Rashad Qadri

Study of Efficacy of Various Split Applications of Inorganic Nitrogen on Potato Crop

Series of experiments have been conducted to find the optimized dose and efficacy of nitrogen to fulfill the requirements of plant at each level by making split doses. Being most important macro nutrient, afield trial was conducted to study the effect of without applying nitrogen (control) single nitrogen (N) application at planting time on yield and nitrogen uptake of potato in comparison to various split applications. Data were collected about plants vegetative growth, total yield and qualitative factors (TSS, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and protein percentage in tuber). Experimental design used was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having seven treatments with three replications. Data were analyzed by using standard statistical techniques. Overall, qualitative characters of tubers and yield enhanced with split nitrogen application as compared to all nitrogen applied once at planting time whereas, there was no significant difference between tuber nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and protein contents.

Breeding of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera L.): The Tree of Life

Coconut ( Cocos nucifera L.) is a continuous fruiting perennial tropical fruit and oil crop that is mainly cultivated in the humid and sub-humid coastal tropics. It is a perennial multipurpose palm with great importance in sustaining the life of the people who grow them for various economical uses. As coconut is known as the tree of life, efforts have been made to sustain its production to fulfill the demands of the people. In this regard, coconut genetic resources have been widely exploited through selection, hybridization for a number of desirable traits that resulted in the development of many productive varieties. With increasing demand from the coconut sector, particularly the nontraditional coconut products, it is indeed crucial to identify and screen the potential varieties. However, due to the biological nature of the coconut, the traditional way of breeding might not be feasible; therefore, molecular-aided breeding can be the best alternative. Molecular-aided breeding can play an important role in future coconut breeding programs with the advancements in biotechnology. The strategies suggested for future breeding programs, include development of new high yielding, stress tolerant and disease resistant varieties with the benefits of providing high value-added products, like inflorescence sap or high oil content, and varieties with slow vertical growth. With the availability whole genomic sequences of coconut more opportunities exist for the development of molecular markers, thus encouraging the use of molecular-aided breeding in future coconut breeding programs.

Reduced metabolites of nitroaromatics are distributed in the environment via the food chain

Increased industrial processes have introduced emerging toxic pollutants into the environment. Phytoremediation is considered to be a very useful, economical and ecofriendly way of controlling these pollutants, however, certain pollutants can potentially travel through the food chain and accumulate at hazardous levels. Four isomers of dinitrotoluenes (DNT) were investigated and observed their potential toxicity towards A. thaliana. Two different aphid species (generalist and specialist) were allowed to feed on plants treated with DNTs and toxicity to aphids determined. Reduced metabolites of DNT (in both plant and aphids) were recovered and quantified through GC-MS analyses. 2,6-DNT was observed to be the toxic of the DNTs tested. Complete metabolism of DNTs to their reduced products was never achieved for higher concentrations. Regioselectivity was observed in the case of 2,4-DNT, with 4A2NT as the dominant isomer. Feeding aphids showed a similar toxicity pattern for DNT isomers as host plants. Metabolites were recovered from the body of aphids, demonstrating the potential transport of metabolites through the food chain. Plants show varied toxicity responses towards the DNT isomers. Aphids fed on A. thaliana plants treated with DNTs were shown to have ANTs present, which reflects the propagation of DNT metabolites through the food chain.

Reduction of reactive red 241 by oxygen insensitive azoreductase purified from a novel strain Staphylococcus KU898286

An oxygen insensitive azoreductase was purified from a novel bacterial strain (Staphylococcus sp. KU898286) that was isolated from an abandoned site of the textile waste discharge unit. The isolated enzyme had efficiently cleaved the azo-bonds through reductive transformation under aerobic conditions. Initial phenotypic characterization and final construction of phylogenetic tree on the basis of 16s rDNA demonstrated 99% resemblance of the isolate to Staphylococcus aureus. The purified azoreductase was found to have a broad spectrum activity that reduced RR241 at a concentration of 50mg/L with pH between 6–8 and 30°C temperature). Besides, the reactive red 241 (RR241) was reduced at extracellular level as well as NADH dependent intracellular level. Complete reduction/ decolourization of RR241 were achieved after 18 hrs of exposure. The final degradation product observed to be 2-nephthol was purified by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the molecular mass was computed by Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The study revealed a cost effective and eco-friendly approach to degrade the toxic dyes into less toxic products by Staphylococcus sp. KU898286.

Clonal multiplication of guava (Psidium guajava) through soft wood cuttings using IBA under low-plastic tunnel

The present investigation on clonal multiplication of guava (Psidium guajava L.) soft wood cuttings was done with the aim to determine the most successful media and rooting hormone (IBA) concentration. Guava soft wood cuttings were treated with 0, 200, 400 and 600 mg kg -1 IBA solution when planted in three different rooting media (sand, silt and top soil) under low-plastic tunnel. The cuttings were allowed to grow under low-plastic tunnel for 90 day to evaluate the rooting capability and shooting competency. The study showed that the species has a great potential for clonal multiplication through soft wood cuttings. The highest number of roots and root length were observed in the cutting treated with 400 mg kg -1 IBA solution in sand, and the lowest in the cuttings without IBA treatment in sand media. In general 400 mg kg -1 IBA treatment with silt as rooting media performed better as compared to the other treatments. However, the highest survival percentage (50%) was observed in the cuttings rooted in silt media and treated with 200 mg kg -1 IBA solution. Experimental results showed the potential of clonal propagation of guava through soft wood cuttings treated with auxin under simpler and cheaper low-plastic tunnel.

Impact of climate change vulnerabilities on horticultral produciton

Climate change is one of the most leading environmental problems which is facing the modern world, and directly or ultimately to human action that changes the arrangement of the global atmosphere. Emission of increasing amount of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide are responsible for generating changes to global climate. These changes are responsible for rise in sea level, rainfall sequences and movement of climatic regions due to increased temperatures [1,2]. With the rapid development in the industrialization, increasing level of carbon dioxide from 280 ppm to 380 ppm due to deforestation and substantial use of fossil fuels [3]. It has been projected that to the end of this century CO2 will top 700 ppm or more, whereas global temperature will increase by 1.8 to 4.0°C with an overall average increase of 2.8°C in temperature [4]. The global warming affected plant vigor, fruit bearing ability, decrease in size of fruits, low colour development, less juice content, decrease shelf-life, and increased pests attack resulting in poor quality and low production in apple crop [5].