PLANT HORMONE MUTANTS OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA
ABSTRACT:
Mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana resistant to either spermine (a polyamine), naphthalene acetic acid (an auxin), or benzyl adenine (a cytokinin) were isolated by screening for growth of seedlings in the presence of growth inhibitory concentrations of the respective growth regulator. In addition to growth regulator resistance, mutant lines displayed distinct developmental phenotypes including alterations of the stature, seed dormancy, hypocotyls, roots, leaves, flowers and pods. Genetic evidence indicated that the mutant phenotype in 19 mutant lines was due to single recessive nuclear mutations.

GENERIC LIMITS IN GENTIANA L. (s.l) FROM PAKISTAN AND KASHMIR: A CHEMOTAXONOMIC APPROACH
ABSTRACT:
Generic limits in Gentiana L. (s.l.) from Pakistan and Kashmir was evaluated chemotaxonomically. Forty four taxa belonging to 8 genera were delimited into three broad groups on the basis of their flavonoid patterns where Rutin and Quercetin were the most widely distributed compounds present in 79 % and 76 % of the taxa respectively. The observations and results also suggested that the genera Aliopsis, Gentianopsis, Aloitis, Comastoma and Jaeschkea are advanced than Ciminalis, Gentianodes and Qaisera in evolutionary sequence.

A NUMERICAL TAXONOMIC STUDY OF SIBBALDIA L (ROSACEAE)- IV
ABSTRACT:
Numerical technique has been used to construct the cladogram to depict the natural relationships among the species of the genus Sibbaldia. The cladistic analysis of the genus is presented with a discussion of characters used and the result suggest the exclusion of S. micropetala from the genus Sibbaldia. The transfer of S.adpressa by Juzepczuk (1941) to the monotypic genus Sibbaldianthae is rejected

POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN - V.HALORAGACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 2 species of the genus Myriophyllum L.. from Pakistan belonging to the family Haloragaceae has been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains are generally radially symmetrical, isopolar, sub-oblate to oblate, 4-zonocolpate, colpi short, elliptic. Tectum scabrate - punctate.

ANDROMONOECY IN GLOSSONEMA VARIANS (STOCKS) HOOK.F. (ASCLEPIADACEAE)
ABSTRACT:
Andromonoecy is being reported for the first time in Glossonema varians (Stocks) Hook. f. and in the family Asclepiadaceae. Each inflorescence has 2 perfect and 2-6 male flowers. Both type of flowers have similar qualitative characters. However, perfect flowers can easily be recognized due to relatively large size of their component parts, trullate corona lobes, corpusculum partially covered by anther flap, presence of stigmatic chambers, anther wings, normal styles and ovaries and male flowers on the basis of relatively smaller size of their component parts, obtrullate corona lobes, corpusculum not covered by anther flap, rudimentary styles and ovaries, absence of stigmatic chambers and anther wings.

ANATOMY OF THE SEEDLING OF TESSARIA ABSINTHIOIDES (COMPOSITAE)
ABSTRACT:
The anatomy of the seedling of Tessaria absinthioides was studied by the use of serial cross sections. Continuous with the diarch vascular system of the root there are bundles of two types in the hypocotyl: double bundles formed by two lateral groups of phloem and one of protoxylem, that will become the cotyledonary traces and intercalary collateral bundles formed by one median group of phloem and one group of metaxylem, going to the protophylls. T. absinthioides has unilacunar one-trace cotyledonary and protophyll nodes and trilacunar three-trace nomophyll nodes.

IN-VITRO PRESERVATION OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) GERMPLASM
ABSTRACT:
Meristan tip culture of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) were established on MS medium containing BA and NAA and multiplied on hormone free MS medium. Potato culture survival and growth was significantly influenced by storage period and the incubation temperature, whereas, stress levels significantly affected shoot growth where its effect on survival was non-significant. A temperature of 25°C and longer storage period adversely affected the culture survival.

INHERITANCE OF RAPD MARKERS IN THE F1 INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS OF RICE
ABSTRACT:
Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were generated in a diploid and two tetraploid salt-tolerani accessions of wild rice species Oryza punctata, O. sativa cuitivars Basmati - 198, IR-6 and F1 hybrids between Basmati-198 and IR-6 with three accessions of O. punctata used as male parent. The PCR mediated DNA amplification profiles produced with different 10 mer primers were generally reproducible and differendsled tetraploid accessions from diploid and the hybrids from their parents. Of the total 263 markers that were generated with II different primers, 164 markers (62 %) were exhibited by 5 parents and 102 markers (38 %) by 3 different F1 hybrid combinations. In 2 of the 3 hybrids, frequency of the markers inherited from O. punctata was above 70%, as most of the primers amplified in the hybrid, DNA fragments inherited from O. punctata (male parent). Most of the markers transferred from the male parent to the hybrids were of the same intensity while those transferred from the female parent (IR-6 and Basmati-198) were of low intensity compared to their intensity in the female parent itself. The detection of the male and female parent specific fragments in the hybrids was primer dependent. Our study indicated the reproducibility and reliability of the RAPD markers in identification of wild and cultivated rice varieties and their F1 hybrids. The significance of RAPD markers in monitoring specific characters transferred from the wild parents to the cultivated rice varieties is discussed.

STABILITY FOR GRAIN YIELD IN WHEAT
ABSTRACT:
Genotype X environment interactions and relative stability for grain yield were studied in four durum wheat, one bread wheat and one triticale genotype grown at 5 locations. The yield ranking of the varieties varied across the environments. Both linear and non-linear components of genotype X environment interactions were significant, indicating genetic differences among 6 genotypes for both linear and non-linear response to varying environments. D-88678 and Wadanak-85, being high yielding with unit regression and non-significant non-linear deviation from regression were identified to be most stable and adaptable genotypes.

HERITABLE VARIATION AND CORRELATION BETWEEN SEED SIZE, STARCH CONTENT AND ITS COMPOSITION IN CHICKPEA
ABSTRACT:
A study was undertaken to estimate correlation coefficient between seed size, starch content and its composition together with the estimation of genetic variability in a range of chickpea genotypes. Among the 15 chickpea genotypes of diverse origin analyzed highly significant differences which ranged from 191 mg to 496 mg were found for weight per seed. Relatively small differences from 38-45 % of seed dry weight were found for total starch whereas values for amylose and amylopectin percentage of starch varied from 32-42 % and 58-68 % respectively. Within genotype variation for starch content and amylose percentage was insignificant which could be due to experimental error. However, there were considerable differences within genotype for seed sIze in almost all the lines. The correlation between seed size and starch content and compsition was negligible although positive and there was no association between starch percentage and amylose percentage of starch.

GROWTH AND NITROGEN NUTRITION OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) IN SOIL TREATED WITH N-SERVE AND A NITRIFICATION INHIBITING INSECTICIDE
ABSTRACT:
A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of N-Serve (nitrification inhibitor) and Baythroid (an insecticide with strong inhibitory effect on nitrification in soil) on dry matter yield and N uptake of rice (Oryza sativa L). N-Serve was applied @ 1.1, 4.4 mg kg-1 soil and Baythroid @ 1.6 and 6.4 mg kg-1 soil, either alone or together with 15 N-labelled (NH4 )2 SO4 @ 200 mg kg-1 soil. Both N-Serve and Baythroid caused an increase in the dry matter yield of root and shoot portions, with significant decrease in the grain weight. There was no significant effect of either inhibitor on total dry matter yield and N uptake. Nitrogen yield and dry matter yield were significantly correlated in different treatments.

EFFECT OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH OF SESBANIA BISPINOSA
ABSTRACT:
Effect of nitrogen in the form of urea @ 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50kg N ha-1 by broadcast application, on the growth of Sesbania bispinosa (Dhancha) was studied. An increase in plant height at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after germination was observed with maximum @ 50 kg N ha-1 in the first cutting and @40 kg N ha-1 in the last three cuttings. Maximum increase in air dry and oven dry weight was found at harvesting where 50 kg N ha-1 was used.

SULPHATE ACQUISITION BY SUNFLOWER FROM ROOT MEDIUM WITH VARIABLE pH
ABSTRACT:
A controlled conditions study on sunflower grown in root medium with a pH range of 4.5 to 8.5 revealed a consistent growth improvement with the rise in root medium pH. Similarly, the sulphate concentration of root and shoot consistently increased with the increase in root medium pH. The same trend was observed in the total sulphate uptake by sunflower shoot. A significant positive correlation between biomass accumulation and sulphate uptake by sunflower shoot indicated the distinct role of sulphur in optimum growth of this non conventional oil seed crop of Pakistan.

EFFECT OF HUMIDITY ON GROWTH OF LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA, VAR. GREAT LAKES) UNDER SALINE CONDITION
ABSTRACT:
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Great Lakes) grown in soil irrigated with water of different salinities maintained with 0-72mM NaCI showed greater leaf area, shoot / root ratio and dry weight when kept at 92/100% night and day R.H., as compared to 62/82% R.H. No significant difference'in the rate of assimilation or stomatal conductance was found in plants grown at high and low R.H.

DIFFERENTIAL WATER IMBIBITION IN WHEAT VARIETIES RELATED TO GERMINATION
ABSTRACT:
Ten different wheat varieties viz., Rohtas-90, Pirsabak-90, Mehran-89, Chakwal-86, Inqalab-91, Sutlaj86, Sariab-92, LU-26, Rawal-87 and Yecora- 70 were compared for 'water imbibition for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours and germination. Chakwal-86 showed maximum water imbibition during first two hours of soaking with Sutlaj-86 the least. Drying the seeds after soaking improved the germination potential. Germination Rate Index in Yecora - 70 was maximum both in soaked and conditioned seeds. Soaking time did not affect the GRI but after conditioning, six hours soaking proved the best treatment for better germination.

USE OF PROSOPIS SPP., IN THE CONTROL OF ROOT INFECTING FUNGI ON OKRA
ABSTRACT:
Soil amendment with Prosopis juliflora, P.glandulosa, P. cinererea and neem cake significantly (p<0,05) controlled the infection of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani on okra roots. Combined use of Prosopis spp., with Verticillium chlamydosporium and Paecilomyces lilacinus showed better control of root infecting fungi than their separate use. Greater plant height and fresh weight of shoot was produced by V. chlamydosporium used with neem cake. P. cinererea used alone also significantly (p < 0.05) increased plant height and fresh weight of shoot. Prosopis spp., can therefore, be exploited for the control of root infecting fungi.

ADDITIONS TO THE RUST FLORA OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
More than 300 taxa of the rust fungi (Uredinales) have been reported from Pakistan. (Ahmad, 1956 a,b, 1969, 1976; Jorstad & Iqbal, 1967; Gjaerum & Iqbal, 1969; Mirza & Qureshi, 1978; Khalid et al., 1993, 1995; Masood et al., 1995; Khalid & Iqbal, 1996; Okane et al., 1992; Ono, 1992; Ono & Kakishima, 1992; Kakishima, 1992; Kakishima et al., 1993 a,b; Kaneko, 1993). Four taxa of the rust fungi viz., Puccinia caricis-flicinae Barclay, P. crepidicola Syd., P. sessilis W.G. Schneider var. sessilis and Uromyces fragilipes Tranz., are reported as new records for Pakistan.

TESTING OF FUNGICIDES FOR THE CONTROL OF LOOSE SMUT OF WHEAT
ABSTRACT:
Loose smut of wheat caused by Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr., is one of the major diseases of wheat in wheat growing countries of the world. Upto 7 % losses in wheat variety Kalyansona have been recorded in India (Joshi et al., 1973) whereas, an incidence of 1-2% has been reported in Pakistan (Kamal & Moghal, 1968; Hafiz, 1986; Khan et al., 1992). In 1981-82, the severity of loose smut in "some fields of Pakistan reached upto 15% (Khanzada & Aslam, 1982). Bhutta & Ahmed (1991) recorded upto 0.2 % infection of loose smut in some areas of Punjab and suggested treatment of seed lots for the production of disease-free certified seeds. Seed dressing with fenufuran (Panoram) and tridimenol (Baytan) @ 2 to 4 g/kg seed provided complete control of loose smut of wheat while carboxin (Vitavax) did not show consistent results (Khanzada & Mathur, 1983). The present report describes the comparative efficacy of 3 systemic fungicides used at different dosage for the control of loose smut of wheat.

EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM IN WHEAT
ABSTRACT:
Plants have the capacity to adjust under variable environmental conditions. Water is generally considered as one of the limiting factors which affects the physiological and biochemical processes affecting crop productivity (Boyer, 1982). Nucleic acid metabolism has a major role in the overall performance. Experiments were therefore carried out to study the nucleic acid metabolism in drought tolerant / susceptible wheat genotypes grown under water stress conditions.