ABSTRACT:

RELATIVE GROWTH RATE AND ION TRANSPORT IN RICE GROWN UNDER SALINE ENVIRONMENT
ABSTRACT:
An experiment was conducted in solution culture with two rice cultivars of varying self-tolerance: NIAB 6 (Salt tolerant) and IR 1561 (Salt sensitive), to compare their growth rate and ion transport from root to shoot when exposed to salinity levels of 0 and 100 mole m-3 NaCl. NIAB 6 had a faster rate of growth than IR 1561 under saline conditions. At early seeding stage, rate transport of Na+, K+ and Cl- was much higher in IR 1561 but later on , transport of Na+ and K+ was greater in NIAB 6 whereas Cl- transport higher in IR 1561. The higher rate of Na+ translocation from root to shoot in NIAB 6 was probably mitigated by the dilution of Na+ due to faster rate of growth of this cultivar.

COBALT AND SILVER AS POTENT INHIBOTORS OF FLOWER ABSCISSION CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.
ABSTRACT:
Aqueous sprays of Co++ and Ag+ and an auxin NAA on chilli plants made at flowering time and 15 days later reduced flower abscission and enhanced pot yields more than 50% over that of control.

ALLELOPATHY EXHIBITED BY IMPERATA CYLINDRICA (L.) P. BEAUV.
ABSTRACT:
Cold and hot water extracts from fresh and dry plant parts; natural rain leachates, litter and soil collected from underneath the grass invariably and significantly reduced the germination and early growth of Setaria italic, Dichathium annulatum, Chrysopogon montanus. Medicago polymorpha and Pinus roxburghii. The number of biomass of root nodules in Medicago polymorpha, M.

WHEAT COLIOPTILE ELONGATION TEST FOR BIOASSAY OF HOMOEOPATHIC DRUGS
ABSTRACT:
A simple, quick and highly sensitive is technique is proposed for the bioassay of homoeopathic drugs. Young wheat coleoptile segments have shown responses to the potency of centesimal dilutions of homoeopathic drugs viz., Arnica Montana, Aconitum napellus, Cimicifuga racemosa, Dioscoria villosa, Hypericum perforatum, Ignatia amara, Lemna minor, Nux vomica and Palsatilla nigricans within six hours of treatment.

PHYCOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF HYPNEA VALENTIAE (GIGARTINALES, RHODOPHYTA)
ABSTRACT:
Investigation of the methanolic extract of Hypnea valentiae (Turner) Montagne, collected from Karachi, Pakistan, afforded seven sterols, a fatty acid derivative and 12 fatty acids. Study of the sterol fraction through 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry exhibited the occurrence of 22-dehydrocholesterol, desmosterol , 24- methylene cholesterol, 24-metyl cholesterol, Nor 31-cycloartanol and cycloartanol as well as a fatty acid derivative, 7-hhydroxy tetradec-4-enoic acid. In the lipid fraction 9 saturated fatty acid methyl esters viz., myristate, pentadecylate, palmitate, margarate, stearate, nonadecylate,

LARGE SCALE COMPOSTING OF KALLAR GRASS LEPTOCHLOA FUSCA (L.) KUNTH
ABSTRACT:
Kallar grass, Leptochloa fucsa (L.) Kunth was composted on a large scale by windrow (open-pile) method. Changes in temperature, substrate loss, cation- exchange capacity (CEC), carbon (C) and Notrogen (N) contents, C/N ratio were followed for 150 days. Cation-exchange capacity was evaluated as an index of compost stability and its validity checked by physic-chemical changes during composting and by plant growth test. Composting of kallar grass for 150 days produced a substrate loss of 57%, lowered the C/N ratio from 67 to 17 and increased the CEC from 13 to 47 m eq/100g ash-free dry matter. Balance of N calculated at different stages of composting showed a net increase of 33- 38%during 15 to 90 days. Kallar grass composted for 75 days or longer, did not cause reduction in dry-matter yield of wheat. Physico-chemical changes during composting and plant growth test indicated that kallar grass compost was stebilized for 75 days.

LIGHT MICROSCOPE OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXTRA FLORAL NECTARIES IN LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA LAMK. (MIMOSACEAE)
ABSTRACT:
Extra Floral Nectaries In Leucaena Leucocephala Lamk., were studied at the level of light microscope. Two non-porate, cup-shaped nectaries developed on the adaxial surface of the rachis from a group of

DUABANDOXYLON PAKISTANICUM SP. NOV., A NEW TAXON OF SONNERATIACEAE FROM RANIKOT FORT AREA
ABSTRACT:
Duabandoxylon pakistanicum sp. nov., a new silicified stem is described from Tertiory deposits of Dada formation exposed near Ranikot fort area, district Dadu Sindh Pakistan. The xylotomical feature of the present fossil wood shows close affinities to the genus Duabanga of family Sonneratiaceae.

MANGIFEROXYLON PAKISTANICUM SP. NOV., A NEW FOSSIL SPECIES OF THE FAMILY ANACARDIACEAE FROM RANIKOT FORT AREA
ABSTRACT:
Petrified fossil wood resembling modern wood of the genus Mangifera of the family Anacardiaceae is described from Ranikot fort area , Dadu Sindh, Pakistan. On the basis of xylotomical homologies, the fossil

ANALYISIS ODF A SIX PARENT DIALLEL CROSS IN MUTANTS OF BASMATI RICE
ABSTRACT:
Nature of genetic control and gene action of yield and yield components in induced mutants of Basmati rice was investigated in a six parent diallel cross (including reciprocals) involving five mutants and the parent variety Basmati 370. The resulting 36 F1’s alongwith the six parents were grown in randomly arranged replicated plots. Analysis of variance for all the traits revealed significant differences. Additive genetic variance was observed for the expression of tillers per plant whereas the influence of both additive and non-additive genetic variance was noted for the expression of panicle length, secondary branches per panicle and spikelets per panicle. Yield per plant was influenced by non additive type of genetic variance. The number of effective factors estimated ranged from 1 for tillers per plant to 2 for the other yield components. Heritability estimates varied from low (0.16%) for grain yield to high (0.63%) for tillers per plant. The results suggest a desired response to selection for tillers per plant, panicle length, secondary branches per panicle and total spikelets per panicle.

DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ESTIMATE AGE AND GROWTH RATE OF VARIOUS SPECIES FROM
ABSTRACT:
Dendrochronological methods were used to determine age and growth rate of none species from various forests of Himalayan region of Pakistan. Importance of these

PHYTOSOCIOLOGY OF THE HILLS OF QUETTA DISTRICT
ABSTRACT:
Fifty seven plant communities were recognized in the hills of Quetta district. Forty five communities were grouped in to 8 steppe types viz., Artemisia maritima steppe: Nepeta juncea steppe: Salvia cabulica steppe: Cymbopogan commutatus steppe: Chrysopogan aucheri steppe: Sophora mollis steppe: Astragalus stocksii steppe: Prunus brahuica steppe: Individual communities in each steppe tyoe also segregated on the basis of edaphic factors. The remaining 12 communities could not be classified because they were disjunct types. The total coverage as well as species diversity tended to be high in protected areas as compared to unprotected areas. Twenty eight species were found to be indicator species of specific soil conditions.

VAM-FUNGI IN WHEAT AND RICE FIELDS
ABSTRACT:
Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) extracted from the soil of different agroecological zones showed an average population of 1260 spores / 100 g in wheat

DETECTION OF AFLATOXIN IN SUNFLOWER SEED
ABSTRACT:
TLC technique was used for the detection of aflatoxin in sunflower seeds. Of the 24 samples of sunflower seeds collected from different localities of Pakistan, 13 samples showed the presence of aflatoxin B1 including 5 in which aflatoxin B2 was also produced. The amount of aflatoxin B1 and B2detected was upto 437 ug/kg in seed samples collected from Sindh and upto 14 ug/kg in samples collected from Punjab. Out of 41 strains of Aspergillus flavus Link., isolated from sunflower seeds, 29 strains produced aflatoxin B1 and from traces-234 ug/l of aflatoxin B2 was produced by A.flavus isolates.

PHOMA MULTIROSTRATA ON CORIANDER IN PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Phoma multirostrata (Marhur et al.) Dorenb. Et Boerema has been reported on coriander from Pakistan. In pathogenicity tests P. multirostrata caused footrot disease in

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA INFECTION ON MASHBEAN (VIGNA MUNGO (L.) HEPPER)
ABSTRACT:
Experiments on the biological control of Macrophomina phaseolina of mashbean roots were carried out at two different filed locations viz., Karachi and Islamabad. Infection and or colonization of mashbean roots by M. phaseolina reduced significantly (P=0.01) at both field locations where seeds were treated with Paecilomyces lilacinus. Trichoderma hamatum, Gliocladium virens and Aspergillus candidus. T. harzianum, T. viride and Streptomyces sp., were effective in Karachi soil but not in Islamabad soil, whereas, Rhizobium meliloti failed to reduce M. phaseolina infection at any field location.

EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON RHIZOSPHERE MYCOFLORA AND ROOT INFECTION OF SOYBEAN
ABSTRACT:
Of the 29 species of fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of 28 days old soybean seedlings. Fusarium spp. Aspergillus flavus and A. niger were the dominant species Plants subjected to water stress showed greater number of fungi in the rhizosphere as compared to non-stressed plants. Population of fungi in the rhizosphere of plants growing at 25% MHC was greater as compared to plants growing at 50, 75 and 100% MHCs and showed a decline with increase in soil moisture. Greater number of plants witted at low moisture level as compared to high moisture level. Infection and or colonization of roots by Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium spp., also showed a decline with increasing soil moisture.

ASSESSMENT OF YIELD LOSSES
ABSTRACT:
Losses inflicted by leaf crinkle virus (LCV)

OCCURRENCE OF ENTEROMORPHA LINK (CHLOROPHYCEAE) IN FRESH WATER OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT: