Issue 4, December 2005

For evaluating the feasibility of ex situ conservation and sustainable production of Asparagus racemosus, as a part of an Oil Palm based cropping system, an experiment was conducted at Oil Palm Estate, Kulathupuzha, Kerala during 1999-2002. The results revealed that the different shade conditions available under the Palms of different age groups significantly favoured the growth and yield of Asparagus. Root yield per plant was higher under the Oil Palm shade compared to open condition and the highest yield was noticed under young Oil Palm canopy. An economic analysis of the yield data recorded a net profit under all situations and the highest net profit was from young oil palm plantation. Based on the benefit cost ratio, Asparagus racemosus can be considered as an ideal inter crop under young Oil Palm plantations followed by medium and mature plantations. Introduction and integration of Asparagus racemosus in the Oil Palm based cropping system can become a potential Agroforestry system which could be effectively utilized for the conservation and sustainable production of this valuable herb.

The present investigations in Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson) were carried out to study the effect of borehole diameter and depth and concentrations of chemical stimulants on oleoresin yield. The experiment was carried out in Jelly UPF-167, Unprotected forest of Mashobra range of Shimla Forest Division of the Himachal Pradesh. The trees having diameter between 30-35 cm were selected for the study. The significant differences were observed for all the morphological parameters (height, needle length, needle thickness and grain angle) except that for the diameter of selected trees. Maximum oleoresin yield was obtained from 3.125 cm borehole diameter with 17.5 cm depth and minimum from borehole of 1.25 cm diameter with 10 cm depth. Higher oleoresin yield was obtained when 10 per cent ethephon + 20 per cent sulphuric acid (mixture) was sprayed into boreholes, whereas the lowest yield was recorded in control.

Cinnamomum heyneanum Nees, an endemic wild relative of commercial Cinnamon, confined only to type collection from Karnataka State and thought to be extinct until the recent rediscovery after 185 years from the evergreen forests of Kerala. The present article discusses the ex situ conservation of this critically endangered Lauraceous aromatic species through field gene bank of the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) and successful clonal multiplication through air layering for further advance research and bioprospecting of the same.

Seedlings of Dendrocalamus strictus were studied for changes in shoot height, biomass and sugar level in response to treatment with two growth promoting substances, soil conditioner (SC) and plant growth regulator (PGR). Treatment with SC showed only a marginal increase in the biomass while foliar spray of PGR resulted in substantial improvement in the height as well as the biomass of treated plants. Combined treatment of SC and PGR was found to be more effective in enhancing the biomass of seedlings as compared to individual treatments. Sucrose, glucose and fructose were the major sugars detected in the extracts of D. strictus seedlings. These sugars were found to decrease in all the treated seedlings as compared to the untreated seedlings.

Seed germination study of two economically important Canavalia species viz., C. gladiata DC. and C. virosa W. & A. was carried out under different ratio of three different ash contents i.e. dry leaf ash, paper ash and coal ash at 28-32oC. The study was performed to find out relative impact of different ash contents on seed germination, shoot and root length and survival of the seedlings when administered into the soil in different ratio.

Buchnania lanzan is considered as very difficult to root species with poor survival and growth in the field. Hence the rooting trial was established in the CFRHRD, Chhindwara. The rooting trial was conducted using root cutting of B. lanzan. The maximum rooting per cent (67.00), length of the longest root (1.89), and number of leaves (1.32) were recorded in cutting treated with IAA 1600 ppm. Maximum rooting percentage (52.7) was observed in root cutting having thickness (1.5-3.5 mm). However combined effect of cutting thickness and IAA concentration revealed that cutting having diameter of 3.6-5.5 mm showed maximum rooting percentage with 800 and 1600 ppm IAA. A trial has also been carried out on performance of different types of planting stocks with stipulated irrigation schedule to assess the possibility and feasibility of establishing the B. lanzan. Plantation at CFRHRD, Chhindwara. The results show that one year old seed raised seedling is performing better in the field in respect of height and survival. Also one year, root cutting raised plants performed equally good as the former one. A 16 mm drip system of irrigation had been given to the plantation with twice in a week frequency. Therefore, one year old planting stock raised either from seeds or from root cutting can be used for establishing the Buchnania lanzan plantation.

Hamirpur District of Bundelkhand region U.P. is represented by 41 genera and 63 species of family Poaceae and 5 genera and 30 species of family Cyperaceae. During identification 27 species belonging to 20 genera of these families are found to be new additions to the flora of District. These are mentioned in this paper with a brief description, phenology and ecology of each taxon.

Sandal (Santalum album L.) is valuable for its fragrant heartwood and is one of the commercial tree species of India. It flowers and fruits twice in a year during March-April and September-October. Fruits are single seeded. Studies pertaining to the effect of collection time, pre-sowing treatments and sowing time on the germinability of its seeds revealed that September-October collected seeds performed better than March-April collected seeds. Maximum germination percentage (48.50%) and germination energy (35.00%) was registered under T4 (depleting of mesocarp) treatment for September-October collected seeds sown in April. Whereas minimum germination percentage (6.00%) and germination energy (4.00%) was recorded under T6 (control) treatment for March-April collected seeds when sown in the month of June. Minimum time taken for germination (23.75 days) was recorded under T4 (depleting of mesocarp) treatment for September-October collected seeds when sown in April and maximum time taken for germination (60 days) was registered under T6 (control) treatment for March -April collected seeds when sown in the month of June.

The germination behaviour of seeds of 11 natural populations of Hippophae rhamnoides and 1 each of H. salicifolia and H. tibetana growing in cold desert and high altitude region of Himalayan State of Himachal Pradesh, was studied. The seeds of Seabuckthorn growing in arid region of Spiti showed better germination rate (98-100%) than those of semi-arid region of Lahaul (21-97%). Among the species, H. tibetana showed a maximum rate of seed germination (100 %) followed by H. rhamnoides (21.0-100.0%) and H. salicifolia (37.0%). After 14 days, biotype of H. tibetana attained the maximum length of 8.71 cm, significantly higher than those of H. rhamnoides (4.3-6.5 cm) and H. salicifolia (3.7 cm). Seedlings of all the biotypes had longer shoots than roots, with the exception of H. tibetana.  Seeds with brown colour, oval, ovate and oblong shapes showed better growth than the cylindrical, elliptical, with the exception of H. tibetana. In general, seeds of medium to large size had better growth than the small seeds.

Salvadora oleoides Decne (Peelu) occurs widely in the dry and arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The fruits of S. oleoides are sweet and edible and the seed fat which is inedible ranges between 40-50%. An intensive survey of Araba area in Barmer District of Western Rajasthan has revealed that S. oleoides grows either in the farmers’ field or on the farm boundaries as it does not have any significant negative effect on the under story crops. S. oleoides is a source of fodder particularly for camel besides its obvious environments benefits and its edible fruits. Study has been conducted to find out the economic potential of S. oleoides based agroforestry system. It was revealed that the meagre (about 5%) loss of grain (Bajra) production due to canopy coverage is not only made up by the sale of edible fruits but results in net profit of Rs. 2,400/- per hectare to the farmer. The economic ratio of the crop production without S. oleoides trees vis-à-vis S. oleoides based Agroforestry system was found to be 1:1.23 and in case farmer himself manages fruit processing for the preparation of Peelu squash, the economic ratio rises to 1:1.75.

Cassia fistula L. is an important source of timber and non-timber forest produce. The seeds of this specie suffer from seed coat imposed dormancy and require pre-treatment to enhance germination. This study was undertaken to identify better pre-treatment for enhancement of germination in hard coated seeds of Cassia fistula. The seeds were subjected to different pre-treatment, viz., control, manual scarification, soaking in gibberellic acid, in cold water, hot water, and acid scarification for varying periods. Among different pre-treatments manual scarification and acid scarification were found to be the best pre-treatments in terms of germination percentage and mean germination time. However, untreated seeds showed eleven per cent germination.

Scleria sumatrensis Retz. (Cyperaceae), collected from different regions of India during 19th Century is reported to be endangered/extinct in recent publications. However, recent collections of this species from coastal Districts of Kerala along with its present collection from Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala reveals that it is quite common in this Southernmost State of India and belies the theory of being ‘extinct’. A detailed description of the sedge along with the distribution and illustration is provided to facilitate easy identification.