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The present paper deals with the diversity of Pteridophytic flora in Pati bock of Champawat district, Uttarakhand. A total of 32 species of Pteridophytes belonging to 24 genera under 15 families have been enumerated from the study area.

Late leaf spot (LLS) caused by fungus Nothopassalora personata in groundnut is responsible for up to 50% yield loss. To dissect the complex nature of LLS resistance, comparative transcriptome analysis was performed using resistant (GPBD 4), susceptible (TAG 24) and a resistant introgression line (ICGV 13208) and identified a total of 12,164 and 9954 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) respectively in A- and B-subgenomes of tetraploid groundnut. There were 135 and 136 unique pathways triggered in A- and B-subgenomes, respectively, upon N. personata infection. Highly upregulated putative disease resistance genes, an RPP-13 like (Aradu.P20JR) and a NBS-LRR (Aradu.Z87JB) were identified on chromosome A02 and A03, respectively, for LLS resistance. Mildew resistance Locus (MLOs)-like proteins, heavy metal transport proteins, and ubiquitin protein ligase showed trend of upregulation in susceptible genotypes, while tetratricopeptide repeats (TPR), pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR), chitinases, glutathione S-transferases, purple acid phosphatases showed upregulation in resistant genotypes. However, the highly expressed ethylene responsive factor (ERF) and ethylene responsive nuclear protein (ERF2), and early responsive dehydration gene (ERD) might be related to the possible causes of defoliation in susceptible genotypes. The identified disease resistance genes can be deployed in genomics-assisted breeding for development of LLS resistant cultivars to reduce the yield loss in groundnut.

The chapter provides an updated account of pteridophytic flora of Jammu and Kashmir state. As a part of northwestern Himalaya, the state represents an abode of pteridophytic wealth, totalling 200 species belonging to 44 genera under 19 families; these include 189 taxa of ferns and 11 of fern allies. Among ferns, the largest family is Dryopteridaceae (with 44 taxa), followed by Pteridaceae (41 taxa), Woodsiaceae (33 taxa), Aspleniaceae (22 taxa), Thelypteridaceae (17 taxa) and Polypodiaceae (13 taxa), while Ophioglossaceae and Dennstaedtiaceae (with 5 taxa each) and Osmundaceae with 2 taxa are smaller families. Lygodiaceae, Marsileaceae, Oleandraceae, Davalliaceae, Blechnaceae, Azollaceae and Salviniaceae are monotypic families, each having a single representative type. The larger families among fern allies are Selaginellaceae (with six taxa) and Equisetaceae (four taxa), while Lycopodiaceae is a monotypic family. The families and genera are arranged as in Fraser-Jenkins (2008a, 2010b). All the taxa are provided with brief ecological notes and distribution in the state. In addition, 29 doubtful reports published by earlier workers have been excluded in the present work.

The present paper deals with the studies on the Pteridophytic flora of Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand.

In present communication, based on the collection of one of the author (SS), six hitherto unreported species of pteridophytes viz. Pyrrosia costata (Wall. ex C. Presl) Tagawa & K. Iwats., Pyrrosia porosa (C. Presl) Hovenk., Selliguea oxyloba (Wall. ex Kunze) Fraser-Jenk., Pteris scabririgens Fraser-Jenk., S.C. Verma & T.G. Walker, Pteris semipinnata L. and Dryopteris pulvinulifera (Bedd.) Kuntze,) are being reported here for the first time from Mizoram state of India.

146Soil salinity/alkalinity and poor quality groundwater are major constraints causing reduced productivity in the arid and semiarid region of the Trans- Gangetic plain of Central Haryana covering Kaithal district. Visual interpretation of Resourcesat LISS-III data for March, May and October (2009) seasons revealed the presence of salt affected soils spatially distributed as barren patches and intermixed with cropped areas in the irrigated zones. The white to yellowish white tones with high reflectance from salt crusts on barren soil surface prompted the detection of strongly sodic/saline soils. The mixed signatures (yellowish white and red mottling) of salt stress and patchy crop stand indicated the presence of slightly to moderate salt affected soils, which is authenticated by ground truth study. In absence of natural drainage, the waterlogging for stagnated water bodies in irrigated areas was easily identified by the higher energy absorption showing dark blue/black to gray shades in March and November data. Salt affected soils showing low permeability, infiltration and hydraulic conductivity, also showed similar signatures amidst the cropped areas. The prolonged use of poor quality groundwater favored salt build-up in irrigated areas and showed mixed spectral signatures (grayish red to reddish white tones) in the satellite imageries. The sodic (alkali soil dominated by sodium and carbonate salts) and saline (neutral salts dominated by chloride and sulfate) soils are common in the study area. Sodic soils were distributed in northern and central parts of Kaithal district covering Pundri (2.1%), Kaithal (3%), Guhla (1.1%) and Siwan (1.1%) blocks while saline soils were distributed in southern part covering Kalayat (2.6%) and Rajaund (1.3%) blocks. The fine texture (clay to clay loam) sub-surface soils in Ghaggar plain impaired natural drainage thus favored waterlogging and sodicity development. The precipitated calcium carbonates concretions (calcareous layer) are common in strongly sodic soils that impair salt and nutrient movements and root penetration. An area of 26301 ha (11.3%) is salt affected in Kaithal district, of which sodic and saline soils covered 17570 ha (7.3%) and 9388 ha (4%), respectively. The groundwater quality was sodic in north of Kaithal district (Guhla block), at places, showing high Residual Sodium Corbonate (RSC) (12.7 me L−1), saline in the east at Kalayat block (Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) 33.6) and sodic (pH 9.2) in central part of Kaithal block, and also showed high RSC (6.5 me L−1) in selected samples. Based on the soil physico-chemical 147characteristics and the quality of groundwater, suitable reclamation and management options were also suggested.

In present communication the least moonwort, Botrychium simplex E. Hitchcock is reported for the first time from western Himalaya.

The fern Athyrium drepanopterum (Kunze) A. Braun ex Milde is a new record for the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

The paper deals with the Pteridophytes of Budha Kedar and surrounding areas in Tehri District. A total of 66 species under 33 genera and 20 families from the area are being reported in the present communication.