Pinus gerardiana is well known for its edible seeds. The seeds locally called and marketed as "Chilgoza" is eaten as dry fruits which is rich in oil, starch and albumenoids. It is one of the most important cash crops of tribal people residing in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Harvesting of almost every mature seed by the right holders for marketing is one of the major reasons for the poor natural regeneration of this pine. Severe biotic interference and lack of regeneration in this pine may result in the extinction of this species. The State Forest Department tried the artificial regeneration of chilgoza pine at many places and performance of seedling is very poor. In all these trials no attention had been paid to the role of mycorrhiza and for using the mycorrhizal symbionts whereas the role of such technologies in establishing conifers under adverse conditions of environment and planting site is well known.

The present project was formulated with specific aim of understanding the role of ectomycorrhizal biotechnology in the artificial regeneration of this important high altitude pine with following specific objectives:

1. Collection and identification of mycorrhizal associates of Pinus gerardiana.
2. Isolation and screening of different strains.
3. Production of Mass inocula of different strains.
4. Evaluation of the dependency of P. gerardiana seedlings of different strains.
5. Transplantation of inoculated seedlings in different planting sites.

Pure culture inoculum of Rhizopogon and pure culture inoculum of root isolate were observed to stimulate the growth and development of seedlings in term of height, biomass, root collar diameter and seedling volume significantly, in comparison to natural soil inoculum and uninoculated control. Among two pure culture inocula Rhizopogon culture was observed to form higher ectomycorrhizal root percentage (34%) than percentage of ectomycorrhizal roots formed by roots isolate culture (27%) and natural soil inoculum (29%) after two years of germination. After three years of growth percentage of ectomycorrhizal roots in Rhizopogon inoculated seedlings, root isolate and natural soil was 40%, 36% and 32% respectively.

Shoot of seedlings inoculated with R. rubescens was observed to have highest concentration of Nitrogen after two years of inoculation. However, difference in concentration of Nitrogen in shoots of all treatments was insignificant after three year of germination. Concentration of Nitrogen in shoots of control seedlings was significantly less than concentration of Nitrogen in shoots of all treatments. Nitrogen content of roots in all treatments after two and three years of inoculations were also significantly higher than concentration of nitrogen in roots of control seedlings. Similarly the concentration of Potassium in roots and shoots of almost all treatments was higher in comparison to concentration of Potassium in root and shoot of control seedlings. Concentration of Phosphorus in root and shoot of root isolated inoculated seedlings was maximum after two years and three years of germination and difference was significantly higher in comparison to concentration of Phosphorus in root and shoot of seedlings inoculated with R. rubescens.

Increased percentage of ectomycorrhizal roots through artificial inoculation is directly related to seedling height, seedling biomass and nutrient status. Therefore, it is concluded that, artificial inoculation through selected ectomycorrhizal fungi of P. gerardiana should be considered seriously to improve the quality of planting stocks and to stimulate early plant growth. The fast regeneration of Chilgoza pine through mycorrhizal inoculations will play a major role in the economic upliftment of tribal community in Himachal Pradesh and will save this important pine from extinction.

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Studies were conducted on some important medicinal plant species like Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle (Ranunculaceae), A. violaceum Jacq. ex Stapf (Ranunculaceae), Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle (Scrophulariaceae), Meconopsis robusta HK.f.&T. (Papaveraceae), Megacarpaea polyandra Benth. (Brassicaceae), Rheum emodi Wall. ex Meissn (Polygonaceae), Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (Podophyllaceae), Angelica glauca Edgew (Apiceae), Polygonum rumicifolium Royle ex Bab.(Polygonaceae) and Allium stracheyi Baker (Liliaceae) found in the high altitude regions of Uttarakhand.

The studies revealed that all these species are perennial and their maturity/harvesting time varies from 3-5 years. Seedling growth was observed very slow and during first year of growth only 2-3 leaves are produced. Most of the plants showed rosette vegetative growth and bolting is observed in the mature plants on the onset of reproductive phase. Due to late seed maturation in A. stracheyi and A. violaceum viable seed production is hampered by severe winter conditions. Seed production potential was observed highest in Meconopsis robusta and lowest in Angelica glauca.

Among all the species highest germination was observed in Aconitum heterophyllum and lowest in Allium stracheyi. Although the germination percentage varies greatly in different populations of the same species the timing for the onset of germination and leaf initiation does not vary much in these species. It was observed that seed germination is delayed in soil in comparison to laboratory conditions. Excised seeds favoured germination in Polygonum rumicifolium. In Angelica glauca it is necessary to store the seeds at low temperature before sowing.

Inhibitory effect of seed coat leachate on seed germination was observed in two polygonum species. However, this effect was observed more in case of P. amplexicaule as compared to P. rumicifolium.

The seedlings of Polygonum rumicifolium and P. amplexicaule produced from seeds kept under dark showed more starch content in comparison to other treatments. However, the amino acid contents of both the species showed different trend under different treatments. Seedlings of both the species produced from intact seeds showed higher soluble protein in comparison to excised seeds.

Altitudinal adaptation studies conducted in Polygonum rumicifolium revealed that total chlorophyll content decreased after one month of transplanting at Tungnath and Srinagar, while the carotenoid content increased at Mastura and Srinagar. Plants transplanted at the selected altitudes experienced decrease in leaf soluble sugar content 30 days after growth in contrast to root system. Similar trend was observed in starch content also. Leaf and root showed different responses in RNA and DNA contents with increasing altitude. A gradual decrease in root DNA content after transplantation at all the elevations is a common feature.

Except Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum and Allium stracheyi all other species showed normal dicotyledonous seedling development. The former two species showed pseudo monocotyledonous seedling development while A. stracheyi showed the monocotyledonous seedling development. Highest seedling survival was observed in Polygonum numicifolium followed by Picrorhiza kurrooa and minimum in Podophyllum hexandrum.

Almost all the species have one or more means of vegetative propagation. Picrorhiza kurrooa and Podophyllum hexandrum showed better response for vegetative propagation in comparison to other species. Tissue culture of young leaves explants of Angelica glauca and Polygonum rumicifolium showed callusing in different concentrations and combinations of NAA and TDZ.

The overall studies indicated that the above mentioned species though appears to be confined in restricted localities and specific ecological niches in the Himalaya may be cultivated through scientific methods in farmers fields at an appropriate altitude. Till date no large scale farming activity of these species has been taken up by any one in the region. Therefore, the technology for their multiplication and cultivation needs to be demonstrated to the farmers to take up large scale cultivation of these species.

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Increasing contamination of aquatic resources with a variety of pollutants including toxic metals is not only endangering the aquatic biota, but creating a world wide shortage of recreational and drinking water. This has aroused concern in the mind of public health engineers and biotechnologist to find out economically viable strategies which could help restore such an abused ecosystem. These inland fresh water resources bear the maximum anthropogenic pressure due to large population load and growing needs for economic development. Although the future in the next millennium indeed be determined by availability and quality of water, a little attention has been paid to this problem by the researchers, policymakers and environmental managers. It is befitting to state here that the physicochemical methods available for metal removal require large capital and energy investments. For this reason, phytoremediation is emerging as an effective and eco-friendly alternative ecotechnology for restoration and management of our natural water resource. In this context, the project was undertaken on lake Nainital which serves as a sole source of drinking water in lesser Himalayan region to focus on current status of toxic metal pollution and the role of aquatic macrophytes and phytoplanktons in their biomonitoring and remediation.

The work on the project was carried out on biomonitoring and remediation potential of macrophytes and phytoplanktons for toxic metals in the lake Nainital which is experiencing acute scarcity of potable water due to spurt in anthropogenic activity in the catchment. Besides, receiving a large load of organic inputs through a network of open drains, the improper disposal of wastes, municipal sewage and recreational uses of water have aggravated the level of toxic metals into the lake. Since the lake serves as major source of usable water to local inhabitants, the hazardous impact of toxic metals on the human health can not be ruled out. Therefore, the chief objective of the project was to find out suitable remedial measures and proper waste disposal system in lake Nainital. This is relevant with reference to great lakes water quality agreement (IJC, 1992) to check the discharge and elimination toxic pollutants.

For the accomplishment of the goal, sampling strategy was decided by selecting eight randomly located sampling sites in the lake depending upon the type of pollutant inlet and in different quarters of the year to account for seasonal fluctuations in different components of the lake. A view of eutrophicated lake and sites from I to VIII has been shown in figures 1 and 2. All the determinations were performed using standard procedures. A view of the main domestic drainage falling into lake Nainital, growing stands of macrophyte P. amphibium, water roots of Salix, Blooms of Microcystis, the recreational and natural clematis adding pollution to lake.

Results of the study carried out during August, 1996 to June 1999 showed that the physicochemical properties of lake water varied from one quarter to other during the year. Although there was not much variation with respect to other parameters, the level of NO^3- increased during winter season while the values of electrical conductivity increased during rainy season of the year. There was not significant variation in the other parameter at different sampling stations. However, the value of COD was recorded much higher at sites SI and SII in all the sampling years. Over all the physicochemical properties of lake ranged as temperature, 8.7-22.6^oC, pH 7.7-8.4, electrical conductivity, 0.26-1.13 dSm^-1. TDS-31.0-357, D.O.-3.6-8.25, COD- 10.0-72.87, BOD- 5.0-18.18; NO₃^- -0.55-1.6, NH₄⁺ - 0.025-0.329 m g cm^-3 .

Results of water analysis revealed that the lake water was contaminated with toxic metals like, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn, however, the concentration of some of these like Pb, Fe and Ni were higher than the permissible limits recommended by WHO. The concentration of these metals ranged through out the course of entire investigation as Cu- 0.05-0.25; Fe- 0.61-0.71; Mn- 0.039-0.27; Ni-0.21-0.345; Pb, 0.155-1.41 and Zn, 0.08-0.225 m g cm^{-3 .}

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The pattern of land ownership and land laws enacted from time to time have largely determined the land use and land management in India. In Central Himalayas the land holdings are fragmented. An average land of 20 nalis is divided into 45 to 50 small terraced plots, scattered all over. Fragmented land holding is one of the cause of people following the traditional unproductive pattern of agriculture and due to low productivity the rate of male migration is increasing rapidly.

Land consolidation is an issue which needs rethinking on the part of the people, although it is a state issue. It could be given concrete from by mutual understanding, because without land consolidation it is very difficult for the farmer to work effectively on his fields. What we can do is sit together and enact a specific plan for consolidation of fragmented land. Although a lot of problems may come on the way, for example some people may find the land too far from these houses or the land allotted to him may be less fertile and far from the water source, but anyhow we have to solve this problem for better results. Another thing we can do is to plan a common crop pattern for all, according to the soil fertility, slope of the land and soil pattern. Common crops can be grown in an area where the fertility of soil, slope and humus content are same. For this we’ll have to form a community organization, in which women and youth groups will be included, particularly women because it is the women who looks after most of the house hold and agriculture work as men are generally residing in cities to earn money. It is the women who does maximum work that’s why their participation is a must. Youth’s participation is also necessary, as hard physical work is difficult for women. The people should be informed about how to manage their resources and how to take advantage of these resources for their own welfare. We will have to generate awareness among women and youth to work for their upliftment by joining hands.

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