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20004
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Subject: Forestry × Author: KAU × End date: 2000 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Micropropagation of teak (Tectona Grandis Linn.) through in vitro techniques
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2000) Sandeep Sharma; KAU; Vijayakumar, N K
    The study under the title 'Micropropagation of teak (Tectona grandis Linn.) through in vitro techniques' was carried out at College of Forestry Vellanikkara during year 1998-2000. The objective of the programme is to standardize the method of clonal propagation of teak through teak tissue culture technique. The explants used were from one to two year old seedlings Culture contamination mainly due to fungus was prominent in the ramy season. Prophylactic spraying of a mixture of fungicide (Bavistin and Indofil M-45 (0.1% each) on source material followed by fungicide dip to explants in similar solution for 30 min and surface sterilization treatment in 0.15 per cent mercuric chloride for 15 min controlled the contamination. Phenol exudation was contained effectively by supplementation of citric acid and ascorbic acid (150 mgl' each), to the media. It was also in low quantity when explants of smallest size (1 cm long below the node) were used. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was found to be better than 12 MS and WPM. Individual supplementation of BA to MS media was found effective than other cytokinins. However, MS media supplemented with Kinetin and !AA 0.5mgrl each was found to be the best media for shoot proliferation. A maximum of2.20 and 2.11 number of shoot shoots per explant could be induced in MS + 0.5 mg l' BA and MS + 1.0 mg l' BA + 0.1 mg rl!AA + 1.0 mg I-I 2ip respectively. Addition of growth supplements like coconut water, activated charcoal, adenine sulphate, and casein hydrolysate did not have any favourable effect on growth and establishment. Maximum in vitro rooting (56.25%) was obtained on Yz MS + 0.4 mg r' NAA + 4.0 mg rl !AA +0.25 per cent AC with pulse treatment (dip to excised shoot base in 1000 mg r' !AA solution for 2 min) and after transferring to auxin free media after 7 days. Under ex vitro rooting trials the maximum percentage of rooting (87.50) with highest root length (3.0 cm) was obtained on vermiculite. Sand and vemiciilite were found to be the best media for hardening of in vitro raised plantlets. The hardened plants were transplanted to polybags containing ordinary potting mixture and treated like a normal conditioned seedling. Hardened seedlings were out planted in the field. The technique developed for the micropropagation of teak during present investigation can be used for large scale clonal multiplication of the species.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of provenances for seedling attributes in rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.)
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2000) Resmi Nair, R; KAU; Luckins, C Babu
    A randomised block design experiment involving the performance of selected provenances, i.e., Trivandrum, kollam, Wyanad, Idukki and Thrissur (local provenance) of Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. Initiated during June 1999 was used for the present investigation. This study was undertaken to examine the seed characteristics, germination characters, growth parameters and physiological characters. Seed characteristics like 100 seed weight and individual seed weight showed significant variation among the provenances. The seeds from Trivandrum provenance was found to be superior than the others. Idukki registered the lowest mean value for the individual seed weight and the others were on par. Germination behaviour of rosewood provenances in the laboratory conditions showed significant variation except in the case of days taken to complete germination. Wyanad provenance recorded the highest germination percentage and other germination characters like peak value, mean daily germination and germination value were superior for Idukki provenance and it was statistically comparable with the Kollam provenance. Except mean daily germination and germination value, significant variation was shown by the provenances with respect to the germination characters in the field conditions. Idukki provenance was superior with respect to germination percentage and was on par with Wyanad provenance. Inferior performance in the case of peak value was shown by Thrissur (local provenance) and the others were comparable. More time for completion of germination was taken by Kollam which was having a statistically inferior germination percentage. Biometric observations also showed significant variation among the provenances except leaf area. At 60 DAS Trivandrum and Kollam were superior over the others for shoot height. Wyanad and Idukki which registered the least values at 60 DAS were superior towards the later stages of growth. Statistically inferior performance was shown by local provenance at all stages of the experimental period. For root length and collar diameter also similar trend was followed. With respect to number of leaves per plant superior performance was registered by the Wyanad provenance, but for leaf area both Wyanad and Idukki performed better. Trivandrum, Wyanad and Kollam provenances were comparable for the number of lateral roots and physiologically active fresh lateral roots were superior for Trivandrum and Idukki provenances. Biomass production which plays an important role in the ultimate biological yield, showed significant variation among the provenances. Kollam, Wynad and Idukki provenances were statistically superior for various biomass characters such as stem, leaf, root and shoot dry weight. Physiological parameters like relative growth rate and net assimilation rate showed significant variation among the provenances. Idukki, Kollam and Trivandrum were superior with respect to relative growth rate and Kollam registered the highest mean for the net assimilation rate which was on par with Wyanad and Idukki provenances. Chlorophyll content, which decides the photosynthetic potential in plants did not show any significant difference among the provenances throughout the experimental period.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of growth regulators on seed viability, germination and vigour of seedlings of mangium (Acacia mangium [Wild]) and rosewood [Dalbergia latifolia (Roxb)]
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2000) Vinayan, R; KAU; Gopikumar, K
    The present study was undertaken at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur to find out the effect of plant growth regultors at varying concentrations on seed germinatio~ and seedling vigour of Acacia mangium and Dalbergia latifolia. Both fresh and stored seeds were treated with different concentrations of IAA, GA and BA. The study revealed that seeds of Acacia mangium could be stored for longer periods without deterioration of its viability and germination capacity. The germination percentage of fresh seeds of Acacia mangium and Dalbergia latifolia were 72 and 60 respectively. But in the case of Dalbergia latifolia, the germination percentage of seeds went on decreasing with the increase in storage periods. In Acacia mangium the seeds treated with 10 ppm GA and 100 ppm BA showed better germination and also took minimum days for germination. However in Dalbergia latifolia, IAA treatment recorded better germination with less number of days taken for germination. Seedling growth in the nursery showed that GA was highly eff~ctive in increasing the height, girth and leaf production of seedlings of Acacia mangium. GA at 100 ppm was found to be best in this regard. Higher root and shoot biomass of seedlings were also recorded for GA followed by IAA. Seedlings of Dalbergia latifolia recorded better height, girth and leaf production when seeds were treated with 100 ppm, IAA. Root and shoot biomass of the seedlings were more for 250 ppm, IAA in Dalbergia latifolia. In both the species the chlorophyll content was not found to be significantly influenced by any of the growth regulator treatment.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Reproductive biology of Terminalia species of tropical moist deciduous forests of Kerala
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara., 2000) Saju, P U; KAU; Luckins, C Babu
    An investigation was carried out in Kerala Agric~ltural University campus and Vazhachal Forest Division on the reproductive biology of Termina/ia species of tropical moist deciduous forests of Kerala with the objective of understanding the phenology, floral biology, morphology, flowering, self fertilization, pollination time, fruit set and seed matruity of its species. Four species of Termina/ia viz., Terminalia paniculata, T. tomentosa, T. catappa and T. be/erica were observed for a period of twelve months starting from June 1996 to July, 1997. The study revealed that leaf shedding and dormancy occurred in dry months and flushing occurred after the dormant period facilitate the utilization of high moisture available during the rainy season. The inflorescence of T. panicu/ata and T. tomentosa was panickled spikes and in T. catappa and T. be/erica it was simple spike. All flowers were hermaphrodite in T. panicu/ata and T. tomntosa but in T. catappa and T. be/erica the only lowermost six were hermaphrdite and others were male flowers with defective overy. Mass flowering was observed in T. be/erica and T. tomentosa, but steady state type of flowering activity was observed in T. ceteppe and intermediate type of flowering pattern was noticed in T. panicu/ata. The anthesis and antherdehiscence occurred during the morning and evening hours in Termina/ias facilitate high insect activity and maximum pollination. The stigma receptivity was high at the time of anthesis and it declines sharply with its age. The fruit development phases and seed maturity were distinguishable from the colour change of their fruits. The extent of fruit set seed maturity and reproductive capacity of Terminaliassuggested that only very small proportion of the flowers producerd were transformed into viable fruits.