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Lemon (Citrus limon) cultivars (Desi and Chinese) were subjected to gamma radiations for mutation induction. The current investigation was performed with the objective of exploring the effect of gamma irradiation on morphological characteristics of lemon and for development of lemon mutants for the sake of crop improvement. Seeds and bud wood of two lemon cultivars were exposed to various gamma ray concentrations (i.e 20,50,80,110 and 140 Gy). The irradiated buds were then budded on a rootstock (rough lemon) at standard growth stage of the root stock and seeds were sown in sterilized growing media in order to get disease free plants with maximum germination. The experimentation was carried out according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The recorded observations were arranged and analyzed using statistical software Statistix 8.1 for employing statistical techniques. The research findings of the current investigation showed that there was significant variation in morphological variables among the irradiated and control plants of both cultivars. With the increase in radiation intensity, there was marked reduction in growth variables of both lemon varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low yield of chickpea in Pakistan is due to the existence of wilt and blight diseases. Screening of existing germplasm against diseases is pre requisite for crop improvement. Pathogens of wilt and blight diseases were isolated from diseased samples and inoculum was prepared. Forty one chickpea genotypes containing approved varieties, advance lines etc., were screened in blight and wilt inoculated nurseries under controlled conditions separately. The experiment was laid out under augmented design. The experiment was conducted at Arid Zone Research Institute, Bhakkar, Pakistan during 2019-2021. Data for each disease was collected according to respective disease scales. The scale (1-9) was used for recording the data. Out of total forty-one genotypes, only two varieties (Bittal-16 and Niab-16) were moderately resistant, sixteen genotypes were susceptible and the rest were highly susceptible to Ascochyta blight disease. The level of resistance in blight experiment was 3.27% while susceptibility level was 96.72%. In case of second experiment of chickpea wilt was sown in sick plot. For Fusarium wilt, four genotypes (TG 1708, TG 1710, TG 1712 & TG 1808) were found resistant, fifteen were moderately resistant, twelve were susceptible and the remaining were highly susceptible. The resistant level in this experiment was 6.5%, moderately resistant was 24.59% and remaining susceptible and highly susceptible was 73.77%. The genotypes showed resistance against Ascochyta blight and Fusarium wilt can be utilized in future breeding programs to develop high yielding disease resistant cultivars of chickpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]