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Studies were conducted at KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan, in June 2008 and 2009 using a randomized complete block design. Plots were covered with transparent polyethylene films for different periods (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks). The temperature inside the film was about 10 °C greater than the atmospheric temperature. Solarization increased nitrogen (N) and organic-matter levels in both years, probably because of decomposition of plant residues. Increasing the period of solarization decreased weed density and both fresh and dry biomass. The effectiveness of solarization was species specific. In 2008, Cirsium arvense L. was controlled in the solarized soil, whereas Vicia sativa germination was stimulated by solarization. In 2009, suppressed weeds included Sorghum halepense whereas Chenopodium album L., Cyperus rotundus, and Rumex crispus L. were unaffected. Solarization increased yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) in both years. These results suggest that solarization should be practiced before planting horticultural crops in areas with a hot climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum) is cultivated as a medicinal plant but it also can be a troublesome weed. It is an annual or biennial herb that prefers high rainfall and fertile soils. Milk thistle has become a widespread weed in north-western Pakistan, where it causes yield reductions ≤37% in wheat and poses harvesting problems due to its thorny nature. Shortcomings in cultural practises, such as a low crop seed rate, wide row spacing, broadcast fertilizer, and limited crop rotation have contributed to milk thistle becoming a severe weed problem for farmers in this region. This paper reviews the biology of milk thistle and discusses the possible management options for its control, considering the socioeconomic conditions of farmers in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrilla perpusilla (Walker) is one of the devastating pests which decrease yield directly and indirectly of sugarcane crop. For the safe management of P. perpusilla, field experiments were conducted to find the population of Pyrilla perpusilla on 12 different sugarcane varieties under field conditions at two different districts Charsadda and district Dera Ismail Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Plot size 36×16 m (length × width) was selected in both localities for the cultivation of sugarcane varieties (CP77/400, Jhang 59, 2086, US-633, YT-55, CPF-252, CPF-246, CPF-251, CPF-247, CPF-250, CPF-248, and CPF-249) in Feb 2020. Each variety was planted in sub-plot size 3×2 meters having 3 rows and 5plants/row in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The data was recorded from Mar-Nov from fresh and ratoon crops of the year 2020 and 2021, respectively. The leaves (top, middle, and bottom) of five plants in each subplot was observed randomly for data collection every fortnight in all replications. The total mean population of Pyrilla perpusilla (eggs cluster and nymphs/adults) was recorded from the leaves of the plants. The experimental results were of the view that could be used to conclude the research that the different varieties have different behaviour towards hosting the P. perpusilla. The population Pyrilla perpusilla (eggs clusters and nymphs/adults) were found highest on CPF-252 while least population of P. perpusilla was recorded on CPF-249 in both location and both years of the study (2020-2021) with its peak activity in the month of August. Significantly, positive correlation was recorded between P. perpusilla (eggs clusters and nymphs/adults) population infestation and average abiotic factors (temperature, humidity and rainfall). The correlation between leaf length and leaf width with P. perpusilla (eggs clusters and nymphs/adults) was significantly positive, the correlation of P. perpusilla (eggs clusters and nymphs/adults) with cane length was non-significant but positive while negative non-significant correlation was found between P. perpusilla (eggs clusters and nymphs/adults) population and cane diameter. The population of P. perpusilla on sugarcane variety CPF-249 was comparatively less which can be combine in future IPM programmes for the suppression of P. perpusilla infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hirschsprung's Disease associated enterocolitis in pre and post operative patients. Place and Duration of Study: Nishtar Hospital and Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Multan from January 2008 to June 2012. Methodology: A total number of 114 patients aged from less than 6 months to more than 5 years were diagnosed and treated for Hirschsprung's Disease after rectal biopsy and internal sphinterotomy. Results: In total of 114 patients 32 (28%) developed enterocolitis before and 5 (18.5%) after definite surgery. Conclusions: The results of this study implicates that the early diagnosis and to make measures to decrease the post pull-through anastomostic anorectal stenosis can reduce the frequency of pre and post operative Hirschsprung's disease associated enterocolitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery of new cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) inhibitors is a major area in antiinflammatory drug discovery. Cannabigerol is a cannabinoid, which is recently discovered as a new COX-2 inhibitor. So far no work has been done to explore in depth mechanistic insights to understand its mechanism and binding mode. In the current investigation, molecular docking simulations were performed to explore its binding mode and is molecular interactions with the ligand binding site of COX-2 enzyme. Cannabigerol showed multiple molecular contacts with active of COX-2 especially withArg120, Tyr355, and Met522. Hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole and hydrophobic interactions were the key attractive forces involved in macromolecular contacts. Molecular modifications in Cannabigerol are discussed, which can lead to further improvement of the ligand as a new lead compound against COX-2 enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asparagus racemosus is a medical extensively used in traditional medicine for various disorders including its use in infectious. So far work has been done to identify its active constituents responsible for antiseptic folk use of this plant. In the current investigation, we have made an effort to identify its chemical constituents that might be partly responsible for antimicrobial properties. Extraction and isolation of plant extract lead to isolation of two nor-lignans and two steroidal triterpenes (compound 1 to 4). All compound showed considerable antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus while no significant activity was observed against S. typhi. This study highlighted the potential of A. racemosus to be further explored as a source of bioactive natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment on the allelopathic effects of Nerium oleander on germination and growth of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) was conducted at the Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops Laboratory during January 2017. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Four concentrations of oleander flower extract i.e control, 10, 20 & 40 g L-1 were used in this experiment. The experiment was performed in climatic cabinet having 20 oC temperature. The seeds were kept for 14 days and then different attributes were studied such as germination %, seedling length, radicle length, plumule length, seedling fresh and dry weight and seed vigor index. All the studied parameters were significantly affected by oleander flower extract concentrations. Results showed that maximum germination %, seedling length, radicle length, plumule length, seedling fresh and dry weight and highest seed vigor index was recorded in control treatment. While minimum values for all the above mentioned parameters were observed at 40 g L-1 of extract concentration. It indicated that Nerium oleander flower extract suppress growth of Italian ryegrass and thus can be used for the control of Italian ryegrass in the crops. However, all other factors need to be studied for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to see the response of roselle to different sowing dates and plant spacing. Six different sowing dates (seed sown at 10 days intervals on 6th May, 16th May, 26th May, 5th June, 15th June and 25th June) were used as main plots and six different planting densities (2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 18 plants m-2) as sub plots. Results showed that plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of calyces per plant, fresh weight of calyces per plant, dry weight of calyces per plant and calyces yield per ha was significantly affected by different sowing dates as well as planting densities. Maximum plant height (175 cm), stem diameter (3.1 cm), number of leaves per plant (636), number of calyces per plant (104), calyces fresh (206 g) and dry (21.7 g) weight plant-1, and calyces yield per ha (1427 kg) was recorded for the plants sown on 6th May, while these traits decreased with delayed sowing. For plant densities, the tallest plants (155 cm) with maximum calyces yield per ha (2496 kg) were observed at the highest density of 18 plants m-2, though the per plant stem diameter (2.9 cm), number of leaves (653), number of calyces (99), calyces fresh (205 g) and dry (24.9 g) weight were higher at the lowest density of 2 plants m-2. It was concluded that 6th May sowing and 18 plants m-2 planting density produced the highest yield per ha in roselle crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to see the response of roselle to different sowing dates and plant spacing. Six different sowing dates (seed sown at 10 days intervals on 6th May, 16th May, 26th May, 5th June, 15th June and 25th June) were used as main plots and six different planting densities (2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 18 plants m-2) as sub plots. Results showed that plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of calyces per plant, fresh weight of calyces per plant, dry weight of calyces per plant and calyces yield per ha was significantly affected by different sowing dates as well as planting densities. Maximum plant height (175 cm), stem diameter (3.1 cm), number of leaves per plant (636), number of calyces per plant (104), calyces fresh (206 g) and dry (21.7 g) weight plant-1, and calyces yield per ha (1427 kg) was recorded for the plants sown on 6th May, while these traits decreased with delayed sowing. For plant densities, the tallest plants (155 cm) with maximum calyces yield per ha (2496 kg) were observed at the highest density of 18 plants m-2, though the per plant stem diameter (2.9 cm), number of leaves (653),number of calyces (99), calyces fresh (205 g) and dry (24.9 g) weight were higher at the lowest density of 2 plants m-2. It wasconcluded that 6th May sowing and 18 plants m-2 planting density produced the highest yield per ha in roselle crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is low in rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat cropping system in the low-precipitation zone of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. A 2 years field experiment was conducted during 2007–2009 to evaluate the effect of tillage systems and herbicides on weed control efficiency (WCE) and wheat yield under rice–wheat cropping system. Three tillage systems, zero tillage (ZT), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) and five herbicide treatments viz. 2,4-D, Puma super, 2,4-D+Puma super at 1.25Lha−1 each, Affinity at 2kgha−1 and weedy check were evaluated in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement replicated four times. Tillage treatments significantly affected grain yield, net benefit (NB), and benefit cost ratio (BCR), while no significant effect on weed control efficiency. Both RT and ZT produced higher grain yield (5583.8, 5575.1kgha−1), while maximum NB (US $ 1196.0ha−1) and maximum BCR (5.5) were observed in ZT. Grain yield, NB and BCR were the lowest in CT. Maximum weed control efficiency (WCE) (94.1%), grain yield (6906.9kgha−1), NB (US $ 1522.2ha−1) and BCR (6.25) were recorded with Affinity, while minimum grain yield (3765.9kgha−1), NB (US $ 710.9ha−1) and BCR (3.6) were recorded in weedy check. Maximum WCE (91.4%) was recorded with Affinity and 2,4-D+puma super, irrespective of the tillage intensity. Affinity in combination with ZT was more productive and economical than RT and CT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Combining ability and heterosis were studied in a 6×6 diallel cross to see the nature of gene action in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) during 2002 to 2004. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among all the F1 and F2 hybrid means and their respective six parental values for all the traits examined. In both generations, the mean squares due to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were also highly significant. SCA genetic variances were greater than GCA and more important for the traits, i.e. boll weight, boll number and seed cotton yield per plant, showing the predominance of non-additive gene action. Lint % in both generations and boll weight in F2s only were controlled by additive type of gene action due to maximum GCA variances. Cultivar CIM-1100 was found to be the best general combiner and its utilization produced valuable hybrids with desirable SCA in both generations. F1 and F2 hybrids, viz., CIM-1100×CRIS-9, CIM-1100×FH-682, CIM-1100×BH-36 and CIM-109×CIM-1100 as high×low and low×high parents performed well in SCA determination, outstanding mean performance and heterosis. Better SCA effects associated with useful heterosis were more pronounced for yield traits. In F1 hybrids, maximum heterosis was observed for seed cotton yield followed by boll number, boll weight and lint %. The heterosis over better parent was +3.13 to +65.63% for bolls per plant, +0.75 to +24.40% for boll weight, +0.82 to +115.22% for seed cotton yield and +0.27 to +3.88% for lint %. Involvement of CIM-1100 in most of the F1 and F2 hybrids resulted in the synthesis of superior genotypes for most of the traits studied. Inbreeding depression was elevated in good performing hybrids and was the highest for seed cotton yield. Highest yielding F1 hybrids yielded lesser in the subsequent generation due to over-dominance and inbreeding depression, whereas moderate yielding F1 hybrids were found more stable even passing through process of segregation due to additive gene action. The combined performance of F1 and F2 hybrids could be a good indicator to identify the most promising populations to be utilized either as F2 hybrids or as a resource population for further selection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Current study was designed to explore the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a constituent isolated from Mallotus philippinensis, in order to validate its folk use. Materials and methods: 11-O-galloylbergenin was isolated from ethanolic extract of Mallotus philippinensis. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the test compound were assessed using formalin test and carrageenan-induced paw edema models. Results: 11-O-galloylbergenin showed significant analgesic activity at doses of 20 and 40mg/kg against formalin test in rats. Similarly, 11-O-galloylbergenin exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema model at doses of 10, 20 and 30mg/kg. Conclusion: 11-O-galloylbergenin has demonstrated its significant potential to be further investigated for its discovery as a new lead compound for management of pain and inflammation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]