Capsicum frutescens (chilli) plants exhibiting leaf curl symptoms, collected from Palampur, Himachal Pradesh region of India, were found associated with a begomovirus and a betasatellite-like molecule. Viral DNA was amplified, cloned and sequenced. The begomoviral genome and the betasatellite consisted of 2775 and 1376 nucleotides respectively. The virus appeared to be monopartite. The genome sequence had <87AE9% identity with all other begomovirus sequences, below the threshold for species demarcation, suggesting that the isolate represents a distinct species for which the name Chilli leaf curl Palampur virus (ChiLCPaV) is proposed. Infectious clones consisting of partial tandem repeats of the viral genome (1AE9-mer) and the betasatellite (1AE7-mer) were constructed in the binary vector pCAMBIA-1300 and agroinoculated to chilli and Nicotiana benthamiana. The viral clone did not produce leaf curl symptoms when inoculated alone but the plants were stunted compared to controls. Typical leaf curling and stunting symptoms were observed when the viral clone was inoculated with the betasatellite. In a phylogenetic analysis with other closely related begomoviruses, the new sequence grouped with an isolate of Papaya leaf curl virus-

Alkali lands in India occupy about 3 million ha. Due to poor physical properties, excessive exchangeable sodium and high pH, most of these lands support a very poor vegetation cover. Many of the medicinal and aromatic plants are in great demand for both internal requirements and export. But since these crops are non-conventional in nature, it is not always possible for them to be produced on fertile lands, which can be used for arable crops. The marginal lands, specifically the lands affected by salinity or sodicity problems where profitable returns are not possible from agricultural crops, could be successfully utilized for the cultivation of these high-value crops with marginal inputs. Results reported in this paper clearly indicated that out of three aromatic grasses, palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats.) and lemon grass (C. flexuosus (Steud.) Wats.) could successfully be grown on moderatly alkali soils of pH up to 9Á2 while vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash), which withstands both high pH and stagnation of water, could successfully be grown without significant yield reduction on highly alkali soils. These grasses not only produce essential oils used for industrial purposes but also ameliorate the soil.

Growing salt-tolerant under-explored crops utilizing saline ground water can provide for an economic use of abandoned semiarid lands. Field trials were conducted between 1999 and 2003 on a calcareous soil in a semiarid region of northwest India. Woody perennials were planted at the sill of furrows and irrigated with water of high salinity (EC 10-28 dS m À1 ), low salinity (EC 5-9 dS m À1 ) and alternately with these two waters. Woody species included Azadirachta indica, Cordia rothii, Salvadora persica, Jatropha curcas, J. gossipifolia, Ricinus communis, Catharanthus roseus, Adhatoda vasica and Aloe barbadensis. Most of these could be grown successfully but S. persica-a highly salt-tolerant halophyte-though it produced huge biomass, could not yield mature fruit due to frost injury. The salinity build up in the soil was greater during low-rainfall years, but a good rainfall year, e.g. 714 mm in 2001, helped to leach out the accumulated salts. The uptake of Na þ in plants was greater when irrigated with water of high salinity, while K þ accumulation was greater with water of low salinity. Na þ accumulation was higher in roots as compared to other parts except in Jatropha and Salvadora, while K þ accumulation was greater in leaves. There was a negative correlation between Na þ and K þ accumulation and a positive correlation between Ca 2þ and Mg 2þ . Thus, saline water (ECiw 12 dS m À1 ) can successfully be used for growing several under-explored crops of high economic value.

A distinct bipartite begomovirus was found associated with tomato plants showing yellowing, curling, and crumpling of the leaves, in a sub-temperate region in India. The complete DNA-A and DNA-B components were amplified through rolling circle amplification (RCA) using Phi-29 DNA polymerase and characterized. The DNA-A of the isolate was comprised of 2,756 nucleotides, encoding six open reading frames (ORFs) and DNA-B that of 2,725 nucleotides, encoding two ORFs. Genome organization of the isolate was typical of an old world bipartite begomovirus. Comparisons showed that DNA-A and its intergenic region (IR) have the highest sequence identity (86% and 84%, respectively) with the Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV; DQ116885) and some other begomoviruses (>84%) reported from cucurbits and tomato. This data suggested that the isolate is a distinct begomovirus species for which a name Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPMV) is proposed. DNA-B showed the maximum sequence identity (73%) with Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-India-[Pakistan:Dargai:T5/6:2001] (AY150305). The common region (CR) of DNA-A and DNA-B showed 94% sequence similarity with each other. In the present study, phylogenetic relationship of this new species was also established with different begomoviruses reported from tomato and other begomoviruses showing highest homologies with complete DNA-A and DNA-B sequences. ToLCPMV is being reported from a sub-temperate region in India which was previously unaffected by begomoviruses and its whitefly vector.