Where Pakistan Stands Among Top Rice Exporting Countries,an Analysis of Competitiveness

Under the umbrella of WTO, the reduction in trade barriers has forced the policy makers to focus on the export competitiveness. Rice is an important source for foreign exchange earnings for the economy of Pakistan, keeping in mind of this fact, the competitiveness of Pakistan’s rice with other major exporters was examined by applying revealed competitive advantage. The domestic consumption trends of rice among the major rice exporting countries were also analyzed in the current study. The results revealed that as compare to other major exporters of rice in the world, Pakistan had high competitive and comparative advantage in the production of rice. The comparison of the movements in comparative advantage indices for Pakistan with the major world rice competitors/exporters showed that Pakistan possessed relatively high comparative and competitive advantages in rice production. The declining domestic per capita consumption of rice and increasing trends in competitiveness for Pakistan clearly revealed the expected potential of higher growth which meant that rice exports from Pakistan could continue to play an important role for the earnings of foreign exchange. In order to exploit the potential benefits of rice exports, we need to strengthen the competitiveness in rice sector of Pakistan.     

Application of biochar in mitigation of negative effects of salinity stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects crop production throughout the world. Biochar is an activated carbon soil conditioner that can alleviate the negative impacts of salinity. The research was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of 1% and 2% of biochar application on wheat seed germination and growth attributes under salinity. Both levels of biochar improved the germination and growth conditions under salinity; however, 2% biochar level was more effective compared to 1% level. Root and shoot length increased up to 23% and11% with 2% biochar, respectively. The maximum increase of 16% and 10% in leaf water potential and osmotic potential was noted with 2% biochar at 150 mM salt. The decrease in proline content and soluble sugar at 2% biochar was 51% and 27%, respectively. Decrease in superoxide dismutase activity was 15.3% at 2% level of biochar under stress biochar mitigates the negative effects of salinity and improved wheat productivity.     

Osteopontin gene polymorphism association with milk traits and its expression analysis in milk of riverine buffalo

Osteopontin gene is regarded as a plausible candidate in mammary gland differentiation and development, expressed by variety of cells, tissues, and biological fluids including milk. The current study was performed in two phases. In the first phase, Osteopontin gene polymorphisms were identified and associated with milk composition such as ash, milk fat, SNF, lactose, and protein. In the second phase, milk samples from five healthy mastitis-free Nili Ravi buffaloes were analyzed for expression of Osteopontin gene at transition (day 15), mid (day 90), and end (day 250) stage of their second lactation. Briefly, blood samples were collected from Nili Ravi buffalo to isolate the genomic DNA, specific primers were designed for PCR amplification. The amplified PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. Six polymorphisms were identified in the coding region and four in the intronic region of the gene. The results showed that SNP g.38329758 T > C causing substitution of valine to alanine (V127A) was associated with high milk protein. For mRNA expression analysis, somatic cells were separated from milk samples for RNA isolation. Analysis of differential gene expression data has permitted us to illustrate the expression pattern of osteopontin gene in lactating buffalo. The Osteopontin gene was found to be transcribed among all three lactation stages, but expression was observed with the highest value (fold change) in peak lactation and remained elevated till the end of lactation. Identified gene marker may be helpful for the prediction of superior animal for selection. The presented study also gave an insight into the genetic screening and lactation biology of riverine buffalo, offering direction for future research in lactating buffalo.     

Effect of salinity on growth,survival, and serum osmolality of red snapper,Lutjanus campechanus

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Three trials were conducted to evaluate the performances of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, in low salinities. The median lethal concentration (96 h...     

Polymorphism association and expression analysis of alpha-lactalbumin (LALBA) gene during lactation in Nili Ravi buffalo

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Alpha-lactalbumin has been reported as a highly polymorphic gene that potentially alters the gene expression and is associated with milk composition in dairy...     

Drought-induced anatomical changes in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) leaves supplied with trehalose through different modes

Leaf anatomical changes were appraised in exogenously applied trehalose of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants grown under nonstress (well-watered) and water stress (60% field capacity) conditions. Two cultivars of radish namely, Manu and 40-Day, were grown in a pot experiment at the Botanical Garden, GCUF, Pakistan. Plants were subjected to 60% field capacity conditions after three weeks of germination. Trehalose (25 mM) was applied to the radish plants through two different modes (foliar and presowing). After 2 weeks of foliar-applied trehalose, the leaves were excised from the plants for studying different anatomical features. Water stress caused a significant reduction in the leaf vascular bundle area, leaf midrib thickness (only in cv. Manu), leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars, while water stress increased leaf epidermis thickness of both radish cultivars. Exogenously applied trehalose through both (presoaking and foliar spray) modes was effective in increasing leaf epidermis thickness, vascular bundle area, midrib thickness, and number of vascular bundles in both radish cultivars under water stress and nonstress conditions. Foliar-applied trehalose was more effective in increasing midrib thickness in both radish cultivars under both water regimes. Of both cultivars, the performance of cv. Manu was better in leaf epidermis thickness, leaf midrib thickness, vascular bundle area, leaf parenchyma cell area, and the number of vascular bundles. Overall, exogenous application of trehalose through both modes was effective in triggering leaf anatomical changes under different water regimes.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luteovirus</Emphasis> from infection to disease

Luteoviruses are economically important plant viruses. Specifically, barley yellow dwarf virus is epiphytotic to almost all small-grain cereal growing areas. The disease cycle is complex. This luteovirus has evolved several intelligent mechanisms to communicate with both plant and phloem-feeding insect-vector aphid. Environmental cues influence disease severity, aphid infestation and viral load. Within an aphid, virus circulates persistently in a non-propagative manner and is transmitted selectively to the host plants. Selection of viruses within aphids has a role in virus isolate prevalence over a specific area. In the host-plant system, the virus has to release its single sense-strand RNA genome (approx. 5.6 to 6 kb), translate and subsequently replicate its genome using its own replicase and host machinery. This review summarizes our current understanding of disease epidemiology and reviews the current literature encompassing viral infectivity, economic impact and control measures.     

The metabolism of p,p′-DDT by the feral pigeon (Columba livia)

Male feral pigeons were dosed with ring-labeled $\text{[}{}^{14}\text{C}\text{]p,p′-}\text{DDT}$ and the tissues and droppings analyzed for total ¹⁴C, extractable ¹⁴C, and metabolites. Only 16% of an intraperitoneal dose of 1.5–2.2 mg kg^?1 was voided in the droppings over 28 days; the rate of loss reached a maximum on the 14th day and then fell quickly away. The rate of removal of ¹⁴C in droppings was low in comparison to that found in the rat and the Japanese quail. When pigeons were dosed with 32–38 mg kg^?1 DDT per bird, and killed after 77 days, 5.4% of the dose was eliminated in droppings and 87% was recovered in the body. The tissues and droppings from this experiment were analyzed for DDT and its metabolites. Of the ¹⁴C remaining in tissues 88% was accounted for as the apolar compounds DDE, DDT, and DDD. Approximately half of the ¹⁴C in droppings was present as DDE, DDT, and DDD, whereas 27–35% was apparently in conjugated form, extractable from aqueous solutions by ethyl acetate after prolonged acid hydrolysis. Two polar metabolites were isolated from the acid-released material. One was p,p′-DDA; the other was extractable from aqueous solution at pH 8 and was tentatively identified as a monohydroxy derivative of p,p′-DDT. DDE accounted for 93% of the ¹⁴C present as metabolites in tissues and droppings, clearly indicating the importance of this intermediate in this study. The metabolism of DDT in the feral pigeon is discussed in relation to its metabolism by other species.     

Application of Box-Behnken Design for Optimization of Different Pretreatment Conditions for Cellulase Production

Effects of dilute acid and acid steam pretreatments were inspected for cellulose production of Eucalyptus leaves through Box-Behenken design,a three variable factors for response surface methodology by Bacillus subtilus K~(-1)8.Maximum cellulose production performed in 250 mL erlenmeyer flask with submerged fermentation attained at 50℃,p H 5,140 r·min~(-1) for 24 h.Results showed the efficient cellulose production from acid steam pretreatment(being autoclaved at 15 Psi for 15 min)than acid pretreatment.The optimum condition for maximum carboxymethyl cellulas(CMCase)was 1.811 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%acid conc.,10 g biomass loading,6 h reaction time)and filter paper activity(FPase)was 2.255 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(1%acid conc.,10 g biomass loading,8 h reaction time).Whereas,the acid steam maximum CMCase activity recorded was 2.585 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%acid conc.,15 g substrate loading and 8 h reaction time)and the highest FPase activity was 2.055 IU·mL~(-1)·min~(-1)(0.8%conc.,10 g biomass,6 h reaction time then autoclaved).Results revealed that acid pretreated Eucalyptus leaves were better lignocellulosic biomass for cellulose production by submerged fermentation.     

New Antiproliferative Compounds against Glioma Cells from the Marine-Sourced Fungus Penicillium sp. ZZ1750

Seven novel compounds, namely peniresorcinosides A–E (1–5), penidifarnesylin A (6), and penipyridinone A (7), together with the 11 known ones 8–17, were isolated from a culture of the marine-associated fungus Penicillium sp. ZZ1750 in rice medium. The structures of the new compounds were established based on their high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) data, extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses, chemical degradation, Mosher’s method, ¹³C-NMR calculations, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Peniresorcinosides A (1) and B (2) are rare glycosylated alkylresorcinols and exhibited potent antiglioma activity, with IC₅₀ values of 4.0 and 5.6 µM for U87MG cells and 14.1 and 9.8 µM for U251 cells, respectively.