To determine light requirement and adaptability of Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings, the seasonal variations of photosynthetic variables were measured in 3-year-old seedlings grown under four light levels (100%, 60%, 30%, and 15% of full sunlight) with a LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system. The leaf chlorophyll content, special leaf weight, annual height and basal diameter increment of seedlings were also observed. The maximum and minimum values of net photosynthetic rate, maximum rate of carboxylation, and maximum rate of electron transport of F. mandshurica seedlings were detected with 60% and 15% of full sunlight treatments, respectively. With the decrease of light level, both light saturation point and special leaf weight significantly declined (p < 0.05), but leaf chlorophyll content significantly increased (p <0.05). Annual height and basal diameter increments of seedlings grown under 60% of full sunlight treatment were significantly greater than those of seedlings under other treatments (p < 0.05). It was concluded that F. mandshurica seedlings can adapt to a wide range of light environments from 15% to 100% of full sunlight by adjusting light saturation point, leaf chlorophyll content and special leaf weight. According to the maximum of relative growth, 60% of full sunlight treatment is the optimum light level for the growth of 3-year-old F. mandshurica seedlings.

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad ex wendl is a widely cultivated bamboo species in rural Bangladesh for its versatile uses. The vegetative propagation becomes the only viable alternative for this species because B. vulgaris does not set seed after sparse flowering, which makes seedling progenies unavailable. A low-cost propagation trial was conducted to explore the clonal propagation techniques for the species with two types of small branch cuttings, nodal leafy cuttings and tip cuttings. The cuttings, after treating with 0, 0.1%, 0.4%, and 0.8% IBA solutions, were kept in non-mist propagator to let them to root for assessing the rooting ability. The cuttings were rooted in four weeks and were allowed to grow in the polybags for 10 months under nursery condition to assess their steckling capacity. The study reveals that both types of branch cuttings are able to develop roots, shoots, to survive and to form rhizome under the nursery condition. Rooting ability of the cuttings was significantly enhanced by the application of rooting hormone — IBA. The highest rooting percentage in nodal leafy cuttings and the tip cuttings (56.67% and 51.0%, respectively) were observed in 0.8% IBA treatment, followed by 0.4% IBA and the lowest (34.3% and 30.0%, respectively) was in control. The highest number of root developed per cutting (9.77 and 8.33 in nodal leafy cuttings and the tip cuttings, respectively) was also obtained from the cuttings treated with 0.8% IBA solution, followed 0.4% IBA treatment and the lowest (3.1 and 2.1, respectively) was in the cuttings without treatment. However, the length of the longest root varied significantly neither with the cutting types nor the concentrations of IBA solution. Survival percentage of the stecklings in nursery condition was significantly enhanced by IBA.

We studied the genetic polymorphism among 29 clones of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb) belonging to different geographic regions using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Out of 30 primers used, only 20 primers generated polymorphism in amplified product. In total 232 bands were amplified with 20 primers, of which 192 (82%) were polymorphic with an average of 9.6 bands/primer. The resolving power (Rp) ranged from 2.14 (Primer 5) to 11.93 (Primer 4). Primer 4 and Primer 3 possessed high Rp value. Polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.15 (Primer 5) to 0.37 (Primer 4). Primer 4 amplified total 18 bands in 29 genotypes with PIC value of 0.37 hence; this set of primer was most informative. The similarity coefficient analysis revealed two clusters. The first cluster comprised of only 10 clones and the second major cluster comprised of 19 clones. The genetic similarity among 29 clones ranged from 25.86% (clone 10 and 235) to 100% (clone 19 and 59), suggesting a wide genetic base in shisham clones.

Sapwood density and bark thickness of Calophyllum inophyllum L. (a multipurpose durable timber species) were studied in various locations in Northern Australia and in Sri Lanka. Measurements were taken non-destructively by using core sampling and bark gauge. From each provenance, 4–15 mature trees having girth at breast height over bark (GBHOB) at 100–150 cm were selected on the basis of the population size. Significant (p<0.05) hemispheric and provenance variations in bark thickness were found. Variations in the bark thickness are influenced by environmental variables. Variations in sapwood density were less pronounced compared to that of bark thickness. Variations in sapwood density are likely to be governed by genotypic variations.

A study was conducted to examine the distribution pattern of four rhizomatous medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) viz., Angelica glauca, Pleurospermum angelicoides, Rheum emodi and Arnebia benthamii in different forest stands in Central Himalaya. Results show that A. glauca and P. angelicoides had a higher (50%) frequency at Chipkoan, Garpak and Phagati forest, R. emodi had a higher (60%) frequency at Rishikund, Suki and Himtoli, and A. benthamii had a higher (70%) frequency at Suki and Khambdhar The densities of A. glauca (0.6 plants·m⁻²) and P. angelicoides (0.5 plants·m⁻²) were higher at Chipkoan and Garpak sites than at other micro-sites, while densities of R. emodi (0.8 plants·m⁻²) and A. benthamii (1.0 plants·m⁻²) were higher at Suki and Khambdhar sites. A. glauca had highest total basal covers (TBC) (1.2 cm2·m⁻²) at Chipkoan, P. angelicoides had highest TBC (0.92 cm2·m⁻²) at Lati kharak site, A. benthamii had the highest TBC (6.48 cm²·m⁻²) at Khambdhar, and R. emodi had highest TBC (4.53 cm²·m⁻²) at Rishikund. For the four studied species, A. glauca showed a contagious distribution, P. angelicoides and R. emodi showed the random and A. benthamii showed the regular type of distribution.

In this study we investigated the rooting ability and the growth performance of juvenile single-node leafy stem cuttings of Litsea monopetala (Roxb) Pers. collected from two mature mother trees preserved in the hill forest of Chittagong district, Bangladesh. The rooting ability of cuttings was studied under 0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatments. Significantly better rooting response (p ≤ 0.05) was observed with 0.1% IBA compared to control (0% IBA). The mean number of roots and the length of the longest root of cuttings in different treatments showed no significant difference (p≤0.05). After transfer into polythene bags from non-mist propagator, rooted cuttings treated with 0%, 0.1% and 0.2% IBA demonstrated the highest (100 ± 0.00%) survival capacity. The mean number of shoots developed in cuttings in the polythene bags in first three weeks varied significantly (p≤0.05) among the treatments. Effects of three fertilizer treatments, viz. T0 (no fertilizer), T1 (10g Urea, 20g TSP, 10g MOP dissolved in 1 L water) and T2 (10g Urea, 20g TSP, 10g MOP dissolved in 2 L water) on initial growth of stecklings were also measured over a 90-days period. The increment of leaf area of stecklings was significantly higher (p≤0.05) under T0 compared with that under T1 and T2 while the increment of stem length, collar diameter and root biomass varied insignificantly among different fertilizer treatments. The results suggest that rooting juvenile single-node leafy stem cuttings could be an effective mean of regenerating L. monopetala. The application of 0.1% IBA concentration is recommended for rooting of juvenile leafy stem cuttings and application of fertilizer appeared unnecessary for the subsequent growth of stecklings in polythene bags.

Panax wangianus (Syn. Panax pseudoginseng) S. C. Sun (Araliaceae) is a critically endangered, medicinal plant of North-East India. The objective of this study was to determine how plant size affects flowering phenology and to evaluate the effect of climatic factors on flowering, fruiting and seed production. Data on vegetative and reproductive characters were monitored from 2016 individuals of Panax wangianus population in Law Lyngdoh, Smit sacred grove in Nongkrem, Shillong, India. Leaflet area was measured by a planimeter. Size variables of both vegetative and reproductive traits in different age classes were measured. Climatic factors were recorded from 2007 to 2009. Age was recorded by counting the number of bud scale scars on the rhizome. Light intensity and relative humidity were measured using a photometer, LiCor Model LI-189 and thermohygrometer respectively. Different climatic variables are correlated with vegetative and reproductive phenological events. Statistical analysis revealed that a strong positive correlation was observed between the age versus vegetative and reproductive characters, except 1%–2% plants showed neoteny. Morphological variations were observed in natural conditions on the basis of the number of prong and carpellate conditions. Phenological status revealed that most of the individuals of the age class 35–50 years and above 50 years contributed the most to flowering, fruiting and seed production. Age class was significant to predict the size of the plant and its reproductive capacity. Climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation and relative humidity show synergistic effect on both the vegetative and reproductive phases in Panax wangianus in the undisturbed Nongkrem sacred grove. The color of flowers of P. wangianus also varied depending upon the sunlight intensity. Therefore, in the view of conservation and management, the age class of 35–50 years and above 50 years is the most important for population sustainability.

The impact of skidding operations on forest soils can be divided into three major categories: soil profile disturbance, soil compaction, and soil puddling and rutting. The present study was designed as a factorial experiment in the Kheyrud Forest with a Timberjack cable skidder to evaluate the influences of number of machine passes and soil moisture of skid trails on rutting over a fine-grained soil, and to quantify these effects. The effects of soil moisture of 20%–30%, 30%–40% and 40%–50% and different levels of compaction were studied. Compaction treatments were applied using different numbers of skidding passes (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 times). Result shows that an increase in the number of machine passes could increase rut depth, but the majority of rutting was occurred after the initial few machine passes. Also rut depth at soil moisture of 40%–50% was higher than rut depths at soil moisture of 30%–40% and 20%–30%. The average rut depth in soil with 20%–30%, 30%–40% and 40%–50% moisture was 17, 22 and 35 cm, respectively. Rut depths were increased significantly with soil moisture and number of machine passes. It is suggested that skidding operations should be planned when soil conditions are dry in order to minimize rutting., but if skidding must be done under wet conditions, the operations should be stopped when machine traffic could create deep ruts.

We investigated seasonal dynamics of phenolics substance in leaf and bark of two cultivars of poplar, Populus alba×berolinensis and P. בZhonglin Sanbei 1’, during autumn temperature drop for analyzing the roles of phenolic secondary metabolites in cold resistance. Results show that the contents of condensed tannin and flavonoid in poplar leaf and the flavonoid contents in bark of P. בZhonglin Sanbei 1’ were increased with the decrease of autumn minimum temperature, showing a significantly negative correlation between the contents of soluble phenolic substance in the leaves and changeable temperature. In contrast, lignin content in the poplar leaves is decreased in the process of temperature drop, showing a significantly positive correlation. These results indicate that the variation in phenolic substance has a close correlation with its cold-resistance during the autumn temperature drop.

Winter bamboo shoots are widely used in Asian cuisine. We surveyed growth depth (tail depth and root depth), harvest speed, and harvest processes to provide information for developing new harvest technology. The tail depth of most winter bamboo shoots was 100–350 mm below the soil surface, and the root depth was 200–500 mm below the soil surface. Most winter bamboo shoots were difficult to locate with only the naked eye. The digging depth was 200–500 mm to cut winter bamboo shoots from the root. The highest harvest rate was 7.75 times faster than the slowest one and the average harvest speed ratio of men: women was about 1.71:1. The harvest process of winter bamboo shoots was divisible into three steps: searching, digging a hole (around the shoot) and cutting the root. The ratio of searching time to the sum of digging and cutting time was about 8:1, showing that searching required more time than digging and cutting together.