Coniferous trees are rich in chemical compounds such as terpenes, fats/fatty acids, waxes, tannins and phenolics, which function to protect the tree against insect pests and diseases, and as energy reserves. Oleoresin is an important natural product that is a mixture of resins (diterpene acids) and volatile essential oils (mono- and sesquiterpenes) that serve as a solvent to maintain the oleoresin in a fluid state. The resin obtained from borehole method of tapping was free from impurities and oleoresin color was also clear in this method. On distillation of borehole oleoresin the rosin content of 67.11(55.02)% and turpentine contents of 32.30(5.68)% were obtained, whereas in other conventional method the rosin contents [75.25(60.18)%] were recorded to be higher and turpen-tine content [18.59(4.31)%] were lower than borehole method. The rosin obtained from borehole method oleo- resin was white in color and free from crystlization, whereas the rill method rosin was yellow to dark yellow in color. So, the borehole rosin is of better quality and fetch higher price in the market than other method oleoresin. The values of specific gravity, ash content and iron content were found to be 1.0258, 0.30(0.55)% and 3.37 ppm, respectively in borehole rosin, whereas the specific gravity, ash content and iron content of value 1.07315, 0.42(0.65)% and 5.81 ppm, respectively were recorded in rill method rosin. The major components of turpentine oil were alpha-pinene [34.13(5.84)%], and other terpenes [0.76(0.87)%], which were found to be significantly higher in borehole turpentine as compare to rill method, whereas non-significant difference has been observed for beta-pinene+delta-3 carene and longifolene among both the resins.

Embelia ribes Burm.f. (Myrsinaceae) is an important medicinal, threatened woody climber rarely found in tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The fruits of E. ribes are used as an ingredient in about more than 70 traditional pharmaceutical formulations including anti-fertility drugs and hence subjected to heavy exploitation from the natural populations. The species is reported to be vulnerable in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There are only very few documentations of occurrences of this species in the Central Western Ghats of Karnataka and virtually no reports on its regeneration status. With this background, a preliminary survey was conducted in an evergreen forest of Uttara Kannada district, which receives over 4000 mm annual rain fall. Twenty-four matured individuals of Embelia ribes were identified in an area of 1 km², of which only eight individuals were in fruiting. Girth class distribution of adult individuals showed a regular pattern wherein individuals belonging to girth classes 5.1 - 10 cm and 25.1 - 30 cm were in higher proportion, followed by a gradual decrease in the subsequent girth classes. This pattern might be a result of a periodic cyclicity of reproductive efforts of the species. The diversity of the regenerating individuals was moderately higher with a Shannon's index of 2.61 and evenness index of 0.58. Although Embelia ribes ranked third in terms of importance value index, there was a severe lack of regeneration of class IV suggesting disturbance. Apart from Embelia ribes, 12 Rare Endangered and Threatened species were recorded in this area, making it one of the most significant forest patches.

Aconitium and Podophyllum seeds when assesses for the effect of growth regulators in growing media, i.e., Soil +FYM (1:1) revealed that the overall seed germination performance of these two plant species was improved by the application of growth regulators. The maximum germination 93.00 and 90.00 per cent, maximum germination energy 69.00 and 64.00 per cent, maximum germination speed 1.62 and 1.52, and maximum survival of planted seedling 80.00 and 75.00 per cent were recorded in Aconitium heterophyllum with GA₃ 80 mgL and KNO₃ 80 mg respectively and minimum were noticed under control. Similarly, in case of Podophyllum hexandrum under Soil +FYM (1:1), growing media GA₃ 80 mgL¯ and KNO₃ 80 mgL¯ were found best treatments.

The results of bioassay study carried out at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar revealed that germination percent, early seedling growth and vigour index of Mustard (Brassica juncea) cv. RH-30, Taramira (Eruca sativa) cv. T-27, Barley (Hordeum vulgare) cv.BH-393 and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cv. HC-5 were reduced significantly as the concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25g/100 ml) of leaf extract of Jatropha was increased. In all the test crops, the inhibition of radical length was more severely affected by all concentrations of leaf extract as compared to plumule length. However, no germination and seedling lengths were recorded in all the test crops at higher concentrations of leaf extract.

Ten different accessions of Asparagus racemosus L. originated from Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were assessed for the genetic variation at molecular level. The genomic DNA was isolated using Stange et al. (1998) protocol with modifications to remove the secondary metabolites as Asparagus racemosus contains high amounts of secondary metabolites that interfere with DNA extraction. Twenty random decamer primers, selected from fifty initially screened, were used to assess variation. All selected primers produced polymorphic amplification products, however, the extent of polymorphism varied with each primer. The similarity coefficient and UPGMA clustering method were employed to construct the phylogenetic tree. The value of similarity coefficient ranged from 0.44 to 1.00. Four accessions (ASP-5, ASP-2, ASP-3, ASP-4) belonging to Mandi, Himachal Pradesh were genetically the most similar ones as validated by their similarity index. All ten accessions were grouped into two major clusters. Accessions from Himachal Pradesh were grouped in a separate subcluster. The second cluster consisted of three accessions of Tamil Nadu. In general, the genetic variability between the accessions of H.P. was less than the accessions of Tamil Nadu. The results warn prevailing of high homogeneity in A. racemosus accessions deployed for cultivation.

Present communication deals with the studies made on inter-cropping of some medicinal plants viz. Aloe barbadensis, Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Plumbago zeylanica, Rauvolfia serpentina, Acorus calamus and Cyperus scariosus under three spacings of Mulberry cultivation either as tree or bush plantations. Survival and growth of all the medicinal plants was observed to be maximum under 10'x10' spacing of Mulberry cultivated as trees. On the basis of these studies, it may be inferred that cultivation of Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Plumbago zeylanica and Acorus calamus may successfully be practiced in the Mulberry gardens of Uttarakhand. However, further studies are under progress on allelopathy and bio-assay with respect to inter-cropping of medicinal plants vis-à-vis silkworm rearing.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal association in Sandal (Santalum album) natural stands in different parts of the Kerala State was studied. AM fungal root colonization in Sandal trees was low and ranged from 5 to 18%. AM fungal spore density was also low and ranged from 56 to 85/10 g soil. Glomalean fungal community in Sandal rhizosphere soils comprised of five genera (Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora, Entrophospora) with a total of 35 species. Mycorrhization of Sandal seedlings with Glomus fasciculatum, G. mosseae and Acaulospora appendicula showed marked difference in seedling biomass (dry wt.) than untreated control. Highest percentage of mycorrhizal inoculation effect (MIE) of 51.4% was recorded in G. fasciculatum + A. appendicula treatment.

A total of 42 algal species under 24 genera were reported from the wastewater. Their seasonal variations and percentage occurences have been documented with respect to the possible input of nutrients and heavy metals. Applications of algal indicator species in pollution monitoring programmes have been emphasized.

A protocol for micro propagation for known sexuality of Jojoba was developed and standardized. Nodal explants from actively growing young shoots were used to proliferate in MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins and auxins. Pre-treatment with bavistin (0.2% for 3 min.) followed by HgCl₂ (0.1% for 5 min.) was found to be the best for disinfecting the explants. Maximum proliferation in nodal explants was recorded on MS medium containing 2.0 mg l^-1 BAP. The medium having MS + 0.5 mg 1^-1 BAP + 0.1 mg 1^-1 IAA produced maximum number of shoots (5.7) per explant. Elongation of in vitro multiplied shoots was found maximum in MS + 2.0 mg 1^-1 BAP. The highest rooting (63.7 percent) was observed in full strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg 1^-1 IBA. The in vitro raised plants were hardened for survival after pricking out in different potting media kept in a mist chamber with gradually decreasing humidity regime. Sand, soil and vermicompost mixture in ratio of 3:1:1 was found suitable and recorded 83 percent survival of in vitro raised clonal plants.

In this paper a brief description of Solanum Sisymbrifolium Law is provided along with its economic importance.

The Kanikkars are ancient tribal people living on the slopes of the Western Ghats of South India. They are mainly found in the hills of Neyyatingara of Kerala, Pechipparai and Kothaiar hills of Kanyakumari and Papanasam hills of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. They are well versed with the herbal knowledge. The present study enumerates three drugs used as medicine for various ailments.

In the present paper 63 medicinal plant species belonging to 63 genera and 38 families, which are useful in treating common fever, intermittent fever, typhoid and malaria have been discussed along with their local names, method of preparation of the drug, mode of administration and dosage.

Two species, namely Leucomeris spectabilis D.Don (Asteraceae) and Sonerila tenera Royle (Melastomataceae) are reported for the first time from Himachal Pradesh. This is also the first report of these two genera from Himachal Pradesh.

Medicinal value, distribution and rarity of Stemona tuberosa Lour. in India is discussed.

Calamus brandisii Becc. ex Becc. & Hook. f. is an endangered Rattan species of the Agasthyamalai region in Kerala. This species is extracted in large scale for the furniture as well as the handicraft industries and the population is decreasing very rapidly. Hence conservation strategies and management practices should be developed to protect this species and for its sustainable use. Demographic studies were carried out to find out which life stage of the population is adversely affected. Results show that there is an annual decrease of 61 per cent in the population. Sensitivity and elasticity analyses reveal that sub adult stage is more important in the conservation point of view. The adult survival rate is very low. The number of flowering plants and the number of fruits produced by each plant are very low which affects the seedling generation. The germination percentage of seeds under natural condition also is very low. Seedlings contribute only 4.65 per cent of the population. Since Agasthyamalai is a famous pilgrimage center, human interference also may be a major factor acting adversely in the population. Hence, in the conservation strategies for this species importance should be given to seedlings, sub adult and adult plants. It is better to collect the fruits at maturity, germinate and transplant them in a protected area since natural regeneration is scanty. In situ and ex situ conservations are equally important for this endangered species.

Anisomeles indica (L.) O.Kuntze (Lamiaceae), a species distributed throughout India; has been found to be very effective in the treatment of rickets.

The result of the ethno-medico-botanical survey conducted in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh and medicinal uses of 84 plants have been presented in this paper.

The present article pertains of wild plant consumption by human e.g. staple foods, vegetables and fruits collected from different areas of Gaya district, Bihar. The wild food plant resources fulfill the basic need as the dietary requirements of the rural people during famine and flood. These species play a critical part in the survival of both individuals and entire communities during the period of food scarcity. The aim of the paper is to explore the wild plant resources and their sustainable consumption by rural people. Some of them are semi wild or partially domesticated. Altogether 79 wild food plant species have been documented with their botanical names followed by family, local name, parts consumed and way of consumption.