4,578 research outputs found
Role of non-timber forest products in sustaining forest-based livelihoods and rural households' resilience capacity in and around protected area- a Bangladesh study
People in developing world derive a significant part of their livelihoods
from various forest products, particularly non-timber forest products. This
article attempts to explore the contribution of NTFPs in sustaining
forest-based rural livelihood in and around a protected area of Bangladesh, and
their potential role in enhancing households resilience capacity. Based on
empirical investigation our study revealed that, local communities gather a
substantial amount of NTFPs from national park despite the official
restrictions. 27 percent households of the area received at least some cash
benefit from the collection, processing and selling of NTFPs, and NTFPs
contribute as HHs primary, supplementary and emergency sources of income. NTFPs
also constituted an estimated 19 percent of HHs net annual income, and were the
primary occupation for about 18 percent of the HHs. HHs dependency on nearby
forests for various NTFPs varied vis-a-vis their socio-economic condition as
well as with their location from the park. Based on our case study the article
also offers some clues for improving the situation in PA.Comment: To appear in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 201
Improvement in Organogenesis and the Development of a Transformation Procedure for Cucumber and Muskmelon
A comprehensive study was carried out to optimise and improve a direct shoot
organogenesis system to facilitate the transfer of reporter genes (GUSINT and nptII into
cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and muskmelon (C. melo L.) plants. The studies carried out were: (i) a comparative study on direct and indirect shoot regeneration (ii) the
improvement of a direct shoot regeneration system by using an ethylene action inhibitor,
silver nitrate and an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, cobalt chloride (iii) identification of
suitable strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes that are able to infect
cucumber and muskmelon plants (iv) development of an intron containing gene
transformation system for both cucurbit species through A. tumefaciens and (v) analysis
of transformants.
For the comparative study of direct and indirect shoot regeneration, four different
types of explants from five elite commercial cucumber cultivars namely Spring Swallow,
Suyo Cross, Suyo Long, Tasty Glory. Tasty Green and one muskmelon cultivar called
Birdie were used. Explants from both species were cultured onto Murashige and Skoog
medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine alone and in
combination with either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or naphthalene acetic acid. 6-benzylaminopurine alone at 1.0 or 2.0 mg/L significantly (p<0.05) induced shoot primordia from the largest number of proximal cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of all cucumber
cultivars and muskmelon explants tested. However, the addition of either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or naphthalene acetic acid to 6-benzylaminopurine, resulted
in a reduction of the shoot primordia induction rate.
Higher number of shoots induced from ex plants as well as high numbers of
morphological normal shoots were obtained when explants were cultured on. medium
containing 6-benzylaminopurine alone. Specific concentrations of indole-butyric acid and
naphthalene acetic acid significantly (p<0.05) contributed to root initiation from the
largest number of cucumber and muskmelon shoots, respectively. Dark treatment was
sufficient to significantly induce root formation from the non-rooting cucumber and
muskmelon shoots.
The addition of either silver nitrate or cobalt chloride to the seed germination
medium or shoot primordia induction medium caused a significant (p<0.05)
enhancement of shoot regeneration rate from cucumber cv. SS and TG explants
compared to the control. The regeneration rate was further enhanced when these two
ethylene inhibitors were added to both SGM and SPI media. Furthermore, the number of
shoots induced from explants of both Spring Swallow and Tasty Green cultivars was also
enhanced upon the same treatment. However, muskmelon shoot induction and
regeneration were reduced when the same treatment was employed
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