I express my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to Dr.

Rakesh Tuli, Director, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow for his kind permission for the dissertation project at this esteemed laboratory under his supervision. I sincerely acknowledge my gratitude to Dr. Samir V. Sawant, Scientist, Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, NBRI, Lucknow for accepting my request and allowing me to carry on the dissertation project under his guidance in his well facilitated laboratory. It is more a pride than privilege that Dr Sribash Roy, Scientist, Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, NBRI, Lucknow, very gladly consented to be my supervisor. His valuable guidance, inspiring supervision and constant encouragement through out the progress of this work made it possible for me to conclude this project work. His competence and capability influenced my appetite and keen interest towards the subject related with the present investigation. To him I owe more than I can express. I am fortunate that I got Dr. Manoj Kr. Srivastava, Head of the dept. of Biochemistry, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.) as my teacher. His suggestions and encouragement have all through been of immense value. I find words inadequate to express my gratitude to him. I express my grateful acknowledgement to Dr. P.K. Singh scientist, Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, NBRI, Lucknow for his co-operation and valuable guidance. I express my deep regards to Dr. Arvind Jain, Dr. Hemant Yadav, Dr. P.C. Verma, Dr. S.N. Jena and Dr. C.S. Mohanthy of Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, NBRI, Lucknow for their encouragement and valuable suggestions. I greatly appreciate the assistance rendered by Mr. Rahul Singh, Santosh Upadhaya, Shared Shorav, Rajesh Shrivastava, Jeetendra Kr. Nag., Miss Preeti Rai and Archana Singh, research follows of Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory NBRI,

Lucknow during experimental work. I am also thankful to Mr. Basant, Jitesh, and Shyam who co-operated me. My heart is full of regard for Mr. Sanjay Kr. Singh & Mrs. (Dr.) Alka Kumari, (Pteridology Laboratory, NBRI, Lucknow) for their affectionate behaviour who always stood by me and boosted my morale at times of distress in course of the project work. I want to convey my best regards to my honourable teachers Dr. Sudarashana Chandryain, Dr. Shahina Kalim, Dr. Manisha Pandey, Dr. Mohd. Saquib Ansari, Mr. Brij Pal Singh. I am also thankful to all staff of the dept. of Biochemistry, BundelKhand University Jhansi (U.P.) I wish to express my best compliments to my parents, sisters and brother-in-law for their blessings all through and surely, but for their blessings my work could not have reached a shape of finality. Last but not the least, I am thankful to my younger brother, nice and other members of family, friends and well wishers who helped me in all possible ways within their command. Alok Abhishek