Phytosociological studies help to understand extent of biological invasion. Multiple analyses of ecological parameters at different locations derive general explanations of impact on species diversity in plant communities. Current study assessed the impact of Parthenium hysterophorus (an annual weed of great significance in Pakistan and worldwide) invasion on native vegetation in Pothwar region of Pakistan. The approach used for the study was random samplings with two categorical factors: invaded and non-invaded under same habitat conditions. Differences in number of species (S), abundance (N), species richness (R), evenness (Jꞌ), Shannon diversity index (Hꞌ) and Simpson index of dominance (λ) were compared between invaded and control plots by t-test series. Control plots harbored by average of 0.9 more species per 10 m 2 . The control category was more diverse (Hꞌ = 1.73) than invaded category (Hꞌ = 1.53). The higher value of species richness in control plots shows the heterogeneous nature of communities and vice versa in invaded plots. The lower value of index of dominance in invaded plots shows less sample diversity than in the control ones. At multivariate scale, ordination (nMDS) and ANOSIM showed significant magnitude of differences between invaded and control plots in all sites. The most effected site by Parthenium invasion was Jhelum followed by Attock, Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Islamabad. The decrease in diversity indices in invaded over control sites indicated less productive plant communities due to Parthenium invasion. This makes Parthenium a candidate of consideration for appropriate control measures.

Members of the family Zygophyllaceae are distributed in arid areas of the world and are traditionally used against various health insults ranging from skin lesions to lethal cancer. Fagonia cretica Linn. is a plant having novel compounds responsive in diseases that are still considered as incurable or are curable with serious side effects. Researchers, particularly of the Asian region elaborately studied the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of this plant. But further studies are still required to evaluate this plant in clinical trials in order to save humanity from synthetic chemical drugs yet disputed as 'friends or foe'.

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Phytosociological studies help to understand extent of biological invasion. The current study assessed impact of Broussonetia papyrifera invasion on native vegetation in Pothwar region of Pakistan. The approach used for study was random samplings with two categorical factors; invaded and non-invaded (control) under same habitat conditions. Differences in number of species (S), abundance (N), species richness (R), evenness (Jꞌ), Shannon diversity index (Hꞌ) and Simpson index of dominance (λ) were compared between invaded and control plots by t-test series. Control plots harbored by average of 1.28 more species per 10 m 2 . The control category was diverse (Hꞌ = 2.15) than invaded category (Hꞌ = 1.65). The higher value of species richness in control plots shows heterogeneous nature of communities and vice versa in invaded plots. The lower value of index of dominance in invaded plots shows less sample diversity than control ones. This decrease in number of species directly affects α-diversity in invaded plots. At multivariate scale, ordination (nMDS) and ANOSIM showed significant magnitude of differences between invaded and control plots in all sites. The decrease in diversity indices in invaded indicated that plant communities become less productive due to Paper mulberry invasion. This makes B. papyrifera candidate of consideration for appropriate control measures.

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Due to increased number of herbicide resistant weeds, it is needed to explore the allelopathic potential of plants as an alternative. The research was conducted to investigate allelopathic effects of Carica papaya L. leaf powder and aqueous extract on seeds as well as pre-germinated seeds of Avena fatua L., Helianthus annuus L., Rumex dentatus L., Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. on filter paper and soil in Weed Management Program Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection at PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters observed for ‘Plant leaf powder bioassay’ and ‘Aqueous extract method’. Most significant growth inhibition was observed in A. fatua seedlings in filter paper method. A. fatua radicle length was reduced by C. papaya aqueous extract (80%) and leaf powder (89%) bioassays. Plumule length was reduced under the influence of aqueous extract (57-73%) and powdered material (59-77%). The inhibitory effects on other test species were in sequence of H. annuus followed by Z. mays and R. dentatus. The aqueous extract showed non-significant effect on wheat seed germination, radicle and plumule growth. It is suggested that C. papaya aqueous extract can be used as source of weed management in wheat crop.