INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF SULFUR AND PHOSPHORUS ON NODULATION,NITROGEN FIXATION,AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY CHICKPEA GROWN ON CALCAREOUS SOILS IN PAKISTAN

Field experiments were conducted at two different locations under rainfed conditions of Punjab, Pakistan to assess nodulation, nitrogen fixation and nutrient uptake by chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in response to application of three rates [0, 40, and 80 kg phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅ ha^?1)] of phosphorus and three rates (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha^?1) of sulfur in different combinations. Effect of phosphorus application was nonsignificant while that of sulfur was significant on percent nitrogen derived from atmosphere. Both phosphorus and sulfur application resulted in increase in nitrogen fixation up to 38% and 33% over control, respectively. Nutrient uptake [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S)] increased significantly with the application of phosphorus and sulfur and correlated positively with nitrogen fixation. There is direct involvement of sulfur in the process of nitrogen fixation whereas effect of phosphorus on nitrogen fixation is indirect mainly through enhanced growth and dry matter production.     

Impact of tillage and intra-row spacing on cotton yield and quality in wheat–cotton system

Farmers normally practice conventional tillage ((CT), disk plowing, cultivator, rotavator, and leveling) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with 15 cm intra-row spacing to avoid risks of poor plant stand and obtain higher yield. However, CT is costly besides it has adverse effects on soil and crop when sown after wheat. Conservation tillage [zero tillage (ZT) or reduced tillage (RT)] with suitable spacing can reduce production cost, increase cotton yield and quality, and it has favorable effects on soil properties. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate cotton response to tillage (ZT, RT, and CT) and intra-row spacing (15.0, 22.5, 30.0, 37.5 cm). Results revealed that RT produced higher bolls plant^?1, boll weight, seed cotton yield, ginning out turn, fiber length and strength than ZT and CT. Mean boll weight, seed cotton yield, earliness, and fiber qualities were optimum at 22.5 cm spacing. Tillage × spacing interaction showed optimum boll weight, earliness, and fiber strength with 15.0–22.5 cm spacing under RT. CT with 22.5 cm spacing also performed better in terms of boll weight and fiber strength; however, 15.0 cm spacing resulted in earlier maturity. RT with 22.5 cm spacing is an alternative to CT for higher yield, earliness, and quality of cotton besides environmental safety.     

Investigating the effect of Azospirillum brasilense and Rhizobium pisi on agronomic traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACT

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in improving crop growth but have not been studied sufficiently. A wire house experiment was conducted in Pakistan to determine the combined effect of inoculating wheat seeds with PGPR on the subsequent growth and yield of the wheat. The experiment included four treatments: T_{0 –} no-inoculation (control), T₁ – Azospirillum brasilense inoculation, T₂ – Rhizobium pisi inoculation and T₃ – co-inoculation with A. brasilense and R. pisi. Development and growth attributes, as well as final yield of wheat, were studied. Co-inoculation of seeds with both strains increased significantly wheat grain yield, the number of grains per plant and 1000-grain weight by 36%, 11% and 17%, respectively, compared to non-inoculated control. While crop growth rate increased for, respectively, 5.5% and 33% at tillering and flag leaf stages, corresponding values for T₃ were about 9% and 14% higher than values for sole inoculations in T₁ and T₂. Co-inoculation also significantly increased leaf epicuticular wax and relative water content as compared to the control treatment. Thus, inoculation of wheat seeds with A. brasilense and R. pisi and their combination is a promising method to improve growth, yield and quality of wheat.     

Pathogenic and coat protein characterization confirming the occurrence of Bean common mosaic virus on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Kashmir,India

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), belonging to the family Potyviridae, is a serious pathogen of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) causing considerable economic losses owing to seed, sap and aphid transmissibility. The viral nature of the test isolates and identity of the virus as BCMV were confirmed by mechanical transmission and DAS-ELISA using BCMV antiserum. Pathogenic variability studies in BCMV infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Jammu and Kashmir (a northwestern Himalayan state of India), revealed the existence of three pathogroups – PG-I, PG-II and PG-VII, accommodating five strains (NL-1, NL-1n, NL-4, NL-7 and NL-7n). Comparative sequence analysis of coat protein gene revealed that the strains NL-1, NL-4 and NL-7 shared more than 90% amino acid sequence homology with other BCMV isolates from other countries. DAG motif as well as BCMV specific conserved motif MVWCIDN were present in all the three strains. Phylogenetic analysis of coat protein also clustered them in the BCMV group. This study confirmed the occurrence of BCMV and its strains on common bean in Kashmir.     

Effect of management on reproductive performances of the Achai cattle in the Hindu Kush (Northern Pakistan)

This study evaluates the effect of management on the undocumented Achai cattle reproductive performance in transhumant farming systems (TFS) and in sedentary farming systems (SFS) in northwestern Pakistan. Data were collected from 172 households in TFS and 270 households in SFS to analyze the effect of farming systems, parity, and calving season on key reproductive traits. The results show that farming systems significantly affect pubertal age, while parity has no significant effect on any of the key traits. The calving season significantly affects the postpartum anoestrus interval in TFS only. More than 50% of the cows in both systems have postpartum anoestrus intervals and calving intervals within the recommended values for cows in tropical countries. Achai cows have high first-service conception rates (70% and 71% for TFS and SFS, respectively) and require a relatively small number of services per conception (1.53 ± 0.06 and 1.48 ± 0.05 SE for TFS and SFS, respectively). This local breed thus warrants conservation under both farming systems.     

Improving the performance of Bt-cotton under heat stress by foliar application of selenium

Heat stress at reproductive stages of cotton is a leading encumbrance to accomplish yield potential. An experiment was conducted to alleviate adversities of terminal heat stress on cotton. Experiment was conducted at University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2013 and repeated in 2014 using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split arrangement. Treatments were comprised of heat stress in main plots, viz., H₀ = no heat imposition, H₁ = heat imposition at squaring, and H₂ = heat imposition at flowering. Selenium was foliar applied in split plot, viz., Se₀ = 0, Se₅₀ = 50, Se₁₀₀ = 100, and Se₁₅₀ = 150 mg L^?1. Cell membrane thermostability, soluble proteins, and total phenolics were reduced significantly under heat stress leading to reduced cotton yield and related components. Maximum membrane thermostability, total phenolics, soluble proteins, opened bolls, boll weight, sympodial branches, and seed cotton yield were recorded with the application 150 mg Se L^?1.     

Amelioration in Growth and Physiological Efficiency of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Drought by Potassium Application

The present study investigated the induced drought tolerance in sunflower through foliar application of potassium (K) at critical growth stages (head formation or achene filling). Five genotypes of sunflower (G-101, SF-187, Hysun-33, Hysun-38, and 64-A-93) were tested for drought tolerance at ?0.55, ?1.36, and ?1.60 MPa osmotic potential using polyethylene glycol 6000. Hysun-33 showed the highest stress tolerance index as calculated from germination percentage, seedling height, root length, and dry matter. This genotype was further evaluated in the field under drought at head formation or achene filling stages, with or without 1% K foliar application. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Drought at head formation or achene filling stage significantly decreased biological yield, head diameter, plant height, 1000 achene weight, and achene yield as compared to unstressed control. Potassium application significantly improved all the aforementioned parameters and therefore could be a better strategy for ameliorating drought stress in sunflower.     

Genetic diversity studies of coarse and fine rice using RAPD markers

The availability of a genetically diverse gene pool is vitally important in varietal development. Molecular markers are being extensively utilized to explore the genetic diversity among native and exotic germplasm. This study was designed to reveal the genetic diversity and patterns of relationships among the 20 accessions/genotypes representative of basmati and non-basmati rice from the existing rice gene pool using RAPD markers. Employing RAPD, 17 decamer oligonucleotide primers directed the amplification of 116 fragments, out of which 101 were polymorphic (87.06%) while 15 fragments were monomorphic (12.93%). Similarity coefficients had ranged from 0.47 to 0.90. The average genetic similarity was calculated 0.68 (68%). In this study, the coarse rice genotypes showed more polymorphism (85.84%) than the fine rice genotypes (61.76%). Genotypes were clustered into 8 distinct groups: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H but two genotypes, i.e., Shadab and Kangni-27 showed divergence from all the genotypes of the groups. Therefore, these diverse genotypes may be included in future breeding programmes.     

青枯菌GMI1000效应蛋白RipQ对致病力的作用研究

青枯菌通过Ⅲ型分泌系统向寄主植物细胞分泌100多种效应蛋白,对寄主植物的抗感病性产生影响。青枯菌效应蛋白RipQ启动子区存在典型的HrpB识别序列PIP box (5′-TTCGG-N15-TTCGC-3′),但其功能尚未明确。本研究分析了RipQ在青枯菌4种演化型菌株中的分布情况。以青枯菌GMI1000为出发菌,构建ripQ缺失突变体和过表达菌株,研究效应蛋白RipQ在青枯菌-番茄植物互作中的功能。结果显示,ripQ广泛分布于除演化型IV的不同青枯菌类群中。与野生型菌株相比,ripQ突变体在番茄上的致病力有一定程度的增强,而ripQ过表达菌株的致病力显著降低。突变体和过表达菌株在培养基中的生长与野生型没有区别,但过表达菌株在番茄体内的繁殖能力下降。RipQ过表达菌株侵染番茄后hrpB、hrpG和epsA基因表达量显著下调,且能够诱导番茄叶片H₂O₂的大量累积,过敏性坏死反应标志基因hin1和水杨酸信号通路标志基因PR1a的诱导表达。另外,在番茄上瞬时表达ripQ也可以观察到H₂O₂积累及叶片细胞坏...     

Interaction of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas with Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Potted Soil with or Without P2O5

The effect of inoculation of Rhizobium or Pseudomonas, or both, in the presence and absence of phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) fertilizer on wheat yield was tested. The experiment was conducted outdoors in potted soil during two consecutive years under natural conditions. Rhizobial strain (Thal 8-chickpea nodulating bacteria) and Pseudomonas strain (54RB), both indigenous P solubilizers were applied in broth culture at seedling stage. Fertilizer in the form of P₂O₅ was an additional treatment applied at sowing time. Results revealed that inoculation of Pseudomonas strain in presence of phosphorus (P) fertilizer increased yield up to 41.8% when it was compared with only P fertilizer applied. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains with the P₂O₅ treatment however resulted in increased grains yield by 10% over the P₂O₅ treatment alone. It is inferred that inoculation with Rhizobium and Pseudomonas combined with P₂O₅ is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically sound and productive, with wheat yield increases of 10% to 42%.