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Open Access
Ecology of the birds of the high altitude grassland-shola forests
(College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2001) Radhakrishnan, P; KAU; Nameer, P O
The shola forests are unique montane vegetation occupying temperate habitats in tropical latitudes and are regarded as relict communities. These forests are high altitude gallery forests restricted to valleys, depressions and especially along folds of hills and watercourses. The shola-grassland ecosystem is unique vegetation type found in Western Ghats. Unfortunately very few studies have been conducted on the fauna and flora of this unique ecosystem, particularly avifauna. A study was conducted to give some insight into the birds of the shola-grassland ecosystem and their association with the vegetation of the high altitude area. The study was conducted at the Mannavan Shola of the Marayur range, Munnar division Kerala (10° 10' to 10° 12' N latitudes and 77° 09' to 77° 12' E longitudes), which is the largest shola forest area of the Kerala State. Two study sites were identified in the study area, such as "Shola upper" and "Shola lower". The distance sampling method was used in equidistant points identified at each study sites in a 1000 m transect and the points were periodically monitored. Apart from the birds the vegetation structure of the study location was also studied to understand whether there is any relationship occur between the birds and the vegetation. Total of 41 species in 8 orders and 17 families have been reported from the Mannavan Shola. This includes 26 species of resident birds, out of which 8 are endemic to Western Ghats, and 7 species that are long distance migrants. The different measures like the richness, the and the diversity indices, difference. evenness locations shown any significant the two study The similarity indices worked out were also shown that the both sites are much similar. It was also found that the most abundant bird species were the denser species also. The correlation study shown that, bird species richness, bird diversity and bird density correlated negatively with different structural parameters of the vegetation. Another notable observation was that the high altitude grassland dependant species were totally absent from the study sites. This could be owing to the conversion of the grasslands in the study site to wattle plantation.
Open Access
Effect of shade levels on growth and vigour of seedlings of terminalia species in the nursery
(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2002) Prasad, G; KAU; Gopikumar, K
The present study was undertaken at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from 2000 to 2002 to evaluate the effect of various shade levels on the growth and vigour of seedlings of tembavu [Terminalia tomentosa var. crenulata (Roth.) C1.], thanni [t bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.] and neermaruthu [T. arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wt. & Am.] in the nursery. The study revealed that in general, in all the species examined, shade exerted significant influence on growth and vigour of the seedlings in the nursery. In T. tomentosa and T. bellirica, 50 per cent shade produced best results with regard to shoot growth parameters like height and collar girth while in T. arjuna, 75 per cent shade was found to be most ideal with regard to these growth parameters. In general, in all the species, seedlings grown under 75 per cent shade produced maximum leaf number and area. The root growth parameters viz., length and spread . were found to be the maximum when grown under 50 per cent shade in T. tomntosa and T. bellirica, while 75 per cent was found to be the best for T. arjuna. Similarly, 50 per cent shade was found to be better for T. bellirica and T. tomentosa withregard to biomass production. However, T. arjuna responded well to 75 per cent shade in this regard. No clear cut trend was seen in the chlorophyll production with regard to the different shade levels in any of the three species studied. However, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content was slightly higher when grown under 75 per cent shade conditions. The highest number of stomata was seen when the plants were grown under full sunlight. In all the species, the nitrogen content was found to be highest for seedlings grown under 75 per cent shade while the highest potassium content was recorded when grown under 50 per cent shade. However with regard to the phosphorus concentration, 25 per cent shade was found to perform better in T. tomentosa and T. arjuna while 50 per cent performed better in T. bellirica.
Open Access
Response of sandal (Santalum album Linn.) seedlings to shade and mycorrhizal association
(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2002) Binu, N Kamalolbhavan; KAU; Ashokan, P K
The occurrence of sandal- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) associations in natural sandal growing forests and the response of sandal seedlings to inoculation with commonly available cultures of AMF, shade levels and nature of hosts were investigated in a pot culture experiment at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Two important sandal growing regions in the state, Marayoor (ldukki district) and Wadakancherry (Thrissur district) were selected for this study and a non-sandal growing area in Thrissur district was selected as a control for the soil studies . • The result showed that characters like height, number of leaves, leaf area and shoot weight of sandal seedlings increased due to the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi inoculation and maximum response was observed for seedlings grown in soils inoculated with Glomus mosseae. The characters like collar girth, root weight did not show any significant difference for the mycorrhizal inoculation. It was further observed that the interactions between shade and mycorrhizae were the best under 50 per cent shade level especially for those seedlings inoculated with Glomus mosseae. During the initial seedling phase, high shade (75 per cent) is needed for sandal, but during the later stages of seedling growth, medium shade (50 per cent) resulted in best growth of seedlings. Growth of sandal seedlings with two host species, casuarina and redgram was on par. The relative water content and plant water potential were higher in seedlings inoculated with AMF. The N, P, K content of the shoot of sandal seedlings were maximum for seedlings inoculated with Glomus mosseae. Sandal seedlings collected from natural sandal growmg regions investigated for the presence of sandal-AMF association revealed that the roots of sandal seedlings from Wadakancherry forest showed 33 per cent of colonization, while the seedlings from Marayoor forest showed no colonization. Sandal seedlings grown for four months in the soils collected from these two regions showed superior growth when compared to those seedlings grown in soils from the agricultural lands of Thrissur, but no AMF colonization was observed in the roots of the sandal seedlings .
Open Access
Anatomical and physiological variations in certain selected species and provenances of acacia
(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2001) Santhosh Jacob; KAU; Vijayakumar, N K
An experiment was carried out during 1998-99 with the objective of evaluating the anatomical and physiological variations among provenances and species of Acacia and to correlate this with their growth characteristics. The experimental materials consisted of 11 provenances which included five provenances of Acacia mangium Willd., and two each of A. auriculiformis Cunn. ex., Benth., A. crassicarpa Cunn ex., Benth and A. aulacocarpa Cunn. ex., Benth. They were planted in a randomized block design in the farms of the College of Forestry, Vellanikkara in 1996. The ultimate objective of the study was to identify the most suitable species/provenances from among these for the ecoclirnatic conditions ofKerala. At four years of growth, provenances Balimo Aramia and Wipim to Oriomo from Papua New Guinea and Research Seed Orchard from Queensland were significantly superior to the rest. Among the four species, except A. aulacocarpa, the other three species namely, A. mangium, A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa showed superiority over height and collar girth. The most important component of total biomass undoubtedly, was the bole volume. So in this regard, the superiority of the species on height and collar girth indicates good volume production in future. A. auriculiformis exhibited superiority over branch production throughout the study, indicating its suitability for fire wood production. As far as leaf area is concerned the species exhibited significant . variation while, provenances did not. A. mangium and A. aulacocarpa showed maximum leaf area index, compared to A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa. Irrespective or the species, all the provenances showed- higher stomatal frequency on the lower leaf surface. Almost in all the provenances, transpiration late was increased from predawn to afternoon hours. Significant differences in the transpiration rate among the provenances and species was noticed between the predawn and afternoon hours only during the month of April. Transpiration rate and leaf water potential was negatively related in almost all the provenances. Provenances and species exhibited no significant difference with respect to leaf temperature. However, leaf temperature increased from predawn to afternoon in almost all the provenances. The provenance Balimo Aramia River of A. mangium as well as one each of A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa, namely, Orchard Melville and Bensbach WP registered the maximum heartwood percentage. The moisture content exhibited significant differences between the provenances. The specific gravity was maximum . for the provenance 7 KMSSE Mossman of A. auriculiformis while the minimum was shown by the provenance Kapal Oriomo of A. crassicarpa. Generally, provenances of A. mangium recorded higher specific gravity. The length of fiber was maximum for provenances orchard Melville - 1, NT and Kings Plain Lake, Queensland of A. auriculiformis while, minimum registered by the provenances of A. mangium. The maximum length and width for vessel, ray and. axial parenchyma was recorded by the provenances of A. mangium.
Open Access
Municipal garbage as a component of potting media for seedling of selected forest tree species
(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2001) Adersh, M; KAU; Gopikumar, K
The present study was undertaken at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur to evaluate the effect of potting media containing garbage on the growth and vigour of teak (Tectana grandis Linn. F.) and mangiurn (Acacia mangium Willd) seedlings. The study revealed that when garbage, especially fresh garbage, was used as a component of potting media, no significant effect was observed on survival rate of seedlings of teak, but a high rate of mortality was observed in the case of mangium. The potting media containing soil, sand and cow dung in equal proportions produced the best results with regard to shoot growth parameters like height and girth. However, the potting media containing soil, sand and one month decomposed garbage also produced similar results which was on par with the best treatment. Teak seedlings registered higher root biomass, root spread and root number when grown in the media containing garbage especially one month decomposed garbage. Unlike teak, in the case of mangium the treatment soil, sand and cow dung in equal proportions was proved to be the best with regard to root growth parameters. In both teak and mangium, chlorophyll content was not found to be significantly influenced by any media. Seedlings grown in the media containing soil, sand and cow dung in equal proportions recorded higher uptake and concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the plant tissue when compared to all other treatments. This was true both ill the case of teak and mangrurn. In general, the treatments T3 (soil: sand: cow dung) and T6 (soil: sand: 1 month decomposed garbage) were proved to be better when compared to all other treatments. In many cases these two treatments were found to be on par.
Open 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.
Open 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.
Open 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.
Open 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.

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