Genetic analysis of yield components and fiber quality parameters in upland cotton

The experiment was laid to analyze genetic features, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients, path analysis with regression analysis among yield contributing traits in a selected F3 populations of upland cotton including parents. In this research experiment ANOVA showed significant difference among all individual plants in F3 populations. Monopodia per plant and bolls per plant possessed maximum value of PCV% and GCV%. Maximum broad sense heritability (≥ 90) was found in all recorded traits except seeds per boll, fiber length and lint percentage. Correlation studies revealed that Seed cotton yield positively correlated with all yield contributing traits i.e. plant height, monopodial branches per plant, Number of bolls per plant, boll weight, lint weight, seed index, lint index, seeds per boll, fiber fineness, fiber strength and fiber uniformity at both genotypic and phenotypic level whereas it depicted negative relationship with staple length. Path coefficient analysis showed that maximum direct positive effect was found of lint weight (2.6005) on seed cotton yield followed fiber fineness (1.2628), seed index (1.1449) and bolls per plant (1.0027). Regression study exhibited that maximum value of R2 for lint weight (0.9509) and boll weight (0.3735) depicted that 95.09% and 37.35% variation in the seed cotton yield, due to its relationship with lint weight and boll weight. It is concluded that there is a great genetic potential in F3 populations for mostly yield contributing traits for further enhancing yield. So those traits should be used as selection criteria during breeding for yield

Spermatocytic tumor of testis in a young male

Spermatocytic tumor is a rare germ cell tumor not related to germ cell neoplasia in situ, and derived from postpubertal-type germ cells. It was previously called Spermatocytic Seminoma due to false belief of its origin from germ cell neoplasia in situ. The tumor usually occurs in an older age group and orchidectomy is curative. We present a case of spermatocytic tumor in a 25-year male who presented with right-sided testicular swelling and right-sided varicocele. Radiology revealed a 9.8 × 9 cm testicular mass and the patient underwent right-sided orchidectomy. Microscopic examination showed classic morphology with three characteristic cell types and diagnosis of spermatocytic tumor was made. Key Words: Spermatocytic tumor, testis, young

Inheritance Pattern and Association of Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Cotton for Sustainable Breeding Goal

Background%253A Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most important fiber crop of the world and commonly known as white gold. It plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan. It provides raw material to the local textile industry and generates a considerable amount of foreign exchange. It plays a vital role in the economy of Pakistan. The yield of cotton is lower in Pakistan. Knowledge of association among different traits is important for the development of cultivars with better yield and quality characters. Results%253A In this research, two parents (PB-38 and Jambo Okra) and their crosses sown in randomized complete block design with three replications to sort out best performing genotypes for these profitable traits (plant height, number of sympodial branches, number of monopodial branches, leaf type, boll size, boll shape, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, ginning out turn, 100 seed weight and seed cotton yield). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that parental and their F population showed significant differences for all the observed traits. Correlation and inheritance pattern of all characters provides information of association among all traits and percentage of inheritable attributes. Conclusions%253A The association and inheritance pattern study provides us useful information for effective selection and sustainable breeding programs. Heritability estimations revealed that heritability of traits fluctuate as following order%253B monopodial branchesgt%253B ginning outturngt%253Bboll weightgt%253Bsympodial branchesgt%253Bplant heightgt%253Byieldgt%253Bnumber of bolls plant-1 with heritable percentages 99%25, 90%25, 89%25, 64%25, 60%25, 60%25 and 55%25 respectively

Assessment and Quantification of Risks Associated with Small Scale Mining, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Small scale mining industry is considered more hazardous than other industries worldwide. Large number of workers receive minor and major injuries leading to disabilities or loss of lives due to frequent accidents in mines. Main causes of accidents in mines are fall of roof, improper ventilation system, gases, fires and mine explosions. Beside these hazards, violation of rules and regulations for mine workers are common, which also cause accidents. This paper is focused on issues associated with the health and safety of workers of Cherat Coal Mines (CCM), Abbottabad Coal Mine (ACM) and Abbottabad Soapstone Mine (ASM), Pakistan. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS computer statistics software. The data analyses indicated that the lack of education and violation of safety laws cause accidents in mines. Results show that problems that were rated higher by more than 60% of workers included slide and fall, dust, roof fall and explosive related hazards. In survey more than 50% of the workers admitted the existence of gases, fire and low height mines are common hazards in their workplace. The results also indicated that not only workers but management are also affected by accidents. More than 17% of worker in CCM faced serious accidents up to 3 times during one year. Up to 26% of workers in CCM, 13% in ACM and 15% in ASM suffered accidents for which they had 3 workdays off. It has been concluded that training should be arranged, especially the safety related training on regular basis to reduce the risk of accidents

Sonographic Comparison of Portal Vein Diameter in Cirrhotic and Non-Cirrhotic Patients

Background: Liver cirrhosis has become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. The burden of liver cirrhosis is growing in both the West and the East. In Pakistan death rate of liver cirrhosis is conspicuous because of chronic hepatitis (hepatitis B, C) and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is reported by World Health Organization that Pakistan occupies secondary place in spread of hepatitis C. Objective: To compare the portal vein diameter in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients through ultrasound. Methodology: Ultrasound machine Toshiba Xario, Mindray dp 10 and G logic p5 with a curvilinear transducer of frequency 3.5 MHz was used. The study was conducted at, Hussain Diagnostic Ultrasound Centre Jampur, District Rajanpur. Data of 100 patients was collected through Cross-Sectional Analytical study. Statistical software for social sciences (SPSS version 22.0) is used for the analysis of data. Results: One hundred patients participated in this study. Among them, the minimum age was 30 and the maximum age was 70. Ratio of male patients was more than female patients, due to fact of more alcohol consumption in males. Out of 100 patients, 50 patients had cirrhosis and 50 were non cirrhotic. Liver cirrhosis patients came the severe symptoms like weakness, lethargy, hematemesis and melena. Non cirrhotic patients came with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Mean of Portal vein diameter in non-cirrhotic patients was 10.5mm. Mean of  Portal vein diameter in live cirrhosis patients was 14.8mm. A statistical significance difference was found between the two means of portal vein diameter of two groups (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) as the p-value 0.000 less than 0.05. Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis is one of the major issues of health and a big reason for increasing mortality rate all over the world. The most common etiology of liver cirrhosis .is .alcohol. Patients come with liver cirrhosis having severe symptoms like weakness, lethargy, hematemesis and melena. Non-cirrhotic patients come with mild symptoms like epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, having normal portal vein diameter. Mean portal vein diameter in cirrhotic patients (14.8mm) was greater than non-cirrhotic patients (10.5mm). Key words: Liver cirrhosis, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD). DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/76-12 Publication date:June 30th 202

Biochemical, Molecular and Morpho-Physiological Attributes of Wheat to Upgrade Grain Production and Compete with Water Stress

Enhancing grain quality and quantity is going very perilous with the incessant climate changes and rising population. Under these circumstances, to review the current strategies and researches regarding biochemical, physiological, morphological and molecular perspectives gain more consideration. Hence, its important to have know-how related to this in different parts of the world to utilize possible stratagems to increase our current production. Wheat is one of this foremost considerable crop as it is food of 21%25 of the world population and 77%25 developing countries import and consume wheat annually. Wheat is primarily important in Pakistan as it is staple food but adversely affected because of water and heat stresses. By using the information and approaches of expertise, we can achieve our objectives of high yield and admirable quality. In most of countries, yield is less than the actual potential yield, this can be overcome by utilizing appropriate resources and proper techniques. Advance knowledge and extrapolative capabilities can help us to find out best possible tools to contribute in world food security and to withstand changing climatic conditions

A Review about Cotton Leaf Curl Viral Disease and Its Control Strategies in Pakistan

Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) in Pakistan is the most serious threat to cotton crops of last two decades. This diseases causes a huge losses not only to the cotton crops but also the economy of Pakistan is under threat. This problem of Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD) is still under discussion among the researchers since it first appeared in 1967 and in 1992-93, it came in epidemic form. The dilemma of CLCuD caused decline in the yield down to 9.05 million bales and 8.04 million bales in 1993-94 in Pakistan. For developing resistant cultivars against the virus to screen against CLCuD, different disease inducing methods such as grafting, delayed sowing and whitefly mediated transfer are used. The epidemiology of diseases is changed by abiotic factors specifically temperature and plant age. Management of CLCuD is the only option that can command the disease in various ways inclusive of change in sowing dates, crop nutrition, cultural practices, vector control, buffer crops and systemic poisoning of cotton seed by seed treatment will make the cotton crop safe in initial 40-50 days after sowing. Biotechnology can also help in controlling this disease through transcriptional gene silencing. By using biotechnological tools broad spectrum resistance can be introduced against all viruses present in the field

Estimation of Gene Action, Heritability and Pattern of Association among Different Yield Related Traits in Upland Cotton

A random mating design comprising 6 varieties (FH-142, MS-DK, IUB-63, KZ-189, FB-3159, and VH-300) and F1 crosses was used to check gene action for yield contributing traits in upland cotton. Heritability and correlation were calculated from F3 populations of the cross CRS-456times%253BJumbo okra. The randomized complete block design was used in both experiments with three replication at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2015-2017. In both experiments, analysis of variance indicated significant variation present among the accessions of the upland cotton for all the traits (plant height, sympodial and monopodial branches, nodes number of 1st sympodial branch, height of 1st sympodial branch, bolls per plant, boll weight, lint weight, seed cotton yield, seed index, lint percentage, lint index, seeds per boll, fiber fineness, fiber strength, fiber length and fiber uniformity) under study. Mean values of all genotypes were significantly different from each other for all the traits studied. All the parameters manifested positive correlation with seed cotton yield except plant height, monopodia per plant, nodes number of 1st sympodia, height of 1st sympodia, bolls per plant, seed index and lint index. The inheritance of all the traits in F1 crosses was generally controlled by overdominance gene action except monopodial branches, nodes number of 1st sympodial branch, height of 1st sympodial branches, boll weight, fiber length and fiber uniformity that were partially controlled under additive gene action. Epistasis was not found to be involved in any of the traits. Estimation of broad sense heritability (h2 b. s) in F3 populations were high (60-97%25) for all the traits under study. Results suggested form heritability and correlation that these traits can be improved either through appropriate selection method or hybrid breeding programme

Mulberry based zinc nano-particles mitigate salinity induced toxic effects and improve the grain yield and zinc bio-fortification of wheat by improving antioxidant activities, photosynthetic performance, and accumulation of osmolytes and hormones

Salinity stress (SS) is a challenging abiotic stress that limits crop growth and productivity. Sustainable and cost effective methods are needed to improve crop production and decrease the deleterious impacts of SS. Zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as an important approach to regulating plant tolerance against SS. However, the mechanisms of SS tolerance mediated by Zn-NPs are not fully explained. Thus, this study was performed to explore the role of Zn-NPs (seed priming and foliar spray) in reducing the deleterious impacts of SS on wheat plants. The study comprised different SS levels: control, 6 and 12 dS m−1, and different Zn-NPs treatments: control, seed priming (40 ppm), foliar spray (20 ppm), and their combination. Salinity stress markedly reduced plant growth, biomass, and grain yield. This was associated with enhanced electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) accumulation, reduced photosynthetic pigments, relative water contents (RWC), photosyntetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomata conductance (Gs), water use efficiency (WUE), free amino acids (FAA), total soluble protein (TSP), indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), and nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, N, and P). However, the application of Zn-NPs significantly improved the yield of the wheat crop, which was associated with reduced abscisic acid (ABA), MDA, H2O2 concentration, and EL, owing to improved antioxidant activities, and an increase in RWC, Pn, Tr, WUE, and the accumulation of osmoregulating compounds (proline, soluble sugars, TSP, and FAA) and hormones (GA and IAA). Furthermore, Zn-NPs contrasted the salinity-induced uptake of toxic ions (Na and Cl) and increased the uptake of Ca, K, Mg, N, and P. Additionally, Zn-NPs application substantially increased the wheat grain Zn bio-fortification. Our results support previous findings on the role of Zn-NPs in wheat growth, yield, and grain Zn bio-fortification, demonstrating that beneficial effects are obtained under normal as well as adverse conditions, thanks to improved physiological activity and the accumulation of useful compounds. This sets the premise for general use of Zn-NPs in wheat, to which aim more experimental evidence is intensively being sought. Further studies are needed at the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic level to better acknowledge the mechanisms of general physiological enhancement observed with Zn-NPs application