Northwestern Himalayan Region Research Articles

Attenuation of short-period body waves in Northwestern Himalayan Region, India

The attenuation of seismic wave is one of the basic physical parameters which is closely related to the seismicity and regional tectonics activity of a particular area. This is also important for seismic hazard measurement. Seismic wave attenuation for local earthquakes is determined from the analysis of direct body waves and coda waves. The dimensionless parameter, Q, is studied in the present work, which is defined as a measure of the rate of decay of the coda waves or body waves within a specific frequency band. Digital seismogram data of 75 earthquakes that occurred in Garhwal Himalaya region during 2004–2006 and recorded at 20 different stations have been analyzed to study the seismic body and coda wave attenuation. Seismic body wave attenuation characteristics are examined by estimating the frequency dependent relationship of quality factors for P-waves, Qα and for S-waves, Qβ in the frequency range 1.5–28 Hz, using 95 seismic observations with hypo central distance less than 100 km. The extended coda normalization method was applied. The average value of Qα is found to be varied from 45.10 at 1.5 Hz to 1400.0 at 28 Hz, while it varies from 109.02 at 1.5 Hz to 3987.0 at 28 Hz for Qs. The estimated frequency dependent relation for quality factors are Qα=(29.077±8.5)f(1.16±0.01) and Qβ=(67.84±13.5)f(1.18±0.02) for P and S-waves, respectively. The rate of increase of Q(f) for P and S waves in this region is comparable with the other regions of the Himalayas. The ratio QβQα is greater than unity in the entire analyzed frequency range. It indicates that scattering is an important factor contributing to the attenuation of body wave in the region. The low Qα,β values or high, attenuation at lower frequencies and high Qα,β values or low attenuation at higher frequency may indicate that the heterogeneity decreases with increasing depth in the study region.

Genetic diversity and structure of Betula utilis accessions of North-western Himalaya based on RAPD and ISSR markers

Betula utilis, commonly known as Himalayan birch is an important tree species of fragile ecosystem of Himalayas placed in endangered category. In the present study genetic diversity, structure and interrelationships of B. utilis accessions from North-western Himalayan regions were analyzed using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. 15 RAPD and 16 ISSR primers collectively amplified 109 polymorphic fragments with an average of 3.51 fragments in a size range of 300–1300 bp. Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) ranged from 0.21 to 0.5 with an average of 0.43. Dendrogram grouped all the accessions into two major clusters. Factorial analysis showed three groups for all the analyzed accessions. Bayesian clustering using STRUCTURE grouped all the accessions in two clusters and separated majority of accessions belonging to Jammu & Kashmir Himalaya (cluster-II) from other accessions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand Himalaya (cluster-I). Exceptionally, four accessions namely, Sinth-12, Sinth-20, Son-06 and Son-16 from Kashmir grouped in Cluster-I. Structure analysis showed that two genetic stocks were contributing in genetic makeup of all the analyzed accessions. Results of the present study can be useful for selection of diverse accessions as well as can be useful in designing conservation and management strategies in North-western Himalayan regions.

High throughput sequence profiling of gut microbiome in Northern Indian infants during the first four months and its global comparison

The present study characterized the colonization and development of gut microbial communities in healthy Indian infants from North-Western Himalayan region in the province Himachal Pradesh. The diversity and transitions of core genera was assessed targeting the 16S rRNA V3-V4 hypervariable region on an Illumina platform. Analysis of more than 17,000 filtered high quality reads indicated that the diversity was lowest in the month 2 followed by gradual increase towards month 4 (1.24 folds increase in Shannon index). The microbial population in month 1 was dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria followed by dominance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes in the month 4. The analysis of aggregate microbiota at class level indicated relatively higher abundance of Clostridia, Bacteroides and Actinobacteria in month 1, 3 and 4, respectively. The global comparison of dominance of different phyla with the similar subjects indicated that the Indian microbiome is more similar with studies conducted with Swedish infants, although the differences in DNA extraction protocols, geographical location and sequencing platforms as confounding factors cannot be neglected. The findings in this small cohort study could facilitate future studies exploring various aspects of the human gut microbiome in Indian subcontinent.

Taxonomic description and annotation of Poa albertii Regel (Poaceae: Pooideae, Poeae, Poinae) from North Western Himalayas, India.

Poa albertii Regel, a native to Central Asia, has been described from North-Western Himalayan region and annotated to the latest system of grass classification. A detailed taxonomic description in the latest format, along with illustrations and Scanning Electron Micrograph of diagnostic features is provided to diagnose P. albertii Regel from allied species.

Prioritization and field validation of erosion risk areas for combating land degradation in North Western Himalayas

Appropriate soil conservation practices are essentially required in Indian Himalayan region to prevent degradation of natural resources. Thus erosion priority risk areas need to be identified to efficiently plan and execute conservation programmes. This study envisages to develop a strategy based upon the concept of partial area treatment by classifying erosion risk areas and prioritizing them upon the basis of existing erosion rates with targeted soil loss limits (T-value). The hypothesis is that highest priority for conservation action should go to such areas where the difference between potential erosion rate and the targeted limit is maximum so that available financial resources are efficiently utilized. The analysis indicated that about 25% of the total land area (TLA) in the north-western Himalayan region falls under severe or very severe erosion risk categories, especially where steeply sloping lands are under cultivation or overgrazed for decades. Only about 13% of TLA has T-value of >10Mgha−1yr−1 while about 30% area of the area is less prone to soil erosion. Within the region, Uttarakhand state has highest erosion risk area (58%) followed by Himachal Pradesh (48.5%). The concept of prioritization of erosion risk areas and their treatment with appropriate conservation measures was validated with the field data collected from two representative watersheds in the Himalayan region. The present approach can be easily extrapolated to other agro-climatic regions of the country to develop conservation master plans for efficient utilization of limited financial resources on sustainable basis.

Strategic Marketing Prospects for Developing Sustainable Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Businesses in the Indian Himalayan Region

Among the non-timber forest products, the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) are key forest resources for the world’s herbal medicine, cosmetics, health food and other natural products industries. MAP businesses are continuing to increase in many biodiversity-rich areas of the world. The overharvesting and depletion of forest based MAP and their unregulated trade are creating ecosystem and business sustainability issues for the MAP industry. This paper assesses the current state of the MAP industry in Uttarakhand State in the northwestern Himalayan region of India and offers marketing strategies for the conservation and sustainable commercialization of MAP in this region. A qualitative research method was first used involving interviews with policymakers and other industry stakeholders including local MAP traders and growers. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis and a quantitative strategic planning matrix analysis were then conducted to identify appropriate marketing strategies. The study reveals that the existing practices of MAP businesses in Uttarakhand are inconsistent with the plants’ conservation requirements and the livelihoods of the primary producers. In its current form, the region’s MAP industry is therefore in a precarious position. However, if policymakers consider and act on the industry’s strengths and opportunities they could positively influence its sustainable development and help to minimize the negative impacts of the trade on the region’s forest MAP resources.

Central Wheat Hs562'-A High Yielding Wheat Variety for Timely Sown Production Conditions of Northern Hill Zone

'Central Wheat HS562' - a high yielding wheat variety was released and notified by Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Variety, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India for cultivation under timely sown, rainfed and irrigated production conditions of Northern Hills Zone (NHZ). 'Central wheat HS562' produced an average grain yield of 36 q/ha with 6.2% grain yield advantage over best check HS507 under rainfed conditions of NHZ. Similarly, it recorded an average grain yield of 52.7 q/ha with 8.4% grain yield advantage over the best check HS507 under irrigated conditions of NHZ. Thisvariety has ability to withstand the stripe rust pressure and recorded average coefficient of infection (ACI) ranging 3.6 - 13.0 under artificial inoculation conditions. It possesses good chapatti score (7.54) and bread making quality score (6.22) out of 10 along with good amount of Fe (38.4ppm) and Zn (34.5ppm) contents. Large-scale deployment of this variety in North-Western Himalayan Region through various Government and non-Government organizations is anticipated not only to enhance wheat productivity of this region but would also curtail rust inoculum flow from hills to the wheat grown in North Western Plains Zone of India. Doi.org/ 10.25174/2249-4065/2017/76420

Effect of rootstocks and soil management on growth and physiological parameters in new plantations of apple under replant conditions

Apple orchards planted in late sixties in Himanchal Pradesh and North Western Himalayan region have shown symptoms of declining productivity as these plants have completed their economic life span. Due to limited land and choice of crops for smaller micro climatic niches and incomparable economic equivalence of other fruits with apple, orchardists are compelled to replant at old apple orchard sites. Standardization of suitable agro-techniques to combat replant problem in apple for better field survival rate and productivity is required to sustain apple industry in the state. In the present study, there were 20 treatments comprising of four apple rootstocks i.e. seedling, M793, MM111 and M7 and five different soil management treatments i.e. control, soil fumigation, Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biocontrol and combined soil fumigation + PGPR + Biocontrol with three replications. The pooled data over the years 2015 and 2016 revealed that M793 rootstock had the maximum growth, vigour, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency. Among the soil management treatments, the highest growth and vigour parameters, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency were recorded maximum in combined treatment. The interaction between rootstocks and treatments revealed that combinations of M793 and combined treatment resulted the maximum growth and vigour traits, chlorophyll content, rate of photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency and minimum stomatal resistance compared to other rootstocks and treatment combinations under replant situations, which can be exploited for the management of replant problem in apple.

Indigenous plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and chemical fertilisers: impact on wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity and soil properties in North Western Himalayan region

High levels of crop productivity cannot be sustained by chemical fertiliser application alone. In order to mitigate this, a 2-year study was conducted to test the effects of combined application of indigenous plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and chemical fertilisers on productivity of wheat and soil properties. Ten morphologically distinct indigenous PGPR isolates from wheat roots and rhizosphere were evaluated at Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India, during 2013–14. Three PGPR isolates (B2, SIR1 and BIS2) with maximum PGP traits were screened at different doses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (80%, 60% and 40% of recommended fertiliser dose, RFD) under net-house conditions. Two isolates, B2 (Serratia sp.) and SIR1 (Bacillus subtilis), along with the optimum NP dose (i.e. 80% RFD) were selected for field experimentation, which was performed over two consecutive years, 2014–16. Combined application of 80% RDF of NP with PGPR (B2) significantly increased wheat yield by 9.4%, number of tillers per plant by 28.03%, grain number per spike by 19.61%, 1000-grain weight by 10.5%, and biomass by 9.2% relative to the uninoculated control with 100% RFD. Soil properties in the terms of available N, P and potassium, microbial biomass carbon, soil enzyme activities and population of phosphate-solubilising bacteria in the wheat crop were significantly increased by the combined application of bacterial inoculants with 80% RFD of NP in both years over the uninoculated control. Therefore, the results revealed the potential of indigenous PGPR isolates to supplement ~20% of NP fertilisers without hampering the soil fertility and productivity of wheat.

Report of invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) from Tarai area of North Western Himalayan region (Uttarakhand)

Report of invasive pest <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Meyrick) from <i>Tarai</i> area of North Western Himalayan region (Uttarakhand)

Diversity of powdery mildew fungi from North Western Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh – a checklist

Diversity of powdery mildew fungi from North Western Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh – a checklist

Nutrient composition, in vitro true digestibility and methane production potential of feed resources of North Western Himalayan region

The present study assessed the nutrient composition, in vitro digestibility and methane production potential of the commonly fed feed resources of North Western Himalayan region. The feed resources were collected from different parts of North Western Himalayan region and dried at 60°C until constant weight and used for further analysis. The in vitro digestibility and methane production potential were determined using the in vitro gas production technique. The results indicated that in concentrates, cereal grains had significantly high ME value, high digestibility,low methane production potential and low methane energy loss as compared to brans. In roughages, tree fodders, had significantly high digestibility, high ME value, low methane production potential and low methane energy loss as compared to grasses and crop residues. In this study, there was strong negative correlation between OM and methane production; and strong positive correlation between ash, lignin, ADF, cellulose and NDF contents and methane production in concentrates. In contrast to concentrates, in roughages strong positive relationship wasobserved between OM contents and methane emission. Positive correlations between NDF, HC, cellulose and methane production; and negative relationship between methane production and lignin, ash and EE contents were also observed in roughages. Regression equations developed for predicting methane production showed high level of predictability for concentrates as compared to roughages. The data on nutrient composition, methane production potential reported for various feedstuffs in this study could be utilized judiciously in formulating low methaneemission diets for feeding ruminants in the region.

Genetic and ecological insights into glacial refugia of walnut (Juglans regia L.).

The distribution and survival of trees during the last glacial maximum (LGM) has been of interest to paleoecologists, biogeographers, and geneticists. Ecological niche models that associate species occurrence and abundance with climatic variables are widely used to gain ecological and evolutionary insights and to predict species distributions over space and time. The present study deals with the glacial history of walnut to address questions related to past distributions through genetic analysis and ecological modeling of the present, LGM and Last Interglacial (LIG) periods. A maximum entropy method was used to project the current walnut distribution model on to the LGM (21–18 kyr BP) and LIG (130–116 kyr BP) climatic conditions. Model tuning identified the walnut data set filtered at 10 km spatial resolution as the best for modeling the current distribution and to hindcast past (LGM and LIG) distributions of walnut. The current distribution model predicted southern Caucasus, parts of West and Central Asia extending into South Asia encompassing northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwestern Himalayan region, and southwestern Tibet, as the favorable climatic niche matching the modern distribution of walnut. The hindcast of distributions suggested the occurrence of walnut during LGM was somewhat limited to southern latitudes from southern Caucasus, Central and South Asian regions extending into southwestern Tibet, northeastern India, Himalayan region of Sikkim and Bhutan, and southeastern China. Both CCSM and MIROC projections overlapped, except that MIROC projected a significant presence of walnut in the Balkan Peninsula during the LGM. In contrast, genetic analysis of the current walnut distribution suggested a much narrower area in northern Pakistan and the surrounding areas of Afghanistan, northwestern India, and southern Tajikistan as a plausible hotspot of diversity where walnut may have survived glaciations. Overall, the findings suggest that walnut perhaps survived the last glaciations in several refugia across a wide geographic area between 30° and 45° North latitude. However, humans probably played a significant role in the recent history and modern distribution of walnut.

Morphometrics of Apis mellifera after Five Decades of its Introduction in North-Western Himalayan Region of India

Morphometrics of Apis mellifera after Five Decades of its Introduction in North-Western Himalayan Region of India

Biomonitoring potential of a Caryophyllaeid tapeworm: Evaluation of Adenoscolex oreini infection level and health status in three fish species of the genus Schizothorax across eutrophication and pollution gradients

Endoparasitic infections vary significantly across altered aquatic ecosystems, making these organisms ideal for the biomonitoring of degraded environments. To assess the biomonitoring potential of the Caryophyllaeid tapeworm Adenoscolex oreini and the possible impact of water quality on fish species, a study was carried out in three lakes with marked eutrophication and pollution gradients. The A. oreini infection level in three host fish species of the genus Schizothorax and corresponding fish health status were determined. The pattern of cestode infection varied significantly in the three fish species across the pollution gradient. The prevalence of infection in two fish species (Schizothorax esocinus and S. curvifrons) was significantly greater (P<0.05) in the eutrophic lake than in the reference lake, whereas in S. niger, the maximum was reached in the hypereutrophic lake. The estimated marginal mean intensity and other infection indices varied significantly (P<0.05) across the inter- and intra-pollution gradients of lakes. Multivariate statistical analysis results revealed maximum cestode infection in the eutrophic lake. An altered seasonal pattern was observed in the highly stressed lake. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and condition factor values were significantly greater in fish collected from the reference lake than in those collected from the other lakes. A significant negative relationship between GSI and cestode prevalence was observed in the hypereutrophic lake as compared to least eutrophic lake. These findings indicate that infection indices of the Caryophyllaeid tapeworm and health attributes of fish can act as surrogates for the environmental quality of deteriorated lentic water bodies of the north-western Himalayan region, which is currently undergoing environmental degradation.

Morphological studies and meiotic chromosome analysis of Epimedium elatum (Morr &amp; Decne) - Rare endemic medicinal plant of Northwestern Himalayas in India.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Epimedium elatum&lt;/em&gt; (Berberidaceace) is a rare endemic medicinal herb of Northwestern Himalayas in India. Recent ethnopharmacological reports have demonstrated its traditional medicinal use against various bone related diseases in the Kashmir Himalayas. It owes its pharmaceutical importance due to high concentration of flavonoid glycosides like Epimedin A, B, C and Icariin which are known mainly for aphrodisiac, antiosteoporosis, anticancer, antioxidant, antiaging, antifatigue and antiviral activities. It is a neglected medicinal plant in Northwestern Himalayan region and may fall in the list of endangered species due to continuous anthropogenic pressures in its native habitats. In this study, we investigated distributional and altitudinal range of this prized species from twenty diverse eco-geographical zones of Kashmir Himalayas for the first time. We also report here its diversity in morphological attributes both in wild and captive cultivation. The species has a very small population size in most of the surveyed habitats with no natural protection. Under cultivation it showed increased plant height (63.09±4.9cm), more number of leaves (95.53±11cm) and flowers (160.76±20cm), indicating importance of high altitude medicinal garden for its immediate &lt;em&gt;ex situ&lt;/em&gt; conservation. Further, the acetocarmine staining and squashing of young anthers confirmed it as a diploid species (2n=12) like other &lt;em&gt;Epimedium&lt;/em&gt; species. Chromosome number and meiotic abnormalities are also reported for the first time in the species. Finally, constant anthropogenic pressures in Northwestern Himalayas demand immediate &lt;em&gt;in situ&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;ex situ&lt;/em&gt; conservation programmes for &lt;em&gt;E.elatum&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Comparative evaluation of three contrasting land use systems for soil carbon, microbial and biochemical indicators in North-Western Himalaya

The present investigation was aimed to identify the most ecologically viable agroecosystem among the three dominant, differently managed land use systems which were, agriculture (Long Term Fertilizer Experiment – LTFE, continuous pulse and organic system), horticulture (mango: Mangifera indica and guava: Psidium guajava) and agroforestry (bamboo: Bambusa sp., Dendrocalamus sp., poplar: Populus deltoides, and Dalbergia sissoo) on the basis of selected soil carbon fractions, microbial (microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration), biochemical parameters (dehydrogenase activity, easily extractable glomalin related soil protein, total extractable glomalin related soil protein) and microbial indices. The study area targeted the Mollisol of Uttarakhand which typifies the typical fragile ecosystem of Terai region of North-Western Himalayan region. Results indicated that LTFE, mango and Dalbergia system appeared as the most sustainable based on soil carbon, biochemical and microbiological attributes among their own agro-ecosystem. Our study also revealed guava system to be the most stressed as shown by the highest value of metabolic quotient. We further attempted to enumerate the sensitivity of a set of soil quality indicators controlling soil ecological process. In discriminant function analysis, a composite of indicators (inorganic carbon, dehydrogenase activity, easily extractable and total extractable glomalin related soil protein) discriminated well in the three studied agro-ecosystems. Furthermore, this study highlighted the necessity of inclusion of soil inorganic carbon and glomalin fractions for generating soil quality indicators.

Genetic and phytochemical diversity analysis in Bunium persicum populations of north-western Himalaya.

The present study explores morphological, genetic and phytochemical composition of Bunium persicum populations belonging to high altitudinal areas of Indian Himalayan region. In total, 23 morphological traits (13 quantitative and 10 qualitative traits) and 32 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA primers were employed to infer the population structure of the species. Of the fourteen populations, five genetically diverse populations were analyzed for phytochemical diversity. Among morphological traits, inflorescence, seed and branch traits were most significant in detecting variation. At molecular level, primers TIBMBA-06 and OPR-16 were found most polymorphic with respect to Polymorphism Information Content and Marker Index values. Dendrogram grouped all populations into two major clusters while population from Shong region out grouped separately showing its distantness from all other populations. STRUCTURE analysis was done by using Bayesian model, which characterised all populations into four clusters and some degree of admixture was also observed within individuals. Shong population showed distinct genetic makeup as also suggested by dendrogram. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of 55 components, of which, 2-methyl-3-phenyl propanal, benzeneacetic acid, 1-phellandrene, γ-terpene, α-terpinolene, Δ0.3-carene and sabinene were major components in its essential oils. The present study revealed high genetic and phytochemical diversity in B. persicum accessions from north-western Himalayan regions. Specifically, accessions from Saptal regions were having higher quantity of essential oils and can be selected for cultivation to meet the commercial demand to some extent. Further, the diversity information provided herein can be useful in management and improvement of this species through future breeding programmes.

Performance of apricot varieties/genotypes in north western Himalayan region of India

A long term experiment (2010-11 to 2014-15) was performed to evaluate the morphological and qualitative traits of apricot varieties/genotypes under north western Himalayan region of India. There were ten varieties/genotypes (CITH-Apricot-01, CITH-Apricot-02, CITH-Apricot-03, Communis, Erani, Afghani, Balcota, CITH-Apricot-09, Chinese apricot, Tokpopa Nimu ) were evaluated under RCBD with three replications. The results of five year pooled data indicated that maximum average Trunk Cross Sectional Area (TCSA) (168.03 cm2) was recorded in the variety Communis. Maximum fruit weight (80.03 g) and yield (113.87 kg/tree) were recorded in CITH-Apricot-01. The productivity efficiency (1.21 kg cm-2 TCSA) was noted in CITH-Apricot-02. The fruit stone ratio 21.62 was recorded in Afghani variety. The highest TSS (25.070 Brix) was estimated in CITH-Apricot-09. Acidity was noticed maximum in the variety Chinese apricot. The total sugar and non reducing sugar were manifested maximum in the apricot genotype Tokpopa Nimu and reducing sugar (8.9%) was recorded in CITH-Apricot-09 under the north western Himalayan region of India.SAARC J. Agri., 14(2): 107-116 (2016)

New Distributional Record of Invasive Pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in North-Western Himalayan Region of India

The invasive tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera) was recorded feeding on tomato leaves, flower buds, apical shoots and fruits in sub-temperate mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, India which is a new distributional record of the pest North-Western Himalayan region. Low to moderate incidence of T. absoluta was recorded on tomato during November 2015. The present study will be useful for the researchers and extension workers of the region for timely and effective management of this major invasive insect.