In the present study, carbon stocks of trees outside forests in Kurnool district was estimated through sampling of 143 hectare area in 413 plots. A total of 93 species belonging to 80 genera and 37 families were recorded in the sampled plots. Extrapolated biomass and carbon stocks are calculated for Kurnool district as 2.131 Mt and 1.012 Mt respectively. The carbon sequestration potential of the trees outside forests of Kurnool district is estimated at 3.197 Mt CO₂.  

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.  is one of the most important timber species of India. It is used for high quality furniture, cabinets making and has pesticidal property. It is commonly planted tree species in urban and suburban areas, roadsides and industrial areas where the soil may be polluted with heavy metals such as Co or Pb. Lead (Pb) and Cobalt (Co) are one of the non essential and toxic heavy metals which can cause oxidative stress in plants. The concentrations of these heavy metals in the environment are currently increasing, due mainly to anthropogenic activities. The effect of these heavy metals on biochemical parameters and antioxidant activity were studied in leaves of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. grown under control laboratory conditions in pot culture and four levels of heavy metal stress (10, 20, 30 and 40ppm Pb²⁺, Co²⁺). Six months exposure of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. plantlets to different concentration of Co or Pb in normal soil conditions elicited an antioxidative response, measured in terms of ascorbic acid, proline accumulation and biochemical responses in terms of protein and free amino acids. The results indicate that the proline, ascorbic acid contents increased with increase in Co and Pb amount in soil whereas the protein and total chlorophyll contents showed opposite trend.

Pot culture experiments were conducted with twenty treatment combinations of salt and water stress following Randomized Complete Block Design in the nursery of Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur for one year. 4, 8 and 12 ds/m concentrations of salt in combination with moderate and severe drought & moderate and severe waterlogged treatments in the soil were applied. The amount of water equal to the field capacity of the soil was given to each treatment (24.86%). The drought conditions were maintained according to Permanent Wilting point (PWP), which was calculated on the basis of Cumulative Pan Evaporation (CPE) values measured through Open Pan Evaporimeter. It was observed that height and collar diameter of P. pinnata seedlings decreased with increase in drought conditions but increased with increase in severity of waterlogging. Growth characteristics significantly decreased with increase in concentration of salts in the soil. Cumulative effect of water and salt stress was found to be more pronounced than individual stress.

The allelopathic effects of  eight selected agroforestry tree litter on the sprouting and early growth of the understorey tuber crop, elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeniifolius) were examined  during 2014-’15. Litter leachates at 2% concentration and litter mulch were used for the study and it was found that the effects of litter mulch were significant on sprouting and seedling growth while with the leachate, significant effects were recorded only on shoot growth and leaf production. The effects varied with species, tamarind and wild jack recorded maximum inhibition both as leachate and mulch. Litter of rubber, mango and jack showed stimulatory effects thus bringing to light their potential to be used as organic inputs in elephant foot yam cultivation.

Rhus parviflora Roxb. (Anacardiaceae) is commonly known as “small flowered poison sumac”. It is found in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka at an altitude of 700–1100 masl. R. parviflora is recorded in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia as having therapeutic uses for Vata vikara, which are the complications related to neurological disorders including anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis. In present piece of work an effort is made to investigate the antimicrobial potential of acetone and methanol extracts were tested against various bacterial species viz., Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella pullorum by using Agar well diffusion methods and against the fungal species (Rhizoctonia. solani, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium. solani, Aspergillus humicola, Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium. canadense) by Poisoned food technique. Results highlighted antimicrobial potential of  R. parviflora extracts  against the range of microbes,  gram positive bacteria   as well as gram negative bacterial species  and fungal species, so that the extract from these plants can be used as broad spectrum antibiotic in near future.

Rapid industrialization in Bhagwanpur industrial area (Uttarakhand) severely affected soil. Various industries such as cement industry, electroplating industries, small scale steel industries are contaminating environment in several ways. Efforts were made to study the biochemical changes in response to three different soils in Cassia occidentalis L. CRD pot culture experiment was laid out via using three different soil types viz. industrial area soil, control soil and mixed soil (50% control soil: 50% industrial area soil). Biochemical constituents like proteins and photosynthetic pigments viz. chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’, total chlorophylls and carotenoids were analysed on 30th day of culture. Significant differences (0.05%) were observed among different soils used. Contaminated soils drastically reduced pigments as well as protein content. Maximum protein, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b ratio were observed in plants raised in control soil. In contrast, the carotenoid content was maximum in plants grown in mixed soil.

Phytodiversity assessment in forests of Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, India was conducted. Three Forest Ranges of Dehra Dun Forest Division were extensively surveyed for collection in different seasons. A total of 313 plant species belonging to 235 genera and 71 families were collected and recorded.  

The paper reports the occurrence of 39 species of crustose and foliose lichens for the first time to the state of Meghalaya in North-East India. Porina eminentior (Nyl.) P. M. McCarthy is recorded as new to India. Distribution of each species in India and distinguishing characters are provided to facilitate their identification.

Extended distribution of Ficus superba (Miq.) Miq. to Tamil Nadu and F. middletonii Chantaras to Andhra Pradesh are reported here.

Ranunculus bikramii Aswal & Mehrotra (Ranunculaceae), a point endemic species from Rohtang pass, Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh is reported here as new record for the flora of Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. Furthermore, additional distributional localities in Himachal Pradesh are also provided recording wider distribution range with locally common occurrence for this Indian Western Himalayan endemic species.

Two species of family Lejeuneaceae, viz. Cololejeunea subocelloides Mizut. and Drepanolejeunea laciniata Qiong He & R.L.Zhu are described for the first time in Indian bryoflora from Sikkim.

Cylindropuntia fulgida (Engelm.) F.M.Knuth var. mamillata (A.Schott ex Engelm.) Backeb. (Cactaceae), a native of south-Central Arizona in the USA, is reported for the first time for India from Nagarjuna konda Island of Andhra Pradesh. Detailed description, photo plate and relevant notes are provided.

The present paper deals with the studies on the Pteridophytic flora of Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand.

Onosma pyramidale Hook.f. (Boraginaceae) has been recollected after a century from Kumaun Himalaya.

Ficus concinna (Miq.) Miq. is reported as new record for the flora of West Bengal State.

Alysicarpus roxburghianus Thoth. & Pramanik is recorded here first time from Gujarat. Detailed taxonomic description, phenology, distribution, ecology and photoplate are provided to facilitate easy identification.

Gisekia pharnaceoides L. collected from Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, India is reported here as a new distributional family record for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Acmella radicans var. debilis (Kunth) R.K.Jansen and Spermacoce exilis (L.O.Williams) C.D. Adams ex W.C. Burger & C.M. Taylor are reported for the first time from Odisha state. Detailed description, photo plate and relevant notes are provided.

The extended distribution of a rare, endemic orchid species Luisia abrahami Vatsala from Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, southern Eastern Ghats has been reported.