Phenology Study of the Selected Crotalaria Species and Pharmacological Values in Andhra Pradesh Region

The study area supports a rich diversity of Crotalaria species, which exhibit considerable variability in their phenophases. These variations appear to be naturally selected, enabling the species to adapt successfully to local environmental conditions. Understanding vegetation through Plant Functional Types (PFTs) is particularly important in the context of increasing global concerns over deforestation and forest fragmentation caused by human activities. Human interference is evident in the study area, highlighting the urgent need for conservation measures. In addition to anthropogenic pressures, environmental factors such as climate and seasonal variations also influence phenophases, often leading to reduced plant productivity and affecting the survival and yield of associated species. Therefore, it is essential to develop effective conservation strategies for these Crotalaria species, as they hold significant ecological and economic importance. Protecting them will help maintain biodiversity and ensure ecological balance within the region.

1.                Wakode AV, Dhore MM. Phenological study of some species of Fabaceae from Buldhana district, Maharashtra (India). International Journal of Current Engineering and Scientific Research (IJCESR). 2018;5(1):396-98. 2.                Rachitha CJ, Krishnaswamy K. Phenology of the Genus Crotalaria L. (Fabaceae-Papilionoideae) of Holalkere, Hosadurga and Chitradurga Thaluks of Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India. Plant Science Today (Early Access). https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.1393 3.                Kirsty H. Macphie, Albert B. Phillimore, Phenology, Current Biology, Volume 34, Issue 5, 2024, Pages R183-R188, ISSN 0960-9822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.007. 4.                Nandikar, M.D., Kishor, K.C. & Malpure, N.V. (2018). On the occurrence of Crotalaria uncinella subsp. elliptica (Fabaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Phytotaxa 379 (1): 073-077. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.379.1.7 5.                Rokade, K., Dalavi J.V., Gaikwad, S., Gaikwad, N. & Yadav, S. (2019). A new variety of Crotalaria prostrata Roxb. (Fabaceae) from the Northern Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 14 (1): 035-040. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.414.1.4 6.                Rokade, K., Dalavi, J.V., Gaikwad, S. & Gaikwad, N. (2020). Crotalaria shrirangiana (Fabaceae): A new rattlepod from the Western Ghats of India. Phytotaxa 449 (2): 188-194. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.449.2.7 7.                Dhatchanamoorthy N, Noorunnisa Begum S, Patturaj R, Mahendra Nath Mitta. Crotalaria leschenaultii DC. (Fabaceae): A poorly known species rare and endemic Legumes from the Eastern Ghats, Southern India. Species, 2021, 22(70), 222-225. 8.                Arigela RK, Reddy S. New synonymy in the genus Crotalaria L. (Fabaceae). Species, 2022, 23(71), 54-59. 9.                Sanjappa M. Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. 1992; 280 pp. 10.             Rather SA, Subramaniam S, Danda S, Pandey AK. Discovery of two new species of Crotalaria (Leguminosae, Crotalarieae) from Western Ghats, India. PLoS ONE. 2018; 13(2):1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192226.