http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/14473 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:13:04 GMT 2026-04-23T14:13:04Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15685 Title: PHYTOREMEDIATION: ASSESSING TOLERANCE OF TREE SPECIES AGAINST HEAVY METAL (PB AND CD) TOXICITY Authors: SARWAT ISMAIL; KHAN, FARIHA; M. ZAFAR IQBAL Abstract: The toxicity effects of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) on germination, root length and dry biomass of tree species viz., Thespesia populneoides, Leucaena leucocephala and Delonex regia were evaluated. Cadmium was found to be more toxic than lead. The results further showed that dose response of heavy metals were inversely proportional to germination, root growth and dry biomass. The percentage germination and higher % DFC values showed that the seeds of L. leucocephala were least affected by lead and cadmium toxicity while scoring the best germination response among the three tree species. Exposure to high concentration (125ppm) of Cd decreased the root size of L. leucocephala, T. populneoides and D. regia by 89.79, 71.8 and 62.26% respectively. However, at the same concentration, lead inhibited the root growth (39.62%) in case of D. regia while much higher reduction was observed for L. leucocephala and T. populneoides around 62.7%. Furthermore, the % phytotoxicity and tolerance index confirmed that D. regia appeared to be the most tolerant species whereas, T. populneoides and L. leucocephala were moderately tolerant and less tolerant species respectively against the Pb and Cd treatment. This study gives an insight to the possible mechanism of hypertolerance, signifying that trees can be successfully used for phytoremediation. Sat, 18 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15685 2014-01-18T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15684 Title: MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEED SAMPLES OF CUCURBITA PEPO L. COLLECTED FROM PAKISTAN Authors: SUMMIAYA RAHIM; SHAHNAZ DAWAR; M. JAVED ZAKI Abstract: Seventeen seed samples collected from Peshawar (2), Swabi (1), Tordher (1), Fatu chack (1), Mardan (2), Karachi (4), Islamabad (1), Murree (1), Abbottabad (1), Sukkur (1), Ghotki (1) and Mandibahuddin (1) areas of Pakistan were analyzed for the seed-borne mycoflora using standard blotter, agar plate and deep-freezing methods as suggested by ISTA. At least 100 fungal species belonging to 49 genera were isolated mutually from all the seed samples analyzed. Seed samples from Peshawar followed by Sukkur & Ghotki were highly infected with fungi. Agar plate method was found best for the isolation of fungi both qualitatively and quantitatively followed by standard blotter method. By using agar plate method, 79 species of 40 genera were isolated while 57 species of 29 fungal genera were isolated by the blotter method. Being frost sensitive, rot and decay of pumpkin seeds was observed in deep-freezing method. Species of Fusarium, Phoma and Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated by all three methods. However, the most dominant fungi were the species of Aspergillus followed by Rhizopus and Chaetomium. Good germination of seeds was observed in surface sterilized seeds treated with 1% Ca (OCl) 2, although surface sterilization was found less effective against fungal mycoflora. Atleast 95 species of 47 genera are newly reported from Pakistan. Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15684 2014-01-17T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15683 Title: MYCOFLORAL PATHOGENICITY ON CORN (ZEA MAYS) SEEDS AND ITS MANAGEMENT BY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES IN AZAD KASHMIR PAKISTAN Authors: NAZAR HUSSAIN; ALTAF HUSSAIN; MUHAMMAD ISHTIAQ; MEHWISH MAQBOOL; TANVEER HUSSAIN; M. ALTAF HUSSAIN Abstract: The study was conducted to evaluate mycfloral pathogenicity prevailing on corn (Zea mays L.) and indigenous management strategies in different districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Pakistan. Fungi were grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA), isolated and identified by colony counter and microscopic analysis. Eighteen different fungal species of eight genera were found associated with maize seeds. For verification In vitro seeds inoculation tests and pathogenicity rate was measured. On infection rate basis Fusarium moniliforme was (80.75 %), Aspergillus niger (63.25%) and Rhizopus stolonifera (32.75%), respectively. Their phytogeographical prevalence was found in descending order in Bhimber (61.50%), Mirpur (60.25%) and Muzaffarabad (39.03%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that effect of different species was quite dynamic and fluctuating not only for taxa based differences but also with climate and altitudinal variations. The impact of different fungal inoculations was tested by least standard deviation (LSD) which demonstrated that d. distilled water treatment had highest seed germination rate 75.87%, with F. moniliforme 53.64%, Aspergillus niger 62.55% and their synergetic infusion showed least value of 41.73%. To reduce or eliminate the detrimental impacts of these species, four different management strategies were evaluated in experimental plot and results were analyzed by LSD. The garlic extract treatment was the best with highest seed germination rate (85.75%), followed by Benomyl treatment (84.75%), hot water treatment (79%), and distilled water treatment (65%), respectively. It was observed that all the results were significantly different from each other but the interaction between treatments and localities showed various degrees of variations. Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15683 2014-01-16T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15682 Title: UTILIZATION OF VD TOXIN FOR RAPID SCREENING OF COTTON GERMPLASM AGAINST VERTICILLIUM DAHLIAE Authors: NOREEN BIBI; GAIXIA, ZHANG; FENG, LI; KAI, FAN; SHUNA, YUAN; XUEDE, WANG Abstract: The degree of virulence of different isolates of Verticillium dahliae (V08sn-1, Anyang and V07df2) was evaluated using pathogen and pathogen free approaches on upland cotton. Direct use of pathogen in the soil classified isolates into highly virulent (V08sn-1), moderate virulent (Anyang) and less virulent (V07df2) with disease index of 65, 40 and 27 on the basis of leaf necrosis and vascular browning. For pathogen free approach, toxins from these isolates were prepared and their protein contents were quantified. Results revealed highest level of soluble protein in V08sn-1 (78 mg/L) followed by Anyang (55 mg/L) and V07df2 (43 mg/L). Similarly, addition of toxin (10 µg/mL) on germinating cotton seeds inhibited radical length in order of V08sn-1(62 %) > Anyang (33%) > V07df2 (17%). Besides, the addition of same quantity of toxin on detached cotton leaves produced marked symptoms of chlorosis/necrosis which was more severe in V08sn-1 and followed by Anyang and V07df2. Moreover, dipping of leaf petiole in Vd toxin of Anyang isolate resulted in leaf wilting in contrast to the leaf dipped in equivalent amount of glucose solution (55 mg/L) which demonstrated that elicitor component of Vd toxin is protein in nature. The results of Vd toxin experiment were consistent with the soil inoculation experiment using V. dahliae but the onset of diseased symptoms was quicker in former than later. These findings suggest that utilization of Vd toxin can be an environmental friendly and robust approach for plant breeders to accelerate the process of breeding new resistant lines. Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/15682 2014-01-15T00:00:00Z