This study investigates the military stability of South Asia, after overt display of nuclear explosions by Pakistan and India in May 1998. The two countries have been loggerhead on Kashmir dispute since their inception in 1948. Both have fought three major wars and are in the process of fighting a limited war in the Himalayan Mountains for the last seventeen years. The specific emphasis was on the analyses of the genesis of problem and the roots of mistrust between the two countries. The present day military scenario and relationship of both countries have been discussed with special emphasis on the military government in Pakistan and hard-line religious government in India. The recent Kargil crisis in 1999, soon after nuclearization of both countries was also discussed during the course of study. The study explained the problem areas, arms race and nuclear thresholds of two countries. It also briefly touched upon the reasons for nonadherence of nonproliferation treaties in vogue by the two countries. The study also includes the overall geopolitical environments of South Asia including the China factor in the region. The study advocates that the world, in general, and South Asia, in particular, will remain under the clouds of nuclear holocaust due to Pakistan and India, unless Kashmir problem is amicably solved. In this regard the importance of intervention by world powers especially United States is extremely important. Both Pakistan and India have failed to resolve their core issue of Kashmir by bilateral talks so far; thus, third party intervention is extremely essential. If world powers fail to do so, it is a matter of time only when both countries will once again indulge in another full-scale war, which may have a potential to turn into a nuclear war.

A thorough survey of four tehsils of Sargodha District was carried out to investigate the present status of citrus decline in citrus orchards. The maximum fungi (39.52 %) were isolated from the roots followed by the soil (38.86%). The maximum Fusarium spp followed by Aspergillus and Alternaria were isolated from the collected samples of roots and soil from the four tehsils of Sargodha District. The maximum Fusarium spp was isolated from the roots of declining citrus trees from the tehsil Bhalwal (68.57%) followed by the Kot Momin (65.87%), Sillanwali (55.87%) and Sargodha (50.32%). F. solani gave the maximum mycelial growth on the Corn Meal Dextrose Agar medium followed by the Potato Dextrose Agar medium and then Malt Extract Agar medium. The maximum growth of F. solani was observed at pH 6 followed by 5, 4 and 7. While minimum growth was obtained at 3, 8 and 9 pH respectively Toxin studies were also carried out using thin layer chromatography which revealed that F. Solani produces toxins (anhydrofusarubin) which may cause decline in citrus.

Molecular markers are useful for precise assessment of diversity and phylogenetic relationships among different species and related genera at the DNA level without some of the over simplifying assumptions associated with calculating genetic diversity based on pedigree history. The objective of present study was to have a basic understanding of the genetic diversity that exists in the germplasm available for breeding, which is fundamental for the success of any breeding program. For this study 40 sugarcane accessions were collected from the germplasm source. The accessions consist of advance lines, approved varieties and wild species (S. barberi). Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Micro-satellite (SSR) analysis was performed using 80 primers. Use of SSR and RAPD primers together offers the potential of more cost effective data acquisition than is the case with other technologies. These primers sequence vary in different varieties of sugarcane, and this variability may be used to develop molecular markers for mapping sugarcane genes and traits, these sequences being the part of sugarcane genome predicted to be most immediately useful to plant breeder and geneticists.

Study was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature, light, salinity, drought stress, field capacity, pH and sowing depth on germination of Carthamus oxyacantha M. Bieb. All experiments were laid out in completely randomized design each with four replications. Data were recorded for 15 days on parameter like germination percentage, time to start germination, time to 50% germination, mean germination time and germination index. Mean germination time and germination index were significant in both salinity and drought stress, except time to start germination and time to 50% germination which were non significant. Increasing field capacity from 0 to 100% increase emergence percentage, time to start emergence, time to 50% emergence, mean emergence time and emergence index. Maximum germination was occurred at neutral pH 7. Emergence decreased with increase in sowing depth with maximum seed grown (72.50%) at soil surface 0 cm and minimum (35.00%) at 6cm.