GENETIC DIVERSITY OF PLANT SPECIES IN HILLY AREAS ADJACENT TO SYLHET AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the status of genetic diversity of plant species in hilly areas and plain lands of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) and in hilly areas adjacent to SAU during January, 2015 to June, 2015. Four study areas were selected to investigate the status of genetic diversity of plant species. It also explored relationships between the characteristics, types, habits, total number of plants and the relationships between hilly area plants and plain land area plants. Many plant species including trees, shrubs and herbs were recorded from the studied hilly areas. Several medicinal plants found in hilly areas were also recorded. Among these plant species the most prevalent tree species were horitoki, bohera, mehgoni, arjun, neem etc, and the most prevalent herb species were chanci, shaknotey, katanotey, malancha shak, salvia etc. The highest numbers of natural tree species were found in hilly areas of M. C. College adjacent to SAU whereas the lowest numbers of tree species were found in the area of Vice-chancellor’s banglaw of SAU. The highest number of shrubs and herbs were found in Vice-chancellor’s banglaw and plain land of SAU, respectively. Both naturally grown and planted trees, shrubs and herbs along with a good number of medicinal plants were found in the studied areas which exhibited the wide diversity in plant genetic resources in studied areas.