No abstract

The data on microclimate were collected between 2010 and 2011 in five forest communities (dry miscellaneous, sal mixed, lowland miscellaneous, teak and savannah) in a tropical moist deciduous forest in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India to compare how vegetation structure affects microclimate. Diurnal variations in microclimatic variables [photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at forest understory level, air temperature, soil surface temperature, ambient CO 2 , air absolute humidity] were measured with LI-COR 840, LI-COR 191, LI-COR 190 SZ, LI-1400-101 and LI-1400-103 (LI-COR; Lincoln, NE, USA) at centre of three 0.5 ha plots in each forest community. The diurnal trend in microclimatic parameters showed wide variations among communities. PAR at forest floor ranged from 0.0024 to 1289.9 (lmol m -2 s -1 ) in post-monsoon season and 0.0012 to 1877.3 (lmol m -2 s -1 ) in mid-winter season. Among the five communities, the highest PAR value was observed in savannah and lowest in sal mixed forest. All the forest communities received maximum PAR at forest floor between 1000 and 1200 h. The ambient air temperature ranged from 19.15 to 26.69°C in post-monsoon season and 11.31 to 23.03°C in mid-winter season. Soil temperature ranged from 13.54 to 36.88°C in postmonsoon season and 6.39 to 29.17°C in mid-winter season. Ambient CO 2 ranged from 372.16 to 899.14 lmol mol -1 in post-monsoon season and 396.65 to 699.65 lmol mol -1 in mid-winter season. In savannah ecosystem, diurnal trend of ambient CO 2 was totally different from rest four communities. According to Canonical correspondence analysis, PAR and ambient CO 2 are most important in establishment of forest community, among microclimatic variables.

Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.)is a potential legume crop of the tropics with high protein and oil content in the seeds. Analysis of the mutual genotypic relationships among twenty four genotypes of P. tetragonolobus through Mantel test found a significant correlation (r = 0.839) between similarity matrices of the results obtained from the use of the RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. The UPGMA tree based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient generated from their cumulative data showed two distinct clusters and seven sub-clusters among these accessions. Quantification of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannin revealed the highest percentage of occurrence of kaempferol (1.07 -790.5 μg/g) and the lowest percentage of gallic acid (0.09 -3.49 μg/g) in the seeds. Phytochemical analysis of the winged bean genotypes revealed that, some of the exotic lines are distinct. Analysis of photosynthesis rate, photosynthetic yield and stomatal conductance data also showed two clusters and was in congruence with the phytochemical affinities of the genotypes. The overall high level of polymorphism and varied range of genetic distances across the genotypes revealed a wide range of genetic base of P. tetragonolobus. The present investigation therefore, has provided significant insights for further improvement of winged bean germplasm for its qualitative and quantitative traits.

The paper deals with the taxonomy and diversity within the genus Ficus occurring in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary based on extensive field and herbarium studies. The genus comprises 11 species in the study area contrary to the earlier report of 8 species. Out of which, one species each belongs to herbs (F. assamica) and straggling shrubs (F. hetero- phylla) and the remaining species to shrub to big free standing trees (F. benghalensis, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. racemosa, F. religiosa, F. retusa var. nitida, F. rumphii, F. semicordata and F. squamosa). F. microcarpa and F. carica have been excluded as they do not occur in the sanctuary but reported in the previous work due to mis- identification. F. repens has been segregated from F. heterophylla and reinstated as a distinct species with a correct name F. assamica. F. retusa var. nitida forms a new record for the sanctuary. In overall gross morphology, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. assamica and F. heterophylla exhibit maximum diversity especially in their leaves, pe- duncles and figs. Among all species F. hispida has been found more common especially in low land and moist areas in mixed forest whereas F. retusa var. nitida has been seen with only two plants. All species have been critically examined and provided with correct nomenclature, vernacular name, description, phenology, ecology, uses and reference to voucher specimens. A dichotomous bracketed key to the species along with line drawings has also been included for identification