Category Archives: b_original_articles

Original Articles

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DIAMONDBACK MOTH, PLUTELLA XYLOSTELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: PLUTELLIDAE) TO SOME EUPHORBIACEAE PLANT EXTRACTS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

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Kiran Shehzadi, Munir Ahmad*, Imran Bodlah and Asim Gulzar
Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi
 
ABSTRACT
 
Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella is a serious insect pest of brassica crops. Its larvae skeletonize the leaves of host plants. Considering safer to environment, five plant extracts of Ricinus cummunis, Euphorbia heliscopia, E. hirta, E. milii and E. pulcherrima with a standard insecticide (chlorpyrifos) were tested. Second instar larvae of field collected P. xylostella were used for toxicity tests under laboratory conditions and changes in their biological parameters. Chlorpyrifos showed maximum mortality with LC50 of 1.13 ppm whereas R. cummunis was most effective with LC50 of 28.8 ppm followed by E. heliscopia, E. milii, E. hirta and E. pulcherrima of 32.9, 43.7, 44.6 and 40.5 ppm, respectively after 72 hrs exposure. Potential of Euphorbiaceae plant extracts needs further field testing for effective management tool against this important insect pest as safe and alternate bio-insecticide.
Keywords: Diamondback moth, toxicity, Euphorbiaceae, chlorpyrifos 

RESPONSE OF CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum L.) TO DIFFERENT NITROGEN LEVELS AND SOWING DATES

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Haidar Ali1*, Gohar Ayub1, Ehsan Elahi1 Muhammad Shahab1, Saeed Ahmed2, Nazeer Ahmed3
1Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan.
2State University of Londrina Centre of Agriculture Sciences Londrina, Parana (PR) Brazil.
3State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University. Yangling, China

ABSTRACT
 
Field experiment for different levels of nitrogen and sowing dates for coriander crop was performed under field conditions during year 2011-12. Sowing of Coriander was practiced on three dates with fortnight interval from 20th October to 20th November). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at four levels of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1. Maximum days to germination, plant height, number of days to first umbel maturity and seed yield kg ha-1 were observed in plants provided with at 60 kg ha-1 nitrogen at 5th November sown crop, hence recommended for better production of coriander under the agro climatic conditions of Swat.
Keywords: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), Nitrogen levels and sowing dates.

PREVALENCE AND TREMATODE INFECTION OF FRESHWATER SNAILS WITH EMPHASIS ON FASCIOLOSIS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

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Asma Waheed Qureshi1,*, Akhtar Tanveer2, Azhar Maqbool3, Sadaf Niaz4
1,4Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. Pakistan
2Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam campus, Lahore, Pakistan
3Department of Parasitology, UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
 
Many snails act as an intermediate host to spread parasitic diseases in humans and animals. Studies on parasitic infections in freshwater snails are rare in Pakistan. Freshwater snails were collected on monthly basis from the northeastern areas of Punjab for the period of one year (June 2005 to May 2006). Snails were exposed to light and also crushed to assess the presence of larval Trematodes in them. Larvae were identified by microscopy. A total of 23,922 snails, comprising eight genera, were collected from six water bodies and among these, prevalence of the genus Indoplanorbis was found highest (23.4%), followed by Bulinus (21.5%), Oncomelonia (15.4%), Lymnaea (14.9%), Bellamya (10.6%), Gyraulus (7.6%), Melanoides (3.8%) and Physa (2.8%). All snails were examined for Trematode infection, from which, 3541 (14.8%) showed the presence of Trematode larvae. Four morphologically distinguishable types of Cercariae were identified. Most Trematode infections were recorded from Lymnaea, which harboured three morphologically different Cercariae. Amphistome was the commonest types of cercariae (67.07%) recorded, while Xiphidiocercariacercariae(0.82%) was the least common. No trematodal cercariae were recovered from Oncomelonia, Bellamya, Melanoides, Gyralus and Physa. The only intermediate host for Fasciola cecariea were Lymnaea snails. Infection of these snails with Fasciola cecariae was influenced by temperature and rainfall.
Keywords: Trematode infection, freshwater snails, fasciolosis, Pakistan

ANTIBIOSIS STUDIES OF CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS L. (BRUCHIDAE: COLEOPTERA) ON DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OF CICER ARIETINUM L. (LEGUMINOSAE: FABALES)

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Farid Asif Shaheen1*, Muhammad Usman Raja2, Mahmood Ul-Hasan3 and Nasir Mazhar Malik4
  1Department of Entomology, 2Department of Plant Pathology, 3Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. 4Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab
 
ABSTRACT

Chickpea has to face post-harvest losses in storage due to heavy bruchid infestation. Fifteen cultivars of chickpea namely Bittle-98, Parbat, Punjab-91, Paidar-91, C-44, Noor-91, NCS-2003, CM-2000, CH-41/91, Flip 97-192C, Dasht, C-44×E-100YM, NUYT-90395, BH-73111 and CM-72 were studied for antibiosis test of Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Bruchidae: Coleoptera). Cultivars having thick, hard, wrinkled and rough seed coat were found more resistant as compared to thin, soft and smooth seed coat.  For antibiosis test, the cultivars of C-44, Punjab-91, CM-72, Parbat, Bittle-98, NUYT-90395, Dasht, C-44×E-100YM and NCS-2003 were found resistant showing minimum longevity of C. chinensis with a range of 11.53 to 13.56 days. Minimum days (11.53) to 100% mortality were observed for Bittle-98 and the maximum days (16.88) were recorded for Noor-91. The minimum F1 adults (2.67) were observed in grains of Dasht and the maximum (11.46) were recorded in Flip 97-192C. The minimum days (9.16) to 100% mortality of F1 adults were observed in grains of Parbat whereas the maximum days (16.04) were recorded for Flip 97-192C. Chickpea cultivars of Punjab-91, Dasht, Bittle-98 and Parbat were found resistant against C. chinensis while Paidar-91 and Flip 97-192C were found susceptible.
Keywords: Callosobruchus chinensis, Cicer arietinum, antibiosis, mortality, cultivars and resistance.

EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF BIOFERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND EMERGENCE OF BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE)

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Ghasem Ahmadi*, Mojtaba Jaafarinia
Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University of Marvdasht, Fars, Iran
 
ABSRACT
 
In order to study the effects of some biological fertilizers on growth parameters of three barley cultivars, a factorial experiments with three replications were performed in pots (using natural field soil, pH=8) as completely randomized design at the Research Greenhouse of Fars Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University. Three barley cultivars namely; Yousef, Nosrat and Reihan, and six different biological fertilizers: Phosphotidic Barvar 2, Barvar 3, Nitrokara, Nitroxin, Biophosphorus, EM and control (non-inoculated seeds) were used. The investigated traits, including morphological characters: percentage of emergence, shoot length, volume of seminal roots, and wet and dry weight. Results showed that the application of biological fertilizers had significant effects on all traits except for shoot length. The highest averages for these traits were obtained from Nosrat cultivar and the most effective biological fertilizers with respect to these traits were Barvar 2. It seems that, in practice, biological fertilizers have the required potential to replace the chemical (synthetic) fertilizers.
Keywords: Biological Fertilizers, Morphological Characters, Barley Cultivars

EVALUATION OF EXTRACTION METHODS FOR HOUSEHOLD HERBAL PRODUCTS

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Sumera Javad1, Sana Khalid1, Shagufta Naz2, Kanwal Naz1
1Department of Botany, 2Department of Biotechnology, LCWU, Lahore

ABSTRACT
 
Microwave assisted extraction is a modern and novel approach for rapid and efficient extraction of the plant material which is of prime importance in herbal medicinal industry. For household herbal products (different tea samples, qehwa (Peshawari Qehwa), coffee (Nescafe Classic) and joshanda (Qarshi), their qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals were compared. Microwave assisted extraction gave the maximum amount of extracts than that of stove heating with significant difference of amount of phenolics and flavonoids. Maximum gallic acid (standard phenolics) was observed from microwave assisted extract of Tapal Tez dam. Stove extracts produced maximum phenolics from Lipton tea. Maximum catechin (Standard of flavonoids) was observed from microwave assisted extract of Johar Joshanda while stove extracts produced maximum catechin from Coffee sample.
Keywords: Microwave assisted extraction, stove heating, herbal products, phenolics

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF CANOLA AGAINST ABIOTIC STRESS THROUGH INCORPORATION OF DREB GENE

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Syeda Qamarunnisa*1, Ishrat Jamil1, Saboohi Raza2, Abid Azhar1 and S. H. Mujtaba Naqvi1

1The Karachi Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering,

2Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

Salinity, sodicity, drought and water logging are serious problems of agriculture in Pakistan that add to poverty in the country. Pakistan, in spite of being a large agricultural country, imports huge amounts of edible oil. Brassica species in general, have good agronomic characteristics and under favorable conditions can give reasonable yields; however, under stress conditions their productivity is severely compromised. The main focus of this study is to develop salt and drought tolerant germplasm of Brassica napus var. wester by incorporating DREB gene that induces expression of stress tolerance genes which ultimately result in salt and drought tolerance of the variety. The paper describes the successful incorporation of DREB factor into Brassica napus var. wester genome that does seem to have regulated the expression of stress inducible genes as evidenced by increased content of proline in transformed plants when subjected to high salt level.

Keywords: Brassica napus, Transformation, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, DREB, Transcription factor

AWARENESS ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER, HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF ITS VACCINE AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF PESHAWAR PAKISTAN

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Sana Gul*, Aneela Javed, Sheeba Mall
Health Care Biotechnology Department, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences,
National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
     
ABSTRACT
 
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women all over the world. The major causative agent for cervical cancer is Human papillomavirus. Awareness and education about cervical cancer, HPV and its vaccination can help to prevent cervical cancer. Present study was a questionnaire based survey including 764 female students of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtoon Khawa (KPK). KPK is considered as a relatively conservative society where talking about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is a taboo leading to a poor management of Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Current study was conducted to assess the awareness of female university students about cervical cancer, Human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccine.  Majority of participants were unaware about cervical cancer and its causes. Only 23.20% (175) knew that cervical cancer is a gynecological cancer. 93.50% of the participants had never heard about Pap (Papanicolaou) smear testing. Level of awareness about Human papillomavirus (HPV) as causative agent and availability of vaccine against HPV was just 11.53% and 10.87%, respectively. Notably, acceptance of HPV vaccine among the female students was 95.49% indicating a positive attitude towards treatment if the facilities are provided. Overall study indicated that although the educated young females of Peshawar are not very much aware of the cervical cancer, HPV and its vaccination but they are willing to have more awareness and proper medical facilities to address this issue. Increasing female student’s awareness would help us to attain a lower incidence and mortality.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Pakistan, Human papilloma virus, Peshawar, Pap test

EFFECT OF SPLIT APPLICATION OF NITROGENON THE YIELD OF RICE CROP

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Muhammad Nawaz1, Anwar Javaid Wahla1, Muhammad Saleem Kashif1,
Masood Qadir Waqar2 and Muhammad Anjum Ali3
1Adaptive Research Farm, Sheikhupura, 2Directorate of Adaptive Research, Lahore, Punjab,
 3Directorate General of Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research, Lahore, Punjab
 
ABSTRACT
 
A three year field study was conducted at Adaptive Research Farm, Sheikhupura to find the most suitable nitrogen application schedule for rice (Super Basmati) during Kharif 2012, 2013 and 2014. Randomized complete block design with 3 replications was employed to investigate 4 different treatments of nitrogen split application @ 140 kg ha-1 viz: T1= Puddling and tillering, T2= Puddling, tillering and panicle initiation, T3= Tillering, panicle initiation and flowering stage and T4= Puddling, tillering, panicle initiation and flowering stage. Nursery of rice was transplanted in 2nd week of July each year. Paddy yield and all yield associated parameter of rice super basmati were significantly affected by treatments and highest of all of them were recorded when nitrogen was applied in 3 equal splits i.e. at puddling, tillering and panicle formation stage. In conclusion, nitrogen @ 140 kg ha-1 in 3 equal splits (puddling, tillering and panicle formation), is the most suitable combination of nitrogen splits to obtain higher paddy yields under agro-ecological conditions of Sheikhupura, Pakistan.
Keywords: puddling, rice, super basmati, flowering, tillering

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SEEDBORNE PSEUDOMONAS SYRINGAE PV PISI FROM PEA (PISUM SATIVUM L.)

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Muhammad Waseem Ali1, Muhammad Usman Raja1*, Gulshan Irshad1,
Komal Zafar1, Mehmood Ul Hasan2, Farid Asif Shaheen3
1Department of Plant Pathology, 2Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics,
3Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
 
ABSTRACT

This study was focused on isolation and biochemical characterization of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed borne bacteria.  A total of 25 bacteria were isolated from pea seeds collected from different sources.  Of 25 isolates, 3 most aggressive isolates (Psp-1, Psp-6, Psp-14) which produced hypersensitive response (HR) within 24 hours of post inoculation on tobacco leaf were picked for further bio-pathological assays. Bacterial isolates were able to produce brown necrotic spots on pea leaves after few days of inoculation which later coalesced and gave peculiar blight like appearance. However, bacterial isolates were unable to reduce nitrogen and also unable to grow at 41 0C which considered as a hall mark of only plant pathogenic pseudomonads. Furthermore, results of LOPAT (levan production from sucrose (L), presence of oxidase (O), pectolytic activity on potato (P), the pres­ence of arginine dihydrolase (A) confirmed that seed borne bacteria were Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi which are reported as looming threat to pea production in different parts of world. Therefore, current study gave a clue about the presence of potential bacterial pathogens in seeds which would easily be resulted into future disease outbreak. Thus, regular disease surveillance and pathogenicity assays on commercial pea varieties must be incorporated to avoid any future pea epidemic.
Keywords: Bacterial pea blight, Pea (Pisum sativum L.), Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi, LOPAT