Mohammad Shafi

Effect of different solvent extracted sample of Allium sativum (Linn) on bacteria and fungi

-1 ) of each extract were subjected for preliminary antibacterial screening against seven pathogenic bacteria by Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion method. The result of in vitro antibacterial screening showed that 6 extracts from garlic had different ranges of antibacterial activities. When garlic extracts were studied for their antibacterial potential against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, the butanol extracted samples showed the highest inhibitory effect against B. cereus (76% ZI at 2 mg disc -1 concentration). Water extracted samples indicated a good range of inhibitory effect against Salmonella typhi (73% ZI at 2 mg disc -1 ) and butanol extracted sample showed highest activity against Erwinia carotovora (75% ZI). The data also showed that of petroleum ether, methanol and water did not show any inhibitory effect against the tested microbes.

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.

GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCE IN THE INHIBITION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE BY SALINITY AND CADMIUM STRESSES IN WHEAT

The effects of salinity (0, 75, 150 mM) and cadmium (Cd) (0, 2, 4 μM) stresses on biomass (dry matter), photosynthesis, and fluorescence parameters were studied in hydroponically-grown wheat genotypes (‘Bakhtawar-92’, ‘Pir Sabak-85’ and ‘Khyber-87’). Cadmium and sodium chloride (NaCl) alone significantly reduced dry matter weight of both shoots and roots, and the combined stress of NaCl + Cd resulted in more reduction of dry matter weight in comparison with that caused by Cd or NaCl stress alone. The addition of Cd and NaCl in the growth medium caused the significant reduction in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), fluorescence efficiency (Fv/Fm) and stomata conductance (Gs), and the significant increase in intercellular carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. The results also showed that the inhibition of photosynthetic and fluorescence efficiency under salinity or cadmium stress differed among the three wheat genotypes, with ‘Bakhtawar-92’ having greater capacity of acclimation to both stresses than the other two genotypes.

INTEGRATED EFFECT OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC NITROGEN SOURCES ON SOIL FERTILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE

The present study was designed to assess the effect of organic materials, i.e., farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and sugar cane filter cake (FC) along with mineral nitrogen on yield and soil organic fertility. Our results indicated that among sole nitrogen (N) sources, highest grain yield was recorded from poultry manure. In the case of integrated N sources, maximum grain yield was obtained from 25% poultry manure + 75% mineral N source. Grain ear−1 and 1000 grain weight was highest with the application of poultry manure among sole N sources. Highest grain ear−1 and 1000 grain weight was observed from 25% poultry manure + 75% mineral N source. Application of poultry manure as sole N sources resulted maximum increase in soil total N and organic matter when compared with other sole N sources. Among N sources applied in different proportion, maximum total soil N was recorded from 25% poultry manure + 75% mineral N. We concluded from these experiments that integrated application of N sources in different proportion greatly improves the N economy and enhance crop productivity in low N soils.

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).

Effect of lead (Pb) on antioxidation system and accumulation ability of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens)

The antioxidation system and accumulation ability of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), which is a valuable remediation material with large biomass and rapid growth rate were studied in hydroponics and pot experiments. In hydroponics experiment, TBARS concentrations and SOD activities decreased with increase of Pb treatments. The activities of POD boost up with elevated Pb treatments, and reached peak level with application of 400μM Pb. Proline concentrations reduced with application of 20μM Pb and then enhanced consistently with application of 100 and 400μM Pb. The biomass of Moso bamboo improved with increase of Pb treatments upto 400mgkg-1, and then decreased with application of each additional increment of Pb in pot experiment. Application of 800mgkg-1 Pb showed significant increase of photosynthetic pigments, however, non significant variation was observed for other treatments. The Pb concentration in roots, stems and leaves attained 523mgkg-1, 303mgkg-1 and 222mgkg-1 respectively with application of 1600mgkg-1 Pb compared with control. Analysis of TEM-EDX revealed that Pb in cell was mostly concentrated in cytoplasm then in cell wall and followed by vacuole. It is concluded that Moso bamboo may be potential remediation species for phytoremediation in low Pb contaminated soils.

Age and growth of barbus grypus heckel from a polluted river

Abstract The present study was undertaken to determine the age, growth and condition of Barbus grypus in a polluted river. The oldest fish was 12 years old. The length and weight of the fish in each age group was much lower in comparison with lengths and weights of the species for similar age groups in other Iraqi waters. A nearly isometric relationship was observed between the lengths and weights of the fish. K-values in relation to lengths and months were higher than the values observed in other Iraqi waters. Fork length-scale radius showed an isometric relationship. The growth pattern could not be described by the von Bertalanfly growth equation. From the Watford plot it could be seen that the mean values for age run more or less parallel to the 45° line, showing an unusual growth pattern. Thus comparatively very poor growth was possibly due to the effect of pollution.

Effect of salinity and seed priming on growth and biochemical parameters of different barely genotypes

An experiment was conducted to investigate the interactive effect of salinity and seed priming on barely genotypes at the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications consisting of twelve barely genotypes (Haider-93, Soorab-96, Arabic Asward, NRB-37, Frontier-87, Jau-83, Balochistan-Local, NRB-31, KPK-Local, Sanober-96, Awarn-2002 and AZ-2006) at two seed conditions (seed priming with 30 mM NaCl or no seed priming) under four salinity levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM). The results revealed that seed priming and salinity had significantly (p≤0.05) affected all the parameters under study. However, the effect of seed priming was non significant (p>0.05) on shoot chlorophyll a content (mg g -1 fresh weight) and root sugar content (mg g -1 dry weight). Salinity stress had adversely affected growth and biochemical parameters of barley genotypes, however, seed priming with NaCl had diminished the negative impact of salt stress. Maximum shoot dry weight plant -1 (1.81 g), root dry weight plant -1 (0.42 g), shoot K + content (1.41 mg g -1 dry weight), root sugar content (7.55 mg g -1 dry weight) were recorded in Balochistan-Local. Similarly, Haider-93 produced highest root K + content (0.67 mg g -1 dry weight), shoot sugar content (16.36 mg g -1 dry weight), shoot chlorophyll a content (3.44 mg g -1 fresh weight) and shoot chlorophyll b content (1.78 mg g -1 fresh weight). Maximum shoot Na + content (1.20 mg g -1 ) and root Na + content (1.47 mg g -1 ) was recorded in Frontier-87. Seed priming had significantly (P<0.05) enhanced all the aforementioned parameters. The positive effect of seed priming was more profound in Balochistan-Local followed by Haider-93 as compared to other genotypes. Key words : Barely, salinity, seed priming, Na + , K + , chlorophyll a and b.

Effect of amendments on contaminated soil of multiple heavy metals and accumulation of heavy metals in plants

The contamination of soil with heavy metals is a severe problem due to adverse impact of heavy metals on environmental safety and human health. It is essential to remediate soil contaminated with heavy metals. This study has evaluated the effects of pine biochar, kaolin, and triple super phosphate (TSP) on multiple heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd) in contaminated soil and accumulation of heavy metals in plants. The amendments can reduce availability of heavy metals in soil by increasing pH, adsorption, complexation, or co-precipitation. Different amendments have variable effects on accumulation of heavy metals in plants and in soil due to its diverse mechanism of stability. The results showed that application of triple super phosphate (TSP) has significant reduced soil Cd exchangeable (EXC) fraction from 58.59 to 21.30%. Bound to carbonates (CAR) fraction decreased from 9.84 to 5.11%, and bound to Fe-Mn oxides (OX) fraction increased from 29.61 to 69.86%. The triple super phosphate (TSP) has the ability to stabilize Cu and especially Cd. However, triple super phosphate (TSP) has enhanced ecological risk of Zn and Ni. Application of pine biochar has significantly enhanced soil pH. The kaolin has significantly reduced EXC fraction of Cd and increased OX fraction of Cu. The amendments and heavy metals have not caused significant effect on SPAD value of Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc (B. microphylla). The triple super phosphate (TSP) has significant decreased biomass of B. microphylla and bamboo-williow (Salix sp.) by 24.91 and 57.43%, respectively. Pine biochar and kaolin have increased the accumulation of Zn and Cd in plants. It is concluded that triple super phosphate (TSP) was effective in remediation of Cd and kaolin was effective in remediation of Cd and Cu. Pine biochar was effective in remediation of Cd, Cu, and Zn.