A study was conducted in three shola forests of Idukki District in Kerala namely Mannavan shola, Pambadum shola and Mangladevi shola to document the vegetative characters of the tree species seen in these forests and to develop a field identification key for the same. A total of 86 species were recorded during the study – 81 from Mannavan shola, 77 from Pambadum shola and 34 species from Mangladevi shola. The most dominant family was Lauraceae with 13 species. A field identification key for these 86 species was prepared based on dichotomous characterization and elimination with the aid of vegetative characteristics like phyllotaxy, shape, size, structure and texture of leaves, stipules etc. The key is user friendly and enables identification of arborescent tree species of shola forests in the field itself even in the absence of reproductive structures. This key is not an exhaustive one. Possibly some more species might not have been recorded during this study. Also shola forests in other Districts have not been considered for this study. Therefore, the key is of limited value.  Also, features like bark, blaze character, habitat, phenology etc. may be included to further enhance the precision to identify the tree species of shola forests.  Hence, there is further possibility to widen the scope of this key.

The scientific management plan for the forests of Sajwa round of Vadodara District was prepared using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) technique. This study was undertaken to evaluate the present management plan and suggest changes for better management of the forests. Suggestions were made based on IRS 1C, 1999 satellite data and the field data collected from forests. According to the analysis, the status of the forests was found degraded. Therefore, most of the forest patches from the round may be included in the afforestation working circle for better management. Also, the effectiveness of Remote Sensing data compared with conventional method in the forest cover monitoring was assessed and presented.

A study on diversity, composition and quantitative analysis of dominant tree species was carried out in twelve different sites varying from 1700 m to 2800 m above msl of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Selected sites favoured most of the forests on North-western aspect and were different in their ecoclimatic and phytogeographical features. Overall diversity of tree species in their number, varied from 4 to 12. Forests having high basal area, canopy cover and average tree height were mostly dominated by the conifers, comparatively with less disturbance. The sites with low basal area supported mixture of broadleaved with coniferous species, with high level of degradation. Ban oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) is heavily lopped as winter fodder, fuel wood, to prepare agricultural implements and for the preparation of coal. It is observed that species diversity and density decrease with increasing basal area. Species richness, Hill diversity indices (N1 and N2), Simpson’s (l) and Shannon’s diversity indices (H’) are reported maximum for the sites, dominated by mixed coniferous broadleaved forests. The minimum diversity value is observed in the localities that are occupied by pure conifer stands. The present study reflects that the sites possessing maximum diversity are under high level of disturbance and needs priority for conservation measures.

Chlorophorus strobilicola Champ., is an important insect belonging to order Coleoptera, family Cerambycidae and group Clytini. The pest has four generations annually. The 4th generation is over wintered. Larval stage is the most destructive stage. The larva while developing, feeds on the central axis and also bores through the seeds. Thus, posing danger to natural regeneration, seed quantity and quality. As the larval and pupal developments occur inside the cone, it is less exposed to natural enemies. Only two natural enemies (1 larval parasitoid and 1 predator) were recorded.

The Chir pine trees of 30-40 cm diameter were selected for oleoresin tapping in the campus area of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) during the years 2001 and 2002. Maximum heritability, genetic advance, genetic gain, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variance was observed for oleoresin yield in Chir pine. Maximum oleoresin yield was recorded of trees having dark green needles and the trees producing oleoresin of white colour were poor resin yielder.

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of different methods and doses of phosphorus application on the growth of Populus deltoides seedlings in nursery. Among the various methods tried, augerpit method of phosphorus application recorded more plant growth. Application of 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 and above resulted in an increase the plant height over control (P0). Doses x Methods interaction reflected significant effect on the plant growth. Treatment combinations of 100 kg P2O5 per ha mixed in augerpits of 15 cm diameter and 20 cm depth and the same dose placed at 5 cm depth in rows, 20 cm apart from the cutting line (on both sides of cuttings) produced plants of more height and diameter, respectively.

An attempt is made in this paper to identify the factor pattern on soil properties in six vegetation types viz., plantations of Eucalypt, Rubber and Teak and natural forests of evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous types, using the factor analysis. The analysis identified three significant factors viz., aggrading factor (38.81 percent), texture and acidity factor (20.13 percent) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) factor (9.82 percent). They together accounted for 69 percent of the total variation in the eleven selected soil properties. The three factor model explained > 80% of variance in total S; > 75% of the variance in gravel, sand, water holding capacity (WHC) and total P, > 65% of the variance in bulk density (BD), organic carbon (OC), total N and CEC; 60% variance in pH; 32% variance in silt. The inter-factor correlations indicate that this factor model is suitable for assessing the soil status in plantations and natural forests of Western Ghats, Kerala, India.

Enkianthus deflexus (Griff.) C. K. Schneid. var. acuminatus Panda & Sanjappa is discovered from Sikkim Himalaya and is described and illustrated.

Variation in seed characters of 30 seed sources of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. from diverse agro-climatic regions of India was found. Seed characters viz., 100 seed weight (g), seed length (mm), seed breadth (mm), seed thickness (mm), seed shape index, seed volume index and seed germination (%) were observed. All the seed characters in the present study showed high variability and strong correlations with each other. Germination percentage, 100 seed weight and seed volume index showed large variation. Genetic advance (as % of mean) was highest for seed germination (53.94 %) followed by 100 seed weight (39.74 %), while heritability (b.s.) was highest for 100 seed weight (0.94) followed by per cent germination (0.93). The correlation studies revealed significantly strong association of per cent seed germination with 100 seed weight (r=0.667), seed length (r=0.854) and seed volume index (r=0.935). Though the variation in the seed sources is large, it appears to be non-clinal. Therefore, study of these characters could be a guiding criterion in selecting and locating seed sources for improving germination and thereby seedling quality, which ultimately decides the success of the afforestation programme.

Seasonal variation in the population of Eriophyes prosopidis Saxena was studied in a young and mature tree stand of P. cineraria in the experimental field during 1999-2000. Minimum percentage infestation (from 6.25 to 8.3%) of gall bearing leaves in mature trees ranged in June whereas maximum percentage ranged from 33.8 to 53.8% during the month of September. Seasonal occurrence and population level of E. prosopidis in young trees revealed that total number of mites and their eggs within galls of these leaflets showed a greater variation in different months. The number of mites in young trees remained fairly high during the period from July to November. The average number of mites during this period was 164.5 mites per ten leaflets with a range from 59.5 to 187.0 mites per ten leaflets. The minimum number of mites (43/ten leaflets) was observed in the first week of May whereas the maximum number of mites (280/ten leaflets) was recorded in the last week of October. In case of both young and mature trees, the minimum and maximum activity of E. prosopidis and its eggs per gall was observed in May and November respectively. Leaf area index had a positive impact on the number of galls on young as well as on mature trees. Similarly, number of galls had a positive correlation on the number of mites and number of eggs on young and mature trees, which in its own turn influenced the number of mites and ultimately the number of eggs within the gall.

Three species of the genus Ceramium Roth (C. manorensis Anand, C. truncatum H.E. Peterson and C. subdichotomum Weber van Bosse) are described from the Malvan coast of Maharashtra. Of these, C. manorensis is first report from the Indian coast.

Efficacy of Metasystox 25 EC, Rogor 30 EC and Monocil 36 SL at three different concentrations, i.e. 0.025, 0.05 and 0.075 per cent was tested against Kusala salicis. The concentration 0.075 per cent was observed to be most effective resulting in more than 70.0 per cent and 88.0 per cent control at 3 days after spray and 15 days after spray, respectively. However, 0.025 per cent concentration was ineffective in providing desirable control of pest population. All the respective concentrations of the three insecticides were statistically at par in controlling the pest population.

Fifty-one seed samples of Dalbergia sissoo were collected from 9 sites of Jaipur and examined (dry seed examination), it revealed various discolourations and deformities viz., dark brown, black, white crusted, green coloured and dull, shiny appearing along with bold, flat, reniform, brown asymptomatic seeds. On incubation Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Curvularia lunata, Drechslera australiensis and Fusarium pallidoroseum were found to be the dominant fungi severely affecting seed germination and causing seedling abnormalities. Such seedling remained rotted, stunted and succumb to death.

Rediscovery of Euonymus paniculatus (Celastraceae) Wight ex Lawson and Syzygium beddomei (Duthie) Chithra (Myrtaceae), two endemic and threatened taxa are relocated from the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India after 110 years.

The paper deals with the aquatic angiosperms of Biswanath Chariali of Sonitpur District of Assam. 95 species belonging to 75 genera under 37 families have been enumerated. Their vernacular name, family, habitat, phenology and uses are also provided.

Foliicolous Lichens representing an interesting symbiotic life in phyllosphere, comprise 125 species in India and 91 species in Arunachal Pradesh that form ca 73% of the total Foliicolous Lichen flora of India. Arunachal Pradesh, in Eastern Himalaya exhibits maximum species diversity of Foliicolous Lichens among all the States in India. An analysis indicates that family Trichotheliaceae with 21 spp. is dominant, followed by Ectolechiaceae (16 spp.), Strigulaceae (13 spp.), Pilocarpaceae (13 spp.), Gomphillaceae (8 spp.), etc. The genus Porina with 20 spp. shows maximum diversity, followed by Strigula (12 spp.), Byssoloma (5 spp.), Calopadia (5 spp.), Mazosia (5 spp.), etc. Of the 9 taxa reported endemic to India, 3 are from Arunachal Pradesh. Similarly, out of the 53 species identified as rare for India, 25 species are found in Arunachal Pradesh. The study reports 5 spp., viz. Arthonia palmulacea (Müll. Arg.) R. Sant., Byssoloma polychromum (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., Coenogonium subleutum (Rehm) Kalb. & Vizda, C. zonatum (Müll. Arg.) Kalb & Lücking, Lasioloma phycophilum (Vain.) R. Sant., as new to Indian Lichen flora and 16 spp.  as new records for the State of Arunachal Pradesh. The paper also provides an updated checklist of all the known foliicolous species in India along with their status and distribution in the world.

Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. commonly known as “Marwar teak” is an indigenous species of arid regions of Rajasthan. The species is slow growing and commonly planted in agroforestry systems. It is a multipurpose tree species as it is used as fodder and furniture purposes. The wood is good for carving and used for making best quality furniture. VAM association occurs naturally in desert plants including T. undulata. These fungi play a significant role in arid zone forestry as they not only provide additional support to the plants through minerals but also help in survival of the plants in harsh climatic conditions. In the present paper, efficient strain of VAMF was selected for better biomass production, percentage of root colonization in T. undulata seedlings.

Leptolejeunea subdentata Schiffn. ex Herzog, a taxon so far known from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Caledonia, has been described for the first time in Indian bryoflora from Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh.