Obituary - DR. MOHAMMAD ASLAM (1938-2002)
ABSTRACT:
Dr. Mohammad Aslam, an eminent Plant Pathologist of Pakistan, died of heart failure on 29 May 2002. He was buried at Haripur. May God Almighty shower His choicest blessings upon the departed soul and may his soul rest in peace in heaven. Amen.

POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN - XXXIX. PLUMBAGINACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 10 species representing 4 genera of the family Plumbaginaceae from Pakistan have been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Plumbaginaceae is a eurypalynous family. Pollen grains are generally free, radially symmetrical, isopolar, colpate. Shape of pollen grains are sub-oblate to oblate-spheroidal. Sexine thicker or as thick as nexine. Tectum reticulate or bacculate.

STUDIES ON THE POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS ARABIDOPSIS (BRASSICACEAE) FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 8 species of the genus Arabidopsis (Brassicaceae) from Pakistan has been examined by light microscopy. Pollen grains are usually prolate to subprolate with 3-4 colpate, syncolpate and reticulate tectum. However the species show variation in length of colpi and thickness of exine.

NEW SYNTAXA FROM THE WEST PART OF CENTRAL ANATOLIA
ABSTRACT:
Three plant communities in Central Anatolia are named, classified and briefly described. All the associations in the study area were attached to a new suballiance: Ebeno hirsutae-Thymenion leucostomi in the alliance Convolvulo holosericei-Ajugion salicifoliae Akman, Ketenoglu, Quézel & Demirörs (1984) belonging to the order Onobrychido armenae-Thymetalia leucostomi Akman, Ketenoglu & Quézel (1985) and the class Astragalo microcephali-Brometea tomentelli Quézel (1973). This suballiance is formed by steppe communities spreading on the calcareous soils between Cihanbeyli (Konya) and Çifteler (Eskisehir) located in the west part of Central Anatolia.

TAXONOMIC STUDY OF CHROOCOPHYCEAE (CYANOPHYTA) FROM NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Forty-six species of planktonic, edaphic, epipsammic, epioikotic, epilithic and epiphytic blue-green algae belonging to the class Chroocophyceae have been collected from various freshwater habitats in the Districts of Attock, Gujranwala, Jhang, Jhelum, Khushab, Lahore, Sargodha, Sheikhupura and Sialkot of the province of the Punjab, from Bahrain and Kalam (Swat) in the province of N.W.F.P. as well as from Chenari, Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir during different seasons from March 1996 to August 2000. They were taxonomically investigated and found to belong to two orders, three families and eleven genera. Johannesbaptistia and Stichosiphon were represented by a single species, Aphanothece, Gleothece and Synechocystis by two, Synechococcus by three, Aphanocapsa by four, Microcystis by six and Chroococcus and Merismopedia by eight species. Gloeocapsa exhibited the largest diversity with ten

TAXONOMIC STUDY OF ANABAINA BORY (NOSTOCOPHYCEAE, CYANOPHYTA) FROM NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Specimens of the blue-green alga, Anabaina Bory de Saint-Vincent (=Anabaena Bory) have been collected from various freshwater habitats in the districts of Gujranwala, Jauharabad, Khushab, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot from the province of the Punjab and from Kalam (Swat) in the province of NWFP at different seasons of the year. They were taxonomically investigated and found to belong to 16 species.

SELECTION CRITERIA IN F3 AND F4 POPULATION OF MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA (L.)WILCZEK)
ABSTRACT:
Five cross combinations of mungbean viz., NM 92 x NM 51,NM 92 x Pusa Baisakhi, NM 92 x NM 93, NM 92 x CV. 6601 and CV. 6601 x NM 92 in F3 and F4 generations were studied for genetic parameters and direct and indirect effects of different morphological traits on yield. Based on results of genetic parameters, populations of CV. 6601 x NM 92 and NM 92 x Pusa Baisakhi for pods per plant and NM 92 x CV. 6601 for 100 seed weight in F3and NM 92 x CV. 6601, NM 92 x NM 93, and CV. 6601 x NM 92 in F4 showed additive type of genes as the said traits in these particular cross combinations contain high heritability values combined with high genetic advance. Population of NM 92 x Pusa Baisakhi, NM 92 x NM 51, NM 92 x NM 93 and NM 92 x CV. 6601 in F3 and NM 92 x CV. 6601, NM 92 x Pusa Baisakhi, CV. 6601 x NM 92 and NM 92 x NM 51 in F4 showed positive direct effects for branches per plant, pods per plant

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SOME SEED TRAITS, LABORATORY GERMINATION AND FIELD EMERGENCE IN COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.) GENOTYPES
ABSTRACT:
A study was carried out to investigate the relationships among percentage water absorption during imbibition, leaching of electrolytes from seeds into steep water, germination and field emergence of 21 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes differing in testa colour. Water absorption rate of cowpea seeds during imbibition and electrical conductivity (EC) of steep water were determined at 1

IMPROVED BRASSICA NAPUS L., REGENERATION FROM HYPOCOTYLS USING THIDIAZURON AND BENZYLADENINE AS CYTOKININ SOURCES
ABSTRACT:
Abstarct: A reproducible system to produce regenerated Brassica napus L., plants has been developed using hypocotyl explants. Different concentrations of Benzyladenine (1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mg l-1) and Thidiazuron (0, 0.15 and 0.30 mg l-1) were evaluated for shoot regeneration using 7

IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF SUPERIOR BANANA PHENOTYPES IN THE CULTIVAR DWARF CAVENDISH USING AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND RAPD MARKERS
ABSTRACT:
Banana production in Turkey occurs in those regions with a subtropical environment. However, there have not been any studies on the identification of superior types via intra-varietal selection. The aim of this study was to identify banana off-types resulting from spontaneous mutations in field and greenhouse grown 'Dwarf Cavendish' banana. Mutations were identified based on the occurrence of altered agronomic parameters and via genetic polymorphisms as detected by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Phenotypic characters evaluated included stem circumference, plant height, leaf number at the flowering stage, bunch stalk circumference, number of fruit hands and fruit number, bunch weight, and fruit circumference and length. Selection studies resulted in identification of 48 off-types; 17 of them were identified in the field and 31 in the greenhouse. Eight of the selected off-types (2 from the field and 6 from the greenhouse) showed high levels of stability for various agronomic characteristics over a 3-year period of observation. These off-types displayed higher levels of variability for morphological characters affecting yield than the control 'Dwarf Cavendish.' Genetic similarities between the types ranged from 0.550 to 0.913 and genetic differences from 0.088 to 0.413, as determined by RAPD analysis. The high levels of genetic polymorphism among banana types indicated that the RAPD technique can be useful in evaluating banana intra-varietal genetic variation. Types 'Alanya 5', 'Gazipasa 11', 'Gazipasa 15', 'Anamur 10', 'Anamur 8' and 'Anamur 12' had the greatest similarities, whereas 'Alanya 5' and the control 'Dwarf Cavendish' were the most distant types. Results indicated that selections on banana grown in subtropical conditions allowed identifying the superior types in terms of yield and quality.

KARYOTYPING, C- AND NOR BANDING OF ALLIUM SATIVUM L. (LILIACEAE) CULTIVATED IN TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
The cytological features including chromosome number, karyotypic characteristics, C-banding and silver NOR-banding were investigated in a local cultivar of Allium sativum L., from Turkey. Actual lengths, relative lengths, L/S arm ratios of mitotic chromosomes were calculated from best six metaphase plates. Only Chromosome 5 was submedian, all the others were median. C-banding was observed on 4 chromosomes. Bands were centromeric on Chromosome 1 and 4, located to the neighbourhood of the secondary constrictions on Chromosome 5 and were interstitial close to centromere on Chromosome 8. Darkly stained silver nitrate bandings were present in the NORs of Chromosome 5 and 7, on Chromosome 1 and 8 in some cells.

PERFORMANCE OF OILSEED BRASSICA IN DIFFERENT WATER REGIME
ABSTRACT:
Ten different varieties of Brassica napus L., were treated with three different water regimes, single irrigation applied at flowering stage, two irrigations at flowering and pod formation and three irrigations at flowering, pod formation and at maturity stage. Con-III matures early from all the entries indicating that it can escape high temperature stress prevailing at later stage of the crop season. The variety Hyola-42 showed better performance under single irrigation indicating that it has drought tolerance under phenotypic observation than all other entries under study.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION INTERVALS ON GROWTH OF CANOLA (BRASSICA NAPUS L.) UNDER DIFFERENT SALINITY LEVELS
ABSTRACT:
Effect of different irrigation intervals on the growth of canola cv. Oscar under saline water irrigation of different sea salt concentrations was investigated. Plants were subjected to control (non-saline), 0.4 (EC 4.5 dS.m-1) and 0.6% (EC 6.5 dS.m-1) of sea salt concentrations. Vegetative growth was recorded in terms of plant height, number of leaves and branches, fresh and dry shoot biomass per plant, while reproductive growth was noted in terms of number of flowers and siliquae per plant; siliquae weight; seed number and weight per siliquae; seed number and weight per plant. Plant growth on vegetative as well as reproductive phases was proportionately inhibited with respect to increasing salinity in irrigation water. Vegetative and reproductive growth of the plants was much reduced under 6 days irrigation interval as compared to 2 or 4 days irrigation interval under non-saline as well as saline water irrigation.

GROWTH RESPONSE OF COTTON CULTIVARS TO ZINC DEFICIENCY STRESS IN CHELATOR-BUFFERED NUTRIENT SOLUTION
ABSTRACT:
Growth response of eight cotton cultivars to Zn stress was assessed in chelator-buffered nutrient solution. Pre-germinated seedlings were grown in half strength modified Johnson's nutrient solution at adequate and deficient levels of Zn. Zinc deficiency was induced by adding 50 µM di-ethylene tri-amine penta acetic acid (DTPA) in addition to all micronutrient concentrations. Shoot and root growth for the various cotton cultivars was significantly different at both levels of Zn supply in the growth medium. A typical Zn deficiency symptom of inward curling of top leaves was evident in cotton cultivars grown with chelator-buffered nutrient solution (Zn deficient). Two cotton cultivars viz., FH-900 and VH-137, produced higher biomass and better Zn utilization. Zinc concentration in cotton shoots grown at deficient level of Zn was less than its critical concentration of 20 mg kg-1 which was several folds lower than its concentration estimated for those grown at adequate Zn level. The study also depicted successful induction of Zn deficiency in cotton in hydroponics by DTPA, indicating its suitability for screening crop cultivars for micronutrient stress particularly for Zn deficiency.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ASTRAGALUS: CARBOHYDRATES AND MUCILAGE CONTENT
ABSTRACT:
This study was conducted to determine the content of carbohydrates and mucilage in roots and leaflets of different Astragalus species for the first time from Iran. The content of reducing sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in roots of the species were determined spectrophoto-metrically. The content and sugar composition of the mucilages in leaflets was determined by gravimetry and gas-liquid chromatography, respectively. According to the results of this research, the content of sugars in roots and mucilage in leaflets depends on the factors such as the species and geographical location of the plants. Reducing sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides content in roots of the species varied from 0.11-0.90

CHANGES IN SUGAR COMPOSITION IN CHERRY LAUREL (CV OXYGEMMIS) FRUIT DURING DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENING
ABSTRACT:
Changes in the soluble sugar composition in cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis 'Oxygemmis') fruit during development and ripening were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The sugars identified and quantified in the fruit were fructose, glucose and sucrose, and sorbitol as sugar alcohol. Fructose and glucose were the major sugars while sucrose were in much lesser amounts. From 23 to 58 days after flowering (DAF), the levels of fructose and glucose started to decrease rapidly and reached to a minimum level of 1.3 and 0.8% of fresh weight, respectively. The decrease in these two sugar levels followed an increase in fructose and glucose levels beginning from 65 to 86 DAFs as 23.6 and 20.8% of fresh weight, respectively. The level of sorbitol decreased to a minimum value at 51 DAF, and then increased rapidly after 58 DAF to its highest level as 13.4% of fresh weight. Besides these sugars sucrose was not detected between 23 and 44 DAFs, but increased rapidly until 58 DAF and then decreased after this stage. The rapid increase in the levels of fructose, glucose and sorbitol were determined from 79 to 86 DAFs which is the harvest season of this cultivar.

LIPID STUDIES OF CUMINUM CYMINUM FIXED OIL
ABSTRACT:
The yield of solvent extracted oil of Cuminum cyminum was 18.7%. The oil was classified into hydrocarbon 1%, wax esters 1%, sterol ester 25%, triglycerides 55%

FATTY ACID PATTERNS OF THE SEED OILS OF SOME LATHYRUS SPECIES L. (PAPILIONIDEAE) FROM TURKEY, A CHEMOTAXONOMIC APPROACH
ABSTRACT:
Seed oils of 16 Lathyrus (Fabaceae) species belonging to different sections viz., Cicercula, Orobastrum, Orobon, Platystylis, Lathyrus and Pratensis were investigated for their fatty acid composition with gas liquid chromatography. Unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic and oleic acid comprised more than 50 % of seed oil. The fatty acid composition of the studied Lathyrus taxa were found as identical qualitatively, but some quantitative differences were observed in infrasectional and interspecific level. Linoleic acid was found major component as unsaturated fatty acid (average 48 %). Oleic and linolenic acid were the second highest major unsaturated fatty acid components. On average, palmitic acid was the major saturated acid present (average 14 %). Lathyrus species showed linoleic - palmitic acid type FA patterns. Similar conclusions were detected in the sectional classifications of Lathyrus sp., as reported earlier. The results obtained from this study were discussed with the genera and family patterns. Some differences were determined in the main type fatty acid in family patterns in particular subfamily Mimosoideae and Caeselpinioideae. Chemotaxonomic and renewable resources implications of the components of fatty acids and plant taxa are discussed.

PHENOL RESISTANT BACTERIA FROM SOIL: IDENTIFICATION-CHARACTERIZATION AND GENETICAL STUDIES
ABSTRACT:
Phenol and its derivatives are highly toxic and a source of serious environmental concern. The present study was undertaken to isolate and characterize the phenol resistant bacteria from indigenous soil (rhizosphere). Thirty soil bacterial isolates were identified and screened for phenol resistance. Four of these strains (belonging to genera Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Bacillus, and Proteus) were found resistant to 15mM of phenol. Growth kinetic patterns and generation time of these phenol resistant strains were determined. At extremely stressful conditions (glucose starved minimal medium with different molarities of phenol) the generation time was considerably extended. However, Bacillus subtilis found an optimum C:N ratio in minimal medium with 0.1mM phenol with a generation time of 174 minutes (several times shorter than the generation time of other sister resistant strains). Location of phenol resistant genes was determined by acridine orange mediated plasmid curing. Interestingly, all the resistant isolates lost the characteristic (to resist phenol) after curing thereby indicating the plasmid genes being responsible for this property. Plasmid DNA isolated from the uncured strains was transferred into the cured competent recipient cells. Stable intrageneric transfer of phenol resistance plasmid gene(s) was observed.

EFFECT OF POULTRY MANURE AND SAWDUST ON SURVIVAL OF SCLEROTIA OF MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA IN SOIL
ABSTRACT:
Using wet sieving and dilution technique, the sclerotial population of Macrophomina phaseolina in soil amended with poultry manure and sawdust was studied. Sclerotial population of M. phaseolina declined after 15-day period where poultry manure @ 1, 3 and 5%w/w was used. No significant change in sclerotial population was observed where sawdust was used.

PATHOGENIC DIVERSITY IN ASCOCHYTA RABIEI ISOLATES COLLECTED FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Pathogenecity of 42 isolates derived from single spore cultures representing 15 collecting sites of Pakistan were studied on 7 chickpea varieties. The isolates exhibited variation in morphological and cultural characteristics. Chickpea varieties C-727 and C 44 revealed high degree of susceptibility and suggested to be used as susceptible checks for screening experiments. The factor analysis revealed that first principal component (PC) was more related to blight reaction, second PC contributed more for isolate colony colour. The variability for other morphological traits was distributed among all the three components. The first PC was a weighted average of all the variables. Two clusters were observed using UPGMA that was able to separate A. rabiei isolates on the basis of virulence or aggressiveness. The virulent isolates gave same intensity of infection, whereas others were observed with varying degrees of infection. Multivariate analyses were able to distinguish isolates on the basis of virulence rather than origin or morphological/cultural characterization. The susceptible differentials were identified but no variety could be established as resistant that might be due to complex nature of A. rabiei. The situation suggests to modify chickpea breeding for blight resistance and to use multiple crosses to build resistance pyramids involving parents with known level of tolerance. Clustering pattern indicated the exchange of breeding material and disease cultures among the researchers or high heterogeneity in the isolates.

DIVERSITY OF BIPOLARIS SOROKINIANA ISOLATES FROM WHEAT GROWING AREAS UNDER RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
A survey was conducted for the assessment of foliar blight of wheat in main rice-wheat cropping areas of the Punjab province, Pakistan. The foliar fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana was isolated from leaf samples. Isolates of B. sorokiniana were classified according to their aggressive behavior based on disease severity scale. B. sorokiniana isolates showed foliar blight symptoms on wheat but not on rice. Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) was used to study the genetic variation within the populations of the fungus. A correlation study was carried out with the help of five primers viz., P1 (5´-AGGAGGACCC-3´), P2 (5´-ACGAGGGACT-3´), PE7 (5´-AGATGCAGCC-3´), P14 (5´-CCACAGCACG-3´) and PE20 (5´-AACGGTGACC-3´). A tree was constructed based on the pattern of bands which highlighted the correlation between morphological, aggressiveness and genetic variations of B. sorokiniana.

NEW RECORDS OF MICROFUNGI FROM TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
Plasmopara pusilla (de Bary) Schröter, Peronospora ranunculi Gaüm, Hormotheca robertiani (Fr.) Höhnel., Melampsora apocyni Tranzchel, Melampsora magnuisiana Wagn. ex. Kleb., Sporonema punctiforme (Fuckel) Hoehnel., Sporonema phacidioides Desm., Septoria euphorbia Kalchbr., were collected for the first time in Turkey. Short descriptions of fungi are given with their collection sites.

PISOLITHUS TINCTORIUS, A NEW RECORD FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Pisolithus tinctorius is recorded for the first time from Karachi, Pakistan. This species is characterized by production of brown, spiny spores, 8.8 µm in diam., excluding spines which are up to 1 µm in length. Sporocarps of the fungus were collected during summer from the sandy soil, mostly around the root zone of Eucalyptus trees growing in Karachi University Campus.

RE-DESCRIPTION OF PYTHIUM ADHAERENS SPARROW
ABSTRACT:
A Pythium species with filamentous non-inflated sporangia, smooth oogonia of moderate size, aplerotic oospores and diclinous antheridia was isolated and identified from Pakistan. This species very closely resembles P. adhaerens Sparrow. The species is re-described and illustrated.

CYTOPLEASTRUM GEN. NOV., AN ADDITION TO COELOMYCETES FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
Cytopleastrum gen. nov., and Cytopleastrum salvadorae belonging to Coelomycetes are illustrated, described and compared with related taxa.

ANOMALOUS AERIAL ROOTS IN GREY MANGROVES OF AN ARID CLIMATE LAGOON
ABSTRACT:
The mangrove genus Avicennia possesses pencil like aerial roots called pneumatophores which are first order laterals of the subterranean cable roots and protrude vertically above the sediment surface (Chapman