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M. V. Dural , A. Senthil Murugan , Smitha G. Nair , Rameshwar Das

Abstract

The present study was carried out to highlight physio-chemical properties of soils of mangrove forests viz., mangrove scrub, mangrove forest, salt water mixed forest and palm swamp in Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. The altitude of sampling sites was 6m to 7m above msl. The physio-chemical properties of the soils varied with species composition and altitude. Most of the samples were silt-loam in texture. The highest particle density and bulk density was observed in salt-water-mixed forest where as the maximum water holding capacity and high volume expansion were observed in mangrove forest. The highest porosity was recorded in palm swamp forest. The pH values of the mangroves varied from 7.8 to 8.3 and EC ranged from 1.26 to 2.84 mS/cm². The high per cent of organic carbon was found in palm swamp forest. The maximum amount of available P and K was in salt water- mixed forest where as that of available N was in mangrove forest.

Keywords

Physical Chemical Properties, Mangrove Forest, Sunderban Tiger Reserve, Soils Texture, Nutrient, Organic Carbon, Particle Density

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B. N. Divakara , Santosh Prasad , Rameshwar Das

Abstract

The survey was undertaken to document the alien invasive flora present in different ecosystems during November 2010 to February 2011 in Latehar and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand. A total of 41 invasive alien species was documented in the selected forests and non-forest areas. Among invasive alien species, major potential threat in the near future is by Lantana camara, Argemone mexicana, Eupatorium odoratum and Hyptis suaveolens. Lantana camara was highest in open forest with density of 2917/ha and frequency 47.62 % compared to dense forest with density of 42.5/ha and frequency 50 % in Latehar forest. Whereas in Hazaribagh forests the density of Lantana camara was higher than Latehar forests with 3535/ha in open forest and 177/ha in dense forest. In Agricultural land Celosia argentea, Argemone mexicana, Cassia tora, Eclipta prostrata, Emilia sonchifolia, Evolvulus nummularious, Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleracea, Scoparia dulcis, Sonchus oleraceous, and Tridax procumbens are found thorugh out Hazaribagh and Latehar districts. Eichornia cressipeswas major invasive species found in pond ecosystem.

Keywords

Alien invasive species, Documentation, Hazaribagh, Latehar

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Satya Prakash Mishra , Pankaj Singh , Sanjay Singh , Rameshwar Das , R. S. Prasad

Abstract

No Abstract

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Pankaj Singh ¹, Rameshwar Das ¹, Sanjay Singh ², Priya Kumari ²

Affiliations
1 Forest Chemistry Lab, Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi, IN
2 Molecular Biology and Tree Physilogy Lab, Institute of Forest Prtoductivity, Ranchi, IN

Abstract

Bamboo shoots are delicious, taste sweet, rich in carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and essential amino acids. Despite these nutrtious quality, bamboo shoots have cynogenic glycosides which releases hydrocyanic acid (HCN) on hydrolysis. Picrate paper method was found convinient and reliable protocol to estimate hydrocyanic acid content in edible bamboo shoots. Present study was done on edible shoots of three bamboo including B. tulda and D. strictus and found that tender shoots of B. tulda are edible and good for human health as it has lower content of hydrocyanic acid. Overall middle part of the shoots contained maximum amount of HCN content in all species.

Keywords

Bamboo shoots, Picrate paper, Cynogenic gylcosides, HCN.

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Animesh Sinha ¹, Rameshwar Das ¹, Bibhuti Deka ¹, Syam Viswanath ¹, B. S. Chandrashekar ¹, Sandeep Chakraborty ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute of Forest Productivity, (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education), Lalgutwa, Ranchi – 835 303, IN

Abstract

Embelia ribes Burm. f. is an important medicinal plant resource in Indian System of Medicine, Homeopathy and many other herbal products. It is mainly used as an anthelmintic, anti-diabetic, anti-fertilitic and antibacterial agent. Embelin is a characteristic chemical constituent of many species belong to the family Myrcinaceae. Among these species, seeds of Embelia ribes contain the highest content of embelin. Due to over exploitation of this species, the natural population is diminishing day by day and the adulteration has become a common feature. Hence, the problems in natural regeneration, adulteration, propagation and conservation efforts for this species are critically reviewed in the paper. Market survey revealed that E. tsjeriam-cottam was commonly sold as E. ribes. Molecular markers are being used for identification of E. ribes and to distinguish it from common substitutes and adulterants. Its natural regeneration is poor and artificial regeneration is difficult. It is a dioecious species with low male female ratio and bears short-lived male flowers as compared to female flowers. This may be the reason for less production of fruits. The in vitro technique is a promising area of research in the propagation as well as ex situ conservation of threatened plants. Very few reports are available on micropropagation of E. ribes. Again some doubts over previous report have also been observed. Therefore, the development and refinement of protocols for large scale micropropagation and conservation of authenticated plants of the species are greatly felt.

Keywords

Adulteration, Anthelmintic, Conservation, Embelin, In-vitro Propagation

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B. N. Divakara ¹, Rameshwar Das ²

Affiliations
1 Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Icfre, Bangalore - 560003, Karnataka, IN
2 Institute of forest Productivity, Icfre, Ranchi - 835303, Jharkhand,, IN

Abstract

Twenty-four Pongamia pinnata(Karanj) and twenty-three Madhuca latifolia (Mahua) genotypes collected from 2 different zones of Jharkhand were subjected to Mahalanobis D-square (D ) statistics to elucidate the genetic diversity based on pod/seed traits. P. pinnata and M. latifolia genotypes were grouped into 5 and 8 clusters respectively, indicating wide diversity. The clustering pattern proved that geographical diversity need not necessarily be related to genetic diversity. In P. pinnata, cluster-II had maximum number of genotypes followed by cluster-I and cluster III. Cluster means indicated a wide range of variation for all the pod/seed traits. In M. latifolia the genotypes in cluster VII and IV were most heterogeneous and can be best used for within group hybridization. Cluster means indicated crosses involving under cluster III and I may result in substantial segregates and further selection for overall improvement of species.

Keywords

Pongamia Pinnata, Madhuca Latifolia, Mahalanobis D-square, Genetic Divergence.

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