Collection, characterization, conservation and utilization of Cordia sinensis Lam.: An underexploited multipurpose fruit species of hot arid regions

Cordia sinensis, locally known as ‘Goondi’ in India, is an underexploited multipurpose fruit species found in hot arid regions that is well adapted to drought, salt and hot conditions. The present study was undertaken to collect fruit samples from different locations in the Kachchh region of Gujarat, India, and to determine their field establishment for characterization, conservation and utilization. The maximum distribution of the species was observed in Bhuj (45%) and Mandvi (25%). Field boundaries (35%) and scrub forests (30%) had greater frequencies, whereas backyards had rarer frequencies (10%). The species most commonly occurred on levelled topography (60%) with a soil pH in the range of 8–8.5 (63%). Morphological data of three-year-old plants in the field gene bank showed a maximum coefficient of variation in the number of leaves per plant (66.6), followed by the number of branches per plant (45.62) and collar diameter (27.69). Wide variations were recorded in plant height (121.67–212 cm), spread (118–223 cm2) and the number of branches per plant (6–24.33). Specific accessions were identified for fodder (CBCG-12, CBCG-13 and CBCG-16), early flowering and fruiting (CBCG-12, CBCG-13 and CBCG-14), easier propagation by seeds (CBCG-12 and CBCG-13) and salt tolerance (CBCG-15 and CBCG-16). Preliminary findings and information provided about this species' utilization and other aspects might be useful for future research on its domestication, sole plantation and conservation aspects, improving the exploitation of this species by present and future generations.

DIVERSITY OF ANGIOSPERM CLIMBER SPECIES IN POINT CALIMERE WILDLIFE AND BIRD SANCTUARY, TAMIL NADU

Climbers are currently understood to have a range of important ecological functions in forest dynamics. Climbers are already recognized as an important group for tropical biodiversity, playing a key role in ecosystem level processes and providing resources for pollinators and dispersers. The present study is an attempt to document different climber species and their uses in Point Calimere Wildlife and Birds Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India. The present study recorded 53 herbaceous climbers and 21 lianas from all the forests types of Point Calimere Sanctuary, covering 25 families. Considering all climbers and lianas, 40 species are stem twiners, 2 species are branch twiners, 4 are spiny Climbers, 19 species are tendril climbers and 8 species are hook climbers. Most of the lianas are distributed in scrub forests and many climbers are recorded in wet lands. 53 medicinal climbers are recorded in the study area. Roots and leaves are widely used to treat diseases. To obtain a better comprehension of the floristic, ecological and biogeographical patterns of climbing species at a global scale, it is of the utmost importance that future studies include an increased number of subtropical and temperate sites.

DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURECES OF TIRUMALAIAH GUTTA SACRED GROVE, WANAPARTHY, TELANGANA, INDIA

Tirumalaiah Gutta sacred grove is situated near Wanaparthy, Telanagana with dry deciduous and scrub forests and huge rock boulders. The study yields a total of 467 taxa belonging to 283 genera and 81 families. Of the 467 taxa, 332 are dicots, 129 are monocots and 6 are pteridophytes. Of the 81 families,Poaceae is the largest family with 77 taxa, followed by Fabaceae (51), Cyperaceae (25), Asteraceae (24),Rubiaceae (19) and Acanthaceae (18). A total number of 34 endemic taxa at different levels are recorded of which, Alysicarpus mahabubnagarensis is endemic to Mahabubnagar district, Chryopogon velutinus is endemic to Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, Rathnagiri hills of Maharashtra and Wanaparthy district of Telangana; Euphorbia senguptea and Rostellularia vahlii var. rupicola are endemic to Eastern Ghats. From the inventory it has been resulted in a total of 16 taxa which was identified and found as addition to the flora of Telanganastate after a perusal of literature. Ceropegia spiralis, Caralluma stalagmifera, Tripogon purpurascens, Chrysopogon velutinus are some of the significant taxa of the study. Good number of insectivorous plants were also recorded from the study area. The “Sanjeevani” is mythical herb mentioned in the Ramayana as awonderful medicinal plant was present in this area. A total number of 382 taxa can be considered as economically important.

Avifaunal diversity in the scrub forest of Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India

A total of 115 bird species belonging to 47 families were recorded in the scrub forests of the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India in a survey carried out from May 2014 to April 2015. Of these, 107 species were resident and nine species were resident migrants. The scrub forests of peninsular India are equally important as other habitats for avifaunal assemblages.

Status, abundance and habitat preference of butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in Chittagong University Campus, Chittagong, Bangladesh

A study was conducted on the butterflies of the Chittagong University Campus (CUC), Bangladesh between March 2014 and May 2015. A total of 142 species of butterflies belonging to 87 genera and six families (Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Riodinidae and Nymphalidae) were recorded from the CUC during the study period. Family Nymphalidae comprised the highest number of species followed by Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. The abundance of this species stated in terms of very common, common, uncommon, rare and very rare. The butterflies used different types of habitat (viz., grass land, crop land, open forest, scrub forest, dense forest and bamboo patch) and among all, scrub forests were the most preferred habitat. Mud puddling of 35 species were also observed. Five species of butterflies (Ampittia dioscorides, Matapa purpurascens, Polytremis eltola, Unkana ambasa and Ypthima ceylonica) were recorded for the first time in Bangladesh.

First Report of Laurel Wilt Disease Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Silk Bay in Florida

Silk bay (Persea humilis Nash) is a member of the Lauraceae precinctive to the scrub forests of central and southern Florida and a sister species to the primary laurel wilt host, redbay (P. borbonia (L.) Spreng), which is generally not found in these ecosystems. In November 2011, observations of silk bay mortality near Lake Placid in Highlands County, FL, were reported to Florida Forest Service agents. A subsequent visit to roadside and homeowners' properties in the area revealed many dead and dying silkbays with characteristic laurel wilt symptoms, including wilted crowns with brown persistent foliage, frass accumulated at tree bases, sapwood with dark streaking, and ambrosia beetle entrance holes (1). Twig samples were taken and later confirmed as silk bay by the Florida Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville. Trunk samples were taken from four trees for fungal isolation. Stem sections with vascular discoloration were surface disinfested for 30 s in a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution and then plated onto cycloheximide streptomycin malt extract agar (CSMA) (1). All sapwood pieces from the four samples resulted in the same cream-buff submerged fungal growth characteristic of the laurel wilt pathogen Raffaelea lauricola T. C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva (2). DNA was extracted from a single-spore derived isolate, PL1389, and an 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence was generated with primers NS1 and NS4, resulting in a 1,031-bp amplicon (3). A BLASTn search showed identical homology to R. lauricola strains PL159 and PL382 (GenBank Accessions No. EU257806 and JF797171, respectively, 100% similarity, e-value 0.0, and a total score of 1,982). The sequence was deposited into GenBank and assigned the accession No. JQ247569. In December 2011, a spore suspension was made by flooding a PL1389 culture plate with 2 ml of sterile water, collecting by pipette, and quantification and adjusting to 3.25 × 106 spores/ml by hemacytometer. Pathogenicity was tested on potted plants in a growth chamber experiment. Five silk bays and three redbays were drill-wounded with a 3/32” drill bit and inoculated with 20 μl of the spore suspension. Three silk bays and two redbays served as water-inoculated controls. Within 5 weeks, all inoculated plants displayed the wilt and vascular discoloration characteristic of laurel wilt disease, while all water-inoculated controls remained healthy. Sapwood samples from all plants were plated onto the same CSMA media. R. lauricola was later recovered only from the wilted plants inoculated with PL1389, while no fungal growth was recovered from the asymptomatic water-inoculated controls. Silk bay, which plays a significant role in the limited scrub ecosystems of Florida, has now become another host in the laurel wilt epidemic, with its implications upon the scrub forests yet to be seen. References: (1) S. W. Fraedrich et al. Plant Dis. 92:215, 2008. (2) T. C. Harrington et al. Mycotaxon 104:399, 2008. (3) M. A. Innis et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press. San Diego, CA, 1990.

NATURAL HISTORY OF LEIOCEPHALUS SEMILINEATUS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SYMPATRIC LEIOCEPHALUS SCHREIBERSII AND AMEIVA LINEOLATA

We examined diet, habitat use, and behavior (focal animal observations of intraspecific interactions, escape behavior, and activity period) of Leiocephalus semilineatus from near Puerto Alejandro, Provincia de Barahona, República Dominicana, and compared some parameters to similar data collected at a site near Baní, Provincia de Peravia. Leiocephalus semilineatus is found in sympatry in dry scrub forests at both sites with Ameiva lineolata, an active-foraging teiid of approximately the same size, and at the Puerto Alejandro site with a larger congener, L. schreibersii. Leiocephalus semilineatus and L. schreibersii from Puerto Alejandro exhibited sexual size dimorphism, whereas L. semilineatus from the Baní site and A. lineolata did not. Leiocephalus semilineatus spent most of the time motionless; other observed activities were interactions with conspecifics, movement, and feeding. Lizards were active from shortly after sunrise to sundown, although activity peaked in late morning. Mean cloacal temperatures of L. semilineatus did not differ significantly from those of the other two species, but were significantly above ambient temperatures. Reproductive condition of collected specimens was examined and no correlation was found between snout-vent length and egg, follicle, or testis size. Clutch size was 1–2. Diets consisted primarily of invertebrates and did not differ significantly between the three species.