Second Wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan: Our Responsibilities and Challenges as A Nation

The Corona virus (SARS-CoV2) pandemic initiated in late December 2019 in Wuhan city of Hubei, China, which has rapidly progressedinvolving more than 215 countries of the world. It was caused by novel SARS-COV2 coronavirus with Huanan seafood wholesale market as the possible point of origin. In past two decades, coronaviruses epidemic of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-COV) had 37% mortality rate and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-COV) had 10% affecting more than 10,000 population together. World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as the sixth Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020 and later on March 11, 2020, the WHO labeledit as a pandemic. The first case of COVID-19 from Pakistan was reported on 26th February, 2020 and has affected over 354,000 people with a mortality of over 7000 patients. Many countries of the world have seen second wave of this pandemic. Government ofPakistan has also declared a second waveon October 28, 2020, after the rise in cases from 500 to 750 per day. Now it has crossed 2000 cases. The data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) shows that the current percent positivity rate is close to 3 compared to the previous figure of lesser than 2 making it a bigger challenge than first wave in Pakistan. The patients now presenting in hospitals are all in critical condition. Lack of a specific vaccine or antiviral drug and non-compliance to the standard preventive measures is the major reason of initiation of a second wave of this viral infection in Pakistan. Being a nation we need to be responsible. Our country may go into economic crisis & our health facilities may choke. We have to understand how to live with this virus till the availability of vaccine or Curative antiviral drug. TheGovernment of Pakistan is creating awareness in the public for the second wave as the situation of pandemic is getting worse. Smart lock downs are being implementedbut people are not following preventive measures that are leading to infection spread at a very alarming speed. At the moment preventive measures are the only way to stop the spread of disease. Preventive measures should be adopted to contain this deadly disease. Wearing masks, using hand sanitizers, washing hands with soap for 20 sec, keeping social distance of 6 feet are mandatory preventive strategies. Social, political, business, recreationaland religious gatherings, should be avoided. Educational institutesshould follow strict standard operating procedures. Most of the people in Pakistan are not considering this disease as a matter of serious concern due to unawareness, poverty, beliefs and lack of resources. People should ignore such disbeliefs and should start considering it as a great health concern. They should follow the preventive measures in true sense.

Studies on in Vitro Induction of Mutations in Rosa Species Through Different Techniques

Among the highly fragrant rose species, R. centifolia, R. gruss an teplitz and R. borboniana have high commercial importance and value added potential. However, their large plant size, small flower size and lack of diversification in color detracts these species from recent trends of floriculture market. Therefore, this study aimed to produce reduced-stature plants and to improve flower color and size through in vitro mutagenesis using gamma irradiation, colchicine and somaclonal variation techniques. For this purpose cultures of R. gruss an teplitz, R. centifolia and R. borboniana were established by disinfestation of shoot tips with 0.1% HgCl2. It gave maximum survival percentage with limited occurrence of bacterial and fungal contamination. BAP @ 1.0 mgl-1 and IBA @ 0.50 mgl-1 found to be the optimum concentrations for shoot proliferation and in vitro rooting respectively. Micropropagated shoot tips of R. gruss an teplitz, R. centifolia and R. borboniana were irradiated with gamma rays upto 120 Gy. Minimum survival percentage was recorded at 60, 30 and 50 Gy respectively. Above these doses of gamma rays there was a complete mortality. Moreover, plant height was decreased with reduction in color and size of flowers. During selection variegated, pink color and abnormal shape flowers were also found in R. gruss an teplitz. Influence of colchicine was found to be species specific and its response showed significant results. Shoot tips treated with colchicine solutions for three hours resulted in minimum survival percentage at the maximum level of colchicine (1100 mgl-1). However, plant height was maximum in the plants of R. gruss an teplitz, R.centifolia and R. borboniana treated with colchicine solution at 900 and 1100 mgl-1. Moreover, treated R. gruss an teplitz and R. centifolia produced large size flowers with more intensification of color. This technique resulted in generation of variegated, serated petals and abnormal shape flowers in R. gruss an teplitz. In another set of trial micropropagated shoot tip explants were incubated for 5, 7 and 11 days in MS media fortified with different concentrations of colchicine. It resulted minimum survival percentage with the increase in the colchicine concentration and incubation period. However, plant height, flower size and intensification of flower color were increased with increase in the concentration of colchicine upto 450 mgl-1 with incubation period of 11 days. Use of colchicine in medium also yielded variegated flowers in R. gruss an teplitz species. Plants of R. gruss an teplitz obtained through regeneration via callus exhibited significant somaclonal variation than other regeneration methods. Genetic variation found in rose species was confirmed through RAPD analysis. Now these mutants need to be screened over the next few years for floral and vegetative characteristics. This study adds to the ongoing efforts to increase diversification in plant height, flower color and size of rose flowers. The outcome of the study will be helpful for future studies regarding induction of mutations in rose species.