Taxonomic and Bio-geographical Studies of Three Bombus Species (Hymenoptera: Bombus) from North-West Himalaya with New Record from Trans Himalaya

Background: Bumble bees play a crucial role in pollination of North West Himalayas. Bumble bees successfully thrive in the harsh environmental conditions of Himalayas. The present study aimed at taxonomic and zoogeographic studies of Bumble bees belonging to genus Bombus along with altitudinal variation of one species leading to its new record. Methods: The collections surveys were conducted from the year 2017 to 2019 from altitude of 1000 to 3500 meters above sea level in North-West Himalaya. A total of 43 specimens belonging to three species were collected. These specimens were preserved as per standard techniques in Hymenoptera and identified following keys of eminent workers. Result: The detailed taxonomy of three species of Bumble bees from North West Himalaya i.e., Bombus trifasciatus Smith, Bombus tunicatus Smith and Bombus simillimus Smith has been studied. The important taxonomic characters of different castes of these bee species have been elaborated and illustrations of morphological characters (including genitalia and sterna of male) of different castes i.e. queen, worker and male for each species are provided. The general foraging behaviour and altitudinal distribution along with floral preferences has been discussed in all the three species. The list of nectar food plants is provided under each species. B. trifasciatus has been recorded for the first time from Phey in cold desert in UT of Ladakh, which is being reported as new record in the Trans Himalayan region.

PAEONIA EMODI: A THREATENED IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT OF HIGHER HIMALAYAN REGION

Himalaya is well known for its rich biodiversity with respect to medicinal and aromatic plants and Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle is one of them locally known as Chandra (family Paeoniaceae). In India, it is distributed in North–West Himalaya from Kashmir to Garhwal-Kumaun regions of Uttarakhand with an altitudinal range of 1800 to 2800 m asl. The whole plant of P. emodi is highly effective for uterine diseases, blood purifier, colic, bilious, backbone ache, headache, dizziness, vomiting, dropsy, epilepsy and hysteria while the seeds are purgative. A present phytosociological study particularly in Garhwal Himalaya, reveals that only few pockets of P. emodi are higher dense in Triyuginarayan and Shyalmi areas (3.80 and 2.72 individual/m2 respectively) while remaining are lower dense under diverse climatic conditions due to invasion by several biotic and abiotic factors. Using available information based on field survey, it assumed that the causes of its degradation are largely overexploitation of immature twigs before flower formation and seed shedding. To conserve the targeted species for future prosperity, Government needs to take immediate and concrete initiatives or imposed the ban on illegal collection or removal of the plant from its natural populations and emphasize the promotion of conservation.

Pteridophytes of Turkey - A Revised Check-List and their Relationships to Europe and the West Himalaya

We outline the phytogeographical relations of Turkish pteridophytes following revision of our previous check-list. Although mainly European, the Turkish fern-flora has c. 40% of its species and subspecies in common with or related to the West Himalayan European phytogeographical element. In the pteridophyte accounts of the recent Illustrated Flora of Turkey, it is clear that many specimens have been misidentified and various species incorrectly illustrated. In addition the extensive Turkish pteridophyte collections in international herbaria made by non-Turkish collectors, including those of the present first author, were not drawn upon and international consultation was intentionally not entered into. Although it is unfortunately not possible in the present circumstances to study and re-identify the great bulk of authentic specimens in Turkish herbaria cited in the Flora, we have reassessed some important records and corrected the many obvious anomalies in the Flora and we have added to the distributional data from our own critically studied collections. We therefore present an updated and taxonomically revised checklist with notes and additional distributions, including a few taxa overlooked in the Flora. We also treat the important subspecies which were omitted there. A new hybrid Asplenium and another of Cystopteris are described and a few necessary new combinations are made.

Revision of the genus Prometopidia Hampson, 1902, with description of the new species P. joshimathensis sp. nov. from West-Himalaya and its subspecies P. j. yazakii ssp. nov. from Nepal (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Ennominae)

The genus Prometopidia Hampson, 1902 and its type-species P. conisaria Hampson, 1902 are redescribed and newly discovered morphological characters are explained. The female holotype of Prometopidia arenosa Wiltshire, 1961, was studied and the species redescribed, its correct position in Prometopidia is verified. The new species P. joshimathensis sp. nov. is described from Joshimath area in India, Uttarakhand province. Sympatric with P. conisaria at Joshimath, P. joshimathensis also occurs at Shimla, Punjab province, and in central and eastern Nepal. Morphological and genetic differences found in the specimens of Nepal are considered subspecific, justifying the new taxon P. joshimathensis yazakii ssp. nov. Types and specimens of Prometopidia across its whole range of distribution from Afghanistan to Nepal, habitats, genitalia, remarkable morphological characters and DNA barcoding-results are figured.

Floristic Diversity of the Himalaya in Relation to Climate Change: Status, Values and Conservation

The Himalayan region is very well known for the unique ecosystems. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) forms the major part of the Himalayan region. The vegetation along an altitudinal gradient comprises of tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, sub-alpine and alpine types and supports a great variety of forests with unique species that vary from east to west and from low to high altitudes. The present study is based on the review of literature and surveys in some parts of the IHR. A total of 10,503 species (10,452 species of Angiosperms and 51 species of Gymnosperms) are reported from the Himalayan region. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) represents 18,940 species of plants representing Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, Pteridophytes, Bryophytes, Lichens, and Fungi. A total of 6745 species of Angiosperms (604 trees, 1049 shrubs & 5092 herbs) belonging to 225 families, 1768 genera are recorded from the Trans, North-West and West Himalaya based on surveys and review of literature. Diversity of the orchids, medicinal plants, wild edibles, other economically important plants, factors affecting floristic diversity, impact of climate change and conservation initiatives have been discussed. Appropriate strategy is suggested for the conservation and management of floristic diversity.

GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF COMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.) COLLECTED FROM NORTH WEST HIMALAYA FOR AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS

Understanding of genetic diversity among the genotypes is the mainstay of plant breeding. The present study was carried out to determine genetic divergence among 59 common beans genotypes collected from North West Himalaya for nine agromorphological traits. The analysis of variance depicted significant variability among genotypes for all the traits under study indicating wide range of variability present in bean genotypes. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was high for seed yield per plant followed by days to bud initiation. High heritability was also observed for all traits except pod length. Cluster analysis grouped bean genotypes into five distinct clusters. The genotypes under group II, III, V have more number of pods per plant, seeds per pod and single plant yield which can be utilized as potential donors for enhancing the yield of other genotypes in breeding programmes. Hence, the selection based on these yield contributing traits may helpful in future crop improvement programmes