Phytoaccumulation of heavy metals and protein expression by different vegetables collected from various parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa Province, Pakistan

The present study investigates heavy metal uptake and protein expression by different vegetables collected from various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province of Pakistan. Statistical analysis of the data showed that maximum concentration of Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn were found in radish and spinach, respectively, collected from Peshawar. Maximum Pb and Mg accumulation were found in cauliflower and pea at Swat followed by coriander at Haripur and minimum Pb uptake was noticed in radish taken from Nowshehra. Highest Cu uptake was detected in spinach at Nowshehra. Data regarding Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mg and Zn concentration in water samples gathered from different sites of KPK indicated that maximum concentration of Cd was observed in Swat. Maximum Cr and Cu concentration were measured in water samples from Peshawar while maximum concentration of Pb and Ni were detected in water samples from Haripur. In case of soil samples, maximum Cd, Cr, Mg and Zn uptake was observed in soil sample at Nowshehra. Maximum Pb and Ni concentration was found in soil samples collected from Peshawar. Cu concentration was observed to be the highest in soil at Swat. Protein profile of different vegetables i.e. cauliflower, radish, carrot, turnip, pea, spinach, coriander and garlic sampled across five different sites showed that uptake of Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mg and Zn by these vegetables caused the expression of numerous polypeptides

Effect of water deficiency and potassium application on plant growth, osmolytes and grain yield of Brassica napus cultivars

One of the major issues with brassica oil seed production is the water requirement of the brassica crop. To address the problem, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium (K) and water deficiency levels on canola (Brassica napus L.). Analysis of the data revealed that application of K, irrigation and interactions between irrigation and cultivar (I × C), irrigation and potassium (I × K), potassium and cultivar (K × C), and irrigation and cultivar and potassium (I × C × K) had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on shoot proline content, relative water content, plant fresh weight and grain yield. Potassium application, irrigation and interaction between I × C, K × C, and I × C × K had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on shoot sugar content. Water deficiency increased shoot proline and sugar contents and decreased relative water content. Potassium application increased shoot proline level in a dose dependent manner. Minimum proline and sugar contents and maximum relative water content, plant fresh and dry eight and yield were obtained when 100% irrigation was applied. Maximum grain yield was obtained upon application of 100% irrigation in combination with 120 kg ha–1 K

Antifungal, anti-yeast, anti-oxidant and HPLC analysis of different solvent extracted samples from Calamus aromaticus leaves

The antifungal, anti-yeast and anti-oxidant effects of Calamus aromaticus leaves were studied. The extract showed mild activity against two fungal strains and strong activity against the yeast. The results also indicated the presence of extremely high DPPH radical scavenging potential in all tested samples at each of the seven concentrations used. The data further revealed that ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracted samples measured highest antifungal (25.0% inhibition each against Rhizopus oryzae at 1000 µg/well), anti-yeast (73.5 and 66.4% activity respectively at 2000 µg/disc) and anti-oxidant (96.6 and 97.7% activity respectively at 250 ppm) potential while samples extracted with water were least potent. HPLC analysis of the extracted samples confirmed ethyl acetate and n-butanol as the solvents of choice for the extraction of antifungal, anti-yeast and anti-oxidant compounds (phenolics) from the leaves of C. aromaticus.

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP IN DIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF COTTON FOR FUTURE BREEDING

Back ground: To make the plants well adapted and more resistant to diseases and other environmental stresses there is always a need to improve the quality of plant’s genome i.e. to increase its genetic diversity.Methods: In the present study six variety and six lines of cotton were investigated for their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship. For this purpose 35 different RAPD primers obtained from the Gene Link Technologies,USA were used.Results: Among 35 RAPD primers, 13 primers produced reproducible PCR bands while the rest failed to show any amplification product. Our results indicated that the total count of the reproducible bands was 670 and polymorphic loci were counted to be 442 which constitute 66% of total loci. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major groups each consists of 7 and 5 genotypes respectively. Genotypes Lp1 and Tp4 were placed at maximum genetic distance and in separate groups and could be utilized for future cotton breeding.Conclusions: RAPD analysis is a cheaper and time saving technique for the determination of genetic diversity of different cotton genotypes. Cotton genotype Lp1 and Tp4 could be the best candidates for future breeding programs as both genotypes are genetically distant from each other

Antimicrobial potentials of Mentha longifolia by disc diffusion method

Abstract: This study was conducted for the assessment of the antimicrobial activities of different solvents extracted samples from the aerial parts of Mentha longifolia against ten microbial species through the disc diffusion assay using two different concentrations of 1 and 2 mg disc 1 . All extracts from Mentha longifolia showed different ranges of antimicrobial activities. Butanol and ethyl acetate fractions showed inhibitory activities against all microbial species. Methanol fraction showed inhibitory effects against all the tested microbial species except Salmonella typhi. Salmonella typhi was also not controlled by methanol, petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracted samples. The most susceptible gram positive bacteria was Bacillus atropheus and Bacillus subtilis and were inhibited by all extracts and Staphylococus aureus was least susceptible among gram positive bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most susceptible gram negative bacterium and Salmonella typhi was highly resistant among the gram negative bacteria. Erwinia carotovora and Agrobacterium tumefaciene were susceptible to all fractions. All fractions showed antifungal activities against Candida albicans except water extracted samples

Effect of Sowing Dates and Seed Rates on the Agro-Physiological Traits of Wheat

Wheat yield in Pakistan is very low due to improper seed rate and not sowing the crop at proper time. Delay in sowing of wheat causes linear reduction in grain yield. To evaluate the effect of seed rates and sowing dates on agro-physiological traits of wheat an experiment was conducted at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan during winter 2012-13. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications was used. Sowing dates (29th October, 10th November, 24th November, 10th December, 26th December and 10th January) were kept in the main plots, whereas, seed rates (120,150,180 kg ha-1) were allotted to sub plots. Wheat variety “SIRAN-2010” was sown in a plot size of 5m x 1.8m (9 m2), having six rows with row to row distance of 30 cm and row length 5m. All the standard agronomic practices were uniformly adopted for the whole experiment. Results showed that maximum spikes m-2 (411), grains spike-1 (52), thousand grains weight (43 g), biological yield (12327 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5587 kg ha-1) were recorded in plots sown at 10th November. Seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 showed maximum number of grains spike-1 (44), spikes m-2 (307), thousand grains weight (37g), biological yield (9568 kg ha-1) and grain yield (4296 kg ha-1). It was concluded from the results that wheat should preferably be sown between 29th October and 24th November at 150 kg ha-1 seed rate to get higher grain yield in Peshawar valley

Duplex PCR assay for the detection of avian adeno virus and chicken anemia virus prevalent in Pakistan

Avian Adeno viruses and Chicken Anemia Viruses cause serious economic losses to the poultry industry of Pakistan each year. Timely and efficient diagnosis of the viruses is needed in order to practice prevention and control strategies. In the first part of this study, we investigated broilers, breeder and Layer stocks for morbidity and mortality rates due to AAV and CAV infections and any co-infections by examining signs and symptoms typical of their infestation or post mortem examination. In the second part of the study, we developed a duplex PCR assay for the detection of AAV and CAV which is capable to simultaneously detect both the viral types prevalent in Pakistan with high sensitivity and 100% specificity