More research in mycology stressed

Scientists had consensus of opinion that mycology needs lot of attention through research on its different aspects that are beneficial for human.
This was expressed by the scientists on the inaugural session of training workshop on "Advances in Mycology" jointly organised by Institute of Botany, University of Sindh and Higher Education Commission (HEC).
They termed mycology as both friend and foe for humanity and underlined more research for the benefit of human, animal and plants life on earth. The Vice-chancellor, University of Sindh, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui who inaugurated the workshop urged upon scientists to fulfil hopes of society by rendering their valuable services towards the benefit of people as well as plants. He advised the scientists to take benefit from present environment available for higher education and research and added that the HEC is providing all required funds and benefit to scholars.
He appreciated laudable efforts taken by Institute of Botany for promotion of the knowledge of the subject botany. Learned HEC Professor and mycologist Dr Abdul Ghaffar highlighting importance of subject explored research done by the scholars in Pakistan and other universities of world.
The learned scholar pointed out that there is lot of need for research work on different aspects of mycology. The scholar stressed upon the senior scholars to provide training to their junior to carry research work on this important subject.
He said universities as well as research organisations should have to invest on the area towards more research on different aspects of life sciences including mycology.
The Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences Dr M.Y. Khuhawar speaking on the occasion highlighted importance of subject in life sciences and plants. He said that Botany Institute of Sindh University has organised so many seminars and workshops for promotion of the subject. He hoped that participants of workshop would not only learn but would also be able to understand and carry out their own research.
Director Institute of Botany, University of Sindh, Dr Muhammad Tahir Rajput said that mycology, the subject of workshop is a branch of botany that deals with fungi and added that almost every one encounter fungi in daily life.
He said that Penicillin is an important drug provided by a fungus and added that as part from the medicinal value, some destructive activities of different fungal species also create problems.
He said that our national heritage where our history is preserved is at the verge of disappearance due to some destructive species of fungi. He said that bio-deterioration of fort walls, paintings in art galleries, rare books in libraries and in the museum and specimens in herbaria are destroyed or damaged by fungi. He hoped that scholars and the experts of field will come up with permanent solution of this problem. Convenor of workshop Dr Hidayatullah Abro highlighted aims and objectives of workshop. He hoped that majority of trainees who are young lecturers and researchers of universities and colleges will learn a lot from the workshop.
On this occasion senior research scientist Shama Dad from Atomic Energy Commission Tandojam, Dr Basir Ahmed Arain, Ms Ishrat Rani and others also expressed their views.