Obituary - PROF. DR. S. A. QADIR JUNAIDI
ABSTRACT:
ABDUL GHAFFAR AND S. SHAHID SHAUKAT

CYPSELA MORPHOLOGY OF INULA L. (S.STR.) AND ITS ALLIED GENERA (INULEAE-COMPOSITAE) FROM PAKISTAN AND KASHMIR
ABSTRACT:
The cypsela morphology of 22 species of Inula L. (s.str.) and its allied genera (Pentanema Cass., Duhaldea DC., Dittrichia Greuter and Iphiona Cass.) was examined from Pakistan and Kashmir. Micromorphological characters of cypselae in this group also support the taxonomic decision, except that of the genera Inula L., and Duhaldea DC., which have quite similar type of cypselae and both are placed in one cypselae type which points out the close relationship of both genera as compared to the other genera of this group.

POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN - XXXIV. SAPOTACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of the family Sapotaceae has been examined from Pakistan by light and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains are generally tricolporate, triangular, prolate with striate - rugulate tectum.

A KARYOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION ON SOME RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES OF AMARYLLIDACEAE IN TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
Chromosome number and morphology of three species belonging to Amaryllidaceae viz., Galanthus rizehensis Stern., Leucojum aestivum L., and Pancratium maritimum L., from the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey were analyzed. The chromosome number of P. maritimum and L. aestivum is 2n = 22 while of G. rizehensis it is 2n = 26.

DETERMINING THE HERITABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)
ABSTRACT:
Heritability and relationship of quantitative traits was studied in 36 genotypes of chickpea. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among genotypes for primary branches, secondary branches, plant height, pods per plant, biological and grain yield. The high heritability associated with high genetic advance was recorded for plant height. Moderate heritability associated with high genetic advance was observed for biological yield whereas primary branches, secondary branches and grain yield had low heritability associated with low genetic advance. Number of pods per plant exhibited low heritability with high genetic advance. Low heritability percentage coupled with low and moderate genetic advance, observed for primary and secondary branches respectively, indicated that these traits were greatly influenced by environment. The genotypic association of primary branches with grain yield was negative. Their phenotypic correlation was however, positive and non-significant. The genotypic correlation of secondary branches with grain yield was positive. A positive and non-significant relationship between primary branches and pods per plant was obtained. The relationship between number of pods and biological yield was positive and highly significant; both of these traits had significant and positive correlation with grain yield. On the basis of these results it can be suggested that plant height, number of pods per plant and biological yield may be given more importance while making selection for higher yield potential in chickpea.

PERFORMANCE OF PROMISING SUGARCANE CLONE FOR YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERS II. STABILITY STUDIES
ABSTRACT:
A new sugarcane clone AEC81-8415, generated from seed (fuzz) of a croos combination of NCo 310 x CP56-614, imported from ARS, USDA, Canal Point, Florida, USA, alongwith other genotypes was evaluated for the stability of its performance for three economic characters at three different locations in the province of Sindh for two consecutive years. Significant (P<0.01) differences were observed in genotypes and locations x genotypes interactions for the three traits i.e. cane yield, CCS and sugar yield which indicated the presence of genetic variability amongst the genotypes and differential response of genotypes to environments. High mean performance of AEC81-8415 with 'b' values greater than 1.00 for cane and sugar yield while lesser than 1.00 for CCS (%) indicated its potential to take advantage of favourable environmental conditions for yield while unfavourable environmental conditions for quality characters.

PLANT REGENERATION FROM HYPOCOTYL CULTURE OF PEGANUM HARMALA
ABSTRACT:
Conditions for plant regeneration from excised hypocotyl of Peganum harmala were studied. Complete plants were regenerated directly from hypocotyl segments on MS medium supplemented with BAP, Kinetin and NAA. Multiple shoots were regenerated from 87% of explants. Addition of thiamine hydrochloride to the culture medium, increased the number of explants which regenerated and the number of shoots per explant. Regenerated shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with or without NAA. The morphology of whole plants were similar to the original plants.

LEAF EPIDERMAL ANATOMY OF SELECTED DIGITARIA SPECIES, TRIBE PANICEAE, FAMILY POACEAE OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Anatomical studies of both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of leaf epidermis of the selected Digitaria species showed variations in size and shapes of prickles, short cells, silica bodies, microhairs with basal and distal cells, hooks, stomates and long cells. Leaf epidermal anatomy was found to be an important tool for identification of Digitaria spp. The average lengths of the organelles of leaf epidermises were more clear difference between the species than considering their full ranges of length and breadth. Cross shaped silica bodies were found in D. abludens (av. length less than 15 µm), D. setigera and D. violascens (av. length less than 20 µm), dumb-bell to cross shaped in D. nodosa and D. sanguinalis ssp. vulgaris var. glabra while dumb-bell shaped in D. ciliaris, D. ischaemum and D. radicosa.

HEAT ACCLIMATION POTENTIAL OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE OF COTTON CULTIVARS
ABSTRACT:
Cotton cultivars Qalandri and MNH-93 were analysed for their heat acclimation potential. The 8-12 days old leaves were given repeated hardening treatments at 42°C for 2h for upto 7 days and after every treatment the leaves were heat stressed at 44°C for 2h. The heat acclimation potential was analysed after 24h recovery period at 30°C. The results showed that cv. MNH-93 has fairly good acclimation potential than cv. Qalandri by recovering 63% Fv/Fm ratio as compared 50% in cv. Qalandri indicating that adaptive changes in PS-II were more effective in cv. MNH-93 than cv. Qalandri.

PHENOLICS CONTENT IN ASTRAGALUS SPECIES
ABSTRACT:
The content of total phenolics in roots, leaflets and seeds of a number of Astragalus species from Iran was examined. Phenolics content of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the species were determined spectrophotometrically. Phenolics content depend on factors such as the species, geographical location of the plants and the organs. Moreover, the content of phenolics depends on the extraction solvents. Phenolics content in roots and leaflets of the species using aqueous extracts varied from 0.13-0.80 and 0.63-5.16% dry weight, respectively while using methanolic extracts ranged from 0.25-0.95 and 0.52-3.75% dry weight, respectively. Generally, the content of phenolics in leaflets was higher than that of the roots and seeds. In this paper the content of the phenolics in various species of Astragalus is reported for the first time.

FLAVONOID PATTERNS IN CONVOLVULUS L., (CONVOLVULACEAE) SPECIES FROM MOROCCO
ABSTRACT:
This study was undertaken to document the distribution of chemical components and determine whether phytochemical characters support the delimitation of the taxa in the genus Convolvulus L., from Morocco. Twenty taxa from the genus were investigated for their flavonoid aglycone constituents. The flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, the flavone luteolin and the hydroxycoumarin cichoriin were identified. It was seen that the aglycone pattern is useful for the delimitation of some species in the genus and correlate with morphological features. The flavonoid glycosides identified from Convolvulus mazicum were isorhamnetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-glucoside and 3-galactoside and luteolin 5-glucoside.

OPTIMIZATION OF CONDITIONS FOR ELECTROFUSION IN SUGARCANE PROTOPLASTS
ABSTRACT:
Somatic hybridization studies were performed using leaf mesophyll as well as homogeneous cell suspension-derived protoplasts in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid cvs. CoL-54 and CP-43/33). The conditions standardized for electrofusion were 40 V of primary voltage for 30 seconds of AC for pearl chain formation and 2.0 KV cm-1 for 20 mS in DC, 4 times with repeat intervals of 5S for fusion. About 60% of the protoplasts underwent fusion event (pearl chain formation) and single pair fusion was observed in about 21% of the protoplasts. Microcalluses from such protoplasts were successfully achieved on KM8P-K8P medium after 20 days of culture.

MANGROVES OF MIANI HOR LAGOON ON THE NORTH ARABIAN SEA COAST OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
The mangrove stand of Miani Hor, a subtropical lagoon located within the coastal belt of Pakistan bordering North Arabian sea, is small yet the most diverse in the area and comparable with other mangrove stands of the world. Of the 3 species viz., Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. Rhizophora mucronata Lam., and Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Robinson present in the area, the first two were found to be dominant. Their zonation pattern is not uniform but changes with the topography of the habitat. The mangroves are facing serious problems of over exploitation and progressive sedimentation in the lagoon.

BALL FORMING EPIPHYTIC ALGA CLADOPHORA COELOTHRIX KÜTZING ON PNEUMATOPHORES OF AVICENNIA MARINA (FORSSK.) VIERH.
ABSTRACT:
Occurrence of Cladophora coelothrix Kützing on pneumatophores of gray mangrove Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., was observed which has not been reported before. The species formed ball like algal mass clasping firmly to the protruding slender aerial roots.

MOVEMENT OF BEET CURLY TOP VIRUS OUT OF PHLOEM CELLS IN BEAN PLANTS CO-INFECTED WITH TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS
ABSTRACT:
Pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cultivar ouray, was inoculated with beet curly top virus (BCTV) at the crook neck seedling stage using beet leafhoppers (Circulifer tenellus Baker). After 7-10 days, primary leaves of each plant were rub-inoculated with one of two isolates of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). These plants were routinely infected by both viruses. Infection with BCTV did not affect TMV movement or symptoms. TMV remained confined in the local lesions and could not be detected in systemic tissue by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), tissue blotting, or by local lesion assay. In contrast, infection with TMV did affect BCTV infection. Severe BCTV symptom developed in the growing points of bean plants that were also infected with TMV while relatively mild BCTV symptoms developed on plants infected with BCTV only. Concentration of BCTV in plants infected by both viruses was 8-10 fold higher than in plants infected with BCTV only. Using tissue-blotting ELISA, it was demonstrated that BCTV escaped the phloem and invaded the parenchyma cells of both shoots and roots in plants infected by both BCTV and TMV. However, BCTV remained confined to phloem tissue in plants infected only with BCTV. No difference was observed between two TMV isolates used regarding their effectiveness in enhancing the concentration of BCTV in systemic leaf tissue and in roots of co-infected plants. When plants were first inoculated on primary leaves with TMV and later inoculated with BCTV, neither control nor test plants were systemically infected by BCTV.

PRODUCTION OF AFLATOXINS IN SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND SEED SUBSTRATE BY SCLEROTIAL AND NON-SCLEROTIAL STRAINS OF ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS
ABSTRACT:
Sclerotial strains of Aspergillus flavus showed greater aflatoxin production as compared to non-sclerotial strains. There was significant correlation with number of sclerotia used for inoculation of sunflower seed substrate and the amount of aflatoxins produced. High seed moisture and high storage temperature favoured the production of aflatoxin in sunflower seeds during storage, whereas low seed moisture (6%) and low storage temperature (4oC) suppressed mould growth and subsequent aflatoxin production.