Category Archives: b_original_articles

Muhammad Riaz Gondal^1*, Muhammad Yasir Saleem², Sultan Ahmad Rizvi¹, Aaqib Riaz³, Waqas Naseem¹, Ghulam Muhammad¹, ⁴Sikandar Hayat, ⁵Mazher Iqbal

 ¹Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan

²University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

³Hussain Park Military Farm Road, Sargodha, Pakistan

⁴Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan

⁵Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan’s agriculture, especially the cotton area is facing serious threat of water shortage, which is negatively affecting the sizeable foreign reserves. Besides other irrigation management practices, selection of drought tolerant varieties can support to tackle the issue. The current study was aimed at the assessment of drought tolerance potential of various Bt cultivars of Gossypium hirsutum L. Under the current study, sixteen cotton cultivars were placed for germination in petri dishes under distinct osmotic potentials with seven different concentrations of PEG-6000 (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 27 percent, having osmotic potential of 0.0, -0.05, -0.148, -0.295, -0.491, -0.735 and -0.846 MPa respectively). The results revealed significant differences among various traits of all genotypes. It was observed that seed germination and root length was increasing until the concentration level of 25% PEG-6000 (at -0.735 MPa) whereas increment in shoot length stopped further. Root/shoot ratio increased until PEG concentration of 20% and then ceased. NIBGE-8 was the best performer under all simulated osmotic adjustments with maximum mean germination percentage of 62.86 %. The growth parameters of NIBGE-8 recorded on 12^th and 18^th days after sowing were noted as root length (6.87 and 9.9) cm, shoot length (5.9 and 6.37) cm, root/shoot ratio (1.03 and 1.23), root length-index (597 and 843) and shoot-vigor index (539 and 576) respectively. The results of study revealed that the genotypes NIBGE-8, NIBGE-9, BH-201 and RH-668 were found osmotic stress tolerant while Mubarak, CEMB-88 and DEEBEL were found highly sensitive to drought conditions.

Keywords: Bt Cotton, PEG-6000, Osmotic potential, Drought resistance

Reyna C. Tiniola¹, Raquel C. Pambid¹, Adonis S. Bautista¹, Rich Milton R. Dulay²*

¹School of Advanced Studies, Pangasinan State University, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines

²Bioassay Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, 3120 Philippines

Abstract

Lentinus swartzii is a basidiomycetous fungus that usually grows on fallen logs during rainy season. In this study, the effects of color light-emitting diode (LED) on the mycelial biomass, fruiting body production, and antioxidant properties of L. swartzii were evaluated. The inoculated culture bottles and fruiting bags were incubated under the three-color LEDs (red, green, and blue), and dark condition (control) in a chamber. Phenolic content and scavenging activity mycelia and fruiting bodies ethanol extracts were also analyzed. In liquid culture, red LED cultures produced the highest mycelial dry weight (0.464 g), while green LED cultures registered the highest number of primordia (6.0). The initiation of primordia was not stimulated under red LED and dark condition. However, in fruiting body production, fruiting bags exposed under red LED showed the shortest period of incubation for mycelial ramification (21.20 days), produced the maximum yield of fruiting body (35.73 g) and biological efficiency (7.14%). All LED mycelial extracts exhibited higher radical scavenging activities (RSA) than catechin, and green LED mycelial extract registered the highest phenolic content (PC) (34.21 mg GAE g^-1 sample). The red LED fruiting body extract recorded the highest RSA (28.06%) and PC (26.08 mg GAE g^-1 sample). Therefore, cultivation of L. swartzii in red LED chamber is a practical technique for enhancing biomass production and antioxidant properties.

Keywords: Lentinus swartzii, Light-emitting diode, Mycelial and fruiting body biomass, Radical scavenging activity, Phenolic content

Wali Muhammad^1,2*, Shafqat Saeed³, Ammad Ahmad⁴, Muhammad Yasir Ishfaq⁵ and Muhammad Mahtab Anjum⁶,

¹Pest Warning and Qualitsy Control of Pesticides, Agriculture Department, Government of Punjab, Pakistan

²Department of Entomology, Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

³Institute of Plant Protection, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef (MNS) University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan

⁴Department of Entomology, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

⁵Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan

⁶Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to identify the pollinator community and its role in pollination of sunflower at the research farm of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. The community of pollinators was composed of 14 insect species including eight bee species (Hymenoptera), four fly species (Diptera) and two butterfly species (Lepidoptera). Bees were the most abundant floral visitors. Apis dorsata Fabricius, Xylocopa sp and Megachile sp. were the most abundant among the bees with the highest visitation frequencies i.e. 1.33, 0.07 and 0.06 individuals per head per minute, respectively. The abundant flies included Eristalinus aeneus Scopoli and E. arvorum Linnaeus. The peak visitation activity of pollinators was recorded between 08:00 to 10:00 hrs. Although there was no significant difference in number of seeds per head produced in insect pollinated (open) as compared with, without insect pollinated (caged) heads. However, insect pollination significantly increased the number of healthy seeds, 100 seed weight and germination percentage. As A. dorsata Fabricius was the major pollinator of sunflower, future studies should focus on its conservation for better crop production.

Keywords: Sunflower, Pollination, Pollinator community, Reproductive success

Rafdinal^1*, Ramadanil Pitopang², Adityo Raynaldo³, Eko Subrata⁴

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, 78124 – Indonesia

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tadulako University, Palu, Central Sulawesi, 94148 – Indonesia

³Department of Marine Science, OSO University, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, 78124 – Indonesia

⁴Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Muhammadiyah Sumatera Barat University, Padang, West Sumatra, 25172 – Indonesia

Abstract

Understanding the carbon cycle could be the basis and best way to management practices in traditional agroforestry. In this study, we will estimate the litterfall dynamics and decomposition rate in one of the traditional agroforestry ‘Tembawang’ practiced by local people in Kalimantan. Litterfall dan decomposition monitoring was conducted every two weeks for three months with litterfall traps and litterbags. From the results, we found litterfall production of Tembawang Agroforestry was 91.23-95.03 gr m^-2 month^-1 or 10.95-11.40 tons ha^-1 year^-1. The estimated litter decomposition rate in the first of 14 days was 3.92-4.43 gram    day^-1 after that decomposition rate decreased (on 84^th day) at 0.75-0.81 gram day^-1. A positive Spearman correlation occurred with the rainfall and temperature variables on the dynamics of litterfall but the value was not significant. Tembawang agroforestry litter production is higher than another agroforestry and the value is approaching the primary tropical rainforest. Litter decomposed more than 50 percent in the initial two weeks and the value is correlated to humidity.

Keywords: Carbon cycle, Fruit Tembawang, Rubber Tembawang, Traditional agroforestry, Sekadau Regency

Muhammad Zubair Akram^1,2, Shahzad Maqsood Ahmed Basra¹, Muhammad Bilal Hafeez¹, Shahbaz Khan¹*, Samreen Nazeer², Shahid Iqbal³, Muhammad Sohail Saddiq⁴, Noreen Zahra⁵

¹Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

²Department of Agricultural Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi, Niğde, 51240, Turkey

³Department of Agronomy, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Multan, 60000, Pakistan

⁴Department of Agronomy, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, 32200, Pakistan

⁵Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

Abstract:

Cultivation of quinoa, a climate-resilient and superfood crop, can be a viable option for food security than conventional food crops. A field experiment was conducted during growing season of 2018-2019 to evaluate 13 elite lines of quinoa. The data regarding stand establishment, phenology of developmental stages, root establishment, leaf biochemical, morphological attributes and seed viability were recorded and analysed. Seed yield was linked with phenological, physiological and morphological traits. Ten lines (4, 6, 9, 11, 15, 22, 24, 30, 45 and 126) seem to be high yielders than check that are originated from New Mexico and Peru. New line Q11 appears to be a high yielder among all the newly introduced lines and standard variety also. Q126 showed the maximum harvesting index. Standard variety UAFQ-7 seems to be higher in root length. The duration of crops is also different in different lines. Q24 appears to be a short duration crop. Q15 and Q45 appear to be higher in anthocyanin and phenolic contents, respectively. Finding new germplasm having higher yield potential than the check variety will strengthen the popularity of new crops under the agro-climatic conditions of Faisalabad-Pakistan.

Keywords: Germplasm, Morphology, Phenology, Quinoa, Root scanner, Seed yield

Do Tan Khang¹, Tran Gia Huy¹, Nguyen Hoang Tinh¹, Phan Thi Truc Ly¹, Sau Thi Ai Tram¹, Nguyen Tien Cuong¹, Tran Nhan Dung¹, Nguyen Van Ay², Tran Thanh Men³, Nguyen Phuong Thuy^4*

 ¹Biotechnology Research and Development Institute, Can Tho University, Can Tho city, Vietnam

²College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho city, Vietnam

³College of Natural Science, Can Tho University, Can Tho city, Vietnam

⁴School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh province, Vietnam

Abstract

Mango is one of the most valuable fruiting plant and occupies a crucial position in Vietnam’s agriculture. There are various indigenous mango cultivars which originate from Vietnam. Utilization of DNA barcode for mango authentication is an appropriate solution that overcomes the limitations of morphological-based methods. In this study, 33 samples, representing 19 mango cultivars, were analysed by amplifying and sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and maturase enzyme gene (matK). The results showed that these two barcode candidates were amplified successfully in all samples. ‘Hoa Loc’, a high quality and native mango cultivar is discriminated from others by 52 variation sites in ITS sequence analysis, while the result is 27 for matK. The results also revealed that the noncoding sequence, ITS, has high interspecific distance among such cultivars and should be proposed as a promising DNA barcode for mango identification, based on both sequence quality and discrimination power.

Keywords: ITS, Mango, Hoa Loc, matK, Plant authentication, Vietnam

Rita Choudhury¹, Puranjit Das²*

¹Department of Zoology, Tihu College, Tihu, Nalbari-781371, Assam, India

²Department of Zoology, Bhattadev University, Bajali, Pathsala-781325, Assam, India

Abstract

Tenualosa ilisha, an anadromous fish, inhabited in the lower region of the estuaries and the foreshore areas migrating to river for spawning. The Hilsa population entered the Brahmaputra River system from Bay of Bengal. Various studies have shown the Hilsa population differs significantly from one another found in different rivers. In the present communication attempt has been made to investigate population of Hilsa shad in the Brahmaputra River using cytochrome b gene. Analysis of 425 bp of Cytochrome b gene fragment revealed 4 haplotypes with two clusters in dendogram. Existence of three polymorphic sites in the haplotypes sequences obtained from two groups of Hilsa shad showed low genetic differentiation in the Brahmaputra River.

Keywords: Cytochrome b gene, Brahmaputra river, Tenualosa ilisha

Md Arafat Hossain¹, Md Masud Rana^2*, S M Hisam Al Rabbi¹, Toshiaki Mitsui³

¹Biotechnology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

²Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

³Department of Life and Food Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan

Abstract

Soil puddling is considered favorable for rice but unfavorable for post-rice upland crops. The deleterious effects of puddling in post-rice mungbean and management of puddled soil have not been adequately addressed earlier in Bangladesh. This research work was conducted to amend differential puddled soil through organic amendments for improved post-rice mungbean production. The treatments were puddling by four passes, puddling by eight passes, and non-puddling with three organic amendments i.e. control, crop residue, and cow dung. Puddling generally increased bulk density of soil under moisture deficit condition. Puddling had no significant effect on soil pH, total-N, available-P, exchangeable–K, and organic-C. Application of cow dung in the puddle soil increased the amount of N (75.0%), P (35.5%), K (13.3%), and organic-C (38.8%) compared to control. Puddling (eight passes) impaired root growth resulting reduced total dry matter production by 15.6% over non-puddling condition. Cow dung management in differential puddling intensity gave higher root (0.13 g plant^-1) and total dry matter (1.16 g plant^-1) production of mungbean than without amendment at 60 days after seedling. Puddling intensity adversely affected the number of pods plant^-1, thousand-seed weight and seed yield. Cow dung application gave significantly higher number of pods, seeds pod^-1 and thousand-seed weight. The mungbean seed yield achieved through cow dung incorporation (8.74 g plant^-1) was better than crop residue (7.38 g plant^-1) and control (7.34 g plant^-1). The adverse effects of puddling intensity on soil strength and bulk density and succeeding plant growth and seed yield of mungbean were highly remarkable. Cow dung management indicated a positive response on the improvement of soil properties and mungbean seed yield.

Keywords: Bulk density, Crop residue, Mungbean, Organic-C, Puddling intensity and soil

Omer Farooq^1*, Muqarrab Ali², Naeem Sarwar¹, Atique ur Rehman¹, Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal³, Tayyaba Naz⁴, Muhammad Asghar¹, Fahid Ehsan⁵, Muhammad Nasir¹, Qari Muhammad Hussain¹, Sohaib Afzal¹

1Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

2Department of Agronomy, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan

3Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, Chiniot, Pakistan

4Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

5Regional Agricultural Economic Development Centre, Vehari, Pakistan

 Abstract

An experiment was conducted to check the brassica water extract as natural growth regulator in improving the seedling development of wheat and chickpea. Experimental treatments included five low concentration levels of brassica water extract as 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3% as foliar spray. Two other treatments where no spray and water was used as foliar spray, were considered as control treatments. To compare the efficacy of natural growth regulator, a synthetic source was also maintained among foliar sprays in the form of 6-Benzylaminopurine. In conclusion, results of the experiment concluded that 2% brassica water extract was most effect level to maximally boost the seedling characteristics like shoot/root biomass, shoot/root length and number of leaves till 20 days after germination. However, this level varied in case of chickpea where a bit higher concentration, 3% yielded maximum outcomes to the recorded parameters. So, findings of the study suggest that growth promotion potential of crops like brassica should be exploited in sustainable agriculture systems.

Keywords: Crop extract, Growth regulators, Seedling enhancement, Foliar spray

Ioanna Tabaxi¹, Charikleia Ζisi¹, Stella Karydogianni¹, Antigoni-Eleni Folina¹, Ioanna Kakabouki¹, Apostolos Kalivas², Dimitrios Bilalis¹

¹Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

²Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, DEMETER, Thermi, Greece

Abstract

Greece is a country that primarily cultivates tobacco. Over the years and the increase of inputs to conventional tobacco cultivation and the groundwater nitrate pollution, producers and industry began to look at organic farming. However, for the field crop of tobacco knowledge is limited to inorganic fertilization only and it is necessary now to find out the effect of organic fertilization on soil, yield and quality of tobacco. Therefore, two-year field experiments were carried out during 2017-2018 in Agricultural University of Athens. Three oriental tobacco varieties were cultivated (Basmas Xanthi 81, Katerini S53 and Myrodata Agriniou 30Α) in split-plot design, with four fertilization treatments (Control, Compost, Manure and NPK). According to the results, the yield was significantly affected only by the variety and the highest yield was 3.488 (kg ha-1) in Myrodata Agriniou variety.  The plant height was significantly affected by variety and ranged from 110,77 cm (Basmas Xanthi)  to 121.42 cm (Myrodata Agriniou). The number of leaves was significantly affected only by the variety; Katerini S53 had the highest number. The nicotine content was significantly affected by variety and year and ranged between 2.52% (Myrodata Agriniou) and 4.22 % (Basmas Xanthi). As nicotine increases, sugars finally decrease with the application of organic fertilizers. Summarizing, most of the soil characteristics significantly affected by the fertilization and showed generally improvement. The plant growth and the final yield was determined by the variety. With organic tobacco cultivation, the quality and yields of oriental varieties have improved significantly.

Keywords: Nicotine content, Organic fertilization, Oriental tobacco, Yield