Keeping in view the protection and conservation of the bio-diversity and related indigenous systems of medicines, the Indian Science of Medicines and Homeopathy (ISM & H) Department under the umbrella of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has identified and recognised 136 under-exploited plant species of medicinal value which are being used in Ayurveda, Sidha and Homeopathy. These plant species have been allocated to 34 different institutes/state agricultural universities (SAUs) organizations situated in different agro-climatic zones of India for the development of agro-techniques for wider cultivation in order to save conservation and make available raw material to the industry/indentors/users. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi and its 3 regional stations, i.e., Bhowali, Shillong and Shimla have been allocated 20 plant species. The Bhowali station has been assigned 5 plant species, i.e., Callicarpa macrophylla, Curcuma zedoaria, Piper retrofractum, Pistacia integerrima and Quercus infectoria for the inventory of agro-techniques. The present paper highlights the status of these plant species and observation on their growth behaviour, performance and adaptability in the study area.

During ethnobotanical surveys in Nasik District, Maharashtra, 31 species useful in veterinary medicines were recorded. The phytomedicine consists of a sole drug or a principal drug with few other aids. The local name/s, ethnomedicinal preparation, mode of administration, dosage and any belief associated with them, etc., have been noted with due care and gathered from medicine men and other experienced informants among the ethnic tribes of the district.

Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub., Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk. and Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken, are conventional lac host trees and available in plenty in our country. Most of the research work has been carried out in detail on these trees. Little information is available in respect of non-conventional lac host trees. The present study reports the methods of lac culture carried out by the farmers, yield potential and relative performance on Ficus cunia Buch-Ham., F. glabella Bl., F. religiosa Linn., Ougeinia dalbergioides Benth. and Croton roxburghii Balak.

The present paper communicates information on 50 wild edible plants species being utilized by the local inhabitants of Ranchi District in Jharkhand. These plants have been arranged in a tabular form with their vernacular name, family, plant habit, plant part used and their usage. Edible parts of these plants include fruits, leaves, flowers, shoots, seeds, tubers, fruit bodies, etc. These wild edible plant parts are not only less expensive fooding sources for rural poor but also are prominent trade article in the study area.

Neem is known for its therapeutic and pesticidal applications. Azadirachtin is the chemical constituent in neem seed kernel which is active against wide spectrum of insect pests. Beside azadirachtin several other chemical constituents such as salannin, meliantriol, etc., are also known to possess biocidal activity. The azadirachtin content in seed kernel generally varies between 0.1% to 0.7% and is determined using reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. For commercial application azadirachtin content 1500 ppm in extract-based and 300 ppm in oil-based products is an important requirement. Almost all parts of the neem tree are known for its medicinal value. Several neem compounds such as nimbin, nimbidin, nimbinin, etc., are found active for various medicinal applications.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have tremendous potential for development of cane resource. A comprehensive cane management plan is required for' development and utilization of the resource. However, success of the management plan largely depends on data and other information on which it is based. Therefore, it is necessary to collect basic information before drawing a plan. In order to have an idea about the cane resource in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a case study was undertaken to assess cane resource in Middle Andaman and for collection of other useful information. The same has been discussed in this paper.

Conservation of biodiversity and germplasm of important plant species, particularly rare and endangered medicinal plants, has assumed greater significance especially when harvesting potential from the wild fall short of the demand for commercial exploitation. In general, considering the increasing demand for herbal drugs, the consequent depletion of several species from the Himalaya, since half of the medicinal plants of the Indian flora occur in the high altitude of Himalaya. Therefore, it is imperative to initiate urgent steps to assess the status of occurrence and quantum availability of these plants in natural habitats.The present paper enumerates 30 species belonging to 20 families of flowering plants and were selected for cultivation according to prevailing agro-climatic conditions and their depleting status from this part of Himalaya. Thus, present report will help in collection of germplasm for further studies and would promote awareness among the public of Himalayan regions to protect and preserve the plant wealth, particularly medicinal plants. The species have been arranged alphabetically followed by family name, local name, brief description of habit pertaining to flowering and fruiting period, their methods for propagation, distribution and brief medicinal uses.

Experiment on rooting of stem cuttings of Spilanthes acmella revealed that the plant can be successfully propagated without any root hormone or with lower concentration of root hormones.

Studies were made to evolve a fruit storage technique for seed purpose in Tamarind. The fruits with seeds and the seeds extracted from fruits were taken for ambient storage in cloth bag at Coimbatore. At trimonthly intervals, evaluations were made for the seed quality characters, viz., germination, moisture content, root length, shoot length, dry matter production, vigour index and insect infestation percentage. The results expressed that due to higher insect infestation the seeds of fruit storage recorded nil germination after 9 months of storage, while the seeds (nonscarified) stored as such recorded more than 99 per cent germination after 12 months of storage.

Two new diseases of Cinnamomum camphora namely leaf web blight and collar rot both caused by Rhizoctonia solani were recorded from Central Silviculture Nursery at New Forest, Dehra Dun and described. Two biotypes of the pathogen were associated with leaf web blight, one of which produced typical greyish brown to brown, hard, spherical to oval sclerotia in culture whereas the other biotype produced sclerotial bodies which were not so compact and hard and moreover, they did not have any definite shape and size. It is the latter biotype which occurred predominantly and was highly damaging to young seedlings. It caused defoliation to the extent of 60-100% at the peak of the growing season.Control of the disease included 1) reduction in the quantity of farm yard manure in the potting mixture to half, 2) sowing of seeds in late March or early April instead of June, and 3) application of Dithane M-45 (0.3%) @ 15 ml per tube as soil drench prior to seed sowing. Bayleton (0.1%) may be applied as foliar spray if the disease appears despite the above measures.Collar rot of C. camphora caused by R. solani was a serious disease problem as it wiped out 95-100% seedlings when they were attempted to be pricked in root trainers in July - August. Wrong timing of pricking of seedlings and large quantity of farm yard manure in the potting mixture are attributed to be the cause of the malady. Reduction in the quantity of farm yard manure in the potting mixture to half, pricking of seedlings in May instead of pricking them in July - August by timely sowing of seeds in late March or early April and application of Dithane M-45 (0.3%) @ 15 ml per tube before or at the time of pricking of seedlings are recommended to control collar rot.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rhizome cuttings with different number of buds and planting depths on various growth parameters of Phyllostachys reticulata. Rhizome cuttings, with four viable buds intact when buried just near the soil surface, revealed better growth in respect of culm height, collar diameter, number of internodes and number of side shoots, etc., as compared to other rhizome cuttings when planted at the onset of spring season.

The present studies were carried out on the morphological (fruit size, diameter, colour and breakage) and biochemical (total soluble solids) changes during the 2 months of ripening of fruits of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) growing at an altitude of 2650 m asl in Lahaul Valley, a cold desert area of Himachal Pradesh. The region is characterized by extreme climatic conditions, poor rainfall (about 500 mm per year) and heavy snowfall (100-400 cm per year). Data collected weekly for two months from 18th August, 1995 onwards, revealed that fruit weight varied from 8.2-16.0 g/100 fruits, with a maximum of 17.7 g during the 4th collection on 8th September. Vertical diameter varied from 5.4 to 7.8 mm with a maximum value of 8.0 mm. Cross diameter varied from 5.5 mm to 6.2 mm with a maximum value of 6.9 mm. The length of fruit stalk varied from 2.9 mm to 3.2 mm. Colour of the fruits was initially light yellowish green, both ends being light red. After 1 month, fruits were yellow with both ends red. After 2 months, fruits were reddish yellow. Sun facing side of the fruits was whitish yellow. Initially, skin of the fruit did not break during collection of the fruits. After one month, fruit skin got damaged if not collected with care. After 2 months of collection, fruits released the paste like material. Total soluble solid varied from 8.7 to 13.8% with a maximum value of 14.1% on 8th September 1995.

Studies were made to find out the influence of physical grading of seeds through size (sieve) and specific gravity (using water) individually and in combinations on physiological characters of seed. The results recommended sinker seeds of specific gravity grading and the sieve of size 9/64" (3.6 mm) round perforated metal sieve retained seeds for physical grading for maximisation of seed quality characters. Combination of these two techniques, viz., specific gravity grading followed by size grading of sinkers with 9/64" round perforated metal sieve, improved the germination of seeds to 94 per cent which was 17 per cent higher than the control.

The present paper deals with 20 threatened species of Bundelkhand region. Each species is provided with a brief information on habit, distribution, main causes of threat and status according to new IUCN Red List criteria.

The studies on the root distribution pattern of nine year old bearing seedling trees of Bael were carried out during spring season of 1997 at Horticultural Research Centre, Patharchatta of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The results showed significant variation in distribution pattern of various categories of roots. The maximum concentration of active roots was observed at 60-120 cm radial distance from the tree trunk and at 0-20 cm depth from the ground level. Therefore, the irrigation water and fertilizers should be applied in the area of maximum active root concentration and deep digging of basins should be avoided.