Evaluation of different fungicides against stalk rot of Maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme

Maize is the world's leading crop and is widely cultivated as a cereal grain, it is the only food cereal crop that can be grown in diverse seasons, ecologies and uses. Maize yields in Pakistan are very poor due to insect pests and diseases. Among them, the stalk rot of maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme is very important. Keeping in view the huge losses caused by the disease, the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected fungicides against the disease development under field conditions and on the plant growth and yield parameters. A total of six fungicides were used such as Scoure, Plyrem, Topguard, Ridomil, Fenatac M, and Cobox with three different concentrations i.e., (50, 100 and 200 ppm). The effect on disease incidence, growth and yield parameters such as plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight, and biological yield (t acre-1) were recorded. The results showed that all applied fungicides significantly affect against stalk rot of maize caused by F. moniliforme. The maximum plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight and biological yield (t acre-1) was noted under Ridomil and Scoure fungicides, followed by Topguard, Cobox, Plyrem and Fenatac M. Whereas, the minimum plant height, root length, root weight, leaf weight per plant, grain weight, and biological yield (t acre-1) was observed under control plants where no fungicides were applied

Description of a new species in the Genus Cosella Newkirk and Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) From China

Eriophyoid mites are the most common groups of phytophagous mites found on various plants in Zhejiang Province of China. These mites are usually found on agricultural, horticultural, ornamental, and medicinal plants, including fruit and forest trees. Zhejiang Province is famous for its renowned mountains consist of Yandang, Putuo, Xuedou, Tianmu, Tiantai and Qingliang covered with green forest and wide range of vegetation due to which it is called as a treasure house of plants in China, which provide ecologically suitable living environment for eriophyoids species richness. Because of the diversity of host plants in Zhejiang Province, there is a dire need to investigate the presence of these minute creatures-especially those species that can be harmful to economic crops.  Prior to this study genus Cosella Newkirk and Keifer held 43 species worldwide. Further one new leaf vagrant eriophyoid mite species in the genus Cosella was found from Zhejiang Province, China. A survey was carried out to determine the eriophyid mite fauna on natural vegetation of Linan City, Zhejiang Province China. One new species Cosella linanensis sp. nov.  is described and illustrated from Rhododendron ovatum (Ericaceae). There was no apparent damage found on host plants where the new species was collected

Comparative performance of top cross and population cross hybrids in white Maize using a common tester

Improved maize populations and cross hybrids can be beneficial alternatives for commercial single-cross hybrids and good elite sources for diverse inbred lines. A set of 22 genotypes comprised 10 population crosses, 10 top crosses, and two check cultivars were evaluated at Cereal Crop Research Institute, Pirsabak-Nowshera, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2014. This research's major aims were to determine the magnitude of heterosis and the degree of character association between yield and its attributes to select superior genotypes from the breeding material. Data were recorded on maturity, and yield associated traits, where significant genetic variability was observed among the genotypes for all the studied traits except days to silking. Mean values for the studied traits ranged from 44 to 52 days for tasseling, 48 to 54 days for anthesis, 49 to 54 days for silking, -1.33 to 2.33 for the anthesis-silking interval, 2.53 to 8.47 kg for fresh ear weight, 12 to 16 rows for kernel rows cob-1, 27.15 to 37.49 g for 100-kernel weight and 2830 to 7649 kg ha-1 for grain yield. Days to silking, anthesis silking interval, and kernel rows cob-1 showed low broad sense heritability (12.08%, 24.84%, 27.59%), days to tasseling, days to anthesis revealed moderate heritability (40.53%, 36.62%), while fresh ear, 100-kernel weight, and grain yield exhibited high broad-sense heritability (94.89%, 82.33%, 90%). Negative and significant heterotic values were observed for maturity traits, while heterotic values were positive and significant for yield-associated traits. Correlation analysis revealed that characters like fresh ear weight (r = 0.93) and 100-kernel weight (r = 0.50) manifested a strong positive and significant association with grain yield. Based on mean performance and grain yield, promising hybrids were 3008F3 x 2007-WC and 3008F3 x 2010.

A Review on Pharmaceutical Waste Pollution in Water: Extent, Management and Removal Strategies

Pharmaceutical waste and presence of hazardous pollutants in them is a growing concern due to their fate, origin, higher rate of utilization and varying nature of active ingredients resulting in water contamination. However, there is few research on the graving nature of the problem. Cascading impacts on human and ecosystems can be expected from contaminated groundwater and other aquatic channels. While, various technologies used and studied for the removal/reduction/sedimentation of pharmaceutical pollutants. At the initial stages, level of toxicity should check with respect to flora, fauna, environment, and human health. Furthermore, the production of by-products from pharmaceutical pollutants should also be checked and regulated. These by-products can be much more toxic, than the original contaminants and can exert significant toxic effects. It was concluded that there should be ongoing efforts to reduce the cost associated with pharmaceutical waste and their pollutants removal processes to ensure sustainability in the environment and human being

Cell Transplantation Therapies to Reverse Type 1 Diabetes: A review

Stem cell technology is demonstrating promising advancements in cure of diseases due its differentiation ability. Type 1 diabetes is mainly caused by autoimmune β cells destruction. In this review, we focus on treatment procedures of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) with numerous stem cells (SCs) i.e hPSCs, MSCs, hESCs, BMSCs, AFSCs, HSCs and islet cells (that are not stem cells but they are approved worldwide and are being successfully used to permanently reverse T1D). A brief overview of this disease along with the advancements in treatment of T1D with stem cells is discussed. Biomaterial encapsulation to avoid immune rejection and improved immunomodulation and immune tolerance via drugs /bioengineering techniques makes the outcomes of SC therapies more efficient and productive, hence, proving to be another future milestone of completely reversing type 1 diabetes especially in those patients who got clinically diagnosed at an early stage and then received prompt treatment of either restoration of already available β cells functionality or transplantation of purified and functional SCs differentiated insulin producing cells to normalize the glycemic control and homeostasis

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

Trichogramma chilonis, an effective egg parasitoid for control of white stem borer Scirpophaga innotata (Walker), (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in rice

Rice an important staple food crop of the world, which is attacked by the various insect pests, among them the stem borers are the most destructive pests, distributed in all rice growing areas of the world and cause the severe losses. This research investigated the efficacy of the parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) to control the white stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata) in rice. In this respect the field studies were conducted in lower Sindh, Pakistan for the year, Kharif - 2017 and 2018. Trichogramma egg parasitoid over 230 species are reported to have been remained in biological control of insect pests of over 200 insect species belonging to 70 different families, mainly the order Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Orthroptera and Thysnoptera, in order to manage the white stem borer of rice the Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) was used as a bio-control agent. The Studies revealed that T. chilonis proved an effective biocontrol strategy against white stem borer of rice. The result of this study could be useful in an integrated pest management program for the management of white stem borer of rice the Trichogramma chilonis.            

Characterization and identification of plant growth promoting endophytic bacterial strain IU10

Growing evidence has suggested that plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria can regulate, which can be used as biofertilizers, bio-stimulants, and biocontrol agent. In the present study, Bacillus subtills IU10 was isolated from plants and was subjected to advanced chromatography and spectroscopic techniques for the extraction and isolation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Up to 10 µg/mL of IAA was quantified in the bacterial extract using the [2H2]-IAA internal standards in GC-MS analysis. PVK agar containing Ca3(PO4)2 was used to measure the ability of IU10 to solubilize phosphate. The clear zones formed by phosphate solubilization were measured to assess the phosphate solubilization potential. Azurol-S (CAS) medium was used for measuring siderophore production. The orange halo circles were measured to quantify the siderophore production. Endophytic IU10 inoculated plants showed significantly improvement root to shoot length, biomass and chlorophyll as compared to control. The data indicates that IU10 produce phytohormones, siderophore and immobilize nutrients could be used as biofertilizer.