Thirty six species of seed borers of leguminous forest tree species were collected and identified damaging the seeds of 31 leguminous tree species from Central India. The preventive and protective measures against these pests have been described.

In Casuarina equisetifolia so far no volume table is available to predict harvested biomass as that of Teak, Gmelina sp. and Callophyllum sp. Hence an experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore during 1993-96 involving 720 trees. These trees were subjected for the development of allometric relationship. Actual volume was worked out and it was compared with various methods used for other tree crops.  Using curve fit function “Table curve” a linear model was developed and a form factor was derived owing to the reason that the tree is not exactly a cylindrical and tapering towards its growing point. By simple multiplying the constant (0.38556644) with D2H value the volume of the Casuarina equisetifolia could be obtained. The chi-square also indicates that this is a précised method for the computation of volume through non-destructive method.

Glomus mosseae inoculation significantly increased number of nodules in both the tree species but to varied extent. Acacia nilotica exhibited higher number of nodules. VAM inoculation significantly increased N, P and K concentration of root and shoot in both the tree species whereas P fertilization increased P in shoots of A. nilotica. Roots exhibited significantly higher N and P in A. nilotica and phosphorus and potassium in D. sissoo.

Oak forests are dwindling in the Western Himalayan region. Curculio sikkimensis which is a pest of Oak acorns may be considered as one of the major causes which has resulted in decrease in natural regeneration. All the three instars of larvae were observed to feed on the endosperm tissue of the acorns. The third instar larvae usually ate away almost the whole endosperm and turned it into frass. The extent of damage was found to be higher in the pure forests (81.6%) than as compared to the scrub forests (48%). Infestation was found to be higher in case of the acorns collected from the tree crown than as compared to the acorns collected from the forest floor.

The preliminary phytochemical analysis of E. odoratum showed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins and tannins. The in vitro antifungal activity of different extracts against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Macrophomina phasiolina has been carried out. The petroleum ether and butanol extract are found to be very effective in inhibiting the growth of A. flavus, A. niger and C. gloeosporioides. Methanol extract has showed high inhibition activity against M. phasiolina when compare to other extracts and water extract showed moderate inhibition against A. flavus and M. phasiolina.

Botanical explorations undertaken in District Doda of Jammu and Kashmir State from 1988 to 1992 brought to light six species new to Jammu Province.

Variability in respect of growth and anatomical parameters were studied in 15 (11 exotic and 4 indigenous) mulberry germplasm accessions. A wide range of variation observed among different accessions both for growth and anatomical parameters. Analysis of variance showed significance at P<0.01 level in all parameters studied. To find out the association, simple correlation was carried out among the different parameters. High significant and positive correlation observed in shoot number per plant, longest shoot length and total shoot length with leaf yield per plant. Single leaf weight showed negative significant correlation with longest shoot length, internodal distance and survival per cent whereas positive significant association with leaf area and moisture per cent. Among anatomical parameters stomatal frequency showed negative significant association with spongy layer thickness and moisture retention capacity. Besides this, all other characters also showed association among themselves.

Indian gazelle (Gazella gazella bennetti) commonly known as Chinkara was observed at Dhorimanna of Barmer District, one of the district of the Thar Desert, in Rajasthan to understand the diurnally activity pattern and time allocated to various activities, viz., grazing, walking, standing and rest. Gazelle showed two major activity namely grazing and rest wherein devoted nearly equal time 43.9% and 40.9% respectively which comprised of 85% of total time. The grazing peaks were in the morning and evening hours. The peak of rest was in the hours where grazing is minimum or nil. Other two activities standing and walking were insignificant. Indian gazelle ate 19 species out of 36 species available in natural habitat. Almost all part of plants were consumed. The browser nature of gazelle is confirmed.

Germinability parameters of Albizia chinensis seeds were studied by employing four different pesticides namely Lindane dust (5%), Aluminium phosphide (1 tablet), Karathane (8%), and Nuvan (10%) to control the seed mycoflora under different storage conditions to extend its longevity. The treated seeds were then stored in three containers namely poly bag, canvas bag and tin container and kept at varied storage temperatures, viz., room temperature, 5±1^oC and 0±1^oC. Seeds treated with Aluminium phosphide stored in poly bag at 5±1^oC temperature excelled all other combinations of treatments maintaining the maximum germination.

Seasonal differences in percentage length of fuel-wood host roots, viz., Albizia lebbeck, Acacia nilotica and Prosopis juliflora infected with Glomus mosseae were measured in five field sites in Mainpuri District of U.P. Highest G. mosseae infection levels were generally found in the rainy season in phosphorus deficient soils, low in moisture. The root sampled from the soils with a high soil-moisture content, fine endophyte infection increased to a maximum later in the growing season. A higher percentage frequency of fine endophyte infection on fine fuel-wood feeder roots in rainy season is taken as evidence for the hypothesis that G. mosseae is a vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus particularly adapted to penetrating host roots during brief seasonal fluxes of phosphorus availability. The implications of these data are discussed in relation to mechanisms in fuel-wood trees which adapt them to nutrient stress.

Different bird species show strong preferences and associations with different tree species. In the present study, 18 bird species were identified as constituting avian community on tree species, e.g., Simbal, Banyan and Eucalyptus. Specific preference of bird species for specific tree species depend on various factors such as availability of food, protection, perching and roosting sites.

A study was conducted to find out the effect of pre-sowing treatments on the germination and seedling vigour of irrigated teak. The drupes, subjected to pre-sowing treatments were germinated under open condition.  Soaking and drying of drupes for 5 days at an interval of 12 hours followed by soaking in 2% Potassium Nitrate solution recorded 45 per cent germination against 21.3 per cent in the control. In addition to enhanced germination in 2% Potassium Nitrate treatment, seedling emergence took place within 17 days as against 21 days in control drupes.

In bioassays, allelopathic activity of leaf, root and soil extracts of Albizia procera (Roxb). Benth. was studied on germination, growth, nodulation and biochemical changes in Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean). In second study, effect of nitrogen along with extracts was studied. Chemical analysis of A. procera leaves revealed presence of good amount of phenolics, flavonones, terpenoids and glycosides. High Performance Liquid Chromatography revealed presence of four phenolic acids in root, six in leaf and five in soil extracts of A. procera. The leaf, root and soil extracts of A. procera promoted germination, radicle growth, shoot length, nodulation, seed protein and chlorophyll ‘b’ of soybean, however, adverse effect was exhibited on leaf carbohydrate, plumule length and ascorbic acid content of soybean leaf. Nitrogen application with extracts reduced germination, shoot length, root length, nodulation, leaf protein, carbohydrate and ascorbic acid content as compared to extracts alone.

Twenty four genotypes of Terminalia arjuna and T. tomentosa were studied from Chhattisgarh (erstwhile Madhya Pradesh), Orissa and Jharkhand (erstwhile Bihar) for fruit characters. Fruit weight and breadth of wings in fruits exhibited high G.C.V. which suggests high genetic variability of these characters. High heritability value for fruit weight, breadth of wings and germination % were associated with high genetic advance indicating additive gene effects for these characters, whereas low/moderate genetic advance against high heritability for length of fruits indicated intra- or inter-allelic interactions for this character. The coheritability of all the fruit characters with germination % were lower than the heritability of germination % alone. The coheritability of fruit weight with length of fruits and breadth of wings was also higher than the heritability of fruit weight alone which indicates pleiotropism or linkage between these characters. The co-genetic advance was also observed between the pair of these three characters. The length of fruits was significantly and positively correlated with fruit weight and breadth of wings as compared to non-significant positive correlation between weight and breadth of wings, and negative correlation of germination % with other fruit characters. Hence, for rapid afforestation programmes, fruit (seeds) should be collected from trees producing smaller seeds rather than larger seeds in these taxa.

Vepris bilocularis (Wight & Arn.) Engl. & Prantl (Rutaceae), Humboldtia decurrens Beddome ex Oliver (Caesalpiniaceae) and Symplocos monantha Wight (Symplocaceae) all little known and threatened species distributed in fragmented isolated population in Western Ghats, are described.

The tree and shrub layer analysis was carried out in a Central Himalayan forest area between 1500-2000 m elevation. Except pine, the density of seedling and sapling in almost all species was very low. Pine shows its gradual spread, over Oak and other species, in the whole study area. Biotic factors also cause the poor regeneration and less survival of seedlings.

The first part deals with conservation and protection measures taken by Government through National Committee on Environmental Planning (NCEP), Man and Biosphere Committee (MAB) and Environmental Information System (ENVIS) by framing Conservation and Protection Act. The second part on need for conservation of butterflies, highlighting the causes of their depletion, due to various developments in the islands, without evaluating the demerits. Measures taken by the author and necessary steps to be taken by the concerned authorities immediately, to save the rare, very rare and straggler endemic species/subspecies of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, unable to sustain the farming, settlements and further deforestation, are discussed.

An experiment was conducted on natural resistance in Shisham clones in foothills of Western Himalayas under which 35 clones of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh origin were screened against Odontotermes parvidens. Data recording was done monthly from January 2000 to June 2000. After calculating the percentage of infestation all clones were categorized as most resistant (7 clones, i.e., 92, 99, 83, 78, 87, 103 and 107), highly resistant (4 clones, i.e., 66, 58, 15 and 61), resistant (5 clones, i.e., 55, 81, 106, 204 and 215), moderately resistant (5 clones, i.e., 10, 24, 86, 91 and 200), least resistant (7 clones, i.e., 49, 236, 36, 237, 20, 101 and 260), least susceptible (2 clones, i.e., 6 and 90), moderately resistant (3 clones, i.e., 51, 42 and 49) and highly susceptible (only one clone, i.e., 44 from Uttar Pradesh origin).

While studying the morphology of Populus ciliata × P. maximowiczii hybrid it was found that the growth potential was maximum in clone CM2 4-15/91 with height and diameter of 2.11 m and 1.70 cm respectively. Average leaf blade length was 1.9 times compared to average maximum leaf width and average nerve length was 5 times to average petiole length in the clones studied. Average stomatal density was found around 240 stomata mm-2 with average stomatal length was 1.6 times than the average stomatal width. The stomata was found to be elliptic shaped and paracytic type with elaborate stranded patterns found emanating from stomata. The details of qualitative morphological variability found in the clones are presented in detail in this paper.