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The levels of the raffinose family of a-galactosides (raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and ciceritol) and of the nutritional carbohydrates (fructose, sucrose and starch) were determined in the seed of a range of lentil lines from germplasm collections and commercial Spanish cultivars. Significant levels of variation were found for all the measured characters, and particularly for the a-galactosides. The greatest variation was found in verbascose content, which ranged from about 1 % of the seed dry weight to undetectable amounts. The relationship between these chemical components and morphological seed characteristics was assessed. The only significant relationship between the different groups of characteristics was a positive correlation between the level of verbascose and the average seed weight for each genotype.Although lentil seeds have made a significant contribution to the human diet since ancient times it is the least researched European grainlegume crop. The ability of lentils to grow in high water-stress conditions and the seeds' nutritionally advantageous storage-product corroosition are the main attributes which make lentil an important crop, particularly in hot, dry climates.Starch is the major storage product in lentils, comprising 40-50 % of the seed dry weight, followed by protein and lipid which make up about 25 % and 2 % of the dry weight, respectively (ADSULE et al. 1989). However, one of the main reasons why people limit the consumption of pulses in general, and lentils in particular, is the relatively high content of the raffinose family of oligosaccharides, which are a major cause of flatulence, (IYER et al. 1980). Oligosaccharides of the raffinose family have been identified as the major cause of flatulence in both animals and people (CRISTOFARO et al. 1972;DEY 1980). These carbohydrates are characterized by the presence of a(l-6) links between galactose residues. This linkage is not hydrolyzed by the intestinal mucosal enzymes and the a-galactosides therefore pass into the colon where they are digested by intestinal bacteria resulting in the production of hydrogen and methane (CALLOWAY et al. 1971; PRICE et al. 1988).It is likely that an additional a-galactoside, ciceritol, contributes to the flatulence problem caused by lentils. Ciceritol has also been detected in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and white lupin (Lupinus alba) using CLC (QUEMENER and BRILLOUET 1983). Different methods of removing or reducing the level of raffinose-family a-galactosides in lentils have been proposed. The main methods at present are soaking, cooking, germinating or fermenting either the seeds or the meal prior to incorporation into the human diet. These U.S.

Comparative effects of potassium chloride and potassium sulfate at various levels of potassium on the performance of ARZ variety of wheat were studied at Agriculture Research Station Dera Ismail Khan, N.W.F.P., Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in three different rotations viz, rice-wheat, maize-wheat and fallow-wheat. Potassic fertilizers were applied at the rate of 0, 37, 74, 111 and 148 kg k/ha alongwith the basal dose of 135 kg N plus 44 kg P/ha.Wheat yield data showed that the application of 37 kg K/ha of potassium chloride was found better in case of rice-wheat and fallow-wheat rotation and 37 kg K/ha of potassium sulfate for maize-wheat rotation. On the average of the three rotations, potassium sulfate at the rate of 74 kg K/ha (90kg K20/ha ) was found better and economical. Both the sources were almost equally effective but potassium sulfate out-yielded potassium chloride. Protein content of grains was significantly increased due to K application irrespective of the source and potassium sulfate was found with significantly higher protein content than potassium chloride.

To cite this paper: Bakhsh, A., S.M. Iqbal, M.U. Rahman and A. Javaid, 2017. Use of RAPD markers in comparison with agro-morphological traits for estimation of diversity among chickpea genotypes. AbstractGenetic diversity was assessed among 38 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in comparison with agro-morphological traits. Evaluation of agro-morphological traits revealed highly significant differences among genotypes. Days to 50% flowering ranged from 92-118, plant height 54.16-87 cm, number of fruit bearing branches 4-17.25, number of pods per plant 7.6-27.4, and grain yield per plant 3.5-9.8 g. Ascochyta blight (caused by Ascochyta rabiei) score of these genotypes was recorded on 1-9 rating scale that varied from 3-9. Cluster analysis showing relationship based on morphological traits (scale: Euclidean distance) placed 35 genotypes into five distinct groups, while three genotypes namely Noor-91, Local Mankera and BR4 did not include in any cluster. RAPD analysis showed that 35 RAPD primers amplified a total of 212 fragments out of which 45 were polymorphic. Polymorphic bands were generated by 21 primers whereas 14 primers were monomorphic. Genetic similarity matrix based on Nei and Li's index revealed similarity coefficients ranging from 92-97% indicating lower level of genetic polymorphism revealed by RAPD primers. Dandrogram constructed on the basis of these coefficients grouped all the genotypes into 2 major and 3 small clusters at 92% similarity level. Two decamers, OPC5 and OPC14 distinguished between three Desi and two Kabuli genotypes. This study showed that the level of genetic variability observed in chickpea for agro-morphological traits was not reflected in DNA polymorphism obtained by RAPD analysis.