Direct somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration was achieved from excised immature zygotic embryos of Bixa orellana - a ornamental and natural dye producing tree. The zygotic embryos were cultured initially on half-strength MS (Murashige and Skoog’s, 1962) medium supplemented with 0.1 mgl-1 of Kn. Though, germination of immature zygotic embryos and plants regeneration was achieved in all the three media compositions tested. However, in one medium containing Kn (0.1 mgl-1), about 10 per cent direct somatic embryos were produced on the hypocotyl portions. After culturing for 30 days, high frequency of somatic embryogenesis and maturation of somatic embryos was obtained in the same medium. These somatic embryos could be germinated into plantlets by giving 2-3 sub-cultures at monthly intervals onto half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mgl-1 of Kn. The regenerated plants having 2-3 cm long shoots and 2-3 pairs of leaves with roots were hardened in polybags containing soil mixture and subsequently established in field.

The paper describes the diseases of bamboos in nurseries and plantations raised in the campus of IRMDFR, Jorhat. The symptomatology, etiology and control measures of 4 diseases of bamboo, viz. Branch necrosis and tip die-back of Bambusa bambos and die-back of Dendrocalamus strictus caused by Fusarium spp. and Bipolaris leaf blight of D. hamiltonii are highlighted.

The study was conducted in Golaghat Forest Division of Assam with an objective to determine the extent of utilization of forest resources by the people in forest villages and their behaviour associated in forest resource utilization. The study reveals that a sizeable proportion of respondents had shown medium (45.32%) and low (42.86%) levels of utilization of forest resources. People in general, involved different utilization activities such as harvesting, conversion and consumption/domestic use of forest resources. However, selling activity was comparatively low among the people in forest resources as evidenced by 30.54% respondents had involved in selling of minor forest products. The study further shows that age, family type, family size, possession of forest implements, localitiness-cosmopoliteness, economic motivation and scientific orientation had shown positively significant relationship with the extent of utilization of forest resources. While the variable – main occupation, social participation, decision making ability and attitude towards forest resource conservation were found to have negatively significant with the extent of utilization of forest resources.

Performance studies were conducted on three strains of shiitake on saw dust bag-logs. The minimum of 150-160 days were required for the first harvest. R-26 strain was found to be the best followed by WC-730 and Solan strains with reference to the yield of mushroom.

The Raigarh District is situated on eastern most part of Chhattisgarh, covering an area of 12,924 sq. km. The district is inhabited by a large number of tribes, namely, Oraons, Birhor, Gonds and Baigas. The ethnobotanical survey was conducted in tribal areas during the year 1990-1991. The first-hand information regarding the ethnomedicinal uses was gathered from old medicine men who are actually using herbal medicines for meeting their health care needs.In the present paper ethnomedicinal uses of 30 plants are given such as Ardisea solanacea Roxb. (Cuts wounds), Arisaema tortuosum (Wall.) Schott. (Constipation), Bauhinia variegata L. (Veterinary Diseases), Cyperus rotundus L. (Stomachache), and Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Small Pox), etc. The data will be useful to Phytochemists, Pharmacologists and herbal practitioners for detection of active principles to be used as green medicine for human welfare.

Neem seeds of seven provenances from different agroclimatic zones of Orissa were collected from plus trees and their physical parameters like seed length, width, thickness, weight and moisture content were determined. Germination per cent of seeds in sand, germination paper (in laboratory), mother beds and polybags (in nursery) were also recorded. All these traits were correlated with each other and also with latitude and longitude of agroclimatic zones. Seed thickness and seed weight of neem showed a large variation among different provenances and significant relationship with germination behaviour of seeds under nursery conditions. Bhubneshwar and Sambalpur provenances showed their superiority over other provenances of Orissa.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of various chemicals including auxins, crown position, cutting portion and preconditioning (girdling) treatments on rooting behaviour of Taxus baccata - a taxol yielding tree of moist temperate Himalaya. Application of 0.75% IBA + 5% captan + 5% sucrose in August resulted in highest 72.22 per cent rooting in the species. The girdled cuttings produced significantly higher rooting than non-girdled ones. Similarly, the lower portion of cuttings resulted in significantly better success as compared to upper ones.

Moisture content of the harvested Som leaves plays a vital role in successful indoor rearing of muga silkworm Antheraea assama. Considerable delay is noticed between harvesting of leaf and feeding to silkworm during Chotua (February to March) and Aherua (June-July) muga seed crops during indoor rearing. After harvest, the leaves lose their moisture gradually. The loss of moisture during 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. was determined in the 8 morphotypes of Som (Machilus bombycina). The loss of moisture was least (6.19%) in morphotype M (5) and maximum (24.75%) in M (1), in others it was 9.12% in M (2); 10.57% in M (3); 7.88% in M (4); 6.12% in M (6); 6.36% in M (8) and 7.04% in M (7). Hence M (5) morphotype is recommended for the use in indoor rearing of muga silkworm. Significant differences were also observed among these morphotypes with regard to the leaf area and stomatal numbers. The morpho-anatomical features of the leaf were found to influence the degree of loss of moisture from the leaves.

The investigation was carried out on 3- and 13-year-old phenotypically similar and healthy budded trees of bael cv. Pant Shivani in autumn of 2000 and spring of 2001 as per free monolith method of root excavation. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with two replications involving four factors, viz., season, age, radial distance and depth. The results showed that the tree age significantly influenced the various categories of roots. The 13-year-old trees gave significantly higher dry weight of roots than 3-year–old trees. Seasonal variation did not affect the root distribution pattern in bael. The maximum dry weight of active roots was observed at 0-60 cm radial distance from the tree trunk and at 0-20 cm depth from the ground level. The interaction between tree age and soil depth in dry weight of medium and total roots were found to be significant while rest interactions were non-significant.

The effect of IBA and two phenolic compounds have been examined for stimulatory effects on rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of mature Ginkgo biloba L. trees.  IBA alone did not exert a favourable influence on rooting but in combination with polyphenols, viz., catechin and phloroglucinol improved rooting and root growth characteristics. Amongst various treatments, IBA (500 mg/l) + catechin (5 mg/l) is superior over other treatments since 96% rooting was observed in this combination.  This treatment could be used successfully for vegetative propagation of this species.

The methanolic extract of the roots of Melia azedarach L.; its acetone, benzene and hexane fractions have been evaluated for their insecticidal/antifeedant activity against Helicoverpa armigera and Plutella xylostella. Methanol extract at 10 % gave minimum egg hatching and maximum antifeedant values. Amongst the fractions, acetone at 1% was found to be the best.

A total of eight provenances of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. collected from the different agro-climatic regions of peninsular India comprising of the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were evaluated for their seed and seedling characters. Significant variations were observed for their seed characters, namely, hundred seed weight, seed length, seed length breadth ratio, thickness of pericarp and germination percentage. For the seedling characters studied, the maximum height and leaf number were observed for Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) at both the growth phases of 180 and 360 DAS. The shoot root ratio was maximum for Palakkad (Kerala) and root length for Dindigul (Tamil Nadu). The study indicates that Coimbatore provenance can be considered as the most suitable seed source for planting neem in the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the present experimental area.

Among Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs), honey is of value, by virtue of its food and medicinal attributes, without in anyway affecting the bio-diversity of forest systems. Its production and extraction in normal conditions do not adversely affect species composition, population structure and regeneration of forest ecosystems. It is a natural non-wood resource, with a multidirectional value to both the honey bee and man. Of the total production of honey in India, 50% come from natural forests. Even though Kerala comes first in production of honey in India, it is estimated that only 10% of the total honey produced in the forests of Kerala are collected and made use of. Forest dependent people who collect honey from the forests of Kerala do not consider it as a reliable and predictable source of income to supplement their livelihood. They are ignorant of the potential the forests hold for them with regard to honey and other bee products. In this background, a case study has been undertaken covering five Kani Tribal settlements in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala with the aim of gaining knowledge on the problems and prospects of sustainable management of honey.

Tree borne oilseeds which have been discussed and advocated at various levels, are important sources of edible and non-edible oils. Fatty oil from Garuga pinnata seeds has been found to be rich in oleic acid C18:1 (n-9), 36.14%; and an unusual fatty acid C18:1 (n-12), 34.93%, whereas the fatty oil from Prunus cornuta has been found to be rich in oleic acid (46.26%) and palmitoleic acid (17.05%), hence these oils may find their utility as a source of these acids. This is the first report on these seed oils.

Flemingia semialata is an important bushy lac-host plant which is utilised, in alternation with other lac-hosts for lac cultivation during rainy season. However, plant and lac insect mortality due to stress of heavy inoculation and lack of irrigation is a common problem in bushy lac-hosts which not only adversely affects the production of raw lac but also the quality of broodlac. Studies on effect of site of inoculation, percentage shoot length coverage and different levels of irrigation revealed that all the plants inoculated at lower part and 57.2% of the plants inoculated at upper part did not yield lac and the middle portion of one year old stalk was preferred by the lac insect for settlement. Average broodlac (63.5 g) and sticklac (33.0 g) yield was maximum in the middle inoculated plant. 40% coverage of inoculable shoot length gave maximum returns for broodlac cultivation, though, sticklac yield increased with increase in shoot coverage up to 80%. Irrigation of crop at regular intervals improved the quality of the broodlac. Number of lac larvae emerging from 10 g of broodlac cultured on daily irrigated plants covered 91.8 cm shoot in comparison to 35.4 cm covered by lac larvae emerging from broodlac obtained from un-irrigated plants. Survival of female lac insects till crop maturity also increased from 23.1% in control to 65.5% in daily irrigated plants.

Chilgoza is a valuable Non-timber Forest Product obtained from Pinus gerardiana trees in the dry trans-Himalayan tracts of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. This paper discusses the silviculture, natural regeneration, artificial regeneration techniques and utilization patterns of chilgoza pine. This is an attempt to document the silviculture and utilization of chilgoza pine based on the first hand experience of the author.

A survey study was undertaken in Sericultural Zones falling in different agroclimate of hill, tarai and plain areas of Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal during 1998, 1999 and 2000. A few lepidopterans and coleopteran have been identified as pest on mulberry. The seasonal occurrence of major pests causing damage to mulberry foliage to the economic threshold level have been studied. A calendar of infestation of different pests has been drawn with special reference to the major pests on mulberry. Pest damage touched the economic threshold level during June and July with increase in pest population. The pest population came down with the pruning of mulberry bushes during the July-August. The pest population increased again with the leaf sprout and reached the high level during the month of September to November. The pest population then decreased in the month of December due to leaf abscission and fall in winter conditions.

The state of Uttar Pradesh adopted JFM in 1997 and the state of Uttaranchal continued to adhere to the same after formation of new state with a view to develop a sense of ownership among local communities about forest resources. Attitudinal change, institutional development, and participation of local communities in the management through sharing of authority and responsibility towards protection and maintenance of forests along with distribution of usufructs were the salient features of the programme. Labour contribution by village communities and involvement of NGOs were envisaged to strengthen the participation of communities in the programme. But, it has been revealed that irrational allocation of finance and stressing more on saving for Village Development Fund are creating unhealthy situation for amelioration of village forest ecosystem and villagers’ economy, which need appropriate attention.

The effect of seed moisture content and storage temperature on the viability of Bambusa bambos seeds was studied. The study showed that seed viability can be extended by reducing the initial moisture content before storing. Seeds stored at low temperature (2 to 40C and -50C) maintained a high percentage of viability for up to 24 months.

Dendrobium macrostachyum Lindl. (Orchidaceae) is recorded as an addition to the flora of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Welwitschia mirabilis commonly known as ‘Tree Tumbo’ has been bizarre of nature. It possesses immense conservational importance in the plant kingdom due to high evolutionary and academic significance. This species has been conserved in NBRI Botanic Garden and discussed in the present communication.

In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the bacterial contamination in the Banganga stream, Katra, J & K, in order to make an assessment of water quality and the potential danger to the local people, animal population and the pilgrims due to pollution load from very large tourist traffic. No such study is available from the areas so far. The pilgrim traffic to the holy town has witnessed a phenomenal increase in recent years. In the present study, the total viable count (TVC), total coliform, faecal coliform and the faecal streptococci were studied. The counts were found highest during summer and lowest during winter. Bacterial counts were also taken during “Navratra” (April & October) periods when the pilgrims rush is at its peak generating greater pollution load. The present study indicates that the Banganga water is not fit for use and an immediate need is to treat the sewage before throwing it into the stream, which has a low self-purification capacity.