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The selection of high-yielding cotton lines is critical for the evaluation of phenotypic characteristics. For Cotton Breeders, it is always in preference to select desirable genotypes, based on the diversified characters from the available germplasm. The selected phenotypic diversity can be useful for aiding information in parental selection, adherence to this, a set of 12 advanced cotton lines were evaluated for genetic diversity at Cotton Research Institute, Tandojam during Kharif season in the year of 2020. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications while seven agronomical traits, were included in the experiment. The mean square of genotypes, was differed significantly (P

The present study was designed to assess genetic divergence between commercial bread wheat genotypes based on yield and its related traits and to carry out phenotypic correlation. Twenty bread hexaploid wheat varieties were assessed for mean performance, correlation analysis and genetic distance. Randomized complete block design was used with three replications during growing season, 2018-2019 at Wheat and Barley Research Institute, Tandojam. The mean squares depicted significant differences (P

Evaluating genetic diversity in germplasm resources is a prerequisite for any effective breeding program. In this context, an investigation was carried out for analyzing genetic diversity in a set of 18 sunflower lines, which were grown at Oilseeds Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan. Results demonstrated that mean squares were highly significantly different (P< 0.01) for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, seeds head-1, seed index and grain yield plant-1. It represents that studied sunflower germplasm tend to have useful genetic resources for further breeding programs. In respect to genetic distance, a number of pairs were identified, which possess wide as well as narrow genetic distance; hence these pairs may be utilized for heterosis and backcross breeding purpose, respectively. Principal component analysis depicted that first three components showed a very high percentage of genetic variance (91.60%), indicating a great amount of genetic diversity in studied germplasm. Considering cluster analysis, diverse parents have also been identified through different clusters, signifying their importance for upcoming hybridization programs in sunflower. Keywords: Genetic diversity; Sunflower; Cluster analysis; Quantitative traits http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.60022

In a two-year study ten commercial date palm varieties were evaluated. The varieties showed varying response to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv; some varieties suffered heavy infestation while others indicated tolerance against R. ferrugineus. The most tolerant varieties with less infestation percentage against R. ferrugineus were Muzawati (8%) followed by Pathri (12%), Thothar (15%), Khar and Shakri (16%) respectively. The varieties which suffered high infestation rate were Karbalain, Dhedhi, Fasli, Aseel and Eidan Shah. To control the R. ferrugineus infestation pheromone trapping system was used. Significantly more R. ferrugineus (18-21) adults were captured during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd week of July and 2nd week of June. The studies conducted will be helpful in survey and control of R. ferrugineus infestation in Khairpur District of Sindh province.

The survey on various parameters showed that the degree of orchard infestation fluctuated by time period/seasons, so attack of red palm weevil varied on different months of the year during the study period. It was observed that this insect pest had significantly higher (16%) infestation in the months of June, July and August, during experimental period. The least attack (8%) of the weevil was in the months of January, September, October, November and December in both the years (2007 and 2008). Place of infestation of weevil on date palm stem revealed that the pest infestation was mostly concentrated at the base of trunk (up to 50 cm height) and 75 to 82% of total weevil infestations were located at the base of palm trunk. Spirotetramat insecticide was found most efficient treatment to control red palm weevil infestation/damage, which recovered (43%) damaged date palm trees, followed by Fipronil (33%), Chlorpyrifos (26%) and Methidathion (19%) during the year 2007 and 2008. Key words: Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, chemical control, date palm