Diversity and Distribution of Wild Musa in Nagaland, India

The state of Nagaland is located in a region known to be a micro-centre of Musa evolution. The prevailing agro-climatic conditions are known to support various members of the genus. This study documents 12 species, which is an ideal representation of the rich diversity of this genus in an area of 16,579 sq. km. The various species were classified using morphological descriptors based on INIBAP, 1996 following the subsequent collection of the live specimen. The various species documented have been found to exist in single populations or in association with other species and their distribution depends on the varying altitudinal profile as well as the agro-climatic and topographical condition of the environment.

Soil quality assessment across different stands in tropical moist deciduous forests of Nagaland,India

To analyze the relationship between the management of three forest stand plantations and soil quality in the Dimapur district of the Northeastern Himalayan region,India,three forest soil profiles,covered by different species stands,at three depths were tested for 13 physical and chemical variables.Only four of these variables(electric conductivity,bulk density exchangeable Mg and available P)were included in a minimum data set,after using a varimax rotation algorithm in a principal component analysis,and subsequently used to calculate a soil quality index(SQI).Results showed higher SQIs in the surface layers(0–20 cm depth)than in the deeper ones.Average weighed SQI varied significantly(P<0.05)through the three considered forest sites,with the lowest value at site FS3.These findings reveal that the approach used here is suitable for preliminary screening of the impact of a forestry species on soil,to aid in species selection and improve soil health for afforestation and reforestation projects.

Diversity of Wild Mushrooms in Nagaland, India

The Indian sub-continent is blessed with favorable agro climatic conditions that are suitable to a varied range of fungal species. Though the occurrence of mushrooms is of diverse nature, they are not well studied and documented. Northeastern region of India is one of the biodiversity hotspots. Nagaland is one of the Northeastern states of India. The people of the state highly covet mushrooms and have been a delicacy since time immemorial. The present study documents the macro fungal diversity in various districts of the state. A total of 87 species of wild mushrooms were collected and identified. They are parasitic, saprophytic and ecto-mycorrhizal in habitat. The highest numbers of mushroom species were collected during May–September from the study areas. Of the collected mushrooms, 37 species were identified as edible, 21 species medicinal, 5 poisonous and 37 inedible/unclassified.

Underutilized Edible Plants of Nagaland: A Survey and Documentation from Kohima, Phek and Tuensang District of Nagaland, India

With the rapid rise in the population, there is higher demand of the food supply to fed millions of people. As such dependence on the few major staple crops to meet the needs of the people has led to increases in starvation and poverty. Underutilized edible plants offer a cheaper and affordable option in providing more crop diversification to tackle these problems and provide food security to the poor to the world in general and to the developing countries in particular. In the present investigation, a total of 142 underutilized edible plants were collected, identified and documented from three districts (Kohima, Phek and Tuensang) of Nagaland, India. The collected plant consists of 126 species of plants and 16 wild edible mushrooms or macro fungus species. The collected plants were categorized according to types of plant and their parts used collected during the period 2012-2016 with their scientific name, family, common name, vernacular name and accession number. The study discusses the need to promote these plants for providing food security and income generation through sustainable collection, cultivation and marketing and to workout proper conservation strategies to prevent depletion and lost of the natural habitat caused by anthropogenic activities. The study also encourages more survey and researches in the rest of the districts of the state and to study the phytochemical constituents to harness the nutraceutical properties of these plants.

Assessment of Nutrient Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Some Popular Underutilized Edible Crops of Nagaland, India

In Nagaland ~70% of population lives in rural areas and depends on forest products for livelihood. Being part of the biodiversity hotspot, state is rich in biodiversity. The present study was an attempt made to understand the nutritional properties of 22 popular underutilized edible plants (UEP) Kohima, Phek, Tuensang districts. Results revealed moisture content of 22 studied plants ranged between 4.8 to 88.15 g/100g, while protein content varied between 0.00269 - 0.773 g/100g with highest in Terminalia chebula (0.773 g/100g) fruit while lowest protein content was in Setaria italica (0.00269 g/100g). Total carbohydrate content was between 0.198 - 5.212 g/100g with highest in Setaria italica (5.212 g/100g) and lowest in Juglans regia (0.198 g/100g). Of the 22 samples, maximum antioxidant activity was in Terminalia chebula fruits (37.49 μg/ml) followed by Clerodendrum glandulosum (65.29 μg/ml) leaves, Phyllanthus emblica (79.08 μg/ml) fruits against Trolox (96.89 μg/ml). Highest total phenol content (TPC) was recorded in Terminalia chebula (53.11 mg GAE/g) and Rhus chinensis (43.99 mg GAE/g) while in other 20 crops the values varied from 0.09 - 8.44 mg GAE/g. Total flavonoid content (TFC) varied between 0.004 - 43.67 mg QE/g with clerodendrum glandulosum (43.67 mg QE/g) and Terminalia chebula (27.78 mg QE/g) were found to be highest among the 22 plant samples. Findings suggest that these underutilized edible plants should be popularized as they can contribute to nutritional support to different region of the state for health improvement and cultivated them commercially to help and develop various value added local product to improve the livelihood status of the rural population and also add to the economy of the state and region.

Micropalaeontological and Geochemical Evidence of the Late Jurassic Radiolarians Cherts of Naga Ophiolite Hill, Nagaland, Northeast-India

We analyzed the radiolarian assemblages (pelagic sediments) and geochemical studies of 15 samples collected from Meluri district Nagaland, Naga Hills Ophiolite belt (NHO) and it consists of the Flysch Naga-Arakan-Yoma trough beyond the Indo-Myanmar border. It reflects one of the many components of the Himalayan Orogenic systems of Tethyan oceanic crust discovered in Nagaland at Meluri district of India and they have very well-preserved studies and can be identified to Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-mid-Tithonian). As well as a continuous sequence of Kimmeridgian-mid-Tithonian, five radiolarian assemblages have been identified in this study. This is so far the first recovery of pelagic sediment assemblages (Radiolarians) from the Naga Hills Ophiolite complex. Samples of Naga Hills Ophiolite belts fell in the Sublitharenite, Litharenite, and Fe-shale Fe-sand area, and the A-CN-K diagram indicates that these sediments in the source region were exposed deep to moderate weathering conditions. In the discriminant plot, the Naga Hill-Ophiolite-Chert samples occupy the field of origin of the sediment quartzose, and the log (K2O/Na2O) versus SiO2 samples fall into the active continental marginal field, and only one sample falls into an island arch, suggesting that the tectonic framework of the Naga Hills-Chert samples was deposited in the active continental margin and the diagrams K2O/Al2O3 and MgO/Al2O3 illustrated the tectonic setting of the marine environment from Naga Hill Ophiolite Chert. Such findings have been consistent with the current geology of Naga Hills in the province of Nagaland.

Biochemical Characterization of Three Vegetable Based Fermented Food Products (<i>Hungrii, Rhujuk</i>and <i>Tsutuocie</i>) of Nagaland, India

Indigenous fermented foods are important constituent of staple diet of the Naga tribes of India. In Nagaland, there are variety of fermented foods and beverages with traditional and cultural value. Agriculture being the main occupation, preservation technique of perishable crops has been passed down from generation to generation. Here we present the biochemical characterization of some vegetable based fermented food products of Nagaland i.e., Hungrii (Brassica leaves), Rhujuk/Bastanga (Bamboo shoot) and Tsutuocie (Cucumber). The comparative account of nutritive values like moisture content, pH, protein content, reducing sugars, crude fibre, total phenol content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of fermented foods and its constituent raw materials was done. Results indicated high amounts of protein in Hungrii (34.07 g/100g). Most of the fermented foods had low moisture content rendering it to have longer shelf life. Rhujuk/Bastanga was found to have significantly higher levels of phenolic content (1.44 mg GAE/g and 2.44 mg GAE/g), thus having high antioxidant activity in comparison to the other fermented products. This present study thus puts some light on the proximate composition as well as the antioxidant content of some major vegetable based fermented food products of Nagaland so as to popularize these products as nutritional support to the region for health improvement.

Effect of shifting cultivation and fallow on soil quality index in Mokokchung district,Nagaland,India

Background:Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India.This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index(SQI).Four sites were selected for the study,viz.,a shifting cultivation site(SCS),a 3-year-old fallow land(FL-3),a 7-year-old fallow land(FL-7),and a 12-year-old fallow land(FL-12).Soil parameters were recorded seasonally and SQI was calculated from the minimum data set.Results:With the increase in the fallow period,the values of conductivity,soil organic carbon,available nitrogen,available phosphorus,exchangeable potassium,moisture,clay,and cation exchange capacity of soil increased.Meanwhile,soil pH and bulk density decreased with fallow duration.The additive SQI_(a)values were in the order SCS<FL-3<FL-12<FL-7;meanwhile,the weighted SQI_(w)values were in the order SCS<FL-3<FL-7<FL-12.It is also observed that the SQI value decreases with the increase in soil depth under both the weighted and additive indexes.SCS with the lowest SQI value reflects the reduced soil organic carbon(SOC)and macronutrients.Increased SOC levels in site FL-12(2.88–3.94%)may be one reason for its higher SQI value.Conclusions:Our study highlights that unsustainable practices of shifting cultivation and reduction in the fallow period negatively affect soil quality.Furthermore,the study also recommends the use of the weighted method of SQI as it agrees with the reports of land use causing alteration in the soil quality.Our findings may be utilized to quickly access and disseminate information to the stakeholders and aid in constructing local soil quality index maps of the region.There is an urgent need for a rapid,cost and resource-efficient soil quality assessment and SQI may be one tool that achieves this goal.

Investigation of phytosociological parameters and physicochemical properties of soil in tropical semi-evergreen forests of Eastern Himalaya

The study of floral diversity in forest and its development are incomplete without taking consideration of plant-soil interactions. So with this view in mind, the present study was conducted in tropical semi-evergreen forests of the Mokukchung district, Nagaland, in eastern Himalaya. The aim of the study was to investigate the phytosociological parameters Seven sites were randomly in relation to soil properties. selected to study the soil properties at up to one meter in depth and a phytosociological study was carried out in nearby areas via the quadrate method. In the studied sites, the richness of tree species varied from 4 to 15 ha^-1, with Gmelina arborea and Duabanga grandifloras being the common species. The highest total basal area was recorded in 10 mile village （47,998.16 cm^2 ha^-1） followed by Minkong village site （32,704.66 cm^2 ha^-1）. Soil physical and chemical properties-i.e, bulk density （BD）, soil pH, organic carbon （OC）, available nitrogen （N）, available phosphorus （P）, and available potassium （K） were analyzed using standard procedures. Significant differences were observed in the soil properties. The basal area of species showed significant positive correlation in terms of available K （0.754） and OM （0.302） content in soil, and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index （H） is also positively correlated with the available N content （0.402）. The undisturbed nature of the sites played an important role in maintaining the soil fertility and floral diversity of the sites. Moreover, sites with maximum productivity and soil fertility are considered as potential carbon sequestration areas in the region while sites with the low soil fertility need restoration.

Pholiota polychroa and Porodisculus orientalis:two new additions to wood-rotting fungi of India

Pholiota polychroa,collected from Rusoma community forest and Porodisculus orientalis,collected from Puliebadze reserved forest stand,Kohima are reported as new additions to wood-rotting fungi of India.The genus Porodisculus is new to India as well.Furthermore,ecological,taxonomic and morphological descriptions of the two species are discussed in this paper.