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Paper partition chromatography by the ascending and disk methods has been applied to the study of muscle from Sardinella spp., Leiognathus spp., Caranx spp., Hemirhamphus georgii and Atherina sp. Experimental conditions have been standardised under which differences among species of fish could be made out qualitatively and on the basis of quantitative measurements, using fish tissue of varying degrees of freshness. Methods have been studied for the preservation of fish muscle for chromatographic work. The applications of paper chromatography to problems in fishery biology have been indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper about thirty-six types of different spores and pollen have been described, which were recovered from some samples of lignites from Warkalli in Travancore, India. Out of these three are Monolites type of spores and one Trilites type. Rest are all pollen grains classed under Nonaperturites, Monocolpites, Tricolpites, Tetracolpites, Hexacolpites, Septacolpites, Octacolpites, Tricolporites, Tetracolporites, Pentacolporites, Hexacolporites, Septacolporites, Octacolporites, Triorites, Triporites and Polyporites. Some of the spores have been compared with Polypodium vulgare, Blechnum spicant and Schizæa pennula, while some of the pollen grains have been compared with the following genera of living plants: Potamogeton, Borassus, Hamemelis, Myrsine, Cornus, Kadua, Nothocestrum, Erythrina, Celtis, Carpinus and Ostrya. Some of the types described in this paper have also been reported from other Tertiary deposits of India (Palana lignites, Intertrappean cherts of Mohgaon Kalan) and other countries (Dandot lignites and Oil shales of Saline series in Pakistan; Eocene beds of Erie Basin, Oil shales of Green River, and Fort Union coal of Montana in U.S.A., Brown coals of Europe). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Freshly emerged imagines of Papilio demoleus, which had no previous experience with colour, were kept in a large cage devoid of any coloured object apart from those specially provided for the experiments. 2. These were offered artificial coloured flowers prepared from the standardized Ostwald series. 3. On the coloured flowers, the inexperienced unfed specimens showed a characteristic feeding response: they approached the artificial flower in flight, landed on it and unrolled their tongues with which they performed probing and sucking movements on the paper. 4. The results clearly show that Papilio demoleus in the feeding state, is mainly attracted to the blue and purple colours while the yellow, yellowish-green, green and blue-green colours are completely neglected. 5. Thus, they have provided a proof that certain insects, contrary to Forel's assumption (1910), show not only acquired but also inborn or spontaneous preferences for colours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using chromatographic procedures, two free sugars glucose and trehalose have been detected in the reproductive tissues and the haemolymph of Cimex. The seminal fluid and not the sperm has been found to possess trehalase activity. A novel feature of the metabolism of the active sperm is enzymic hydrolysis of trehalose, followed by oxidative utilisation of the hexose thus formed. The process is termed here 'trehalolysis'. The depletion of the sugars has been demonstrated semiquantitatively by paper chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The distribution of protein-bound amino acids, during the development of Oryzias melastigma, has been made qualitatively by paper chromatographic technique. 2. The protein-bound amino acids show six different patterns of distribution during the development of the embryo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals mainly with the effect of various chemicals (asparagin, KNO, acid, alkali and C/N ratio) on the production of perithecia in a species of Rosellinia and supplements the results given in a previous paper (Das Gupta, 1937). The stimulating effect of a bacterium on the formation of perithecia is briefly dealt with. The following are the main points:- The number of perithicia formed in a medium decreases with the increase in the concentration of asparagin, potassium nitrate, acid and alkali. In simple agar medium the higher agar concentration the greater the number of perithecia formed. Innumerable perithecia appear in media combining relatively high content of potassium nitrate with moderate amount of glucose. The size of the perithecia is only slightly reduced in media combining relatively high concentration of asparagin and potassium nitrate with low concentrations of glucose. The size is greatly reduced in the media where KNO content and glucose content are both relatively high. Addition of glucose in a medium having relatively high KNO content has a deleterious effect on the production of asci and ascospores. Development of perithecia is inhibited much before the vegetative growth of the fungus is retarted due to high concentrations of chemicals except in the cases of the acid and alkali series where the perithecia develop as long as vegetative growth is not totally checked. Regional distribution of perithecia in different modified media is briefly dealt with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper comprises firstly a brief review of all the known Dipterocarpoxyla described since 1916 when Miss Holden instituted this genus. The more important anatomical characters of all the species have been summarised in the form of a table. But the original species D. burmense and a few others have been omitted because their affinities with the Dipterocarps are open to serious doubt. Secondly, a new species of Dipterocarpoxyloi (D. Holdeni) has been described from the Irrawady system (mio-pliocene) of Burma. The poor preservation of this species has prevented further comparison with the timbers of the living Dipterocarpaceæ, but the close resemblance with the wood of Shorea robusta brought out in the present paper amply justifies the reference of this wood to the 'Sal' family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gonadal and interrenal steroid of Rana hexadactyla, Rana cyanophlyctis, Rhacophorus maculatus and Calotes versicolor have been analysed by paper chromatography. In the interrenal of both the sexes of three species of frogs studied, aldosterone and corticosterone could be detected. In the testes of all the three species of frogs studied, testosterone was significantly absent; progesterone and 17 β estradiol were detected. In the ovary 17 β estradiol. estriol and progesterone were identified. In the adrenals of Calotes, as in frogs, corticosterone and aldosterone were noticed. In the testis testosterone and 17 β estradiol were detected; in the ovary progesterone, estriol, estrone and 17 β estradiol were found. The significance of the presence of testosterone and the absence of progesterone in the testes is discussed in the light of biosynthetic pathway known in other forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with four species of nematodes and two of acanthocephala, all collected from vertebrate hosts from Great Nicobar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is under PT (Production of Terrestrial Communities) section of the International Biological Programme (IBP). It is the first attempt in India on productivity of forests. Results form an exploratory application of methods for measurement of productivity in a tropical deciduous forest. Trees of five important species of Dangs Forests in Gujarat State were studied. The species, arranged in decreasing order of their importance in the forests, are: Tectona grandis Linn., Terminalia crenulata Roth., Garuga pinnata Roxb., Dalbergia latifolia Roxb., and Ougeinia oojeinensis (Roxb.) Hochr. The trees were felled in a clear felling operation at Raiwad (Waghai range) during December 1966. Detailed description and classification of the forests are given by Kuruvilla (1967), and Pandeya and Kuruvilla (1967). Methods of study are given in the paper. The study area is situated at latitude N. 20° 34′ to 21° 5′ and longitude E. 73° 28′ to 73° 56·5′. Entire Dangs is undulating with chains of hills. Climate of the area is presented in the paper. From the study it is concluded that:- [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation on the locomotor activity of the pill-millipede, Arthrosphaera dalyi, kept under constant temperature and humidity, shows a persistent diurnal rhythm. The activity phase was found to occur mainly during night. In natural light condition, the activity pattern is characterised by two peaks followed by a stepwise decrease in activity during night and occasional outbursts of activity during day. The inhibitory influence of constant darkness on the activity is evident from the absence of peaks and the occasional outbursts of activity. Constant light causes a shift of nearly two hours in the setting in of the activity phase with a corresponding shift of two hours in the termination of the activity phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author is now engaged in a detailed study of the fossil Foraminifera from the Cretaceous rocks of South India; the present paper deals with the Orbitoids found in a limestone band recently noticed near Ariyalur, in the Trichinopoly area. The abundance of these Orbitoids, together with plenty of associated Siderolites, indicates that the containing rock is of Maestrichtian age and occupies a stratigraphical position in the Ariyalur group just below the overlying Niniyur Group (Danian). While some of the Orbitoids occurring here resemble certain species of Lepidorbitoides and Orbitocyclina already described, there are others which appear to be new. The paper gives a general account of these Orbitoids, drawing special attention to some of their interesting features. The probable significance of these in the study of the family Orbitoididae is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chromatographic method for qualitative and quantitative determination of gibberellic acid in F. moniliforme infected rice plants has been described. The concentration of gibberellic acid and the area of the band on a circular paper chromatogram bear a linear relationship. The results indicate a greater accumulation of gibberellic acid in shoots than roots of the rice plant var. MTU 9, susceptible to the fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple method for the Chromatographic separation of inorganic cations in mixtures and in biological media in the order of 0.15 to 0.2 µg. has been described. Different spray reagents for the detection of the cations and also their R values in three solvent mixtures, N-butanol-acetic acid-water, aqueous collidine, and aqueous lutidine have been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) infesting the small intestine of a Chiroptera- Taphozous melanopogon Temminek, collected from Andaman Islands is described in this paper. The criteria for considering it as new species to science are given and these have been compared with the five species of Eimeria hitherto described from Chiropteran hosts. This seems to be the first record of a coccidium from a Chiropteran host in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the cytological investigation of eight taxa, viz., Hydrolea zeylanica Vahl (2 n=24), Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. (2 n=30, 2 n=30+1), Ottelia alismoides Pers. (2 n=22 and 33), Monochoria vaginalis Presl ex Kunth (2 n=52), Eichhornia crassipes Solms (2 n=32), Pistia stratiotes L. (2 n=28), Limnophyton obtusifolium Miq. (2 n=22) and Ammannia salicifolia Monti (2 n=28) which were collected from the suburbs of Mysore. Of these, the chromosome numbers for Hydrolea zeylanica and Ammannia salicifolia are newly reported. Karyomorphological studies have been made in Hydrolea zeylanica, Ammannia salicifolia, Ipomoea aquatica, Ottelia alismoides, Eichhornia crassipes and Lymnophyton obtusifolium. Mitotc studies of Ottelia alismoides reveal the occurrence of both diploid and triploid races. Of these, triploid number of 2 n=33 is the first report. An extra small chromosome from somatic nuclei is also the first record in Ipomoea aquatica. Further, Ottelia alismoides shows the occurrence of univalents, tetravalents and hexavalents, while Limnophyton obtusifolium reveals the presence of chromatin bridge, fragment chromosome and micronuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U-shaped endostyle of Amphioxus is known to secrete mucus. When the endostyle is separated from the two sides of the pharyngeal wall, the secreted mucus travels backwards along the groove without being lifted up. However, in an intact specimen the mucus is lifted up along the sides of the gill bar and spreads over the pharyngeal epithelium. As the mucus travels vertically upwards it acts as a moving 'fly paper' to gather particles brought in by the water current. A feature of interest is the observation that the secretion of mucus is enhanced when the concentration of suspended particulate matter is increased. Such copious mucus production helps the formation of mucous sheets between the gill bars causing a reduction of gill slit area available for the outflow of water. In such cases the beating of cilia is masked and the ciliary beat could clearly be seen when the mucous sheets are being torn. It has been suggested that the mucus plays an important role in regulating the volume of water filtered besides the ciliary activity which is said to be under nervous control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of tetragonal hen egg-white lysozyme with excess iodine in potassium iodide in 0·02M acetate buffer at pH 4·7 gave the heavy atom derivative : iodolysozyme which has been crystallized in the same form. Tryptic digestion of heat denatured iodolysozyme and paper electrophoresis, at pH 3·6 and pH 6·4 of the digest have shown that only the single histidine in lysozyme is iodinated. This location by chemical means, of the particular amino-acid residues attacked by I in lysozyme, is in disagreement with the crystallographic location by Blake who has investigated the reaction of tetragonal lysozyme with iodine crystallographically. Iodolysozyme was found to be about 80 per cent biologically active against the cell-walls of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with three species of flowering plants of which Indigofera duthiei Drum. ex Naik is new to Science. Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell. is a new record for India. Biophytum helenae Busc. et Musch. is the correct name of the plant widely occurring in India and recorded as B. sensitivum DC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the description of five new species of nematodes from vertebrates, viz., Ascaridia andamanensis, A. alata, Ophidascaris piscatori, Porrccaecum pennanti and Herpestostrongylus palustris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports the occurrence of twenty species of marine interstitital Copepoda from the beach sands of Waltair coast. Half of these are recorded for the first time from Indian waters. The males of some of the species are described for the first time. A new subspecies has also been created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floral anatomy of Ancistrocladus heyneanus, the only representative in India of the genus, is studied. The nipple-like projection above the ovary is shown to be the upper part of the ovary itself and not the basal connivant part of the styles as commonly mentioned in Floras and adopted by Keng in his paper on A. tectorius. A number of earlier observations and conclusions are shown to be due to faulty interpretations of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with four weeds ( Digera muricata, Indigofera cordifolia, Trichodesma amplexicaule and Tribulus terrestris) growing on the fields in which Bajra ( Pennisetum typhoideum) is cultivated. Studies have been undertaken on the interaction of these weeds on the germination of seeds and seedling growth of Pennisetum typhoideum. The aqueous extracts from these weeds did not prove harmful as far as germination was concerned, although delay in certain cases was evident. The inhibition as well as enhancement of seedling growth was exhibited by extracts of these weeds. The best effect of growth enhancement was indicated by I. cordifolia and T. amplexicaule and that of inhibition by D. muricata and T. terrestris. Comparatively greater toxicity was caused to the first root, but the development of adventitious roots compensated for the retarding effect. Root hair formation was suppressed in the portion which remained in contact with extract, otherwise profuse root hair formation took place in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives an account of the morphology and anatomy of fruits, seeds and their germination in the genus Phoenix. The fruit is an oblong, 1-seeded berry, yellowish-black to dark purple in colour. The seed is hard and stony, grooved on ventral side. Embryo lies dorsally opposite the groove. Germination is hypogeal, eligulate and remotive. Many palm fruits and seeds are found in the Tertiary deposits of different countries and are called ' Palmocarpon' (Reid and Chandler, 1933). For identifying them, a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of fruits and seeds in living genera is essential (Mahabale, 1950). With this aim in view, anatomy of different palms such as Nypa, Hyphaene, Sabal, Caryota, Cocos, Licuala, Rhapis, Ptychosperma, Livistona, etc., has been investigated at this Department. The present paper describes the anatomy of fruit in six species of Phoenix as seen in T.S. passing through the middle part of mature fruit and seed. It was found that fruit and seed anatomy shows many reliable characters which can be used for differentiating species within the genus Phoenix. A key based on them has been given here. In 1914 Berry (1914) described a fossil fruit ' Phoenicites occidentalis'. It seems to be closely similar to that in P. dactylifera and large-fruited varieties of P. sylvestris in point of fruit and seed characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the occurrence of eight new species of harpacticoid copepods from the interstitial sands of Waltair coast. These belong to 7 genera. The description and distribution of these forms with reference to the size of the sand grains, depth and tidal levels are given in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives an account of the embryology of an endemic species of Phoenix occurring in a corner of Deccan Trap area in the Western Ghats at Mulsi, a taluka in Poona District. It deals with the morphology of male and female flowers, pollen grains, ovule, development of male and female gametophytes, endosperm and embryo in that species. The tree trunk is 5-7 m high, tessellated as in Cycas due to comparatively small size of the old leaf-sheath scars. The plants are dioecious. The pollen grains are round, monocolpate, smooth and thick-walled. They are shed at 2-celled stage. The ovules are bitegmic, crassinucellate and anatropous. Fertilization is porogamous. Endosperm is free-nuclear to begin with but becomes cellular later. The embryo develops in two ways; according to (1) Geum variation and (2) Polygonum variation of the Asterad type. Micropyle is terminal in early stages, but shifts to the side of the seed wall later. Previous literature, etc., on the genus has been cited in the previous paper by Mahabale and Biradar (1968) and, therefore, is not given here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is the second contribution to the embryology of genus Phoenix L. The development of inflorescences, anthers, ovules, female gametophyte, endosperm and embryo was studied and the results obtained are given in this paper. Previous literature and methods followed have been given in the paper dealing with the embryology of P. sylvestris ( Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 1968, 67 B, 77-96) and hence are not repeated here. The embryo-sac is of the monosporic octonucleate Polygonum type and embryo development follows the Geum variation of the Asterad type. The embryology in these three species thus broadly agrees with that in P. sylvestris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the occurrence of twelve species of Archiannelids in the interstitial sands of the Waltair beach. Of these, six European species are reported for the first time from Indian waters and their occurrence on the Indian coast is of great interest from a Zoogeographical aspect of their distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper records 22 different fungi which are new host records for India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports for the first time the occurrence of thirteen species of interstitial Gastrotrichs in the beach sands of the Waltair Coast which were previously reported from European waters. Eight of the species representing seven genera belong to the order Macrodasyoidea and the remaining five representing three genera come under the Chaetonotidea. The distribution of these forms is described with reference to the tidal levels, the grain size of the sand, the temperature and salinity ranges of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species and one known species are described in this paper. All the species were collected from Western Sikkim. The species belong to four genera distributed in the family Salticidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the development and structure of seedcoat in Biswarea tonglensis, Edgaria darjeelingensis, and Herpetospermum pedunculosum. The ovules are anatropous, bitegminal, and crassinucellar; they are horizontally disposed in Biswarea but pendulously in Edgaria and Herpetospermum. The ovular supply is unbranched in Biswarea and Herp etosperumum but ramifies in the lower part of seed in Edgaria. The outer integument alone forms the seedcoat which, at maturity, is differentiated into five zones. The epidermis is heterogeneous consisting of upright cells in all these plants. The hypodermis is sinuate, cells thick-walled and lignified; it is 10 to 14-layered in furrows and 20 or more-layered in ridges in Biswarea, 5 or 6-layered in furrows and 8 to 12-layered in ridges in Edgaria, and 2 or 3-layered in furrows and up to 10-layered in ridges in Herpetospermum. The main sclerenchymatous layer consists of osteosclereids. The seedcoat in all these plants is built on a common pattern and suggests a close relationship among them. A key is proposed to distinguish Biswarea, Edgaria and Herpetospermum from each other using external and internal characters of their seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A piece of petrified palm wood from Mohgaon Kalan resembling P. sundaram Sahni has been described in this paper. Although it resembles P. sundaram in most of the characters, yet this speciment shows some important variations from P. sundaram. It is, therefore, placed provisionally as a new variety of P. sundaram. Locality-Mohgaon Kalan area. Age-Eocene. Type specimen-M2 (Kept in the Botany Department, Lucknow University). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The paper provides a systematic list of sixty species of fishes collected from different aquatic habitats of Poona City and the vicinity localities. 2. About twenty-five species belonging to thirteen different genera are recorded for the first time from this region. 3. A map of Poona is included and the collecting localities are designated. 4. A comprehensive list of fishes recorded by previous workers is also furnished for ready reference. 5. Brief notes on the habitats of each species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the meiotic chromosome numbers of 12 taxa and their ploidy. The seven new genera investigated are Pseudarthria viscida n=11, Uraria hamosa n=11, Calycopteris floribunda n=24, Adenostemma lavenia n=10, Synedrella nodiflora n=19, Ichnocarpus frutescens n=10, Wrightia tinctoria n=10. The five species studied are Clematis gouriana n=8, Hibiscus furcatus n=64, Spilanthes acmella n=26, Cordia wallichii n=21. The chromosome numbers are recorded for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic notes on some interesting Hyphomycetes are presented in this paper. On the basis of study of type material of three species of Helminthosporium ( H. obclavatulum Bubak and Sydow, H. bombycinum Speg. and H. polyphragmium H. and P. Sydow), H. obclavatulum is removed to Sporidesmium as S. obclavatulum (Bubak and Sydow) comb. nov.; Helminthosporium bombycinum is placed in the genus Ormathodium as O. bombycinum (Speg.) comb. nov.; Helminthosporium polyphragmium is considered to be a synonym of Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei. Type material of two species of Clasterosporium ( C. densum H. and P. Sydow, and C. degenerans H. and P. Sydow) was also studied. Both species are described in detail. C. densum is a dematiaceous fungus producing dictyospores acrogenously and singly on conidiophores which have conspicuous annellations; further, the mycelium of this species is not hyphopodiate. C. densum is, therefore, considered distinct from the genus Clasterosporium (which has hyphopodiate mycelium and produces phragmospores) and placed in a new genus Annellophorella as A. densa (H. and P. Sydow) comb. nov. Clasterosporium degenerans is a moniliaceous fungus with hyaline mycelium and hyaline dictyospores; the mycelium is not hyphopodiate. These features exclude this fungus from the genus Clasterosporium. It is made the type of a new genus, Hyalodictys and the new combination, H. degenerans (H. and P. Sydow) Subram. is proposed. A dematiaceous phragmospored fungus found in association with Helminthosporium polyphragmium Sydow in the type material of this species was also studied and is considered to be a Sporidesmium; it appears to be distinct from species of this genus so far known and is given a new name, Sporidesmium camelliæ-japonicæ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the chromosome numbers of 13 plants of medicinal value. The chromosome counts of 10 species have been reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the chromosome numbers in some of the Indian medicinal plants. Of the twenty plants studied, the chromosome numbers of nine plants are reported for the first time. Five plants had numbers different from previous observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the author has put forward the results of his study of the manganese ore minerals of Jamda Valley under the reflecting microscope. He differs from Dr. Spencer (1948) who suggested that the ores are entirely composed of pyrolusite, and has identified five different manganese minerals under the microscope. These are: Psilomelane, Pyrolusite, Manganite, Polianite and Romanéchite. In addition to the etch reactions and the general optical criteria, the reflectance for each of the mineral was measured and they read as follows:-Psilomelane-23·07, Pyrolusite-32, Polianite-34·4, Manganite-18·5 and Romanéchite-22·7. All these readings were taken in Berek's slit microphotometer in green light and in air. The psilomelane is the first and principal mineral to be deposited. It exhibits colloform textures and shrinkage cracks and has deposited from a gel. Manganite and polianite, the two minerals showing mutual boundary with each other, were deposited after psilomelane and the manganite occupies the cracks and crevices of psilomelane. Pyrolusite which replaces both psilomelane and manganite is an alteration product and was formed after the manganites, while romanéchite which cuts the psilomelane and the pyrolusite in the form of veinlets, is the youngest mineral to be deposited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamorphosing stages of 3 species of Murænids collected from the Chandipore, Burhabulong estuary (Orissa), are dealt with in this paper. The first species is provisionally determined as Muræna (Gymnothorax) tile (Hamilton) and a connected series of the above from a toothed leptocephalus of 62·5 mm. to an early elver of 53 mm. are described. In the absence of elver stages of the other 2 species their specific identification has not been possible, but from the fairly close similarity in characters they appear to be allied to the above species. The typical leptocephalus stages amongst them are described and figured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with fossil spores and pollen recovered from lignites (Eocene) of the Dandot coalfields, West Punjab (Pakistan). Ten different kinds of spores referred to the form genus Trilites and twenty types of pollen grains, classed under Nonaperturites, Monocolpites, Dicolpites, Tricolpites, Tetracolpites, Hexacolpites, Septacolpites, Octacolpites and Triorites, have been described here. Some of the spores resemble those of Ophioglossum falcatum, O. vulgatum, Lycopodium alpinum, Schizostege Lydgatei, Doryopteris decora, Selaginella deflexa; some of the pollen on the other hand compare with those of Potamogeton natans, Quercus robur, Hedera helix, Olea europœa, Pteropia, Tetraplasandra, Fraxinus americana, Nothofagus cliffortioidis, Lycopus europœus, Belula nana, B. tortuosa and Carpinus betulus. Most of these pollen so far as compared, appear to belong to trees and have a sculptured outer coat which according to some is a sign of zoogamous pollen. A few of the pollen grains described here, have also been reported from other, probably Eocene strata, like Palana lignites, Eoecne beds of Green river (Colorado, Utah, U.S.A.), Tertiary deposits of Australia and Intertrappean cherts of Mohgaon Kalan, Madhya Pradesh, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper elucidates the interrelation between leaf area and other leaf characteristics in six varieties of sugarcane grown under field conditions. Relation between these features and drought resistance in sugarcane is also analysed. Drought-resistant behaviour of Rheora is associated with poor leaf surface and small size of leaves. Co 205 approaches this variety most in the characteristics of its leafy growth. Leaf surface expansion is found to be determined by three conditions, namely, increase in (i) leaf length, (ii) leaf width and (iii) dry weight of leaves. High positive correlation between these factors and leaf area indicates that these characteristics are highly correlated. The possibilities of water content showing negative correlation with leaf area is also pointed out. Relation between leaf area and linear measurements of length and breadth is expressed by the following two equations: For a single leaf:- Log A = Log L + Log B + Log K (1) For a population of leaves:- Log Σ A = Log Σ L + Log ΣB + Log K - Log N, (2) where A is leaf area, L = leaf length, B is leaf breadth, K is leaf factor and N is number of leaves. The leaf factor K appears to be an important physiological constant representing the relation between linear growth (L x B) and leaf area. Its relatively low value in drought-resistant Rheora and also in Co 205, as against its relatively high value in other varieties with high leaf indices- Co 290, Co 453, Co 385 and Co 312-is characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment of cement plates with potassium dichromate/glue mixture increases the persistence of DDT. On the other hand, pretreatment with linseed oil appears to have a slight reverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the application of genetical methods detailed above, a good number of new strains of tapioca and tapioca × ceara hybrids have been produced. These strains are grown for yield trials with a view to selecting high yielding strains therefrom. The selected strains will soon be made available to the ryot for cultivation. Side by side with this line of investigation, experiments are also undertaken to ascertain (1) best mode of planting seed-canes, (2) optimum spacing for planting, (3) number of plants per pit, (4) effective manures for the crop and (5) best period for harvesting. All these experiments are conducted on statistical design furnished by the Department of Statistics in the University. Owing to the fact that this line of work pertains to the agronomical aspects of this crop, it is proposed to embody its results in a separate paper. Meanwhile the above account of the applications of genetical methods for evolving better strains of tapioca, is presented as the first paper from the Tapioca Research Farm, in order to stimulate further work on this important crop plant calculated to improve its cultivation in Travancore. In conclusion the author wishes to record his grateful appreciation of the interest evinced by Rajyasevapravina Dr. K. L. Moudgill, Director of Research, in promoting this research work on tapioca. He also wishes specially to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Mr. A. Abraham, Economic Botanist now on deputation for advanced training in America, and the assistance rendered by the staff of the Research Farm, in the progress of this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a detailed account of the structure and development of the endosperm and the vermiform appendage. After fertilization some free endosperm nuclei are formed, and these are distributed in the upper two-thirds of the embryo-sac, with a strong accumulation at the micropylar end. The organization of cellular endosperm begins a little later, and in this only the nuclei in the micropylar end participate. The rest of the embryo-sac becomes zig-zag in its form and develops into a cœnocytic haustorial structure with a strikingly worm-like appearance. This is designated the vermiform appendage which was discovered by the writer. The antipodal cells are seen persisting at this stage and also later. The vermiform appendage shows two distinct phases in its growth and development; the first phase is characterized by the cœnocytic nature of the appendage with free endosperm nuclei, and the second by the formation of cross partitions followed later by cell formation to give rise to a secondary endosperm tissue. In mature seeds both the appendage and the endosperm tissue are completely used up by the embryo. The nature and origin of the vermiform appendage are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives a brief account of the cytological studies on the Hepaticeae and indicates the bearing of these on the problem of the phylogeny of the Marchantiales. The data available have been analysed and grouped under the following four headings: the sex chromosomes, hybridization, polyploidy and gene mutations, and the morphology and numbers of chromosomes. The information regarding the chromosomal numbers has been tabulated and the probable basic numbers in different families have been indicated. From the table given on page 145 it will be seen that the basic number of chromosomes (gametophytic number, i.e., ra-number) for the majority of the genera of the Marchantiaces and the Jungermanniaceae seems to be 9, and for the genera of the Ricciacete it seems to be 8. In the light of this cytological observation the existing schemes of classification of the Marchantiales have been examined with a view to knowing how far the morphological data and the cytological data are correlated. If it be supposed that the basic complex of the ancestors of the Marchantiales called Pro-Marchantiales in this paper, had 8 chromosomes in their genom and changed to a 9 chromosomal condition later by fragmentation, then there is some justification for the progression hypothesis. On the contrary, if it be imagined that the Pro-Marchantialean complex consisted of 9 chromosomes originally and got reduced to 8, the reduction hypothesis may seem plausible.But when either of these ideas are pressed further and the number of chromosomes in different genera in the various schemes of classification given by Cavers, Kashyap, Verdoorn and Evans are considered, the verdict of cytology on either of these schemes is not unequivocal, as the main argument brought in the discussion for or against a theory is based on the difference of a single chromosome only; and it may well seem doubtful whether that alone can constitute sufficient proof for or against a scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excitation of the optical modes of vibration of a crystal lattice by radiations incident on the crystal is discussed. The optical vibrations can be described as oscillations of the interpenetrating lattices in the crystal with respect to one another. They give rise to a periodic variation of the physical constants, e.g., electric dipole-moment, optical polarisabilities, structure amplitudes, which influence the behaviour of radiation in various ranges of frequency in its passage through the crystal. The phenomena observed in the different ranges of frequency have a common feature, namely that the incident radiation excites the crystal vibrations of which the phases are everywhere in coherent relationship with the phase of the radiation field. The scattering of light or the reflection of X-rays with change of frequency appears as the result of the phase of the lattice vibrations varying from point to point in such manner that the crystal is, in effect, an optically stratified medium giving a monochromatic reflection of the incident rays at the appropriate angle of incidence determined by the spacing of the stratifications and the wave-length of the incident radiation. The description of the observed effects in the language of the wave-theory and in terms of the quantum hypothesis are complementary and do not in any way contradict each other. The paper includes a review of 14 communications dealing with this field of research published during the year 1940 in the Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents descriptions of six hyphomycetes from litter. Two new species, Pyricularia vandalurensis and Spadicoides aggregata are described. Four other species, viz., Circinotrichum fertile Pirozynski and Hodges, Endophragmia alternata Tubaki and Saito, E. atra (Berk. & Br.) M. B. Ellis and Periconia sacchari Johnston are reported for the first time from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]