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<p>Seabuckthorn (SBT) is an ecologically and economically important plant species of trans-Himalayan Ladakh. Once considered a thorny menace, SBT is now looked upon as a means for sustainable development of the trans-Himalayan region. Several antioxidant rich SBT-based products are being developed and commercialized. SBT berry collection from natural habitat has become an important activity in the region since the year 2001. Currently, the demand for SBT exceeds the supply capacity of the region. Cultivation of SBT on 2500 ha would result in annual net income of Rs 491 crore. Anticipating the high demand for SBT, studies are underway to meet the long term goal to introduce plantation of SBT on vast barren land. Potential of the lesser-known shrub has been recognized by several R&amp;D organizations. In recent years a number of research institutes in India are working on the lesser known shrub. This article summarizes the advancement of research on SBT of trans-Himalayan Ladakh origin.</p>

The influence of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) on growth and yield of tomato was investigated under a low-input cultivation system in arid high altitude (elevation 3344 m) in trans-Himalaya. The mean marketable yield varied from 27.8±2.5 t.ha-1 in open-pollinated varieties with no mulch treatment to 81.2±11.9 t.ha -1 in hybrid tomatoes with BPM. The yield of hybrid tomatoes with BPM is similar or greater than those reported in high-input systems. With BPM, total marketable yield in hybrid varieties increased by 102 per cent and 107 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Yield increase due to mulching in open-pollinated varieties was 86 per cent and 80 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Increase in early fruiting under BPM was observed in all the five varieties studied. Difference in soil temperature between mulch and unmulch was significantly higher at early growth stage than during later stages. BPM reduced 57 per cent weed and save 74 per cent time in manual weeding. Incidence of insect-pest and diseases was minimal, and rotten fruit was less than 2 per cent of marketable yield without staking and pesticide or fungicide application.

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Pseudomonas simiae isolated from Seabuckthorn rhizosphere solubilised insoluble phosphate at 4-40 ºC, pH 4-12 and in presence of 1-5 per cent salt concentration. The optimum condition was observed at 28 ºC, pH 6 and devoid of any salt stress. Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 was solubilised to a great extent than FePO 4 and AlPO 4 . The isolate possess plant growth promoting attributes such as IAA (32 mg l -1 ), siderophore (78 percent) and HCN (0.1 OD at A 625 ) production. Seed bacterisation resulted in 30 per cent and 51 per cent enhanced shoot and root length, respectively in tomato seedling. Pot experiments revealed enhanced plant growth in P. simiae treated plants in both green shade net and open field conditions. Fruit yield was 9.8 per cent and 19.8 per cent higher over control in open and shade net condition, respectively.

One year old growth stem cutting (2.9 ± 0.8 mm thickness), which is less than half of the conventional pencil thickness (7-8 mm) hardwood cutting, was studied for vegetative propagation of seabuckthorn (SBT). Rooting trial tested the effects of 14 media and 6 concentration of indole-3-butyric acid treatment. Over 94 % rooting was observed in all the media tested. The mean rooting percentage was 97.6 ± 2.2. Exogenous auxin treatments lack any benefit and rooting was over 97 % without hormonal treatment. Sevenfold more number of cuttings was obtained per plant as compared to pencil thickness hardwood cuttings, which is the conventional method of SBT propagation. The result of the present study could facilitate establishment of a vegetative propagation method wherein larger number of cuttings per plant can be propagated with higher rooting success rate without the need of exogenous application of rooting hormone.