Dinesh Kumar , Surender Singh Negi , Rajeev Pandey , Ira Pundir , Anita Tomar , Pradeep Kumar

Abstract

A study was undertaken to estimate the structure of variation in cone and seed traits of Pinus roxburghii through three-level nested (hierarchical) classification model. The populations studied constituted a continuous stretch of this species. Between-population variation for the cone and seed characteristics was found to be very small as it ranged from 0 per cent to 26 per cent, depending upon the trait. The remaining 74 per cent or more of the variation in these characters was due to the between-tree within-population and the within-tree components. The study showed that if seed collectors are interested in cones of greater weight or length, they should search for trees possessing such cone or seed characteristics within their own planting region, rather than trying to find specific populations for such characteristics outside their planting region, because much of the variation in these traits is accounted for by differences between trees, rather than between populations. Else, they should search for desired stands in distantly located populations or in populations separated by some geographic barrier.

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Dinesh Kumar , Pawan Kumar , Pradeep Kumar

Abstract

The decomposition of Poplar leaf litter is very slow; this has detrimental physical effect on wheat intercrop. Survival and yield of late-sown variety of intercropped wheat were significantly increased by weekly removal of Poplar leaflitter in four-year-old block plantation of Poplar raised at 5m x 4m spacing. However, despite removal of leaf litter at such frequent intervals, yield of intercropped wheat crop is quite low in comparison with open field. Alternative R&D options for reducing the harmful physical effect of Poplar leaf fall on wheat crop have been suggested.

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Dinesh Kumar , Shivendu K. Srivastava , Surender Singh Negi , Pradeep Kumar

Abstract

The conventional practice of extracting seeds from cones of P. roxburghii consists in drying of cones in the sun. This process takes about three weeks. A new technique has been developed which achieves seed extraction in four days. The new techniques involves soaking of cones in water for 10 minutes followed by drying at 60 ° C for 11:50 hours and then shaking for few seconds every day. The technique did not show any adverse effect on seed germination. Further studies are in progress to adapt this technique so as to eliminate the need of kilns for practical application in forest nurseries.

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Laxmi Chauhan , S. P. Agrawal , Pradeep Kumar

Abstract

Light microscopic studies on epidermal features of Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro) Nakai have been described.

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N. B. Singh , Dinesh Kumar , Rajesh K. Gupta , Pradeep Kumar , Kadam Singh

Abstract

A study was made to compare the 1½ years performance of seedlings belonging to Eastern Gulf (EG), East central (EC) and Southeast Atlantic (SA) sub-regions of South-eastern USA. The collar diameters were in the order of SA>EG>EC. Variation among stands was significant for collar diameter and number of branches per metre of stem length. About 14700 seedlings belonging to 66 control-pollinated families and 5000 seedlings belonging to 20 open-pollinated families have been produced. Selection and cloning of promising genotypes was done. Testing of clones is in progress.

Keywords

Populus deltoides, Provenance, Intra Specific Breeding

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