This study aimed to evaluate the performance of 24 wheat genotypes using a hydroponic system under 100 mM,140 mM and 200 mM NaCl treatments. Among the genotypes tested MH-21 and SARC-4 exhibited notable salt tolerance, displaying minimal reductions in growth and maintaining high SPAD values. Conversely, Lasani 2008 and AARI-11 demonstrated sensitivity, showing significant decreases in growth parameters. Furthermore, the measurement of MSI and RWC indicated that the salt-tolerant genotypes maintained better cellular membrane stability and water retention capacity up to 21% and 41% under high salinity stress compared to the salt-sensitive genotypes. Ionic analysis revealed that the salt-tolerant genotypes MH-21 and SARC-4 exhibited efficient ion regulation, with lower Na+ accumulation up to 86% and 85% and higher K+ retention up to 62 % and 58% at higher salinity level compared to the salt-sensitive genotypes Lasani 2008 and AARI-11. This suggested that ion homeostasis and selective ion uptake mechanisms play a critical role in salt tolerance in wheat. MH-21 and SARC-4 were ranked as salt tolerant genotypes in Principle Component Analysis based on Salt Tolerance IndexTDM and Salt Tolerance IndexK+/Na+.

 

In vitro callus culture of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Yecora rojo) was established on MS medium supplied with different concentrations of 2, 4-D, and NAA (0.5-10 µM). The maximum callus growth was observed in MS media with 5.0 µM 2,4-D on a fresh weight basis. The effects of salt stress were studied on the callus of wheat. We analyzed biochemical markers and the response of the antioxidant system in callus. The callus fresh and dry weight were found to be maximum (fresh wt.1.01 g and dry wt. 0.14 g on MS+50.0 mM NaCl).  As the concentration of salt increased, the content of soluble protein, proline, and TBARS were higher in comparison to control. However, all these parameters decreased at the highest and enhanced salt concentration (200 mM NaCl) as of control. Similar observations were made in the case of antioxidant enzymes under salinity stress which were found to be highest at 150 mM NaCl as of control. The flow cytometry analysis exhibited no significant differences in genome size in treated and control calli, hence it was genetically stable with their genome size (2C DNA content) like control. The high salt tolerance of calli was evident from the accumulation of solute in the cell as of control.

A pot experiment was carried-out to evaluate the effects of exogenously sprayed nitrogenous compounds, nitric oxide (NO), arginine (Arg), and NO + Arg in mitigating the harmful impacts of drought stress applied on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Two different cultivars of sunflower plants (FH-701 and FH-811) were subjected to control conditions [100% field capacity (F.C.)] and drought-stress (50% F.C.) regimes. Then after four weeks of water deficit conditions, foliar spray of nitric oxide (0.5 mM), arginine (0.5 mM) and combination of both (0.5 mM NO + 0.5 mM Arg) along with control (no application of either of the nitrogenous compounds) were applied to sunflower plants. Drought stress significantly suppressed the plant morphological attributes (shoot and root fresh as well as their dry weights and plant shoot-root lengths), leaf relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid (AsA), proline and glycine betaine (GB) concentrations. Moreover, drought stress increased the relative membrane permeability, total soluble proteins (TSP), total phenolics and various activities of antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Foliar applied nitric oxide (0.5 mM), arginine (0.5 mM), and NO + Arg triggered the increase in the lengths, fresh weights, dry weights of plants shoot-root, RWC, chlorophyll pigments (a & b), GB, total soluble proteins and proline contents under all water regimes. Of all foliar-applied treatments, the combined application of NO and Arg was the most efficient in improving the damaging impacts of drought-stress on plant biomass, chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant defense system. The sunflower cv. FH-701 was better in growth and cv. FH-811 in AsA, GB, and activities of enzymes like peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Overall, exogenous application of NO and Arg together can be suggested to increase sunflower plants' resistance to drought under dry land conditions

Drought stress is one of the most significant environmental factors limiting plant growth and productivity. In this regard, applying nano-fertilizers is a favorable emerging method for reducing abiotic stresses. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of TiO2 NPs on the morphological, physiological, and antioxidative response of Moringa peregrina grown under drought stress. The suspensions of nano-TiO2 in the varying concentrations (D=0, T1=50, T2=100 and T3=200 mg/L) were applied as foliar spray to M. peregrina seedlings after 4 weeks of emergence for three continuous days. The seedlings were irrigated with distilled water every 3 days until the relative soil water content reached approximately 30%. Untreated pots (control) were irrigated with tap water continuously. Later, data for different morphological and biochemical parameters were determined in triplicate. The results so obtained showed that the treatment of M. peregrina under drought stress with TiO2 NPs enhanced the total chlorophyll content, total soluble proteins, proline content, and antioxidant enzyme activities in dose-dependent manner compared to those of non-treated plants. It is concluded from the present study that drought stress-induced damages, such as oxidative stress and membrane impairment, can be ameliorated by foliar application of TiO2 NPs. Therefore, an appropriate concentration of TiO2 NPs can be used as an exogenous stimulus for enhancing morphological and biochemical performances in M. peregrina under drought stress.

 

To explore the heat tolerance capabilities of 10 ground cover plant species, treatments using maximum temperatures of 25°C (control), 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C were performed in growth chambers. Compared with the control group (25°C), under heat stress (30°C, 35°C, and 40°C), the largest reductions in root activity and transpiration rates occurred in M. cordifolium (86.04%) and D. chinensis (61.77%), respectively. Except for P. lanceolata, V. hybrida, and D. chinensis, the reduction in water content for the other seven species (including C. roseus) was less than 5%. Under 40°C stress, photosynthesis-related indicators such as relative chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance decreased by 1.39%-67.29%, 7.75%-52.46%, and 1.09%-57.28% respectively, while intercellular CO2 concentration increased by 12.08%-40.40% when compared to the control in the ten plant species. Under different temperature treatment conditions, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities were highest in C. roseus, reaching 250.39 U/(g·min) and 3017.59 U/(g·min), respectively, while catalase (CAT) activity was highest in P. lanceolata at 152.73 U/(g·min). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content rose after increasing temperatures from 25°C to 35°C. However, the change trends of soluble protein, soluble sugar, and proline contents varied, ranging from -57.17% to 48.56%, -53.22% to 501.02%, and -47.66% to 227.34%, respectively. Principal component analysis showed that the first five principal components had a cumulative contribution rate of 83.162%. The membership function method combined with cluster analysis results allowed for the classification of these plants into three categories: strong heat tolerance (C. roseus, P. lanceolata, and T. fournieri, three species in total), moderate heat tolerance (V. hybrida, A. hispida, M. cordifolium, P. 'Cerveza'n Lime', and C. scutellarioides, five species in total), and weak heat tolerance (D. chinensis and T. cerinthoides 'Nanouk', two species in total). In summary, this study provides a physiological basis for selecting ground cover plant resources that could be used in areas with different temperatures

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) on the emergence rate and seedling characteristics of clary sage (Salvia sclarea) and to lay the foundation for future breeding studies. S. sclarea seeds were kept at 4 different EMS doses (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1%) for 4 different durations (6, 12, 24 and 48 hours). Seedlings were grown in the greenhouse. 0.25% EMS concentration was determined as the LD50 dose for S. sclarea used in the research. Among the EMS doses, the highest emergence value (72.00%) was taken from the control application and the lowest value (46.94%) was taken from the 1.00 EMS application. Among the application durations, the highest value (83.30%) gave 12hr, while the lowest value (32.15%) gave 24hr. Considering the Dose x Application Duration interaction, the highest (88.75%) and lowest (1.25%) values were recorded in 0.25% EMS-12hr and 1.00%EMS-48hr applications, respectively. Among the seedling characteristics examined, the highest values for seedling and root length, fresh and dry seedling weight, fresh root weight and leaf length were obtained from the 0.25% EMS-12hr application. The findings obtained from our study showed that as the application time and dose increased, the emergence was negatively affected, and that the EMS application time was more effective than the EMS application dose

For decades, hemp has been used as a medicinal plant. The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional importance of hemp products by analyzing their proximate composition in hemp seed and leaf, fatty acids profile in hemp seed oil and minerals in hempseed, hemp oil, and leaf as per standard methods. In hempseed, dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and energy are resulted significantly (p

The family Phyllanthaceae is distributed in tropical regions consisting of herbs, shrubs, and trees. or Phyllanthus emblica L. (Syn.: Emblica officinalis Gaertn), known as amla or Indian gooseberry, has been traditionally used to treat fever, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage, and inflammatory conditions. Recently, our research group also found P. emblica was efficient in the cure of hepatitis C and reduces the viral load. Based on the medicinal properties, the current study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical profile of the fruit, seeds and leaves of P. emblica grown in district Mansehra, KP, Pakistan. The total phenolic contents were determined using Folin Calteau assay, total flavonoids by aluminum chloride method while total alkaloids were eluted by bromocresol green (BCG) approach and compared in different parts. The volatile compounds in different fractions (methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and dichloromethane) of leaves and fruits were analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant potentials of the extracts of different parts were also compared. Fruit exhibited higher contents of alkaloid (720±3.25 µg CAF/g) whereas the leaves showed the least contents (170±3.12 g CAF/g). Total phenolic contents also showed the same pattern but in contrast the total flavonoids were highest in leaves and lowest in fruits. The seeds were in between fruits and leaves in terms of alkaloids, phenolics and flavonoids. The volatile compounds were detected in crude methanolic extract and in different fractions. Overall, thirty five compounds were detected in leaves while thirty six distinct volatile compounds were identified in fruits. Only seven compounds were found common in both leaves and fruits in all extracts. The most abundant compounds which were unique in leaves were 2-furancarboxaldehyde,5-(hydroxymethyl), squalene and 1,2,3-benzentriol while fruits 1,2,3-benzentriol, butanoic acid and 1,2,3 benzenetriol pyrogallol. Further purification, identification, and elucidation of these compounds are necessary to understand their significance in drugs development

Medicinal plants are a rich source of secondary metabolites chemical compounds that can be used to develop new drugs and effectively treat serious health conditions. This investigation employed Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Echeveria runyonii and to assess their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. The bioactive components in the extracts were identified by matching their mass spectra to those in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) database. Analgesic effects were evaluated using the hot plate (HP) and acetic acid-induced writhing (AAI) methods. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model (PEM), while antispasmodic effects were examined through the gastrointestinal motility test (CMT). GC-MS analysis revealed several bioactive compounds, including pharmacologically active constituents such as glycerin, cetene, trehalose, 1,2,3-propanetriol 1-acetate, pyridine-2,4-diol, 3,5,6-trimethyl-, 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dimethyl-, (E)-5-eicosene, and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The AAI method demonstrated significant peripheral analgesic activity (p

Medicinal plants are considered as the most important source for the development and discovery of natural drugs. The present research work was carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic activity of the methanolic and ether extracts of Plantago amplexicaulis L. The phytochemical screening revealed that the ether extract was rich in terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, and saponins whereas the methanolic extract of P. amplexicaulis was rich in terpenoids, flavonoids, phytosterols, tannins, proteins, phenols, and saponins. The antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of P. amplexicaulis had maximum inhibitory zone of 29 mm against Klebsiella pneumonia with 30 mg/mL concentration and the minimum inhibitory zone was recorded as 13 mm at concentration of 10mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus with maximum MIC value of 8mm against Escherichia coli. The ether extract of P. amplexicaulis had maximum inhibitory zone of 27 mm against K. pneumonia with 30 mg/ml of extract while the minimum zone of inhibition was 12 mm against Shigella flexneri at 10 mg/ml concentration with maximum MIC value of 8mm against S. flexneri. 30 mg/ml of methanolic extract in antifungal activity showed maximum zone of inhibition of 25 mm against Aspergillus fumigatus and the minimum zone of inhibition was 8 mm against Fusarium solani at concentration of 10 mg/ml with maximum MIC value of 8 mm against F. solani. 30 mg/ml of ether extract showed maximum zone of inhibition of 24 mm against F. solani while the minimum inhibition zone was 7 mm against A. fumigatus at concentration of 10 mg/ml with highest MIC value of 9 mm against A. fumigatus. 1000 mg/ml of methanol extract showed high mortality rate (293.33%) of brine shrimps while shown lowest (26.66) at 10 mg/ml. Similarly, 10 mg/ml of ether extract revealed high mortality rate (253.33%). The plant was found a potent therapeutic agent against microbial infections and highly cytotoxic

Forest disintegration is a major risk that challenges biodiversity conservation. The present study examined the stand structure, tree diversity, and tree distribution in two fragmented forests designated as areas of high conservation value within an oil palm plantation in Sarawak. The line transect sampling method was employed, where 25 quadrats in each study site were established. All Tree diameters of at least 10 cm in each quadrat were measured. The stand structure, importance value index and alpha diversity were evaluated. Morisita's dispersion index was determined to assess the relative dispersal pattern. The similarity of tree species composition of the two fragmented forests was determined using Jaccard's similarity coefficient. Generally, the stand characteristics between the two fragmented forests did not differ except for tree density. Tree diameters display a consistent reverse J-shape, demonstrating natural recovery is good in all study areas. Species distribution was uneven and the spatial dispersion of trees was random. Dipterocarpaceae is the dominant family and Shorea is the dominant genus. The fragmented forests exhibit high species diversity. The Jaccard's similarity coefficient was low, revealing that the species composition between the two forests varies. The fragmented forests appear to be undergoing self-sustaining forest recovery. Stand characteristics, floristic diversity and species distribution patterns have provided valuable insights into fragmented forests' ecological and health status. High conservation value areas in oil palm plantations are vital in conserving plant biodiversity

For the first time, systematic conservation planning attempts to evaluate the status of endangered medicinal plants that require immediate conservation. Ecological characteristics and threat factors of the selected medicinal plants were identified in the field survey and by interviewing the inhabitants of the area. Anon., 2010, criteria and categories were used for the assessment of the area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of the species. The evaluated species were exposed to eight distinct types of threats, putting them at risk. Six of these species- Arisaema flavum, Bergenia ciliata, Myrtus communis, Solanum surattense, Teucrium stocksianum and Vitis jacquemontii fulfill the requirements for the category of endangered threat, while three of these species-Alnus nitid, Caralluma tuberculata and Eremurus himalaicus-meet the criteria for critically endangered species The phytogeographical exploration reveals that Alnus nitida, Eremurus himalaicus, Arisaema flavum and Vitis jacquemontii belonged to Sino-Japanese and Western Himalayan regions while Caralluma tuberculata and Teucrium stocksianum to the Irano-Turanian and Sino-Japanese elements. Local communities utilized these species as medicine to treat a range of ailments. These nine species are threatened in the wild and consequential in-situ conservation measures are needed to ensure long-term survival. Using this study as a prototype for local conservation programs with medicinal plants will improve future conservation efforts

Ammopiptanthus nanus is an endangered shrub that is endemic to the western Tianshan Mountains. The populations have continuously declined due to anthropogenic disturbances recent years. Incorporating static life table, reproductive life table, and Leslie matrix model, population age structure and demographic dynamics were estimated to reveal the population viability of A. nanus. The Deevey-II survival curve, low net reproductive rate (R₀ = 0.7831), low intrinsic rate of increase (rm = -0.0281), and low finite rate of increase (λ = 0.9723), thus the age structure of the population exhibits a declining type. Leslie matrix model predicted the population size of A. nanus would decline by 35.8% over the next two decades. The small population size and rarity of seedlings and juveniles suggested difficulties in regeneration and a significant risk of extinction. With the aim of maintaining the viability of the species in the conservation plan, we suggest establishing a nature reserve to minimize human interference and setting up a germplasm resource nursery for the species' regeneration.

The southwestern region of Turkey has different vegetation, site conditions, and biodiversity. There are many phytosociological studies conducted in this region. The vegetation map of Europe has been completed, but the vegetation map of our country has not been completed yet. Our study, which was carried out to identify the vegetation structure of Karlık Mountain (Yatağan/Muğla), is original as no phytosociological research has been realized before in the research area. Our study aims to contribute to the syntaxonomic studies of the southwestern region of Turkey. Karlık Mountain is under threat due to the active activity of grazing and mining. For this reason, it is important to determine and protect the vegetation structure of the area. The altitude of Karlık Mountain is between 800-1400 m. The Braun - Blanquet approach was used in the vegetation applied between 2019 - 2020 and analyzed using JUICE classification, and NMDS ordination. As a result of the study, four plant associations belonging to two different vegetation types new to science were identified. Detected vegetation types are forest, and steppe vegetation. The forest vegetation consist of Sileno odontopetalo - Pinetum brutiae Aytepe ass. nova, Scabioso polykratis - Pinetum pallasianae Aytepe ass. nova, and Potentillo rectae - Juniperetum foetidissimatis Aytepe ass. nova. The steppe vegetation consists of Fumano arabicae - Astragaletum condensati Aytepe ass. nova

Species diversity in any ecosystem depends on the environmental heterogeneity. Plants respond to stresses in a heterogeneous environment through various structural and functional modifications for their establishment and invasiveness. Honey mesquite (Neltuma glandulosa (Torr.) Britton & Rose) is an invasive weed found in all types of habitats ranging from high mountains to deserts and its invasion success might be due to plasticity in structural and functional traits. Its populations were collected from eight geographically distinct sites of Punjab to evaluate structural and functional modifications in diverse environmental conditions. Significant variation was found in morphological traits, chlorophyll pigments, stress enzymes, organic osmolytes, antioxidants, ionic content, foliar and stem anatomical traits that show high adaptability potential of this species to different habitats. Populations collected from non-saline habitats showed better growth and development. Highest concentration of organic osmolytes, stress enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins was in population from hypersaline saltmarsh. Regarding anatomical traits thick epidermis and large parenchymatous cells were found in the sand dune desert population, a better strategy to protect water loss and to store sufficient amount of water in the stem. Stem sclerification was high in the hypersaline hyperarid population to tolerate environmental stresses. Hypersaline hyper-arid population had maximum stomatal density and decreased stomatal area that assist in lowering transpiration loss. The findings indicated that invasion and widespread of this species was due to plasticity in structural and functional traits. Physio-anatomical tools can play a key role in evaluating adaptive components, hence can be extremely useful to understanding mechanism of invasion in plant specues

Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly approach that uses plants to remove contaminants from soil and water. This study evaluates the effectiveness of phytoremediation in treating water contaminated with lead (Pb) and examines the impact of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the growth and Pb uptake of Arundo donax. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize experimental conditions for maximum Pb removal. The results show that EDTA significantly increased Pb solubility, enhancing uptake by A. donax. Under optimal conditions, Pb removal efficiency reached approximately 92%, with a maximum Pb uptake of 1.92 mg/kg in plant tissues. The final model for Pb removal was expressed as: Sqrt (APb) = + 1.46 + 0.11A + 0.48C + 0.31D. ANOVA analysis showed that the model was statistically significant (p

Parthenium hysterophorus is an aggressive invasive weed that severely affects water availability and crop productivity. This study aimed to develop a simplified method for water budget monitoring by evaluating the relationship between key above- and below-ground parameters (canopy cover, biomass, and root-shoot interactions) in 250 parthenium samples. Additionally, the impact of parthenium on winter vegetable crops (broccoli, lettuce, and peas) were assessed under co-cultivation conditions. Physiological responses including biomass production, photosynthetic traits, gas exchange parameters, osmolytes accumulation, and evapotranspiration (ET) were evaluated at three distinct growth stages (14, 25, and 40 days). ET rates were recorded weekly. Results demonstrated that Parthenium significantly increased transpiration rates and crop water consumption, with ETc values estimated using the Penman-Monteith equation showing up to a 30% increase compared to control plants. In contrast, biomass production, photosynthetic activity, and gas exchange parameters of vegetable crops were notably reduced (20–40%) in the presence of parthenium, while osmolytes accumulation increased as a stress response. A fuzzy logic model was successfully applied to enhance water budget prediction accuracy by integrating multiple plant and soil parameters. The study highlights the critical role of parthenium in altering soil moisture dynamics and water-use efficiency in cropping systems

The purpose of the present study was to overcome unfavorable alkaline characteristics of calcareous soil, via acidification, for cultivating faba bean (Vicia faba L.). V. faba seeds were grown for 90 days in calcareous soil that collected from Jeddah region, Saudi Arabia. Soil was treated with acidifying compounds; namely, ammonium sulfate (AS), calcium sulfate (CS), elemental sulfur (ES) and acetic acid (AA) at two concentration levels of 200 and 400 mg/Kg for each (100- and 200-ml acetic acid), to neutralize the hyper-alkaline nature of the calcareous soil. Germination, growth, crop yield, metabolites (chlorophyll, total proteins, carbohydrates, and free amino acids) and soil minerals (K, Ca, Mg, N, P, Cl and P2O5) contents exhibited significantly enhancing impact of the applied treatments as well as soil validation for agriculture. Improvement in soil characteristics, as field capacity and pH, were also recorded. Ammonium sulfate at a concentration of 400 mg/Kg soil induced generally the highest significant enhancement in most of the studied parameters and hence it is considered the most recommended treatment and dose. The other treatments induced enhancement in some or several of the parameters. The least efficient treatment was acetic acid as it induced minor significance in most of the studied parameters. In general, the applied acidification treatments relieved the drawbacks of calcareous soil as inferred from V. faba performance, according to the following order: AS4 ˃ AS2 ˃ CS4 ˃ CS2 ˃ ES4 ˃ ES2 ˃ AA2 ˃ AA1 (AS ammonium sulfate, CS calcium sulfate, ES elemental sulfur; 2 and 4 refers to 200 and 400 mg/g soil, respectively).

 

Nickel (Ni) stress is vital environmental stress which has reduced plant productivity worldwide. Thiourea (TU) is a key regulator of plant development which improves physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plants under Ni toxicity. To explore the part of TU in mitigating Ni toxicity, we investigated various levels of TU (50, 100 mM) for 40 days on phenotypic, photosynthetic, antioxidant activity and organic and inorganic osmolytes of barley cultivars. The results depicted that Ni stress (50 mM) significantly reduced all studied growth parameters, photosynthetic content, antioxidative activity, organic osmolytes (soluble proteins and sugars), and inorganic osmolytes (K+ and Ca2+) in shoot and root of barley cultivars. However, the application of TU (100 mM) highly improved above mentioned growth attributes, photosynthetic content, antioxidative activity, and organic and inorganic osmolyte content and proved very effective in reversing the Ni toxicity effect. Thiourea application proved very effective in balancing endogenous metabolite levels under Ni stress conditions. The cultivar, Sultan-17 proved Ni-tolerant, while Jou-17 exhibited Ni sensitivity. On the whole, TU at 100 mM proved very effective in enhancing barley growth under Ni stress. The outcomes of current study may have good inferences for growing barley under Ni-toxic conditions.

 

 

Increased plant population causes more in-row stress in plants, potentially reducing yield. Narrow row spacing can reduce stress by increasing plant-to-plant spacing within a row. Therefore, it is important to standardize plant row spacing according to various characteristics to achieve higher yield and quality. The purpose of the 2014–2015 study was to ascertain the impact of varying sowing distances (20, 30, 40, and 50 cm) between rows on the yield and agronomic traits of coriander genotypes (Gamze, Kudret, Telci). Four replications of the field research were set up using a "Randomized Blocks Experimental Design." The results indicated that genotype, row spacing, and the genotype x row spacing interaction had a statistically significant impact on seed output, but the years had no discernible influence on seed yield. The production of seed and oil decreased as row spacing increased, while oil content increased. With 20–40 cm row spacing and 1683.4–1846.5 kg da-1, the genotypes of Kudret and Telci produced the maximum seed production. Although the decrease in the number of branches and umbrellas in narrow row spacing had a negative effect on seed yield, the increase in the number of seeds per umbrella and the number of plants per unit area led to an increase in seed yield. When evaluated based on genotypes, although the Kudret and Telci genotypes gave the best results in terms of seed yield, the Kudret genotype gave the best results regarding essential oil ratio and essential oil yield.

 

The percentage of losses attributable to citrus disease brought on by bacterial infections has increased worldwide. However, the mature citrus trees in Pakistan exhibit diseases before and after harvesting. However, the exact disease agents have not yet been discovered. The morphological and molecular characterization of the bacterial pathogens in the current study was complex, as was the evaluation of citrus disease's prevalence, incidence, and severity. The bacterial pathogens were isolated from the infected samples obtained by tissue culture and streaking procedures in the first phase of the study during December. They were then identified based on their colony characteristics. Second, the isolated strains were characterized using the primers 27F (5-CTTCAACTCAAACGCCGGA-3) and 1492R (3-CATCGGCTGTTCGGGAG-5), which were used for the identification of the 16S rDNA region. Thirdly, fresh leaves of two citrus varieties (Succri and Moro blood) were used to investigate the pathogenicity of isolated bacterial strains. The pathotypes of Xanthomonas sp. caused the most severe symptoms. This is the first ever study on bacterial pathogens of citrus in Khanpur. This study shows the molecular-based identification of bacterial pathogens causing citrus diseases, which helps to provide recommendations on genetic testing and develop disease management programs, as citrus fruits significantly contribute to household income and foreign exchange in Pakistan.

 

This study examined six species from three subfamilies of Apocynaceae – Cynanchum thesiodes, Periploca sepium, Cynanchum chinense, Asclepias curassavica, Metaplexis japonica, and Catharanthus roseus to characterize the structure and distribution of laticifers, providing an anatomical basis for further research on laticifer biology and Apocynaceae taxonomy. Using comparative anatomical methods, we investigated the type, size, and distribution of laticifers in stems and leaves. In stems, all species possessed non-articulated, unbranched laticifers located in both the cortex and pith. In leaves, C. thesiodes, P. sepium, and C. chinense contained articulated, branched laticifers; A. curassavica and M. japonica had non-articulated, branched laticifers with Y-shaped branches; and C. roseus exhibited articulated, unbranched laticifers. Across all species, leaf laticifers were mainly distributed within the spongy mesophyll and outside the palisade cells, with occasional occurrence external to the phloem

Polygonum cuspidatum, a medicinal plant renowned for its therapeutic properties, also poses ecological challenges as an invasive species in Asia and Europe. Despite extensive research on its pharmacological applications and management strategies, its genetic diversity is inadequately comprehended. This study involved an analysis of 52 wild individuals collected from four provinces in China (Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Sichuan) to fill this knowledge gap. By utilizing 24 novel expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers, we determined 191 highly polymorphic alleles, revealing a rich and complex genetic landscape that underscores the potential for conservation and breeding efforts. This study provides an assessment of genetic variation using newly developed EST-SSR markers. It also demonstrates a foundation for sustainable utilization and genetic improvement of P. cuspidatum.

 

 

Present work addressed SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 12, and SDG 13 for improved spawn production on lab and commercial stage to increase overall production of Pleurotus pulmonarius. This study is aimed to produce three types of spawn i.e. mother spawn, planting spawn and commercial spawn. Mother spawn is the one that is cultured by the inoculation of pure culture media, while rest of both are produced from the inoculation of mother spawn. The planting spawn is produced in lab scale in relative lower quantity contrary to commercial spawn which is produced in polypropylene bags. Improved spawn technology is the key to produce mushroom on large scale globally. Optimization of mother spawn led to the cultivation of zinc fortified Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom fruiting bodies. These fruiting bodies were dried and blended with wheat flours and maize flour by using MATLAB linear programming model. These blends were tested for minerals like sodium, potassium using flame photometer and zinc content was analyzed with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Freshness and quality of flour blends were analyzed by using colorimeter which gave value of a*, b*, c*, h* and L*. Minimum spawn run was noted at 100 g substrate concentration of wheat substrate (16 days), 5g dosage of planting spawn gave lowest spawn run of 12 days while optimization of commercial spawn 10 g/500 g dosage gave 14.1 days to completely cover the spawn bag with mycelium. Conventional flour blend of Government College University Lahore grown wheat gave maximum sodium concentration (2.09 ± 0.082 mg/2 g of flour blend) as compared to other blends. Maximum potassium concentration (6.74 ± 0.249 mg/2 g of flour blend) was noted in flour blended of NARC-11 wheat and zinc fortified Pleurotus pulmonaius. While, zinc quantity was highest (0.162 ± 0.008 mg/2 g) in university gorwn wheat flour blended with zinc fortified Pleurotus pulmonarius flour

Bauhinia variegata L. (Orchid tree) is a popular ornamental plant in south China and has medicinal, environmental remediation, and environmental biomonitoring values. To examine the genetic diversity and differentiation of B. variegata in south China, the leaf samples were collected from seven geographic populations. The sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were screened and 13 primer pairs were selected. Based on the 13 primer pairs, 168 bands were generated. It was found that out of 168 bands, 112 were polymorphic was 66.67%. The genetic Nei’s distance among different B. varigata populations ranged from 0.2548 to 0.0470. The general Nei's genetic diversity index was 0.2265. The general Shannon's information index was 0.3405. Genetic differentiation (Gst) among populations was 0.4580. The population of B. varigata from Hong Kong was clustered into one separate group with other populations from mainland China. The SRAP data indicated that the B. varigata had certain genetic diversity and the gene flow occurred mainly intra-populations. The prepotency selection should be processed intra-population, and the germplasm introduction should focus on different regions for a wider collection range, which is in accordance with the expansive distribution of B. variegata

The current research study was conducted at Crop Sciences Research Institute (CSRI), Agriculture Research Centre, Tandojam. The consecutive study was assumed to assess the allelopathic effects of sorghum and nitrogen application strategies on suppression of weed and yield enhancement of the sesame crop. The field experiment was randomized complete block design (RCBD) factorial in three replications with net plot size of 5 m x 4 m (20 m2). The experimental unit was accommodated with three factors i.e. weed control practices (control or without sorghum material, sorghum extract @ 40 L ha-1, herbicide @ 1.0 L ha-1, sorghum extract @ 20 L ha-1 + herbicide @ 0.5 L ha-1, and hand weeding twice (30 and 55 days after sowing)), nitrogen application rates (50, 75 & 100 kg ha-1) and nitrogen application schedules (two & three splits). The statistical analysis of the compiled data revealed that significant (p

China aster (Callistephus chinensis L.) and Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.), are new specialty cut flowers, which are gaining popularity in several Asian floral markets. Therefore, a study was aimed to evaluate of various production protocols for cut China aster and snapdragon. Four experiments: 1. planting times, 2. planting methods and planting densities, 3. macro and micronutrients along with bio-stimulants and 4. cultivar evaluation of both species were conducted. In Expt. I, least production time (72.8 and 79.6 d) was recorded when China aster and snapdragon were sown on 15 October and 15 November. In Expt. II, shortest production time (79.8 and 80 d) and tallest plants (47.8 and 81.6 cm), respectively, were recorded when China aster and snapdragon were planted on raised beds and spaced 22.5 × 22.5 cm. In Expt. III, tallest plants (39.5 and 101.3 cm), respectively, were recorded when plants were sprayed with NPK at 90:45:45 kg ha-1 + micronutrients at 2 mL L-1 and NPK at 90:45:45 kg ha-1 + isabion at 2 mL L-1 for China aster and snapdragon. In Expt. IV, longest stems (62.2 and 83 cm), respectively, were produced for ‘Bonita’ China aster and ‘Potomac Early Pink’ snapdragon. In summary, China aster and snapdragon planted on 15 October and 01 November, respectively, on raised beds with 22.5 × 22.5 cm spacing produced best quality cut stems. Moreover, both species supplied with NPK along with micronutrients or isabion, had better cut stems quality. Among tested cultivars, ‘Bonita Scarlet’ China aster and ‘Potomac Early Pink’ snapdragon proved best for subtropical regions and may be grown commercially as specialty cut flowers, for local and export markets.

 

 

This study examines the diversity and frequency of micromycetes in the rhizosphere soils of selected crops (Zea mays, Saccharum officinarum) and vegetables (Raphanus sativus, Daucus carota, Solanum lycopersicum, and Solanum tuberosum) in Faisalabad and Pattoki, Pakistan. Faisalabad's clayey silt and silty sand soil is ideal for crops, while Pattoki's alluvial soil supports both vegetables and crops effectively. A total of 18 fungal species were identified across 5 orders, 8 families, and eight genera, with Eurotiales as the dominant order and Penicillium as the leading genus. Key species such as Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Penicillium simplicissimum were prevalent in both locations, while Penicillium nalgiovense and Rhizoctonia solani were exclusive to Faisalabad, and Rhizopus oryzae and Talaromyces flavus were reported from Pattoki only. This comparative analysis is crucial for understanding the influence of soil composition on microbial diversity, shedding light on its impact on soil fertility, plant health, and agricultural sustainability. It provides a basis for efficient soil management, disease prevention, and improved crop productivity, while also contributing to microbial ecology research with applications in biocontrol, organic farming, and environmental conservation.

 

Natural plant-based additives and preservatives are gaining popularity due to their perceived safety benefits and potential to reduce disease risks associated with synthetic chemicals. This study investigates the potential of Artemisia absinthium essential oil (AAEO) collected from the highlands of Skardu, Baltistan, Pakistan, as a natural preservative to extend the shelf life of organically grown apricots. The essential oil (EO), analyzed via GC-MS, revealed a terpenoid- rich composition, primarily comprising guaiol (19. 33%), α-bisabolol (8. 83%), carveol (6. 16%), chamazulene (5. 94%), geranyl-α-terpinene (5. 63%), and limonene- 6-ol, pivalate (5. 37%) as the major dominant constituents, with an EO yield of 0. 46% (w/w). Our current study demonstrated a concentration-dependent response, where apricots coated with AAEO concentrations of 7.5 and 10 µL/mL significantly enhanced stability in various quality parameters, including pH, weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and total sugar content. Furthermore, the edible coating effectively delayed ripening and senescence, preserving ascorbic acid and titratable acidity levels, and ultimately extended shelf life by 9 days (p

Across the globe, approximately 200 million tons of tobacco waste are generated annually. Traditional treatment methods generally cause resource waste and environmental pollution. It is worth noting that discarded tobacco leaves are abundant in pectic polysaccharides that comprise 5-12% of their dry weight. In this study, a novel pectic polysaccharide, CSTP5b, was isolated from tobacco waste for the first time. This was achieved via sequential extraction with ammonium oxalate, followed by column chromatography. CSTP5b is composed of 55.23% rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) and 44.77% homogalacturonan (HG) domains. The HG domain exhibits methyl esterification, while the RG-I main chain has branches where galactan and arabinan are linked. Characterized by a sheet-like morphology, CSTP5b exhibits weak crystalline properties and notable thermal stability. Additionally, it demonstrates significant free radical scavenging and hypoglycemic activities. This study elucidates the fine structural characteristics of tobacco pectic polysaccharides. This indicates that tobacco waste may serve as a viable source of low methyl-esterified RG-I-HG type pectin and potential natural antioxidants and hypoglycemic products. These findings offer a novel avenue for the targeted exploration of bioactive components in tobacco by-products

Enzymatic substances in plants are the key compounds that help combat various biotic diseases; however, the interaction between these compounds and pathogens is a complex phenomenon. The balanced concentration of these biomolecules is crucial for regulating plant defense against the attack of invading pathogens. Therefore, in a contemporary study, biochemical profiling was performed to assess the alterations in biochemical substances of mango leaves induced by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. mangiferae. In this regard, six mango varieties (three resistant and three susceptible) were selected after two consecutive years of screening, and the pathogen was artificially applied using the syringe method. Leaves of resistant (Langra, White Chaunsa, Sensation) and susceptible (Anwar Ratol, Dusehri, Black Chaunsa) varieties from un-inoculated and inoculated groups were collected and analyzed for variations in biochemical substances and certain morphological attributes. Significant variations (p≤0.05) were observed in the biochemical compounds among the treatment types. Susceptible mango varieties exhibited 0.19, 387.17, 10.25, 3.30, 3.28 (µmol/mg), 13.55 and 16.5 mg/dry weight, resistant type expressed 0.24, 468.05, 15.74, 4.48, 3.49 (µmol/mg), 18.28 and 21.28 mg/dry weight of peroxidase, superoxidase dismutase, catalase, hydrogen peroxide, total soluble proteins, total phenolic contents and total soluble sugars respectively, while in case of groups, inoculated plants showed 0.13, 288.42, 3.15, 1.53, 2.85, 6.45 and 9.40 μg/g and un-inoculated group expressed 0.30, 566.78, 22.84, 6.25, 3.92, 25.39 and 28.39 μg/g. Photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll contents (total, a, and b) were observed to be high in healthy plants as compared to inoculated ones. At the same time, water use efficiency was observed in greater amounts in inoculated plants as compared to healthy plants. The outcome of this study can be used to develop biochemical markers to identify resistant mango sources against bacterial black spot disease.

 

The aim of the study was to minimize environmental impacts by reducing the amount of herbicides and at the same time to positively affect plant health. In this study, a combination of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) extract known to have allelopathic effect with reduced doses of Foramsulfuron + Iodosulfuron Methyl-Sodium + Isoxadifen-Ethyl (Safener) was investigated against maize (Zea mays L.) and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). The study was conducted at the Department of Plant Protection, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, from 2019 to 2020. In the study, the aqueous extract of white cabbage (15, 30, 45 and 60%), the licensed dose (2000ml/ha of herbicide with active ingredient Foramsulfuron + Iodosulfuron Methyl-Sodium + Isoxadifen-Ethyl (Safener) and reduced doses of this herbicide were used as 100, 50 and 250 ml/ha. In addition, reduced doses were administered with cabbage extracts. According to the results, no phytotoxic effect of applications was observed in maize. In addition, it was determined that there was no statistical difference between the all treatments and control groups. On the other hand, when the dry weight values of redroot pigweed were evaluated statistically, 60% concentration of white cabbage extract was in the same group with 1/4 and 1/8 reduced doses of Foramsulfuron + Iodosulfuron Methyl-Sodium + Isoxadifen-Ethyl (Safener). In addition, the combination of all extract concentrations and reduced herbicide doses was in the same group with 0.03 g dry weight value in 1/2 reduced herbicide application. In conclusion, the use of white cabbage extract, both alone and in combination with reduced herbicide doses, demonstrated potential as an alternative weed management strategy, effectively suppressing redroot pigweed without causing phytotoxic effects on maize. It is thought that the results obtained will provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly weed control strategy in agricultural production by offering advantages such as reducing the cost of herbicide use, slowing the development of resistance and increasing food safety by reducing the risk of chemical residues.

 

Lead toxicity is a significant kind of contaminants that adversely affects crop productivity and threatens environmental sustainability. In this study, we isolated the rhizofungus Aspergillus terreus (A. terreus) from Cannabis sativa L. to investigate its potential for plant growth promotion and mitigation of the adverse effects of Pb toxicity on Triticum aestivum L. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. The treatments consisted of a control and A. terreus group, as well as groups exposed to 100, 200, and 300ppm lead, and A. terreus in combination with 100, 200, and 300ppm lead. A. terreus successfully colonized the roots of wheat seedlings subjected to lead acetate (Pb) stress, significantly promoting plant growth and development. The results demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in growth and biochemical markers in response to increasing Pb stress, with 300ppm Pb exhibiting the most significant adverse effects. Pb stress caused oxidative damage and stunted development by interfering with the production of chlorophyll, reducing protein content, and decreasing antioxidant activity. Pb-induced stress was considerably reduced the adverse influence after the inoculation of A. terreus at all tested concentration (100, 200 and 300ppm Pb + A. terreus). This improvement was accomplished through the promotion of root and shoot development, stabilization of photosynthetic pigments, inducement of proline level, enhancement of antioxidant defences, flavonoids, and maintenance of sugar and protein levels. The results indicate that the A. terreus serve as environmentally sustainable solutions for reducing heavy metal stress and improving plant resilience. More studies at the molecular level and large-scale field tests are needed to confirm these results and enhance microbial treatments for sustainable farming in polluted soils

Wildfire driven ecological changes are a common phenomenon in Himalayan subtropical pine forests. These fires frequently alter the soil carbon pools and are major drivers of carbon losses and gains in these forests. Carbon losses due to wildfires had been studied in the past but detailed information on net carbon gains in the form of Pyrogenic Carbon (PyC) is limited. The present study was visualized to fill the information gap existing in this regard. The study was conducted using grid node sampling in a Himalayan subtropical pine forest in northeastern Pakistan. Over hundred soil samples were collected at two depths (0-15cm) and (16-30cm) in a composite manner. The soil samples were analysed and relationship of PyC with soil nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, soil pH and soil EC was explored through use of ensemble-learning algorithms, a robust machine learning method based on artificial intelligence technology. We used Random Forest (RF) model which generates predictions from multiple decision trees built simultaneously and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm in which decision trees are built in a sequence one after another leading to higher accuracy. Our results indicated that overall RF in spite of its ruggedness yielded models that are more promising. We found a significantly positive relationship of PyC with soil nitrogen and phosphorus, while PyC did not meaningfully explained variations in soil potassium, soil pH, and soil EC. We observed PyC stocks decreased with increasing soil depth. This study provided information on least studied carbon fraction in Himalayan forests by reporting its stock estimates and their relevance to selected soil characteristics. This will help in understanding the impacts of wildfire driven changes in Himalayan ecosystem

The study has been focused on morpho-anatomical and molecular characterization of some taxa from the families Fissidentaceae and Grimmiaceae in district Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. A sequence and the phylogeny of Fissidens dubius, Fissidens grandifrons, and Grimmia ovalis was performed for the first time from Pakistan. Nuclear Internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) region was used to find out the phylogenetic position of these taxa. Phylogenetic analyses sequences of the nrDNA ITS1 (BMBC-LS4) region of collections (IM25, IM27, IM54 and IM31) were obtained with both the primers. Evolutionary history was inferred by using the software Maximum Likelihood method based on the Tamura-Nei model. Fissidens dubius and Fissidens grandifrons are described as new report from the study area. Our findings describe the potential of ITS1 in identification and classification of the species. Description of these species along with local photographs and phylogenetic tree are provided. The current attempt is the first one of its natures to describe the molecular characterization of mosses from district Dir upper. It will help the researchers for further taxonomic studies in exploring moss flora of the study region and will lead a way forward for more research in ecological and phytochemical fields.