One of the promising approaches to enhance salt tolerance in crop plants is the proper use of plant growth regulators. The presented work is an effort to investigate the ameliorative role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in oilseed rape plants grown under salinity conditions. Chapter 1 of this monograph is a brief introduction about oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), salinity associated problems and strategies to tackle salinity as well as study's objectives. Chapter 2 highlights the previous studies and achievements regarding the salinity stress and its interference with the different physiological aspects of plants particularly Brassica species as well as ameliorating role of 5-aminolevulinic acid to combat stress conditions. Chapters 3 focus on how 5-aminolevulinic acid ameliorates salinity induced metabolic, water related and biochemical changes. Chapter 4 describes the role of 5-aminolevulinic acid regarding photosynthetic gas exchange capacity and ion uptake under salinity stress. Chapter 5 highlights the ultra-structural modifications induced by salinity and 5-aminolevulinic acid in oilseed rape plants. Chapter 6&7 presents our major findings and references.

The production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals with antiviral and antiproliferative properties is one of the major aims of advanced genetic engineering. Interferon alpha 2b belongs to the class of recombinant therapeutics which is equally effective against viral infections and carcinomas. Recombinant human IFN 2b is widely used FDA approved protein drug with global sale level is expected to reach up to 5.8 billion US dollars by 2010 due to its increased demand as a result of high prevalence of hepatitis infections and carcinomas in developed as well as developing countries including Pakistan. In the current research a process was developed for the production of this recombinant interferon alpha 2b drug by adopting advanced molecular and biochemical strategies. Intragene modifications at specific amino acids were also made to produce antiviral gene sequences with improved antiviral properties. Human interferon alpha 2b gene analysis was also established in blood cancers (AML and ALL) in order to find out mutations of clinical significance in theses cancers.