Melia dubia Cav. of family Meliaceae is a fast growing, high value tree species native to India. Isolating DNA from matured dried leaves of M. dubia was difficult due to accumulation of secondary metabolites, majorly polyphenolics, which resulted in dark brown to black colour of the pellet. In this study, a modified STE-(Sucrose, Tris-HCl and Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid) CTAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) method was standardized for removal of polyphenolics. The protocol developed yielded 200 -1000 ng/µl of quality DNA without any impurities as evident by A260/280 ratio ranging from 1.75 -2.0. It was also suitable for extracting quality DNA from other members of Meliaceae like Azadirachta indica and Melia azedarach. In downstream applications, the extracted DNA was used for PCR amplification by using ISSR and SSR markers. ISSR PCR conditions were optimized in a reaction volume of 25 µl, consisting of 30 ng of template DNA, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 200 µM of each of dNTPs and 2 U of Taq polymerase. The best amplification was observed and the same was applicable for SSR markers.

Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important timber species worldwide and India is one of the major teak growing countries. Though some volume equations were developed in the past in India, merchantable volume equations (any top diameter or bole length) are not available. Moreover, the models developed were neither quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated nor validated with independent data sets. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop appropriate volume equations to predict total tree volume and merchantable volume for teak in Karnataka.Linear and non-linear equations were used to model the relationship of the volume with respect to diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height. Merchantable volume equations for estimating merchantable volume to any minimum top diameter or bole length have also been constructed. The equations tested mostly fitted well to the data. Other models developed elsewhere tended to underestimate the volume, especially at dbh ≥ 23 cm. The geometric cylinder volume equation, in combination with a stem form factor of .40, is widely used for teak in Karnataka but they were found to be less precise compared to regression equations when applied to the

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