GLOSSOPHORELLA, A NEW GENUS OF THE FAMILY DICTYOTACEAE (DICTYOTALES-PHAEOPHYTA) AND ITS ECOWGY FROM THE COAST OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
ABSTRACT:
The new genus Glossophorella Nizam. et Campbell is described which comprises two species viz., G. coriacea (Holmes) Nizam. Comb. nov. from Japan and the Pacific coast of U.S.A. and G. dhofarensis Nizam. et Campbell sp. nov. from the coast of the Sultanate of Oman. The genus is characterized by distromatic or polystromatic cortex and distromatic medulla throughout the thallus near the margins.

CYSTOSEIRA WILDPRETll NIZAMUDDIN SP. NOV., FROM CANARY ISLANDS
ABSTRACT:
Cystoseira wildpretii Nizam., sp. nov. is described from the coast of Canary Islands. It is characterized by procumbent, caespitose thallus bearing compressed axes and receptacles.

A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF SIROGONIUM (CHLOROPHYCEAE, ZYGNEMATALES), A GENUS NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Occurrence of the genus Sirogonium Kütz., is a new record from Pakistan and a new species, S. khoriensis Masud-.et Nizam. sp. nov. has been described. This species is characterized by having a constant number of 3 chloroplasts and also in thickness of the exine.

INFLUENCE OF SILVER NITRATE AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON THE TRANSPORT OF 14C-INDOLEACETIC ACID IN ZEA MAYS L.
ABSTRACT:
The effect of silver nitrate and gibberellic acid on 14C-IAA transport parameters was investigated in coleoptile segments of Zea mays L. Silver nitrate and GA3 enhanced the transport intensity and density without affecting absorption and the velocity. The data has been interpreted to show that these chemicals may influence abscission by increasing the relative hormone concentration at the abscission zone.

USE OF BIOFERTILIZERS TO ENHANCE RICE YIELD, NITROGEN UPTAKE AND FERTILIZER-N USE EFFICIENCY IN SALINE SOILS
ABSTRACT:
Azolla, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and chemical fertilizer alone and in different combinations were used to study the effect of nitrogen biofertilizers on rice biomass, nitrogen uptake and fertilizer-N use efficiency. 15N labelled ammonium sulphate was used to trace its uptake into rice plant and compute fertilizer-N recovery. Maximum rice biomass (straw+grain), its N yield and fertilizer-N recovery were obtained in the treatment where PGPR inoculum with 30 KgN/ha was used followed by treatment where in addition to PGPR and fertilizer-N, Azolla cover was also present. Use of biofertilizers alongwith a low input of chemical fertilizer-N soils was useful for increasing rice biomass, N uptake and fertilizer-N recovery in rice grown in saline soils.

EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND WATERLOGGING ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND IONIC REGULATION IN ATRIPLEX AMNICOLA
ABSTRACT:
The effects of salinity (BC: 0, 10 and 20 dS.m-l) and waterlogging levels of 75, 100 and 125 % of soil water holding capacity on some physiological processes and ionic regulation were studied in Atriplex amnicola Paul G. Wilson in sandy loam and silty loam soils. Stomatal conductance of plants grown on sandy loam soil exhibited significant variations under the waterlogging treatments of 10 and 20 dS.m-1 salinity levels. At low waterlogging level (75 % WHC), significant differences were recorded at different salinity levels for stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and quantum yield. In silty loam soil, non-significant variation was observed for both salinity and waterlogging treatments when analyzed one day after irrigation, but after three days, there were significant variations in stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in different salt treatments. Sodium showed maximum accumulation in leaves followed by roots and minimum in stem in both sandy and silty loam soils at different salinity and waterlogging levels. Concentration of Na + varied with time and exhibited higher amount after 8 weeks as compared to 4 weeks growth period. Chloride also showed the same pattern, however, plants grown on silty loam soil exhibited higher amount as compared to sandy loam soil. Salinity did not have any pronounced effect on the oxalate content, whereas, waterlogging did affect the oxalate concentration after 4 weeks of growth with non-significant effects after 8 weeks growth. Increase in salt concentration of the irrigation medium increased the electrical conductivity of both sandy and silty loam soils at different growth periods and with different waterlogging levels.

EFFECT OF SOIL SALINITY ON LEAF DEVEWPMENT, STOMATAL SIZE AND ITS DISTRIBUTION IN COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.)
ABSTRACT:
Comparative effects of different salt levels (EC: 4-24 dS.m-1) on the morphology and anatomy of four cotton cultivars viz., B-557, Niab- 78, Sarmast and Qalandri was studied. A decrease in stomatal density under salt stress was compensated by an increase in stomatal size and mesophyll surface area. Adaptation to saline environment was adjusted by increasing mesophyll surface area to ensure normal exchange of gases and photosynthetic activities. In order of their salt tolerance, the cultivars studied can be rated as Niab- 78 > B-557 > Qalandri > Sarmast.

SEED FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN WILD FORM AND CULTIVARS OF LAUROCERASUS OFFICINALIS ROEM.
ABSTRACT:
Seed fatty acid composition in the wild form and cultivars of Laurocerasus officinalis are reported. C18:l and C18:2 chain length pattern were the dominant fatty acids in seeds of all species. C18:l values in L. officinalis cultivars was higher than wild form whereas C18:2 value was higher in wild forms.

THE SEED BANK OF DESERT SOIL IN CENTRALSAUDI ARABIA
ABSTRACT:
Rate of emergence of seedlings from the uppermost 2 cm layer of soil from different habitats of the desert of North, South-West and South-East of Riyadh City in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia was examined. In most of the sites the emergence of the seedlings started after one week. The number of individual plants that emerged at the end of the experiment ranged from 44 to 2660 plants m2. A number of 59 species of plants were identified. Biomass of the emerged seedlings ranged from 0.356 to 308.524 per sq metre.

SEED BANK OF SUMMER WEEDS IN WHEAT FIELDS OF DIFFERENT RAINFALL ZONES OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
The soil seed reserves of different summer weeds were studied in the fields of different rainfall zones of Punjab, Pakistan. Composite soil samples collected from fields comprising of very low (150-300 mm), low (300-500 mm), medium, (500-1000 mm) and high (1000-1500 mm) annual rainfall areas were kept in trays of uniform size in the green house at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. An environmental condition was provided for germination of weed seeds. Seedlings emerging over a period of three years were identified, recorded and removed at intervals. The seed reserves of different zones differed from each other in tenus of weed seed composition, seed number by species and total number of seeds in the soil. The species diversity and number of seeds in the soil remained lowest in very low rainfall area. With the increase in annual rainfall, both the parameters also increased with highest values in the high annual rainfall area.

POLLEN FWRA OF PAKISTAN - IV. BORAGINACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 49 species representing 20 genera of family Boraginaceae from Pakistan has been cxamined by light and scanning electron microscope. Boraginaceae is a eurypalynous family and pollen morphology of the family is significantly important at tribal and subfamiliallevel, such as the tribes Edtrichicae and Cynoglosseae of subfamily Boraginoideae and subfamily Heliotropioideae,. respectively, are characterized by heterocolpate pollen which is rare in angiosperm. However, in the other tribes of subfamily Boraginoideae (Trigonotideae and Lithospermeae except Myosotis) and subfamily Ehretioideae have homoapcrturate pollen (colpate, colporate), ora mostly endocingulate, elliptic-rectangular in equatorial view, with or without constriction at the equator, circular or hexagonal in polar view. Tectum usually psilate or sub-psilate. However, combination of other tectum types i.e., reticulate-rugulate, fossulate or foveolate are also found. On the basis of size, shape, apertural configuration and exine sculpturing 11distinct pollen types viz., Anchusa arvensis - type, Amebia benthamii - type, Buglossoides arvensis - type, Ehretia obrusifolia - type, Gastrocotyle hispida - type, Heliolropium subulalum - type, Undelojia longilfora - type, Nonea caspicatype, Onosma hispida - type, Sericosloma pauciJIofUm - type, Trichodesma indicum - type are recognized.

CONGRUENCE BETWEEN MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECU LAR PHYWGENETIES IN PROSARTES (LILIACEAE)
ABSTRACT:
cp DNA variations were examined in 5 genera of the tribe Polygonatae, for 60 probe-enzyme combinations, to study Disporum-Prosartes generic separation problem. The shared fragments were counted, index of similarity and distance matrix was calculated. The distance within the genus Prosartes was 0.033, while it differed from Disporum in 0.34-0.342. The difference of Prosartes from Streplopus was 0.217, while between Disporum and Uvularia was 0.164-0.171. The data was examined using Neighbour Joining (NJ) and Fitch-Margoliash methods. The divergence between Disporum and Prosartes was greater than that between Disporum and Uvularia or Prosartes and Streplopus. Within the genus Prosartes, P. maculala was different from the rest of the Prosartes species. rbcL gene sequence data revealed that north American Prosartes and Asian Disporum species differed by 90-96 substitution (100d= 6.92-7.41). The base substitution between Disporum and Prosartes is much greater than that between Prosartes and Streplopus (14-16, 100d= 1.03-1.18) or that between Disporum and Uvularia (23-26, 100d= 1.70-2.01). The results support recent morphological, karyological and molecular arguments of the restoration of genus Prosartes as an independent genus. The results also indicate that Uvularia is closly related to Dispomm while Streplopus is closer to the genus Prosartes.

A MICROCOMPUTER PROGRAM-PACKAGE FOR LABEL PRINTING AND DATA RETRIEVAL FOR SMALL HERBARIA
ABSTRACT:
A microcomputer program package which prints herbarium labels, retrieves and edits information has been developed. Individual labels consist of a maximum of 12 lines, each with 40 character spaces. Required number of labels are automatically printed and the label information is stored on a computer file. The paper suggests how data presented on herbarium labels might be improved and made suitable for retrieval. The program-package is portable and can be implemented on a variety of machines using different dialects of BASIC. However, due to memory and speed constraints the program is suitable for small herbaria. The advantages of computer application as related to herbarium procedures are discussed.

EFFECT OF GA3 AND 2,4-D SPRAY APPLICATION ON THE MOKYHOLOGY AND ANATOMY OF DATE PALM ROOT SYSTEM
ABSTRACT:
GA3 and 2,4-D @ 10-5 and 10-3M used as foliar spray on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) cv. Khedri 3 seedlings affected the length of root and the anatomical characteristics of thick root. GA3 at low concentration increased the differentiation of fibre, xylem strands and number of vessels in each xylem strand while at high concentration the number, size of lacunae and the number of vessels in each xylem strand decreased. 2,4-D at low concentration increased lacunae, fibre and xylem strands but decreased the number of vessels in each xylem strand, which at high concentration decreased the number of fibre, xylem strands and number of lacunae but increased the xylem vessels in each xylem strand.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE OF SOME EXOTIC ROSE CULTIVARS TO D.I. KHAN CONDITIONS
ABSTRACT:
Of the 10 exotic rose cultivars evaluated for their performance and adaptability in the D.l. Khan, Magic Carrousel, Paradise, Pink Delight, Yankee Doodle, and Love were found most promising as compared to Green Sleeves, Oregold, Peer Gynt, Razzle Dazzle and Revenue. Magic Carrousel was dwarf, dense with small sized fragrant flowers and bore maximum flowers per plant per month. Paradise was tallest and produced large sized flowers without fragrance. Pink Delight had maximum flower vase life (8 days) and persistence, in both spring and summer months, with slight fragrance. During spring, 91 petals per flower were counted in Yankee Doodle, while Love produced 47 petals per flower in Summer. Both cultivars were slightly fragrant.

PLANTLET REGENERATION FROM MATURE EMBRYOS OF PEANUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)
ABSTRACT:
Mature embryos, excised from the soaked peanut seeds, when cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA and 2,4-0 each @ 0.5 mg/I induced, callus. Regeneration occurred when this callus was subcultured on to MS containing BA and kin each @ 1.0 mg/I. Similarly, development of callus followed by regeneration was noticed in mature embryos in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l kin and 1.5 mg/l NAA. Direct regeneration was also observed on MS containing 1.0 mgll each of BA and kin. All the regenerated shoots when transferred to the rooting medium (1/2 MS) supplemented with 0.1 mg/I NAA showed development of root.

TISSUE CULTURE STUDIES FOR MICROPROPAGATION OF CARNATION (DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS L)
ABSTRACT:
Rapid propagation of carnation (Dianlhus caryophyllus L) was achieved in vitro. Multiple shoots were induced from nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg/l of BAP. For further proliferation the multiple shoots were transferred to MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP and GA3alone or in combination. Maximum number of plantlets per flask were produced on medium enriched with 5.0 mg/l BAP. Rooting was stimulated by subculturing the proliferated shoots on 1/2 MS, 3% sucrose and I % agar. Rooted plantlets were successfully raised in pots filled with soil.

INTERVARIETAL POLYMORPHISM OF CONSTITUTIVE HETEROCHROMATIN IN HORDEUM VULGARE L.
ABSTRACT:
An intervarietal chromosome banding polymorphism in 8 botanical varieties of Hordeum vulgare viz., convar. hexastichon vars: coelesle and ingrum; convar. distichon vars: inerme, pallidum and nulans; convar. vulgare vars: coelesle, horsfordianum and dwndarbeyi was studied by Giemsa N-banding technique. Chromosomes were numbered according to the wheat homoeologue groups. The classification of the bands was in accordance to the generalized cytological nomenclature of cereal chromosomes (GCNCC). Majority of bands recognized in all varieties were centromeric or interstitial. Band polymorphism was observed on all chromosomes except 1H, which exhibited typical banding pattern in all varieties.

GENETICS OF SEED COTTON YIELD AND ITS PRIMARY COMPONENTS IN GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.
ABSTRACT:
Combining ability analysis was conducted for yield and its primary components in Gossypium hirsutum L. The results indicated that variance due to GCA and SCA were significant for all the characters except ginning percentage. The additive gene action was more important than non-additive. Highly significant GCA effects were found in lines S-12 for all traits and CRIS- 7 A for seed weight, lint weight and seed cotton yield and testers CYTO-127 for seed weight, lint weight and seed cotton yield and CYTO-130 for seed weight and seed cotton yield. The crosses S-12 x Cyto-127 and BH-36 x CRIS-54 for all characters except ginning percentage, while NH-26 x CYTO-130 and CRIS-7A x CYTO-130 for lint weight and seed cotton yield per plant exhibited significant SCA effects.

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN INTRASPECIFIC CROSSES OF GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.
ABSTRACT:
Combining ability analysis was conducted for yield and yield components in line x tester involving 5 lines and 3 testers. Combining ability variances for GCA of lines and SCA variances were highly significant for boll number and seed cotton yield per plant, suggesting the importance of additive and non-additive type of gene action for these traits. The cultivar BH-36, CIM-240 and CYTO-129 exhibited significant GCA effects for boll number and S-12 and CYTO-129 for seed cotton yield. The female parent CYTO-129 proved to be good general combiner for boll number and seed cotton yield per plant. SCA effects of the crosses S-12 x CRIS-52, CIM-240 x CYTO 129 and NH-26 x NIAB-78 were considerably high for number of bolls and seed cotton yield per plant. Hence, while breeding varieties for high yield these crosses should be considered

GENETICS OF SEED WEIGHT IN LENTIL (LENS CULINARIS MEDIK.)
ABSTRACT:
Combining ability and genetic analysis was conducted in a four parent complete diallel for seed weight in lentil. Additive type of gene action predominantly governed by recessive genes was observed for the expression of this character. Thus, simple selection in late generations, when genes are fixed, is recommended to pick the desired transgressive segregants in the hybrids involving Mansehra-89 and Flip-8638L as one of the parents.

SEARCH FOR DRUG AND METAL RESISTANCE PLASMIDS FROM INDIGENOUS CLINICAL PSEUDOMONADS
ABSTRACT:
On the bases of morphology, cultural and biochemical characteristics, 50 indigenous clinical pseudomonads were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Resistance patterns of antibiotics upto 500 µg mL-1 and inorganic metallic ions upto 3 mg m-1 were determined by medium incorporation method. Five of the isolates lost their resistance to erythromycin after curing for plasmid elimination with 5 mg mL-1 of acridine orange, thereby indicating the extrachromosomal location of the resistance determinants. Agarose gel electrophoresis using 'Mini prep' method for plasmid isolation revealed that six isolates harbour plasmids of different molecular weights (5-28 kb) with Hind III digest of λ DNA as ladder. Some of the pseudomonad isolates were able to transfer their resistance to Escherichia coli BU 40 by in vivo gene transfer plasmid conjugation.

PATHOGENICITY SPECTRUM OF XANTHOMONAS CAMPESTRIS PV. CITRI STRAINS IN PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Relative aggressiveness of eight strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri was tested on detached citrus leaves at 22°C and of another seven at 24°C. An the strains showed variability in their relative aggressiveness as measured through development of lesions. Number of lesions produced by any strains was significantly affected by the strain: cultivar interaction thus indicating host parasite specificity for this character. Three levels of aggressiveness i.e. high, intermediate and low aggressiveness were noticed among the strains.

EFFICACY OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA AND BRADYRHIZOBIUM SP., IN THE CONTROL OF ROOT ROT DISEASE IN CHICKPEA
ABSTRACT:
Use of growth promoting becterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain Pa6 and Pa12 significantly (p <0.05) reduced the infection of Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani on chickpea. P.aernginasa strain Pa12 was found effective against F.oxyspornm and Pa6 against F.solani. Combined use of Bradyrhizobium sp., (TAL 480) and P.aernginosa showed complete control of R.solani and F.oxyspornm infection. Use of bradyrhizobia with P. aeruginosa also showed better control of F.solani infection than either used alone. Greater number of nodules per plant were produced where bradyrhizobia was used with strains of P. aernginosa as compared to bradyrhizobia used alone.

SCLEROTINIA SCLEROTIORUM, THE CAUSE OF SAFFLOWER WILT IN PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
In March 1983, a spineless variety "Thori-78" of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) growing at the experimental plot of National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad showed symptoms of wilting. Base of the stem was covered with white cottony mycelium associated with 2-10 mm large black sclerotia round to irregular in shape. Sclerotia were only observed in severely affected plants having shredded stems. Incidence of the disease ranged from 2-25 %. The fungus was identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary [Syn. Whetzelinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) Dork & Dumont] after reference to Willetts & Wong (1980)

STATUS OF COMPLETE BUNT OF WHEAT IN PAKISTAN

Complete bunt of wheat is an important and destructive disease of wheat in the upland areas of Pakistan where an incidence as high as 25 % has been recorded (Hafiz., 1996; Hassan, 1971) with losses up to 33% in individual fields (Kausar, 1955). Two allied species of Tilletia viz., T. laevis Kühn (syn, T. foetida (Wall.) Liro) and T. tritid (Bjerk.) Winter (syn. T. caries (Dc.) Tul., have been reported by Malik & Virk (1968), Hassan (1971) and Mirza & Qureshi (1978) whereas only T. tritici has been mentioned as the cause of bunt of wheat in Pakistan by Hafiz (1986). An extensive survey of upland areas of Balochistan, NWFP and the Punjab was therefore carried out to determine the present status of complete bunt of wheat caused by T.laevis and or T.tritici.