Role of Pakistan as a Frontline State and its Sociocultural Impact

Location of Pakistan has great geo-political and geo-strategic significance in the South Asian region. Pakistan played an important role for the strategic goals of the United States during the ruling periods of President Zia-ul-Haq and President Musharraf. As a frontline state Pakistan received economic and military assistance, during the period of President Zia-ul-Haq, for supporting US interests against Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. After 9/11, due to its strategic location, Pakistan became the ally of the United States against terrorism and the biggest beneficiary of US economic assistance in the region. However, as a result of these policies Islamic extremism, sectarian violence and ethnic cleavages cropped up in the society, shattering social and cultural values. The purpose of this research paper is to highlight the key role played by Pakistan as a frontline state and its impact on the Pakistani society. This research paper follows descriptive and analytical methods.

Screening of Tomato Cultivars Against Root Knot Nematodes and Their Biological Management

Research was done on two important groups of nematodes plant parasitic nematodes and insect parasitic nematodes (entomopathogenic nematodes). Among plant parasitic nematodes root knot nematodes are the most important. It has a wide host range. Tomatoes are the most seriously affected by Meloidogyne incognita. Different varieties were tested against M. incognita for susceptibility, invasion and development of M. incognita. Moneymaker, Titano, California, Peelo, Nagina, Riogranade and Pakit were highly susceptible while Fonto, Tarnab, Lima, VF-400, PETO-86 and Samrutti were susceptible. Calmart VFN proved resistant. There was a positive relationship between the inoculum level of M. incognita and root weights and inverse relationship with shoot weights. Effect of plant age on plant susceptibility to nematode infection was also studied. Plant extract of neem, onion, garlic, tobacco, aloevera, cloves and chili was investigated for larval mortality and egg hatching of M. incognita. Mortality of nematodes increased with exposure time and extract concentration. Effect of plant extracts on root knot nematodes applied after root knot nematodes and bare dip root treatment was also studied on plant growth parameters plant height, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight and fresh root weight. Among all the plant extracts tested neem proved effective followed by onion and tobacco while chili proved less effective as compared to the other plant extracts.In the second part of thesis, effect of entomopathogenic nematodes S. asiaticum, S. glaseri, H. indica and H. bacteriophora on the development of M. incognita, effect of different inoculum levels, and time of application, live and dead EPN on RKN in addition to the persistence in soil was also studied. Suppression of M. incognita varied with application rate. The high application rates of EPN reduced M. incognita infestation as compared to low rates. Reduction in root knot nematode invasion and development was recorded. Numbers of EPN were reduced in non-sterilized soil. Both dead as well as live entomopathogenic nematodes and their material were responsible for lower invasion by M. incognita in tomato.