This document summarizes a study on the effect of coir pith based cyanobacterial biofertilizer on the medicinal plant Hibiscus sabdariffa L. The study analyzed the morphological and biochemical parameters of plants treated with various concentrations of basal and foliar applications of the biofertilizer compared to untreated control plants. Treated plants showed better increases in morphological parameters and biochemical levels of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and anthocyanin compared to controls. The study concluded that the formulated coir pith based cyanobacterial biofertilizer can be recommended to promote plant growth, yield, and quality in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

1. EFFECT OF COIR PITH BASED CYANOBACTERIAL BASAL AND
FOLIAR BIOFERTILIZER ON MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT PLANT
HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.
J. JOHN BRITTO, S. DURAI RAJU*
, P. MALLIGA*
and B. VENKATESH
Dept. Of Biotechnology, J.J. College of Arts and Science, Pudukkottai- 622404,
*
NFMC, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli- 620024.
Medicinal plants are a source of great economic value in the world. However,
in last few years there is increasing demand for the herbal and food plants. To overcome
these problems this study has been designed to analyse the growth promoting effect of
basal and foliar application of coir pith based Cyanobacterial biofertilizer on medicinally
important plant Hibiscus sabdariffa L. And this was determined by analyzing the
morphological and biochemical parameters of the control and various concentrations of
basal and foliar treated plants. After treatment, test plant showed better increase in
morphological parameters when compared with untreated control plants. Same result
was observed on biochemical estimations of chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll,
carbohydrate, protein, lipid and medicinal component like anthocyanin in plants treated
with basal and foliar application. From this study it is revealed that the formulated coir
pith based Cyanobacterial biofertilizer may be recommended an enhanced technique in
the field of biofertilizer for developing a sustainable integrated agro ecosystem in such a
way to promote plant growth and increase the quality and quantity of the crop yield.
Thus, this method of farming system will help to ensure the purity of the plant derived
compound in an eco-friendly and pollution free environment.
National Seminar on “The Present Scenario in Biodiversity,
Biotechnology and Environmental Management” on 6th
and 7th
March, 2008.