The present study was conducted at the field of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetic, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the crop season 2010-2011. Twenty genotypes of chickpea were evaluated for components of variability, heritability (h 2 bs) and interrelationships for various parameters. The higher value of heritability was found for all traits except plant height and seeds per pods. Correlation studies showed that biomass per plant, pods per plant, secondary branches per plant, seeds per pod and 100-seed weight were positive and significant at genotypic level but positive and highly significant at phenotypic level. Days taken to maturity were negative and non-significantly correlated with grain yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels.

Shortage of irrigation water at critical growth stages of maize is limiting its production worldwide. Breeding drought-tolerant cultivars is one possible solution while identification of potential genotypes is crucial for genetic improvement. To assess genetic variation for seedling-stage drought tolerance, we tested 40 inbred lines in a completely randomized design under glasshouse conditions. From these, two contrasting inbred lines were used to develop six basic generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1F1, BC2F2). These populations were then evaluated in a triplicated factorial randomized complete block design under non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions. For statistical analyses, a nested block design was employed to ignore the replication effects. Significant differences (p≤0.01) were recorded among the genotypes for investigated seedling-traits. Absolute values of fresh root length, fresh root weight, and dry root weight lead to select two genotypes, one tolerant (WFTMS) and one susceptible (Q66). Estimates of heritability, genetic advance, and genotypic correlation coefficients were higher and significant for most of the seedling-traits. Generation variance analysis revealed additive gene action. Narrow-sense heritability [F2 ≥ 65; F∞ ≥ 79] revealed the same results. Generation mean analysis signified additive genetic effects in the inheritance of cob girth, non-additive for plant height, grains per ear row and grain yield per plant, and environmental for ear leaf area, cob length, grain rows per ear, biomass per plant, and 100-grain weight under drought-stressed conditions. For conferring drought-tolerance in maize, breeders can adopt the recombinant breeding strategy to pyramid the desirable genes.

Allium caroli-henrici, A. registanicum are newly recorded from Zhob district of Pakistan, and a new species Allium zhobicum is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to Allium subg. Melanocrommyum sect. Thaumasioprason and is characterized by rounded bulbs with coriaceous outer tunics, entire to papillate linear leaves, lilac to white scarcely recurved, elliptical linear to oblong tepals and a six-lobed ovary with exserted stigma and violet style. The key to Allium species in Flora of Pakistan is amended including the diagnostic characters of the newly recorded species.

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