Ber (Zizyphus maritiana Lamk) is an important tropical fruit. Ber fruit is known as "fruit of poor" because of low price in the market. This work was planned to evaluate Aloe vera gel and olive oil edible coating to enhance its shelf life and minimize post-harvest losses. The treatments included were T1= (control), T2= Olive oil (2%), T3= Olive oil (2.5%), T4= Olive oil (3%), T5 = Aloe vera gel (2%), T6 = Aloe vera gel (2.5%) and T7= Aloe vera gel (3%). Physico-chemical parameters of fruits were analyzed and recorded 12 th day of storage. The study revealed that both olive oil and Aloe vera gel coatings were effective in maintaining quality of Ber fruit during storage period of 12 days. Minimum physiological weight loss, lesser loss in acid contents were observed in Aloe vera gel treated fruits along with maximum color retention compared to uncoated fruits. Coatings delayed ripening. Ascorbic acid loss and decay percentage were reduced by using different concentrations of olive oil and Aloe vera gel. Based on results deduced from the present study, it is concluded that application of Aloe vera gel was at par with olive oil coating but olive oil 3% and Aloe vera 3% proved best so, these coatings could be applied to enhance fruit shelf life and quality.

No abstract

C limate change is likely to be affected food security at the global, regional and local levels. Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce food access, and affect food quality. It is estimated that projected increases in temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reduced water availability may all lead to lower agricultural productivity and promote food insecurity. Increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events could disrupt food delivery, Abstract | Climate change and enormous increase in population are causing food insecurity situation in developing countries like Pakistan. Major food crops are seemed failing to fulfill food requirements hence, it is imperative to search for alternate food sources. Ber could be very handy alternate food crop if its yield and quality is enhanced. Grafting is a widely used technique to improve yield, disease resistance and fruit quality. This work aims to assess the effect of grafting on production, fruit ripening, physical and chemical properties, and nutritional quality of the fruit. Rootstock has a great influence on plant growth and development, including fruit ripening. However, the presence of a cross-interaction between grafting and rootstock is often neglected. To explore cross-interaction between grafting and rootstock on different fruit yield and quality traits, we examined the scion-root interaction of four scion cultivars viz. Delhi White, Suffen, Karela and Mahmud Wali during March-April 2013-14. After the establishment of plant, data were recorded for yield and fruit quality traits during three consecutive years . Results showed that Dehli White grafted plants produced maximum yield kg/plant (60.33, 71.43, 78.00 ) followed by Mehmud Wali, Karela and Suffen scion grafts. Suffen grafted plants produced better quality fruits in terms of total soluble solids (TSS) (14.67, 15.45, 16.56 Brix0), pH and Ascorbate content followed by Karela, Mehmud Wali and Dehli White scion graft. Based on findings of the experiment, it could be recommended that Mahmud Wali and Suffen scions should be used to be propagated on local rootstocks to enhance yield as well as fruit quality that will contribute in ensuring food security.

C ommon bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an annual, predominantly self-pollinated leguminous crop grown worldwide in a broad range of environments and cropping systems (Fetahu et al., 2014). The rate of outcrossing in common bean is below 5% (Gepts et al., 2008). It is morphologically diverse crop with distinguishable qualitative and variable quantitative traits ( Joshi et al., 2009). Generally, genetic variation in bean's landraces is considerably high and has the most diverse population of cultivated crops (Frankel et al., 1995;Qualset et al., 1997). Qualitative traits are deemed useful for assessment of genetic diversity and its relationship in different crop species. High morphological diversity among genotypes is helpful in recombination of genotypes for important economic qualitative and quantitative traits (Balkaya et al., 2005). Therefore, due to high genetic diversity, the landraces are considered as a valuable source of Abstract | Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) being dual purpose (vegetable plus legume) is grown worldwide and in Pakistan specifically in the Himalayan range. Local landraces cultivated in traditional farming systems are the sole source of its production. 108 land races of beans including 96 landraces of Himalayan region, the ten Mesoamerican and the two Andean genotypes were evaluated at three locations during 2015 and 2016 at the Summer Agricultural Research Station Kaghan, Batakundi Potato Seed Farm Batakundi and Agricultural Research Station Baffa, Mansehra. This two year study is pioneer in Pakistan with an objective to document the characteristics of common bean landraces originating from the three different regions (Himalayan, Mesoamerican and Andean). Furthermore, diversity in qualitative traits (leaf color, leaf pubescence, hypocotyls pigmentation, flower color, pod color, growth habit, dry pod color, pod curvature, pod beak position, pod beak orientation, seed shape, seed coat pattern and seed color) was studied by using standard Chi square test for homogeneity of populations. Results showed that agro climatic conditions have no influence on the qualitative traits. Secondly, each landrace has its own specific and distinguishing trait like flower color, growth habit. Moreover, the traits were found highly heritable and genetically controlled as no environmental influence was observed based on two years data. Therefore, these traits can be considered to identify and distinguish landraces from each other, may be used as morphological markers in maintaining germplasm purity.