A study was undertaken to analyse the price behaviour of lac in terms of trend, seasonality and cycles in important primary and secondary markets of Jharkhand. The secondary data on monthly average prices of lac at primary and secondary markets were collected for a period of 20 years spanning from 1988-1989 to 2007-2008. A positive trend has been shown in prices of both the strains of lac i.e. rangeeni and kusmi lac during the study period which was statistically significant at 1 % probability level for all three levels of market. Growth rate of rangeeni lac prices at growers, assembling centers and manufacturing centers were found to be 9.94, 10.10 and 10.06 % per annum, respectively while for kusmi lac it was 10.13, 10.11 and 10.48 % per annum, respectively.  Only one peak of prices have been observed at growers and assembling centers level while two peaks of prices have been observed in case of manufacturing centers for rangeeni lac. For kusmi lac one peak of prices have been observed at growers and manufacturing centers level while two peaks of prices have been observed in case of assembling centers. No regular cycles have been observed in the rangeeni and kusmi lac prices during the study period. Intra year price variation was more at growers and assembling centers level in comparison to manufacturing centers. The seasonality in prices can be reduced by sustained production, production in diverse agro-climatic condition, primary processing of lac at village level and integration of lac production in various lac growing regions of the country.

Identification of different species of Curcuma based on morphological and anatomical characters is difficult. Under commercial cultivation, the crop is usually harvested before flowering. Variation in number and arrangement of primary and secondary vascular bundles, orientation of endodermal layer, number and shape of curcumin cells and starch grains provide some tools for identification at this level but these are not completely dependable. The present study made it possible to easily identify five important species Curcuma longa L., C. amada Roxb., C. zanthorrhiza Roxb., C. aromatica Salisb. and C. aeruginosa Roxb. based on pseudostem and rhizome characters in the vegetative phase. A simple and easy method for identification of the five species of Curcuma by observing the rhizome pigmentation is reported.

Twenty two Jatropha curcas L. seed sources representing the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan were evaluated to assess the genetic variability of seed and seedling traits during April to October, 2005 under statistically randomized block design with three replications to study the genetic variability of seed and seedling traits of Jatropha curcas L. The characters studied were 100 seed weight, seed length, seed width, germination percentage, germinative energy, seedling height, seedling collar diameter, number of leaves and seedling survival percentage. Genotypic variances were higher than the environmental variances for all the characters, thereby, indicating their importance for selection. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was high for seedling survival percentage, seedling height and germination percentage. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance expressed as percent mean was observed for seedling survival, germinative energy, seedling height and germination percentage. The characters namely seedling collar diameter, 100 seed weight and seed width exhibited high heritability coupled with medium genetic advance expressed as percent mean.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is the perennial food plant for mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L). It is distributed throughout India as well as in other countries. Due to open pollination, species and varieties of Morus are normally genetically diverse. The characters of mulberry genotypes are influenced by genetic constitution, climate and their geographical origin. In general, mulberry plant sprouts after pruning. A total of seventy eight genotypes collected from different parts of India and abroad (both temperate and tropical genotypes), have been maintained as trees under rain-fed conditions in the Germplasm Bank of Regional Sericultural Research Station, Sahaspur, Dehra Dun. Observations on sprouting behavior and flowering period of sixty genotypes were recorded during the year 2006-2007. During winter season, genotypes viz, Local, S1635, C1726, S146, L 6 and L1 were found to sprout earlier while genotypes S790, Rakokayaso and Gosheorami were found to sprout later. Flowering period was lower by 9 days in MS2 while higher by 18 days in S741, C763, C1730 and L1. During summer season genotypes S741, Kokaso 27, Local, MS2, S 642, Sujanpur, C776, Tr4, C741 and Ichinose were found to sprout earlier while genotype Gosheorami was found to sprout later. Flowering period was lower by 5 days in MR2 and S523 while higher by 14 days in Ichinose, S1686 and S1608. The information gathered from such studies will facilitate the breeders to identify the potential genotypes suitable for particular condition and also for further utilization in breeding programmes for development of suitable mulberry varieties for Doon Valley.

The present study was conducted in Tangsa Village of District-Chamoli on Populus ciliata Wall. ex. Royle (Salicaceae) by a simple survey method on 39 trees. Their girth and height of 10, 20 and 30 years old plantations were measured and found grow well under their climatic conditions. Plantations of P. ciliata will not only provide fodder and raw material for industries but also helpful for regenerate employment, control landslides and protect environment at a large. Besides, nursery techniques for vegetative propagation and spacing between plants of P. ciliata plantation have also described in this study.

The present study depicts the economics of horticultural produce and essential oil distillation of Damask rose (Rosa damascena L.) plantation in Punjab state of India. The study is based on the data collected from farmers in Punjab. Cost components were calculated on the basis of prevailing market prices of inputs and outputs.  Cost of cultivation for producing an average flower yield of 942 kg/acre/annum worked out to be Rs. 36,647 /acre /yr.  Cost of essential oil production and net returns were calculated as Rs. 38,617/264 gm oil and Rs. 20,783 /acre /yr, respectively.  Damask rose oil production is a remunerative venture with Rs. 59,842 as net present value (NPV), 12.70 % as internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) as 1.54. NPV of Damask rose oil production/ 4000 m2 was 202.34 % higher than that of wheat-paddy/ 4000 m2 cropping pattern.

The present investigation was carried out at the Instructional Farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during Kharif season 2005. In all eight treatments involving 16 year old forest tree species viz Terminalia arjuna Bedd. (T1), Casuarina equisetifolia L. (T2) and Mitragyna parvifolia Korth. (T3) and open field (T0) as main plot treatments and two varieties of Cucurma longa L. namely Sugundham (C1) and Kesar (C2) were tried as an intercrop with tree species were grown at 10 x 2.5m and C. longa were grown at 30 x 20cm in FRBD with 4 replications, 1.4m away from the rows in plot size of 7.2 x 3m. Significantly maximum plant height, number of leaves and shoots, leaf length, leaf breadth, rhizome length and breadth and highest yield per plant and per plot were recorded when crops grown under T3 (Kalam) as compared to T0 (open condition). Among three tree species significantly the maximum light intensity was observed under Kalam followed by Arjun and Sharu. The variety Sugundham was found compatible when grown as an intercrop with kalam and resulted in better growth and yield.

G. gummi-gatta, an endemic species of Western Ghats was investigated for seed-mycoflora. Seeds were collected from Makuta, Sirsi and Subramanya (Karnataka). The mycoflora comprised of 22 isolates belonging to 17 fungal genera. 15 fungal isolates of 13 genera were detected on seed samples from Makuta, followed by 11 isolates of 9 genera on those from Sirsi and 7 isolates of 6 genera on seed samples from Subramanya. Genera identified were Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Scytalidium, Cladosporium, Mucor, Penicillium, Cholridium, Rhinocladiella, Absidia, Paecilomyces, Rhizoctonia, Gliocladium, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Botrytis, Alternaria, Gleocephalotricum and a sterile fungus. Number of fungal isolates and species detected on seeds varied between locations, from which sample collection was done. Fungal diversity was high on seed samples from Makuta. Among the fungicides tested, Emisan and Captaf were effective in controlling seed mycoflora whereas Dithane M-45 was moderately effective and Bavistin and Blitox were least effective.

The declining trend of silk production and mulberry acreage due to water scarcity, fluctuating trends in rainfall, non-availability of skilled labour, high cost of inputs, comparatively low cost of cocoons in the market, migration from the villages and tough competition with fast developing electronic, computer, IT and other industries have necessitated blending of sericulture with other industries to increase the income of the farmers per unit area in eco-friendly manners for supplementation and facilitation of each other. A lot of scope exists for by-product utilization and commercial exploitation of new products from sericulture in agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, dairy, timber, tannin, leather, pharmaceutical, food, soap and other industries which may enhance the earning of farmers 5-6.5 times more as compared to traditional cocoon production alone. Present paper deals with scope of sericulture in pharmaceutical industries and strategies required for integration of sericulture with pharmaceutical industries in Uttarakhand in particular and India in general.

The present investigation was undertaken at the Farm of All India Coordinated Research Project on Under Utilized Crops, Regional Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during the year 2002 and 2003. Pollen grains were creamish yellow and sticky. They were Spheroidal or globular in distilled water and acetocarmine with three to four germspores. The mean pollen size in distilled water was 90.5 and 83.5 μm in lower and upper tier of stamen, respectively, while in acetocarmine 82 and 89 μm in upper and lower tier of stamens, respectively. The pollen viability was quite high (95.04 to 98.77%). Maximum pollen germination (35.49%) and pollen tube length (265.19 μ) was recorded in 15 % sucrose solution with 0.005% boric acid.

Investigations on effect of tree-crop combinations and nitrogen levels on growth, biomass and seed yield of Mucuna pruriens L. were carried out during 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, in experimental farm of Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The tree-crop combinations were T1 (Peach + Grewia + Setaria + M. pruriens), T2 (Peach + Morus + Setaria + M. pruriens), T3 (Peach + Setaria + M. pruriens), T4 (Grewia + Setaria + M. pruriens), T5 (Morus + Setaria + M. pruriens) and T6 (M. pruriens, sole crop). Its length, leaf area and leaf area index was significantly affected due to tree-crop associations giving maximum values as 3.60m, 276.30cm2/leaf and 2.53, respectively under sole cropping system. The nitrogen dose of 120kg/ha produced longest vine (3.80m), with leaf area 330.00cm2/leaf and leaf area index of 2.93. The above ground biomass was significantly higher (15.15t/ha) under sole cropping system followed by T2, T3, T4, and T5, suggesting suitability of tree crop systems for cultivation under these systems too. Similarly, below ground biomass was significantly higher (0.29t/ha) from open grown crop, nevertheless, tree-crop combinations T1, T2 and T5 gave biomass at par. Total biomass was not affected due to various tree-crop treatments. The nitrogen dose 120kg/ha gave maximum above ground (16.76t/ha), below ground (0.30t/ha) and total biomass (17.07t/ha). Although the tree-crop combinations affected biomass yield significantly however, seed yield did not have significant effect. The seed yield ranged 2.17 to 2.21t/ha. The N dose of 120kg/ha gave maximum (2.38t/ha) seed yield. The N levels did not show optimum level. Both tree-crop combinations as well as N doses failed to affect L-DOPA content estimated in the seed. However, L-DOPA content ranges from 4.58 to 5.05 per cent on dry seed weight basis. The L-DOPA content was same in seeds produced from open grown and seeds produced from plants grown under different Agroforestry Systems. Thus, Mucuna can be grown under Agroforestry Systems and fertilizers application to get higher biomass and seed yield without any changes in the active constituent.

The present paper put on record 10 species of Trigonella L. from Jammu and Kashmir state. A key to the species and citations along with flowering and fruiting period is given. All these species grow within the territory of Jammu and Kashmir state.

In the present study, a semi-destructive method is standardized to estimate the seed moisture content in Saraca asoca, one of the rare plant species of the Western Ghats. In the study, sample of seeds with about ¼th portion of cotyledon on the chalazal side cut and reaming seed portion (¾th) were independently used for moisture content. There was a strong and positive association between seed moisture content of a portion of cotyledon and that of the whole seed (R2=92; Y=0.9979x-0.3673, where x is the moisture content of the small portion of the seed). In another experiment, entire seeds and seeds with a cut portion (¾th) were subjected to germination test. Result showed that there was no significant difference among these two treatments for germination. Hence, this semi-destructive method of estimation of seed moisture content could be effectively adopted for species with large sized seeds for periodic assessment of seed moisture content, especially in storage experiments.

Information on traditional/ethnobotanical uses of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. (Bignoniaceae) gathered from Kumaun Himalaya of Uttarakhand has been dealt with in present communication.

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in North-Coastal Andhra Pradesh during 2008-2010. A total of 17 plant species covering 13 genera of the family Apocynaceae being extensively used for curing various human ailments by the Primitive Tribal Groups of North-Coastal Andhra Pradesh are presented. Aganosma caryophyllata and Carissa inermis and 45 practices were found to be new.

In this paper, observation on twin seedlings in Semecarpus kathalekanensis is reported. Out of 850 seeds germinated (from seven individuals), two seeds gave out twin seedlings. Further, the growth of twin seedlings with normal seedlings have been recorded and discussed here.

A survey of wild edible tubers, rhizomes, corms, bulbs, root types and stems was under taken and about 28 species belonging to 17 families were documented from different settlements of Valaiyans in the Madurai district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Plant species with their family names, vernacular names and plant parts used are tabulated.

Albinism is one of the important natural events that has been reported in several crops as well as in forest tree species. Albinism is lack of synthesis of chlorophyll pigments in cotyledons or leaves or any green parts of the plant body. This could be one of the examples for lethal mutation, where entire albino plant or their part would die after few days of seed germination. Here, we report albinism in wildings of Dysoxylum malabaricum, a critically endangered and economically important species of Western Ghats.

During the course of ethnomedicinal investigations in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, 11 interesting indigenous medicinal plants belonging to 9 families have been reported for the treatment of paralysis. Plant part used, vernacular name, English name, method of preparation of the drug and the dose of administration are given.