Obituary - DR. AZRA QURAISHI (1945-2002)
ABSTRACT:
Dr. Azra Quraishi an eminent tissue culturist, Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Director General, Agriculture Biotechnology Institute, NARC/PARC, Islamabad died on 22nd November 2002 (16 Ramadan 1423) after a brief illness. She was buried in Rawalpindi by the side of her mother Salma Begum. May God Almighty shower His choicest blessings upon the departed soul and may her soul rest in eternal peace in heaven (Ameen).

POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN -XXII. OXALIDACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 3 species of the genus Oxalis L., (Oxalidaceae), from Pakistan has been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains usually radially symmetrical, isopolar or apolar, prolate-subprolate, rarely oblate - spheroidal, colpate. Sexine thinner or thicker than nexine. Tectum reticulate. On the basis of pollen shape

STUDIES ON THE POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS ALYSSUM (BRASSICACEAE) FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 7 species of the genus Alyssum belonging to the family Brassicaceae have been examined by light microscope. Pollen grains are usually isopolar; tricolpate with reticulate tectum. It is a stenopalynous genus. However, the species of this genus show little variation in shape, size colpi length and exine pattern. Hence the palynological characters are significant at specific level.

ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION FROM LEAF EXPLANTS OF KAKROL CULTURED IN VITRO
ABSTRACT:
Adventitious shoot bud differentiation occurred from the petiolar cut ends of leaf explants of Momordica dioica (Roxb.) Willd.. cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of BA and NAA. The best response of shoot proliferation was obtained in medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BA and 0.2 mg/l NAA. Direct and indirect (via callus) shoot bud differentiation were observed. After 3 weeks of culture, calli were transferred onto the MS medium supplemented with aforesaid growth regulator for bud regeneration. Rooting was induced with 1.0 mg/l BA and plantlets were survived successfully to field condition. This is the first description of adventitious bud regeneration from leaf explants of kakrol.

MICROPROPAGATION OF POLIANTHUS TUBEROSA (TUBEROSE) THROUGH CALLUS FORMATION
ABSTRACT:
Callus was induced from bulb pieces and in vitro formed shoot buds in Polianthus tuberosa Willd., on Murashige & Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with BAP and 2,4-D. Maximum callus induction from bulb pieces was 70% at 0.5 mg/l each of BAP and 2,4-D. Shoot buds showed 100% callus induction at 1.0 mg/l each of BAP and 2,4-D. Shoot regeneration response was observed only in buds derived callus. Highest number of shoots were regenerated from the callus at 3.0 mg/l of BAP. Best root development was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l NAA. Plantlets obtained were successfully transferred to the field with 100% survival rate.

INTERTIDAL CYANOBACTERIAL DIVERSITY ON A ROCKY SHORE AT BULEJI NEAR KARACHI, PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
The present study describes the species diversity of cyanobacteria on a rocky shore at Buleji near Karachi. Species of cyanobacteria were recorded from the surface sediments (edaphic), rock surfaces (epilithic), in rock-pool and open seawater. A total of 109 species were observed and classified under four orders and 24 genera. Eighty five species recorded in this study are new records for intertidal cyanobacteria from Pakistan. About 50% of observed cyanobacteria appeared to inhabit only one niche. A difference in the distribution and diversity of cyanobacteria was also observed with respect to tidal height. Three types of enriched media were employed to boost growth of less abundant cyanobacterial species. A high diversity of cyanobacteria from intertidal environment was observed.

HYDROCARBON DEGRADATION BY MARINE BACTERIA: SCREENING AND GENETIC MANIPULATION
ABSTRACT:
Forty marine bacterial isolates from Karachi coast were screened for hydrocarbon degradation. All the three solid hydrocarbons (biphenyl, naphthalene and phenanthrene) were degraded by 63% of the marine isolates, two were degraded by 25%, while one was degraded by 8% of these bacteria. The five liquid hydrocarbons (benzene, heptane, octane, toluene and xylene) were degraded by 13% of the marine isolates, while 27% isolates could degrade four hydrocarbons. About 10% marine isolates degraded all the solid and liquid hydrocarbons, whereas 3% could not utilize any form of hydrocarbon. Location of the genetic determinants responsible for degradation was determined by acridine orange mediated curing (plasmid elimination). Hydrocarbon degradation potential was lost after such curing thereby establishing the control of hydrocarbon degradation by plasmid-borne genes. These extrachromosomal plasmid-borne genes were stably transferred to the genuine competent and the cured (donor converted) recipient cells. Interestingly, the transconjugants also acquired the gene transfer potential to other prospective recipients.

SPECIES COMPOSITION, DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF COCCOLITHOPHORIDS IN THE ISTANBUL STRAIT, TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
A first report of the coccolithophorid flora in the phytoplankton of the Istanbul Strait is presented in this paper. Samples were taken with a Nansen bottle at three depths (surface, -5 m, -10 m), on the coast of Istanbul Strait, considering four different areas: Üsküdar, Çengelköy, Kanlica and Beykoz during May 97 and August 1998. Density, biomass and total phytoplankton chlorophyll a content were calculated. During the study period, some physical and chemical parameters were measured. A total of five species of coccolithophorids were observed at sites, however considerable differences were observed in the seasonal fluctuations of density and biomass. A bloom was observed during May 1997. Calyptrosphaera species was the most dominated species followed by Anacanthoica acanthos (Shiller) Deflandre. Biomass, quantified as biovolume, showed a well-defined seasonal patterntransferred to the field with 100% survival rate.

MARINE ALGAE OF KILITBAHIR SHORE (GELIBOLU, ÇANAKKALE, TURKEY)
ABSTRACT:
During a survey of marine algae growing at Kilitbahir coast (Çanakkale Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, Turkey), collection were made at the upper-infralittoral region in 1999. Out of 87 species belonging to the divisions Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta identified, 34 of which are being reported for the first time from the coast of Kilitbahir and 5 from Sea of Marmara. Distribution of the identified specimens according to their orders and mode of occurrence in the algal flora of Kilitbahir shores of Turkey is being presented.

THE HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT GLUTENIN SUBUNIT COMPOSITION OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) LANDRACES FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
The endosperm storage proteins of 127 wheat landraces collected from different parts of Pakistan were fractionated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to determine their high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition. A total of 13 different subunits were found in the present set of wheat germplasm. Of these alleles detected at all the Glu-1 loci, three belong to Glu-A1, five each to Glu B1 and Glu D1 locus. Subunit null controlled by locus Glu-A1

IDENTIFICATION OF SUPERIOR GENOTYPES BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICALAND AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN LOCAL AND EXOTIC COWPEA GERMPLASM
ABSTRACT:
One hundred and thirty eight local as well as exotic accessions of cowpea were characterized and evaluated under field conditions at 33o 42 N latitude and 73o 08 E longitude at an altitude of 540 masl during summer 2000. The germplasm represents three continents (Asia, Africa, North America) and collected germplasm represents a wide ecogeographic range from dry mountainous regions to irrigated plains of Pakistan with altitude ranging from 0 to 1995 masl. Morphological traits (leaf shape, plant type, twinning tendency, flower color, immature pod color, mature pod color) and agronomic characters (chlorophyll contents, leaf area trifoliate-1, days to first flower, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, branches-1, pods plant-1

TOWARDS A SEEDLESS CULTIVAR OF KINNOW MANDARIN 2. VARIATION IN SEED SHAPE AND SEED SIZE
ABSTRACT:
Narrow embryonic leaves are characteristics of seedless cell lines. Narrow embryonic leaves are related to over 20 seed shapes and in small size seeds which have higher frequency of narrow embryonic leaves. The intensity of leaf narrowness varied in different seeds. It seems that more than one factor is involved in seedless trait in cultivars of Kinnow mandarin.

IN VITRO SELECTION FOR SALT TOLERANCE AMONG DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM
ABSTRACT:
An experiment was conducted to study the comparative salt tolerance of 12 different strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (NIFTAL and USDA series) and strains isolated from locally grown soybean nodules collected from 3 different field locations under different salinity levels of sodium chloride (0

SALINITY INDUCED CHANGES IN SOME GROWTH AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF TWO SOYBEAN [GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR.] GENOTYPES
ABSTRACT:
Effect of salt stress on plant biomass production and some biochemical parameters of two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes were investigated under three NaCl salinity levels (control and 3.0, 4.5 and 6.5 dsm-1). Salinity induced a marked reduction in plant height and plant biomass production in both genotypes. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll increased with increase in levels of salinity. A marked increase in sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) contents were observed in response to salinity, whereas potassium (K+) and nitrogen contents of salt stressed plants were lower than that of controls. Genotypes did not differ significantly regarding all the parameters studied.

MORPHOLOGICAL, ANATOMICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDEMIC LILIUM CILIATUM P.H. DAVIS (LILIACEAE ) IN TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
Morphological, anatomical and cytological characteristics of endemic Lilium ciliatum P.H. Davis (Liliaceae) were investigated. Colour of flower with a brown centre and finely spotted in upper part of flower are characteristics for Lilium ciliatum. Cross sections of Lilium ciliatum root, stem, bulb, leaf and flower parts were examined division has been used for cytological studies. Counting the metaphase chromosomes at the root tips, the chromosome number of the Lilium ciliatum was found to be 2n= 24.

ROLE OF POLYPHENOLOXIDASE AND CATALASE IN ASCOCHYTA BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN CHICKPEA
ABSTRACT:
Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and catalase activities in extracts of control and chickpea inoculated with Ascochyta rabiei were measured spectrophotometrically. A significant increase in PPO activity was observed 144 hours (6 days) after inoculation in all the varieties but the increase was higher in resistant varieties viz., CM72 and CM88 as compared to susceptible varieties viz., 6153 and Pb-1. Catalase activity significantly increased in resistant varieties after inoculation with A. rabiei throughout the study period (0-216 hours) but slight decrease was observed during 24-48 hours. Susceptible varieties had a slight increase in catalase activity initially up to 24 hours and then it declined to the levels of enzyme activity present in uninoculated control plants. These observations suggested that both the oxidative enzymes might be involved in defence mechanism of chickpea against Ascochyta blight.

ADDITION TO PHYLLOSTICTA PERSOON FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
History of Phyllosticta is traced and description of the genus is amended in the light of recent developments on conidiogenesis and appendage formation. A new species Phyllosticta sultanii and a new name Phyllosticta ahmadii are described, illustrated and compared with related taxa.