Earticle

This paper analyzes data on the composition, status, diversity, and distribution pattern of invasive forest undergrowth species in a protected area (Khadimnagar National Park) of Northeastern Bangladesh. Assessment was done by means of stratified random sampling to diversify the invasive forest undergrowth species. For vegetation survey, 45 plots were taken randomly in (2 m × 2 m) circular plot from three topographical regions namely top of the hill, middle slope and plain land (15 plots from each region) and a total of 715 individuals, 22 invasive species belonging to 17 families were recorded from the study site. Among invasive species, shrubs constitute 10 species, herbs 9 species, and vines 3 species respectively. Mass number of invasive undergrowth species was grows in plain land (45.45%) followed by middle slope (31.82%). Based on the survey, invasive undergrowth plants of study areas were also categorized into three degrees of invasiveness e.g., highly invasive, moderately invasive and potentially invasive. Herbs, shrubs, and vines constitute the highest density at Chromolaema odorata (Linn.) King. (1.09), relative density at Chromolaema odorata (Linn.) King. 6.85%; highest and lowest frequency was calculated at Cassia alata L. (64.44%) and Diplazium esculentum (24.44%); for relative frequency the highest was Cassia alata L., which occupies 6.64%. Determination of the abundance of the different species revealed that Cassia alata L., constitutes (3.36) followed by Pteris cretica Wilsonii (3.14) of the area. The presence of invasive undergrowth species always reduced the number of associated species. Therefore, an extensive in-depth long-term investigation, proper policy formulation and management interventions and further study and continuous monitoring on their impacts need to be triggered targeting the control of the invasive undergrowth species of this protected area. In this aspect, national and international organization could help to conserve its biodiversity.

A study was conducted for indentifying the floral biodiversity of woody species by calculating four diversity indices using data collected from 4 stands of different age groups and disturbance regimes in two areas of Madhupur tract. Results showed that highest species diversity in the old growth secondary coppice forest (>60 years) under moderate anthropogenic disturbances of Madhupur National Park area (delete (D=0.74, Hʼ=3.36) followed by old growth secondary forest stands (>40 years) under moderate disturbances at Bhawal National Park area (D=0.65, Hʼ=2.81). Plant species diversity of the young enrichment plantations (<20 years and <15 years) under high anthropogenic disturbances in both the areas are much low (D=0.54 and Hʼ=2.16 and D=0.52 and Hʼ=1.92 respectively), which indicate high anthropogenic disturbances coupled with introduction of invasive exotics that are rival for endemic species are detrimental for conservation of biological diversity of tropical moist deciduous forests of Madhupur tract in Bangladesh.

Effect of chromium (Cr) stress on antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were investigated in leaves and roots of mangrove (italic (L.) Druce) seedlings. Cr toxicity effects were also assessed on young seedlings. The seedlings were grown in green house condition for three months in nutrient solution with 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 mg L-1 CrCl3. This study showed that Cr led to the change of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) and activities at different concentrations. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves of K. candel seedlings indicates that enzymes engaged in antioxidant defense in certain level especially in low concentration of Cr treatments. The activities of SOD and POD were activated by Cr in the root level, while CAT activity was inhibited. CAT activity decreased in response to high concentrations of Cr. In the present study indicated that SOD in root was active in scavenging the superoxide produced by Cr. Both in roots and leaves, an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content was observed with increase in metal concentration and exposure periods. Our finding indicated that the high concentration of excessive Cr supply may interfere with several metabolic processes of seedlings, causing toxicity to plants as exhibited by chlorosis, necrosis, photosynthetic impairing and finally, plant death.

Water erosion is progressing in the Loess Plateau, especially in gullies, and the sediment runoff to the Yellow River amounts to 975 million tons every year. Natural factors for water erosion include climate, soil, geological feature, terrain and vegetation. Many development projects due to the increasing population reduced the forest coverage ratio to 10%, and 200 million people in the downstream area are suffering from the damage during intense rainfall. Accordingly, the Chinese government is continuously trying to efficiently prevent the erosion by establishing measures for water erosion, including fish-scale pits, terrace technique, and check dams.

To analyze the effects of tree roots on the stability of damage slope, distributional and physical properties of five-year Pinus densiflora roots were investigated. In the composition of roots, the proportion of main root to lateral root was 1 to 9 in slope condition. Root tensile force was increased in accordance with increased proportion to diameter of Pinus densiflora roots. However, tensile strength was decreased in proportion to diameter of roots. Root shear strength showed that soil containing Pinus densiflora roots was higher than that of non-treated soils. This result shows that Pinus densiflora roots significantly stabilize the surface-soil rather than sub-soil in damage slopes.

This study was conducted to investigate the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficience, and intercellular CO₂ concentration in Allium ochotense leaves and Allium microdictyon leaves. The light compensation point was 4.2 μmol·m-2·s-1 in Allium ochotense leaves and 5.2 μmol·m-2·s-1 in Allium microdictyon leaves. The lght saturation point was approximately 800 μmol·m-2·s-1 in between Allium ochotense leaves and Allium microdictyon leaves. The phtosynthetic rate of Allium ochotense leaves was higer than that of Allium microdictyon leaves. On the other hand, at more than 30℃, it appeared that the values of net photosynthetic rates of Allium microdictyon leaves were higher than that of Allium ochotense leaves. These results suggest that growth of those Allium ochotense plants are appropriate for relatively cool temperature site compared to Allium microdictyon plants.

The volatile aroma of fresh leaves is one of main factor in taste of all the edible green plants. The volatile aroma in almost edible green leaves are suggested as essential oil compounds. Ligularia fischeri, Synurus deltoides, Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis and Aster scaber are one of the favourable edible green plants in Korea. In this study, volatile aroma compounds from Ligularia fischeri and Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis species were analyzed by the SPME/GC/MSD method. Ligularia fischeri had 78 volatile aroma compounds such as D-limonene(20.28%), α-pinene(dextro, 14.15%), L-β-pinene(12.85%), 3-carene, β-cubebene(10.39%), etc. Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis had 83 volatile aroma compounds such as D-limonene(36.97%), β-cubebene(13.95%), L-β-pinene(13.38%), α-pinene(dextro, 4.76%), caryophylle-ne(3.33%) etc. Conclusively, the commom volatile aroma compounds in Ligularia fischeri and Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis leaves were D-limonene, α-pinene, L-β-pinene, β-cubebene, Caryophyllene, α-farnesene, terpinolen. However, the composition and amount of volatile aroma compounds were very different between the two species.

It has long been recognized that wild vegetation are sort of improving fitness. Many peoples are now ingesting them instead of the vegetables that are grown in green house. In this regard, Parasenecio firmus, which is considered to be one of the rare species in Korea, has been given a lot of attentions as edible green plants recently. Hence it may be necessary to provide the information people who want to commercially cultivate the plants. Regarding appropriate forest stands that are fit for the cultivation. Firstly, we collected the seeds from 4 natural habitats to find out how many seeds are fully matured in the natural conditions. The quality of the seeds collected were found to be very low. However, it appeared as clear differences when screened seeds were grown in covered seed beds over winter. In this case the germination rate of the seeds was 95%, indicating that there may be no difficulty for mass production of plantlets. Secondly, in the field of planting test in an appropriate cultivating site among 6 of forest stands, those in Pinus koraiensis stand were the highest in survival rate, but somewhat low with those in Quercus mongolica and broad-leaved stands. Thus, it was demonstrated that forest stands dominated with conifer like P. koraiensis are more appropriate for the cultivation of P. firums.