Management of \u3cem\u3eSclerotium rolfssi\u3c/em\u3e through Methanolic Leaf Extract of \u3cem\u3eAlstonia scholaris\u3c/em\u3e (L.) R. Br. and \u3cem\u3eAzadirachta indica\u3c/em\u3e L.

Sclerotium rolfsii is a polyphagous soil borne fungus infecting more than 500 plant species across the world that is causing vast losses. Although the fungus is soil and seed borne, soil borne inoculum is most vital in infection-causing and syndrome development. Treating soil borne pathogens with fungicides is not reasonable due to very high costs. Environmental hazards are also involved. Therefore, integrated management of pathogens using biological controlling agents is the paramount alternative. Extracts of higher plants have demonstrated a wide range of activity against plant pathogenic organisms. The present research work was carried out to manage the pathogen and disease in vitro by using plant extracts. The antifungal activity of the methanolic leaf extract of two medicinally important indigenous plants, Alstonia scholaris and Azadirachta indica, against the fungal pathogen S. rolfsii was evaluated. In vitro antifungal bioassay was conducted against the S. rolfsii using different concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 5) of the methanolic leaf extract of A. scholaris and A. indica using malt extract (ME) broth as a culture medium. Different concentrations of A. indica leaf extract appreciably reduced the fungal biomass growth up to 76% as compared to the control. In the same manner, various concentrations of the leaf extract of A. scholaris significantly decreased fungal biomass up to 70% as compared to the control. Higher fungal growth was reduced by a 2% concentration of both plants. The present study concludes that the methanolic extract of A. indica has more active antifungal components and can be effectively used to manage phyto-pathogens

A Survey of Weed Varieties in Samanabad, Lahore

A weed is an herbaceous plant that grows as a wild plant, and is considered a hindrance in the growth of preferred vegetation or cumbering the ground, and has no value for beauty or use. However, some weeds have roles in medicine, ecology and many other fields. A survey was conducted in Lahore to observe the weed varieties present in the area of Samanabad. The present study was carried out in May and June 2014.The primary purpose of the study was to gain knowledge about the availability of the total number of species present in this area. We also assessed whether these weeds were directly or indirectly beneficial for humans. Results of this study revealed a total of 33 species belonging to 20 different families which were collected and identified. Weeds were arranged in alphabetical order according to their respective families. Data inventory constitutes family name, botanical name, local name and life form. Results revealed the relative diversity of each family as Poaceae at 18.18% and Asteraceae at 15.15%. Out of 33 weed species, 64% were annual, 30% perennial and 6% biennial. The soil of the studied area was a hard, silty loam texture, with a slightly alkaline pH and low electrical conductivity. This study will be helpful in maintaining the flora of the Samanabad region

Post-legislative Domestic Violence Situation and Socio-cultural Status of Women in Punjab: An Objective Hermeneutics Analysis

Violence against Women (VAW) occurs in different societies in assorted ways in the world. It can be seen from the different lens starting from family structure to the workplaces of women. In Pakistan women experience violence from their own family members even after the promulgation of legislation at national as well as at provincial level. There is variety of existing literature which explains the prevalence of violence in different countries around the globe but mere to find the literature that shows the post-legislative status of women in a country.  This paper aims at describing the status of women after filing a case under the PPWAV Act, 2016 in Punjab. To explain and describe the said issue, the following study followed descriptive analysis and was based on qualitative social research methodology, followed by narrative approach. Relying on saturation of data, thirteen interviewees were interviewed for the said study. For analyzing the narratives, the objective hermeneutics as explained by flick (2014) was used to present data analysis. Major themes derived from the data were violence bringing women from four walls of the house, filing a case of domestic violence: violation of society values and Post case filed domestic problems. It is concluded that the said law does not harmonizes with the family values prevailing in Pakistani social structure hence is unable to eliminate the problem of domestic violence from Punjab

Pro-women Laws and Government Masquerading: A Description of Pre-independence and Post-independence Women Legislative Framework in Pakistan

This paper presents the historical account of women welfare laws in Pakistan in the light of political-historical events. This article is based on conventional content analysis focusing the women welfare in Pakistan under the different governments. The purpose of this research is to describe the original situations behind the pro-women laws in Pakistan. Present study is comprised of two sections; section-I deals with the pre-independence women legislative frame work while section-II covers with the post-independence women legislative frame work in Pakistan from 1947 to 2010. Under the new born state, first effort was made by promulgating MFLO, 1961 by the state but it could not uplift the status of women in the country. Even women could not get welfare under the banner of “Islamization of laws” in 1979. Again, a state effort was made by promulgating laws under “Women Protection Bill” but despite this promulgation of a number of laws in the present century, much remains to be done for such oppressed group. They are still in social malaise and face poverty, discrimination, violence, and disparity on different grounds. Observing from the historical account, discriminatory welfare measures deny women constitutionally guaranteed parity and protections. Hence; seems to be suppressing women status through anti-welfare steps in Pakistan. Pakistan should repeal all such laws, including the discriminatory legislation, to end the state-certified gender disparity that has destabilized women’s welfare and self-assurance and has promoted violence and intolerance in the country

Corporal Punishment Act in Public Schools: A Phenomenological Analysis of Perceptions of Practitioners

Corporal punishment (CP) is a conspicuous and serious matter of Pakistani schools. In response to this prevalent social problem the government of Pakistan like other countries has legislated against corporal punishments through Corporal Punishment Act, 2010 which restricts CP of every type in all educational institutes of the country. The said policy was promulgated to secure the child rights in the country but the flip side of the policy presents a different picture. This paper aims at investigating challenges faced by of the elementary public-school teachers as policy practitioners about the ban on corporal punishment by the government. This paper is based on qualitative social research methodology and used phenomenological research approach. Phenomenological interviews were used to collect the data until data reached at saturation. The data was analyzed by following the overall process guided by Creswell. Major derived themes from data were Perceptions of teachers regarding ban on Corporal Punishment, Post Corporal Punishment Legislation Challenges and Opinion of teachers regarding Government policy on CP followed by several sub-themes. It was concluded that the state vision to promote child welfare is hardly seen through its policies as at the end the welfare of the target group must be assured not doubted

Projection of Women Education and Empowerment Status in Pakistan: A Direct Observation Analysis of Pakistani Dramas

The sustainable development goal of gender balanced economic progress and women empowerment as a whole is not possible without the women participation in Science, Technology and Production. To prepare the mind-set of the masses particularly the youth, electronic media plays a pivotal role as a medium of informal education along with entertainment and cultural depiction of a particular society. It shows the status of various population groups of a society at a particular time especially women. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of NPDEW, 2002 on women status in television dramas. Thus, the main research question was to investigate that how far media is projecting its role in educating the individuals about the importance of shrinking the gender gap and developing the networks of skill development to increase the number of women employment and entrepreneurship. This study was qualitative in nature and direct observation analysis was used. Major derived themes from data were women status shown by Pakistani drama channels, portrayal of women status by dramas after promulgation of NPDEW, 2002 and dramas as a mean of information, education and communication. It was concluded that media remained unsuccessful in projecting expected women status in Pakistan as per NPDEW and still unable to educate the masses about the women issues

Effect of foliar application of Fe and banana peel waste biochar on growth, chlorophyll content and accessory pigments synthesis in spinach under chromium (IV) toxicity

Chromium (Cr) toxicity is becoming one of a major issue for the cultivation of crops. Toxicity of Cr directly affects synthesis of chlorophyll and restricts Fe intake, which decreases crop growth. It is well documented that the reduction of Cr toxicity through the application of biochar. However, current experiment was carried out to investigate any positive effect of, banana peel waste biochar (BC) and foliar application of Fe (FFe) on growth and chlorophyll content of Spinacia oleracea L. under different levels of Cr toxicity. Seeds of Spinacia oleracea L. were grown under three levels of Cr i.e. control (Cr0), Cr35 (35 mg Cr kg−1 soil) and Cr70 (70 mg Cr kg-1 soil). Analyzed data confirmed that Spinacia oleracea L. seeds grown in 1% BC amended soils and 1000mM FFe, showed significantly better growth, Fe uptake and chlorophyll content as compared to control at Cr35 and Cr70. A significant improvement in shoot length (16.9 and 26.9%), root length (16.3 and 20.9%), plant fresh (15.5 and 28.3%) and dry weight (70.3 and 77.8%) as compared to control under Cr35 and Cr70, respectively, validated the efficacious functioning of 1% BC and FFe to mitigate Cr toxicity in Spinacia oleracea L. It is concluded that both 1% banana peel waste BC and 1000mM FFe have potential but sole application of FFe is more effective to alleviate Cr toxicity in Spinacia oleracea L. Fortification of Fe by foliar application is more effective comparative to banana peel waste biochar for improvement in growth, chlorophyll content and accessory pigments synthesis in spinach under chromium (IV) toxicity

Micronutrients status of mango (Mangifera indica) orchards in Multan region, Punjab, Pakistan, and relationship with soil properties

Mango orchards in Pakistan are deficient in soil micronutrients. Multan is one of the prime regions for mango production in Pakistan; therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the micronutrient status of mango orchards in the Multan region. Soil samples from four different depths (0–30, 30–60, 60–90, and 90–120 cm) and leaf samples were collected from thirteen different locations of Multan. Depth-wise variations in the micronutrient status and the levels of pH, EC, CEC, SOM, and CaCO3 were determined. All data collected from the field and laboratory work of mango orchards under study were analyzed statistically by applying the RCBD design. It was observed that pH and ECe of soil under study were significantly higher in upper depths when compared with lower depths whereas CaCO3 content was contrary to pH and EC as it was observed to be higher from the lower depth of the soil. Moreover, mango leaves from the majority of locations were deficient in total micronutrients due to poorly available micronutrients status of the soil. Thus, there is a serious need to improve the chemical properties of the soil, and the proper dose of micronutrients should be applied every season for sufficient supply throughout the growing cycle of mango in and around the Multan region