Isolation of phytohormones producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from weeds growing in Khewra salt range, Pakistan and their implication in providing salt tolerance to Glycine max L.

Present investigation was made to isolate and characterize plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Rkh1 - Rkh4) from rhizosphere of four weeds: Chrysopogon aucheri, Lactuca dissecta, Solanum surratenseand Sonchus arvensis thriving under high salinity (EC: 2.3 dS/m) of Khewra salt range and the results were compared with strain Rak isolated from rhizosphere (EC: 0.2 dS/m) of Solanum surratense grown in arid area of district Attock. The tolerance of all the strains was checked against the salt present in culture media in the form of rhizospheric soil filtrate of weeds collected from Khewra salt range. The nutrient contents of rhizospheric soil of weeds were measured. All the strains were capable to producephytohormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), trans-zeatin riboside (t-zr) and abscisic acid (ABA) in the culture media. Inoculation of strains on soybean seedlings treated with or without 20 dS/m NaCl resulted in better growth and higher proline contents than control plants. Thestrains isolated from weeds of Khewra salt range particularly Rkh3 appears more promising for potential biofertilizers in saline fields

Growth rhythms in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in response to environmental disparity

Sunflower hybrids maintain high level of stability in a variety of environments. Environmental variations affect and modify plant attributes like growth, development and assimilation through physio-morphicfunctions, thus modifying plant phenology. Field experiments, one each in spring and autumn, were conducted at Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan for two years (2007 and 2008) to document the effect of environmental variations on growth rhythms of sunflower hybrids. Four Sunflower hybrids, Alisson-RM, Parasio-24, MG-2 and S-278 were planted in randomized complete block design with four replications. The data based on physiological attributes like leaf area (LA),specific leaf area (SLA), crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) at 10 days interval after complete emergence to 60 days after emergence (DAE) were recorded. Overall higher values of LA, SLA, CGR and NAR were recorded during spring as compared to autumn for both years. LA, CGR and NAR of all the hybrids followed a sigmoid curve pattern during both seasons; however, at the start of the season lesser values were observed during spring as compared to autumn. SLA exhibited anopposite trend and continuously decreased till the end. Sigmoid curve pattern of LA, CGR and NAR may be related to environmental variables like temperature and sunshine hours. The decrease after a peak may be due to senescence of older leaves and shifting of crop from vegetative to reproductive phase

Surgical significance of variations in anatomy in the biliary region

Variations in the anatomy of the gallbladder, the bile ducts, and the arteries that supply them and the liver are important to the surgeon, because failure to recognize them can cause iatrogenic injury to the biliary tract. A surgeon should be always be careful while operating in this area. In addition these anomalies are associated with a range of other congenital anomalies, including biliary atresia and cardiovascular or other gastrointestinal malformations, biliary lithiasis, choledochal cyst, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction etc, so a look out for other anomalies should be carried out simultaneously

Governance and control as mediating instruments in an inter-firm relationship: Towards collaboration or transactions?

© 2016 Taylor & Francis. This paper explores the mediation of governance and control structures in an inter-firm relationship between a semiconductor producer and its contractor. As mediating instruments the contract and the control structures are not just pre-given results of distanced managerial decision-making, but are generated in and constitutive of the relationship. They offer the possibility to interpret and to interact and they contribute to more or less unexpected transformations in the relationship. In particular, the study explores how the mediation of the governance and control structures has socialising and/or individualising consequences. The paper particularly offers insights into how the mediation of the governance and control structures is impacted by changes in boundary spanners (i.e. managers who represent their organisations in an inter-firm relationship). The paper draws on Roberts 2001. Trust and control in Anglo-American systems of corporate governance: the individualizing and socializing effects of processes of accountability. Human Relations, 54 (12), 1547-1572. and distinguishes four patterns of governance that may be consequential of mediation by governance and control structures: immobilised governance, individualised governance, socialised governance and complementary governance. The study illustrates that accounting is not so much a force that creates transparency for distanced others, but a constitutive mechanism that produces a collaborative inter-firm relationship with socialised governance. It provides a basis for discussion and debate in the relationship

Seed storage protein polymorphism in ten elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes of Sindh

Seed protein profiling is the most promising tool in determining the molecular polymorphism and genetic homology. Seed storage proteins help in cultivar identification by avoiding the external environmental influences. Electrophoretically detectable proteins in rice grains possess the potential of characterizing the germplasms by their taxonomic and evolutionary aspects. This study was aimed at exploiting the genetic variations among ten elite rice genotypes of Sindh through  electrophoretical separation of grain proteins by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE). In conclusion, the investigation revealed negligible polymorphism, with reference to the total seed protein profiles, among the rice genotypes of Sindh, Pakistan used in this study. Hence, it is highly important to include a significant number of rice genotypes to explore their existing genotypic diversity for future rice breeding programs. The SDS-PAGE in combination with 2-D electrophoresis is further suggested for documenting contrasting variations of isoforms of protein peptides.Key words: Seed storage proteins, polymorphism, Oryza sativa, Sindh, SDS-PAG

Fungal endophyte misidentified as Neurospora crassa.

The endophytic fungus isolate, ZP5SE, recently described in Rehman et al. 2008 was misidentified identified as Neurospora crassa. The 28S ribosomal gene sequence of the isolate shows 100% sequence similarity with GenBank accession Neurospora crassa M38154

ESA SENTINEL 2 IMAGERY AND GBGEOAPP: INTEGRATED TOOLS FOR THE DEOSAI NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

Deosai plateau, in the Gilgit-Baltistan Province of Pakistan, for its average elevation of 4,114 meters, is the second highest plateau in the world after Changtang Tibetan Plateau. Two biogeographically important mountain ranges merge in Deosai: the Himalayan and Karakorum–Pamir highlands. The Deosai National Park, with its first recognition in 1993, encompasses an area of about 1620 km2, with the altitude ranging from 3500 to 5200 meters a.s.l. It is known and visited by tourists for the presence of brown bear, but a large number of species of fauna and flora leave, and can be seen during the summer season. This high-altitude ecosystem is particularly fragile and can be considered a sentinel for the effects of climate changes. Due to its geographic position and high altitude, the area of Deosai has never been studied in all its ecosystem components, producing high resolution maps. The first land cover map of Deosai with 10 meters of resolution is discussed in this study. This map has been obtained from Sentinel-2 imagery and improved through the new tool developed in this study: the GBGEOApp. This application for mobile has been done with three main ambitions: the validation of the new land cover map, its improvement with land use information, and the collection of new data in the field. On the basis of the results, the use of the GBGEOApp, as a tool for validation and increasing of environmental data collection, seems to be completely applicable involving the local technicians in a process of data sharing

Multiple uses of irrigation water in the Hakra 6-R, Distributary Command Area, Punjab, Pakistan

Irrigation canals / Distributary canals / Water allocation / Water use / Households / Livestock / Water quality / Water pollution / Waterborne diseases / Health / Water rates / Women / Gender / Fish farming / Pakistan / Punjab / Haroonabad / Tehsil / Hakra 6-R Distributary