Dry fruits and nuts are nutritious foods with several health-promoting properties. However, they are prone to contamination with aflatoxins at all stages of production and storage. The present study aimed to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and total aflatoxins (AFT) in dates, pistachios, and walnuts collected from four districts of South Punjab (Pakistan), and to assess the associated health risks as estimated by dietary exposure and the Margin of Exposure (MoE) determinations. The contents of AFB1 and AFT in these food products were monitored during storage under three different conditions (open-air, hermetically closed jars, and refrigeration at 4 °C) to determine the most efficient conditions in preventing aflatoxin accumulation. HPLC-fluorescence analysis of 60 samples of these products for aflatoxin contamination showed that 52 (86.7%) samples were contaminated at different levels, with a maximum of 24.2 ng/g. The overall (all samples) mean concentrations of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and AFT were 3.39 ± 2.96, 1.39 ± 1.68, 1.63 ± 1.48. 1.12 ± 1.23, and 7.54 ± 6.68, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and MoE of aflatoxins through the consumption of the products ranged from 0.06 ng/kg bw/day to 2.0 ng/kg bw/day and from 84.84 to 2857.13, respectively, indicating that consumers are at high health risk. Significant differences were recorded between aflatoxin levels in the samples stored under different storage conditions, with storage under refrigeration (4 °C) being the most effective in controlling aflatoxin accumulation, although storage in closed jars was also efficient and offers a more flexible alternative to retailers. The findings of the study urge official authorities of Pakistan to implement appropriate regulatory and control measures and surveillance program to alleviate the potential public health risks associated with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts in the scope of their increased consumption.

| Salinization has severe affects on agriculture worldwide. For successful survival and better yield, ability of seeds germinations under high salt concentration is very vital. With this object we observed the effects of various levels of NaCl (0, 25, 50 and 75 mM) on six varieties (Green leaf, Rama posa, Arka anamika, Super green, Okra kashish and Nerali) of Okra. The results clearly indicated that seeds of all varieties can tolerate the lower concentration of salt (25 mM) and higher (50 mM) greatly reduced the seeds germination while at highest concentration (75 mM) no germination was recorded. Salt treatments also reduced the dry and fresh weight of roots and shoots in all varieties considerably (P<0.05). Over all Nerali performed better and thus concluded as tolerant variety while Rama posa was proved to be a sensitive variety.

Altitude causes changes in the environmental factors thus alter the anatomy of plants greatly. Anatomical modifications of plants under broad environmental changes concerning global climate changes along the altitudinal gradient are lacking. Therefore, the present investigation was conducted to find out the structural modifications of a wide range of species growing in contrasting habitat along the altitudinal and rainfall gradients in Pakistan. For such perspectives, perennial shrubs were collected along the altitudinal transect ranges 410-2941m (a.s.l). The transect was passed through five climatic forest types of Pakistan during 2018. The wood parameters were measured from the macerated wood materials included length of vessel element, vessel element diameter, fiber length, fiber diameter, fiber lumen diameter; wall thickness, slenderness ratio (SR), Runkel ratio (RR) and coefficient of suppleness (CS). Analysis of variance and cluster analyses were used for data simplification. Alpine flora exhibited the shortest vessel and fibers while the longest vessels were recorded in montane Sub-tropical plateau forest. However, no changes were recorded in-wall diameter, Runkel ratio and coefficient of suppleness were observed with the changes in altitude and climatic factors. Keywords: Anatomy, Altitude, Rain-fall gradient, Pakistan

| Chrysanthemum morifolium L. cultivators in Pakistan have frequently detected that poor root cuttings of chrysanthemum caused poor anchorage of roots that results in shipping losses of these pot plants. Optimum concentration of appropriate auxins is used to promote effective rooting. Completely randomized design (CRD) is adopted and it consisted of five treatments including control and different concentration of both auxins viz. 1-Naphthalene acetic acid (50 mg/L,100 mg/L) and Indole-3-acetic acid (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L) on tip cuttings of chrysanthemum. In this experiment, 15 pots of 9-inch diameter were used which were filled with silt, leaf mould and well rotten farmyard manure (1:1:1). Three cuttings in each pot and a total of 45 cuttings were planted. Cuttings of each treatment were dipped for 3 minutes in respective solution before planting. Uprooting was done after 60 days of plantation the cuttings. NAA with 100 mg/L proved best treatments that produced maximum root length, number of roots, dry and fresh weights of roots, number of sprouted buds, number of leaves, leaves fresh weight and dry leaves weight as compared to other treatments and control. This data suggested that NAA can be successfully used to increase root and shoot parameters in chrysanthemum propagated by means of tip cuttings.