a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d f o r e s t m e t e o r o l o g y 1 4 8 ( 2 0 0 8 ) 1 2 5 2 -1 2 6 5 a r t i c l e i n f o

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The relative drought tolerance of Jatropha curcas is, so far, not very well understood. To understand its physiological adaptation to drought stress, the root growth viz; root length density (RLD), root dry weight (RDW), biomass accumulation and resources allocation for roots of adult trees grown in the field were assessed. The tap root in Jatropha branches perpendicular to the ground with many lateral roots. The rooting depth was 1.4 m with a greater root length distribution at the surface soil. It depicted a low root to plant ratio when the taproot was not included. The root branching in Jatropha suggested that it may help containing soil erosion although its contribution to drought tolerance is seemingly conservative. The drought response of Jatropha can be categorized as drought avoidance, considering its regular dormant state, drought-stress induced leaf drop and a limited root growth.

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural districts of India. Thirty eight indicators reflecting sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure were chosen to construct the composite vulnerability index. Climate projections of the PRECIS model for A1B scenario for the period 2021-2050 were considered to capture the future climate. The data on these indicators were normalized based on the nature of relationship. They were then combined into three indices for sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity, which were then averaged with weights given by experts, to obtain the relative vulnerability index. Based on the index, all the districts were divided into five categories with equal number of districts. One more district was added to 'very high' and 'high' categories. The analysis showed that districts with higher levels of vulnerability are located in the western and peninsular India. It is also observed that the highly fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains are relatively more sensitive, but less vulnerable because of higher adaptive capacity and lower exposure.

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A facile two-step method for the construction of fused pyrrole ring leading to 5-substituted 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-1-ones via C-C followed by intramolecular C-N bond forming reaction is described. In vitro pharmacological evaluation and molecular modelling studies of some of the compounds synthesized are presented.

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