Abstract: Afield study was conducted at Gezira Research Station Farm (GRSF) to investigate the influence of full and deficit irrigation (irrigation stoppage) on sunflower in semi-arid environment in 2011 and 2012 winter seasons. One full-irrigated treatment (T1) and three deficit irrigation (T2, T3 and T4) treatments were applied to Hysun-33 and Bohooth-1 hybrids planted on a clay soil. Results showed that irrigation treatments significantly affected yield and yield components, full-irrigated treatment, T4 and/or T3 exhibited the highest values of disc diameter, stem diameter, number of seed per disc, 1000 seed weight, oil yield and seed yield. The full-irrigated treatment had the heighest seed yield (1769 and 1752.8 kg/ha during the first and second seasons, respectively) while T2 had the lowest seed yield (832 and 1184 kg/ha, respectively) with 53 and 33% seed yield reduction, respectively. Bohooth-1 hybrid was significantly decreased the period to 50% flowering. The average values of applied water during the two seasons under full-irrigated treatment were 3747 and 3417 m3/feddan for Hysun-33 and Bohooth-1, respectively. While average applied water of Hysun-33 for deficit irrigation treatments (T2, T3, and T4) were 2138, 2637, and 3214 m3/feddan, respectively equivelent values for Bohooth-1 were 2078, 2543, and 2979 m3/feddan, respectively. Results also indicated that exposing sunflower to continuous water stress during flowering stage hindered oil percentage and oil yield. Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Water productivity. Sunflower, Yield.

Abstract: Seeds of 15 wheat genotypes were sieved and separated to two seed size groups (seed retained on 4 mm mesh and retained on 2.8 mm mesh). In the lathhouse study the seeds of the 15 wheat genotypes were grown under factorial combination of four levels of Fe treatment and two seed size groups in order to investigate the combined effect of iron and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. )genotype on Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn by measuring the concentration of these micronutrients in wheat seedling plants grown in calcareous soil containing different amount of Fe under lathhouse conditions. Our finding revealed that the application of Fe increased the concentration of Fe in root and shoot of wheat seedling, and generally decreased the concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mn especially with the higher level of Fe applied. Keywords: seedling, variety, wheat, micronutrient, concentration iron.

Abstract: During the years 2012- 2013, a general survey of macro fungi was conducted in Rahimabad, district Gilgit. It has been observed that the study area have high diversity of macro fungi. In the present study, 19 species of Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, of the family Agaricaceae (2 genera with 3 species, Boletaceae (1 genus with 2 species) , Tricolomataceae (3 genera with 3 species) , Coprinaceae (1 genus with 1 sp.) , Helvellaceae (1 genus with 2spp.) Cortinariaceae (1genus1sp.) , Sclerodermataceae (1 genus with 1 sp.) , Lycoperdaceae (1 genus with 1sp.) , Polyporaceae (2 genera 2spp.) , Psathyrellaceae ( 2 genera 2spp.) and Russulaceae (1 genus 1sp.) were identified. There were 6 species are edible, while the remaining species are non edible. During the survey it was observed that the Boletus separans have extremely valuable for human being. The aim of this research work is to explore and to identify the species of Macro fungi from concern area. It is also noted that the local inhabitants have lack of knowledge about the importance of macro fungi diversity. Keywords: Edible, macro fungi, species.

Abstract: Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have received great attention during the last years since they have important usages throughout the world. Forest fruits are one of these NWFPs. Sudanese forest fruits are used traditionally as foods as well as medicines. Doum (Hyphaene thebaica L), kirkir (Randia geipaeflora), karmadoda (Naucleae latifolia) and godeim (Grewia tenax) are some of the indigenous fruits of the Sudan. The minerals profile, essential and non-essential amino acids values of these fruits were studied. These forest fruits were found containing adequate amount of minerals. Doum and kirkir are rich in P and K, karmadoda is rich in P, K, Mg and Ca; while godeim is rich in Mg, K, Ca and Fe. Karmadoda was found rich in the essential amino acids, leucine (318.59 mg/100g), isoleucine (167.28 mg/100g) and valine (214.93 mg/100g), however, kirkir was found rich in arginine (543.71 mg/100g). karmadoda was also rich in the non-essential amino acids alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, serine and proline of 237.46, 421.43, 782.76, 183.70, 156.23 and 165.98 mg/100g, respectively. Therefore, these fruits can be used in several foods as ingredients. Karmadoda can be used as a supplement for minerals and essential and non-essential amino acids. Keywords: amino acids, antioxidants, biofortification, livelihood, nutrients, poor countries, staple food.

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the stimulating effects of plant growth regulators on callus formation. The nodal segments were cultured on different concentration of growth regulators viz. BA, NAA and GA3 combinations to check their effect on callus formation. Plant growth regulators had significant results on callus formation. The results showed that the combination of BA and NAA at the concentration of 5 and 4 mg l-1, respectively, produced maximum callus from nodal explants. Maximum brownish callus was observed in variety Desiree while maximum whitish callus was produced in cardinal variety. Keywords: Plant Growth, Callus, Potato.