Cytomorphological studies in some members of tribe Paniceae (Poaceae) from district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalayas)

The present paper deals with cytological studies on the population basis of 21 species belonging to 9 genera of tribe Paniceae of family Poaceae from cytologically unexplored area of Western Himalayas i.e. district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh for the assessment of genetic diversity of grass flora. On world-wide basis, the chromosome counts have been made for the first time for three species such as Brachiaria remota (n = 16), Digitaria granularis (n = 36) and Isachne albens (n = 5). Similarly, on India basis, altogether new records are made for two species such as Echinochloa cruspavonis (n = 27) and Paspalum distichum (2n = 50). A comparison of the different euploid cytotypes studied at present for Digitaria adscendens, D. setigera and Oplismenus compositus revealed significant variations in their morphology, depicting increase in some of the characters of polyploid cytotypes. The course of meiosis has been observed to be normal in all the studied populations with high pollen fertility except for two species such as Paspalum dilatatum and P. distichum marked with abnormal meiosis and reduced pollen fertility.     

Iodine nutrition status amongst neonates in Kangra district,Himachal Pradesh

Iodine deficiency (ID) is an endemic health problem in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh (HP) state. ID leads to mental retardation, deaf mutism, squint, dwarfism, spastic diplegia, neurological defects and congenital anomalies. Iodine nutrition status amongst neonates can be assessed by estimating thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The present study was conducted with an objective to assess the iodine nutrition status amongst Neonates in Kangra district, HP. All of the hospitals in the district which provide obstetric services were enlisted, of which three were selected for this survey. A total of 613 umbilical cord blood samples of neonates were collected on filter paper and analyzed for TSH. WHO (2007) reported that that a <3% frequency of TSH concentrations above 5 mIU/L in samples collected 3–4 days after birth indicates iodine sufficiency in a population. In our study we found that 73.4% of the neonates had TSH levels of more than 5 mlU/l, thus indicating ID in the population studied. Iodine deficiency continues to be a public health problem in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.     

Avian Fauna of Khajjiar Lake, District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, India

Avifauna of Khajjiar lake revealed the presence of 77 species of birds belonging to 62 genera, 12 orders and 31 families. In this area Muscicapidae is the most represented family with 22 species belonging to 15 genera followed by Accipitridae and Corvidae (six species each), Paridae, Phasianidae, Columbidae and Picidae (three species each). 20 species of birds were local and the rest 57 seasonal-local and long range migrants Of the 57 species, 35 were seasonal-local migrants, four were winter visitors and ten were summer visitors. Moreover, Khajjiar lake supported eight such species which showed winter and summer influx. Of these, six showed summer influx, whereas, winter influx was shown by two species only. Data on relative abundance showed that 25 species of birds were very common, 30 common, 21 uncommon and one rarely seen in the area.     

Anthropological studies among Pangwalas and Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh, North India

The present paper is based on the Research Project entitled "Impact of Technological and Economic Development Programme on Bio-Cultural Heritage of Gaddis and Pangwalas Population Groups of Himachal Pradesh". The project was framed after UNESCO/MAB Project Nos. 6 and 12 under UNESCO Programme on Man Biosphere (MAB) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The population groups under investigation are: 1. Transhumant Gaddis of Bharmour Sub-Tehsil, Chamba District; 2. Settled Gaddis of Kangra District; and 3. Pangwalas of Pangi Tehsil, Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh. The carrying capacity has been calculated for Pangi and Bharmour Sub-Tehsil and it has been observed that in both the places the size of population is beyond the capacity of the land. The pattern of body growth and respiratory functions among Transhumant Gaddis of Bharmour Sub-Tehsil, Chamba District and Settled Gaddis of Kangra District have been studied. Statistically non-significant differences in most of the biological variables have been observed among these groups.     

Genetic studies among Kanet and Koli of Kinnar district in Himachal Pradesh,India

Data are presented on serological and electrophoretic variants of 18 systems of red cells in 228 individuals belonging to a scheduled tribe (Kanet) and a scheduled caste (Koli) of Kinnar district in Himachal Pradesh, India. Differences in gene frequencies clearly indicate biological distinction in the local population. The possible cause of this genetic heterogeneity is discussed.     

'Ltvo new species of Cheirostylis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Two new species of Cheirostylis, C. sessanica and C. munnacampensis are described from Arunachal Pradesh, India.     

A new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from Madhya Pradesh, India

Eriocaulon raipurense (Eriocaulaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Madhya Pradesh, India. The species is closely allied to E. hamiltonianum but differs in the size and apex of involucral bancts, white-pilose nature of floral bracts and colour of female petals.     

A new species of Sarcoglyphis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

A new species of Sarcoglyphis, S. arunachalensis, from Arunachal Pradesh, India is described.     

Genitalata mahajani gen. et sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh, India (Dermaptera: Chelisochidae)

The present paper is based on a collection of earwigs received from High Altitude Field Station, Zoological Survey of India, Solan. An interesting new genus was found which is described below.     

Fungal fruiting bodies from Lower Tertiary sediments of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India

Fungal fruiting bodies ignored in earlier palynological investigations of the Subathu and Dagshai Formations have been studied from sediments exposed in the Dadahu Jamtah area, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Taxa belonging to the genera Notothyrites, Asterothyrites, Parmathyrites, Phragmothyriles and Microthyriacites have been identified. These fossils are comparable with taxa reported from many Early Tertiary assemblages from different parts of the country and indicate a warm and humid climate.     

Effect of undernutrition on deciduous tooth emergence among Rajput children of Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, India

This article examines the influence of nutritional status on the emergence of deciduous dentition in a cross-sectional sample of 510 rural Rajput children from the Jubbal and Kotkhai Tehsils, Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India. The nutritional status of each child was evaluated using Z-scores of height/supine length-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ). The effects of sex and side on deciduous dental emergence were not statistically significant. Partial correlation indicates that the number of emerged teeth (T) was more strongly correlated with height than with other anthropometric variables. In most age groups, the stunted boys and girls (HAZ <-2) had fewer emerged teeth than nonstunted age peers (HAZ >-2). The mean T in underweight children was also less than that of the normal children, with a few exceptions. The stunted children have a significantly greater likelihood of delayed emergence of deciduous dentition. Measures of linear growth status are more closely related to dental development than measures of growth in mass. The findings indicate that even moderate undernutrition can delay deciduous tooth emergence.     

Sex, age and caste differences in somatotypes of Rajput and scheduled caste adolescents from the Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Somatotypes of a cross-sectional sample of 544 rural adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 17 years are described. The sample included 269 Rajput (141 girls and 128 boys) and 275 Scheduled Caste (135 girls and 140 boys) subjects. Each subject was somatotyped using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype protocol (Carter & Heath 1990). In all, ten anthropometric measurements namely height, weight, bicondylar diameters of humerus and femur, flexed mid-upper-arm and calf circumferences, and triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and calf skinfolds were taken. The mean somatotypes of the Rajput boys and girls were 1.62- 3.30-3.85 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) and 2.42-2.90-3.99 (balanced ectomorph), respectively. The mean somatotypes of the Scheduled Caste subjects were 1.51-3.02-3.74 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) for boys and 2.38-2.64-3.70 (balanced ectomorph) for girls. A one-way ANOVA revealed that females of both the caste groups were significantly (p < or = 0.05) more endomorphic than the males. The sex differences in other two components were not significant (p +/- 0.05). Caste differences, as revealed by a one-way ANOVA analysis, were not significant (p +/- 0.05) in both sexes. With the exception of the Rajput girls, the differences in whole somatotypes between those in an early phase of adolescence and those in an advanced phase of adolescence were not significant (p = 0.05). The results indicate that populations exposed to same environmental situations for a long period of time tend to show similarity in physique. A one-way MANOVA analysis, which used Wilk's Lambda as test statistics, revealed that from 11-17 years there was no significant change (p < or = 0.05) in component dominance of mean somatotypes in the boys and girls of the present sample. Among males of a majority of the Indian populations, ectomorphy dominates over endomorphy and mesomorphy from 11 to 17 years.     

Pholidota pygmaea (Orchidaceae) — A new species from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Chowdhery, H.J. & Pal, G.D. 1995. Pholidota pygmaea (Orchidaceae) — A new species from Arunachal Pradesh, India. — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 411–413. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
A new species of Pholidota, P. pygmaea from Arunachal Pradesh, India is described.     

Trichodesma mudgalii (Boraginaceae)—a new species from Madhya Pradesh, India

Trichodesma mudgalii (Boraginaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Madhya Pradesh (Betul district), India. The species is closely allied to T. indicum var. indicum and T. stocksii but differs from the former in having epidermis (on stem) peeling off in flakes with age, leaves crowded, 2–6 mm broad, strongly revolute and covered on abaxial surface with simple, short, thin hairs intermixed with long, bulbous-based hairs and from the latter in having apices of connectives strongly spirally twisted, ovoid nutlets and emarginate.