Estimating genetic variability among diverse lentil collections through novel multivariate techniques.

Lentil is an important food legume throughout the world and Pakistan stands at 18th position with 8,610 tons production from 17,457 hectares. It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and minerals that can potentially meet food security and malnutrition issues, particularly in South Asia. Two hundred and twenty lentil genotypes representing Pakistan (178), Syria (14), and the USA (22) including 6 from unknown origins were studied for yield, yield contributing traits, and cooking time (CT). Genotype 6122 (Pakistan) performed the best during both years with seed yield per plant (SY) 68±1.7 g, biological yield per plant (BY) 264±2.8 g, pod size (PS) 0.61±0.01 cm, number of seeds per pod (NSP) 2, cooking time (CT) 11 minutes, with no hard seed (HS). The genotypes 6122 (Pakistan) and 6042 (Syria) produced the highest BY, hence these have the potential to be an efficient source of fodder, particularly during extreme winter months. The genotypes 5698 (Pakistan) and 6015 (USA) were late in maturity during 2018-19 while 24783 and 5561 matured early in 2019. A minimum CT of 10 minutes was taken by the genotypes 6074 and 5745 of Pakistani origin. The lowest CT saves energy, time, and resources, keeps flavor, texture, and improves protein digestibility, hence the genotypes with minimum CT are recommended for developing better lentil cultivars. Pearson correlation matrix revealed significant association among several traits, especially SY with BY, PS, and NSP which suggests their use for the future crop improvement program. The PCA revealed a considerable reduction in components for the selection of suitable genotypes with desired traits that could be utilized for future lentil breeding. Structural Equational Model (SEM) for SY based on covariance studies indicated the perfect relationship among variables. Further, hierarchical cluster analysis establishes four clusters for 2017-18, whereas seven clusters for 2018-19. Cluster 4 of 2017-18 and cluster 5 of 2018-19 exhibited the genotypes with the best performance for most of the traits (SY, BY, PS, NSP, CT, and HS). Based on heritability; HSW, SY, BY, NSP were highly heritable, hence these traits are expected for selecting genotypes with genes of interest and for future lentil cultivars. In conclusion, 10 genotypes (5664, 5687, 6084, 6062, 6122, 6058, 6087, 5689, 6042 and 6074) have been suggested to evaluate under multi-location environments for selection of the best one/s or could be utilized in hybridization in future lentil breeding programs.

Plant species diversity assessment and monitoring in catchment areas of River Chenab, Punjab, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Biodiversity data is crucial for sustainable development and making decisions regarding natural resources and its conservation. The study goal was to use quantitative ecological approaches to determine the species richness and diversity of wild flora and the ultimate impact of environmental factors on vegetation dynamics. METHODS: Quadrats having sizes of 1×1 for herbs, 5×5 for shrubs, and 10×10 m2 for trees were used. Various phytosociological characteristics were investigated in association with a wide variety of environmental variables. Soil analysis based on texture, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), available potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) were examined. The existing state of vegetation along the River Chenab was assessed using SWOT analysis and a future conservation strategy was devised. RESULTS: One hundred twenty different plant speies were divided into 51 families including 92 dicots, 17 monocots, 6 pteridophytes and 1 bryophyte species. Herbs accounted for 89 followed by shrubs (16 species) and trees (15 species). Correlation analysis revealed a highly positive correlation between relative density and relative frequency (0.956**). Shannon and Simpson's diversity indices elaborated that site 3 and 7 with clay loamy soil had non-significant alpha diversity and varies from site to site. Diversity analysis showed that site 10 was most diverse (22.25) in terms of species richness. The principal coordinate analysis expressed that different environmental variables including OM, soil pH, P, K, and EC affect vegetation significantly, therefore, loamy soil showed presence and dispersal of more vegetation as compared to loam, sandy and sandy loam soils. Further, 170 ppm of available potassium had significant affect on plant diversity and distribution. CONCLUSION: Asteraceae family was found dominant as dicot while poaceae among monocot. Adhatoda vasica was one of the unique species and found in Head Maralla site. For evenness, site 3 had maximum value 0.971. Most of the soil represented loamy soil texture where site 2 and 4 possess high soil moisture content. SWOT analysis revealed strengths as people prefered plants for medicine, food and economic purposes. In weakness, agricultural practices, soil erosion and flooding affected the vegetation. In opportunities, Forest and Irrigation Departments were planting plants for the restoration of ecosystem. Threats include anthropogenic activities overgrazing, urbanization and road infrastructure at Head Maralla, habitat fragmentation at Head Khanki, and extensive fish farming at Head Qadirabad. Future conservation efforts should be concentrated on SWOT analysis outcome in terms of stopping illegal consumption of natural resources, restoration of plant biodiversity through reforestation, designating protected areas and multiplying rare species locally.

Phytoaccumulation prospects of cadmium and zinc by mycorrhizal plant species growing in industrially polluted soils.

The natural vegetation growing along a wastewater channel was subjected to analyze the uptake of Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn) and their subsequent accumulation in aboveground and underground plant parts. Species which were mycorrhizal and growing in soils receiving industrially contaminated wastewater were collected along with their rhizospheric soil samples. The nearby uncontaminated control (reference) area was also subjected to sampling on similar pattern for comparison. Both Cd and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in soils of the study area as compared to the reference site. Five plant species i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata, Dichanthium annulatum, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Saccharum bengalense, and Trifolium alexandrinum were analyzed for metal uptake. The maximum phytoaccumulation of Cd was observed in Desmostachya bipinnata (20.41 microg g(-1)) and Dichanthium annulatum (15.22 microg g(-1)) for shoot and root tissues, respectively. However, Malvastrum coromandelianum revealed maximum Zn accumulation for both the shoot and the root tissues (134 and 140 mug g(-1), respectively). The examination of cleared and stained roots of the plants from both the areas studied revealed that all of them were colonized to a lesser or a greater degree by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The Cd hyperaccumulating grasses i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata and Dichanthium annulatum, from study area had smaller root:shoot (R/S) ratio as compared to those growing on reference area indicating a negative pressure of soil metal contamination. The lower R/S ratio in the mycorrhizal roots observed was probably due to increased AM infection and its mediatory role in soil plant transfer of heavy metals. Furthermore, comparatively lower soil pH values in the study areas may have played a key role in making the overall phytoavailability of both the metals. Consequently variations in Cd and Zn tissue concentration among species were observed that also indicate the phytoaccumulation potential of the native species.

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Kotli Sattian, Rawalpindi district, Pakistan.

AIM OF STUDY: The present study aimed to report the ethnomedicinal information from Kotli Sattian, district Rawalpindi for detailed medicinal uses and to inform the community about conservation of medicinal plant diversity and ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethnomedicinal data were collected via Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA) along with interview, group meetings with local people having awareness about medicinal knowledge of plants and individual meetings with local healers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: This study reported eighty seven (87) indigenous medicinal plants, distributed among fifty five (55) families and seventy nine (79) genera. Among these, herbs contributed 43%, trees 28%, shrubs 21% and climbing plants 8%. About 34% of herbal preparations were made from whole plants followed by the leaves (27%), fruits (08%), bark (06%), seeds (05%), root (05%), rhizome (04%), stem, flower, gum, pod and tubers (02%) and milky latex (01%). Justicia adhatoda showed the maximum use value (0.91) while Cuscuta reflexa showed the least use value (0.11). CONCLUSION: Elder people in the study area still rely on herbal remedies although the modern heath care facilities are present in the study area; thus, the indigenous plants remain important medicines in solving health problems.