Vegetation conditions in various plant communities and their performance in district Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan

Six villages were registered for the experimental purpose/plantation where more than 25,000 plants were planted to develop range forest. These plants were developed at Marvi nursery PARC-Arid Zone Research Institute, Umerkot and some were purchased from private nursery situated at Mirpurkhas. Results revealed that maximum plants mortality rate was found at village Ratnore and lowest mortality of plants was observed at Mithrio Charan. Plants damaged due to unknown reason (natural), termite attack and diseases. In various locations most of plants were affected by termites than others biotic and abiotic factors. The most influenced plant was Prosopis cinerera. Maximum plants survived numbers of grafted ber was found at village Ratnore, the biomass production of green and dry grasses was taken after harvesting. A highest green grass weight 21812.58 kg and dry 3439.83 kg were observed from elephant grass stock and lowest green weight 5001.92 kg from Gatten grass and dry weight 477.57 kg per acre were recorded from Rhode grass 1 (Sabri). Gatten grass and Rhode grass 1 (Sabri) were found lower weight. All these seven grasses showed excellent performance except Elephant grass and Gatten grass. These two grasses needed more water as compared to remaining five species. These grasses when fed by goats their milk production was increased and goats like to feed these grasses. The pictures of these grasses showed their appearance and health irrigated by underground brackish water with more than 2200 ppm

Management of Phytopathogens by Antagonistic <em>Bacillus spp</em> in Tomato Crop

Bacillus is a genus of gram-positive bacteria that is widely distributed in the environment. The species of this genus present in the endosphere, phyllosphere and rhizosphere in the plant and perform as a beneficial biocontrol agent and promote plant health. These strains exhibit diverse capabilities, including the potentiality to directly suppress the germination of microbial, stimulate plant development, reduce pathogen infections, degrade different types of hydrocarbons, function effectively across a wide temperature range, and induce immune resistance in host plants. The species/strains of Bacillus genus have proven promising biocontrol agents against a large number of fungal and bacterial causal organism, as well as plant-damaging insects. They induce a wide range of composites with antifungal properties, such as iturin, surfactin, cyclic lipopeptides, bacillomycin, bacteriocins, polyketide, lentibiotics, phospholipid, polyketide microlectine, isocosmarin and amino sugar. These compounds play a crucial role in preventing and controlling diseases in plants. The synthesis of these compounds is initiated in response to the presence of bacterial and fungal pathogen biomass and their cell walls. The purpose of this review is to offer a thorough exploration of the disease suppression mechanisms utilized by Bacillus, with a specific emphasis on their function as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)

Feeding Potential of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) Against Sucking Insect Pests

This laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the feeding performance and larval development of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricuis) on Aphis gossypii (Glov.), Bemisia tabaci (Ginn.) and Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Distant) at 26 ± 2ºC temperature and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The result indicated that the 3rd and 4th instar larvae of the beetle consumed 76.20 ± 3.44 and 79.7 ± 0.77 nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (23.0 ± 0.77) and (23.4 ± 0.75) nymphs of B. tabaci and (19.73 ± 1.17) and (21.55 ± 0.77) nymphs of A. b. biguttula, respectively as compared to 1st and 2nd instar larvae. Adult female consumed maximum (101.0 ± 0.55) nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (26.90 ± 0.27) nymphs of B. tabaci and (22.16 ± 0.20) nymphsof A. b. biguttula as compared to male. The result further revealed that the 4th instar larva consumed highest number 159.4 ± 7.35 of A. gossypii nymphs during its life span followed by (93.8 ± 3.02) and (86.2 ± 3.09) nymphs of B. tabaci and A. b. biguttula, respectively. Similarly, the adult female devoured highest number of nymphs (3040.2 ± 26.4) of A. gossypii followed by B. tabaci (807.0±8.1) and A. b. biguttula (664.98±6.0) during its life span as compare to male. The shortest life span was recorded on A. gossypiias compared to A. b. biguttula and B. tabaci, There was highly significant difference in consumption rate and development period of larvae and adult beetles on different prey species (

Feeding Potential of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) Against Sucking Insect Pests

This laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the feeding performance and larval development of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricuis) on Aphis gossypii (Glov.), Bemisia tabaci (Ginn.) and Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Distant) at 26 ± 2ºC temperature and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The result indicated that the 3rd and 4th instar larvae of the beetle consumed 76.20 ± 3.44 and 79.7 ± 0.77 nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (23.0 ± 0.77) and (23.4 ± 0.75) nymphs of B. tabaci and (19.73 ± 1.17) and (21.55 ± 0.77) nymphs of A. b. biguttula, respectively as compared to 1st and 2nd instar larvae. Adult female consumed maximum (101.0 ± 0.55) nymphs of A. gossypii /day followed by (26.90 ± 0.27) nymphs of B. tabaci and (22.16 ± 0.20) nymphsof A. b. biguttula as compared to male. The result further revealed that the 4th instar larva consumed highest number 159.4 ± 7.35 of A. gossypii nymphs during its life span followed by (93.8 ± 3.02) and (86.2 ± 3.09) nymphs of B. tabaci and A. b. biguttula, respectively. Similarly, the adult female devoured highest number of nymphs (3040.2 ± 26.4) of A. gossypii followed by B. tabaci (807.0±8.1) and A. b. biguttula (664.98±6.0) during its life span as compare to male. The shortest life span was recorded on A. gossypiias compared to A. b. biguttula and B. tabaci, There was highly significant difference in consumption rate and development period of larvae and adult beetles on different prey species (

Sugarcane Smut: Current Knowledge and the Way Forward for Management

Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. The severity of this disease often depends on the pathogen races, environmental conditions, cultivar genotype and the interaction among these three factors. Under optimum climatic conditions, this disease has the potential to cause total crop failure. Resistance screening is an ongoing process due to the variability among smut pathogen isolates. Multiple races and mutation ability of smut pathogen makes the breeding task more complex. A number of studies on various aspects of the disease epidemiology and management have been published. Due to many overlapping characteristics within the species complex, there is a dearth of information on early detection and strategies to control the smut pathogen. Furthermore, there is a need to coordinate these findings to expedite its research and control. In this paper, we summarize the disease etiology, especially disease impact on the qualitative and quantitative parameters of sugarcane. We also gathered research progress on molecular-based detection and available information on genetic variability in S.scitamineum. The research on the set of management options needed to effectively cope with the disease are reviewed herein. The present review is expected to be helpful for the further investigation on smut resistance in sugarcane

Evaluation of Different Date Palm Varieties and Pheromone Traps Against Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in Sindh

In a two-year study ten commercial date palm varieties were evaluated. The varieties showed varying response to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv; some varieties suffered heavy infestation while others indicated tolerance against R. ferrugineus. The most tolerant varieties with less infestation percentage against R. ferrugineus were Muzawati (8%) followed by Pathri (12%), Thothar (15%), Khar and Shakri (16%) respectively. The varieties which suffered high infestation rate were Karbalain, Dhedhi, Fasli, Aseel and Eidan Shah. To control the R. ferrugineus infestation pheromone trapping system was used. Significantly more R. ferrugineus (18-21) adults were captured during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd week of July and 2nd week of June. The studies conducted will be helpful in survey and control of R. ferrugineus infestation in Khairpur District of Sindh province

Evaluation of Different Date Palm Varieties and Pheromone Traps Against Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in Sindh

In a two-year study ten commercial date palm varieties were evaluated. The varieties showed varying response to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv; some varieties suffered heavy infestation while others indicated tolerance against R. ferrugineus. The most tolerant varieties with less infestation percentage against R. ferrugineus were Muzawati (8%) followed by Pathri (12%), Thothar (15%), Khar and Shakri (16%) respectively. The varieties which suffered high infestation rate were Karbalain, Dhedhi, Fasli, Aseel and Eidan Shah. To control the R. ferrugineus infestation pheromone trapping system was used. Significantly more R. ferrugineus (18-21) adults were captured during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd week of July and 2nd week of June. The studies conducted will be helpful in survey and control of R. ferrugineus infestation in Khairpur District of Sindh province

Impact of Sporisorium scitamineum infection on the qualitative traits of commercial cultivars and advanced lines of sugarcane.

Whip smut disease of sugarcane, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is considered one of the main constraints in the successful cultivation of sugarcane. The pathogen infection can decrease the quantity and quality of the produce. Cultivation of resistant varieties is the most feasible strategy to combat the harms of this devastating disease. Development of varieties having disease-resistance together with improved important traits such as brix, pol, purity, CSS, and low fiber contents are desirable. Therefore, we documented the variances in quality traits of 104 sugarcane cultivars under disease pressure in split-plot design with 6 replications. The split ANOVA revealed a highly significant impact (p4.032) in brix, pol, purity, and CSS of more than 40% of the cultivars used, as compared to the uninoculated ones. On the other hand, the smut infection caused a highly significant (t>4.032) increase in fiber percentage of 41 cultivars. We found significant positive correlations between smut rating and reduction of brix, pol, purity, and CSS contents. The cultivars that were caught with greater disease severity, compromised a higher reduction of their useful contents. Similarly, a significant positive correlation was found between increased fiber percent and smut rating. Remarkably, cultivars that showed immune reactions to whip smut disease were not statistically different from uninoculated ones in brix, pol, purity, CSS, and fiber contents. Variable effects of whip smut infection to quality parameters of different cultivars depict the importance of further improvement through breeding programs