Dr S D Khan

• Ph.D. in LIS
• Head, LRC at Waljat Colleges of Applied Sciences

The present studies report the variation in fruit mass, brood size, pericarp mass, seed mass and seed packaging cost in Sapindus mukorossi collected from Nanjing city, Jiangsu province of Peoples Republic of China. Also included in the studies are seedling morphology and ornamentation of seedling leaves with respect to trichomes and the stomatal ty...

This paper briefly describes the surface micromorphology of young stem and the succulent leaf of Tetraena qatarensis (Hadidi) Beier and Thulin. Qualitative phytochemical characterization of various part of the plant (root, mature stem, tender stem and leaf) has also been undertaken. The tender stem near the nodal region is densely trichomatous. The...

Quantitative phenotypic traits of pseudocarps and seeds of Chimonanthus praecox (L.) Link. are described from a roadside tree in Chengdu, Sichuan province of China. The parameters included 1. Air dried pseudocarp weight (PW), 2. Seed Yield per pseudocarp (SYP), 3. Number of seeds per pseudocarp (NSP, the brood size), 4. weight of Empty pseudocarp (...

The seedlings of Cassia fistula L. were studied for their morphological characters including stomatal and epicuticular wax crystalloids types. Germination in C fistula is Phanerocotylar-Epigeal-Reserve (≈PER) type. Cotyledons in C. fistula are isocotylar, opposite, flat leathery, sessile to sub-sessile, coriaceous and oblong-obovate in shape. Both...

Seed weight variation is in fifteen guar germplasms of Pakistan is investigated. The mean individual seed weight of the germplasms was found to follow an order as given below (mean seed wt. (mg) given in parenthesis).95). Seed weight distribution in all germplasms tested, except S 5765, was symmetrical with insignificant KS-z values. Seed weight di...

Pod and seed characteristics of Vachellia nilotica ssp. indica (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr., a full grown tree growing in Nauraja, Kacche Jo Ilaiqo (floodplain of River Indus, Sindh), were studied which included pod-, seed-and brood-size and seed packaging cost and their variations. In a sample of 130 pods, the pod weight varied from 1.304 to 5.667g av...

Seed size distribution pattern within pods of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. is investigated with respect the position of the seeds within pods. The composite healthy pod sample of 73 pods gave brood size of 9.38 ± 0.215 seeds per pod. The average mass of a seed for healthy pods from three mother plants varied significantly around the grand mean of 11...

The mature and healthy fruits of Luffa cylindrica were collected from its plant grown in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi. The fruits were studied for their size, brood size and seed characteristics. The brood size was highly variable and varied from 203 to 734 seeds per fruit. Mean single seed weight (MSSW) was found to vary amongst the fruits significan...

The purpose of present survey was to study the diversity of AM fungal spore in different field crops (maize, brinjal, chillies, sponge gourd, tomato, rice, sugarcane and cotton) of Sindh i.e. their identification, quantification and their per cent root colonization. Thirteen AMF species belonging to four genera (Glomus caledonium, G. macrocarpum, G...

Leaf architecture, ornamentation and estimation of lamina area have been described in a Mediterranean species, Myrtus communis grown under irrigation in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi, Pakistan. Leaves opposite usually in 3's but same twig may also show superposed opposite leaves in 2's. Leaves simple, sub-sessile (petiole c 1mm) fleshy succulent, fine-...

Size variation and surface structure of pods and seeds of Bauhinia racemosa are described. The immature and developing fruits of B. racemosa are twisted strap like dark green, and photosynthesizing. The mature fruits mostly twisted, oblong and compressed chocolate brown, turgid, and apex tapered. Pod surface has ridges and grooves. The mature pods...

The phyo-chemical composition, fungal flora and allelopathic potential of frass from saproxylic-cerambycid larvae of Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius 1787) posted in the wood of dead twigs of Acacia stenophylla A. Cunn. Ex. Benth. are described. The frass was found to contain a number of phyto-chemicals – Alkaloids, phenols, sugar, and protein and...

The ornamentation (trichomes, lithocysts and stomata) of Peristrophe paniculata (Forssk.) Brummitt. seedling is described. Seedling appeared to be " Phanerocotylar-epigeal-foliaceous type ". P. paniculata appeared to consist of lithocysts in all seedling components. Generally, they were of varied shapes and sizes. They are much longer than wider. E...

Seedling characteristics of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. are described. The seedling was of Phanerocotylar – Epigeal Reserve type. The total leaf area per seedling increased exponentially with age with relatively larger rate of leaf-area-increment by the 40 th day of seedling age. The major allocation of biomass in 60-day old seedlings was in leaves-49....

Seedling characteristics of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre are described. Its seeds were collected from a tree growing in the Campus of University of Karachi and germinated without any dormancy breaking treatment in pots filled with garden sandy loam soil maintained at 75% MWHC. The seeds were sown in surface layer of soil not below than 1 cm. Seedli...

The leaves are variously shaped in Jojoba seedlings and may be broadly categorized into two types. The leaves produced on the lower node (s) are generally smaller with obtuse apex in contrast to the commonly occurring leaves of upper nodes which are comparatively larger with acute apex. Of 115 leaves studied from 12 seedlings there were 85 acute ap...

The concentration of various major and trace metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P. Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Fe, Cd. Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, and V) were determined by means of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS, Perkin-Elmer Analyst 700 single beam) in the bottom ash of stem wood of Acacia stenophylla A. Cunn. Ex. Benth. burnt in an open hearth. The metals were in followin...

Salinity is one of the predisposing factors to plant disease and increase the severity of the plant disease. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect the different levels of NaCl salinity on growth of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties (CIM-598, CIM-599, CIM-602, CIM-573 and CIM-554) and its root rot pathogens. These varieties of C...

Seedling characteristics of Erythrina suberosa Roxb. are described. Its seeds were collected from a tree growing in the Campus of University of Karachi and germinated without any dormancy breaking treatment in pots filled with garden sandy loam soil maintained at 75% MWHC. Maximum germination was 50% achieved within a week. The seedlings were studi...

Allometric equations were developed to estimate aboveground dry phytomass (AGDP) in some coastal herbaceous halophytic species of Karachi viz. Atriplex griffithii Moq. Cressa cretica L., Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin ex Steud., Limonium stocksii (Boiss.) O. Ktze, and Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E. Hubb. Best fit least square regression models wer...

Seed mass variation in seed lots of nine sunflower cultivars viz. S-278, local, Hybrid 1, Hysun 33, Hysun 39, N K Armoni, Aussie gold 04, Aussie gold 61 and Aussie gold 62 is described. Within individual cultivars seed mass varied substantially from 1.91-folds in cultivar S-278 to 3.68-folds in Hybrid 1. The variation in terms of coefficient of var...

Different organic substrates (maize flour, barley flour, rice flour, sawdust, wheat bran and millet grains) were used as nutrient source to Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (B.t.) isolates (B.t.-16 and B.t.-64). The purpose of the study was to determine the most efficient organic substrate least expensive for the growth of the bacteria. All the test...

The seed weight in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) averaged to 309.99 ± 0.16.016 mg and varied 15.4-folds i.e. around 51.4%. The seed weight distribution was asymmetrical (negatively skewed) and platykurtic. Out of 101 seeds sawn (seed weight: 33.7 -515.8 mg), twenty seven seeds of seed weight varying from 33.7 to 245.5mg could not germinate. Within t...

The seed weight of sunflower (Helianthus annuus (L.) cultivar Aussie gold 61 averaged to 56.56 ± 0.8607 and varied around 21.52%. The seed weight distribution was symmetrical. The seed weight had no influence on germination / emergence but had significant effect on seedling growth. Larger seeds gave rise to larger seedlings. In 30-day old seedlings...

Root-knot nematodes are considered to be the most destructive plant parasitic nematodes. The use of nematicides for the control of root-knot nematodes is common practice. The use of biological control agents is, however, considered more effective and environmentally safe replacement of chemical nematicides. In the present study, three Bacillus thur...

One hundred and five mature pods from a solitary tree of Acacia coriacea subsp. pendens Gowen and Muskingrowing in Botanical Garden of University of Karachi, Pakistan,were collected in the month of March2012and studied for various size parametersafter air-drying for around two months. The pod weight averaged to 2.23 ± 0.073g(ranging from 0.9965 to...

Experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of moisture and temperature on the survival of two isolates (B.t. -16 and B.t. -64) of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner in autoclaved soil. Both isolates under different moisture and temperature regimes exhibited decreasing trend in populations with time – mostly during first week of observatio...

Aims The biocontrol potential of three Bacillus species, namely Bacillus subtilis (BS), Bacillus firmus (BF), and Bacillus coagulans (BC) was tested against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood in eggplants (Solanum melongena L.). Plant growth and biochemical effects were also measured in these interactions. Methods Bacillus...

Biomass investment in pods, seeds and seed packaging has been studied in a tree of Erythrina suberosa Roxb. from the campus of the University of Karachi, Pakistan. The pods are tardily dehiscent or indehiscent for long period of time and seeds are placed in the pod lengthwise. On an average pod weighed 4.140 ± 0.1478g, ranging from 1.475 to 10.5431...

Forty two species were found to be present in P. paniculata (Forssk) Brumitt. -dominated stands in the campus of University of Karachi with mean number of species per stand, 12.45 ± 0.054. Poaceae was the dominant family (10 genera and 15 species) followed by Leguminosae (4 genera and 5 species). Species diversity of the stands was low and the Whit...

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are the most abundant and destructive nematodes around tropical areas of world. Barks of 10 indigenous tree species namely Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica, Delbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus sp., Aegle marmelos, Guaiacum officinale, Thespesia populnea, Pithocellobium dulce, Prosopis juliflora and Samanea sa...

The experiment was conducted to observe the influence of Sea salt salinity (0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2% Sea salt corresponding to ECiw of 0.6, 3.51, 5.23, 9.23, 12.81 and 16.67dS.m-1 , respectively) on seedling growth and the physiological, biochemical and mineral parameters of growth in Vachellia nilotica subsp indica (Benth.) Kyal & Boatwr. (...

The axial dimensions of seeds, within-fruit allocation of biomass and seed packaging cost were determined in a wild castor bean plant from village Khuhra, Tehsil gambit, district Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. The dry fruit (regma) weight averaged to 1.6643 ± 0.0215g and varied by 18.53% (0.9493-2.4466g). The castor fruit produced 2 to 4 seeds but generally...

ABSTRACT One hundred and five mature pods from a solitary tree of Acacia coriacea subsp. pendens Gowen and Muskin growing in Botanical Garden of University of Karachi, Pakistan, were collected in the month of March 2012 and studied for various size parameters after air-drying for around two months. The pod weight averaged to 2.23 ± 0.073g (ranging...

Biomass investment in pods, seeds and seed packaging has been studied in a tree of Delonix regia (Bojer) Rafin from the campus of the University of Karachi, Pakistan. The pods are woody and tardily dehiscent or indehiscent for long period of time and seeds are mottled and transversely placed in the pod. The weight of air-dried pods (PW) varied from...

In this study, caryopses of maize were exposed to UV-C radiation for 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes before sowing to determine the effects on seed germination, plant growth, leaf area and colonization of common root-infecting fungi such as Fusarium species, Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. and Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. UV-C reduced seed germinat...

Three sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] cultivars namely Mr. Buster, Honey Graze and Extra Sweet of Australian origin were tested for their salinity tolerance. Their germination was assayed against a series of NaCl concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM NaCl) in Petri plates. Seedling growth was tested in a sand culture experiment i...

Three sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) cultivars namely Mr. Buster, Honey Graze and Extra Sweet of Australian origin were tested for their salinity tolerance. Their seedling growth was tested in a sand culture experiment n pots under saline irrigation with 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl prepared in half strength Hoagland solution. The parameters...

The experiment was conducted to observe the influence of Sea salt salinity (0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2% corresponding to ECiw of 0.6, 3.51, 5.24, 9.23, 12.81 and 16.67 dS.m-1, respectively) on seedling growth and the physiological, biochemical and mineral parameters of growth in Acacia stenophylla A. Cunn. Ex. Benth. On average basis, 50% reduc...

The ecology of free-living nematodes in various natural salinity-affected habitats (viz. Mc Murdo and Taylor valleys of Antarctica, estuaries, deep Sea, Aral Sea bottom, halophytic tuft grass nematodes of golf courses, hyper-arid and hyper-saline oasis and desert soils, coastal entomopathogenic nematodes, stylet-bearing nematodes of mangroves of Su...

The pest relationship of Common grass yellow [Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus, 1758)] with Acacia stenophylla A. Cunn. Ex. Benth., an Australian plant grown in the department of Botany, University of Karachi, Pakistan is described. The larva of this beautiful moth is a serious pest of seedlings of A. stenophylla and rapidly devours their young leaves but n...

The graphically measured one-sided leaf area (LAM) of individual leaves of Jatropha curcas L varied from 9.48 – 158.55 cm2 (mean = 72.094 ± 6.937 cm2; CV = 56.93%). The leaf area (LAM) was found to correlate significantly with multiplicative parameter of leaf length and breadth (LL x LB) as simple linear model (R2 = 0.983, F= 1955.64 (p < 0.0001) a...

Variation in composition, structure, plant biomass and net primary productivity was analyzed in a grass-dominated sandy desert community of Lashtrus scindicus Henr., and Cenchrus setigerus Vahl., situated within the campus of University of Karachi. Pakistan. Life form indicated a thero-hemi-cryptophytic/geophytic flora. Phytosociological parameters...