OBITUARY - DR. ABDUL HAFIZ - (1915-2001)
ABSTRACT:
Dr. Abdul Hafiz , an eminent agricultural scientist died of heart attack in Karachi on April 8

POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN -XXIII. POLYGALACEAE
ABSTRACT:
Pollen morphology of 6 species belonging to a single genus Polygala of the family Polygalaceae has been investigated using light microscope and scanning microscope. It is a stenopalynous in nature. Pollen grains usually radially symmetrical, isopolar, prolate-spheroidal to oblate-spheroidal or sub-prolate, polycolporate. Tectum psilate to subpsilate or scabrate often punctate. On the basis of polar length

AN ADDITION TO CYTOSTAGONOSPORA FROM PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
A new species of Cytostagonospora yousufii Abbas, Sutton & Ghaffar is described, illustrated and compared with 4 species of Cytostagonospora.

PEG-MEDIATED SOMATIC HYBRIDIZATION STUDIESIN SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SPP. HYBRID CVS. CoL-54 AND CP-43/33)
ABSTRACT:
Somatic hybridization studies were performed using leaf mesophyll as well as homogeneous cell suspension-derived protoplasts. The optimum results were achieved when leaf mesophyll protoplasts from cv. CP-43/33 and homogeneous cell suspension-derived protoplasts from cv. CoL-54 (at 2.0x10 5 ml-1 final density) were used. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 35% level was found optimum for maximum protoplast agglutination (32%). Maximum heterokaryon formation (17%) was obtained employing 50 mM l-1 CaCl2.2H20 at pH 10.5 as an eluting solution. The hybridized protoplasts were cultured to monitor the divisions and further growth.

GENETIC DIVERSITY IN LOCAL COLLECTIONS OF VIGNA MUNGO (L.) HEPPER WITH RELATION TO GEOGRAPHIC PATTERN
ABSTRACT:
Eighty eight genotypes of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper selected on the basis of source/origin were evaluated for agronomic traits and analyzed on the basis of three geographic parameters i.e., provinces, agro-ecological zones and altitude. The differences according to geographical regions proved its validity in substantiating the postulated regions of diversity or gene centres. Migration of landraces into new regions, followed by some degree of contamination by mixture or out crossing with other landraces were observed which might be due to frequent exchange of germplasm or transportation of grains from one place to others. The areas with a high level of stress will present interesting tolerance to environmental stresses, but homogeneous mixtures, and hence needs less extensive sampling for genetic resources for conservation purposes. The study confirmed the existence of a wealth of phenotypic divergence in the local blackgram germplasm. The variation within the country appears largely attributable to different provinces rather than smaller units of crop-ecological zones and altitude intervals. Further collecting missions to main blackgram growing areas with greater diversity could concentrate efforts on sampling as many geographically and ecologically distinct areas as possible rather than collecting extensively from fields close to motorable roads within individual province. The germplasm with high mean values along with medium to high genetic variance should be exploited through simple selection.

YIELD POTENTIAL OF LOCAL AND EXOTIC GERMPLASM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO POWDERY MILDEW DISEASE IN PEA (PISUM SATIVUM L.)
ABSTRACT:
Pea germplasm consisting of 69 pure-lines from diverse origin was evaluated under screen-house and field conditions for 2 years for their resistance against powdery mildew and yield potential. The genotypes viz.

CHANGES OF PROTEINS AND OXIDATIVE ENZYMES IN SEEDS AND IN VITRO REGENERATED PLANTS OF THREE IRANIAN CULTIVARS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)
ABSTRACT:
Somaclonal variation is one of the possible sources of variation in plant breeding. To evaluate the usefulness of somaclonal variation for creating variation in some Iranian cultivars of wheat, changes in proteins and oxidative enzymes in regenerated and seed-produced plants of wheat were studied. Three populations of each plant were used each of which belong to one embroyogenic callus or one ear. Immature embryos from three cultivars of wheat (Alamout, Hyrmand and Maroon),14 days after anthesis were cultured on solid MS medium with 1mgl-1 2,4-D. The embryogenic calli obtained were then transferred to solid hormone-free MS medium to produce plantlets. Seeds of these three cultivars of wheat were also cultured on solid hormone free MS medium. Plantlets obtained from the two above sources were collected and used for the study of proteins, peroxidases, polyphenoloxidases and superoxidedismutases. There was no significant difference in the banding pattern SDS-PAGE and PAGE systems.Comparison of proteins between different regenerated or between different seed plants and the resulting dandrogram showed that the plants derived from seed culture belong to one group and those derived from tissue culture belong to another group. The level of peroxidase isozymes were lower in regenerated plants while superoxidedismutase represented additional isozyme in regenerated plants. Polyphenoloxidase had equal isozymes in both kinds of plant.

CHANGES IN PROTEIN CONTENT AND OXIDASES ACTIVITIES WITH FRUIT DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENING IN THE LEAVES AND FRUITS OF OLIVE (OLEA EUROPAEA L. CV. ZARD) DURING "ON" AND "OFF" YEARS
ABSTRACT:
Results of the studies on olive trees from four regions of Iran (Roudbar, Gilvan, Gorgan, and Zanjan) indicate that soluble protein content as well as the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase in the leaves and fruits increases and continues to do so until complete ripening of fruits. After ripening, protein content and enzyme activities don't change or slightly decrease until the harvest of fruits. The trend seems to be similar in the "on" and "off" years, but in the "off" years the protein content and enzyme activity in the leaves and fruits are greater reflecting the various metabolic status of the plant during floral induction and fruit ripening.

WATER RELATIONS IN DIFFERENT GUAR (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA (L.) TAUB) GENOTYPES UNDER WATER STRESS
ABSTRACT:
Water relations of four guar genotypes viz., S-807, Esser, Brooks and S-1183 under different water regimes at pre-flowering, post-flowering and terminal drought were studied in cemented tanks under natural conditions. Water deficit reduced yield relative water content (RWC), leaf osmotic potential (OP), leaf water potential (WP), turgor potential (TP) in all four guar genotypes used. However, the genotypes S-807 and Esser had comparatively higher yield RWC, turgor potential under all water stresses than Brooks and S-1183. Maximum reduction in all parameters were recorded under terminal drought. The differences between pre- and post-flowering stresses were non-significant in case of yield and RWC but significant in other parameters. Genotypes with higher RWC and turgor potential had higher seed weight.

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TRAINING TECHNIQUES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF DOUBLE RED LEBANON APPLE CULTIVAR
ABSTRACT:
Maximum plant height and spread were observed in Central Leader System of training in Double Red Lebanon cultivar of apple. Maximum fruit size index (83.00 mm), fruit weight (259.20 gm), number of fruits per plant (200) and yield (51.84 kg/plant) were recorded in plants trained as Modified Leader System followed by Open Centre System, while all the above mentioned parameters were found minimum in Central Leader System during both years of studies. Stock and scion girths and Total Soluble Solids (TSS) did not respond at all with various training techniques. All the tested training techniques had no profound effect on blooming period and maturity of Double Red Lebanon apple cultivar. The fruit harvested from the plants trained as Central Leader System and Open Centre System had deep red color with red streaks while in modified leader system the color of the fruit was shining red with red streaks.

LITTER FALL AND NUTRIENT RETURN IN QUERCUS CERRIS L. VAR. CERRIS FORESTS IN THE CENTRAL BLACK SEA REGION OF TURKEY
ABSTRACT:
Litter fall and nutrient return in a deciduous Quercus cerris L. var. cerris forest which constitutes the "étage supra-mediterranéen pré-pontique" vegetation layer in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated. Total annual input of litter was 681.90 g m-2 of which 64% was leaf litter fall, followed by 27, 7 and 2% wood, reproductive and miscellaneous litter fall, respectively. The annual nutrient return through litter fall was 42.70 kg ha-1 N

SEASONAL SEED BANK PATTERNS OF AN ARTHROCNEMUM MACROSTACHYUM (CHENOPODIACEAE) COMMUNITY ALONG A COASTAL MARSH INUNDATION GRADIENT ON THE ARABIAN SEA NEAR KARACHI, PAKISTAN
ABSTRACT:
The seasonal variation of a seed bank was studied along an inundation gradient in a coastal marsh community dominated by Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) C. Koch (Syn: Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd.) Moq.; Chenopodiaceae;) near Karachi, Pakistan. The distance from the Avicennia marina edge to mean high tide line (110 m) was divided into five zones. Density and height of the plants were higher in the middle marsh than in other areas. Plant cover and number of branches were lowest in the lower marsh and increased substantially in the next zone and there was no significant difference among other zones. Dry weight accumulation was highest in the lower-middle marsh. The size and composition of the seed bank was determined by monthly counting and identifying the seeds extracted from soil samples. A persistent seed bank flora was dominated by A. macrostachyum. The upper, upper-middle and middle marsh had seeds of five additional species viz., Atriplex stocksii Boiss., Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk., Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf., Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. Ex Thwaites, Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E. Hobbard and Cressa cretica L. from adjacent communities. Seed bank size was one of the largest in the samples collected immediately following dispersal ranging from 40,760 ± 123 seeds m-2 in March to 917,135 ± 567 seeds m-2 in July. Seed density then declined rapidly over two to three months. Size and diversity of the seed bank progressively increased from the lower to the upper salt marsh.