InSalvinia molesta Mitchell growth rate was uniform among the various size groups except in the proliferating floating stage in which it was faster. An average increase of about 25% weight occurred during a period of 5 days under laboratory condition. In general fresh set of leaves developed at an average interval of 4·5 days but this period may vary under different environmental conditions. In low salinities the growth of the fern showed retardation while in higher salinities it underwent complete destruction. Salinities above 7‰ was harmful for the weed while it completely withered in salinities 11‰ and above. Minimum period required for the total withering of the weed in salinities 34‰ and 11‰ were 30 min and 20 h respectively. These results are of value in the effective control of the weed by flushing them into brackish water lakes during monsoon.

The abnormalities in morphology, number, size and position of subsidiary cells, stomatal complexes and guard cells in the leaf epidermis ofSorghum vulgare Pers. have been reported. The subsidiary cells per stomatal complex range from two to four. Normally, subsidiary cells do not arch over the poles of a stoma, but in some cases they cap the poles. Nuclear degradation has also been described in the guard cells.

Effect of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 kR gamma irradiation on morphology and growth of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), turmeric (Curcuma domestica Valet) and mango-ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.), and shoot apical organisation in ginger were studied. Higher doses (20 and 30 kR) of radiation proved to be lethal. Morphological aberrations in foliage leaves are reported. Irradiated shoot apices of ginger showed vacuolated cells of tunica and corpus. The irradiated apices appear histologically inert.

Lindsaea heterophylla Dryand. andLindsaea heterophylla Bedd. earlier confused and normally confounded underLindsaea heterophylla Dryand. have been separated out as distinct species. A new nameLindsaea beddomea Dixit et Ghosh has been proposed forLindsaea heterophylla Bedd. Key to the species, detailed text and illustrations have been furnished for easy identification.

This paper deals with the discovery of the teleomorph ofAspergillus japonicus Saito which is described and illustrated for the first time from an isolate from green coffee berries from India. A new genus,Saitoa, is proposed to accommodate it.

Analysis of flavonoid patterns in the diploid, triploid and tetraploid forms ofCynodon dactylon revealed them to be cytotype-specific. The triploid forms showed a mixture of spots from the diploid and the tetraploid and in addition exhibited some novel spots. Further, these patterns indicated allopolyploid nature of the tetraploids. The leaves of triploid forms contained almost double the quantity of ascorbic acid present in the diploid and tetraploid forms.

Micronutrients were sprayed singly and in combinations, at pre-bloom stage, onCatharanthus roseus plants grown in the field for 15 weeks. In general, all the nutritional regimes enhanced the growth of the plants. The growth responses of B, Zn + B, Fe + Cu + Zn + B were statistically significant. Maximum increases in the total alkaloid content of leaves, stems and roots were observed under Fe + B, Fe + Zn + Cu + B and Zn treatments respectively while few other treatments also caused considerable increase in the total alkaloid contents.

Growth ofSpirulina platensis, a fast growing blue-green alga, was studied in domestic raw sewage under laboratory conditions. The results show that growingSpirulina platensis in domestic raw sewage with proper manipulation is encouraging. Apart from waste water treatment,Spirulina platensis can also be used as food and feed for cattle and poultry due to its high protein content i.e. 68% and its easy cell wall breakability as compared to other algal species and better digestibility.

Embryological features of the two tetraploid species ofDentella-Dentella repens andDentella serpyllifolia are essentially identical. Anther wall development follows the Dicotyledonous type. Secretory tapetum is uniseriate with unir-uckate cells. Female archesporium is single-celled. Embryo sac development follows the Polygonum type. Endosperm is nuclear. Embryogeny conforms to Hyoscyamus variation of Solanad type. Seed coat is formed by the outer epidermis of the integument.

Floral anatomy ofCuscuta hyalina Roth.Cuscuta europaea L.,Cuscuta chinensis Lamk. andCuscuta calycina Webb, and Berth, and embryology ofCuscuta europaea L.,Cuscuta calycina Webb, and Berth, have been investigated. Sepals, petals and stamens are singlet-traced and the corpels have only the ventral bundles. The disc is ovarian without vascular supply inCuscuta hyalina,Cuscuta chinensis andCuscuta calycina. The placentation is anatomically parietal. The anther wall is 4-layered and pollen is shed at 2-celled stage. Ovule is tenuinucellate, unitegmic and anatropous. Archesporial cell directly functions as megaspore mother cell which gives rise to bisporic Allium type of embryo sac. The synergids are persistent. Endosperm is nuclear and the embryo development follows Solanad type.

Structure of the trichomes occurring on floral parts is described in eighteen species ofCrotalaria. On the basis of structure they are classified into 9 types of which ontogeny of four types has been studied. Organographic distribution of each type is given. The four hair types of which ontogeny was studied, all develop from a single initial cell. Most of the hairs can be used for specific delineation although they show less variations. A key for the identification of the species on the basis of the trichomes studied is given.