Combining Ability for Growth, Yield and Related Traits In Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Under Subtropical Conditions of Garhwal Himalayas

To assess the combining ability for quantitative and qualitative traits in cucumber a full diallel set of 7 parents and their 42 F1’s was evaluated at Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, India during 2015 and 2016. The mean sum of squares due to general combining ability (GCA) was of significant differences at 1 % level for almost all the characters. The variance due to specific combining ability (SCA) was found highly significant at 1 % level for almost all the characters. Results from general combining ability studies revealed that the parent, New Manipur-1 showed significant GCA effect in desired direction for maximum characters viz., length of vine, days to first fruit harvest and number of fruits per vine. The cross combinations, Seven Star x New Manipur-1 for length of vine, Swarna Purna x Seven Star for days to first fruit harvest; K-90 x Seven Star for number of fruits per vine and the cross PB-Naveen x Swarna Purna for total fruit yield per vine showed significant SCA effect in desired direction and found to be superior specific cross combinations. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(4): 1003-1010, 2021 (December)

Effect of Mosses on physical and chemical properties of soil in temperate forests of Garhwal Himalayas

Mosses are one of the most important and dominant plant communities, especially in the temperate biome, and play a significant role in ecosystem function and dynamics. They influence the water, energy and element cycle due to their unique ecology and physiology. The present study was undertaken in three different temperate forest sites in the Garhwal Himalayas, viz., Triyuginarayan (Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS)), Chakrata, and Kanasar forest range. The study was focused on understanding the influence of mosses on soil physical properties and nutrient availability. Different physico-chemical properties were analysed under two different substrata, that is, with and without moss cover in two different seasons, viz., monsoon and winter. We observed mosses to influence and alter the physical properties and nutrient status of soil in both seasons. All soil physical and chemical properties, except magnesium, showed significant difference within the substrates, among all the sites and across the two seasons. Besides the soil characteristics underneath the moss vegetation, the study also highlights the diversity of mosses found in the area. Mosses appear to create high nutrient microsites via a high rate of organic matter accumulation and retain nutrients for longer periods thus, maintaining ecosystem stability.

Multiple genes confer anthracnose resistance in French bean accessions of Garhwal Himalayas

The Indian Himalayan region is very rich in the genetic variability of French bean and therefore considered as the secondary centre of origin of French bean. Though, a good diversity of French bean is present in Uttarakhand hills of Western Himalaya but it is almost unexplored yet. Unfortunately, French bean is attacked by some of the phytopathogens those cause heavy crop losses. Colletotrichum lindemuthianu (Sacc. & Magnus) Scrib is one of the sever pathogens that causes anthracnose disease in French bean worldwide. Identification or development of a resistant variety/cultivar is an environmentally safe approach. Diversity analysis of anthracnose resistant loci in common bean is important to identify new sources of resistance gene(s). So the study was designed with the objectives to collect and screen the local accessions of French bean from Garhwal hills for anthracnose resistance. A total of 100 accessions were collected from 6 different districts of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and all were screened for anthracnose resistance. For this, 13 SCAR (Sequence cleaved amplified region) primers specific to anthracnose resistance were used in this study. Results revealed a high level of genetic diversity within the population for anthracnose resistance loci. Gene diversity ranged from 0.354 to 0.499 with a mean of 0.457. Pair wise genetic distance ranged from 0 to 2.236. The accessions were also screened for anthracnose resistance under field and polyhouse conditions. There was a moderate correlation (R = 0.56) between field trial and trial under controlled condition. Thirteen of these accessions possessing two genes (Co-10 and Co-42) showed complete resistance for anthracnose disease under field and polyhouse conditions. The anthracnose resistant accessions may further be used in future breeding programmes to develop new and more resistant varieties of French bean against anthracnose disease.

Modulation of Plant Functional Traits Under Essential Plant Nutrients During Seasonal Regime in Natural Forests of Garhwal Himalayas

Aim: We estimated that how seasonality in conjunction with key climatic variables affects morphological and physiological plant functional traits (PFTs) and soil essential (micro and macro) nutrients in oak, pine, and mixed forests. Method: The different PFTs were tested using several laboratory methods and also using the portable photosynthesis system Li-COR 6400 XT, Lincoln NE, USA. Likewise, some chemical traits and soil nutrients were analysed by using CHNS analyser.Results: In this study, physiological traits such as CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were found to be significantly higher in the rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons. Among the different forest land uses, physiological traits and resource use efficiency have been significantly higher in oak forest (OF) compared to the mixed forest (MF) and pine forest (PF). Likewise, the concentration of macro-micro nutrients was also recorded higher during the rainy season. The concentration of macro-micro nutrients was higher in OF than in MF and PF in different forest land uses. Conclusion: Changes in PFTs ultimately affect the ecosystem services imparted by the different forests. Such changes lead to the local adaptation of these forests through the interaction between PFTs and soil nutrients.

Implementation of the Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants for Curing Diseases in the Indian Himalayas and Its Role in Sustainability of Livelihoods and Socioeconomic Development

In recent times, the use of traditional herbal medicines in healthcare has declined, particularly amongst the rural population. This implies a risk of losing vital information from previous generations regarding plants and their use in traditional medicine. The objective of this study is to catalog the ways employed by inhabitants of the Garhwal Himalayas as part of their traditional approaches to healthcare. Information was gathered through snowball sampling using a questionnaire combined with informal interviews. This was supplemented by discussions with peers and practitioners prominent in this healing technique. The homogeneity within ethnomedicinal knowledge of these rural residents was tested using the informant consensus factor (Fic). The calculation of the fidelity value (FL) and the cultural importance index (CI) were made regarding the population’s dependency on plants. A total of 88 plant species from 44 families and 80 genera were identified as medicines for various complaints. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part followed by fruits, seeds, roots, bark, and flowers/buds. The largest number of taxa (15 species) were used for treatment of skin ailments (with Fic score of 0.85) followed by wounds, coughs, and digestive problems. There was a significant relationship observed between the medicinal plants used and distance (time of access) and family income. The present study will provide baseline information to be established for future research. The available information could help to discover new drugs for the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, the study revealed that the plants that have high scores of FL and CI can be used to discover new drug extraction in the future for further studies.