Proceedings of Third National Seminar on Shisham Dieback, May 11, 2006

Dalbergia sissoo locally known as Shisham or Tahli in Pakistan and Sissoo in Nepal and India is an important tree species of great economic importance in the sub-continent. It grows naturally in the sub-Himalayan tract from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Afghanistan. It was however introduced in arid Indus plains after colonization with unique network of irrigation canals as early as 1860s. It had been successfully growing outside its natural habitat in the canal irrigated arid plains for almost one and a half century. It had become part of the rural farming and social culture. Throughout this long period of time it rendered the ecological and economic services to the people of the sub-continent. It has however been inflicted with dieback or decline in the recent years and the incident has been also reported in Tarai tract of Nepal, believed to be its home. In May, 1998 when dieback was reported as an epidemic in central irrigated tract of the Punjab province as well as in other parts of the country, Punjab Forestry Research Institute initiated a well-planned broad based multi-disciplinary diagnostic study and concluded that the primary cause of dieback was physical and physiological stresses and fungal pathogens attacked the trees under stress as secondary cause resulting in dieback. However, the biological and chemical control measures tried at PFRI did not succeed. The developmental project namely "Survey, research and control of Shisham Dieback in the Punjab (2001-02 to 2005-06)" approved at total cost of Rs. 18.595 million is a multi-disciplinary collaborative research initiative of the Government of the Punjab. Studies were conducted in various parts of the country. The First and Second National Seminars had been arranged on 27 October, 2001 and 29 June, 2004 to join hands against the malaise. Present publication is proceedings of third National Seminar on Shisham Dieback which highlight the practical achievements made d uring collaborative research especially the primary and secondary causes of the disease, pathogenic fungi isolated and control measures successfully tested. Information on vegetative propagation of the disease free sources is also included.