Management of Fusarium corm rot of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus sect. Blandus cv. Aarti) by using leaves of allelopathic plants

Two pot experiments were conducted to investigate the potential of different plant materials to manage the corm rot disease of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus sect. Blandus cv. Aarti) caused by Fusariumoxysporum f.sp. gladioli (Massey) Snyd. & Hans. In the first experiment, leaves of five allelopathic plant species viz. Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Coronopus didymus (L.) Smith, Chenopodium album L. and Cyperus rotundus L. were incorporated in the soil at 2, 4 and 6 g 100 g-1 of soil. In the second experiment, leaves of five plant species namely Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Ageratum conyzoides L. and Allium cepa L. were spread on the surface of the pot soil at 4 g 100 g-1 of soil. All the leaf incorporation and spreading treatments significantly reduced the disease incidence and number of infection lesions on corms. Incorporation of all the dosages of 2 – 4% of C. rotundus significantly enhanced shoot biomass. Similarly 2% E. citriodora and 4 – 6% C. album incorporation also enhance shoot biomass significantly over Fusarium control. All the leaf spreading treatments significantly enhanced shoot length and biomass. The present study concludes that corm rot disease of gladiolus can be effectively managed by using allelopathic plants

Screening of Gladiolus germplasm for agronomic performance and resistance against corm rot disease

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the agronomic performance and resistance of Gladiolus germplasm against corm rot disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. gladioli (L. Masey) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hans. Among the 23 Gladiolus varieties tested, Glad Red exhibited the highest spike length of 55 cm followed by Advanced Red (50.2 cm) and White Prosperity (49.5 cm). Highest number of flowers (13 per spike) was recorded in Rose Supreme, Jester Ruffled Yellow, Princess Margaret Rose and Chinon. Glad Red depicted highest field life of flowers (42.5 days), followed by Friendship (42.5 days), Peter Pears (38.7 days) and Chinon (37.3 days). Different varieties showed 6.6 – 56.6% disease incidence and 0 – 33.3% mortality. Advanced Red, White Prosperity, Violetta, San Remo and Yellow Glad were found comparatively more resistant to corm rot disease with disease incidence of 0 – 10%. Indian variety Aarti was found to be the most susceptible to corm rot disease with disease incidence of 56.6%. Disease incidence was significantly and positively correlated with corm size. The present study concludes that Advanced Red and White Prosperity are the most suitable Gladiolus varieties for cultivation under agro-climatic conditions of Pakistan, having best floral characteristics and resistance against corm rot disease.Key words: Corm rot disease, disease resistance, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli, germplasm screening, Gladiolus

Assessment of biodiversity based on morphological characteristics and RAPD markers among genotypes of wild rose species

Conservation and utilization of the native plant resources is essential for long term sustainability of biodiversity. Wild native resources are adapted to specific and diverse environmental conditions and therefore, these adaptive features can be introduced into modern cultivars either through conventional breeding or advanced molecular genetic techniques. Understanding the genetic make up of the wildly growing plant species and of target desirable genes is a prerequisite for this purpose. Five wild rose (Rosa L.) genotypes were collected from different locations in northern hilly areas of Pakistan for this study. Different morphological characteristics and PCR based random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to find out the diversity and relationship among the genotypes. On morphological basis, Rosa webbiana collected from Muree and Nathia gali showed maximum (83%) similarity, whereas on DNA pattern basis, Rosa brunonii collected from Bansra gali and Sunny bank showed maximum (72%) similarity, while R. webbiana showed maximum diversity among all the species.Key words: Genetic diversity, morphological differences, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Rosa

Evaluation of the genetic structure of the urban dwelling species of Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginisnus) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis

We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique to decipher the genetic structure of the Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginisnus) in Pakistan. The samples were collected from four cities namely: Dera Ghazi Khan, Jahanian, Khanewal and Gujranwala. The analysis showed a high genetic diversity at species level (H = 0.318, S = 0.467) but low levels at population levels (H = 0.047, S = 0.069 to H = 0.195, S = 0.283). The four populations analyzed were genetically distant from each other and hinted the effect of urbanization role in isolating the urban dwelling species. The genetic distances between populations ranged from D = 0.2403 to D = 0.3419 and the similarity coefficient showed low range from 0.66 to 0.70. This study will help in future conservation plans and also help the understanding of the role of urbanization on fragmentation of species’ natural distribution and dispersal mechanism.Key words: Acridotheres ginginisnus, Bank Myna, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), genetic structure

Cloning and expression of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite P22 protein

Delay in diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women who have been infected during the first trimester of gestation can lead to death of her fetus. Serological tests based on recombinant proteins are the main diagnosis methods for the detection of anti Toxoplasma antibody in serum samples. The aim of this study was to clone and express a gene encoding a P22 protein of T. gondii tachyzoite as using antigen for ELISA serology method. DNA was extracted from T. gondii (RH-strain) tachyzoites and PCR reaction was done using corresponding primers. The PCR product was purified, ligated to PTZ57R plasmid via T/A cloning method and subcloned into SacI and BamHI digested pET32a expression vector. Recombinant plasmid was transformed in E. coli (Bl21 DE3) and induced by 1 mM IPTG and analyzed by 12% SDS-PAGE. Expressd protein was purified by affinity chromatography and confirmed by western blot analysis. We successfully cloned and expressed T. gondii P22 protein.Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, cloning, recombinant P22

Early MCI-to-AD Conversion Prediction Using Future Value Forecasting of Multimodal Features

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression, it is imperative to identify the subjects with mild cognitive impairment before clinical symptoms of AD appear. This work proposes a technique for decision support in identifying subjects who will show transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the future. We used robust predictors from multivariate MRI-derived biomarkers and neuropsychological measures and tracked their longitudinal trajectories to predict signs of AD in the MCI population. Assuming piecewise linear progression of the disease, we designed a novel weighted gradient offset-based technique to forecast the future marker value using readings from at least two previous follow-up visits. Later, the complete predictor trajectories are used as features for a standard support vector machine classifier to identify MCI-to-AD progressors amongst the MCI patients enrolled in the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI) cohort. We explored the performance of both unimodal and multimodal models in a 5-fold cross-validation setup. The proposed technique resulted in a high classification AUC of 91.2% and 95.7% for 6-month- and 1-year-ahead AD prediction, respectively, using multimodal markers. In the end, we discuss the efficacy of MRI markers as compared to NM for MCI-to-AD conversion prediction

Association of Lowering Low‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Contemporary Lipid‐Lowering Therapies and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background The relationship between lowering LDL (low‐density lipoprotein) cholesterol with contemporary lipid‐lowering therapies and incident diabetes mellitus (DM) remains uncertain. Methods and Results Thirty‐three randomized controlled trials (21 of statins, 12 of PCSK9 [proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9] inhibitors, and 0 of ezetimibe) were selected using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (inception through November 15, 2018). A total of 163 688 nondiabetic patients were randomly assigned to more intensive (83 123 patients) or less intensive (80 565 patients) lipid‐lowering therapy. More intensive lipid‐lowering therapy was defined as the more potent pharmacological strategy (PCSK9 inhibitors, higher intensity statins, or statins), whereas less intensive therapy corresponded to active control group or placebo/usual care of the trial. Metaregression and meta‐analyses were conducted using a random‐effects model. No significant association was noted between 1‐mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol and incident DM for more intensive lipid‐lowering therapy (risk ratio: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.87–1.04; P=0.30; R2=14%) or for statins or PCSK9 inhibitors. More intensive lipid‐lowering therapy was associated with a higher risk of incident DM compared with less intensive therapy (risk ratio: 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11; P\u3c0.001; I2=0%). These results were driven by higher risk of incident DM with statins (risk ratio: 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05–1.15; P\u3c0.001; I2=0%), whereas PCSK9 inhibitors were not associated with incident DM (risk ratio: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93–1.07; P=0.96; I2=0%; P=0.02 for interaction). Conclusions Among intensive lipid‐lowering therapies, there was no independent association between reduction in LDL cholesterol and incident DM. The risk of incident DM was higher with statins, whereas PCSK9 inhibitors had no association with risk of incident DM

Association of Lowering Low�Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Contemporary Lipid�Lowering Therapies and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta�Analysis

Background The relationship between lowering LDL (low�density lipoprotein) cholesterol with contemporary lipid�lowering therapies and incident diabetes mellitus (DM) remains uncertain. Methods and Results Thirty�three randomized controlled trials (21 of statins, 12 of PCSK9 [proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9] inhibitors, and 0 of ezetimibe) were selected using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (inception through November 15, 2018). A total of 163 688 nondiabetic patients were randomly assigned to more intensive (83 123 patients) or less intensive (80 565 patients) lipid�lowering therapy. More intensive lipid�lowering therapy was defined as the more potent pharmacological strategy (PCSK9 inhibitors, higher intensity statins, or statins), whereas less intensive therapy corresponded to active control group or placebo/usual care of the trial. Metaregression and meta�analyses were conducted using a random�effects model. No significant association was noted between 1�mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol and incident DM for more intensive lipid�lowering therapy (risk ratio: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.87–1.04; P=0.30; R2=14%) or for statins or PCSK9 inhibitors. More intensive lipid�lowering therapy was associated with a higher risk of incident DM compared with less intensive therapy (risk ratio: 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11; P<0.001; I2=0%). These results were driven by higher risk of incident DM with statins (risk ratio: 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05–1.15; P<0.001; I2=0%), whereas PCSK9 inhibitors were not associated with incident DM (risk ratio: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93–1.07; P=0.96; I2=0%; P=0.02 for interaction). Conclusions Among intensive lipid�lowering therapies, there was no independent association between reduction in LDL cholesterol and incident DM. The risk of incident DM was higher with statins, whereas PCSK9 inhibitors had no association with risk of incident DM

Integrated approach for reservoir characterization and field development of Meyal area, Upper Indus basin, Pakistan

678-685Seismic data commonly provides insight into subsurface reservoirs. However, only seismic is not capable to completely evaluate reservoir pore fluid heterogeneities. Therefore, an integrated approach of seismic interpretation, petrophysical analysis and Gassmann fluid substitution is used in Meyal area, for its reservoir depiction and field development. The results of seismic analysis reveal that the study area is in compressional regime and thrust bounded pop-up structure makes it appropriate for hydrocarbon accumulation. A new lead is identified that could be probable hydrocarbon potential zone. Petrophysical investigation depicts that the zone is saturated with hydrocarbon and hold suitable effective porosity. In addition, fluid substitution in desired zone reflects variations in elastic properties (P, S-wave velocity and density) when substituted with brine. The maximum variations are perceived at maximum saturation of brine. This approach can be confidently applied to quantify reservoir potential in any sedimentary basin of the world