Comparative Performance of Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp) and Vigna radiata L. (Wilckzck) (Fabaceae) in Elevated Carbondioxide Concentrations

Neelofer Hamid, Humaira Gul, Muhammad Hamayun

ABSTRACT
Morphological analysis and change in the chlorophyll content, total carbohydrates and reducing sugars in two specific beans; black eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilckzck) were studied after fumigation with high percentage of carbondioxide (2% CO2+98% air and 3% CO2+97% air). Morphological analysis was carried out on the basis of vigor index and specific leaf area. Vigor index increased in both crops in control as well as treated samples. Specific leaf area also increased but decreased later in all treated samples except 2% CO2 treated plants fumigated for 15  minutes in  black-eyed peas.  In  mung bean  specific  leaf  area  was increased in all treatments but slightly decreased in 3% treated samples fumigated for 20 minutes. Carbohydrate content in 2&3% CO2 treated samples for 15 & 20 minutes was found to increase over the control samples in both crops but decreased in 3% CO2 treated samples fumigated for 15 minutes in the last week of the experiment and also in both treated samples fumigated for 20 minutes during last week. Reducing sugar in both crops showed the same trend as was observed in case of carbohydrates. Reducing sugars were markedly decreased during the last week in both the treated samples fumigated with CO2 for 20 minutes.

Key words: Chlorophyll, Total carbohydrates, Reducing sugar, Black eyed beans, Mungbeans

SSR Based Analyses of the Genetic Diversity of Pheasant Species of Pakistan

Sardar Azhar Mehmood, Habib Ahmad, Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, Shahid Nadeem, Shazia Dilber, Hina Habib Syed, Sawar Khan

ABSTRACT
Six pheasant species; koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha), Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), white crested kalij (Lophura leucomelana), western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), cheer pheasant (Catreus willachii) and blue peacock (Pavo cristatus) found in Pakistan were analyzed for elaborating genetic diversity and their possible phylogenetic affinities. The total genomic DNA was isolated from blood and PCR was performed by using six SSR markers. The results revealed low to medium level genetic diversity (GD = 4–57%) among the pheasant's genotypes. Maximum GD (57%) was estimated between female of Himalayan monal and male of blue peacock while minimum GD (4%) was observed in two comparisons; one between male of monal and female of cheer pheasant and other between the male of western tragopan and female of cheer pheasant. Phylogeny was analyzed by constructing the dendrogram, based on PCR amplification profiles. Dendrogram clustered all the genotypes of pheasants into two main groups A and B. Group A was largest and subdivided into sub-groups. Some novel findings were also observed in dendrogram in which male and female of the same species were found to be clustered with male or female of other species in separate groups. This novelty needs further genetic elaborations for its clarity.

Key words: Genetic diversity, pheasants of Pakistan, Phylogenetic analysis, Microsatellites, SSR

Physico-Chemical Analysis of Tube Wells' Water at District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Sana Ullah1, M. Waqas Javed, Ibrar Muhammad, Waheed Ullah

ABSTRACT
The present study was aimed to assess the tube wells water quality in District Dir Lower. During the study 11 water samples were collected from tube wells at different places and were analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. The results of evaluated parameters were compared against the standard guideline values recommended by the World Health Organization for drinking. The parameters studied were variable in different ranges: pH 6.9-7.8, electrical conductivity 680-2250 µ s/cm, total solids 825-975 mg/L, total hardness 260-425 mg/L, calcium hardness 95-230 mg/L, magnesium hardness 75-210 mg/L, alkalinity 190-420 mg/L, total dissolved solids 720-900 mg/L, total suspended solids 1-15 mg/L, sodium 120-250 mg/L, chlorides 60-210 mg/L, nitrites 0.4-1.8 mg/L, sulphate 60-305 mg/L and potassium 1.9-
21.3mg/L. The results showed that all the water parameters except electrical conductivity fall within the WHO suggested permissible limits and can be used for drinking purpose. The chemical indices like Sodium Absorption Ratio and Sodium Percentage qualifies the water quality as excellent for agricultural practices. In order to protect the water quality, it is suggested that water should be monitored at regular basis. Agricultural run offs and domestic wastes should be treated properly before disposing off and the waste materials should be dumped to suitable sites.

Keywords: parameters, permissible limits, river Panjkora, water quality.

Clutch Size, Egg Dimensions,Weight and Breeding Success of Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) at Tehsil Mansehra, Pakistan

Muhammad Awais, Komal Bibi

ABSTRACT
This study was attended in Tehsil Mansehra of District Mansehra during the breeding period April-July 2012. The mean clutch size documented was 3.3 with eggs range 2-4. Mean egg length and breadth was 24.5±2.6mm and 20.3±1.7mm, mean egg volume was 5.24±1.2cm3 and egg shape index calculated to be 1.20±0.02. Mean weight of the egg recorded was 4.5±1.09g. There is no substantial corelation exists between egg length and breadth (P>0.05) and likewise between weight and volume of Black Drongo eggs there was no meaningfully statistical
difference exists (P>0.05). Hatchling success was 71.1% and fledgling success was 64.7%.

Key words: Breeding, Clutch, Dicrurus macrocercus, Fledgling, Hatchling

Evaluating the Antibacterial Activities of Rhazya stricta Decne

Jamshaida Haleem, Muhammad Hamayun and Humaira Gul

ABSTRACT
Current study was conducted to discover better and safer plant oriented chemotherapeutic agent. Rhazya stricta Decne is widely used for medicinal purposes throughout the world and we examined the effect of methanolic, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of Rhazya stricta stem and leaves on growth inhibition of various bacterial strains viz. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurous and Bacillus subtilis. Agar well diffusion method was followed in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction of leaves and chloroform fraction of stem exhibit high zone of inhibition against E. coli. The chloroform fraction of stem of Rhazya stricta showed least activity against Staphylococcus aurous. The entire fractions showed no significant activity against Bacillus subtilis. It was thus concluded that the methanolic extract of Rhazya stricta possesses strong antibacterial capacity and plant can be efficiently used for curing bacterial diseases.

Keywords: Rhazya stricta, methanol, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurous, Bacillus subtilis.

Analyses of Ethanol, Glucose, Acetaldehyde, Total Proteins and Oil Concentration in Albizia Lebbeck benth Seeds Extract

Nasrullah Shah, Muhammad Balal Arain, Rabia Tabassum1, Touseef Rehan, Mazhar uliIslam, Shehla Farman

ABSTRACT
Albizia lebbeck benth (A. lebbeck) is an important medicinal plant. The extract of A. lebbeck seeds obtained by cold extraction was analysed for ethanol, glucose, acetaldehyde, total protein, and oil content. The A. lebbeck seeds were soxhlet extracted using n-hexane to render crude oil. The physiochemical parameters, acid value, saponification value and ester value were determined. Characterization of the oil showed that oil is non-drying oil. The comparatively low acid value and corresponding saponification value implicated that oil has better shelf life and comes in the range of edible oils and can be used in liquid soaps and paints.

Keywords: Albizia lebbeck benth; extraction; analysis

Plant growth promotion by locally isolated IAA producing rhizobacteria

Saima Noor and Anwar Hussain

ABSTRACT
Fifteen strains of rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat grown in district Sawabi. Nine strains were able to produce IAA in the culture media. Production of IAA was modulated by time of incubation, temperature and tryptophan concentration in the culture media. Optimum conditions for IAA production were incubation of 24 hours at 28 C in culture media containing 1000 µg mL-1 of tryptophan. Maximum IAA (268 µg mL-1) was recorded in the culture of WC-5 when grown for 24 hours in the presence of 1000 µg mL-1 of tryptophan. Most of the strains were able to mobilize phosphate on agar plate. Growth of okra was promoted under natural condition when its seeds were primed with the selected rhizobacteria. Root growth was significantly enhanced (74%) in seedlings inoculated with WC-9 as compared to that of control seedlings. Other growth parameters such as fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll contents were also significantly enhanced by IAA producing strains. It may be concluded that wheat rhizosphere host friendly rhizobacteria which produce IAA, solubilize phosphate and enhance plant growth.

Keywords: Rhizobacteria, IAA, Phosphate solubilisation, Plant growth promotion

Seed Priming with Gibberellic acid (GA3) in Sponge Gourd Modulated High Salinity Stress

Raheem Shahzad, Junaid khan, Ali Raza Gurmani, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Hamayun, Abdul Latif khan, Sang-Mo Kang, In-Jung Lee*

ABSTRACT
Current study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of GA3 in sponge gourd c.v Jaipuriunder salinity stress. The treatments were comprised of seed priming in water, GA3 10-4M, and GA3 10-8M solution with and without high salinity stress (150mM NaCl). Our results shows that seed priming with GA3 10-4M, significantly minimized number of days to germination (7±2.00), increased number of leaves plant⁻¹ (9.76±1.53), leaf area (13.98±0.02 cm2), root length (14.07±1.15 cm), shoot length (14.03±1.53 cm), shoot (10.13±0.74 gm) and root fresh weight (0.93±0.05 gm) without salinity stress as compared to control. In salinity stress, seed treatment with GA3 10-4M also repeated the same trend by preventing the adverse effect of salt stress on sponge gourd and significantly increased shoot length (11.93±4.10cm), root length (8.77±0.35cm), shoot (7.33±1.36g) and root fresh weight (0.53±0.14g), leaf area (10.34±0.96 cm2), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (7.67±1.15) as compared to control. Moreover, this study suggests that seed priming of sponge gourd with GA3 10-4 M is well appropriate for the protection of sponge gourd under 150 mM salinity stress.

Key words: Sponge gourd, GA3, Plant growth, Salinity stress