The present study assessed standing biomass and carbon stocks of different life forms across five types of tropical forest in southern Andhra Pradesh region of Peninsular India. The assessment was based on a total inventory of all life forms in the sampled area using a nested plot design. A total of ten sites of, 250×250 m² were established in all the forest types. The total biomass, both above and below ground, was calculated. Aboveground biomass of trees was estimated using allometric equations. As the results, carbon stocks showed varied in different types of forests. Moist deciduous forests show higher carbon stock 297.0±54.66 Mg ha^-1 followed by red sanders type forest (64.56±18.57), dry deciduous mixed forest (45.03±39.15), Hardwickia type forest (44.19±8.83) and scrub (22.75±13.42) respectively. The present study provide a better insight on aboveground biomass and carbon stock estimates for tropical peninsular Indian forests and their role in carbon sequestration.

Soil properties and sand mineralogy were studied in forest area of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand covering four forest divisions namely Badrinath Forest Division, Kedarnath Wildlife Forest Division, Nanda Devi National Park and Alaknanda Soil Conservation Forest Division with different ranges viz. Chamoli, Joshimath, Gopeshwar, Madhya Pindari, Paschim Pindari, Naraingarh, Dhanpur, Attagad, Nandprayag and Pipalkoti. The study area was selected on the basis of altitude, vegetation distribution, parent material and topography. The forest type of the area is Himalayan moist temperate forests with Picea smithiana, Cedrus deodara, Quercus leucotrichophora, Pinus roxburghii, and Miscellaneous (Amaltas, Rohani, Asain, Semal and Mahua) as the dominant species. Geologically, the rocks of the study area are  pre-cambrian to early paleozoic in age with recent and subrecent deposits. The soils were generally sandy loam in texture with acidic pH. Organic carbon is generally higher in forest areas at high altitude with maximum accumulation in the surface layer. Cation exchange capacity of the soil in different depth showed inconsistent trend. Exchangeable  Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺ increased in the sub-surface horizons in some of the profiles due to presence of limestone parent material.   The study suggested that P. smithiana grows well on schist and  gneiss, C. deodara flourishes well on limestone, dolomite and quartzite, Q. leucotrichophora flourishes with good regeneration on phyllite and slate, P. roxburghii grows on quartzite and  limestone and miscellaneous forests on boulders, limestone, shales, pebbles. Mineralogical composition showed that variations are mostly due to nature of parent rock and weathering stage. The study, therefore, indicates the presence of low to moderate amounts of weatherable minerals suggesting  their podzolic nature.

Salinity induced pigment changes were studied in hydroponically grown plants of a freshwater loving mangrove, Nypa fruticans. The seedlings of the species were analyzed for Chl a, Chl b, total chlorophyll, Chl a:b ratio and carotenoid at five different salinity levels. The concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments exhibited significant negative correlations with salinity (p < 0.01). The total chlorophyll expressed, on unit fresh wt. basis decreased by 25.00%, 32.72%, 33.01% and 29.34% at the end of 7^th, 14^th, 21^st and 30^th day due to salinity change from 2 to 15 psu. The carotenoid decreased by 28.57%, 47.37%, 31.25% and 66.66% at the end of 7^th, 14^th, 21^st and 30^th day due to similar change in salinity level. The Chl a:b ratio in the plant remained almost constant throughout the period of investigation. The results show that Nypa fruticans of Indian Sundarbans region can be sustained and propagated under low saline environment. At 15 psu, the plants become acclimated in one to two weeks, but at 20 psu the seedlings could not survive. The present study is extremely relevant as the Central Indian Sundarbans of Lower Gangetic Plain is experiencing a gradual rise in salinity over a period of two decades.

Study on Ulmus villosa Brandis was carried out in Himachal Pradesh to estimate the genetic variability for morphometric traits of progenies at nursery stage.  Seeds were collected from five mother trees each at six seed sources and progenies were raised. All the growth characters, except number of branches, varied significantly among different seed sources and trees within seed source. Leaf area and number of leaves were found to have high coefficient of variability, whereas collar diameter, plant height and petiole length had high heritability with moderate genetic gain suggesting their importance for the success of improvement through selection. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations for all possible pairs were also found out and discussed. Highly significant and positive genotypic and significant phenotypic correlations were observed for height and diameter indicating their significance in indirect selection.

Fourteen Dalbergia sissoo clones collected from its distribution zone in the country and were raised in vegetative multiplication garden at Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Out of the existing plant stock five clones were selected from Rajasthan origin, two from Haryana, six from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand for the present study. Plants growth data together with nodules were recorded from roots and further assessed for nodulation and nitrogenase activity. Maximum pl^-1 nitrogenase activity and height was recorded from U.P (Clone no 33 and 20), whereas, highest collar diameter, nodule weight and number was recorded from Rajasthan (Clone no 80 and 103). Overall clones collected from Uttar Pradesh showed better performance over others. Further for accurate and real selection of the clones, nitrogen fixation and its seasonal behavior performance of each clone is required to be studied. Secondly, for different Shisham growing area, maintenance of clonal seed orchard and vegetative multiplication garden is recommended to conserve the vigour of individual clonal material on agro-climatic zone basis for the future planting stock improvement program and to combat the Shisham mortality in the field and in near future.

A field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil during the two rabi seasons at research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, to study the effect of different irrigation levels viz., no post sowing irrigation, two irrigations at 22 and 85 days after sowing (DAS), four irrigations at 22, 45, 85 and 105 DAS, and six irrigations at 22, 45, 65, 85, 105 and 120 DAS, and four fertilizer levels (0, 75, 100 and 125 per cent of the recommended dose of 150 kg N and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) on yield and uptake of NPK of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropped with 4-5 years old plantation of Eucalyptus tereticornis (6 x 2 m) vis-à-vis sole Wheat. In Eucalyptus based Agroforestry System, application of six irrigations and 125 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in higher grain and straw yield of Wheat, whereas in sole Wheat significantly higher grain and straw yield of Wheat was recorded only up to two irrigations and 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer dose. The maximum uptake of N P K was recorded at six irrigations and 125 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer in Eucalyptus based Agroforestry System. The N P K uptake in sole Wheat also increased with increase in fertilizer levels, however, irrigation frequency effects varied with the nutrient.

The seeds of Gluta travancorica, tend to lose its viability within a month under ambient conditions and the sensitivity of the seeds towards desiccation and chilling environments indicating the recalcitrant nature. The seeds with initial 50% moisture content could remain viable upto 17 months by maintaining the critical moisture content between 40 - 42% during storage in controlled conditions, 20 ± 2º C & 40% RH. The storage practice thus standardized could be adopted as a promising method for the germplasm preservation and subsequent multiplication for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the species for the posterity.

The present study was carried out in six temple forest landscapes in Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand State in India. The six studied landscapes fall within the four districts of Garhwal Himalaya and are dominated by temperate vegetation. Biodiversity value and ecosystem services provided by these forests are based on both, discussions with local inhabitants and secondary available literature. A total of 257 plant species representing 179 genera belonging to 77 families were recorded from study area. Maximum number of species 119 were present in Ansuiya Devi, whereas lowest 80 were present in Chanderbadni. Out of 201 plant species, having different biodiversity value, 121 are of medicinal importance. Presence of sacred entities has reduced the utilization pressure of resources like fuel wood, fodder and timber from these forests. However the services provided by these landscapes in the form of ecotourism, cultural and traditional heritage conservation may benefit them in sustainable utilization of resources in future.

Three taxa viz. Gomphostemma mastersii Benth. ex Hook. f., Phlomis bracteosa Royle ex Benth. and Phlomis tibetica C. Marquand & Airy Shaw are reported as new distributional records for West Bengal flora.

Cyperus surinamensis Rottb. (Cyperaceae), an adventive species, is reported here as a new record to the flora of India from Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka. A detailed description, illustration and distribution of the species is provided.

Sonneratia lanceolata Blume (Sonneratiaceae) is reported here as a first distributional record for India from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A short description along with colour plate and relevant notes is provided here for further collection and identification in field.

The present manuscript deals with the Pteridophytic flora of Deoria Tal of Rudraprayag District. A total 67 species under 33 genera belonging 22 families of Pteridophytes from the area has been reported along with the critical notes of their ecology, distribution.

The fern Athyrium drepanopterum (Kunze) A. Braun ex Milde is a new record for the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

The occurrence of Koilodepas calycinum Bedd. in Kerala has been doubtful for a long time as the known areas of distribution at present are within the political boundary of Tamil Nadu.  The present collection from Achenkovil not only confirms its occurrence in Kerala but also extended its distribution towards North beyond Aryankavu pass.

A periodic survey for the collection of foliicolous fungi from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, resulted into the description and illustration of a new interesting species of Tharoopama Subram. viz. T. livistonae. The new species has been reported from the leaf sheath of Livistona chinensis R.Br. which is described as follows.

The critical study of the relevant literatures, type image, herbarium and living specimens of Herminium macrophyllum (D. Don) Dandy revealed that this species clearly belongs to the genus Peristylus Blume and should not be treated in the genus Herminium. Therefore, a new combination is proposed to transfer Herminium macrophyllum (D. Don) Dandy to the genus Peristylus.

Maclura pubescens (Trecul) Z. K. Zhou & M.G. Gilbert, hitherto unreported from India is recorded for the first time from Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

The paper presents an updated list of 250 species of lichens known so far from the state of Assam. 31 species marked by an asterisk (*) are new records for the state.

Eragrostis collinensis, a new grass species is described and illustrated.

Eurya stenophylla is reported for the first time from India, where as Ardisia griffithii and Diospyros elegans are reported for the first time from Assam. Diospyros elegans and Justicia punduana are rediscovered after a century. Detailed taxonomic descriptions along with photographs are provided in the present communication.

Crotalaria trichotoma Bojer (Fabaceae: Crotalarieae), is reported here for the first time from Peninsular India. Detailed description and images are provided.

A new species of Acanthus, A. albus (Acanthaceae) is described and illustrated from Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, India.

Four species of Cresponea are recorded from the Andaman Islands. Cresponea leprieurii (Mont.) Egea & Torrente is reported as a new record for India. Cresponea flava (Vain.) Egea & Torrente and C. plurilocularis (Nyl.) Egea & Torrente are reported for the first time from Andaman Islands.

Erythrodes blumei (Lindl.) Schltr. (Orchidaceae), a terrestrial orchid is reported as new addition to the orchid flora of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

A survey of the tree flora of Mahe was carried out. A total of 138 species belonging to 114 genera and 49 families are recorded. The threats and conservation strategies are discussed.