Diseases and injuries of Himalayan pine seed from culture grown on deposol

Abstract

Approximately 100 semi-ripe cones were harvested from a young forest culture of Pinus wallichiana grown on loamy deposol. Opening of cone scales and dropping of seed grains were induced under laboratory conditions. The number of damaged seeds and the type of damage, as well as the total and average number of seeds per cone, were determined on the population and individual levels. The intensity of damage was expressed in percentages. The analyses for determination of the present fungi and the intensity of their attack were conducted by placing the seeds onto a nutritious MEA bed and moist filter paper in Petri dishes. In order to establish the presence of insects, cones with visible damage were collected in the field. These cones were then examined in the laboratory and placed into photoeclectore for further growing.