Clearfelling of natural stand and pure Teak plantation is the common practice followed in FDCM Ltd. in Maharashtra. After effect of clearfelling and resulting stand development pattern is not fully understood in case of Teak plantation. This paper presents the preliminary study on stand development patterns in a 25 years old Teak plantation and compared it with the natural stand (i.e. before clearfelling and plantation). Results indicate that stand development pattern in Teak plantation after clearfelling, approaches towards the natural stand as far as the Non-Teak : Teak ratio is concerned. These observations are important for study of stand-dynamics and for yield prediction.

Data on twenty six high resin yielders and ten check trees of Pinus roxburghii were recorded for thirteen characters namely oleoresin yield, height, diameter, grain angle, specific gravity of wood, bark percentage of wood, tracheid length, needle length, needle thickness, diameter of resin ducts, number of resin ducts, lignin percentage of wood and holocellulose percentage of wood. The simple correlation coefficient between different pairs of characters was also computed. Path analysis of simple correlation revealed that number of resin ducts, diameter of resin ducts, needle length, bark percentage of wood, height and diameter contributed directly to the oleoresin yield, thereby indicating their direct involvement and relative importance for increase in the ultimate oleoresin yield.

The present paper deals with the optimum spacing and water requirement of P. cineraria to achieve maximum plant growth. 3 x 3 m spacing with monthly irrigation after establishment of plants is found optimum for increasing growth parameters.

This paper enumerates eleven species of angiosperms from ten families, which have not been reported from Kannur District, Kerala. They are collected from Kottiyoor Reserve Forest near Ambayathode, Kannur District. Brief descriptions together with phenological and distributional data are provided.

Rhizophora mucronata plantations raised in the Mandovi river estuary from Panaji to Ribandar along Panaji-Ponda Highway, though highly successful initially, started dying after sometime. Observations showed that the entire plantation was highly infested with barnacles, which had formed colonies on the stems of all the plants and had damaged the plants, most probably by the cement produced by it to attach itself to the plant. Experiments and study on various aspects related to plantation in barnacle infested areas have been started.

The present paper deals with the macrofungal diversity of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (BWLS), encountered during a short trip in the month of July to September 1999. About 17 collections of macrofungi belonging to various Basidiomycetous families are described briefly. 

The effect of gamma rays on Artemisia pallens Wall. have been studied with reference to behaviour of chromosomes and frequency of cytological abnormalities. Various mitotic and meiotic irregularities were studied in m1 plants raised from seeds of A. pallens treated with gamma rays at various doses like 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 500 gy. gamma rays caused a dose dependent increase and decrease in mitotic inhibition and mitotic index respectively. From these treatments, a significant percentage of chromosomal abnormalities such as formation of univalents, fragments, stickiness, chromatin bridges with or without laggards were induced. The total percentage of cells with chromosomal aberrations increased with increase in dose.

The effect of inorganic fertilizers like Urea, Single Super phosphate and Muriate of Potash of various doses was tested on Albizia lebbeck to optimize biomass production under nursery conditions. The data of dry weight, number of root nodules per plant and root-shoot ratio was taken from second month to seventh month. Maximum dry weight was found in 46 mg N + 17 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O followed by 23 mg N + 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O at the end of seventh month. Maximum nodules were found between the ages of third to fourth month, thereafter decreasing trend was observed from fifth to seventh month in all treatments. The treatments 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O, 15 mg K2O and 45 mg K2O were generally more effective in forming more root nodules than other treatments. The treatments like 46 mg N, 25.5 mg P2O5 and 45 mg K2O gave lesser root-shoot ratio at the end of seventh month. Correlation between dry weight and other growth components shows that to optimize biomass production, parameters like collar diameter, seedling height, number of leaves per plant and root length needs more attention than other associated parameters. Therefore, the treatments 46 mg N + 17 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O and 23 mg N + 8.5 mg P2O5 + 30 mg K2O were identified as significantly superior to other treatments for producing increased biomass production.

Litter fall and nutrients return by eight year old trees of Albizia amara in a silvopastoral system on degraded shallow soils of Jhansi was assessed. The average litter production was 6.08 t/ha/yr of which major proportion was leaf (84.2 %) followed by branch (12.8 %), miscellaneous (1.8 %) and pod (1.2 %). The litter fall was recorded throughout the year; highest litter production was recorded in the month of February (1.5 t/ha), followed by January (0.87 t/ha) and April (0.72 t/ha). The total litter production was significantly correlated with leaf litter (r = 0.96) and branch litter (r = 0.89). No significant correlation was found between climatic parameters and leaf litter. However, branch litter production was negatively correlated with the average minimum temperature (r = 0.55). Among different litter parts, highest concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was found in pod followed by leaf, miscellaneous and branch. Potential nutrient return to the system on account of tree litter produced by this species, computed on an annual basis, was 77.8 kg/ha nitrogen, 49.6 kg/ha potassium and 3.9 kg/ha phosphorus.

The genetic diversity in 628 mulberry accessions (Indigenous-455 and Exotic -173) maintained in the ex situ field gene bank at CSGRC, Hosur was studied for a range of set descriptors on morphological, reproductive behaviour, leaf histological and growth behaviour. Wide variation was recorded in plant types, shoot colour, phyllotaxis pattern, and pubescence on the plant parts, leaf texture and shape and yield attributing characters. Indigenous accessions exhibited greater variation for most of the leaf histological characters compared to exotics. However, higher mean values contributed to leaf thickness was recorded in the exotics. Three major groups, viz. dioecious male, female and monoecious are recorded which indicate phenomenon of sexual polymorphism and prevalence of unisexuality, and preponderance of femaleness irrespective of its geographical and genetic origin. Exotic accessions performed better with higher mean values for most of the leaf characters while, indigenous accessions exhibited higher mean values for shoot characters. The promising accessions were identified for utilization in the breeding programmes.

Psyllids are reported to be serious pests of woody species, preferably seedlings. The classical studies conducted in the pest have concluded the presence of profound influence of both, inter and intra specific host plants on the growth and developmental stages of the insect pests. A study was undertaken to evaluate the intra 11 seed sources of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. and inter specific influence of five Albizia spp. (A. amara, A. chinensis, A. falcataria, A.guachepele, A. odoratissima and A. lebbeck) on the growth and development of life stages of Acizzia indica (Heslop- Harrison), a serious psyllid pest on seedling and sapling of A. lebbeck in India. Profound influence of seed sources on the life stages of psyllid was found. Psyllid took longer duration to complete egg, nymphal stages but shorter duration for adult stage on KA-2 seed source (3.92 ± 0.38, 17.08 ± 1.84 and 8.35 ± 2.76 days respectively) and KA-5 and TN-2 seed sources followed it. Psyllid completed egg and nymphal stages quickly and survived for long as adult on HP-2 seed source (1.92 ± 0.14, 9.83 ± 0.38 and 13.58 ± 0.88 days respectively) while HP-1 seed source just preceded it. Among different Albizia species, psyllid could survive and complete normal life cycle only on A. lebbeck, and survived till adult stage on A. chinensis. Nymphs of A. indica died within 4.33 ± 0.38 days on A. falcataria, 5.25 ± 0.5 days on A.gauchepele, 6.50 ± 0.25 on A. amara and 8.25 ± 0.25 on A. odoratissima. In general psyllids took longer generation time on resistant genotypes while shorter generation time on susceptible genotypes. The study concluded the presence of constitutive (among different Albizia species) as well as induced differences (among seed sources of A. lebbeck) against psyllid A. indica.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. called as River Red Gum, is a medium to large hardwood found adjacent to most of the inland rivers of mainland Australia. The durability of the wood is low compared to other hardwoods. There has been an increased interest in treatment of hardwoods with preservatives for wood protection and increasing the life of treated wood. Several studies were conducted on use of preservatives for hardwoods. This study was taken up to find out the influence of Resin and Linseed oil preservative treatments on the wood quality in heartwood of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Wood samples treated with FA resin had higher values for MOE and MOR, which were 17.5 GPa and 124.7 MPa respectively, compared to Linseed oil treated samples. The results indicated that the uptake of Furfuryl Alcohol (FA) resin was 13.0 l m-3 and that of Linseed oil was 9.7 l m-3. From the study it may be inferred that the mechanical properties of heartwood of Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) could be enhanced by FA resin treatment for two hours.

A study was taken up to find out the influence of Furfuryl Alcohol resin preservative on the wood quality in heartwood of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, called as River Red Gum, is a medium to large hardwood found adjacent to most of the inland rivers of mainland Australia. Heartwood is red to reddish brown with a durability of 5-15 years. The pre-weighed wood samples were subjected to soaking in Furfuryl Alcohol (FA) resin preservative for two duration of soaking namely two hours and four days. The results indicated that the uptake of FA resin was 13.5 l m-3 treated for four days and 7.2 l m-3 treated for two hours, indicating a significant difference. The maximum values of 7.87 GPa and 63.8 MPa for MOE and MOR, respectively were recorded by wood samples that were treated for four days. However, FA resin treatment for four days has reduced the hardness of wood compared to two hours soaking. From the study it may be inferred that the strength properties of heartwood of Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) could be enhanced by treating with Furfuryl Alcohol resin for four days, which will help to increase the durability of the wood.

The paper deals with the Fern Flora of Mandal and adjoining localities in Chamoli District of Garhwal Himalaya. A total 109 species, 48 genera and 27 families from the area have been reported in the present communication. 4 species are new records for the area. Till date only 33 fern species under 26 genera belonging to 17 families were reported from the area under study.

Seven taxa of flowering plants, viz. Ranunculus stewartii H. Riedl (Ranunculaceae), Corydalis murreeana Jafri (Fumariaceae), Potentilla polychista Boiss. & Hohen. (Rosaceae), Cirsium wallichii DC. var. glabratum (Hook. f.) Wendelbo, Leontopodium alpinum Cass. subsp. alpinum (Asteraceae), Euphrasia foliosa Pennell, Veronica salina Schur (Scrophulariaceae) have been recorded for the first time from Uttaranchal.

The paper reports 21 foliicolous species of lichen genus Porina Müll. Arg. from Arunachal Pradesh, India along with a key for their identification. 3 species viz. Porina applanata Vainio, Porina napensis Lücking, Porina tetramera (Malme) R. Sant. are new records for Indian lichen flora. Phytogeographic affinities and distribution of species in India are discussed.

The genus Gongylanthus Nees (Arnelliaceae) is being reported as new addition to India with G. indicus sp. nov. as new to science. The plants grow in Naduvattam (Nilgiri hills), Tamil Nadu forming terricolous population. The genus is remarkable in having a well-defined positively geotropic cylindrical marsupium - a special protective device (shoot-calyptra) over the developing sporophyte. This species is characterized by perfectly connate and highly concave leaves, and feebly developed trigones in leaf cells and scattered rhizoids.