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The study focused on the evaluation and characterization of plant genetic resources of fodder legumes in northern Tunisia for the purpose of biodiversity conservation. The study was carried out on the biodiversity of legumes (Fabaceae) and their geographical distribution as well as on the ecological characterization of their natural environment using different ecological indices. Nine sites distributed in the governorates of Bizerte, Beja and Jendouba were visited to collect information. In this context, an inventory was carried out showing the presence of 40 different species of forage legumes divided into 15 genus, some of which exist in the three governorates prospected at the same time. The genus Trifolium and Medicago was the most diversified by the presence of 9 and 8 species. Thus, eight less diversified monospecific genus have been listed such as (Anthyllis, Calicotome, Hippocreppis, Lathyrus, Lupinus, Melilotus, Scorpiurus and Retama). We have also identified species with widespread distribution such as Trifolium campestre and Trifolium tomentosum and species with restricted geographical distribution such as Anthyllis vulneraria at Rimel in the governorate of Bizerte and Hippocreppis unisiliquosa in the governorate of Beja in Medjez El Bab. Shannon index showed differences between and within governorate. The three governorates studied have an average of 1.883 bits in Bizerta, 2.052 bits in Beja and 1.601 bits in Jendouba. This shows that diversity index is significantly higher in Béja compared to that of Bizerte and Jendouba. Jaccard similarity index calculated for the different studied localities.

Collectively we experience an unprecedented time in the history of humanity. This is true not only of the agricultural seed sector of Pakistan but of the world’s agricultural economies. The culprit being Coronavirus, oft dubbed as Covid-19. A culprit of pandemic proportion. What might be the ultimate impact on Pakistan’s seed sector? On the global agricultural economy? I share my personal musings. I do not claim to be clairvoyant but rather to simply raise questions of import related to various possible impacts that might emanate from the pandemic. Granted, I am not a Pakistani nor do I live in the nation. However, I am an observer having established ties to agricultural development efforts in the country. Those ties span and are intertwined with academic, industry and governmental initiatives and realities since 1992. My interests have been somewhat hybridized over the years to address issues within the context of agricultural extension and seed industry development. Issues and impacts, classified as being either near-term or long-term, will be explored. First, let us address the seed itself. The following thoughts address the seed industry. Last thoughts focus on the broader industry of agriculture. My reference points being observations across the US Midwest (corn and soybean production regions) and information gleaned from and about Pakistan.

This study was carried out in district Sheikhupura of Punjab to figure out the technical efficiency of strawberry farmers through stochastic frontier approach. Multistage sampling technique was employed to get the data from 120 strawberry growers. Cobb Douglas functional form was selected through log likelihood ratio test for stochastic frontier analysis. According to the results, mean value of technical efficiency of farmers was recorded as 64 percent, with the further breakthrough of minimum and maximum value of technical efficiency was 0.39 to 0.97 respectively. All variables of production were found positively related to yield. Estimates of the production function showed that fertilizer, land preparation, pesticide, labor hours were significant. Similarly inefficiency determinants such as family size, experience and credit were significant (P ≤ 0.05). All the inefficiency factors have expected negative sign except age of the farmers with positive sign.

Efficient in vitro culture system was standardized for potato (Solanum tuberosum) cv. SH-5. Callus formation and plant regeneration were obtained by culture of potato leaf discs and internodal stem segments on MS medium supplemented with different growth regulators. MS medium fortified with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at 4 mg L-1 showed the best results for callogenesis. There was 96% callus induction at 4 mg L-1 of 2,4-D by ,leaf explants as compared to 74% exhibited by intermodal stem segments. Embryogenic calli regenerated shoots on MS supplemented with 2 mg L-1 BAP + 2.5 mg L-1 NAA, had the highest efficiency (64% and 35%) and highest number of shoots per callus (5 and 2) from leaf and stem explants, respectively. Regenerated shoots were separated and rooted on MS medium. The highest rooting response (96%) was observed in the shoots originating from leaf callus as compared to 70% in shoots derived from stem callus. Rooted shoots were acclimatized in the glasshouse for plantation in the field.

Bioplastics are the ecofriendly, biodegradable and biocompatible plastics originated from many living bodies including bacteria. Two bacterial strains Exiguobacterium sp. and Klebsiella sp. were screened for PHA production by Nile Blue Staining and Sudan Black B Staining. Both strains exhibited PHA production ability. Time profiling for the growth of two strains was performed using four different culture media. The two strains were optimized for PHA production for different pH conditions using three different carbon sources as glucose (control), sodium gluconate and molasses. Molasses sample was estimated containing 59.2% carbohydrate and 5.89% protein content by Phenol-Sulfuric Acid Method and Bradford Protein Assay respectively. Sodium Hypochlorite Method was used for PHA extraction. Exiguobacterium sp. showed exponential growth in molasses in 2% concentration and produced 54.0g/L biomass, 7.2 gL-1 or 13.3% PHA at 78 hours. With molasses as carbon source, biomass production by Klebsielliasp.was recorded optimal with 2% supplementation producing 88.7g/L biomass and 8.5g/L or 9.58% PHA, after 78 hours of incubation at 37 ºC. Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy analysis showed that Exiguobacterium sp. produced poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) in medium supplemented with glucose as well as molasses as confirmed by the presence of C = O group at 1624.712 cm-1 and 1385.783 cm-1 respectively.

Quinoa, a halophyte native of South America is famous for its acclimatization in new environments and adverse climatic conditions. Inadequate native quinoa production has encouraged its cultivation in new regions. One hundred and fifty quinoa genotypes belonging to a variety of origins were sown in the field under Faisalabad conditions to study relationship among morphological and physiological traits. Panicle Plant-1 had the highest direct effect on yield. Harvest index also emerged as the key parameter for seed yield determination perhaps being a yield parameter and laborious trait some other parameters are needed for quick assessment of high yielding quinoa under indigenous Pakistani conditions. Among biochemical traits, proline contents showed high positive direct on grain yield. On the basis of this information, a comprehensive quinoa improvement program was initiated for the selection of high yielding quinoa genotypes under shuttle breeding program carried out at two locations for the rapid segregation generation advancement of quinoa population. Simultaneous single plant selection in segregating generation (F2 ‒ F¬6) was done for proline contents initially during vegetative phase and subsequent selection of panicle plant-1 to constitute high yielding progenies. High yielding progenies were evaluated at three locations which showed significant improvement in economic yield over unselected accessions.

Sunflower is an important oil seed crop of world, which is predominately cultivated by hybrid seed. Sunflower breeders continue attempt new cross combinations to develop hybrids with higher manifestation of heterosis. Therefore, present study was conducted with the aim to develop highly heterotic hybrids. The manifestation of heterosis was studied in various phenological and agronomic traits of sunflower. There were 24 single cross hybrids produced by crossing among cytoplasmic male sterile and restorer lines in 2018. Developed crosses were evaluated in 2019 in randomized block design at Karaj, Iran. There was considerable heterosis in desired direction for phenological and agronomic traits which indicated that highly heterotic crosses may be selected to expand yield potential in Iran. Two hybrids R29 × A212 and R19 × A212 with higher seed and oil yield and positive heterosis for these two characteristics were identified as superior hybrids. The results indicated that association of optimum alleles related to flowering time may result in development of early maturing hybrids than related parents. Moreover, heterozgosity may mask recessive alleles, therefore, specific combining ability of parents may be more important than per se performance of inbred parents.The role of maternal effects should be taken into account in breeding of a trait and higher heterosis alone cannot be a reason for the superiority of a hybrid for a particular trait, and ultimate expression of a given feature is more important.