S.D. Mir

Identification of monocot flora using pollen features through scanning electron microscopy

Pollen used to track structural and functional evolution in plants as well as to investigate the problems relative to plant classification. Pollen characters including ornamentation, shape, apertural pattern, pollen symmetry, colpus length, width, and margins used to detect the similarities and dissimilarities between genera and also species of the same genus. In this study pollen features of 20 monocot species belonging to 15 genera of the Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Iridaceae, Ixioliriaceae, Liliaceae, and Xanthorrhoeaceae were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). In this study two species that is Zephyranthes citrina and Tulbaghia violacea were reported for the first time from Pakistan. Pollen grains were visualized with LM. Non‐acetolyzed and acetolyzed pollen were examined using SEM. A taxonomic key was developed to highlight the variation in pollen features in order to make their systematic application for correct species identification.

Screening of maize inbred lines under artificial epiphytotic conditions for Turcicum leaf blight (Excerohilum turcicum)

A study on reaction of ten inbred lines of maize to northern leaf blight mainly caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass) Leonard and Suggs, was conducted under artificial epiphytotics conditions in green house. Among 10 inbred lines evaluated, three were found moderately resistant viz, NAI-113, NAI-152 and NAI-137, five lines moderately susceptible viz, NAI-123, NAI-142, NAI-143, NAI-147 and NAI-116, and the rest two, W3 and W5 inbreds were severely affected by TLB and rated as susceptible. The lines identified to possess low disease severity score against Turcicum leaf blight in the present study could be used successfully in developing genotypes having desirable level of resistance in disease endemic areas to aim for sustainable productivity. Key words: Maize (Zea mays L.), northern leaf blight, inbred lines, screening.

Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants for Livelihood and Community Health in Deserts of Sindh-Pakistan

The preservation of traditional folk knowledge, preference of traditional medicine over others, and conservation of biodiversity have gained popularity among various communities, researchers, academicians, and policy makers. Traditional medicinal knowledge (a source of low-cost herbal medicine) requires novel approaches for its preservation for its sustainability among indigenous communities. The present study provides the traditional uses of the medicinal plants of the deserts of Sindh. Overall, 45 important plant species are commonly used to cure various diseases. The most commonly reported plant families are Fabaceae, with six species, followed by Amaranthaceae with four species and Asteraceae with three species. In life forms, most of the species belong to herbs (31 species) followed by trees (7 species). The most frequently cited species are Blepharis scindica, Oxalis corniculata, and Portulaca oleracea, while least documented species are Achyranthes bidentata followed by Euphorbia caducifolia. Most used plant parts are leaves with 30 reports followed by seeds (20 reports) and roots (18 reports), while least used plant part is latex followed by gum (3 reports) and shoots (4 reports). In modes of utilization, powders (26 reports) and decoctions (25 reports) are frequently used, while ash, smoke, raw forms, and oil are less frequently used modes of utilization. Plant biodiversity in deserts of Sindh-Pakistan provides many important plant species that are used in traditional medicine for curing various diseases. The plant species with the most commonly cited traditional uses yet whose potential applications in drug development have not been adequate should be preferred. In addition, species with only a few documented traditional uses may be further explored for preservation of traditional knowledge to them.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Light Microscopy (LM)-based Palyno-morphological views of Solanaceae in Western Himalaya

In this study, plants belonging to family Solanaceae growing in Western Himalaya region have been observed palynologically under Light Microscope and Scanning electron microscope. Present investigation comprises of 10 genera and 23 species, namely, Atropa acuminata, Capsicum decoraticus, Capsicum frutescens, Cestrum aurantiacum, Cestrum diurnum, Cestrum nocturnum, Datura alba, Datura innoxia, Datura stramonium, Hyoscymus niger, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotiana rustica, Nicotiana tabacum, Petunia alba, Petunia hybrida, Solanum erianthum, Solanum melongena, Solanum miniatum, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Solanum surratense, Solanum tuberosum, Withania coagulans, Withania somnifera. Solanaceae is a eurypalynous family. Grains are usually Tricolporate and Tetracolporate, radially symmetrical, isopolar, prolate‐spheroidal to oblate‐spheroidal to oblate‐spheroidal to subprolate to per prolate or suboblate to oblate, size range: 8.55–72 μm, amb circular, semi‐angular or subangular, aperture drop‐type, labrum common‐type, exine usually 2 μm thick, nexine 1–1.5 μm thick. Tectum usually psilate, sexine reticulate, granulate or striato‐reticulate, with obscure pattern, sexine 1–2 μm thick, nexine 1–1.5 μm thick, and intine 0.5–1 μm thick. Most striking variation has been found in the shape class, aperture‐type, and tectal surface. Based on these characters, taxonomic keys have been made for correct identification of members in Solanaceae. However, the grains of this family are usually tricolporate and have direct relationship with certain members of the family Scrophulariaceae.

Genotype x environment interaction for forage yield and its components in oats (Avena sativa L.)

The present investigation was carried out to study stability performance over six environments for forage yield and its components in 12 genetically diverse genotypes of oats using a randomized complete block design. The partitioning of (environment + genotype x environment) mean squares showed that environments (linear) differed significantly and were quite diverse with regards to their effects on the performance of genotypes for forage yield and its yield components. Stable genotypes were identified for wider environments and specific environments with high per se performance (over general mean) for forage yield ha. The investigation revealed that the genotype SKO-90, SKO-96 and Sabzaar were desirable and stable across the environments. Other genotypes SKO-148, SKO-160, SKO-166 and SKO-167 were found to be suitable for favourable situations, while genotype SKO-20 was responsible to poor environments for forage yield.