Journal of Agriculture and Biology aims to be a leading platform for disseminating cutting-edge research in agriculture and biology, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and advancing sustainable development. Its scope includes a wide array of topics, such as crop science, agronomy, soil science, genetics, microbiology, ecology, and biodiversity. By promoting scholarly excellence and inclusivity, the journal seeks to address contemporary challenges in agriculture and biology, including climate change adaptation, pest management, and biodiversity conservation. Through original research articles, reviews, and perspectives, it endeavors to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in these fields, with a particular emphasis on the intersection between agriculture and biology and its implications for food security, environmental sustainability, and human health.
Parasitism Potential of Egg Parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis against Spodoptera frugiperda on Maize
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is highly destructive polyphagous and invasive insect pest of maize, causing considerable yield losses and is becoming increasingly difficult to manage due to over-reliance on chemical insecticides and the development of resistance. Egg parasitoids such as Trichogramma chilonis offer a promising approach for the biological control of this pest through sustainable integrated pest management (IPM). Although Trichogramma spp. are recognized as effective parasitoids of lepidopteran pests, there is limited local data on their efficacy, host preference, age-specific performance, and field application of T. chilonis against S. frugiperda on maize under Pakistani conditions. In this study, both laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of T. chilonis against FAW. Laboratory tests assessed parasitism and emergence at different of FAW eggs (20-100 eggs), host preference between S. frugiperda and Sitotroga cerealella, the effect of parasitoid female age (24 h vs. 48 h), and the influence of host egg age. Field trials compared different frequencies and numbers of Trichogramma card applications in maize plots. Results indicated that parasitism rates increased with egg density with a maximum parasitism of 46.1 observed at 100 eggs per female. T. chilonis exhibited a preference for S. cerealella eggs over FAW eggs and demonstrated higher parasitism on fresh FAW eggs compared to older eggs, while 48-hour-old female parasitoids outperformed 24-hour-old females. In field trials, deploying two Trichogramma cards per week resulted in the greatest reduction in FAW larval populations and the least amount of plant damage. These findings highlight that T. chilonis is a promising biocontrol agent against FAW and can be effectively integrated into IPM programs through frequent releases of Trichogramma cards.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ishtiaq, Shoaib Jahangir, Umer Sharif, Umair Faheem, Muhammad Rafiq Shahid, Naeem Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Influence of Cotton Plant Density on Insect Pest Phenology under Changing Climate Scenario
Agriculture significantly contributes to Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan is the world’s fifth-largest producer of cotton, after China, United States, Brazil and India. Cotton consumption has risen in response to a significant increase in global population. However, Pakistan’s cotton production is declining due to changing environmental conditions, pest outbreaks, insecticide resistance and pest resurgence. To improve cotton cultivation and productivity, a study was conducted at Cotton Research Institute, Multan, to assess the response of different insect pests to varying planting densities. Data on the populations of whitefly, thrips, jassid, dusky cotton bugs, dusky cotton bugs and pink bollworm were recorded weekly across different plant spacings. Additionally, population of natural enemies and meteorological data were also recorded throughout the cotton growing season at these densities. Compact type cotton variety was sown using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments (T1-T5), each corresponding to different plant spacings of 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 inches, respectively; each treatment was replicated three times. The results revealed that the population of whitefly, jassid, thrips, and dusky cotton bug differed significantly across the plant densities. The highest populations of these sucking insect pests (whitefly 5.87, jassid 2.34, thrips 1.98 and dusky cotton bug 3.86) were observed in T1 (plant spacing = 6 inches), whereas the lowest populations (whitefly 4.02, jassid 0.11, thrips 1.14 and dusky cotton bug 2.90) were recorded in T5 (plant spacing = 18 inches). Pink bollworm populations did not differ significantly among treatments. The population of ants, green lacewings, lady bird beetles, and spiders differed significantly among treatments, while population of these Geocoris and Orius bugs did not show significant difference at any plant density. In T1, the populations these beneficial insects were highest, whereas they were lowest T5. These results suggest that planting cotton at a 6-inche spacing could enhance production and minimize pest population through increased activity of natural enemies. This study may also be helpful in integrated pest management (IPM) for the control of pest population.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ishtiaq, Muhammad Sohail Qamar Zaman, Ghulam Ali, Umer Sharif, Mirza Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Rafiq Shahid (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Jaggery based spray as a potential tool in improving natural enemies on maize against Spodoptera frugiperda
Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a significant pest of maize in Asia and Africa. The excessive use of synthetic insecticides causes concerns of resistance, environmental pollution and reduction of natural enemies. New mechanisms that have potential to be effective include conservation biological control approaches that improve the activity of predators and parasitoids. This research determined the impacts of sugar sprays using jaggery in the abundance of arthropod predators and pests, such as S. frugiperda, in maize fields in Pakistan (Multan) across two agricultural seasons (autumn and spring). Four treatments (Prototype treatment) of full-dose of jaggery spray (17 kg ha-1), half-dose of jaggery spray (8.5 kg ha-1), water spray and an untreated control were done in a replicated field setup. Before and after the weekly applications, the predator and pests of arthropods were measured through standardized plant-based sampling and the maize damage against the S. frugiperda predator was measured with the use of the Davis leaf damage scale. Plots that had been treated with jaggery had always greater abundances of generalist predators; specifically, ants, spiders, rove beetles, and ladybird beetles than did water-sprayed and untreated plots. These results show that jaggery-based sugar sprays have the capacity to stimulate predator activity in maize agroecosystems but they do not give conclusive results on the efficiency to suppress the population of S. frugiperda when applied individually. Sugar sprays can therefore be useful in conservation biological control as an additional technique in integrated pest management initiative, and not as an isolated control mechanism.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ishtiaq, Saif Ullah, Ghulam Ali, Umer Sharif, Mirza Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Asif Farooq, Muhammad Ashfaq, Muhammad Akbar Zafar Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of Growth and Productivity of Zinnia (Zinnia Elegans) Against Exogenous Application of NPK and Boron
Study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients (boron) on the growth and flowering of “Zinnia elegans” cv. Zinnia Binary’s Giant under the subtropical climate of Lahore. The study was comprised ten treatments with four replications, including a control with different combination of boron and NPK applications. Seeds of “Zinnia Benary’s Giant” were sown in germination tray having substrate of leaf manure, sand, and silt, and transplanted into 12-inch earthen pots at the age of 20 days. Foliar applications of nutrients were started 25 days after transplanting. Data regarding following parameters were recorded such as days to flowering, fresh and dry weight of plant and flower, plant height, root length, flower diameter, leaf area and chlorophyll content, proline content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and total phenolics using standardized measurement techniques. After statistical analysis, results indicated that 50 ppm boron significantly reduced the time to flower opening to 55.75 days, while NPK applications generally delayed flowering. The optimal combination of 50 ppm boron and 2g NPK resulted in maximum, plant fresh weight (32.4 g), and dry weight (7.575 g), root length (33.325 cm), shoot length (57 cm) than control showed smallest shoot length (22.125cm), root length (10.125cm), pant fresh weight (13.175g) and dry weight (2.7g). Flower diameter peaked at 8.5225 cm with this treatment. Notably, chlorophyll content reached 5.002 mg/g FW, while peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and activities, indicators of plant stress response, were highest with the combined nutrient application. In contrast, higher boron concentrations (100 ppm) suppressed growth and enzyme activity. Generally, the outcomes suggest that the synergistic application of 50 ppm boron and 2g NPK significantly enhances the growth and flowering of “Zinnia elegans”, emphasizing importance of optimal nutrient management in improving floral crop production in Pakistan's burgeoning floriculture sector.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aimen Shafqat, Muhammad Shafiq, Sumreen Anjum, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Ashraf, Muhammad Taqqi Abbas (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of ESBL Bacteria in the Human Population
Growing occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans has become an intense global concern. Dissemination of extended-spectrum beta- lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli across the geographic boundaries is causing a grave challenge to the efficacy of antimicrobial agents. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the mechanism of antibiotic resistance patterns prevailing in human interface and the need to employ one health approach to counter these alarming trends. Our objective was to inspect the MDR (Multi Drug Resistant) Enterobacter isolates for specific ESBL producing genes (CTX-M, SHV, TEM and OXA) and elicit the resistance profiling of Enterobacteriaceae family using conventional PCR. The study also intended to establish a One Health link in the dissemination and incidence patterns of ESBL bacteria. Bacterial strains were isolated by employing Gene JET Gel genomic kit. After isolation of bacterial DNA and gel electrophoresis clear DNA bands in the 1% agarose gel were obtained. Out of 100 isolates, 31 (31%) isolates were ESBL producers showing a greater degree of resistance to antibiotics. Its prevalence is not common in humans. Highest level of resistance was found in Amoxicillin followed by Ceftriaxone. Elements of resistance were also found in TZP, NIT and CTX in varying degrees. The resistance pattern in the samples taken from human were almost the same with minute differences. This indicates that a common resistance mechanism is operating across these different sources, while also highlighting multiple pathways through which humans are exposed to resistant bacteria and their associated resistance genes. Future work in this area will need enhanced statistical capabilities and multiple samples from humans. Techniques of molecular biology like meta-genomic analysis of entire DNA, and bioinformatics analytical tools have the potential to replace current techniques.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zahra Raza, Naeem Ali, Shaukat Ali, Muhammad Naeem Raza, Ayesha Azad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Molecular docking-based virtual screening of harmaline, ephedrine, and artemisinin against 4 major breast cancer proteins EGFR, MTOR, PR and ER
Breast cancer is the second deadliest disease around the globe. It affects 1.38 million women annually and responsible for approximately 14% of cancer deaths. The inquisition for superlative solution is crucial demand for researchers and community. Synthetic drugs with more side effects are nowadays dominated by natural products mainly plants-based medicine. The present review cum research summarizes the plants used against breast cancer, invitro, invivo studies and docking of three important medicinal plants against four major breast cancer proteins. About 87 plants (belonging to 34 families) were found to be used by tribal communities of the world to beat breast cancer. Fabaceae, Zingiberaceae and Asteraceae were represented by highest number of plants. While Abrus precatorius L., Curcuma longa L., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, Strobilanthes crispus, Brassica oleraceae, Mangifera pajang Kosterm., Labisia pumila Blume. and Artocarpus altilis Parkinson were highly cited plants. Many of these plants are under examination for invitro, invivo as well as bioinformatics studies to design a better drug. The plants-based chemicals harmaline, ephedrine and artemisin were first time docked against mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and Progestrone receptor (PR). PyRx and discovery studio visualiser were used for docking studies and analysis. All three studied natural compounds exhibited drug likeness properties according to Lipniski’s Rule and expressed very good binding affinities with active sites of studied breast cancer proteins. They may be studied under multitargeted drugs investigation against different breast cancer proteins. Currently only few valuable natural drugs like taxnes, paclitaxel, tamoxifen and rapamycin are available in the market but still not enough effective to combat breast cancer, so this area of research is highly demanding for its impact on the precious lives. Further these types of natural compound need to be optimized for producing potential drugs against breast cancer as they have minimum or no side effects in contrast to synthetic compounds.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sadia Bibi, Wajia Noor, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Aroosa Habib, Iqra Qayyum, Ayesha Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Virtual Exploration and Annotation of EPAD1 gene in Poaceae
Pollen grain is enclosed in the multi layered cell wall, combating chemical, physical and other stress conditions. The wall sculpturing of the pollen imparts substantial taxonomical evidence for the classification. This characteristic configuration is comprised by the accumulation of sporopollenin on the template primexine. Recently identified EPAD1 (Pollen Exine Pattern Designer) gene discovered to be responsible for the ornamentation of pollen wall. This research is aimed at the investigation of EPAD1 gene, confirmation of EPAD1 role in pollen wall sculpturing through virtual screening. EPAD1 gene homologs are determined in Poaceae, along with gene annotation, protein virtual modelling, conservation analysis, phylogenetic investigation and functional hits observation, manipulating BLAST, QuickGo, ChimeraX, Weblogo, MUSCLE and ExPasy-PROSITE respectively. Twenty-six homologs are investigated with highest identity 93% and query coverage 63% in Oryza meyeriana. EPAD1 annotation revealed that it performs in the pollen wall assembly, development, external encapsulating structure, gametophyte development, anatomical structures and morphogenesis. Orn/DAP/Arg decarboxylases family 2 structure 2 and twin arginine translocation (Tat) signals profile hits are observed on predicted homologs of Poaceae. The determined hits on EPAD1 functional analysis confirmed its inclusion in designing pollen morphology. The amino acids in the selected query coverage expressed high conservation for EPAD1 among grasses. Similarly, the phylogenetic evaluation represented the comparative relation and evolutionary patterns among the homolog species at genus level. Divergent species of the same genus Triticum, Oryza, Panicum and Setaria conjoint the corresponding note in phylogeny with the other species of similar genus. Briefly gene for pollen exine designing requisite to be investigated in other plant families, as it was discovered to be family specific. These outcomes will accelerate exploration of exine ornamentation and comparative plant families essay, based on the pollen exine designer gene.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sadia Bibi, Wajia Noor, Safia Gul, Nida Jamshid, Sadia Jabbar, Mushtaq Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of Cilantro in Relation to Nutrients (Iron and Zinc) Application
Human beings face various disorders due to dietary nutrient imbalance Hidden hunger appeared as a prominent issue in least developed nations and is responsible for affecting over three billion lives across the globe. Mineral supplementation and fortification of vegetable crops can address the issue of inadequate nutrition availability. Current study was focused on assessing the nutritional profile of vegetables after supplementation of iron and zinc. Seed of coriander (cilantro) was were directly sown in the trays (2 inches deep). A total of eighteen treatment units were established, comprising nutrient treatments (Fe and Zn) as well as a control. Three concentrations of each nutrient, applied as foliar as basal method, triplicated were evaluated. The young plants was analyzed for different attributes like physical and biochemical indices (Total soluble solids, Vitamin C, acidity, carotenoids, chlorophyll contents, lipophilic antioxidants (LPA), starch contents, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic contents. The results indicated that supplementation of 200ppm Zn and Fe @ 1.5mM concentration is optimal for maintaining the normal growth of plants. Thus, it could be proposed that the growth of cilantro under 200ppm Zn, and Fe @1.5mM increased the intake of these nutrients and other beneficial compounds for human health
Copyright (c) 2025 Tahira Abbas, Khadija Altaf, Waqas Ahmad, Madiha Butt, Niaz Ahmed Wahocho, Muzamil Farooq Jamali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biofortification of Cilantro (Corriandrum sativum) in Relation to Calcium, Iodine and Selenium Application
Micronutrients and macronutrients are the key elements of a healthy diet. The micronutrient iodine and selenium are essential trace elements which are mostly obtained by food or supplements and Calcium is the 5th most abundant macro element important for proper functioning of body. The purpose of this research focused to identify the appropriate the dose and application way of these mineral elements for improving the nutrient status of vegetables for improving the human diet. Certified seeds of cilantro were obtained from an authorized nursery and sown in trays at the depth of 2 inches. The study consisted of four treatment conditions; iodine, selenium, calcium and control treatment. Three replications of each treatment were planned, comprised of one tray. The harvested produce was evaluated for different morphological (plant fresh and dry weight, shoot and root length, number of leave and leaf diameter), biochemical parameters (Total soluble solids, Vitamin c, acidity, carotenoids, chlorophyll contents, lipophilic antioxidant(LPA), starch contents, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic contents) and ionic contents (I, Se and calcium). The results demonstrated that supplementation with iodine @2.5mg/L, selenium @1mg/L and Calcium @200ppm were optimal doses for maintaining the plant health and increased the accumulation in edible parts of cilantro plants. Iodine application @2.5mg reached maximum 205.76µg in foliar parts and 254.43µg in roots while selenium @1mg concentrations reached 230µg and 220mg in foliar and basal plant parts. However, highest calcium contents were quantified in Ca @200ppm concentration. These levels are sufficient to meet the world health organization’s daily recommended doses of I, Se and Ca.
Toxicity analysis of three different essential (clove, taramira & neem oil) against sugarcane black bug (Cavelerius excavatus)
Sugarcane is a significant industrial cash crop that accounts for almost 80% of the world's sugar production, sugarcane is also very important economically in Pakistan. Sugarcane black bug is one of the sucking pest of sugarcane crop and creating significant yield and quality losses. Although conventional chemical pesticides are effective, their misuse contamination endanger human health, soil biology, and the environment. Naturally derived biopesticides offer a safer and more sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy of neem, clove, and taramira oils against sugarcane black bug nymphs using a leaf-dip bioassay. Numbers of dead individuals were recorded daily till seven days. The findings demonstrated that clove oil had the best and fastest insecticidal effect, resulting in 93.3% death after 24 hours at 4 ppm and attaining total mortality within 48 hours, despite continuously low LC50 values. Neem oil showed mild but long-lasting effects, but taramira oil acted more slowly and took longer to reach full efficacy. While neem and taramira oils would be better suited for long-term or preventative management strategies, clove oil ultimately showed the most potential for rapid insect control.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Tayyab Abbas, Muhammad Zeeshan khalid, Huzaifa Nauman, Rashid Azad, Farman Ali, Arjad Hussain, Muhammad Naeem, Nabeel Shafiq, Muhammad Faizan, Shah Zaib Noor, Muhammad Zahid Aziz Ul Ghaffar, Rabia Saeed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Constituents and Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Oil of Jasminum grandiflorum (Leaf) from Pakistan
In this study, volatile composition and antibacterial activity of leaf of Jasminum grandiflorum were reported. The extraction was carried out by microwave that yielded 0.27% of oil. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis led to the identification of 16 constituents where the most dominating compounds were: benzaldehyde (18.33%), caproic acid (5.70%), p-vinylguaiacol (5.58%), p-Ment-8-en-3-one (2.92%), and eugenol (2.59%)<!-- [if supportFields]><![endif]-->(Mills, 2000 #265)<!-- [if supportFields]><![endif]-->. The antibacterial potentiality test was performed with the agar well diffusion method that revealed a considerable inhibition at 15.5 mg against Acinetobacter baumannii (12 mm), Escherichia coli (17 mm) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcous aureus (24 mm). The antimicrobial potential may be attributed to the occurrence of bioactive components such as benzaldehyde, jasmine, eugenol etc. that have established significance for pharmacological purposes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sana Siddique, Pakeeza, Aqsa Aamir, Azeem Intisar, Ahsan Sharif, Ejaz Ahmed, Zeeshan Mutahir, Shahbaz Ahmad, Muhammad Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Antifungal Assessment of Chemical and Biological Control Agents Against Major Seed-Borne Pathogens of Sesame
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oilseed crop renowned for its nutritional, economic, and medicinal significance, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The aim of this research is to investigate the seed-borne fungal pathogens associated with sesame and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The pathogens associated with the seeds were isolated by placing the infected seeds on the potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. The most frequent pathogens associated with seeds were Aspergillus niger and Curvularia lunata. These pathogens were later purified by using the hyphal tip and single-spore purification technique. Seed-associated pathogens were managed in vitro and in vivo with the help of chemical fungicides and bacterial BCAs. Statistical analyses were conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA), a completely randomized design (CRD), and a randomized completely blocked design (RCBD). Under in vitro conditions, Amistar Top (Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole) at 150 ppm proved efficient against C. lunata inhibited their growth up to 85% and Hombre (Imidacloprid + Tebuconazole) at 150 ppm against A. niger showed significant result up to 86% respectively. Agrobacterium fabrum showed significant antagonistic activity against both C. lunata and A. niger, Inhibited their growth up to 82% and 67% respectively. Under in vivo conditions, variety TH-6 was treated with most effective treatments identified in laboratory experiments. Amistar Top and Hombre, applied at 150 ppm under field conditions, resulted in 30% disease incidence against C. lunata and 32% against A. niger in comparison to untreated control with 80% disease incidence, respectively. A. fabrum applied against both pathogens, recorded 42% disease incidence against C. lunata and 45% against A. niger. These disease management strategies emphasize the use of standard concentrations and selective treatments for better results.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sobeeqa Khalid, Saman Arif, Muhammad Usman, Maham Sarwar, Malaika Tariq, Muhammad Faheem Khan, Amjad Abbas, Muhammad Amjad Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Postharvest Hexanal Application Delays Pericarp Browning Under Cold Storage in Litchi Fruit
Litchi is the fruit of warm climates and has a very short shelf life as the fruit loses its red color within the span of 2-3 days. The current study was planned to evaluate the effect of hexanal fumigation on overall fruit quality and retention of aesthetic appeal of the fruit under low temperature storage conditions. Hence, litchi fruit harvested at the ripening stage was fumigated with 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% hexanal concentration followed by cold storage at 5 ± 1°C for 28 days by maintaining 90% relative humidity. During cold storage, fruits were evaluated for physiological weight loss (PLW), browning severity, and anthocyanin depletion in pericarp. Physico-chemical quality characteristics were determined in litchi aril samples. Total phenolics and total antioxidants were also determined from aril samples, whereas antioxidative enzymes such as SOD, CAT, POD PPO were determined from pericarp tissues in litchi pericarp at 7 -day intervals. Postharvest hexanal application significantly controlled pericarp browning and resulted in higher anthocyanin content with reduced weight loss than control fruit. Hexanal preserved a steep rise in SSC and maintained relatively low SSC compared to control fruit throughout the cold storage period; however, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid contents, phenolic components and total antioxidants in litchi fruit aril were significantly augmented in all hexanal formulations, with significantly higher values recorded in 1% hexanal treatment. Likewise, antioxidative enzyme activities, such as SOD (74.54 mg-1 protein) and CAT (82.42 mg-1 protein), were significantly higher in hexanal-treated fruits, while POD (30.2 mg-1 protein) and PPO enzyme (34.42 U mg-1 protein) activities were significantly hindered in hexanal-treated litchi fruits which were significantly higher in control treatment. Overall, 1% hexanal formulation showed more promising results in terms of maintaining quality characteristics and color of the fruit during the extended storage period. Conclusively, hexanal application retained the pericarp red color and delayed browning by maintaining fruit quality of ‘Gola’ litchi longer than control fruits.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Shafique, Madiha Butt, Ashir Masroor, Muhammad Yahya Khan, Plosha khanum, Muhammad Rashid Waqas (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Anatomical Alterations and Management Strategies of Diplocarpon rosae Infection in Rosa centifolia
Black spot caused by Diplocarpon rosae is a serious issue of rose. Current study was conceived to assess antifungal potency of five different phyto-extracts including Cinnamon, Turmeric, Black pepper, Ginger and Aloe vera against D. rosae under laboratory and in planta conditions. All the phyto-extracts were evaluated at three concentrations under completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications of each treatments under laboratory conditions. However, the most effective treatments (cinnamon and turmeric) under lab conditions were further examined in planta against black spot of rose. The results revealed that, cinnamon was the most effective treatment against D. rosae under lab conditions with least mycelial growth (4.61 mm) followed by Turmeric (6.50 mm), Black pepper (7.24 mm), Ginger (8.06 mm) and Aloe vera (7.60 mm). While, the combined application of cinnamon and turmeric exhibited least disease incidence (32.63%) under in-vivo conditions. Being an airborne pathogen, D. rosae affects the anatomy of the infected tissues. So, the contemporary study was designed to investigate the anatomical alterations including Midrib thickness (MIT) (µm), Vascular bundle area (VBA) (µm2), Adaxial epidermal thickness (ADET) (µm), Abaxial epidermal thickness (ABET) (µm) and Parenchymatous cell area (PCA) (µm2) of rose leaf cells infected with D. rosae. The analysis was comprised of three main targets such as among healthy & infected, treated & untreated and at different inoculation stages of rose leaf cells. The samples of rose plants were gathered from Horticulture Area of UAF. Following typical anatomical procedures, the leaf samples were examined under digital compound microscope. All the observations exposed that there was no abnormality found in healthy leaf sample, while the infected sample showed an expanded MIT, ruptured ABET, sclerified ADET, decreased VBA and larger PCAs. Furthermore, at different inoculation stages the MIT was found expanded in all three stages, PCAs began increased in size and VBA become shrunk in second stage of inoculation. While after treatment with cinnamon and turmeric alone and in combination, the anatomical observation showed that combination of cinnamon and turmeric exhibited positive effect on normalizing the measurements of investigated parameters, whereas individual application of turmeric only reduced PCAs to normal size.
Copyright (c) 2025 Asra Wasif, Muhammad Atiq, Farooq Ahmad, Muhammad Asif, Mohsin Raza, Nasir Ahmed Khan, Ghalib Ayaz Kachelo, Khalid Naveed, Samar Fatima, Nasir Ahmed Rajput (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Accelerated Fruiting of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Meadow-Gardens in Southeast Kazakhstan
This work is novel because it demonstrates that high-density meadow-garden technology enables commercial fruiting of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) as early as the second year- a major advancement over traditional systems. The accelerated establishment and productivity of sea buckthorn in meadow-garden systems represent an important direction for enhancing the economic sustainability of fruit production in harsh continental climates. This study assessed the productivity potential of a two year old sea buckthorn meadow garden established under the sharp continental conditions of the Semirechye farm, Almaty region, Kazakhstan. Seven varieties developed by the M.A. Lisavenko Siberian Research Institute of Horticulture were evaluated at a planting density of 40,000 plants/ha. Only two varieties (Augustine and Inia) entered the stage of commercial fruiting by the second year. The variety Augustine demonstrated the highest productivity, yielding 25 t/ha, whereas Inia produced 13 t/ha. In addition to yield, Augustine was characterized by superior fruit size (1.15 g/berry), which was twice that of the control variety Elizaveta and 1.78 times greater than Inia. These results highlight the clear advantage of Augustine for early-fruiting meadow-gardens in Kazakhstan. Economic analysis showed that cultivation of Augustine enables near-complete recovery of investment and operational costs by the second year, despite reliance on labor-intensive manual harvesting. Furthermore, profitability is expected to increase substantially in the third year with the planned application of technological innovations, including complete above-ground cutting of shrubs, shock freezing, and mechanized fruit detachment. The findings highlight Augustine as the most promising cultivar for early commercial returns under Kazakhstan’s sharp continental climate.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sergey Oleichenko, Tanveer Ahmad, Maira Yessenaliyeva, Taizhan Aksemser, Rana Muhammad Sabir Tariq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Essential Oil Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Alstonia scholaris (flower) from Pakistan
This study investigated the essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of the flowers of Alstonia scholaris. Microwave-assisted extraction of essential oil was performed, and the extraction process resulted in a 0.218% (w/w) yield. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed twenty-seven constituents, and confirmation was performed by calculating their retention indices. The most abundant compounds were: 2-Hexenal, (E)- (12.455%), 3-Hexen-l-ol, (Z)- (11.347%), Heneicosane (6.471%), Hexanal (5.913), Tricosane (5.879%), and 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol (4.557%). The agar disc diffusion assay was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the volatile oil against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and zones of inhibition were observed against these strains as 11mm, 11mm, 10mm, and 9mm, respectively. The presence of various well-known antibacterial agents shows an obvious relationship with the activity of the essential oil.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Saleh Zaman, Farhana Ahmad, Hamna, Zeeshan Muthair, Ahsan Sharif, Ejaz Ahmed, Azeem Intisar, Shahbaz Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Performance Evaluation and Stress Screening of Colored Cotton Genotypes for Yield, Fiber Quality and Drought Tolerance
Naturally colored cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional white cotton by reducing the need for synthetic dyes. However, its cultivation remains limited due to lower yield and suboptimal fiber quality, particularly under drought stress. We evaluated the genetic and physiological performance of 20 white and naturally colored cotton genotypes under normal and water-deficit conditions using field trials (RCBD) and laboratory PEG (polyethylene glycol)-6000 screening (CRD). Agronomic, fiber quality and physiological traits were recorded, including plant height, bolls per plant, seed cotton yield, lint weight, fiber length and strength, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. Significant genotypic variability was observed for most traits. Drought reduced yield and fiber strength most markedly in green-colored genotypes, whereas Light Brown and Khaki American A maintained higher photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll content and yield stability under limited irrigation. Path coefficient analysis identified lint weight, boll weight and fiber length as key contributors to seed cotton yield. These findings demonstrate that integrating genetic selection with physiological screening (field + PEG assays) can accelerate breeding of drought-resilient colored cotton, offering practical value to breeders and the textile industry in water-limited regions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zunaira Ataa, Muhammad Nadeem Riaz, Akash Fatima, Sajad Hussain, Sehrish Ijaz, Fawad Zafar Ahmad Khan, Hammad Husnain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Evaluation of Chemical Fungicides for Managing ChiliAnthracnose Disease Caused by Colletotrichum capsici
Chili anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum capsici, is a major disease affecting chili production in Punjab, Pakistan, leading to significant yield losses. This study aimed to isolate and identify the pathogen and evaluate the efficacy of six fungicides at different concentrations (200, 400, 600 ppm) under in-vitro, in vivo, and field conditions. Pathogen isolation and pathogenicity were confirmed through morphological characterization and Koch’s postulates. Fungicide evaluation revealed that Topsin M (thiophanate-methyl 70% w/w) was the most effective, reducing fungal growth to 5.05 mm in vitro and lesion sizes to 10.8 mm and 8.2 mm under greenhouse and field conditions, respectively, at 600 ppm. Fossil (mancozeb 50% w/w) followed closely in efficacy. Other fungicides showed moderate to low disease suppression. Disease severity increased over time, but Topsin M consistently maintained superior control. These findings underscore the potential of Topsin M as a key component in anthracnose management, while highlighting the need for integrated strategies combining chemical, resistant varieties, and biological controls for sustainable disease suppression. This research contributes valuable data for optimizing fungicide use and minimizing economic losses in chili production.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hasaan Tariq, Nasir Ahmad Khan, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, Fahd Rasul (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Farmyard Manure Seed Priming on Germination and Growth of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)
Spinach production is often constrained by poor seed germination and excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers, while the potential of organic seed priming, particularly with farmyard manure, to enhance seedling establishment and growth remains largely underexplored. A study was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, during the winter season of 2024-2025 to investigate the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) seed priming at different concentrations on the germination and growth of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The treatments included: different concentration levels of farmyard manure. T0 = Control (unprimed seeds) T1 = Hydropriming (Distilled water), T2 = 1% FYM T3 = 10% FYM, T4 = 20% FYM, T5 = 30% FYM. The results showed that seeds primed with 30% FYM resulted in the maximum values for all parameters, including seed germination (18.60%), germination index (5.96), number of leaves per plant (24.87), plant height (26.38 cm), plant fresh weight (17.75 g), shoot fresh biomass (14.24 g), root fresh biomass (3.38 g), shoot dry biomass (2.52 g), and root dry biomass (1.44 g). In contrast, the lowest seed germination percentage (11.30%) and germination index (3.05) were recorded in the 10% FYM treatment (T3). Hydropriming (T1) resulted in the lowest values for several growth parameters, including the number of leaves per plant (13.77), plant height (17.95 cm), shoot fresh biomass (4.40 g), and root dry biomass (0.10 g). Meanwhile, the control treatment (T0) produced the lowest plant fresh weight (5.52 g) and fresh root biomass (1.13 g). In conclusion, seed priming with 30% farmyard manure significantly enhanced the germination and growth performance of spinach and is recommended over hydropriming as well as lower FYM concentrations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shan Muhammad, Saba Ambreen Memon, Muzafaruddin Chachar, Memoona Islam Majeedano, Maira Raqeeb Tunio, Sana Shazia Jiskani, Raheem Ullah, Imran Ullah, Muhammad Iqbal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reliable Edge Federation Formation for Smart Agriculture using Machine Learning
In the domain of smart agriculture, the integration of edge computing has revolutionized data processing by bringing computational services in close proximity to sensors and movable equipment. The transition to edge computing reshapes the security landscape, where robust safeguards are essential not only for protecting data but also for ensuring reliable service delivery. In agriculture, reliability is critical, as insecure or untrustworthy ESPs can cause interruptions and downtime that undermine both federation performance and provider reputation. The overall challenge is to form a resilient edge federation that enables the seamless sharing of services from trustworthy providers to clients, such as farm equipment and monitoring systems. To address this, a new algorithm Edge Nearest Neighbor (ENN) as an extension of the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) machine learning approach has been presented. The proposed algorithm selects highly reliable ESPs based on user requirements to form a federation, ensuring smart services are delivered without network interruption. This enables precision agriculture systems to reliably monitor and maintain large arable lands effectively. Experiments demonstrate that ENN quickly forms a federation of reliable ESPs with high accuracy, providing a secure and dependable foundation for smart agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Usama Ahmed, Afzaal Hussain, Muhammad Nasir Siddiqui, Abid Ali, Muhammad Adeel Zahid, Shehbaz Nazeer (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ANALYSIS OF GENETIC VARIATION IN WORLD COLLECTION OF DURUM WHEAT (TRITICUM DURUM) USING MORPHOLOGICAL, DNA AND SEED STORAGE PROTEIN MARKERS
Durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) is an allotetraploid crop species with relatively low gluten content, commonly used in the preparation of pasta, couscous, noodles, macaroni, and flatbreads. The present study was designed to assess the extent of genetic diversity in a global collection of durum wheat accessions grown under the climatic conditions of Pakistan, using morphological traits, protein profiles, and DNA-based markers. A total of 175 accessions were cultivated for two successive years in separate fields of the Azad Kashmir region. Although molecular analysis was conducted only on a representative subset of 30 accessions, it provided useful but preliminary insights into genetic diversity. Future studies with larger datasets are needed to strengthen these results. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant F-values for both genotypes and genotype × year interactions across 18 morphological traits. Seed storage proteins of the genotypes were profiled through SDS-PAGE, which yielded 719 scorable bands from 161 accessions, average of 4.5 distinct protein bands per genotype, each considered as an allelic variant. Considerable variation in genetic distance (GD = 0–100%) was observed; 27 comparisons showed complete homozygosity (GD = 0%), while 252 comparisons exhibited full dissimilarity (GD = 100%) at protein loci. For molecular analysis, 30 randomly selected genotypes were evaluated with 40 RAPD and 50 SSR primer sets. RAPD markers produced 92.05% polymorphism, with genetic distances ranging from 0.00 to 32%. Cluster analysis grouped the 30 genotypes into two main clusters. Similarly, SSR primers were mostly polymorphic, generating 174 fragments in total, with an average of 3.44 bands per primer and 2–7 bands per locus. Genetic distance based on SSR data ranged between 2% and 38%, and cluster analysis again separated the genotypes into two major groups.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shabnam Niaz, Nisar Ahmed, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Waleed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
OPTIMIZING PHOSPHOROUS RATES FOR DIFFERENT SOWING METHODS OF MAIZE TO ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY
Phosphorous use efficiency under alkaline calcareous soil conditions of Pakistan is less than 25%. Higher phosphorus fixation aggravates yield gaps and cost of production in maize. An experiment was laid out with the objectives to enhance maize yield and profitability through various soil manipulation methods. Experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. The experimental treatments comprised of sowing methods in main plots viz; S1 = flat sowing; S2 = ridge sowing and S3 = bed sowing while phosphorous rates in split plots viz. P1 = 100; P2 = 125 and P3 = 150 kg ha-1. The results revealed the substantially higher cob length, diameter and 1000-grain weight observed in ridge sowing and 125 kg ha-1 phosphorous. Under flat sowing conditions, 150 kg ha-1 P depicted more plant height, grain rows per cob, grains per cob, biological, grain yield and harvest index. Ridge and bed sowing depicted higher values of all attributes with 125 kg ha-1 phosphorous. Significantly more yield was produced with 125 kg ha-1 phosphorous under both ridge (6160 kg ha-1) and bed planting (5600 kg ha-1) systems. Significantly lower values of all parameters were recorded in flat sowing with 100 kg ha-1 phosphorous. In addition, highest marginal rate of return was recorded for ridge sowing with 125 kg ha-1 phosphorous. In conclusion, ridge planting system produced more grain yield and economic benefits using less phosphorous than flat and bed sowing using 125 kg ha-1 phosphorous.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arshad Hussain, Sana Munawar, Fida Hussain, Sanober Gul Khan, Ali Sher, Akash Zafar, Naeem Arshad Maan, Basharat Ali, Syed Asad Manzoor, Zahid Aslam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dual-Activity ACC-deaminase Phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas Seed Inoculation Improves Mustard Performance under Phosphorus Deficiency Stress
Phosphorus is a critical macronutrient often limiting crop productivity, particularly in soils with low phosphorus availability. This field study investigated the phosphorus (P) deficiency tolerance of mustard under seed inoculation with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-deaminase and phosphate-solubilizing strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens. The experiment followed a two-factor randomized complete block split plot design with three replications: Factor A included two P doses (0 and 50 kg ha⁻¹), and Factor B comprised three seed treatments (uninoculated control, inoculation with ACC-deaminase-only P. fluorescens, and inoculation with dual-activity P. fluorescens possessing ACC-deaminase and P-solubilizing traits). The soil was alkaline clay, low in organic matter and Olsen-P. Phosphorus application significantly improved all mustard traits, while rhizobacterial strains significantly influenced all parameters except plant height and P concentration. Their interaction was significant only for number of pods, number of leaves, seed yield, and P concentration. Compared to control, P application enhanced plant height, stem diameter, branches, pods, leaves, leaf area, leaf weight, chlorophyll content, seed yield, and P concentration by 30–67%. Inoculation with P. fluorescens possessing only ACC-deaminase improved most traits by 17–40% and seed yield by 1.7%, though it slightly reduced P concentration. Dual-activity P. fluorescens improved growth traits by 33–63%, seed yield by 10%, and P concentration by 5%. Compared to single-activity inoculation, the dual-activity strain resulted in 1.2–6.0-fold increases in key traits, with lower P concentration increase (1.7-fold). Maximum interaction effects were observed in number of pods (3.5-fold), number of leaves (2.0-fold), seed yield (1.7-fold), and P concentration (1.7-fold). Overall, P. fluorescens strains with dual ACC-deaminase and P-solubilizing activity consistently outperformed single-activity strains and showed potential to enhance mustard growth and yield under both P-deficient and fertilized conditions. Future research may focus on multi-strain co-inoculation strategies and testing across diverse agroecological environments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zia-ul-hassan hassan, Javaria Afzal Arain, Naheed Akhter Talpur, Hajra Khan, Fozia Naz Memon, Inzamam-ul-Haque Khanzada, Inzamam Ali Jamali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Growth and Physiological Responses of Miscanthus × Giganteus to Combined Salinity and Drought Stress
Miscanthus × giganteus is a high-yielding, perennial C4 grass recognized for its potential as a lignocellulosic biomass crop with a net-positive carbon footprint, ideal for sustainable bioenergy production. Its adaptability to grow on marginal lands, such as those in arid and semi-arid regions of Pakistan, highlights its potential to reduce pressure on fertile agricultural areas. However, salinity and water scarcity are major limiting factors in these environments. A three-month pot trial was conducted at MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, using a completely randomized factorial design with four replicates with the objective, to assess the effects of salinity and drought stress on Miscanthus growth, physiology and nutrient uptake. Treatments included two salinity levels i.e., 4 dS m⁻¹ (S1, moderate salinity) and 6 dS m⁻¹ (S2, high salinity), two irrigation regimes i.e., 100% field capacity (FC1) and 50% field capacity (FC2), and a non-saline control. Results showed that control plants under full irrigation (FC1) had significantly higher growth, biomass, photosynthetic traits, and nutrient uptake compared to stress treatments, with up to 65% higher biomass and substantially reduced electrolyte leakage. In contrast, plants under S2 with FC2 exhibited a 65% reduction in biomass. Nitrogen and phosphorus levels increased under moderate salinity (S1) with full irrigation (FC1), while potassium declined under all stress treatments. Overall, FC1 mitigated stress impacts significantly better than FC2. These findings suggest that Miscanthus can tolerate moderate salinity if sufficient water is available, making it a viable crop for saline-prone arid regions. Future studies should focus on long-term field evaluations and the development of effective management practices to enhance the resilience of Miscanthus × giganteus to salinity and drought stresses.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Baqir Hussain, Suleman Haider Shah, Muhammad Usman Jamshaid, Gulzar Akhtar, Muhammad Yasir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biochar and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Enhance Maize Growth and Soil Fertility
Efficient phosphorus (P) management is essential for sustainable maize (Zea mays L.) production, particularly in phosphorus-deficient calcareous soils where P fixation limits plant growth. In current study, the effects of integrated application of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and biochar (BC) with two P fertilizers; Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and Nitrophos (NP) in eight treatments with three replications were evaluated on maize growth in a lathhouse pot experiment under a completely randomized design (CRD) arrangement. The integrated application of BC and PSB with DAP significantly enhanced maize growth and soil fertility compared to NP and control treatments. BC+PSB+DAP increased shoot fresh weight by 81%, root dry weight by 130%, and plant height by 55%. Physiological traits improved significantly, with photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency increasing by 48%, 60%, and 33%, respectively. Soil organic matter increased by 36%, nitrogen by 40%, and phosphorus availability by 48%. These results demonstrate the potential of BC and PSB integration, particularly with DAP, to enhance phosphorus use efficiency, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and improve maize productivity in calcareous soils.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Yasir, Muhammad Baqir Hussain, Suleman Haider Shah, Ghulam Murtaza, Wazir Ahmed, Shahid Iqbal, Sajid Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Antimicrobial Potential, Mechanisms, and Biosynthesis Pathways of Lichen-Derived Bioactive Compounds; A Systematic Review
Lichens, symbiotic organisms comprising fungi and photosynthetic partners, have gained particular attention due to their rich nutritional profile, which includes significant bioactive compounds with strong antimicrobial potential. This review collectively highlights the antimicrobial activity, its mechanism of action, and synthesis of lichen-derived compounds, advocating for their effective use as novel agents against microbial infections. Lichen metabolites, especially usnic acid and atranorin, exhibited significant activity against various multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and also antifungal activity, especially against Candida albicans and Aspergillus species. Their mechanism of action against infectious microbes involves cell wall and cell membrane formation inhibition, RNA/DNA synthesis disruption, and efflux pump inhibition. Recent advanced genomic and metabolomics studies have explored the biosynthesis pathways of these bioactive compounds with the involvement of several key enzymes, especially polyketide synthases (PKSs), and genes such as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Despite significant studies, there remain gaps in evaluating the pharmacogenomics, toxicity, and in vivo efficiency of these bioactive compounds. However, there is also a need for further study on sustainable enhanced extraction techniques and nano-encapsulation for improved and enhanced availability. This review synthesizes evidence that lichen compounds target microbial cell structures, nucleic acid synthesis, and efflux pumps, with emerging potential for drug development, also urges for advanced approaches such as nano-encapsulation and AI-driven drug discovery to utilize their complete potential.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Hammad, Aasma Riaz, Afifa Kainat Rani, Muhammad Kabir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparative Study of Ethanolic and n-Hexane Extracts of Cassia angustifolia as Anticancer Agents against Human Cancer Line MDA-MB-231
Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled and undifferentiated proliferation of cells, with the potential to invade and metastasize to various parts of the body. The use of conventional herbal extracts represents a promising approach in the search for novel anticancer agents due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals in medicinal plants. In this study, the anticancer activity of ethanolic and n-hexane extracts of Cassia angustifolia was evaluated against the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Five different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µl/ml) of each extract were tested to determine the optimal cytotoxic dose. At 250 µl/ml of the ethanolic extract, most cells appeared rounded and detached from the surface, while the remaining cells were elongated and loosely adhered. At the highest dose of 500 µl/ml, extensive cell death was observed, with cellular debris indicating significant cytotoxicity. In contrast, the n-hexane extract at 50 µl/ml showed negligible changes in cell morphology compared to the control. However, increasing concentrations led to reduced cell viability. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was determined to be 83 for the ethanolic extract and 283 for the n-hexane extract. These findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of Cassia angustifolia exhibits greater anticancer efficacy against the MDA-MB-231 cell line compared to the n-hexane extract, likely due to the differential solubility and availability of bioactive compounds in the two solvents.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kashf Mehmood, Saman Safdar Rehan, Saira Aftab, Uqba Mehmood, Shahbaz Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Evaluation of Fungicides and Biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt of Tomato
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belonging to Solanaceae family is a chief component of daily food. It is cultivated by market gardeners as well as for kitchen gardening. It is largely produced in Punjab Sindh and KPK province in Pakistan. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici is the significant soil-borne pathogen causing fusarium wilt in tomato. In Pakistan, yield is reduced by 21.9% due to tomato wilting. The fusarium wilt of tomato was managed by using different fungicides and bio-control agents. Tomato seeds were sown in trays followed by transplanting. Fungicides; Score (Difenoconazole) at dose of 0.3 ml/L, 2 g/L Topsin-M (Thiophanate methyl) and biocontrol agents (Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus sp. at concentrations of 1×103 and 1×103 spore/ml) were applied after inoculating the transplanted plants with disease inoculum. Treatments were applied after a week of tomato seedling transplant. Using disease rating scales, disease severity symptoms and disease incidence were recorded at weekly intervals. Collected data was analyzed. First symptoms of the disease were appeared after 8 days of disease inoculation. The result indicated that after application of treatments, in controlled pots T0 showed maximum disease of 32.64% which was recorded after spraying with distilled water. Minimum disease was recorded in that plants whích was sprayed by Trichoderma spp. (9.52%) and Bacillus spp. (12.41%) were found most effective against fusarium wilt of tomato. The fungicide sprays; Difenoconazole (25.43%) were least effective then biocontrol sprays. Thiophanate methyl (18.91%) was given fair result among other chemical. In present study, results of Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. applications revealed that all the other three treatments were significantly superior over control in managing the Fusarium disease spread. Among all sprays, T3 and T4 were significantly superior over other treatments. With the exception of all treatments, that were found superior in action over T0 (control). The overall results showed that T3 (Trichoderma sp.) was most effective against fusarium wilt of tomato. Thus, use of biocontrol agents were most effective and at the same time it is environment friendly. This study will be fruitful for the farmers to manage these soil-borne pathogen that will lead to high production of tomato.
Copyright (c) 2024 Abdul Majid, Nadeem Ahmed, Hasaan Tariq, Mirza Abdul Qayyum (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
First Report on Nitrogen’s Role in Vivipary Suppression in Late-Maturing Mango cv. Sufaid Chaunsa
Punjab is the major mango producing region in Pakistan whereas Pakistan is fifth in the globe in mango production. Among the late season varieties with an 18 % share in Punjab’s mango area, the premium Sufaid Chaunsa variety has an exponential share of export but suffers postharvest losses due to a disorder known as vivipary, which causes seeds to germinate too early. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of different doses of nitrogen supplied at flowering and fruit setting stages on vivipary incidence in Sufaid Chaunsa. Experiment was conducted under randomized complete block design with four nitrogen treatments (0 g, 200 g, 300 g, and 500 g per tree), and three replications. Data were collected when fruit get ripened after fruit harvest. Results showed that with an increase in the nitrogen doses manifested an increase in the vivipary expression. In the case of 500 g nitrogen treatment (T₃), the percentage of viviparous seeds (100%) and pulp vivipary (45.45%) was the highest while the lowest among all were in control (T₀ - 65.15% and 1.51%, respectively). Antioxidant capacities and phenolic contents increased with higher nitrogen application, and root length of germinating seed (vivipary) increased as well, which indexing a more general correlation between nitrogen induced metabolic changes and vivipary expression. Vivipary in mango, as of now, is reported for the first time, focusing on the mechanism of the phenomenon and its practice in late maturing varieties. These findings indicate that nitrogen management strategies to reduce vivipary while maintaining fruit quality are needed in mangoes. Research on the effects of growth regulators and irrigation practices on vivipary suppression is also recommended.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Shahzad Zafar, Abdul Ghaffar Grewal, Samad Raza, Syed Inam Ullah Shah, Maqbool Ahmad, Hassan Riaz, Muhammad Azhar Bashir, Allah Nawaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Stubble Incorporation on Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Wheat in Semi-Arid Conditions
Soil organic carbon (SOC) typically decline under intensive cropping system. Decrease in SOC might be linked with conventional tillage and poor stubble management. In arable soils, substantial losses of SOC occur due to cultivation, insufficient incorporation of nitrogen rich stubbles, extended fallow periods, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer use. This experiment was conducted at MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan's research farm (C-block), to evaluate the effects of stubble incorporation on soil health and wheat productivity. Stubbles were incorporated in soil approximately two - three week before sowing. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design using split plot arrangements, comprising six treatments and three replications. Three levels of irrigation were applied 100 %, 75 %, and 50 %, respectively. Soil moisture contents was measured weekly using the gravimetric method. Plant height were also recorded weekly. At harvest, data on yield and yield contributing parameters were collected. Soil samples were taken at the beginning and end of the experiment for nutrient analysis. Our results revealed that average maximum yield of wheat crop under stubble incorporation was 6.69 Mg ha-1, compared to 5.4 Mg ha-1 in control (no stubble incorporation) treatments. Soil organic carbon under stubble incorporation reached 9.06 g kg-1 of soil sample as compared to control treatment organic carbon was obtained 5.86 g kg-1 of soil whereas the control recorded 5.86 g kg-1. .
Copyright (c) 2025 Murtaza, Shakeel Ahmad, Wazir ahmed, Muhammad Usman Jamshaid, Muhammad Waqas, Hafiz Muhammad furrakh, Muhammad Atiq ur Rahman , Abdul Ghaffar, Hafiz Muhammad Rafique, Muhammad Imran (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0