D (and also reducing damaging effects of sunlight on skin, including skin cancer). 63 | P a g e

The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D from sun exposure, which is 30 minutes of mid- day summer sun provides 10-20,000 IU Vitamin D. In supplemental form, The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults 19 years and older is 600 IU daily for men and women, and for adults >70 years it is 800 IU daily. Vitamin C (VC) This vitamin supports the function of various immune cells and enhances their ability to protect against infection. As an antioxidant, it scavenges ROS, prevents lipid peroxidation, and protein alkylation and thus protects cells from oxidative stress induced cellular damage. Vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin C dissolves in water and is delivered to the body tissues but is not well stored, so it must be taken daily through food or supplements. Vitamin C helps to control infections and healing wounds and can neutralize harmful free radicals. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults 19 years and older is 90 mg daily for men and 75 mg for women. For pregnancy and lactation, the amount increases to 85 mg and 120 mg daily, respectively. Smoking can deplete vitamin C levels in the body, so an additional 35 mg beyond the RDA is suggested for smokers. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health. The UL for vitamin C is 2000 mg daily; taking beyond this amount may promote gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of this vitamin. Some rich sources are citrus fruits like orange, kiwi, lemon, and grapefruit, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables and white potatoes. Curcumin Obtained from Curcuma longa, Curcumin has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Studies have revealed potential immune-boosting, antioxidant and anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects of curcumin. The daily recommended dose is 3.6 g of curcumin. Curcumin is a biologically active polyphenolic compound found in turmeric; a spice derived from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa Linn. In general, 100 gm of C. longa powder provides 10.23 g curcumin. Cinnamaldehyde Cinnamaldehyde is a naturally present organic compound abundantly found in essential oils in Cinnamomum zeylanicum, commonly called cinnamon. It predominantly exists in the trans-isomer form, which gives cinnamon its flavour and odour. It is a potential anti-inflammatory bioactive compound which could be useful in weakening of SARS-CoV-2 induced hyper inflammation in the lung. Recommended doses are 1.25-2.5 mg/ml. Allicin Allium sativum L., commonly known as garlic, has several nutraceutical properties. The compound Allicin is produced when garlic is crushed or chopped. Available in dietary supplement form, it's been found to reduce inflammation and offer antioxidant benefits. The predominant thiosulfate in fresh garlic extract identified as allicin, has shown variety of health benefits like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. The recommended daily intake for allicin is 7.2 mg/day. One fresh garlic clove contains about 6 to 14 mg/g of alliin (0.6%-1.4% fresh weight). A fresh garlic clove yields about 2.5 to 4.5 mg of allicin per gram of fresh weight when crushed. One fresh garlic clove weighs 2 to 4 g. Piperine Piperine is the alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper, Piper nigrum, that is obtained from its ethanolic extract. Piperine possesses a strong anti-inflammatory function and therefore can be repurposed for suppression of hyper inflammation induced during COVID-19. In particular, it may improve the absorption of curcumin too. 64 | P a g e

Taking 20 mg of piperine with two grams of curcumin improved the availability of curcumin in human blood by 2,000%. Piperine constitutes 2% to 7.4% of both black pepper and white pepper. Supplements containing 5-20 mg of piperine per dose also appear to be safe, but research in this area is limited. Selenium (Se) Selenium exerts its biological effects through incorporation into selenoproteins in the body. Because of its substantial role in suppressing the inflammation and augmentation of antioxidant status and innate immunity, selenium supplementation may be useful in fighting against COVID-19. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adult men and women 19+ years of aged is 55 micrograms daily. Women who are pregnant and lactating need about 60 and 70 micrograms daily, respectively. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for selenium for all adults 19+ years of age and pregnant and lactating women is 400 micrograms daily; a UL is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health Protein foods from animals are generally good sources of selenium. Seafood, organ meats, and Brazil nuts are the foods highest in selenium although pe.ople obtain most of their selenium from everyday staples, like breads, cereals, poultry, red meat, e.ggs, Fin fish and shellfish, beef, Turkey, fortified cereals, whole-wheat, Beans, lentils. Propolis Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by honeybees using substances collected from plants. Compounds in the honey propolis inhibits various viruses such as deng.ue virus type 2, herpes simplex virus, human cytomegalovirus, influenza virus A1. The flav.onoids concentrated in propolis are powerful antioxidants. Currently, there is no medically recommended dose because more research is needed. Propolis is considered to be relatively nontoxic and doses greater than 15g/day have shown mild side effects. Quercetin .. Quercetin is a well-known antioxidant with . a.nd antiviral bioactive. anti-inflammatory Additionally, other studies have also found that quercetin in combination with VC induces synergistic antiviral and immuno-modulatory effects against COVID-19. Taken together, various studies suggest that quercetin possesses potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects and can be repurposed as a preventive and therapeutic candidate to combat COVID-19.Rich sources of Quercetin are grapes, berries, cherries, apples, citrus fruits, onions, buckwheat, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, red wine, black tea. It is also present in herb. al remedies, such as Ginkgo biloba and St John’s wort. People can also take quercetin as a suppleme.nt. Onions have the highest level of quercetin as compared to other tested produce, containing approximately 300 mg per kilogram. If people take Quercetin as a supplement, the most common dose is 500 mg per day, but some people can take up to 1,000 mg per day. If we incorporate the above-mentioned antioxidants in daily diet, we can get immunity boosting, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties of the phytonutrients, to provide both prophylactic and adjuvant therapy against most viral infections, including COVID-19 virus. - Dr Sunita Malik1 & Aarushi Joon2 1Assistant Professor, Deshbandhu College 2Delhi Public School, Gurgaon, Haryana 65 | P a g e

8. कोलशश : खदु से एक वणदण जजंदगी में कु छ नया करने की आस, रहती हैं हमशे ा, मरे े बहे द पास। िो उम्मीद जजसे मनंै े कभी नहीं दफनाया, हमेशा एक नन्ही कली की तरह ही सहलाया। मजबत िकृ ्ष की तरह मुझे दृढ़ता से आगे बढ़ना हैं, स्िाथा के दामन से कहीं दर, दसरों का सहारा बनना हैं। अपने बीते कल की परिाह छोड़, सीखा हंै, गलततयों से एक तनचोड़। करी हैं तनरंतर कोमशश, खुद को बेहतर तराशने की, ताफक ममल सकं खुद से, जो मरे े भीतर तछपी हंै कही।ं हार और डर से होकर बेखौफ, तनकल पड़ी हं... अपने आज पर मेहनत करने की ओर, ताफक खोल सकं ... अपने उस सुनहरे कल का वपटारा, जजसकी चाभी हैं, मेरी उम्मीदों के फकसी मोड़। फकया है आज खदु से ये एक िादा…. फक यं बबखरें इन हजारों रंगो के फलों में, ढंढकर खदु को एक ददन, मैं भी खखलगं ी जरुर। -प्रियण द्वितीय िर्,ा बीएससी (ऑनस)ा िनस्पतत विज्ञान। 9. वर्णा ऋतु भयो भोर, घन घोर घटा नभ मंे छाईं रहीं, आई िर्ाा ऋत,ु मानहुं भयो आगमन आगतं कु को मंगल खमु शयां छाईं रही।ं उगो सया पिा मंे, फकरणे फै ल रही नभ मंे, मानहुं बबखेर रही, कं चन कमला अबं र मंे। काले-काले मघे गगन मंे छाएं रहे, कु दक-कु दक के शोर नभ मंे मचाएं रहंे, गाई रही िसुधा सबु ह मंगल गीत, साथ मदं कु सुर ताल ममलाएं रहंे। बरस रही बदं े धरणी पर, धरणी की तरृ ्ा बझु ाई रही,ं मानहुं बरस रहे मोती अंबर से, रंक की ललक ममटाएं रही। बरस रही पािस जोरों से, चपला कड़क रही अबं र मंे, कु दक रहें बालक जल में, मानहुं खखल रहा कमल आगं न में। भयो दृश्य सदंु र अत्यन्त, दशा ना जात तनहारी हंै, पड़े फीके शब्द सभी, दृश्य ना जात विस्तरी हंै। -लललत रणवत प्रथम िर्,ा बीएससी (ऑनस)ा िनस्पतत विज्ञान 66 | P a g e

10. The World Needs a Hug: Feel Free to Plant a Tree During the Covid-19 Pandemic, lockdown put millions out of labour. Many of us were isolated and interrupted from social gatherings, and therefore the world came to a standstill. Children had no place to play outdoors. Stress levels were at an all-time high. Then we saw a lot of individuals resorting towards the ability of nature in these testing times. Nature showed us why it's supreme and why we all must bow down to her, nourish her and look after her. \"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow\"- Audrey Hepburn. The quote talks about inspiration and belief, blossom into a fruitful plant, something wonderful and meaningful for the days yet to dawn. We need this type of attitude in life because the current situation has made a lot of people feel as if they have lost their direction and purpose of life. Planting a tree is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do to have a positive impact on the environment and in your own life. Look at what one tree can do- 1. The tree is the “heart of nature” for those living within the city. It connects us with the seasons by reminding us of trees blossoming, flowers, and the leaves of fall. 2. One tree can absorb 20 kg. of dust annually, and 80 kg. of suspensions, containing toxic metals like mercury, lithium, lead etc. 3. Studies show that urban vegetation slows heartbeats, lowers vital signs, and relaxes brain wave patterns. 4. A tree may be a natural cooling system. Studies show that the evaporation from one tree can produce the cooling effect of ten room-size, residential air conditioners operating 20 hours daily. 5. Urban forests promote beneficial water quality and reduce stormwater management costs. 6. Trees provide important habitats for various birds, insects and animal species. 7. Homes landscaped with trees sell more quickly and are worth 5% to 15% more than homes without trees. 8. Green is calming and relieves eye strain. 9. Trees absorb and block sound, reducing sound pollution by the maximum amount as 40 percent. A single tree can absorb a complete stadium worth of carbon dioxide from the air, reduce surrounding temperature up to 4 degrees, provide a home to a dozen birds and provide us oxygen at no cost. Trees and plants aren't merely important in our lives but they're synonymous to our lives. So, it's high time for us to be grateful to trees every time we take a deep breath. Just like a seed, which gradually flourished into a beautiful plant after receiving love and nourishment, you will also bloom when the time is right. To really undergo positive change, we must let go of the past and embrace the days that are about to come. Believe that you will take on a greater form and improve in several ways, even if it takes time. Believe in yourself like a seed does, hang in there and one day, you will have an ultimate thing of beauty. An ultimate thing of joy. References: •https://nurserylive.com/blogs/sustainable-living •https://josephmuciraexclusives.com •https://permeco.org/climate-change.com https://www.redlands.edu.com -Riya Paul B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year 67 | P a g e

11. Personal Branding is for Everybody It's quite uncommon to have professional life in this era without the help of social media. Apps ns.uectwh oarskiLnign.kEedveInryainndterBnusmhibpleorBjiozbz have dominated the market of professional social media listing can be found on such platforms and moreover a lot of companies decide your involvement in the company through your professional network. You might think that building a personal brand or networking is more of a business and corporate thing, but it is far from true. A person from a science background should equally be involved in building personal brand or networking with people. To make it more clear to you let's understand what a personal brand is first. A personal brand is the reputation you have among your community of professionals regarding your work, business or any professional area. In this simple yet clear definition there is no mention that this pertains to only business professionals. Any professional can build a personal brand. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had a personal brand and he was a scientist. Now that this misconception is clear, let's move forward and understand networking. Networking is connecting with other professionals in the same field of work or connecting with people in your field of interest. It is necessary to connect with people in any field of work. Networking has a lot of benefits which will help you work your way up the ladder of your professional life. Networking in real life has less scope than doing it on social media. This opens the network to people anywhere in the world. The early you start networking the better it will be for your career. It will provide you jobs, references, clients etc. Now that we have things cleared out, let me begin by telling you to create a professional account on any social media platform. In contrast to traditional beliefs, you can make your professional account on any social media platform, be it Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and many others. The only thing that matters is the content you create and the type of audiences you attract. This can be achieved on any social media platform. But creating a LinkedIn account always comes in handy. Once you have created the account, the next step is to curate it according to your style, profession and interests. Write articles, reshare research papers, update your resume and write a summary about yourself. LinkedIn comes handy when doing all this because it has different sections for everything. Now that your profile is ready, you are good to go and connect with people. Send friend requests, follow requests or connection requests and network. But don’t stop there, talk to them, engage with their content/posts and build a genuine connection not a robotic one. Social media can only provide the platform, but you have to build your own brand. -D.N.S.S. Srilatha B.Sc. (H) Botany, 3rd Year 68 | P a g e

12. Benefits of Aloe Vera Aloe vera also known as ‘gwarpatha’ belongs to the Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family. Its botanical name is Aloe barbadensis. Aloe Vera grows abundantly in tropical climate and has many medicinal uses. It contains 75 potential active components like vitamins, enzymes, sugars, minerals, lignin, salicylic acid and amino acids among others. The various benefits of Aloe Vera are: 1. Wound healing: Rubbing of aloe vera gel onto the skin helps in treating sores, burns and sunburn. 2. For clear skin: Aloe vera gel is used to reduce acne. Drinking of aloe vera juice helps in the treatment of skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis. Aloe vera is also a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins that help in protecting the skin. 3. Acidity relief: Aloe vera juice is beneficial in reducing acidity because of its alkaline nature. 4. Hydration: The aloe plant is water-dense; hence it is excellent in preventing or treating dehydration. 5. Antioxidant and Antibacterial properties: Aloe vera gel contains powerful antioxidants which are important for health. It also inhibits the growth of certain bacteria. 6. Reduces constipation: Aloe vera is also used to treat constipation. The latex, present in the form of a sticky yellow residue under the skin of the leaf, helps in reducing the constipation. 7. Lowers blood sugar levels: People sometimes use aloe vera as a remedy for diabetes. Aloe Vera enhances insulin sensitivity and helps in improving blood sugar management. -Surbhi Garg B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st Year 13. Brown Rice-A Healthier Option • Brown Rice is nothing extraordinary. It is only white rice which has not gone through the refining process. It is also known as Rough Rice. • It's a whole grain having good content of fibres, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, and manganese. • In terms of Calories and Carbohydrates it is quite similar to white rice. • As we know, White rice is the most consumed type of rice, but brown rice is widely recognized as a healthier alternative due to its nutritional value and health benefits. • There are studies that suggest that consuming one cup of brown rice daily can significantly decrease risks of developing diabetes by up to 60%. • According to a report by the Times of India, published on 4th August 2021, a person lost 11 kilograms of weight in just 3 months by consuming Brown Rice and eggs for dinner. https://images.app.goo.gl/TVfDyTLCU5Y6qeEn8 -Humera Mirza https://images.app.goo.gl/vDE9RQ7aqrFLiK748 B.Sc. (H) Botany, 3rd Year 69 | P a g e

14. DID YOU KNOW 1. Onions contain a mild antibiotic that soothes burns, fights infections, relieves itch of the athlete’s feet. 2. Avocado has the highest calories of any fruit. Approximately 167 calories per hundred grams. Health-conscious people, Alert! 3. Plant species are going extinct—about 5,000 times faster than they should. 4. Small pockets of air inside cranberries cause them to bounce and float in water. 5. 80 percent of the Earth's original forests have been cleared or destroyed. 6. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest living tree species. It dates to about 250 million years! 7. At over 2000 Kilometer long, The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth! 8. The California redwood (coast redwood and giant Sequoia) are the tallest and largest living organism in the world! 9. The first type of aspirin, painkiller, and fever reducer came from the tree bark of a willow tree! 10. Dendrochronology is the science of calculating a tree’s age by its rings! 11. Dandelion is completely edible, from the petals to the roots. Its leaves provide your recommended daily intake of Vitamin K, its flowers can be used to make wine, its root can be used to make a brewed drink that tastes a bit like coffee, and it’s also used in several soft drinks. 12. There is a plant in Australia known as the “Suicide Plant” because the effect of its sting can last for years, and its pain is so unbearable that people have killed themselves after touching it. 13. One-third of the plant life on the island of Socotra near Yemen can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. It has been described as the “most alien-looking place on Earth”. 14. The evaporation ‘from a large oak or beech tree is from ten to twenty-five gallons in twenty- four hours! -Ankur B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st year 15. Poor man's weatherglass Pimpernel is commonly known as poor man's weatherglass as the flowers of this plant open when the sun-rays strike it and closes at the onset of bad weather. The petals fold up when sky darken before storms or at twilight and does not open again until morning light triggers their rebloom. Two species of pimpernel can be located growing as low summer herbs- blue pimpernel (Lysimachia foemina) and scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) from family Primulaceae. The name \"Scarlet Pimpernel\" was widely popularized by a novel of the French Revolution by Baroness Orczy, whose hero, Sir Percy Blakeney, used the flower as a trademark when he rescued victims from the Reign of Terror. Yellow pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) is a lesser-known species. The plant reputed medicinal use as- expectorant, anti-bacterial, anti-diuretic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-leishmaniasis, liver cirrhosis, lung problems, gallstones, kidney stones, urinary infection, and dermatological activities. -Aartika Kumari B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year 70 | P a g e

16. A Study of Selaginella bryopteris Selaginella bryopteris, commonly known as Sanjeevani is a lithophyte found in India. It belongs to the division Pteridophyta and most of the species of Selaginella are either prostrate, creeping on the ground or sub-erect Its common name ‘Sanjeevani’ translates to “one that infuses life”. It is one of the top plants to be considered for the famous plant that has been mentioned in the Ramayana. Selaginella has many medicinal properties which make the argument even more solid to regard this as the “Sanjeevani booti” from the Ramayana. Various studies have been carried out by scientists to examine the medicinal properties of S. bryopteris Traditional uses of Selaginella bryopteris include curing wounds, heat strokes, irregular menstruation, uterine disorders, jaundice etc. it is also used to prepare a strength tonic. S. bryopteris is also known for its remarkable resurrection properties. It contains various secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenols and terpenoids. Due to the presence of these substances this plant exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. A study found out that the aqueous extract of S. bryopteris contains growth promoting activity and it protects the body cells from ultraviolet and oxidative stress. Another study conducted by a group of scientists proved that Selaginella bryopteris was effective against inflammatory skin diseases. However, there is still a lack of credible scientific evidence to establish Selaginella bryopteris as a go-to medicinal herb for treatment of certain illnesses. Despite this, it is still used as a traditional cure. As more studies are conducted on S. bryopteris, it will surely emerge to be a wonderful medicinal herb as has been mentioned in texts of the past. -Tanya Saxena B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st Year Alkaloid Phenol 71 | P a g e

17. Wild fruits of Uttarakhand The captivating beauty of the Himalayas is incredible and Source: Pinterest indescribable. The snowy peaks, the breath-taking valleys, and dark forests! The Himalayan range is also home to various plants among which are some wild fruits. The rocky mountain terrain of Uttarakhand though appearing bereft of vegetation, is home to fruit trees laden with all kinds of delectable, and colourful fruits that would make your mouth water. These fruits have different local names in Garhwal to Kumaun house-grown region. These are sold in roadside shacks and local markets of our devbhoomi (land of gods). Some of them also have important medicinal properties. Here are some unique fruits found in Uttarakhand: 1. Timla (Ficus auriculata): Also known as the Roxburgh fig tree, timla is found in Asian forests. Its fruit is sweet and brownish or purple. Timla is a delicious fruit of Uttarakhand. At maturity, this tree appears quite large. A special thing about timla is that the flower does not appear before its fruit. According to the legends, flower is considered a good omen. Medicinal uses: Timla can be used to maintain blood pressure (BP) in people with hypertension. It can also be used to treat constipation, as it acts as a laxative and helps regulate the digestive system. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties too. Timla: Tree (top) & Fruits (bottom) Source: Uttarakhand foods 2. Hisalu (Rubus ellipticus Sm.): These golden-yellow Himalayan raspberries belong to the rose family. They are found in the wilds of Uttarakhand and Nepal. They are deliciously sour, in the way raspberries usually are. This small fruit can be found mostly in summers in both Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand. Earlier hisalu used to ripen in May and June but due to climatic variations the ripening season of hisalu has changed to March and April. It is not commonly harvested for domestic use. The fruit perishes quickly after plucking from the thorny bushes. Medicinal uses: The berry is used to treat indigestion. The roots of the hisalu plant are used to treat stomach pains and headaches. Hisalu : Fruits (Left) and tree (right) Source: Forktrails-WordPress 72 | P a g e

3. Kafal (Myrica esculenta): Commonly known as box berry, this fruit is found in the sub- tropical Himalayas. The fruit is sweet, and locals typically eat it whole - seeds and all. This fruit resembles deep-red raspberries, but it has negligible pulp as most of the space is taken up by the big round seed inside. It is a tasty treat and popular amongst the hilly people. This extremely sour fruit (even when ripe) is taken with a sprinkle of rock salt and chili powder. Medicinal uses: Kafal is a naturally occurring antioxidant. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat ailments such as cough, chronic bronchitis, ulcers, anemia, fever, diarrhea, ear, nose, and throat disorders. Kafal: Tree (top) & Fruits (bottom) Source: The Times of India 4. Bedu (Ficus palmata): Bedu is found in the wilds of Uttarakhand. The fruit is sweet, as you would expect figs to be. A famous local song related to this fruit is the line “बेड पाको बारा मासा नारैणा काफल पाको चतै मेरी छै ला”, meaning bedu rules throughout the year whereas Kafal only ripen in the tea month. Anyhow, bedu ripens during June. Being a self-growing wild tree, it becomes light black on ripening and has a sweet taste containing fine seeds. Children grazing cattle eat it a lot, mashing the fruits of the bedu and eating it with salt. The sycamore is also a tree of this species. The fruits of which are somewhat larger. The twigs and leaves of these trees are fed to animals as fodder. Bedu: Tree (top) & Fruits (bottom) Source: Uttarakhand fruits 5. Buransh (Rhododendron arboreum): Buransh is a bright scarlet, bell-shaped flower filled with sweet nectar seen in the Himalayan range in India, Bhutan and Nepal at altitudes of 1200 m. Though you'll find bottled juice of burans everywhere in the shops, the traditional way to consume the honey-sweet nectar is straight from the flower. Buransh or Rhododendron is an evergreen tree that grows up to the height of 20 m and has rough and pinkish- brown bark. The brightly coloured flowers (deep red to pink) which bloom from late winter till early summer are the highlight of this tree. The months from January to March mark the blooming season of Buransh in Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, Buransh is mainly found in the higher altitude regions with a temperate climate and alpine conditions. Rhododendrons in Uttarakhand are mostly found in elevation from 2000-4000m. There are six species found in Uttarakhand and among them, the species Rhododendron arboreum , which is also the state tree is the most common one. Buransh: Tree (top) & Fruits (bottom), Source: NavUttarakhand 73 | P a g e

Buransh holds a special place in Uttarakhand wherein along with being an identity of the state, it also reflects the culture of Uttarakhand. Every year, The Buransh Mahotsav is held in Kausani during the onset of spring where the beauty of Buransh flower and its uses are celebrated with great zeal. The festival celebrates the mountains, nature's creations, and promotes responsible tourism. So, the spring season in Uttarakhand is known for the mesmerizing buransh flowers, chutneys, and juices that are not just locals' favorite but a rare delicacy for travellers too. Buransh is also used as a metaphor in many local songs to compare the beauty of one. Medicinal uses: The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of coughs, diarrhoea and dysentery. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Its juice is said to be beneficial for diabetes, menstrual disorders and relief from persistent allergies. -Sakshi Nawani B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st Year 18. Puspanjali Flowers offered to Deities in Hindu Months Offering flowers is an important part of the Hindu tradition. Many people like to decorate Deities with flowers in temples, and at their homes, as it gives a divine look to the Deity. The flowers offered in different months of the year to various deities are mentioned in Garuda Purana. The present article gives an insight of flowers, leaves and plant parts offered to worship Deities in different months of Hindu Calendar. The information provided here has been compiled from various online resources available in public domains. 1. Magh (January-February)- Lord Shiva is offered Datura (Datura stramonium), twigs of Mallika (Jasminum arborescens), Vilva leaves (Aegle marmelos), twigs of Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba) and sandal paste (Santalum album); God Nateshwara is worshipped with Kunda flowers (Jasminum pubescens) and Plaksha twigs (Butea monosperma) 2. Phalguna (February-March) God Vivesvara is worshipped with Maruvaka flowers (Origanum majorana), pot herbs, twigs of Aamram (Mangifera indica) and twigs of Vata (Ficus bengalensis) 3. Chaitra (March-April) God Vishnu is worshipped with offerings of flowers of Navmallika (Jasminum officinale), Champeya (Plumeria alba), Katsaraiya (Barleria prionitis), twigs of Varun (Crateva religiosa) 4. Vaisakh (April-May) God Shambhu to be offered flowers of Asoka (Saraca indica), twigs of Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) and Jatiphal (Myristica fragrans). 5. Jyestha (May-June) Pradyumna who is an incarnation of Kama, the god of love, is worshipped with Champaka flowers (Michelia champaca) and Vilva twigs (Aegle marmelos) 6. Ashada (June-July) Gods are worshipped with flowers of Aparmarga (Achryanthes aspera) and Agaru twigs (Aquilaria agallocha). 7. Shravana (July-August) with Karavira flowers (Nerium oleander). 8. Bhadraprada (August-September) Gods are offered white and yellow flowers like Pitta karavira (Cascabela thevetia) 74 | P a g e

9. Ashvina (September-October) God Suradhipa, lord of celestials is worshipped with flowers of Vakusa (Mimusops elangii), twigs of Madhavi (Hiptage madhoblata) with Champaka flowers (Michelia champaca) and twigs of Khadira (Acacia catechu) 10. Kartika (October-November) Rudra is worshipped with twigs of Vadari (Zizyphus jujuba). 11. Margashirsha (November-December) Goddess Lakshmi is offered flowers of Rudrapushpa (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), twigs of Aamram (Mangifera indica) 12. Pausha (December-January) Sun God and God Vishnu are worshipped and offered flowers of Raktacandana (Pterocarpus santalinus) and leaves of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) In the Puranas it is said that he who gives libations-of first fruits in the vessels of Palasa (Butea monosperma), Aswattlia (Ficus religiosa), Plaksha (Ficus lacor), Nyagrodha (Ficus bengalensis), Kasmari (Gmelina arborea), Madhuka (Jonesia asoka), Phalgu (Ficus oppositifolia), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Venn (Bamboo) get the benefit of all Yajnas. Dr Madhu Rani Assistant Professor Department of Botany 19. Music Therapy and Plants Music is an art whose medium is sound which produces its effects through rhythm, melody color and harmony. Living things respond to stimuli and Healing power of music is well known since long. Music therapy is a cure for not only the human mind, body and soul but also the plants. The therapeutic power of music is an effective way to improve human health as during sound therapy biochemical changes takes place in our body. We completely relax, cells regenerate and our brain also calms down. Similarly, Sound is known to affect the growth of plants and can cause drastic changes in metabolism of plants. They also enjoy music and respond to the different wave-lengths of sound produced by musical instruments. It is not clearly understood whether plants feel or understand music but it is well known that human conversation near plants causes accelerated plant growth. Studies began in 1968 by Dorothy Retallack who compared the effects of different types of music on plant growth. She wrote a book: The sound of Music and Plants and was the first to work on this subject in plants. She observed that classical music had a positive impact on plant life but shown withering when subjected to rock music. Plant growth is a process which is the result of cell division and leads to increase in number and size of branches and leaves in plants. It also strengthens roots and produces fruits and flowers. The factors influencing plant growth are air, water, temperature, soil quality, genes etc. Music produces sound and vibrations. Sound is a wave which needs a medium to travel through and produces disturbances in the atmosphere. Sound waves are emitted by a source and their frequency is determined by the frequency of the vibrating source. External vibrations whether from music, sound or physical disturbance, do affect the internal vibrations, either promoting the growth of plants or inhibiting it. Some known facts about music and plants: 75 | P a g e

▪ Classical music influence-The music played to plants should have a time limit about three hours. It helps to grow healthy and properly. An over dose of music can seriously destroy the plants. • ▪ Protein and Molecular Music –The technique was developed by Joel Sternheimer which has Special melodies regulating Biosynthesis. The vibrational frequencies of amino acids have been well studied and investigated. Based upon the need of the organism and cell, ribosomes play an important role in the protein synthesis. The movement of aminoacids to ribosomes is very slow and their frequency can be recorded and measured as a musical note and their movement in sequence can be recorded as a melody. Sternheiner replicated the recorded melodies for the selected proteins and when played, it increases the synthesis of corresponding protein and accelerated the growth of the plant, hence increasing the yields and increased nutrient content. ▪ Sonic Bloom Techniques- It was developed by Dan Carlson. He found that the stomata open quicker when the frequencies of melodies are between 3000 to 5000 kHz. Plants absorb nutrients more effectively in farms having less water and nutritionally poor soils. ▪ Reports are there where Rosa chinensis plants when exposed to Vedic chants were seen to grow in a thick bushy fashion around the source of music. ▪ Plant growth in Vigna radiata music treated plants was found to be better than control untreated plants, especially showing increased level of various metabolic activities. Music, chanting, and other physical disturbances which can change the internal factors, could stimulate or inhibit the plant growth. Dr Anju Kanwar Chhibbar Assistant Professor Department of Botany 20. The Incense Rise As the pandemic reached its peak, a rise in sales of incense was also observed. In India alone, incense industry is pegged at ₹8,500 crore of which exports account for ₹1,000 crore. The sales spikes seen across the industry can partially be attributed to a general increase in demand for goods and fragrances during the pandemic, as well as a steady growth in subscribers to the new age of mindfulness that includes practices like meditation and yoga, often accompanied by the fragrance of burning incense. For some people it is more intentional as it is often associated with religious ceremonies, while for some its ‘more for the mood’. India is a country of diverse cultures and religions. The country is considered the land of temples, shrines, stupas, gods, goddesses and festivals. People start their day by worshipping their deities in different ways. They burn incense during religious performances and festivals, which either directly or indirectly, has indispensable impact in various religious activities. The incense is burned to produce fragrant scent. It is an important component of various religious activities and has been a practice since ancient times. It is also considered as a way to repel demons and evil spirits by some. Many ingredients of incense have been known for their anti- microbial activity. 76 | P a g e

Incense is typically made up of an aromatic material that produces a scent and a combustible binding material that holds it together in a particular shape. The aromatic materials used for making incense are typically plant-based and can include a variety of resins, barks, seeds, roots, and flowers. The specific ingredients used in incense vary greatly in different regions. Different types of plants in different forms are used for making incense. For example, it may be a powder of single plant or may be in mixture of many plant parts. It may be burned as powder, mixture twined in hand-made paper or made into a stick by wrapping the dough of mixture around stick of bamboo or palm wood sticks. The present article is an exploration and compilation of different plant species belonging to different families which are used in making incense in different parts of our country. The source of information is articles available online. S.No. Plant Species Family Part used in incense 1 Abelmoschus moschatus Malvaceae Dried seeds 2. Abies spectabilis Pinaceae Dried leaves 3. Anaphalis triplinervis Asteraceae Dried plant 4. Artemisia indica Asteraceae Dried leaves and twigs 6. Bambusa tulda Poaceae Stem (incense stick) 7. Betula utilis Betulaceae Powder of dried bark & leaves 8. Boswellia sacra Burseraceae Resin and wood 9. Cassiope fastigiate Ericaceae Dried plant 10. Cinnamomum zeylanicum Lauraceae Dried Bark 11. Commiphora myrrha Burseraceae Resin and wood 12. Cotoneaster microphyllus. Rosaceae Dried leaves 13. Cupressus torulosa Cupressaceae Dried leaves & small branchlets 14. Dendranthema nubigenum Asteraceae Dried plant 15. Dracocephalum tanguticum Lamiaceae Dried plant 16. Euphrasia himalayica Scrophulariaceae Dried plant 17. Juniperus indica Cupressaceae Dried leaves & small branchlets 18. Jurenia dolomiaea Asteraceae Dried root 19. Leontopodium jacotianum Asteraceae Dried plant 20. Leptodermis lanceolata Rubiaceae Dried leaves and flower 21. Litsea glutinosa Lauraceae Powdered bark (adhesive paste) 22. Machilus thunbergii Lauraceae Ground bark (binder) 23. Morina longifolia Dipsacaceae Dried rhizome and roots 24. Nardostachys grandiflora Valerianaceae Dried rhizome and roots 25. Origanum vulgare Lamiaceae Dried leaves 26. Pinus roxburghii Pinaceae Resin and wood 27. Pogostemon cablin Lamiaceae Dried leaves 28. Potentilla nepalensis Rosaceae Dried plant 29. Rhododendron anthopogon Ericaceae Dried leaves, small branchlets & flowers 30. Santalum album Santalaceae Dried wood 31. Tanacetum dolichophyllum Asteraceae Dried plant 32. Tsuga dumosa Pinaceae Dried leaves 33. Valeriana jatamansii Valerianaceae Dried rhizome and roots Dr Madhu Rani Assistant Professor Department of Botany 77 | P a g e

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The grand affair of Inaugural ceremony was followed by the splendid blend of two Inter-college competitive events under the aegis of its cultural fest “SANJEEVANI” to provide a platform to the students to showcase their versatility. Students from different colleges of Delhi University and various other universities like Bihar University, Amity University, Jamia Hamdard, Kanho Birsha University, West Bengal State University, IHM, RG PG Meerut, SKBU etc. actively participated in both the competitions. EVENT 1. LITTER TO BETTER The Botanical Society of Deshbandhu College organized Best out of Waste competition– ‘Litter to Better’. The time limit provided to submit models was 1 hour 30 minutes. This event was conducted under the supervision of our teacher coordinators: Dr Anju K Chhibbar and Dr Neha Yadav. The judges of this event were: Dr Bela Bhatia, Dr Rajinder Kumar and Dr Aparna Nautiyal. EVENT 2. PAINTER’S PALLET The next event in the line was Digital poster making competition- ‘Painter’s pallet’. The topic assigned for the digital poster making competition was ‘Biodiversity Conservation- Role of society'. The time limit provided to submit their respective art works was 1 hour 30 minutes. This event was conducted virtually through Google Meet and supervised by our teacher coordinators: Dr Madhu Rani and Dr Preeti Rawat. The judges for this event were: Dr Sarla Gupta, Dr Roshni R Mathur and (Late) Dr Dharmendra K Mallick. Priya and Riya Paul B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year 79 | P a g e

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SANJEEVANI 2020-2021 The Annual Fest “SANJEEVANI” 2021, organized by the Botanical Society, Department of Botany, Deshbandhu College was held this year on 17th April 2021 and 18th April 2021 on an online platform. The entire event was held under the supervision of the Principal Prof Rajiv Aggarwal, Society Advisor Dr Madhu Rani, Teacher in Charge Dr Aparna Nautiyal, the teacher coordinators as well as student coordinators from Department of Botany. The event was made vibrant and colourful with different activities arranged for the students. Entries were open to all the undergraduate and postgraduate students from different universities across India. The following two-day Program was lined up with four thrilling activities. Day 1- (17th April 2021) A) MANDALA- SE- MASTERPIECE The first event of the day was Mandala- se- Masterpiece, a Mandala Art Painting Competition. The event was scheduled for 1.5 hours in which participants had to prepare their artwork and submit it through a google form within the given time limit. Participants could showcase their own creativity through their art form as there was no specific topic allotted for the activity. The judges of this activity were Dr Anju Chhibbar and Dr Sunita Mallik from Department of Botany, Deshbandhu College. Participants had to draw their mandala art on a brown or white A3 size paper bag. They could use only 4 colour combinations in their artwork. It was strictly advised not to repeat any design and refrain from plagiarized entries. They had to prepare and submit their artwork within the 1.5 hours’ time limit.All the participants depicted their creativity through their artwork. Number of breathtakingly beautiful entries were received. All the position holders of this event were awarded with exciting cash prizes and an achievement certificate. The winners were as follows: 1st Position: RIYA SINGH {B. Sc. (Hons) Home Science 3rd Year} Lady Irwin College 2nd Position: SHWETA {B. Ed} Mewar Institute of Management B) HUNT THE TUBE The Virtual Treasure Hunt competition, Hunt the Tube was the final event of Day 1 of Sanjeevani 2021. The event was opened for all undergraduate and postgraduate students from across India. The theme of this event was YouTube videos, Famous YouTube channels, content creators and various aspects related to them. The time limit for the whole activity was 1.5 hours in which participants had to send their answer through screenshots. The event took place through a WhatsApp group where participants were given some PDFs. Each PDF represented one round, which contained clues for the next round. These subsequent clues led the participants to the final round. The event consisted of 7 rounds. The first team to send the answer of the final PDF along with the screenshot in the group was announced winner of this event. All the participants showed their brilliance by quickly answering all the rounds. The position holders of this event were rewarded with an exciting cash prize and an achievement certificate. They are: 1st Position: TARUN SHARMA {C.S. 1st Year} Amity University 2nd Position: MUSKAAN MAKHIJA {B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year} Deshbandhu College 3rd Position: SURAJ SHARMA, ADITYA PRAKASH, NIKHIL KUMAR {B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year} Deshbandhu College 81 | P a g e

Day-2 (18th April 2021) C) JAADU-E-ALFAAZ The 2nd day of Sanjeevani commenced with an enthusiastic and creative poem writing event, Jaadu- e-alfaaz. The Topic of the event, “ZINDAGI KE RANG CORONA KE SANG”, was given on the spot by the teacher coordinators of the event Dr Aparna Nautiyal and Dr Neha Yadav. The poem could not have more than 15 lines and any type of plagiarism was not accepted. The participants had to submit their poems via google forms. The teachers coordinating the event were also the judges and analysed and critiqued the poems based on creativity, originality and time taken by the participants. The position holders of this event were: 1st Position: PRIYANKA RANI {B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year} Daulat Ram College 2nd Position: PRIYA {B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year} Deshbandhu College, 3rd Position: ANJALI SINGH {B.Sc. (H) Botany 2nd Year} Deshbandhu College The event turned out to be a great success as large participation was seen from various DU/ NON- DU students of UG and PG courses. D) GET BUSY QUIZZIN’ The second event of Day 2 was an exciting and interesting quiz game named “GET BUSY QUIZZIN”. It was a quirky game with three rounds each having different themes. Only individual participation was allowed. ROUND 1 of the quiz was based on the BOLLYWOOD. It was conducted on QUIZIZZ app. There were 20 questions in the first round and only 30 participants were qualified for the next round. ROUND 2 was based on MARVEL/DC. It was conducted on ZOOM platform. All the qualified participants from Round 1 were divided into three groups and each group had 10 questions for the quiz. Only 10 seconds were given to answer each question for qualifying to the final round of the quiz. One individual had to give at least three correct answers for qualification. At the end of this round, nine participants qualified for the last round. ROUND 3 was based on NETFLIX and it was also conducted on ZOOM. Questions were asked individually, and the answers had to be orally. Each participant was asked four questions and 10 seconds were given to answer each question. Winners were declared based on maximum correct answers given by the participant in the stipulated time. After hustling in three different rounds with three different themes, the winners were announced. The position holders were: 1st Position: MANMOHAN {B.A (prog) Economics + Mathematics, 1st Year} Motilal Nehru College 2nd Position: PRIYANKA BARUA {B.Sc. (H) Botany 2nd Year} Deshbandhu College 3rd Position: PANKAJ {B.A 1st Year} Ahir College, Rewari Overall, the Botanical Society members ensured that through these exciting activities students were given a platform to showcase their talent and win exciting prizes. All the participants gave the best of their efforts and displayed their excellent skills and performance - Anjali Singh and Mansi Sharma B.Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year 82 | P a g e

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College, a place which turns us from simple to stylish, shy to confident and emotional to wise. A Fresher’s meet was organised by the students of Botany Hons 2nd year, for giving an amazing kick start to our juniors in this new phase of life, on behalf of all the staff and other students of our botany family. The event was named as \"Newbies Dungeon 2020\". Anchoring for the event was led by Priyanka Barua & Muskaan Makhija who gave an amazing start to the day. After a brief introduction, class representatives of second year, Aditya Prakash and Tanya Bangalia, briefed the freshers about the Botany Department along with a virtual tour of the Department and College. Further, the TIC of Botany Department, Dr Aparna Nautiyal, enlightened the students with her motivational words and gave them best wishes. Afterwards, a series of performances and games were organised by the second-year students. Amazingly talented second year students Jennifer David, Shiv Pratap Singh and Shivani mesmerised us all with their melodious voices. Tanya Bangalia, performed a very elegant semi- classical that got others onto their feet too. Multiple games were also held in between the performances to entertain the freshers, and they also actively participated with great enthusiasm. Along with it there were various stunning performances, followed by a short introduction of our freshers. Then came the most awaited moment of fresher's party, when Mr & Ms Fresher and Mr & Ms Personality for the day were to be declared and the results were: - Mr Fresher – DEVESH GAUTAM Ms Fresher - SAKSHI RAUTELA Mr Personality – ADITYA SINGH Ms Personality – AAKRITI KARMAKAR The declaration of these titles put a heart-warming end to a fun filled and enthusiastic day for the students. It created a beautiful, trustworthy and strong bond amongst the juniors and seniors, so that they can take on the challenges of college life together and pass with the flying colours. Aditya Prakash & Suhani Kumat B. Sc. (H) Botany, 2nd Year 89 | P a g e

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“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”. On 24th April 2021, Department of Botany, Deshbandhu College organised a farewell meet for the Graduating batch of our department. Even though the farewell was virtual, the excitement and the emotions were the same. The 3rd year students came dressed elegantly in sarees and suits and faces brimming with excitement. The 1st and 2nd year students organised a wonderful programme including various games and fun activities. The programme started with a brief introduction by the anchors, Aditya Prakash and Priyanka Barua. It was followed by a quiz titled “Yaadon Ka Karwaan” consisting of many fun riddles about the college experience and various places within the campus. The seniors enjoyed the witty riddles prepared by the juniors. They had to answer the riddles correctly in the first try to qualify for the 2nd round. Following this we had another game called “Beat Pe Duty”. This game had various songs playing after which the 3rd year students had to collect the items mentioned in the song. The person who collected the maximum number of items within the stipulated time qualified for the next round. This game had the seniors running around their houses looking for all sorts of odd things. The qualifiers from this game reached the final round of Spin the Wheel. This game had several tough and bold dares that the seniors had to complete. After some embarrassing and some humorous performances, the winners were crowned. In between the games we had some amazing performances prepared by the juniors. Shiv Pratap Singh and Jennifer David from 2nd year surprised the seniors with their breath-taking voices as they performed their songs. Sakshi Rautela from 1st year gave a spectacular dance performance. Continuing with the program we had a speech by Tanya Saxena and Tanya Bangalia, CR of 1st and 2nd year respectively. The speech recounted the numerous memories that the students had shared with each other and some unforgettable encounters that were surely going to remain within our minds for the rest of our lives. This set a melancholic tone in the atmosphere where many 3rd year students shared their memories and experiences with others and there were also some tears. Next, we had a few teachers join the Farewell Meet where they said kind words and showered the graduating batch with well wishes and blessings for their future. This included our TIC, Dr. Aparna Nautiyal Ma’am and other teachers who shared their thoughts and experiences that they shared with the 3rd year students. We ended the program on a high note by crowning the winners from the games. Mayank and Srilatha were crowned Mr. and Ms. Farewell respectively whereas Praveen and Muskaan were awarded the title of Mr. and Ms. Talented. Including these, all 3rd year students were given wonderful titles reflecting their personalities which they thoroughly enjoyed. Tanya Saxena B.Sc. (H) Botany, 1st Year 92 | P a g e

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