BORON NUTRITION OF PEANUT GROWN IN BORON-DEFICIENT CALCAREOUS SOILS: GENOTYPIC VARIATION AND PROPOSED DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

Field studies were conducted to assess boron (B) requirement, critical concentrations in diagnostic parts based on yield response curves and genotypic variation by growing three peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars (‘Golden’, ‘BARD-479’, ‘BARI-2000’) on two B-deficient calcareous soils. Boron application significantly increased pod yield of all the cultivars over control. Maximum pod yield increases were: ‘Golden’, 16?23%; ‘BARD-479’, 21?27%; and ‘BARI-2000’, 25?31%. The cultivars varied in B efficiency and cv. ‘Golden’ was the most B efficient (81?86%) while cv. ‘BARI-2000’ was the least efficient (76?80%). Boron requirements for near-maximum (95%) dry pod yield were 0.65 kg ha^?1 for ‘Golden’, 0.75 kg ha^?1 for BARD-479 and 0.80 kg ha^?1 for BARI-2000. Critical B concentrations in shoots and seeds were: ‘Golden’, 33 mg kg^?1 and 26 mg kg^?1; ‘BARD-479’, 38 mg kg^?1 and 31 mg kg^?1; and ‘BARI-2000’, 42 mg kg^?1 and 33 mg kg^?1.     

Inheritance of an insecticidal gene (cry1Ab) in genetically modified cotton

The present study was conducted to evaluate inheritance pattern of insecticidal gene (Cry1Ab) in F₁ and F₂ generations derived from six combinations of crosses made between two transgenic lines (CEMB-3 and CEMB-11) and two non transgenic lines (MNH-93 and CIM-482). PCR, southern blot, western dot blot assay and lab biotoxicity assay were used to confirm the gene integration and expression of insecticidal gene in successive generations. The insecticidal gene was stably integrated in the genome of all F₁ plants showing the dominant nature of introduced gene (cry1Ab). Furthermore, heterosis, heterobeltiosis, heritability and genetic advance studies of Bt gene were also conducted. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis were estimated for five characters i.e. cotton yield per plant, no. of bolls per plant, boll weight, ginning out turn % age and laboratory bioassay results. The heterosis and heterobeltiosis ranged from??15.19 to 107.07% and 18.58 to 98.79%, respectively for yield per plant; from ?20.34 to 81.36% and ?20.34 to 81.36%, respectively for number of bolls per plant; from -6.96 to 21.38% and ?9.30 to 9.99%, respectively for boll weight; from 13.02 to 26.44% and ?0.52 to 26.17%, respectively for ginning outturn; and from ?8.11 to 36.23% and ?5.56 to 23.68%, respectively for mortality % age of Heliothis larvae in laboratory bioassays. The Broad Sense Heritability and Genetic Advance for insect resistance in Bt versus non-Bt crosses were calculated. Both of these were high in four out of six hybrids. Our data recorded showed that these transgenic lines are an excellent source of germplasm to be used in conventional breeding programme.     

Adsorption of Lead,Cadmium, and Nickel on Benchmark Soils of Pakistan

Eurasian Soil Science - Adsorption and desorption reactions at the solid phase–solution interface, play a significant role in controlling metal concentrations in soil solution and metal...     

Utilization of Defatted Mango Kernel in Wheat-Based Cereals Products: Nutritional and Functional Properties

The mango kernel is a byproduct of mango processing industries and it contains appreciable quantities of edible oil and quality proteins. In the present research, wheat flour was partially replaced with defatted mango kernel flour up to 30% and blends were further utilized for the preparation of biscuits. The nutritional and functional properties of flour blends were determined in the first phase. The second phase dealt with product analysis and sensorial appraisal from the trained taste panel. The results indicated that the addition of mango kernel flour improved the mineral and fiber content of flour blends. The addition of mango kernel flour affected emulsifying and foaming properties of flour blends negatively, while water and oil absorption improved positively from 60.76 ± 2.39% to 86.29 ± 2.51% and 81.81 ± 2.94% to 123.87 ± 5.39%, respectively. The results might be due to lower bulk density of blends. The cookies prepared from flour blends showed improved color tonality and textural characteristics. Sensorial appraisal from a trained taste panel was awarded to cookies containing 15% and 20% defatted mango kernel flour, however, the rating was slightly less than the control. The results were conclusive that defatted mango kernel can be used at 15% and 20% with significant consumer acceptability. Future aspects of the present research include the extraction of principal ingredients, e.g., starch and proteins, for value addition.     

Plant analysis diagnostic indices for boron nutrition of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) cultivars grown in a rainfed calcareous soil

Boron requirement of mungbean was assessed from yield response curves based on field experiment during 2010-11. Four cultivars, i.e., NM-11, NM-2006, Chakwal Mung-2006 and AZRI Mung-2006 were grown in a boron (B)-deficient calcareous soil by applying B at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kg ha^?I. Boron application significantly increased grain yield and B uptake by all the mungbean cultivars over control. Maximum grain yield increases were: cv. NM-11, 20%; cv. NM-2006, 24%; cv. Chakwal Mung-2006, 26%; and cv. AZRI Mung-2006, 28%. The cultivars varied in B efficiency and cv. NM-11 was most B efficient (83%) while cv. AZRI Mung-2006 was the least B efficient (78%). Fertilizer B requirement (kg ha^?1) for 95% of the maximum grain yield was: 0.60 for cv. AZRI Mung-2006, 0.70 for cv. Chakwal Mung-2006, 0.75 for cv. NM-2006, and 0.85 for cv. NM-11. Plant tissue critical B concentration in leaves was higher than in seeds.     

Variation in flowering time in sorghum core collection and mapping of QTLs controlling flowering time by association analysis

A wide range of variation in flowering time was observed within a diversity research set of 107 sorghum accessions ranging from 56 to 133 days. Accessions were classified into early medium and late flowering groups. 45 accessions were grown under three different environments of photoperiod (11, 12 and 15 h). Sorghum accessions gradually responded to the decreasing of day-length. The 12 h of photoperiod could be considered as a threshold above which day-length delays the flowering time in sorghum. Association analysis was performed to identify the QTLs controlling flowering time and photoperiod sensitivity using 107 accessions of sorghum grown under natural condition and 45 accessions grown under controlled conditions. Four QTLs controlling flowering time were detected under natural condition of day-length at threshold 2.5 using K model. A total of seven flowering time loci were detected under controlled conditions of day-length. One QTL controlling photoperiod sensitivity was detected on chromosome 1 and one QTL controlling photoperiod insensitivity was detected on chromosome 4.     

Mapping of QTLs underlying flowering time in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Due to its critical importance in crop yield, the photoperiodic regulation of flowering time is considered an important trait in sorghum breeding programs. In this study, quantitative trait loci for flowering time were detected using an F₂ population derived from a cross between Kikuchi Zairai, a late-flowering cultivar originating from Japan and SC112, an early-flowering cultivar originating from Ethiopia. F₂ plants were grown with their parents under a natural day length and a 12 h day length. Two linkage maps were constructed using 213 simple sequence repeats markers. Nine quantitative trait loci controlling flowering time were identified in F₂ plants grown under a natural day length, whereas 7 QTLs were identified under a 12 h day length. Five QTLs controlling flowering time were shared under both of the day length conditions.