Gul Jan

An Ethnobotanical Survey on Fuel Wood and Timber plant Species of Kaghan Valley, Khyber pakhtoonkhwa Province, Pakistan

A survey was conducted to explore the fuel wood species and timber producing species of Kaghan valleys, Pakistan. Consumption pattern and impact on the forest resources were also taken into consideration. A questionnaire was used as a survey instrument to obtain desired data. For this study, 10 villages were randomly selected. In each village, 10 persons that were randomly selected were interviewed. Only one person was interviewed from a household. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed. The studies revealed that, 75 plant species belonging to 41 families were utilized as fuel wood and 41 species belonging to 25 families were utilized as timber. Three tree species; Quercus incana, Cedrus deodara and Taxus wallichiana was found endangered. There is a dire need to conserve these species. Key words : Ethnobotany, fuel wood, timber species, Kaghan valleys, Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa Province, Pakistan.

Interaction of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas with Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Potted Soil with or Without P2O5

The effect of inoculation of Rhizobium or Pseudomonas, or both, in the presence and absence of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) fertilizer on wheat yield was tested. The experiment was conducted outdoors in potted soil during two consecutive years under natural conditions. Rhizobial strain (Thal 8-chickpea nodulating bacteria) and Pseudomonas strain (54RB), both indigenous P solubilizers were applied in broth culture at seedling stage. Fertilizer in the form of P2O5 was an additional treatment applied at sowing time. Results revealed that inoculation of Pseudomonas strain in presence of phosphorus (P) fertilizer increased yield up to 41.8% when it was compared with only P fertilizer applied. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains with the P2O5 treatment however resulted in increased grains yield by 10% over the P2O5 treatment alone. It is inferred that inoculation with Rhizobium and Pseudomonas combined with P2O5 is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically sound and productive, with wheat yield increases of 10% to 42%.

Morpho-palynological study of Cyperaceae from wetlands of Azad Jammu and Kashmir using SEM and LM

In this study 12 species of Cyperaceae have been studied for quantitative and qualitative observation of pollen grains through Light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollens of 12 species of Cyperaceae from different wetlands of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were collected. Morphological characters of pollen grains were then investigated under the Light and Scanning electron microscope. Two pollen types have been observed apolar and heteropolar. Shape of pollens was prolate (4 spp), sub‐spheroidal (7 spp), and oblate (1 spp). Variation observed in exine sculpturing granular (4 spp), reticulate (1 spp), areolate‐punctate (3 spp), and psilate (2 spp). Polar to equatorial ratio and fertility percentage of the pollens were also studied. Based on these micromorphlogical characters of pollens taxonomic keys have been made for the accurate identification of the members of Cyperaceae. The characteristics studied in present research work are very much valuable taxonomically and phytochemically for the identification of species of family Cyperaceae. Light microscope (LM) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for pollen observation, which play vital role in the taxonomical identification of species and provide sufficient information for taxonomist.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Ephedra gerardiana (Root and Stem) Crude Extract and Fractions

The utilization of medicinal plants to treat infectious disease is a common practice in developing countries worldwide. The present study was aimed at evaluating the crude extracts of Ephedra gerardiana (root and stem) with different chemicals for antioxidant and antimicrobial (fungal and bacterial) potential. The results revealed that the ethyl acetate fractions of E. gerardiana (root and stem) have significant free radical scavenging potential with values 2.96 ± 0.39 and 2.73 ± 0.84 while n-butanol and aqueous fractions showed IC502.69 ± 0.26 and 3.44 ± 0.69 µg/ml in stem. Furthermore, crude extract and fractions also revealed promising antibacterial activities against all tested microbial strains while aqueous fraction showed no activities against Bacillus subtilis, Kleibsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly, all crude extracts and fractions were nonactive against fungal strain, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, as compare to control. In summary, the Ephedra gerardiana (root and stem) extract and fraction possess antioxidant activities, which might be helpful in preventing or slowing the progress of various oxidative stresses, suggested to be a strong pharmaceutical agent.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antipyretic and Antifungal Activities of Cyrtomium Caryotideum

In the present research work the phytochemical investigation of methanolic, ethanolic and chloroform extracts of Cyrtomium caryotideum, Anti-pyretic and antifungal activities in methanolic, ethanolic and chloroform extracts was carried out. The phytochemicals analysis showing the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, phlobatannins, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides was present in methanolic and ethanolic extracts, while alkaloids, phlobatannins, glycosides and protein were absent and quantative phytochemistry showed the flavonoids in chloroform extract as (14.20±0.15mg/ml), Alkaloids (12.10±0.15mg/ ml), phenolics (10.45± 0.10mg/ml), Saponins (06.22±0.14mg/ml) and Tannins (04.60±0.65 mg/ ml). The pharmacological activities such as, Anti-pyretic was carried out by brewer yeast induced pyrexia. The dose of 600 mg/kg of extract showed remarkable anti-pyretic activity (59.43%) when compared with positive control paracetamol (37.24oC) inhibition (73.23%).In antifungal activity the most active among the extracts was with (17.00±0.48 mm) zone of inhibition at the concentration of18 mg/μl against Verticellium. Fallowed by Pythium (16.27±0.93mm), Acremonium (16.20±1.89mm) and Trichoderma (16.11± 0.82) with concentration of 12 mg/μl.

Genomic DNA Extraction for Molecular Identification of Endophytic Fungi: an Easy and Efficient Protocol

Presence of tough chitinous cell wall in fungi is a challenge for cell lysis and subsequent DNA isolation which has several downstream applications. We have developed an efficient protocol for extracting genomic DNA from endophytic fungi, which was isolated from different parts of Solanum xanthocarpum L. The procedure used was based on sodium dodecyl sulfate/ phenol/chloroform extraction method to remove polysaccharides and protein. The isolated genomic DNA was used to successfully amplify ITS region. The amplified ITS region was sequenced and homology of its sequence was used for confirming identity of the fungal endophyte. This rapid and inexpensive method can efficiently isolate high quality and quantity of genomic DNA suitable for PCR amplification and sequencing.