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We studied the impact of weather parameters on the population build-up of Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Cabbage aphid), Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Mustard aphid), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Green peach aphid) and their biocontrol agents (coccinellids, syrphids, and a parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae M'Intosh) on oilseed brassicas in Himachal Pradesh, India, during winters from 2016–2017 to 2018–2019. The temperature and sunshine resulted in the build-up of B. brassicae and their biocontrol agents' population, while rainfall and relative humidity caused a negative influence at surveyed locations. The L. erysimi and M. persicae populations showed an inverse correlation with the density-independent factors at most locations. Correlation coefficients indicated a negative correlation of the coccinellids population with the build-up of L. erysimi and M. persicae , while the predator population was positively related to the B. brassicae population at maximum locations. Parasitization by D. rapae showed a negative relationship with the aphid population. Stepwise regression analysis showed that minimum temperature and rainfall had a significant effect on the variability in the population of aphids. The predictive model could interpret more than 90% variation by minimum temperature in the coccinellid population at the surveyed locations. Further, regression analysis with temperature could explain up to 94% variability in parasitization by D. rapae. This study will contribute to predicting the changes that may occur in a population of aphids concerning the weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present datasets of the whole‐rock geochemistry and U–Pb zircon geochronology from the Jutogh Thrust (JT) sheet of eastern Himachal Pradesh, NW Himalaya, in order to explain the tectono‐magmatic environment in which they formed. The metapelite and granitoids of the JT sheet have moderate to high SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O, and rare earth elements (REE). The A/CNK (Al2O3/CaO + Na2O + K2O) ratio with magnitudes ≥1, indicates the peraluminous nature, calc‐alkaline series, and S‐type granitoids. The high values of Rb and Th as compared to Nb and the negative Ba anomaly also suggest the dominance of crustal source material. The distinct enrichment of large‐ion lithophile elements of Rb, Th, K, Ba and Pb and strong depletion in high‐field‐strength elements (HFSE) of Zr, Nb and Ti results in high incompatible elements/HFSE ratios, which suggest that the source is derived from many intra‐crustal tectonic environments. All samples are well‐fractionated REE patterns [(La/Yb)N = 6.06–17.37] and characterized by moderately flat enriched [(La/Sm)N = 2.31–4.71] of light rare earth elements. The negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.18–0.71), suggest the plagioclase fractionation from the sourced magma and the origin of granitic gneiss through the high temperature (~800°C). The zircon U–Pb ages of granite range between 883.0 ± 15.0 Ma and 1260.0 ± 10.0 Ma, with a consistent peak of ~925.0 Ma. It confirms that the northern edge of the Indian Plate collided with an unnamed microcontinent. Also, in a contemporaneous process, the upper crust underwent partial melting, and the generated magma intruded in an extensional tectonic set‐up of the northern edge (i.e., presently known as the Jutogh and Vaikrita thrust sheets) of the Indian Plate during the Neoproterozoic. The available zircon U–Pb ages of the JT sheet range between 550–2750 Ma. The magmatic nature of zircons, with two peaks of ~825 Ma and ~910 Ma, suggests that episodic magmatic processes have taken place during the Neoproterozoic. This study revealed that the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence was a meta‐sedimentary sequence and was deposited in an active margin set‐up of the northern edge of the Indian Plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out in the fruit nursery, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh w.e.f., June, 2019-July, 2020. In the present investigation two factors viz., time of wedge grafting (mid-June, mid-July, mid-August, mid-September, mid-February and mid-March) and use of polycap (Graft union covered with polycap or without polycap) were studied to standardize the ideal time for wedge grafting with or without the use of polycap under protected conditions. Wedge grafting is being used as a rapid and successful technique for year-round production of guava plants, even in harsh climatic conditions and coving the graft union with polycap has also been used for obtaining higher success due to the development of a congenial microclimate in the graft's region. The results thus obtained showed that wedge grafting performed in guava during mid-February covered with polycap resulted in maximum graft-take (84.44%) and survival percent (80.31%). Whereas, wedge grafting executed during mid-July and covered with polycap resulted in maximum bud sprout (71.11%), minimum time for bud sprouting (10.67 days) and first leaf emergence (14.24 days). Wedge grafts performed in mid-July, covered with polycap also induced a notable increase in plant growth attributes in guava plants viz., production of number of leaves and sprout length at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Checklisting of thrips fauna of Himachal Pradesh revealed presence of 81 species under 34 genera, of which 70 species under 30 genera of suborder Terebrantia and eleven species under four genera of suborder tubulifera. Thripidae is the dominating family of suborder Terebrantia with 65 species in 29 genera known followed by family Aeolothripidae (five species in a single genus). Total eleven species in four genera of tubuliferan family Phlaeothripidae are known. Maximum numbers of thrips species are known from mid-hills subhumid zone (Zone II) and districts Solan and Kangra. A predatory thrips Scolothrips rhagebianus Prisener has been newly reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated analysis of the diversity of rust fungi in Himachal Pradesh is provided herein as a product of field surveys, of mycological analysis, and of all forms of published documentation and literature. The results of all forms of analysis revealed that Himachal Pradesh has 167 species of rust fungi belonging to the class Pucciniomycetes. The class is represented by 11 families, 23 genera with 167 species. The Pucciniaceae (96 species) followed by Phragmidiaceae (14 species) are the largest families of rust fungi reported from the state. Rest of the families were found associated with 1-10 species of rust fungi. The rust fungi (19 species) with uncertain placement are placed in incertae sedis. The rust genera reported from Himachal Pradesh so far are Aecidium, Chrysomyxa, Coleosporium, Frommea, Gymnosporangium, Kuehneola, Kweilingia, Melampsora, Monosporidium, Ochrospora, Peridermium, Phakopsora, Phragmidium, Pileolaria, Puccinia, Pucciniastrum, Pucciniostele, Ravenelia, Skierka, Uredinopsis, Uredo, Urocystis, and Uromyces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods capable of assessing the vulnerability of houses for future earthquakes are of fundamental importance for the safety and development of an area. As the detailed assessment is limited to number of houses and cost, one of the appraising methods currently used for seismic vulnerability assessment is rapid visual screening (RVS). This methodology has led to determination of risk of an area subjected to an earthquake event. Many codes have limited rapid visual screening to housing typologies like reinforced concrete and Brick masonry structures. This paper delivers an approach on how to perform RVS for five varieties of buildings in Himachal Pradesh state. The RVS scores have been calculated for 9099 buildings and normal distribution curves are plotted for each typology of building to understand the distribution of buildings in Himachal Pradesh. Finally, a new modified format for performing rapid visual screening has been proposed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal endophytes were isolated from surface sterilised leaf segments of five medicinal plants collected from Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India. A total of 373 fungal strains belonging to 15 fungal genera and 18 species,Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. clavatus, A. variecolor, Penicillium chrsogenum, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Haplosporiumsp.,Phomasp.,Nigrosporasp.,Colletotrichumsp.,Cladosporiumsp.,Stemphyliumsp.,Fusariumsp.,Geotrichumsp.,Phomopsissp.,Trichodermasp.,Rhizopussp. and some sterile mycelium were isolated from all the plants. The relative frequency, isolation rate and colonisation rates of endophytes were used to study the endophytic diversity. The results showed that the highest colonisation rate (93.05%) was observed inAdhathoda vasica, while it was 91.66% inOcimum sanctum, 85% inViola odorata, 82.81%Cannabis sativaand lowest (61.11%) inWithania somnifera. Moreover, reading the richness and diversity of the endophytic fungi, the highest was obtained forO. sanctum, W. somnifera and C. sativahaving eight species each, while lowest (6 and 4) was obtained fromA. vasicaandV. odorata, respectively. As the role of endophytic organisms in defensive mechanisms of plants is now well established, the present study is an important step to find new and interesting endophytes among the medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]