December 2009

Germplasm conservation of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) by encapsulation of in vitro derived nodal segments

  Encapsulation of in vitro derived nodal segments of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) was done successfully by employing sodium alginate gel. Among various concentrations of sodium alginate tried to optimize the strength of the bead, 4% sodium alginate produced firm beads and showed the highest percentage of shoot emergence (73.3%). The best storage temperature was found to be 25°C. The...

Author(s): M. Kumara Swamy, S. Balasubramanya and M. Anuradha

December 2009

Ecology and conservation needs of nymphalid butterflies in disturbed tropical forest of eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Assam, India

  We examine the hypothesis, whether the diversity of Nymphalid butterflies in primary forest is related to vegetation structure and canopy openness and that this relationship differs between butterfly taxa in relation to phylogenetic differences in light and shade preferences. The study also examines whether the increasing diversity of butterflies in degraded tropical forest is associated with the loss of...

Author(s): Malabika Kakati Saikia, J. Kalita and P. K. Saikia

December 2009

Insect biodiversity in Kuwait

  Natural causes, together with the deliberate destruction of the environment with the objective of forcing political, military and means of civilization have resulted in great deterioration of the environment. The insect fauna of Kuwait has suffered from such destructions, resulting in some becoming extinct, while others are threatened with extinction from Kuwait desert, however, others still flourishing. This...

Author(s): Wasmia Al-Houty