Genetic diversity and relationships among 100 genotypes of Rhynchosia minima collected from four districts of Malakand Division was assessed using 16 morphological characteristics and total seed protein profile. Based on qualitative characteristics, inter-district trait similarity index among genotypes of Swat-Dir Lower and Swat-Buner was 100%, while for Dir Lower-Buner, Dir Lower-Dir Upper, and Buner-Dir Upper, it was 85.71%, 28.57%, and 42.85%, respectively. Total seed protein profile resulted in 8 reproducible bands/loci, where inter-district locus contribution to the genetic disagreement was 75%. Among the 8 loci, B-6 and B-7 were monomorphic and could be R. minima specific, whereas loci B-1, B-4, B-5 and B-8 were observed only in genotypes collected from Buner. All but locus B-1 were present in genotypes of Dir Upper; locus B-8 was missing in genotypes from Dir Lower; loci B-1 and B-4 were absent in genotypes collected from Swat. Two-way cluster analysis resolved genotypes of District Buner and Dir Upper into discrete clusters, highlighting the role of habitat-specific adaptation. Genotypes of Dir Lower and Swat formed mosaic cluster, indicating to the transfer of genes and/or their coevolutionary descent. To the best of our understanding, this is the first ever report addressing genetic variability in R. minima.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to evaluate genetic diversity among eight garlic mutants resistant to white rot disease (Sclerotium cepivorum). Twelve of the 13 synthetic random primers were found to identify polymorphism in amplification products. Mutants characterised with moderate resistance to white rot were closely related to the control using cluster and correlation analyses. On the other hand, highly resistant mutants were quite distant from the control with low correlation coefficients. The banding patterns produced by primer OPB-15 (GGAGGGTGTT) with highly resistant mutants may by used as genetic markers for early selection of resistant plants.

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Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of different strategies of pruning and plucking on induction of axillary buds in tea varieties (Qi-men and Indonesian). The tea bushes were pruned at three different levels i.e., deep, medium and top pruning from ground level and compared with control (un-pruned). Increase in plant height for Indonesian and Qi men varieties ranges from 24.987 to 26.314 cm, 27.731 to 28.831 cm, 29.889 to 31.354 cm and 10.532 to 18.190 cm for deep, medium, top pruned and un-pruned plants respectively. The difference was significant for both the varieties for all the levels/strategies of pruning.Similarly top pruned plant had significantly higher number of plucking points/axillary buds (291.95, 230.75) as compared to the medium (173.14, 138.84), deep pruned (101.83, 92.74) and un-pruned plants (95.14 and 90.00) for Qi-men and Indonesian varieties respectively. Moreover top pruning showed a significant increase in leaf fresh weight (57.647 and 46.421%) and leaf dry weight (42.029 and 73.00%) for Qi men and Indonesian respectively. Plucking methods used were fine and coarse plucking by hand and shear. Hand plucking (fine) had maximum plucking rounds of 11.08 as compared to hand plucking course i.e. 9.00 for both varieties. Maximum values for shear plucking fine was 7.92 as compared to shear plucking coarse having value of 7.75 for plucking rounds. Hand plucking (fine and coarse) showed higher growth rate of 117.4 cm and 91.32cm as compared to shear plucking (fine and coarse) i. e. 87.14 cm and 83.56 cm. While hand plucking (fine and coarse) produced less fresh harvest (1.40 kg and 4.2kg) as compared to shear plucking fine and coarse (5.3 kg and 6.9kg). It is concluded from the study that by adapting top pruning methods the maximum plant height, number of plucking points/number of axillary buds and yield can be obtained. Similarly hand plucking (fine) helps in new bud induction and increase growth and plucking rounds per season in both genotypes. On the basis of these results we recommend top pruning and hand plucking (fine) to get maximum yield in both the varieties