Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today, as it affects all sectors of life, be it global economics or human rights activism; timely action is required to avoid global catastrophe. Understanding the importance of climate change mitigation, renewable energies, clean technologies, and green development has become necessary for effective leadership. The Handbook of Research on Green Economic Development Initiatives and Strategies provides the necessary information to reduce the climate change vulnerability of socio-economic systems in the most cost-effective manner. This handbook of research is ideal for policy makers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, businesses, and professionals looking to temper the effects of climate change.

The emergence of modern technologies such as Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA, organ transplantation, gene therapy etc have raised new ethical questions, rather "dilemmas," for humankind. With technological development and advancement in social, economic and educational spheres the ethical questions are expected to become more significant in Pakistan as well. The study recommends that more organized awareness campaigns are required to educate the masses. The educational institutions should revise their curricula to include discussions on bioethical questions. The study also recommends thorough and detailed legislation and formulation of regulatory mechanism for bioethical issues. Keeping in view the responses regarding the role of religion, it is proposed that religious scholars may be consulted during formulation of laws, rules and regulations. Their should also be Codes of Ethics for professionals associated with Bioethical issues. A core group of experts is needed for guiding the government and the public at large.

The importance of rice for our country is manifold as it is an agricultural commodity that adds 20% FEC to the national foreign exchange reserves. Seed is a living tissue carries a genetic potential.Failing of seeds to germinate under environmental conditions optimal for germination is called dormancy. True dormancy caused by the conditions within the seed that prevent germination. Thus dormancy is a state of seed, not of the environment, that reduces seed germination and breaking dormancy, could be one of the most important factor for early germination. Whereas the wild species of rice offer an important source of variability for improvement of cultivated rice. Keeping in view of its importance the present work has been attempted to break dormancy of both the wild species and cultivated rice with different treatments. The outcome of breaking dormancy was the early germination, to increase survival percentage, shorten the nursery period and reduced maturity days.This book describe all the possible dormancy breaking methods of wild species and cultivated varities of rice. This may be helpful & used as protocol in future research studies by researchers.

The present study is an attempt to investigate the Plant Biodiversity of Batrasi Pass with special reference to its Conservation status .The studies were conducted in different seasons during the year during 2007 and 2008. The plants were collected from different habitats, which were later dried and preserved at Hazara University Herbarium for further investigation. A total of 145 species are represented in the area including2 species of bryophytes, 4 species of pteridiophytes,5 species of Gymnosperms, and 113 species of Angiosperms. Among the Gymnosperms 4 genera and 5 species are found whereas in Angiosperms 46 families (21 species of Monocot belonging to 3 families, and 113 species belong of Diocot belonging to 43 families) were collected from the area.

Peshawar Valley, the main drainage basin of Kabul River is widely known for its fertile land, intact wetland and diverse cultural and biological resources. This dissertation is an outcome of an effort to record species diversity of unicellular Green algae from the Valley. Sum of 10 genera with 70 species of Unicellular Green Algae, Chlorophyta were collected and identified from different localities of District Peshawar. The most frequent genus in term of species was Tetraedron with 24 species (34.28 %). Other frequent genera were Closterium 10 species (14.28 %), Cosmarium 9 species (12.85%), Characium 9 species (12.85%) and Chlamydomonas 5 species (7.14%). The genera Ankistrodesmus and Oocystis were represented by 4 species each (5.71%), Chlorella and Carteria 2 species each (2.85%) and Closteriopsis only a single species (1.42%).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most important Flavivirida infections with significant clinical problems throughout the world in humans. Six major Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and hundreds of subtypes have been identified globally. All these genotypes are generally studied for epidemiology, their vaccine development and clinical management. This thesis comments the frequency distribution of various HCV genotypes circulate in different areas/districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw Province of Pakistan. Out of the tested samples, genotype specific PCR fragments were observed in 299 (74.82%) patient serum samples. The distribution of genotypes of the typeable samples was as follows: 3 patients (0.72%) each were infected with genotype 1a and genotype 1b; 240 patients (80.26%) of genotype 3a; 25 patients (6.00%) genotype 3b; and 28 patients (6.73%) were observed as with mixed genotypic infection. Sums of 116 serum samples (27.88%) were still found untypeable by the used molecular genotyping system. In conclusion, HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a and 3b are distributed in various parts of KPK among which the genotype 3a is the most frequent genotype.

The Hindu Kush, some 800 km long mountain range forms the geopolitical boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan. An extensive survey was carried out during summer 2009 to document the traditional knowledge about the medicinal use of plants by the dwellers of one of the remote valley in Hindu Kush Mountains. The study showed that local inhabitants not only use medicinal plants for curing various diseases but also earn a substantial part of their livelihood by selling some of them in the markets. One hundred and fourteen of the medicinal plants were recognized to use as diuretic, laxative, antiseptic, anthelmintic, carminative, expectorant, astringent and purgative agents. Thirty species of them are also collected for trade purposes. According to the interviewed population, the availability of medicinal plants is decreasing day by day due to increasing human population, extensive grazing, increase in market demand and unwise collection. Therefore, study recommended that governmental and non-governmental organizations should play their possible role to aware the local people about threats to the plants and their sustainable future.

This book is focused on the vegetation of Upper river Siran Catchments.some suggesions have been given for the improvement of vegetation.A large number of information has been given in this book for new researcher regarding Phytosociology.this is an initiative towards the protection and conservation of vegetation.nowadays pollution is increasing rapidly in Pakistan due to different factors and our environment is going to be deteriorated. This book has been written to suggest the prevention of ruthless cutting of plants for timber and fuel purposes. .As for as fuel needs are concerned this book recommends alternative and fast growing species of plants so that our valuable plants are protected.

A Valley of lush green meadows strewn with an amazing variety of wild alpine flowers which support rich and spectacular plant biodiversity of great scientific curiosity and promising economic values. This work based on the results of a project conducted in the remote West Himalayan region of Palas Valley, in order to evaluate and analyze medicinal flora of the area. Survey was carried out in 2006 which reveals 64 plant species belonging to 46 families and 59 genera, under ethnomedicinal utility by the local inhabitants of Palas Valley. Among these 35 were herbs, 12 shrubs, 13 trees and 4 climbers. Most plant species are used for different ailments and have significant role in the primary health care of the area. It was concluded from research that Sustainable medicinal plants collection and conservation practices are strongly desirable. The long term management and sustainable use of theses important and globally rich plant resources will provide livelihood security of the targeted community for present and future generations of the area.

The present study reveals 106 trees species of Disrict Abbottabd. 53 Trees species were found to be of medicinal importance, used to treat various ailments. These are used either alone or in combination with other plants. The study explores several new recipes, not reported in literature. The present study shows that District Abbottabad is home to a vast diversity of medicinal trees. Despite a gradual sociocultural transformation, local communities still possess substantial knowledge of plants and their uses. The reliance on folk medicines for healthcare is associated with the lack of modern medicines and medication, poverty and traditional belief in their effectiveness. Since there is a complete lack of phytotherapeutic evidence for many of the species, it is recommended that phytochemical and pharmacological studies be carried out in order to confirm the validity of properties attributed to these species. The study suggests tree species of economic importance, including fuelwood, timber yielding, erosion control, shade producing, edible fruits, vegetable species, hedging and fencing, making agriculture appliances and other uses.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell) is one of the most important cereal grain crop of the world and is cultivated over a wide range of climatic conditions. For a successful breeding program the inheritance of yield related traits is a pre- requisite. This monograph communicates the inheritance pattern of yield and related traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using 8x8 diallel analyses. Graphical analysis revealed additive gene action for days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, grains per spike, 1000 grains weight and harvest index. While over dominance gene action for flag leaf area, tillers per plant, Spike length and yield per plant. The GCA mean squares were significant for all traits except tiller per plant and yield per plant and were greater than SCA mean squares indicating the preponderance of additive genetic effects. The parents Tkb, Tat, Sarc-3 and SQ- 92 were good general combiners. The parents Tkb, Tat, Sarc-3 and SQ-92 and the specific crosses that showed high mid parent and better parent heterosis are recommended for further use in wheat breeding programmes.

Screening of the genotypes through plasmid assisted technology provides an efficient and handy tool for elaborating genetic relationships among the genotypes. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes (populations) obtained from different sources were analyzed through RAPD, DNA markers for evaluation of intraspecific DNA variations. The results revealed that significant variations were present in minor bands. Major bands also showed significant diversity. Variations were also recorded in the density of some common bands. Maximum and minimum Genetic Diversity i.e., 80% and 20% was found among 08 and 23 comparisons respectively in banding profile. These variations can be used for enhancing variability, a prerequisite for crop breeding. Phylogenetic clustering of the genotypes revealed that genetic diversity is independent of origin or source of the genotypes. Forty eight genotypes of pea clustered in three main groups A, B and C comprising 23, 5 and 20 genotypes, respectively. A1 and C1 included the most distantly related genotypes and hence can be recommended for breeding to obtain genetically diverse populations.

The present study was carried out in 2006-7 to explore and document ethnomedicinal profile and conservation status of Plant biodiversity in "Alexander the Great Valley" Hindukash range, District Shangla, Pakistan. It is one of world's most interesting and historical areas, not only for its natural resources and medicinal plant diversity but also for old relics or ruins of Alexander the Great that is attracting national and global interest. Study revealed that there were 32 medicinal plants belonging to 26 families. Herbaceous layer (19 species) were found to be the most used life forms followed by trees (6 species), shrubs (4 species), Climbers (2 species) and Saprophytes (1) in descending order. For knowing the ethno medicinal and socio economic profile of the people, a simple questionnaire was developed and filled through interviews. The botanical name, followed by local name, family, part used and ethnomedicinal uses in different folk was recorded. Present investigation confined to document medicinal uses of plants utilized by local peoples.

The present work was carried out to study the chromosomal morphology and behavior of Allium cepa L. Chromosomes. Metaphase-I of Meiosis was selected for karyotyping. It is concluded that the total length of haploid genome was 35.5 RLM.The absolute length ranges from 78-148 RLM excluding the satellite chromosome. The satellite chromosome was numbered 8, having relative length of 165 RLM and arm ratio ranging from 1.08-1.83. The arm ratio shows that the chromosomal complement consists of 4-metacentric and 3-submetacentric chromosomes.

Accumulation of heavy metals in living organisms provides a handy reference for elaborating the nature and extent of chemical pollution in water bodies. Kabul River, the major source of drinking and irrigation water for millions of people in Afghanistan and Pakistan,is contaminated with heavy metals from variety of sources, which need to be checked, for safeguarding fish habitat and securing consumers health. A research study of Hazara University is presented here shows the load of heavy metals accumulation in body parts of common fishes. The fishes analysed for this purpose included Wallago attu, Aorichthys seenghala, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo dyocheilus and Ompok bimaculatous,caught from the Peshawar Valley section of Kabul River.It was observed that the bioaccumulation of Zn, Cr and Pb was very high in fishs as compared Cd and Pb. Furthermore the concentration of Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb in fish samples, were exceeding the RDA limits. It can be concluded that continuous use of these fishes may cause health problems of different kinds to fish consumers. The issue needs proper attention at national and local levels.

"Ephedra" is a gymnospermic genus of Gnetales and family Ephedraceae. The genus is represented by forty-two species from the world, among them nine are provisionally reported from Pakistan. It is recognized for fourteen phyto-chemicals, among them ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are the most important, widely used as bronchodilators and decongestants. Traditionally the plant is used for respiratory tract diseases and to enhance the effect of snuff. Besides its use as medicine, some of its species are used as diet supplement for weight reduction. Quantity and quality of chemicals present in the genus vary species to species. Hence, it is important to properly identify the plant and get benefit from its valuable chemicals. Conventional tools of taxonomy can identify the genus but overlapping morphological features of the plant creates problems in proper alignment of species. PCR based Molecular markers e.g. RAPDs can help to delineate various field specimens with high accuracy and thus provide a handy tool for identification.