Biography:

Hit Kishore Goswami (born, 1942; M.Sc. in Botany; Ph.D.1970) has served as a teacher in schools colleges and later joined University of Bhopal, founded the Department of Genetics and finally retired as Professor of Genetics from Barkatullah University, Bhopal in 2004. Having versatile teaching and research experiences he has published around 250 research papers, has lectured in more than 120 institutes and Universities in 18 countries. He has discovered twelve new plant species (five Isoetes and five Ophioglossum taxa; fossil gymnosperm genus,one cyanophyte). His publications on plants and Human cytogentics are cited world over in relevant journals and books.

Abstract:
Our poly — trait diagnosis approach (Ptda) investigating on all possible parametershave not only authenticated diagnosis of species described from India but also assert that themost important and reliable morphological features are both light microscopic as well asscanning electron microscopy of spores. SEM of spores exhibits exine ornamentation in detail.As far as possible, morphological studies should also be supported by DNA based phylogeneticstudies of chloroplast genomes (plastomes). Recently, RNA dependent interference and similarmechanisms are also gaining importance in comparative phylogenetics. Thus Ptda approach isoften applicable for all genera. Chromosome studies should also be carried out not only forcounting numbers of chromosomes, but also in relation to chromosome shape, size andbehaviour during cell divisions. X-Y mechanism in Isoetes pantii Goswami & Arya detected in1975 is now a reality. Many unsolved questions related to Helminthostachys and Psilotumrequiring attention of skilled investigators are also needed in depth. Recently, elsewherepublished studies based on Sanger sequences of eight plastid markers of 184 accessions,22 plastomes, 29 morphological characters, and combined Sanger and morphological data, haveemphatically concluded that there are 07 genera within the family Ohioglossaceae. These are :Botrychium, Botrypus, Japanobotrychium, Sceptridium, Ophioglossum, Goswamia, Haukia, andWhittieria. Precisely, Ophioglossum genus has three additional sister genera Goswamia, Haukia,and Whittieria which are all deeply diverged from the rest of Ophioglossum (Ophioglossums.s.) on the basis of comparative phylogenetic studies on several plastomes. Accordingly,originally conventional Ophioglossum plants with bulbous or cylindrical corm / rhizome withbulk of roots (like O. costatum) are being identified as Goswamia Zhang & Zhang and plantswith small, linear corm with a few roots as Ophioglossum L.The theme of this presentation is to emphasize on multidisciplinary collaborativestudies. While detailed morphological studies cannot be ignored, we have to generate data onDNA sequences for as many ferns as possible.Estimations of DNA methylation patterns amongdifferent species must be studied to understand evolutionary relationships. Laboratories andgroups of young individuals should collaborate on such a DNA mission on ferns inparticular. Though, funds and faith are too big a problem!!Key Words : Modern challenges inpteridophytes; Importance of morphology andanatomy; DNA profile of ferns; Molecular phylogenetics; Biochemical investigations