Ph.D. Defence of Mr. Shaha Buddin, PhD Research Scholar
CONDUCTION OF PUBLIC DEFENCE IN RESPECT OF MR. SHAHA BUDDIN. PH. D RESEARCH SCHOLAR, CENTRE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY, UNIVERISTY OF PESHAWAR
Date: 14-05-2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Video Conference Hall
Research Totpic: Ecological Evaluation of Plant Resources in Lajbouk Valley Lower Dir, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
The research focused on studying the ecological characteristics of plant resources in the Lajbouk Valley, located in Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of 319 plant species were recorded in the study area, representing 220 genera across 96 families. Out of these, 75 families were identified as dicotyledons, 11 were the monocotyledons included 11 families, while pteridophytes and gymnosperms were represented by 6 and 4 families, respectively. Among the genera, dicotyledons made up 195, monocotyledons 25, gymnosperms 5 and pteridophytes 11 genera. The pteridophytes comprised 21 species, gymnosperms included 6 species, and monocots had 30 species, while dicots were the most abundant with 262 species. Among the plant families, Asteraceae was dominant, represented by 31 species (9.71%) followed by Papilionaceae with 17 species (5.32%). In terms of life forms, therophytes were the most prevalent, accounting for 127 species (39.81%), followed by nanophanerophytes with 55 species (17.24%), hemicryptophytes (39 Spp., 12.22 %) and geophytes (39 Spp., 12.22 %).
According to leaf size spectrum nanophylls 93 (29.15%) species was dominant followed by microphylls 87 species (27.27%) and leptophylls consisting of 45 (14.10%) species respectively. There were 34 (10.65%) spiny and 285 (89.34 %) non spiny plants species. There were 259 (81.19%) deciduous and 60 (18.80%) evergreen plant species. 3 species (0.94%) were aphyllous. 44 (13.79%) plants needed light while 275 (86.20%) were found in shady places. Out of the total 319 species, 228 (71.47%) were wild, while 91 (28.52%) were cultivated. Leaf analysis showed that 203 species (62.63%) had simple leaves, 79 species (24.76%) had compound leaves and 33 species (10.34%) possessed dissected leaves. Phenological observations revealed that 110 species (34.48%) were in the flowering or reproductive stages, 122 species (38.24%) were in the vegetative or pre-reproductive stage, and 87 species (27.27%) were in the post reproductive stage.
Ethnobotanical findings showed that all 319 plant species identified in the Lajbouk Valley of Lower Dir had local importance and were used for different purposes. Of these, 88 species (27.58%) were utilized as fodder, 191 species (59.87%) had medicinal values, 142 species (44.51%) were collected for fuel wood, 22 species (6.89%) were used for timber and 31 species (9.71%) were valued for their fruits. 44 (7.83%) species were utilized as vegetables/food, 15 (4.70%) species as condiment, 14 (4.38%) species were used for thatching purposes, 8 (2.50%) plants were used as narcotic and 76 (23.82%) species were used for ornamental purposes. Traditionally, 191 plant species (59.87%) were used by the local communities as sources of herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Various parts of the plants were utilized for medicinal purposes, with leaves being the most frequently used (85 species, 44.50%), followed by fruits (40 species, 20.94%), seeds (18 species, 9.42%), whole plant (13 species, 6.80%), roots (21 spp., 10.99%), fronds (7 spp., 3.66%), flowers (7 spp., 3.66%), rhizomes (6 spp., 3.14%), bark and shoots (4 spp., 2.09%), grains (3 spp., 1.57%), bulbs (3 spp., 1.57%) followed by gel and latex (2 spp., 1.04%), tuber, juice and nuts (1 sp., 0.52%).
For phytosociological study ten different sites were selected, leading to the identification of 10 distinct plant communities based on their highest Importance Values (IV). The soil samples collected from these sites were primarily loamy to silty in texture, containing low levels of organic matter ranging between 0.41% and 0.89%. Total soluble salts (TSS) were recorded between 0.013% and 0.029%, while calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content varied from 2% to 3.7%. The soil pH ranged from slightly acidic to moderately alkaline (6.6-8.4). Electrical conductivity (EC) values were between 0.05 dS/m-1 and 0.12 dS/m-1 . Nutrient analysis showed nitrogen levels from 0.02 to 0.044 mg/kg, phosphorus from 3 to 20 mg/kg, and potassium ranged between 28 and 94 mg/kg.
The primary elements are the precursors of secondary metabolites i.e. phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, etc. Ten elements included 8 major elements like C, O, Na, Mg, Al, S, Ca, K and 3 minor elements such as Cl, Fe and Si were detected in 10 plant species by using EDX technique. The concentration of elements varied in different plant species due to edaphic factors.
Ten medicinal plant species were examined to determine the presence or absence of ten major phytochemical groups, including alkaloids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and triterpenes. The phytochemicals present in plants have marked effects on the physiology of animals including human beings. The phytochemicals are used as phytomedicines to treat various health problems.
Conservation assessment revealed that 152 (66.37%) wild plant species were Non Evaluated, 69 (30.13%) species were Least Concern, 3 (1.29%) species were Data Deficient, 3 (1.29%) species were Near Threatened and 2 (0.87%) species were endangered. No plant species categorized as Critically Endangered (CR), Vulnerable (VU), and Extinct (EX) in the study area. The origin of these plant species was determined using the Flora of Pakistan and other global botanical references. The findings showed that 176 species (about 76.8%) were native to the region, while 53 species (around 23.1%) were introduced or exotic. Keywords: Lajbouk valley, ecology, ethnobotany, plant resources, Lower Dir