Tag Archives: 4 (4)

ZINC BIOFORTIFICATION OF CEREALS THROUGH FERTILIZERS: RECENT ADVANCES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Qudsia Nazir1, Azhar Hussain2, Muhammad Imran3, Sajid Mahmood4,

Maqshoof Ahmad2 Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal5,

 

1Provincial Reference Fertilizer Testing Laboratory, Lahore, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab-Pakistan.

 2Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

3Department of Soil Science, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan. 4Department of Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah-80208, Saudi Arabia.

 5Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research, Chiniot, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab-Pakistan.

 

ABSTRACT

 

Zinc (Zn) is a micronutrient, essentially required by plants, animals and humans. Zn deficiency in humans due to the consumption of food with inadequate Zn content is of global concern. Approximately, one third of poor world’s population is at high risk of Zn deficiency due to its reliance on cereals for daily caloric requirements. The cereals, generally grown on calcareous soils have low grain Zn. The major reason of lower Zn content in cereals is poor Zn bioavailability induced by various soil and/or crop management factors.  The factors responsible for low grain Zn are high soil pH, low organic matter, salinity/alkalinity, water logging, and poorly managed soil fertility. Due to its critical role in growth and development of humans, food with adequate Zn content is mandatory. This situation demands some effective strategies for the enhancement of grain Zn content to overcome human Zn deficiency. Zinc supplementation of food, Zn pills, breeding of high Zn uptake species, and biofortification through fertilizers are being employed to address the issue. Among all strategies, Zn biofortification through fertilizers is an effective and economical technique. Mineral Zn fertilizers are applied alone or in combination with organic and biofertilizers. Integrated use of mineral, organic and biofertilizers improves Zn uptake and assimilation in cereals grains. Nanotechnology and enrichment/coating techniques are also effective to enhance grains Zn. This review critically discuss the efficiency of various strategies to promote Zn availability and uptake by plants that assure food and nutrition security.  Zn enriched/coated urea is considered an effective tool to ensure crops with optimum concentration of Zn for human consumption.  

 

Keywords: Zinc; Bioavailability; Cereals; Biofortification; Biofertilizers; Food Security

REVIEW ON EFFECTS OF DIETARY POLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS ON SEMEN QUALITY OF BIRDS AND MAMMALS

Muhammad Zubair*, Mubashir Ali Khalique

Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Poonch, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

The use of poly unsaturated fatty acids has pronounced significant effects on the efficiency of male reproductive system. Poly unsaturated fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid, omega 3, Omega 6, oleic and linolinic acid are rich in diets like flaxseed oil, soybean oil, fish oil, sunflower oil. These diets have the capability to increase serum testosterone level, fertility rate, ejaculation period, sperm motility, semen volume, sperms concentration and sexual behavior. Similarly, these fatty acids reduce the oxidative stress and maintain membrane integrity. In this review, some of the basic information regarding the importance of poly unsaturated fatty acids on semen quality parameters of male is summarized.

Keywords: poly unsaturated fatty acids, Semen quality

FIELD EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT INSECTICIDES AGAINST WHEAT APHIDS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN PAKISTAN

Faheem M.1, A. Sajjad2, R. M. Shafique1, A. Rehman1 and M. N. Aslam2

1CABI Central and West Asia, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 2University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

Nine insecticides were evaluated against three wheat aphid species (Rhopalosiphum padi L., Schizaphis graminum Rond. and Sitobion avenae F.) and their Coccinellid predators at recommended field doses under field conditions during wheat growing season 2012-13. The insecticides were malathion (Malathion®), carbosulfan (Advantage®), imidacloprid (Confidor®), thiamethoxam (Actara®), pymetrozine (Plenum®), aliphatic hydrocarbons+mineral oil (Diver®), azadirachtin+salannin (Neemosal®), mineral oil (Foliol®), bifenthrin (Talstar®) at recommended field doses, i.e.,1235 ml, 1235 ml, 198 ml, 60gm, 988, 494 ml, 2470 ml, 4940 ml and 618 ml, respectively. Malathion, bifenthrin and thiamethoxam effectively reduced the population of S. graminum while bifenthrin and imidacloprid were more effective against S. avenae. All the insecticides were more effective against R. padi than for S. graminum and S. avenae. However, bifenthrin, malathion, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, pymetrozine and carbosulfan significantly lowered the population of R. padi. Aliphatic hydrocarbons+mineral oil, azadirachtin+salannin and mineral oil could not significantly lower the population of S. graminum and S. avenae. Imidacloprid proved to be effective against all aphid species yet it was the safest against coccinellids. Thiamethoxam showed the maximum decrease in coccinellid populations followed by malathion, pymetrozine and carbosulfan.

 

Keywords: Wheat aphids, field efficacy, Insecticides, coccinellids

HERITABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DROUGHT TOLERANCE TRAITS AND YIELD IN GROUNDNUTS (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) UNDER DIFFERENT WATERING REGIMES

Mashamba Philipo1,*, Clara Mollay1 and Susan Nchimbi-Msolla2

1The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania

2Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro, Tanzania

 

ABSTRACT

 

Improvement of groundnuts for drought tolerance could increase production in drought prone areas. This study aimed at determining the heritability estimates and relationship of HI and SCMR with yield and yield components using 30 groundnut genotypes planted under different watering regimes, so as to speed up the selection and breeding of groundnut genotypes tolerant to drought. A completely randomized design arranged in a split plot experiment with four replications was conducted in screen house in Morogoro, Tanzania. Data collection was done on plant height, number of pod/plant and pod yield/plant. Drought tolerant traits measured included, harvest index (HI), SCMR at 40, 60 and 80 DAS. Broad-sense heritability was calculated for HI, pod yield, number of pod/plant and SCMR. Results showed that number of pods/plant, SCMR at 60 DAS and HI were significantly related to pod yield in all watering condition. Heritability of the traits ranged from 0.22 to 0.59 with HI having highest value and number of pods lowest in WW while in WS condition heritability was generally lower from 0.04 to 0.45. Due to SCMR at 60 DAS, number of pods/plant and HI having moderate heritability and significant correlation with pod yield under water stress condition, these could be useful criteria in drought tolerance selection.

 

Keywords: Groundnut, SCMR, Water stress, Heritability, Pod yield.

GENETIC VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY STUDIES IN F2 POPULATION OF SPRING WHEAT

Asghar, K.1, Z.A Soomro1*, S.N. Mari1, T.A. Baloch2, A.A. Rajper1, U.A. Kasi1 and F. Asghar3

1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-70060, Pakistan

2Department of Agriculture Research, Government of Balochistan, Pakistan

3Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-70060, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

A research experiment was conducted to investigate the variability and heritability  in F2 population of spring wheat at the experimental field of Sothern Wheat Research Station, Tandojam during 2014-15.The experimental material consisted of 8F2 hybrid viz: Sassui x Anmol-91, WL-711 x Anmol-91, Sassui x Johar, Abadgar x SKD-1, Sassui x Abadgar-93, Marvi x Noori, Moomal- 2002 x Anmol-91, Marvi x Sassui and their parents were sown in Randomized  Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Genotype were highly significant at 0.01 level of probability for days to 75 % heading, days to 75% maturity, plant height, spike length and spikelets spike-1. The highest heritability (95.39%) regarding spike length was displayed by cross WL-711 x Anmol-91. Spike length is the main contributors to the grain yield and may be kept as selection criteria for developing high yielding varieties. The F2 population Sassui x Anmol-91 and WL-711 x Anmol-91 could be selected for higher yield in advanced generations.

 

Keywords: Heritability, genetic advance, genetic variability, segregating population 

EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT WEEDS AND AGRICULTURAL SUBSTRATES FOR CULTIVATION OF PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS (JACQ. FR.)

Waqar Islam*1, Asif Riaz2, Madiha Zaynab3 and Wu Zujian1

1College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture & Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China

2University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

3College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture & Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China

 

ABSTRACT

 

Oyster mushrooms are fleshy edible fungi which acquire huge importance due to their nutritional and medicinal properties. These mushrooms are cultivated upon various substrates which directly affect the yield and time taken to reach the maturity. So the present experiment was designed to study different weeds, agricultural wastes and their mixtures for efficacy regarding time taken to achieve 100% mycelial growth and yield attributes. Our results illustrated that cotton waste showed better performance as substrate as it took minimum days i.e. 20.5 followed by Chenopodium album and mixture of cotton waste + Chenopodium album which relatively taken 24.5 days to reach maximum growth level. These substrates also provided better yield as compared to all other substrates by recording 650.36, 583.41 and 530.43 grams yield respectively. The performance of all other substrates was below power. Hence we conclude that Chenopodium album anonymously or mixture of particular weed and cotton waste can be utilized for efficient cultivation of mushrooms.

Keywords: Oyster mushroom, Yield, Maturity, Effectiveness, P1 white strain

CONCENTRATION OF MACRO NUTRIENTS IN DRY FOLIAGE OF RUSSIAN OLIVE (ELAEAGNUS ANGUSTIFOLIA)

Aliya Noreen1, Ghulam Raza1, Haibat Ali1, Khadim Hussain2, Saif uddin1, Qandeel Zehra2, Babar Hussain2*, Syed Waqar Hussain2, Yawar Abbas2, Rashid Alam3, Nadia Ali1

1Department of Environmental Sciences, Karakoram International University Gilgit-Pakistan.

 2Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency, Gilgit-Pakistan (GB-EPA).

4Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Anhui Agriculture University China.

 

ABSTRACT

 

To be acquainted with the essential nutrients for plants for the sake of their growth is an important aspect of successful production of crops. These macro nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (C), and Magnesium (Mg). Elaeagnus angustifolia is a small tree and it is also called a large shrub. It has silvery leaves and thorny body. This species is tolerant to saline as well as alkaline soils and is hosted from Russia. This essential plant nutrient research will definitely help to solve such nutrient deficiency problems. This aim of present study was to explore the importance of essential nutrients for livestock and to assist farmers in the selection of fodder and forage. The results showed that concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the dry foliage of Russian olive were 3.75, 0.558, 4.37, 2.459 and 0.769 % respectively. It may be concluded from the results that the range of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the leaves of E. angustifolia was very close to sufficient range of plant N, P, K, Ca and Mg content.

Keywords: Essential nutrients, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Fodder and forage

HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY ESTIMATES FOR EAR TRAITS AND GRAIN YIELD IN MAIZE HYBRIDS

Sultan Mahmood1, Saad Imran Malik1* and Mozamil Hussain2

1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.

2Maize, Sorghum and Millet Programme, NARC, Park Road, Islamabad.

ABSTRACT

To increase maize yields, exploitation of heterosis has been proven as highly effective and is widely used over the world to produce new and improved hybrids. Present study was undertaken to estimate combining ability and heterosis in maize hybrid combinations for ear traits, plant height and leaf area. Five inbred parents were crossed in a diallel fashion excluding reciprocals and fifteen genotypes including 10 hybrid combinations and 5 parents were tested during summer 2013. Statistical analysis revealed significant difference for kernel rows ear-1 (P≤0.05), and highly significant difference (P≤0.01) for days to silking, plant height, leaf area, kernels row-1, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield. Hybrid P3×P5 and P3×P4 was marked as suitable for breeding early maturing hybrids due to negative heterosis values. High heterosis for plant height was recorded for P2×P3 with significant SCA effects. P2 in combination with P3, P4 and P5 showed significant SCA for greater leaf area, however, a significant positive heterosis was obtained only for P2×P3. Maximum numbers of kernel rows ear-1 were counted in hybrid P3×P4; nevertheless, hybrid P1×P3 exhibited the highest MPH while P3×P4 was the only combination to have significant BPH. On the other hand P1×P4 had the highest number of kernels row-1. The highest 1000-kernel weight was obtained for the hybrid P2×P3 with highly significant heterosis and SCA. The grain yield remained highest in P2×P3 (4719 kg/ha) followed by P4×P5 (4616 kg/ha) and P3×P4 (4532 kg/ha). Hence the hybrid combination P2×P3 was marked as superior for the development of high yielding hybrids among 10 hybrids tested considering its significant and positive SCA for yield related traits and highest grain yield.

Keywords: Maize, Zea mays, heterosis, combining ability, diallel.

TESTING ALUMINIUM PHOSPHIDE IN INDIAN CRESTED PORCUPINE BURROWS AS A PEST MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE IN BANNU, PAKISTAN

Ashrafullah Khan1, Muhammad Mushtaq1, Muhammad Sajid Nadeem1,

Amjad Rashid Kayani1 and Irfan Ahmed2

1Department of Zoology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan,

2Vertebrate Pest Management Programme, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) is widely distributed and a serious mammal pest of trees, agricultural crops, orchards and vegetables in different environments of Pakistan. Trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of aluminium phosphide (phostoxin; 3 g tablets) against Indian crested porcupine, in the field conditions of Bannu district of Pakistan. Results reflected that in case of cropland fumigation trials, two tablets of phostoxin were not effective in reduction of porcupine burrow activity in small sized burrows, while 66.7% reduction could be achieved by applying four tablets. A 100% reduction in burrow activity was recorded in case of medium and large sized burrows, where 6 – 12 tablets were applied. In the non-cropland area, in case of small sized burrows, two tablets of phostoxin could not be effective in reduction of burrow activity, while in case of four tablets, only, 33.4% reduction could be achieved. Similarly, in case of medium and large sized burrows, 6 – 10 tablets were effective in 100% reduction of porcupine burrow activity. It is suggested that aluminum phosphide fumigation is effective in controlling porcupine population in the cropland and non-cropland areas, if the fumigation dose is optimized.

Keywords:  Porcupine control, burrow size, fumigation, cropland, non-cropland.