Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth promotion by halo-tolerant PGPR-consortium

Salinity is among the major environmental factors that significantly affects the global crop production. Inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) increases crop productivity because PGPR convert the un-available forms of nutrients to plant-available form. With the aim to develop saline-soil specific biofertilizer, bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere of wheat grown in saline soil (EC 7.63 dS m.-1). Of total 21, eight bacteria showed halophilic (up to 65g L-1 NaCl), and four showed alkaliphilic (up to pH 9.5) trait; 12 isolates produced indole-3-acetic acid (411.5-9.33 mg L-1), 15 bacterial isolates solubilized inorganic tri-calcium phosphate (17.5-6.7 mg L-1), 14 isolates exhibited ACC-deaminase activity, and only one isolate solubilized the insoluble ZnO. A consortium of three potential PGPR strains (SAL-12, SAL-17, SAL-21; having multiple PGP traits) was tested for two years in laboratory and field experiments for wheat productivity with half dose of chemical fertilizer (NPK) under induced and natural salinity. The comparison of results with a non-halophilic wheat inoculum (BioPower containing Azospirillum and Pseudomonas spp.) indicated that both halo-tolerant and non-halo tolerant PGPR-consortia with reduced fertilizer dose have potential to increase the growth and yield of wheat in saline conditions. The relative increase in yield induced by halo-tolerant consortia was however, significantly better as compared to non-halo-tolerant PGPR inoculum that may be attributed to salt tolerance potential and stable PGP activities of PGPR indigenous to stressed environment. The study suggests using eco-friendly, cost-effective PGPR-biofertilization (inoculation) technology for wheat productivity in saline environments with reduced application of chemical fertilizers

Repellent potential of medicinal oils against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) under laboratory conditions

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine repellency of five local medicinal oils i.e., neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss., castor Ricinus communis L., rapeseed Brassica napus L., lettuce Lactuca sativa L. and chamomile Anthemis cotula L. against Tribolium castaneum Herbst, each applied at 0.1, 0.5- and 1.0-ml doses. A glass cylinder divided into A, B and C sections with one end close was used. Fifty grams of wheat flour was placed at A and C ends. Twenty freshly emerged T. castaneum was released at the center of cylinder (B). The data was recorded after one-, two- and three-days to count number of T. castaneum at A and C for calculating percentage repellency. All the oils showed repellent potential against T. castaneum as their repellency increased with dose and time exposure. After three days, 100% repellency of T. castaneum was recorded in 0.5- and 1.0-ml doses of neem oil, followed by 6.67±3.33% repellency at 0.1 ml neem oil. After three days, the maximum repellency of T. castaneum in rapeseed, castor, chamomile, and lettuce was 86.67±7.26, 76.67±6.01, 76.67±4.41, and 75.00±7.64%, respectively, all recorded at 1.0 ml dose. Overall, neem oil exhibited significantly more repellency of T. castaneum, whereas castor, lettuce, rapeseed and chamomile were found non-significant with each other. Among doses, although highest repellency was recorded at 1.0 ml dose, but not significantly different from 0.5 ml dose of the individual oil. Therefore, 0.5 ml should be applied per 50 grams of wheat flour to get effective repellency of T. castaneum

Effect of Ghrelin Antagonist on Serum Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Background: To determine the effect of ghrelin antagonist (D-Lys3) on plasma glucose, insulin resistance, serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels, on obese and type 2 diabetic mice.Methods: Fifty healthy BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Mice in group II to V were fed high-fat diet for 4 weeks followed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin to group IV and V to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus. Group I served as control.Groups II and III were obese and group IV and V were diabetic. Groups III and V were injected ghrelin antagonist IP for 6 days. Terminal intracardiac blood extraction was done and samples were analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, testosterone and luteinizing hormone. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance.Results: Plasma glucose level and insulin resistance decreased and serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels increased after using ghrelin antagonist in group III and V.Conclusion: Glucose level and insulin resistance were significantly decreased in obese and type 2 diabetic mice after ghrelin antagonist administration. Whereas serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were increase

Effect of Ghrelin Antagonist on Serum Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Background: To determine the effect of ghrelin antagonist (D-Lys3) on plasma glucose, insulin resistance, serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels, on obese and type 2 diabetic mice.Methods: Fifty healthy BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Mice in group II to V were fed high-fat diet for 4 weeks followed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin to group IV and V to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus. Group I served as control.Groups II and III were obese and group IV and V were diabetic. Groups III and V were injected ghrelin antagonist IP for 6 days. Terminal intracardiac blood extraction was done and samples were analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, testosterone and luteinizing hormone. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance.Results: Plasma glucose level and insulin resistance decreased and serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels increased after using ghrelin antagonist in group III and V.Conclusion: Glucose level and insulin resistance were significantly decreased in obese and type 2 diabetic mice after ghrelin antagonist administration. Whereas serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were increase

Line × Tester Analysis for Earliness Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Gossypium hirsutum L.

The present study was carried out at Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) Tando Jam during 2016. The experimental material consisted of six lines viz., CRIS-134, Sindh-1, Sadori, Malmal, IR-901 and three testers; Bt-3701, Bt-121 and CIM-534.The crosses were made in line × tester mating design. F1 hybrids along with parents were sown in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications in 2016. Seven yield and early maturing traits was recorded like, days to 1st flowering, days to 75% boll opening, plant height(cm), sympodial branches plant-1, bolls plant-1, seed cotton yield-1(g) and lint (%) for estimating of combining ability. The analysis of variance showed that genotypes, crosses, parents, parent vs crosses, lines, testers and line × tester were significant which demonstrated that genetic difference were present in genotypes for various yield and early maturing parameters. Among the lines, Sindh-1, CRIS-134 and testers, Bt-121 and Bt-3701 were best combiners and F1 hybrids like CRIS-134 × Bt-3701, Malmal × Bt-3701, CRIS-134 × Bt-121 were best combiners for all characters

Impact of Different Oils as Biopesticide against Sucking Insect Pests in Cotton

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various botanical products on population of sucking complex on cotton crop. The study was conducted at the experimental area of Entomology section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tando Jam during the Kharif Season-2004. Five bio-pesticides i.e. neem oil (500ml/acre), cooking oil (750 ml/acre), linseed oil (750ml/acre), hing (290gm/acre) and cotton oil (750ml/acre) were applied twice against sucking complex (jassid, thrip and whitefly) and compared with an untreated control. It was observed that the efficacy of different bio-pesticides against sucking complex (jassid, whitefly and thrips) varied significantly. All products reduced pest population during both sprays. On an average, neem oil (63.27%) and cotton oil (62.01%) were found to be superior in reducing sucking pest, followed by hing (58.25%), cooking oil (57.18%) and linseed oil (55.24%) respectively

Line × Tester Analysis for Earliness Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Gossypium hirsutum L.

The present study was carried out at Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) Tando Jam during 2016. The experimental material consisted of six lines viz., CRIS-134, Sindh-1, Sadori, Malmal, IR-901 and three testers; Bt-3701, Bt-121 and CIM-534.The crosses were made in line × tester mating design. F1 hybrids along with parents were sown in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications in 2016. Seven yield and early maturing traits was recorded like, days to 1st flowering, days to 75% boll opening, plant height(cm), sympodial branches plant-1, bolls plant-1, seed cotton yield-1(g) and lint (%) for estimating of combining ability. The analysis of variance showed that genotypes, crosses, parents, parent vs crosses, lines, testers and line × tester were significant which demonstrated that genetic difference were present in genotypes for various yield and early maturing parameters. Among the lines, Sindh-1, CRIS-134 and testers, Bt-121 and Bt-3701 were best combiners and F1 hybrids like CRIS-134 × Bt-3701, Malmal × Bt-3701, CRIS-134 × Bt-121 were best combiners for all characters

The Effect of the Different Transgenic BT Cotton Technology on the Fiber Quality

Transgenic crops that contain Cry genes from B. thuringiensis (Bt) were commercialized in many countries and widely adopted by farmers over the last 17 years. The cultivation of transgenic crops expressing B. thuringiensis (Bt) toxins to control insect pests provides both economical and environmental benefits from reductions in chemical insecticide use, effective control of pests and minimal impact on non-target organisms. The objective of this research was to know the effect of different transgenic Bt cotton on the fiber quality of different Bt cotton varieties. Three transgenic Bt cotton varieties CCR141, CCRI79 and Bollgard II were planted in the field of Institute of Cotton Research Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences during 2012 and 2013. Randomly 50 bolls lint sample were collected from top, middle and bottom of the cotton plants. The fiber obtained from the boll samples was used to measure the cotton fiber staple length (mm), staple elongation (%), staple micronaire value, staple strength (cN/tex) and staple uniformity (%) by using HVI equipment at Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center of cotton Quality, China. The result shows that lint quality characters of transgenic cotton varieties were not significantly affected compared with conventional non Bt variety during 2012 and 2013 but fiber strength is significantly affected during 2013. In conclusion there was no effect of transgenic Bt cotton on the fiber quality of cotton during 2012 and 2013

The Effect of the Different Transgenic BT Cotton Technology on the Fiber Quality

Transgenic crops that contain Cry genes from B. thuringiensis (Bt) were commercialized in many countries and widely adopted by farmers over the last 17 years. The cultivation of transgenic crops expressing B. thuringiensis (Bt) toxins to control insect pests provides both economical and environmental benefits from reductions in chemical insecticide use, effective control of pests and minimal impact on non-target organisms. The objective of this research was to know the effect of different transgenic Bt cotton on the fiber quality of different Bt cotton varieties. Three transgenic Bt cotton varieties CCR141, CCRI79 and Bollgard II were planted in the field of Institute of Cotton Research Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences during 2012 and 2013. Randomly 50 bolls lint sample were collected from top, middle and bottom of the cotton plants. The fiber obtained from the boll samples was used to measure the cotton fiber staple length (mm), staple elongation (%), staple micronaire value, staple strength (cN/tex) and staple uniformity (%) by using HVI equipment at Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center of cotton Quality, China. The result shows that lint quality characters of transgenic cotton varieties were not significantly affected compared with conventional non Bt variety during 2012 and 2013 but fiber strength is significantly affected during 2013. In conclusion there was no effect of transgenic Bt cotton on the fiber quality of cotton during 2012 and 2013

Characterization of Elite Upland Cotton Genotypes for Earliness and Yield Traits

Short duration cotton genotypes increased the chances to harvest crop before cold and rainy weather conditions. However, earliness in cotton is a difficult character, which is assessed by determining many plant traits. The current experimental was conducted at Cotton Section, A.R.I. Tando Jam, during kharif season 2013. The eight cotton genotypes including CRIS-342, Sindh-I, Haridost, Malmal, Bt-121, Bt-3701, TS-501 and Shahbaz were sown i n randomized complete block design with four replications. In a total, seven quantitative traits were measured such as days to first flowering, node number to set first sympodial branch, node number to set first flowering, sympodial branch length (cm), sympodial branches plant-1, number of bolls plant-1, seed cotton yield plant-1(g). The mean squares from analysis of variances showed that genotypes differed significant (P 0.01) for all the studied traits, demonstrating a vast genetic variability in tested genotypes. The genotypes, Sindh-1, CRIS-342, Bt-121 and Bt-3701 were characterized as early maturing or short duration cotton varieties. However, the correlation between yield and earliness traits were best criteria for developing the short duration cotton yield varieties