Effect of increasing levels of nitrogen on yield of tea in different agro-ecological conditions of Pakistan

Field experiment was conducted on mature tea bushes of Qi-Men variety at two different altitudes from sea level i.e. at National Tea Research Institute Shinkiari （1000 m） and on farmer＇s field in Konsh valley at village Battal （1500 m）. Different levels of nitrogen with constant dose of phosphorus and potassium were applied to observe the optimal dose of nutrients for highest yield under local edaphic conditions. The experiment was repeated for three consecutive years. The highest yield of fresh tea leaves were obtained by the application of 420 kg ha^-1 N followed by the application of 360 kg ha^-1 N at 1000 masl. The highest dose of nitrogen also reduced significantly the soil pH in the upper （0-15cm） layer depth during 1998 and 1999. During the year 2000, the reduction in soil pH was observed by the application of highest dose of nitrogen but was non-significant at 5% level. The lower soil depth （15-30 cm） showed the reduction in pH with the highest dose of nitrogen during the experimental year but was statistically non significant. At the higher altitude of 1500 masl the highest yield of fresh tea leaves was obtained by the application of 420 kg ha^-1 during the experimental years but the increase was significant during the year 1999 and 2000. The yield of the fresh tea leaves was positively correlated with the amount of nitrogen application at both the altitudes. The increasing amount of nitrogen decreased the soil pH at both the depths of 0-15cm and 15-30cm. Unlike the lower altitude （1000 m） there was no any significant reduction in the soil pH during 1998 and 1999. A significant reduction in soil pH was found in the year 2000.     

Oxidant related biochemical traits are significant indices in triticale grain yield under drought stress condition

Two separate experiments, one as drought stress conditions and the other one as the normal irrigation conditions based on randomized complete block design with three replications were implemented to examine 20 triticale (Triticoseclae wittamack X) genotypes of which 19 genotypes have recently been generated by crossing different parent lines and the other one was Javaniloo, a common cultivar. Based on the results of different statistical techniques and comparing relationships among traits for normal irrigation and stress condition, enzymatic antioxidant could be used as criteria for screening tolerant genotypes of triticale. On the other hand, it is pointed out that superoxide dismutase are the most important criteria to achieve higher tolerant genotypes through indirect selection. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content having high relationship with rain yield are also the different possible criteria for screening triticale genotypes for water stress conditions in which genotypes with lower content of these traits could be screened.     

Effects of interactions among Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus thuringiensis and chlorantraniliprole on the mortality and pupation of six geographically distinct Helicoverpa armigera field populations

A local isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and chlorantraniliprole were assessed against six field populations of tomato fruitworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a series of laboratory bioassays. Two dose rates of B. thuringiensis (0.5, 1 μg g^?1), one of both M. anisopliae (1.3?×?10⁶ conidia ml^?1) and chlorantraniliprole (0.01 ppm) were applied alone and in combination with each other against 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larval instars. The mortality was observed every 24 h until pupation. The bioassays were carried out at 25°C and 75% r.h. The highest mortality was observed in Rawalpindi with the lowest pupation rate by applying the combined concentrations of B. thuringiensis and chlorantraniliprole. The lowest mortality was observed in population from Gujranwala among all the tested populations. The antagonistic interaction was noted where the high dose rate of B. thuringiensis was combined with M. anisopliae; however, the remaining interactions enhanced the mortality and reduced the percent pupation. The overall results demonstrated that all the treatments gave significant control of the larval instars of H. armigera. The population from Gujranwala proved least susceptible whereas the one from Rawalpindi was highly susceptible.     

Overexpression of Brassica napus cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase genes significantly enhanced tobacco growth and biomass

Elevated activities of cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cyFBPase) and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) are associated with higher yields in plants. In this study, the expression levels of the cyFBPase and SBPase genes were increased by overexpressing rape (Brassica napus) cDNA in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants. The transgenic plants co-expressing cyFBPase and SBPase (TpFS), or expressing single cyFBPase (TpF) or SBPase (TpS) had 1.77-, 1.55-, 1.23-fold cyFBPase and 1.45-, 1.12-, 1.36-fold SBPase activities as compared to the wild-type (WT), respectively. Photosynthesis rates of TpF, TpS and TpFS increased 4, 20 and 25% compared with WT plants. The SBPase and cyFBPase positively regulated each other and functioned synergistically in transgenic tobacco plants. In addition, the sucrose contents of the three transgenic plants were higher than that of WT plants. The starch accumulation of the TpFS and TpS plants was improved by 53 and 37%, but slightly decreased in TpF plants. Moreover, the transgenic tobacco plants harbouring SBPase and/or cyFBPase genes showed improvements in their growth, biomass, dry weight, plant height, stem diameter, leaf size, flower number, and pod weight. In conclusion, co-expression of SBPase and cyFBPase may pave a new way for improving crop yield in agricultural applications.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria bassiana</Emphasis> mixed with diatomaceous earth on mortality,mycosis and sporulation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhyzopertha dominica</Emphasis> on stored wheat

A laboratory assay was designed to determine the insecticidal efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hyphomycetes: Moniliales) and diatomaceous earth (Diafil 610) against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). The fungus B. bassiana was applied at 2.23 × 10⁷, 2.23 × 10⁸ and 2.23 × 10⁹ conidia kg⁻¹ of wheat individually as well as mixed with 200 and 400 ppm of Diafil 610. The conditions for the trials were 30 ± 2^oC with 55% r.h. and the counts for mortality were made after 8, 16 and 24 d. All the dead adults were removed after each count and the vials were kept for the next 60 d to assess the emergence of the F₁ generation. The findings from these studies proved that the extended exposure interval and the highest combined dose rate of the entomopathogenic fungus and the diatomaceous earth gave the maximum mortality of the beetles. The emergence of the progeny was also highly suppressed where the maximum dose rate of the synergized treatments was applied. The rate of mycosis and sporulation in the cadavers of R. dominica was maximum where the low dose rates of B. bassiana were applied.     

Reduction of ochratoxin A in broiler serum and tissues by Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans

The present study was planned to evaluate the possible transmission of ochratoxin A (OTA) in serum and targeted organs of broilers fed on two levels (500 and 1000 ppb) this toxin in the presence or absence of a toxin deactivator (containing a mycotoxin deactivating yeast Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans) at two inclusion levels (1 and 2 kg/ton of feed) to 270 day-old broiler chicks divided into nine groups (A-I) over a 42 days period. Serum samples were collected at 14, 28 and 42nd day of experiment, whereas, liver and kidney tissues were obtained from broilers slaughtered at 42nd day of experiment. The highest OTA levels were detected in serum, livers and kidneys of OTA treated groups without supplementation of toxin deactivator (groups D and G) at day 42 of experiment, while the residues were significantly (P<0.01) lower in treatment groups (F and I) supplemented with toxin deactivator at 2 kg/ton of feed. The order of OTA level was serum>kidneys>liver.     

Assessment of different wheat genotypes with altered genetic background in response to different salinity levels

This experiment was conducted in a glasshouse at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Zarghan, Iran, in 2016. Sixteen wheat genotypes were compared under four salinity levels [control, 50, 100, and 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] in terms of grain yield, chlorophyll (SPAD), flag leaf area, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, catalase, and peroxidase activities in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Overall, results indicated that apparently no single parameter or a specific group of parameters could be suggested as factors of the most responsive element to different salinity stress levels. In other words, the tolerance mechanism of wheat genotypes is a complex response of multiple factors as a network path. Furthermore, different salinity levels led to different responses of wheat genotypes, which were detectable by the results of the mean comparison and analysis of variance. These results also proved the influential effects of the genetic background on salinity response and tolerance of wheat genotypes. In addition, antioxidants acting as defense barriers against reactive oxygen species are very important constituents against salinity, since higher antioxidant activity leads to alleviate the oxidative stress caused by salinity. Higher osmolyte concentration regulating the selective uptake of useful ions can prevent excess accumulation of toxic ions, which contribute to salinity stress damages. A high variation related to the measured traits in this study under both normal and salinity stress conditions was achieved, which could be applied in screening and breeding programs for salinity stress tolerance. Moreover, the responses of different genotypes varied regarding the different traits; SU-0129 as a novel genotype has proved to be the best choice for further breeding research based on the overall traits and, in particular, grain yield and tolerance stress index.     

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen fertilizers with and without gypsum

Abstract. Ammonia volatilization with and without gypsum incorporation was measured in Gujranwala soil (Udic Haplustalf) in an incubation study using different nitrogen fertilizers e.g. urea, ammonium sulphate (AS), calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), and urea nitrophos (UNP). Nitrogen from different fertilizers was applied at the rate of 200 mg N kg⁻¹ to two sets of soils in plastic bags (1.0 kg soil) and plastic jars (0.5 kg soil). Soil moisture was maintained at field capacity. Application of urea increased soil pH to 9, three hours after its addition. Ammonium sulphate and calcium ammonium nitrate had little effect on soil pH. Ammonium volatilization losses from fertilizers were related to the increase in soil pH caused by the fertilizers. Consequently maximum losses were recorded due to application of urea. Losses through ammonia volatilization were significantly lower with AS, CAN and UNP in descending order. Gypsum incorporation significantly reduced the losses. Therefore, application of gypsum to soil before urea may substantially improve N use efficiency for crop production by reducing N losses.     

MINERAL COMPOSITION OF STRAWBERRY,MULBERRY AND CHERRY FRUITS AT DIFFERENT RIPENING STAGES AS ANALYZED BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA-OPTICAL EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY

Mineral contents of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), mulberry (Morus alba, M. nigra, M. macroura, and M. laevigata) and cherry (Prunus avium) fruits at un-ripened, semi-ripened and fully-ripened stages were investigated. The concentrations (mg kg^?1) of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the fruits (DW), at fully-ripened stage, varied from 2600 (mulberry) to 3300 (strawberry), 1854 (cherry) to 2954 (mulberry), 1855 (cherry) to 4375 (mulberry) and 1025 (cherry) to 2225 (mulberry), respectively. Sizeable amounts (mg kg^?1) of Zn 408 (strawberry) to 1110 (mulberry) and Fe 236 (cherry) to 1080 (mulberry) were also determined. Moreover, the tested fruits contained considerable amounts of sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu). Overall, the concentrations of these minerals except K were found to decrease as fruit maturity progressed. The tested fruits, especially Morus species, can be explored as a rich source of Zn and Fe, the two essential elements that are in short supply in human diet.     

Residual efficacy of thiamethoxam, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, and diatomaceous earth formulation against Rhyzopertha dominica F. (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)

The residual efficacy of diatomaceous earth alone and in combination with Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin or a neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam against Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) was studied under laboratory conditions. The mortality of adult R. dominica was decreased over the 9?months of storage period and the combined application of the test materials enhanced the mortality rates compared with alone treatments. The greatest mortality was observed in the combination of DE with thiamethoxam. Progeny suppression was decreased with the extended storage period. The maximum rate of mycosis and sporulation in the cadavers of R. dominica was observed where B. bassiana was applied alone at the lowest-dose rate. The results of this study indicate that all three control measures may provide safety for an extended period of time against R. dominica.