Disintegration of Zebra Mussels in a Life Force Energy-Supported Ecosystem

Sansevieria species is a genus of xerophytic perennial herbs with a wide scope of spreading found in dry tropical and subtropical areas. It is commonly known as the ‘Good luck plant’, ‘Hammock’, and ‘Snake plant’. Among the four plant species – S. metallica, S. roxburghiana, S. trifasciata, and S. zeylanica, the diploid chromosome number (2n) ranged from 36 to 42. The Sansevieria species are known to possess antitumor, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Thus, this plant species is considered a “natural herbal source” and can be used for its potential pharmacological applications in large-scale industries.

Keywords:Cytogenetics; Flowering; Fruiting; Medicinal properties

Sansevieria species is a genus of xerophytic perennial herbs with a wide scope of dispersion found in the planet’s dry tropical and subtropical areas [1]. It consists of about 70 species, and its distribution ranges from Africa through Asia to Burma and the islands of the Indian Ocean [2]. Sansevierias are the most popular ornamental plants such as long rhizomes and fibrous roots possessing traditional healing properties. The genus Sansevieria is represented in India by about 10 species mainly growing in the tropical region. The plant is generally cultivated in gardens for ornamentation in the leaves. It is called a ‘Good luck plant’, ‘Hammock’, ‘Snake plant’, ‘Saint George’s sword’, ‘Mother-in-law’s tongue’, and ‘Viper’s bowstring hemp’, etc. [3]

The genus Sansevieria belongs to the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales, and class Angiosperm. This genus has substantial species diversity globally, and many species are also characterized by a sufficient degree of genetic diversity. Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomal structure, location, and function in cells. It includes the study of chromosome number and appearance (karyotyping), the physical location of genes on chromosomes, and chromosomal behavior in processes such as cell division [4-7]. Cytogenetics is the branch of genetics that deals with the structure of DNA within the cell nucleus and chromosomal behavior. The number and morphology of chromosomes in cells of a particular species are always constant in the different species of Sansevieria species. This may be constant for a taxon and the cytological data is regarded as having more significance than other taxonomic evidence.

Currently, the stomatal structures were observed under the phase contrast Lynx Binocular Microscope (LM-52-1803-S) manufactured by Lawrence and Mayo India Private Limited, and the method was followed by Meidner & Mansfield [8]. The preparation was done with the commercially available quick fix (adhesive) [9]. Since Sansevierias species had amphistomatic (when the stomata are present on both sides of the leaf) type of stomata quick fix was applied and smeared as a thin layer on the abaxial surface of freshly collected Sansevierias leaves from each genotype and treatments. After 15 minutes, the thin film layer (≈5mmx15mm) was peeled from the leaf surface. The thin film was mounted on a glass slide and covered with a cover slip. The amphistomatic, flat, crescentic, and hemicylindrical leaves are present around the circumference of cylindrical leaves [10].

For this, the stomatal frequency was calculated by using the formula and expressed as a number of stomata/mm² [11].

To determine the real stomatal behavior distributions, the frequency distribution of stomatal apertures for single leaves was calculated from saplings and the canopy tree using Suzuki’s Universal Micro-Printing (SUMP) method [12]. We have attempted to correlate the number of stomata with their chromosome numbers.

The morphological parts of the Sansevieria metallica Gérôme & Labroy, Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. f., Sansevieria trifasciata Prain and Sansevieria zeylanica (L.) Willd., was observed and used for further experimentations (Figure 1).

Figure 1:Morphology of the various Snake plants - a) Sansevieria metallica Gérôme & Labroy; b) Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. f.; c) Sansevieria trifasciata Prain and d) Sansevieria zeylanica (L.) Willd.

Chromosome numbers are usually ascertained at mitosis and denoted as the diploid number (2n). Based on the work done by earlier scientists [4-7], the chromosome numbers and karyotypes of four species of Sansevieria belonging to the family Asparagaceae were investigated (Table 1).

Table 1:Chromosomal composition of the familiar Sansevieria plants.

*Indicate that the studies conducted by the various workers and the detailed corresponding references.

Among the four plant species such as Sansevieria metallica, Sansevieria roxburghiana, Sansevieria trifasciata, and Sansevieria zeylanica, the diploid chromosome number (2n) ranged from 36 to 42. The highest chromosome number is reported from S. zeylanica (42). However, changes in the chromosomal number can occur that reflect viability and phenotypic differences.

The stomatal observation was done on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces of flat, crescentic, and hemicylindrical leaves. This is in agreement with the earlier findings of Koller & Rost [3]. The results were obtained from photographs of the different species of Sansevierias under 40x magnification (Figure 2). However, there is a difference in the number of guard cells surrounding the stomatal structures. Therefore, the composition and distribution of stomatal structures and their guard cells may be associated with the number of chromosomes. Furthermore, the quantification of the guard cells and the main stomatal cells shall be required to complete the study.

Furthermore, the biological parts of the S. zeylanica species were studied (Figure 3) in particular and the methanolic leaf extracts produced from S. zeylanica plants showed a cytotoxic effect against the human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. The IC50 value of 1167.78μg/ml was obtained for the MDA-MB-231 cell lines after the exposure to 24h treatment. The increase in cell death of MDA-MB-231 cell lines with an increase in the concentration indicates that the methanolic leaf extract of S. zeylanica plants was found active [13]. Thus, the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of S. zeylanica indicate that this plant species is a “natural herbal source” and can be used for its potential pharmaceutical and pharmacological applications in a large-scale industry [13,14]. Owing to its adaptability, throughout India, it is predominantly used for traditional medical treatments. Due to its robust medicinal strength and efficiency, the effects of ethanolic extracts on the in vitro antimicrobial activity of 17 species of Sansevieria Thunb. the genus was studied [15]. The other medical properties of Sansevieria species are listed in Table 1.

Figure 2:Stomatal structures of the various Snake plants (Photographs obtained from the phase-contrast microscopy under 40x magnification) - a) Sansevieria metallica Gérôme & Labroy; b) Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. f.; c) Sansevieria trifasciata Prain and d) Sansevieria zeylanica (L.) Willd.

Figure 3:Photographs showing the details of the various morphological parts (red circled ones) of the Sansevieria zeylanica plants with a) Uprooted whole plant, b) roots, c) leaves, d) potted plant, and e) fruits.

Accordingly, the genus Sansevieria is unique and has rich species diversity. The different species can be studied and compared for their differences and similarities. However, little information is available on early mitosis, meiosis, and cytotoxicity establishment under normal and abnormal climatic conditions. Therefore, Sansevieria species can be used for the study of abnormalities of chromosomal number and structures, chromosomal behavior, shape, size, etc. Furthermore, the information related to flowering and fruiting is still unknown; however, there is a famously defined good luck plant for nursery market selling plants with different economic prices. Wild populations are becoming sparse due to a lack of popularization, utilization, and conservation. These disadvantages indicate that adaptable, underutilized, and neglected medicinal and ornamental plants need much more research attention and scientific efforts for conservation and popularization in the following aspects:
A. The biology of seed formation, flowering, and fruiting needs to be studied, to understand the species’ behavior in their germination and other phenological aspects under normal and abnormal climatic conditions.
B. Collection and characterization of Sansevieria species as underutilized herb has to be studied thoroughly and some variation in flowering and fruiting patterns due to the perennial nature.
C. Extensive research is needed to identify a leading type or superior genotype for flowers and fruits.
D. Plant tissue culture methods such as macro and micropropagation methods need to be standardized for faster multiplication and growth which is essential for the conservation of this species.
E. In situ conservation of these species is also a suitable method for the conservation of different germplasm of Sansevierias species.
F. Introducing the lesser-known species in horticulture, viz. floriculture, hedge rows, ornamental horticulture, silviculture, nursery business, and organized sole plantation will also serve the purpose of conservation and preservation.

Despite all this, the popularization of these species is the need of the hour to create awareness regarding cultivation, and conservation, which is essential for human populations and also for environmental sustenance. Thus, the current paper aims to excavate research areas for exploring the variability in wild populations and also choose the leading germplasms for further development studies which will provide a base for conservation and sustainable utilization.

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