Abstract Pectin is a very important ingredient in food processing. The present study was designed to find out the changes taken place in pectin content during development and ripening phases of banana fruit. The expression of gene (pectin esterase) was also observed during development and ripening. Five exotic cultivars namely William, Brazilian, G-Naine, Basrai and Pisang were selected for this study. Sampling were carried out after every 2 weeks during development and there was 6 sampling stages (from emergence to harvesting stage). After harvesting the fruit of all cultivars were subjected to natural ripening in the lab and sampling during ripening were carried out according to the colour changes in the fruit skin. 5 ripening stages were studied. Hence total number of 11 stages were studied during development and ripening. The sequence of pectin esterase were obtained from NCBI, primers were designed and procured. RNA was extracted from each cultivar and expression analysis of pectin esterase was carried out. It was found that the expression of gene is variable during the development and the ripening stages in each cultivar. Similarly, the pectin content were also significantly variable during development and ripening of fruit. The variation was also found among the cultivars. It was concluded that unripe banana have more pectin content then ripe banana and the pectin content of the fruit is associated with expression of the gene.

ABSTRACT Acetaldehyde generated, when PET bottles of water are deposited at high temperature for long period of time. The acetaldehyde produced, transferred into the mineral water and alter the organoleptic properties of water. Acetaldehyde is also a possible carcinogen and mutagen. In the present research work, acetaldehyde in mineral water was derivatized with 2, 4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH), extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) using octadecyl silane oxide (C18) and finally investigated by gas chromatography (GC). Acetaldehyde-2, 4-dinitropheyl hydrazone (A-DNPH) formed after derivatization which were adsorbed on the surface of C18. Solvent acetonitrile was used for the elution of A-DNPH from the solid phase extraction (SPE) column. Effect of storage time and light on the migration of acetaldehyde was investigated and found the mineral water stored for longer period of time in sun light change their organoleptic properties due to migration of acetaldehyde into water.

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important legume and oilseed crop, native to South America and grown in all tropical and temperate regions of the world. A simplified and rapid direct gene delivery system in peanut was developed by vortexing silicon carbide whiskers with callus and with plasmid harboring chitinase and hygromcin genes. The effects of callus age and whisker quantity on transformation efficiency were evaluated. Transformation efficiency (6.88%) was highest when 200 mg of whiskers were used with 5 µg plasmid for 2 g of 20-day-old callus. Hygromcin-resistant calli were regenerated to complete plants which produced seeds normally. Transgene insertion and number of transgene copieswere confirmed by PCR and southern blot analyses, respectively. Transgene expression was evaluated by a pathogenecity test and RT-PCR analysis. In transgenic events, the resistance level to leaf spot disease was far higher than in control plants.

Four commercially grown wheat varieties of Pakistan, namely Inqilab-91, Chakwal-97, Tatara and Manthar were used for this investigation. For callus induction different concentrations of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid (2,4-D) along with 0.1 mg/L of Kinetin were evaluated. For regeneration initially different concentrations of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) and 6-BenzylAminoPurine (BAP) were tested. Best hormone combinations were further subjected to Kinetin and 6-γ-γ-dimethylallylaminopurine (2iP). For Inqilab-91, Chakwal-97 and Manthar, 3 mg/L of 2,4-D was found optimum, which induced 83.25%, 77.75% and 95.20% of embryogenic calli, respectively. Maximum callus induction (97.18%) was observed in Tatara when 2 mg/L of 2,4-D was used. As regard to regeneration, Inqilab-91, Chakwal-97 and Manthar showed maximum regeneration on media containing 0.1 mg/L IAA, 0.4 mg/L Kinetin and 0.5 mg/L 2iP, regenerating 87.25%, 81.75% and 68.75% respectively. For Tatara maximum regeneration of 12.25% was obtained on 0.1 mg/L IAA and 2 mg/L of BAP. Presently optimized regeneration method holds promise for facilitating the deployment of agronomical important trait through genetic transformation for the improvement of this important food crop.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest oil crops and is widely cultivated in Asia and Africa. To determine the level of genetic diversity in relation to geographical origins and morphological characteristics, a total of 96 accessions have been collected from different parts of the world and were analyzed using AFLP techniques. Twenty-one primer pairs generated a total of 445 bands and among them 157 (35%) were polymorphic. Using UPGMA clustering analysis method based on the similarity coefficient, accessions were separated into two major groups. The first group mostly consists of Eastern Asian origin and another group consists of South Asian origin. Sub-clusters separated the accessions and form distinct diversity among groups. Considering the relatednessof accessions, geographical origin and their morphological characteristics are reflected to the similarity of AFLP pattern