Calendula officinalis (Marigold), besides extensive use in ornamentation, is famously known for i... more Calendula officinalis (Marigold), besides extensive use in ornamentation, is famously known for its valued medicines used in cancer treatments, eye and skin care. It is cultivated in more than 145 countries. It has a multimillion-dollar floriculture industry alone. It has a wide variety of uses ranging from commercial, religious, social, medicinal and ornamental. Being a stress resistant flowering plant grown in all agroecological regions of Pakistan. However, its preferers relatively cold ecological zones including provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pukhtoon Khaw. This study has attempted to assess the impact of varied climatic conditions (slope, sunshine, day length, moisture and temperature) on the growth (leaves, sepals, petals, stamens and carpels) of Calendula officinalis. Samples (N=100) were collected from three different locations in the study area (East, North and West facing). The elevation was kept the same. Results revealed that coloration (gene expression) is independent of any change in the climatic factors. flowers can be found in orange, yellow and a mix of these colors. The mean area of sepals was 0.73 mm (R² = 0.066), petals 4.84 mm (R² = 0.0229), stamen 0.085 mm (R² = 0.837), carpel 7.73 mm (R² = 0.2728), and leaves 485.22 mm (R² = 0.0902). The size of petals is 85.5% larger than sepals. Similarly, carpel is 98.9% bigger than the stamens. Sizes of different parts studied showed almost least dependencies on the climatic conditions.
Nerium oleander L. is a shrub. It remains evergreen and cultivated around the globe. It belongs t... more Nerium oleander L. is a shrub. It remains evergreen and cultivated around the globe. It belongs to family Apocynaceae. It is grown for being highly medicinal, toxic and ornamental in nature. It is effective for cardiovascular, cancers, hyperglycemia, scabies and pathogenic disorders. Commonly used as rat poison and insecticidal. Consumption of any part becomes fatal for animals and humans. It is highly drought resistant and cultivated across all ecological zones of Pakistan. Current study attempted to explore different morphometric and allometric growth (leaves, sepals, petals, stamens and carpels) and relational parameters in plants collected from different altitudinal zones with varied climatic factors. Samples were collected from Yasin valley in Ghizer, Gilgit and Sonikot. Genes controlling number of sepals (#5), petals (#5), stamens (#5) and carpels (#5) found consistent and constant in their expression irrespective of their agro-ecological and climatic conditions. Mean area of petals recorded was 1.39 mm 2 (R 2 = 0.32) followed by sepals with 0.343 mm 2 (R 2 = 0.0019). Similarly, mean area of stamens was 0.73 mm 2 (R 2 = 0.0914) and carpels was 0.21 mm 2 (R 2 = 0.2615). Moreover, mean area of leaves was recorded 8.52 mm 2 (R 2 = 0.2404). Length and width of each floral part and leaves showed that their gene co-expression is highly significant. This is assumed to be either controlled by a single gene or in case of involvement of multiple genes, they are highly corelated in their expression. Whereas different parts of the plant showed dependency on the climatic variation. Therefore, the number of floral parts is a reliable characteristic to consider for systematics. Whereas their length, width and sizes cannot be considered for taxonomic categorizations.
Zinnia elegans is valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties. Moreover, it is preferred f... more Zinnia elegans is valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties. Moreover, it is preferred for its adaptability in varied environmental conditions. Besides its global presence, cultivated in all agroecological regions in Pakistan. This study was designed to investigate impact of different edaphic and climatic conditions including sunshine, slop, moisture, day length and altitude on the gene expressions controlling length, width and size (area) of leaves, sepals, petals, stamens and carpels. The study also investigated allometric factors and relationships. Three major sample sites were identified with long, short and moderate sunshine, slope and moisture content (Burmas-Gilgit, Sonikot-Gilgit and Daniyore-Gilgit). 100 samples were collected from each sampling site making a total of 300 samples. Current study revealed that there are 6 sepals. Mean length of sepals recorded was 0.86 cm, width 0.40 cm and area was 0.35 cm² (R² = 0.3151). Similarly, there are 6 petals in number. Mean length was 2.51 cm, width 1.03 cm, and area was 2.60 cm² (R² = 0.0131). Mean length of stamens was 1.12 cm, width 0.19 cm and a area of 0.21 cm² (R² = 0.3151). Mean length of carpels was 0.09 cm, width 0.01 cm, and area was 0.01 cm² (R² = 0.134). Leaf mean length was 0.49 cm, width 0.29 cm, and area 2.05 cm². Research concluded that different parts of the plant behaved differently towards varied climatic conditions. Stamens and carpels prefer moderate sunshine and day length and plain neutral (non slopy areas). Similarly, leaf area (size) showed an inverse relation to sunshine and day length whereas there was a direct relation between the leaf size and the moisture content. Contrarily, leaf has shortest length in moderate non slopy areas with broadest width. In an overall preference of plant, best growth was recorded in the slop neutral areas (Sonikot in Gilgit) with moderate sunshine, day length and moisture content. Findings from the research suggest that Zinnia elegans commercial nurseries can be established better in Sonikot as compared to rest of the areas in Gilgit.
Calendula officinalis (Marigold), besides extensive use in ornamentation, is famously known for i... more Calendula officinalis (Marigold), besides extensive use in ornamentation, is famously known for its valued medicines used in cancer treatments, eye and skin care. It is cultivated in more than 145 countries. It has a multimillion-dollar floriculture industry alone. It has a wide variety of uses ranging from commercial, religious, social, medicinal and ornamental. Being a stress resistant flowering plant grown in all agroecological regions of Pakistan. However, its preferers relatively cold ecological zones including provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pukhtoon Khaw. This study has attempted to assess the impact of varied climatic conditions (slope, sunshine, day length, moisture and temperature) on the growth (leaves, sepals, petals, stamens and carpels) of Calendula officinalis. Samples (N=100) were collected from three different locations in the study area (East, North and West facing). The elevation was kept the same. Results revealed that coloration (gene expression) is independent of any change in the climatic factors. flowers can be found in orange, yellow and a mix of these colors. The mean area of sepals was 0.73 mm (R² = 0.066), petals 4.84 mm (R² = 0.0229), stamen 0.085 mm (R² = 0.837), carpel 7.73 mm (R² = 0.2728), and leaves 485.22 mm (R² = 0.0902). The size of petals is 85.5% larger than sepals. Similarly, carpel is 98.9% bigger than the stamens. Sizes of different parts studied showed almost least dependencies on the climatic conditions.
Morphometric And Allometric Study of Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium × Hortorum) Species Collected from northern Pakistan, 2024
Geranium zonale (Pelargonium × hortorum), is an enormously cultivated ornamental and medicinal pl... more Geranium zonale (Pelargonium × hortorum), is an enormously cultivated ornamental and medicinal plant. Its ancestry stems in wild Geranium africanum found in Africa. Then, it moved to Europe and to the world in the 17th century. Its journey accumulated great morphometric variation. Now, hybridization has infused diversity across its geomorphological variegations. Study attempted to investigate climate induced variation on different parts of the plant body along altitudinal gradient. Very recently it has become part of the gardens in the northern part of Pakistan. By examining various floral and leaf traits, this research aims to elucidate the adaptive strategies employed by G. zonale in response to the unique environmental conditions prevailing in this highaltitude region. G. zonale species collected showed a great variation in coloration of flower. However, this does not show any preference of color towards altitudinal and temperature variegation. They can be found in white, pink, red and a mix of these colors. They uniquely bear 5 sepals, 9 petals, 6 stamens and 5 carpels in number. The mean area of sepals was 18.19 mm (R 2 = 0.0006) followed by petals with 117.51 mm (R 2 = 0.003), leaves 112.60 mm (R 2 = 0.001), stamens observed with 2.5 mm (R 2 = 0.005) and carpel showed nearly equal area to stamens i.e. 2.5 mm (R 2 = 0.005). Sepals showed negligible variation in their number and size. However, petals with no difference in number showed variation in their size. Petals and leaves showed greater response towards sunlight, temperature and altitude. An inverse relation with altitude and a direct relation with temperature and sunlight. Moreover, stamens and carpel showed no variation in their number and size. They showed the least response towards sunlight, slop, and temperature. They can be considered reliable characters in taxonomic dealings.
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medicines used in cancer treatments, eye and skin care. It is cultivated in more than 145 countries. It has a multimillion-dollar floriculture industry alone. It has a wide variety of uses ranging from commercial, religious, social,
medicinal and ornamental. Being a stress resistant flowering plant grown in all agroecological regions of Pakistan.
However, its preferers relatively cold ecological zones including provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pukhtoon
Khaw. This study has attempted to assess the impact of varied climatic conditions (slope, sunshine, day length,
moisture and temperature) on the growth (leaves, sepals, petals, stamens and carpels) of Calendula officinalis. Samples
(N=100) were collected from three different locations in the study area (East, North and West facing). The elevation
was kept the same. Results revealed that coloration (gene expression) is independent of any change in the climatic
factors. flowers can be found in orange, yellow and a mix of these colors. The mean area of sepals was 0.73 mm (R²
= 0.066), petals 4.84 mm (R² = 0.0229), stamen 0.085 mm (R² = 0.837), carpel 7.73 mm (R² = 0.2728), and leaves
485.22 mm (R² = 0.0902). The size of petals is 85.5% larger than sepals. Similarly, carpel is 98.9% bigger than the
stamens. Sizes of different parts studied showed almost least dependencies on the climatic conditions.