Concentration of selected heavy metals in spices,dry fruits and plant nuts

Different spices, dry fruits and plant nuts commonly consumed in Pakistan were assayed for the heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron and manganese by the potentiometric stripping analysis and AA spectrophotometry. The results revealed wide variation in heavy metal content among different biological materials. Mixed spices generally exhibited higher value for trace metals specially lead (6.6–9.2 µg/g), cadmium (0.65–1.34 µg/g), iron (142.3–285.0 µg/g) and zinc (64.2–65.8 µg/g). Dry fruits contained relatively lesser amounts of heavy metals than plant nuts. Almonds contained higher levels of lead (1.02 µg/g) and cadmium (0.24 µg/g) than other nuts and dry fruits.     

Site-Specific Nitrogen Management in Rice Using Remote Sensing and Geostatistics

Proper doses of nitrogenous fertilizer are most important for rice production system because a large part of the nitrogen may be lost if it is not applied judiciously. A study was conducted covering five blocks of Balasore and two blocks of Bhadrak districts. Soil samples were collected randomly, and field visit was conducted during peak vegetative stage of rice. Two approaches have been used in this study for estimating the site-specific nitrogen (N) requirement in the study area. In one approach, geostatisical analysis and kriging was used to develop the soil test–based N recommendation map by which a minimum of 72 kg N ha^?1 and maximum of 94 kg N ha^?1 were recommended. In a second approach, remote sensing was used and N recommendation map was developed using the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) leaf area index (LAI) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) satellite data, and a minimum requirement of 60 kg N ha^?1 and maximum of 120 kg N ha^?1 was estimated through this approach.     

Yield potential and salt tolerance of quinoa on salt‐degraded soils of Pakistan

Quinoa is recently introduced to Pakistan as a salt‐tolerant crop of high nutritional value. Open field trials were conducted to evaluate its performance on normal and salinity/sodicity‐degraded lands at two locations of different salinity/sodicity levels, S₁ (UAF Farm, Normal Soil), S₂ (Paroka Farm UAF, saline sodic), S₃ (SSRI Farm, normal) and S₄ (SSRI Farm, saline sodic) during 2013–2014. Two genotypes (Q‐2 and Q‐7) were grown in lines and were allowed to grow till maturity under RCBD split‐plot arrangement. Maximum seed yield (3,062 kg/ha) was achieved by Q‐7 at normal field (S₁) soil which was statistically similar with yield of same genotype obtained from salt‐affected field S₂ (2,870 kg/ha). Furthermore, low yield was seen from both genotypes from both S₃ and S₄ as compared to S₁ and S₂. Q‐7 was best under all four conditions. Minimum yield was recorded from Q‐2 (1,587 kg/ha) at S₄. Q‐7 had higher SOD, proline, phenolic and K⁺ contents, and lower Na⁺ content in leaves as compared to Q‐2. High levels of antioxidants and K⁺/Na⁺ of Q‐7 helped to withstand salt stress and might be the cause of higher yields under both normal and salt‐affected soils. Seed quality (mineral and protein) did not decrease considerably under salt‐affected soils even improved seed K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺.     

ROOT ZONE TEMPERATURE INFLUENCES ZINC REQUIREMENT OF MAIZE CULTIVARS ON A CALCAREOUS LOAM SOIL

The zinc (Zn) requirement of a maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid (‘FHY-396’) and an indigenous variety (‘EV-7004’) was measured at low (22.4 ± 5°C) and high (28.8 ± 5°C) root-zone temperatures (RZT). Four Zn rates (0, 3, 9 and 27 mg kg^?1 soil) were applied to a calcareous loam soil in pots for the glasshouse study. Shoot and root dry matter yields were significantly more at the higher RZT. Regardless the RZT, maximum relative shoot dry matter yield in hybrid and variety was produced, respectively, at 9 and 3 mg Zn kg^?1 soil. Zinc concentration in roots and shoots of both the cultivars increased with Zn rates and it was significantly more at the higher RZT. Cultivars differed in critical Zn concentration (C_ZnC) required for maximum shoot dry matter yield. The C_ZnC ranged from 25 to 39 μg Zn g^?1 plant tissue for optimum growth of both the cultivars at low and high RZT.     

The first report on serotyping of bluetongue virus in small ruminants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,Pakistan

Bluetongue virus (BTV), a member of Orbivirus genus (family Reoviridae), is a non-contagious infection of domestic and wild ruminants. The current study was designed to detect various serotypes of BTV in small ruminants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan, along with their effects on hemato-biochemical parameters. A total of 408 serum samples in four districts (Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swabi, and Kohat) of KPK from small ruminants were screened based on competitive ELISA (cELISA). A total of 204 (50%) samples were found positive for BTV group–specific antibodies. The seropositive samples were processed for the detection of BTV serotypes through real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Out of 204 cELISA-positive samples, 60 (29.41%) were found positive through qPCR. Three serotypes [6, 8, 9] were detected from Mansehra District and two from Kohat [2, 8] and Abbottabad [6, 8], while only one from Swabi [8]. The serotype “8” was found consistently in all the four study districts. A significant (p?<?0.05) increase in the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was recorded in goats, whereas aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in sheep infected with BTV, compared to healthy animals. The hematological parameters showed significantly (p?<?0.05) raised total leucocyte count (TLC) in both sheep and goats, whereas only hematocrit (HCT) value was increased significantly (p?<?0.05) in infected sheep. This is the first report on serotyping of BTV among small ruminants in Pakistan.

     

Influencing in vitro clonal propagation of Chonemorpha fragrans(moon) Alston by culture media strength,plant growth regulators,carbon source and photo periodic incubation

Chonemorpha fragrans is an endangered medicinal woody climber,regarded among alternative plant sources of camptothecin.Camptothecin is a monoterpene indole anti-cancer alkaloid with annual trade value of over three billion U.S.dollars in the recent,and is used in the production of its analog drugs approved for the chemotherapy of cancer of varied types.Effects of plant growth regulators,culture media strength and photoperi-odic duration on the micropropagation ef ciency of C.fragrans from nodal segment explants were studied on Murashige and Skoog(MS)medium amended with Thidiazuron(TDZ),Benzylaminopurine(BAP)or Kinetin(Kin).Thidiazuron was more ef cient over BAP and Kin when half basal MS medium was used over full or quarter strength.Results of carbon source experiment showed sucrose as the most effective over glucose,fructose,and maltose in the clonal production.Studies on the photope-riodic incubation duration showed 12 h as the best light period and sub or supra-optimal resulted in the production of abnormal and albino micro shoots.Experimental results on the evaluation of physiological,biochemical parameters showed the role of pigment molecules and antioxidant systems in the production of albino micro shoots.     

Effect of 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid and acidifier on the performance,chyme pH,and microbiota of broilers

This study was aimed to explore the comparative acidifying properties of 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBA) and a combination of DL‐methionine (DLM) and acidifier in male broiler production. A total of 480 1‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments: A (low HMTBA, 0.057% HMTBA); B (low acidifier, 0.05% DLM + 0.057% acidifier); C (high HMTBA, 0.284% HMTBA); and D (high acidifier, 0.25% DLM + 0.284% acidifier). At 21 d, growth performance, chyme pH, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora were measured. The pH of crop, gizzard, and ileum contents was higher in the HMTBA treatment group than in DLM + acidifier treatment group. Furthermore, acidifier supplementation promoted growth of butyrate‐producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, whereas high HMTBA (0.284%) inhibited the proliferation of acid‐producing bacteria including Roseburia and Collinsella. The chymotrypsin activity was lower in the HMTBA group than in the DLM + acidifier group. In contrast, high‐level HMTBA group showed higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake than the DLM + acidifier group. These results suggested that HMTBA work through different pathways with DLM plus acidifier.     

Suppression of Meloidogyne javanica by Pseudomonas aeruginosa IE-6S in tomato: the influence of NaCl, oxygen and iron levels

Understanding the environmental factors that influence the suppression of disease-suppressive strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens is an essential step toward improving the level and reliability of their biocontrol activity. A 0.8 M NaCl concentration was optimal for in vitro survival and growth of IE-6S⁺ while, nematicidal activity by IE-6S⁺ was maximal when the bacterium was exposed to 0.4 M NaCl. The bacterium was highly sensitive to high (1.6 M) NaCl concentration. Culture filtrate of the bacterium resulting from the medium supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4 M NaCl showed the presence of secondary metabolite, hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Soil amendment with IE-6S⁺ alone or in conjunction with up to 0.8 M NaCl enhanced bacterial efficacy towards Meloidogyne javanica, the root-knot nematode. Soil amendment with NaCl up to 0.8 M also resulted in enhanced bacterial rhizosphere colonization and growth of tomato seedlings. Protein content of the shoot was reduced when soil was amended with 1.6 M NaCl. Inner root establishment of the bacterium was greatly affected in the soils treated with 1.6 M NaCl. Under in vitro conditions, IE-6S⁺ showed enhanced growth when kept at ambient oxygen conditions while the growth of bacterium affected when incubated at low oxygen conditions. Culture filtrate of the bacterium resulting from low oxygen level caused greater mortality of M. javanica juveniles in vitro compared with the filtrates obtained from ambient oxygen conditions. Culture filtrate from low oxygen conditions also showed the presence of hydrogen cyanide while those from ambient oxygen condition did not. Under glasshouse conditions, regardless of bacterial application, nematode penetration rate was greater when the pots were watered from the top; nematode penetration was lowered in bacterized pots compared with non-bacterized controls. IE-6S⁺ applied in the pots either watered from the top or bottom had no significant impact on growth of tomato but protein contents of the leaves increased after treatment with the bacterium. Rhizosphere and inner root colonization of the bacterium increased when the pots were watered from the top. Under in vitro conditions, with an increased iron concentration in the form of FeEDDHA, growth of IE-6S⁺ and its nematicidal activity increased. Culture filtrate of IE-6S⁺ obtained from liquid King's B medium supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0 mM FeEDDHA showed the presence of HCN. Under glasshouse conditions, soil treated with FeEDDHA alone did not reduce nematode penetration rates but did reduce greatly when applied in conjunction with IE-6S⁺. FeEDDHA applied at 0.5 mg/kg of soil in combination with IE-6S⁺ significantly enhanced plant growth and leaf protein contents. FeEDDHA at 1 mg/kg of soil increased bacterial populations both in the rhizosphere and inner root tissues of tomato.     

Efficiency of rice bran for the removal of selected organics from water: kinetic and thermodynamic investigations

The sorption efficiency of indigenous rice (Oryza sativa) bran for the removal of organics, that is, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene (BTEC), from aqueous solutions has been studied. The sorption of BTEC by rice bran is observed over a wide pH range of 1-10, indicating its high applicability to remove these organics from various industrial effluents. Rice bran effectively adsorbs BTEC of 10 microg mL(-1) sorbate concentration from water at temperatures of 283-323 +/- 2 K. The effect of pH, agitation time between solid and liquid phases, sorbent dose, its particle size, and temperature on the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran has been studied. The pore area and average pore diameter of rice bran by BET method are found to be 19 +/- 0.7 m(2) g(-1) and 52.8 +/- 1.3 nm. The rice bran exhibits appreciable sorption of the order of 85 +/- 3.5, 91 +/- 1.8, 94 +/- 1.4, and 96 +/- 1.2% for 10 microg mL(-1) concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene, respectively, in 60 min of agitation time using 0.1 g of rice bran at pH 6 and 303 K. The sorption data follow Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. Sorption capacities have been computed for BTEC by Freundlich (32 +/- 3, 61 +/- 14, 123 +/- 28, and 142 +/- 37 m mol g(-1)), Langmuir (6.6 +/- 0.1, 7.5 +/- 0.13, 9.5 +/- 0.22, and 9.4 +/- 0.18 m mol g(-1)), and D-R isotherms (11 +/- 0.5, 16 +/- 1.3, 30 +/- 2.2, and 33 +/- 2.5 m mol g(-1)), respectively. The Lagergren equation is employed for the kinetics of the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran and first-order rate constants (0.03 +/- 0.002, 0.04 +/- 0.003, 0.04 +/- 0.003, and 0.05 +/- 0.004 min(-1)) have been computed for BTEC at their concentration of 100 mug mL(-1) at 303 K. Studies on the variation of sorption with temperatures (283-323 K) at 100 mug mL(-1) sorbate concentration gave thermodynamic constants DeltaH (kJ mol(-1)), DeltaG (kJ mol(-1)), and DeltaS (J mol(-1) K(-1)). The results indicate that the sorption of organics onto rice bran is exothermic and spontaneous in nature under the optimized experimental conditions selected. This sorbent has been used successfully to accumulate and then to determine benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene in wastewater sample.