Swertia chirayita (family Gentianaceae), is a high-demand temperate pluri-annual critically endangered medicinal plant demanding immediate in situ and ex situ conservation efforts, for which understanding of its breeding behaviour, ploidy status, etc, is important. Pollination studies conducted reveal this species to be both self as well as cross compatible, as 91.60% fruit set in open pollination conditions, 87.60% under controlled xenogamy, 44.20% under geitonogamy and 34.80% under autogamy are obtained. The flower is protogynous and the stigma becomes receptive to pollen germination while still in bud condition, which would allow forced bud pollination for hybrid development. The species is genomic allotetraploid (2n = 26) with about 69% pollen stainable. Flowering and fruiting commence during August to November in its third year of growth, after which the whole plant dies.

The study of the proper storage of medicinal plants after being harvested becomes necessary to minimize the loss of active constituents from microbial reactions, heat, moisture, light and enzymes etc. In the present study, fresh rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) were collected from 2600 m to 3300 m altitude of Himachal Pradesh (Rohtang area), India. The harvested material was washed to remove soil and other adhering materials, and then cut into small pieces and dried under shade. The air dried samples were packed in the different packing materials (i.e. Gunny bags or poly bags), stored either at room temperature or in refrigerator at 4° to 6 °C or in humid environment (85% humidity and 25 °C) for different storage durations and then analyzed their chemical constituents bimonthly. The study showed that the content of picroside-I and picroside-II decreased with the increase in storage duration irrespective of storage condition. However, the loss in picroside-I and picroside-II with storage was maximum when “Kutki” samples were stored under humid condition (85% humidity, 25 °C) and minimum loss was observed when samples were stored at low temperature (4-6 °C). So, to minimize the loss of picroside-I and picroside-II content in the drug Kutki during storage, Kutki must be stored at low temperature.

Valeriana jatamansi Jones (syn V wallichii DC) commonly known as Indian Valerian is a perennial medicinal herb of temperate Himalayas. The species exhibits polymorphism in its various morphological characters and sex forms. During the present investigations variation in leaf morphology was extensively studied. The results of the study revealed that significant variation was observed in terms of leaf characteristics viz lamina shape and leaf apex, base, margin, profile and colour. Plants with radical leaves of different lamina shapes viz ovate, ovate-deltoid, deltoid, oval, oval and reniform were found growing separately and the character was found stable after repeated observations. This preliminary study provides baseline information for development of better strains satisfying distinct, uniform and stable (DUS) criteria.