Ayub Khan

Antimicrobial activities of different solvents extracted samples of Linum usitatissimum by disc diffusion method

-1 ) each of ethyl acetate, n-hexane, butanol and distilled water were used. Analysis of the data revealed that the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited equally by butanol and ethyl acetate extracted samples that is, 56% when tested by disc diffusion method. Similarly, ethyl acetate and butanol extracted samples reduced the growth of Bacillus cereus by 44 and 64% respectively. The data further suggest that Erwinia carotovora was inhibited 42% by ethyl acetate and 65% by butanol extracted samples.

Phyto-accumulation of heavy metals by sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) grown on contaminated soil

This study was carried out at the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan to investigate the phyto-accumulation capacity of heavy metals [lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd)] by two cultivars of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.). The experiment was conducted in pots using completely randomized (CR) design with three replications. Three heavy metals, that is, Pb, Cr and Cd were applied to the pots containing soil before sowing. Statistical analysis of the data recorded eight weeks after sowing revealed that heavy metal and interaction between ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) x cultivar and EDTA x cultivar x heavy metal had a significant (p 0.05) on all the parameters, except heavy metal accumulation. The data revealed that maximum plant height, number of leaves plant -1 , shoot fresh weight and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight was noted in the control pots (0 mg kg -1 heavy metal). The data shown eight weeks after sowing suggested that maximum shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight were noted in pots kept at control with San Sun-33 applied with 5 mM EDTA. Similarly, maximum heavy metal accumulation was recorded in treatment sown with Hisun-33 and applied with 5 mM EDTA and 50 mM chromium. Key words : Phytoaccumulation, heavy metals, sunflower, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Water stress effects on biochemical traits and antioxidant activities of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under In vitro conditions

ABSTRACT Water stress is one of the major environmental stresses that affect agricultural production worldwide, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This research investigated the effect of water deficit, induced by PEG-6000 on wheat genotypes (GA-2002, Chakwal-97, Uqab-2000, Chakwal-50 and Wafaq-2001) grown in modified MS medium solution. Osmotic stress caused a more pronounced inhibition in leaf relative water content and leaf membrane stability more sensitive (index in Wafaq-2001 and Uqab-2000) genotypes compared with the tolerant (Chakwal-50, GA-2002 and Chakwal-97) genotypes. Upon dehydration, an incline in proline, total soluble sugar, total soluble protein, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and malondialdehyde activity content were evident in all genotypes, especially at osmotic stress of −8 bars. The observed data showed that status of biochemical attributes and antioxidant enzymes could provide a meaningful tool for depicting drought tolerance of wheat genotypes. The present study shows that genotypic differences in drought tolerance could be likely attributed to the ability of wheat plants to induce antioxidant defense under drought conditions. In order to develop genotypes with stable, higher yields in dry farming conditions, it is necessary to characterise genetic resources based on drought adaptation, determine suitable genotypes, and then use them in breeding programmes.

Thyroid dyshormonogenesis detected through a modified perchlorate discharge test using a gamma-camera.

ObjectiveTo find an easy tool to detect dyshormonogenesis. MethodsIn this study, the standard perchlorate discharge test was modified by using a &ggr;-camera instead of a &ggr;-probe to detect this rare abnormality. ResultsBy using this technique two cases of dyshormonogenesis were identified. ConclusionThe gamma-camera-based perchlorate discharge test is an easy, reliable, convenient, and feasible procedure where thyroid uptake probe is not available.

Evaluation of Various Sugarcane Genotypes for Association of Quality Characters with Cane Yield

The present investigation was carried out to study the association of quality traits with cane yield to establish an appropriate selection strategy based on quality characters. Sixteen sugarcane genotypes comprising two check cultivars were assessed during 2012-15 using RCB design with three replications. Data were collected on brix (%), polarized sugar (%), purity (%), sugar recovery (%) and cane yield (t ha-1). Analysis of variance exhibited highly significant differences between crops for all parameters except brix (%). Among the genotypes highly significant differences were observed for brix (%), polarized sugar (%) and cane yield (t ha-1). Crops × genotypes revealed highly significant differences for cane yield (t ha-1). Genotypes MS-92-CP-99 (72.92 t ha-1), MS-2000-Ho-360 (72.13 t ha-1), MS-2003-HS-274 (72.04 t ha-1) and MS-91-CP-523(71.58 t ha-1) showed superiority regarding cane yield. Positive phenotypic and genotypic correlations were observed for all the traits with cane yield (t/ha) except purity %. Brix % and polarized sugar % showed highly significant and positive correlation with sugar recovery % at genotypic (0.66**, 0.74**) and phenotypic (0.67**, 0.79**) levels. Brix % showed highly significant correlation with polarized sugar (%) at genotypic (1.00**) and phenotypic (0.95**) level. Path analysis showed that highest positive direct effect on cane yield (t ha-1) is exerted by sugar recovery % at genotypic (0.42) and phenotypic (1.94) level showing its importance in clonal selection program for evolving improved sugarcane genotypes. It is suggested that the quality parameters should be taken in to consideration in clonal selection program for evolving improved sugarcane genotypes. Moreover, the genotypes with high cane yield and sugar recovery should be evaluated further.

The Impact of Treatment of Organic Manures on Future Soil Carbon Sequestration Under Different Tillage Systems in Pakistan

Funds provided by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for carrying out this Ph.D. research work under “Indigenous 5000 Fellowship Program” and “International Research Support Initiative Program” are highly acknowledged.

Effect of morpho-physio chemical plant factors on preference of Lasioderma serricorne (f.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) on four cultivars of tobacco

Callosobmchus maculatus is reported to be the most damaging pest of legume seeds in the tropics and subtropics. In this research work, the biology of this pest was investigated on cowpea seeds in the research laboratory of Biological sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. This experiment began with the eggs laid by each Callosobrnchus maculatus on different cowpea seeds and it continues till the emergence of adults. The results shows that female Callosobrnchus maculatus that are exposed to 20 cowpea seeds (highest cowpea seeds for the experiment) laid the highest eggs per female (an average of 59 eggs) and also produce the highest number of progeny (average of 44 per female) while those exposed to 5 cowpea seeds (lowest for the experiment) laid an average of 52 eggs and produce the lowest number of progeny (average of 22 per female). This shows that eggs of Callosobrnchus maculatus survive best when they have more space for their larvae to survive.Four tobacco cultivars viz. Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Sun-cured Rustica (SCR), Dark Air-cured (DAC) and Air-cured Burley (ACB) were evaluated for preference by larvae and adults of Lasioderma serricorne. Leaf thickness (LT), moisture content (MC), nicotine, total sugars (TS), starch, chlorides and potassium contents were determined and the impact of these factors on beetle preference was worked out. FCV tobacco was highly preferred by both larvae (2.18) and adults (1.49) due to high percentages of MC (12.50), TS (15.84) and starch (6.89). ACB was least preferred due to low contents of MC (11.40%), TS (1.29%) and starch (1.14%). Potassium had negatively significant effect on the beetle’s preference. Regression analyses revealed a positive relationship of larvae and adults with MC (0.780, 0.803) TS (0.866, 0.713) and starch (0.888, 0.765) while a negative relationship with potassium (-0.684, -0.407). LT (0.155, 0.101) nicotine (-0.047, -0.277) and chlorides (0.163, 0.305) had non-significant association with preference by both larvae and adults respectively. The relationship between MC, TS and starch is direct curvilinear as their increase had encouraged the population of L. serricorne.The experiments were conducted during 2009-011 seasons in Gedarif Research Station laboratory, Agricultural Research Corporation. To study biology and webbing (spinning) behaviour of sesame webworm, A. catalaunalis Dup. under laboratory conditions during the period of September to November 2006. Eggs incubation period was 2.45 days, while larval period lasted for 10.2± 1.05 days, completing five larval instars. The pupation occurred both inside the webbed leaves and the in the soil, and the average pupal period was 4.9±0.21 days. The average adults longevity was 6.18± 0.2 days. The webbing behaviour revealed that the area of the leaves greatly influenced the webbing process. The larger area of the leaves, the greater number of stitches made and the longer time taken for completing the webbing. The larva changed the position while webbing, if the leaf area was large. Smaller leaves were webbed quickly, even if the length of the larvae was short.I greatly contributes to the global malaria incidence. The existence of various vector species, congenial environment for the propagation of both; vector and the parasite, the malaria susceptible human host all make India the best opportune hotspot for persisting malaria disease. In Southeast Asian malaria incidences; contribution of India is about 60%. In India two major human malaria parasites P.falciparum and P.vivax are widely distributed. P.vivax causes the most widespread malaria in the country with equal frequency as P.falciparum and is the reason for high morbidity in its host. The disease severity of P.vivax is the emerging scenario in the country. Severe and fatal vivax malaria is an emerging recognized entity challenging the perception of P.vivax as benign disease making it pertinent to understand the emergence of severe vivax malaria. The chronicity of the malaria disease is attributed to the variant surface antigens (VSAs) encoded by the multigene families of Plasmodium. P. vivax genome also contains a multigene superfamily vir (variant interspersed repeats), present in the subtelomeric region which might have a possible role in immune evasion like the var gene in P. falciparum. From five different epidemiological regions of the country 148 blood samples were collected to study the existing diversity of vir genes in natural infections. Sequence analysis of vir genes in field isolates showed immense diversity between them and also revealed the presence of synonymous and non-synonymous mutations in amino acid sequences. The results indicate that vir genes in different P. vivax populations in India are highly divergent both within and between isolates. By taking the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) into consideration, basic population genetic structure was deduced. Minimum Evolution phylogenetic analysis was used to conclude that there was a random distribution of samples which was not region specific. Detailed knowledge of the genetic variation among the vir genes will help in understanding the evolutionary aspects of vir genes and may also provide tools with which to design an effective vaccine. This is the first population based study from India of P. vivax vir genes, hypothesized to have a possible functional role in malaria pathogenesis. Vineeta Singh, Entomol Ornithol Herpetol 2013, 2:2 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0983.S1.004T addition of moringa, rice bran filtrates (1%) to the nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliMNPV) of the cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Bosid.) provided almost complete protection to the PIB’s following exposure to artificial UV irradiation (30 min) in laboratory test. This work focuses on testing inexpensive additives that may sustain effectiveness of virus biocontrol agent, green tea filtrates and cacao were used as comparative additives. Polyhedra inclusion bodies were mixed with these plant extracts at (1%, 5% and 10%) concentrations exposed to artificial UV in two steps as a thin films in Petri dishes. The different treatments of NPV suspension were bioassayed using neonate healthy larvae. The concentration of 1% of Moringa additive preserved the activity of polyhedral inclusion bodies after UV-exposure resulting in 93.25% mortality of larvae and it was 91.69 %, 90.51 %and 66.42 %for rice bran, cacao and green tea respectively while it was the lowest (15.04 %) with virus alone treatments (positive control) 5 hr post application, similar trend was recorded in the second step using the 5, 10 % concentrations 5hr post application. The mixtures of baculovirus PIB’s and additives were measured with spectrophotometer under 400 nm length before and 10 hr post application. The suspension absorbance at 400nm showed narrow differences with moringa followed by cacco, rice bran and green tea respectively. These findings indicate that theses plant extracts could be promising UV protective additives for SpliNPV and they should be further investigated in the field large scale to obtain the best formulation for the control of agriculture important insect pest. A. El-Helaly, Entomol Ornithol Herpetol 2013, 2:2 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0983.S1.004