Search

This study examined the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different barbecued mutton and beef samples available in district Peshawar, Pakistan. In addition, the effect of various grilling methods on PAH levels was evaluated. Mutton grilled with three grilling procedures, were analyzed for its PAHs content. A total of 120 samples were collected from local food vendor spots or general restaurants, and control samples of gas and electric grilled meat samples were also prepared and analyzed. Significant difference sp=0.05 in PAHs levels were observed in different grilling procedures. Among the mutton samples, the highest concentration of PAHs was recorded in mutton grilled on coals. The chrysene, naphthalene, flourenthene and DBAHA concentrations were assessed high in mutton samples grilled on coals. Furthermore, this research observed the factors that might be helpful in minimizing the level of meat contaminants if practiced with traditional grilling procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of genotypes for morphological and yield-promoting traits over different years is a key component in cultivar development. The main goals of the current research studies were to identify pod worm-resistant/tolerant and high-yielding genotypes over two years along with other desirable traits that could be manipulated in future chickpea breeding programs. The experimental material consisted of 45 chickpea genotypes tested over two years in the Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Data was documented in terms of days of emergence, days to flower, plant height, pods per plant, seed per pod, 100 seed weight, grain yield, larval infestation, pod damage percentage and biological yield. The pooled analysis of variance showed highly significant differences (P<0.01) between years and between genotypes and genotype-year interaction (GYI) for all traits examined, except plant height. On average over two years, a minimum of (126) days to flowering were recorded over two years for genotypes D-15015 and D-13011, while a maximum of (136) days to flowering were recorded for genotype K-01209. For plant height over two years, the lowest and highest data were recorded for genotypes NKC-10-99 (72 cm) and FLIP82-150 (104 cm), respectively. The highest (25g) 100-seed weight across two years was shown by genotypes K-88168 followed by KARAK-2. The lowest (5662 kg ha-1) biological yield was recorded for genotype K-08003, whereas the highest (13022kg ha-1) biological yield was observed in D-13011. A lower percentage of damaged pods (17.0%) was observed for NIFA-2005, followed by both genotypes K-01153 (18%) and K-70009 (21%). The lowest grain yield was recorded for genotype D-15012 (328 kg h-1), while the highest grain yield (988 kg ha-1) was from genotypes D-14005, K-60058 (914 kg h-1) and D-15036 was achieved (910 kg ha-1). GYI genotypes K88170, D-14014, D-14005, K-60058, D-15036, KARAK-2, K-CH47/04, and NIFA-2005 showed the highest grain yield and a lower percentage of pod damage. The genotypes K88170, D-14014, K-60069, K-01153, K-70009, KARAK-2, K-CH47/04, D-15036 and NIFA-2005 performed very well and were registered with less larval infestation and pod damage Percentage and maximum yield over two years, therefore recommended for developing pod worm resistant/tolerant and high yielding chickpea varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of olive and palm oils blends on the sensory attributes of potato (Solanium tuberosum L.) cultivar Carola chips during three successive frying sessions. Olive and palm oils were blended in the ratios of 10:90, 20:80, 40:60 and 60:40% and the blends as well as the sole oils were used for frying of potato chips. The fried potato chips were evaluated for appearance, taste, texture, color and overall acceptability. The results indicated that the highest average scores for appearance (6.90), taste (7.57), texture (8.00), color (7.67) and overall acceptability (7.56) were obtained by potato chips that were fried in 10:90% olive/palm oil blend whereas the minimum scores for the aforementioned parameters were recorded with 60:40% blend. The frying frequency of the oil blends also significantly (p<0.05) affected the sensory attributes of potato chips. Generally, the sensory quality of the product was enhanced with consecutive use of the same oils for up to three sessions. However, it is recommended that further studies on the repeated frying practice on the same oil sample beyond three sessions should be undertaken to draw more conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdered wood coal in 32 different portions (each 250g) was treated individually with solutions (1.0L each) 4% HCl andH2SO4, 15% HNO3,5%NaOH and KOH abbreviated as C, F, N,S, P and their combination i.e.CF, CN, CS, CP, FN, FS, FP, NS, NP, SP, CFN, CFS, CFP, FNS, FNP, FSP, CNS, CNP, CSP, FSP, NSP, CFNS, CFNP, CFSP, CNSP, FNSP, CFNSP. Quality of the treated wood coal and their effect on soil pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), acidity, total nitrogen and other minerals was studied. pH and EC of the treated wood coal ranged from 1.48 to 11.9 and 3.45 to 28.4μs/dl respectively. Soil EC was lower 96.60 μS/dl in untreated soil while highest 190.10 μS/dl in NSP treated soil. Acidity of the treated soil ranged from 0.97g/L in S to 1.41 g/L in FN treated soils. The highest value (6.58×10-3%) of total nitrogen was in CFNSP treated soil. An increase in soil pH was noted where treatments variation ranged from 8.10 to 8.32 in CFP and CNS respectively. The effect of treatments on soil minerals in mg/kg indicated greatest variation in Fe from 2.759 to 5.358, Mn from 0.324 to 0.73, Na from.9 to 11.9 and K from 8.60 to 15.30 while other minerals like Cu, Zn, P, Pb and Ni showed moderate variability. It was concluded that acid base treatment of the wood coal resulted in pH, EC and minerals changes which might have good or bad effect on plants grown in those soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out with the aim to assist screening of various fungal species for antimicrobial natural products. During this study five different fungi, including Alternaria alternata, Acremonium sp., Alternaria brassicicola, Pythium sp. and Aspergillus flavus were screened against Wilt causing pathogens using the dual culture assay. Among them, Aspergillus flavus was found active fungus against the selected vascular Wilt causing fungus and bacteria, i.e. Fusarium oxysporum (87.50 ± 0.11% inhibition), Xanthomonas campestris (67.00 ± 0.46% inhibition) and Clavibacter michiganensis (72.00 ± 1.02% inhibition). The A. flavus was grown on two different media, i.e. Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) and Glucose Nutrient Broth (GNB) media for active secondary metabolites. Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of PDB medium gave significant results against selected phytopathogens compared to GNB medium and selected for further study. Crude (1 μg.mL-1) obtained from PDB medium showed 2.50 ± 0.64 mm and 1.97 ± 0.21 mm inhibition zone against X. campestris and C. michiganensis respectively compared to positive reference (streptomycin) and negative refrence (EtOAc) using disc diffusion method. However, the same concentration of crude (1 μg.mL-1) showed 62.20 ± 2.51% growth inhibitions against Fusarium oxysporum using agar well diffusion method. Further investigation, including various chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses on the separation and isolation of potent metabolites is suggested to get a useful lead structure for development of novel antibiotics to combat resistant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending of oil has been expected as one of the most important solution in producing vegetable oil with good storage stabilities. The current study was conducted to identify the best oil blend in terms of physicochemical properties between olive and palm oils. Laboratory experiment on "Effect of stress conditions on the quality and stability of olive and palm oil blends" was conducted at Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Tarnab Peshawar and The University of Agriculture Peshawar KP-Pakistan during 2015. Olive: palm oils treated in sole or admixture at various ratios were kept at different stress conditions for three months. Data was recorded on peroxide value (PV), free fatty acid (FFA), anisidine value (AV), iodine value (IV), color index (CI) and beta carotene (BC) value of the oils. The results showed considerable variations in all the studied parameters tested in different blends under various stress conditions. Maximum PV (10.76%), FFA (2.44%), AV (2.29), IV (77.09) and CI (0.609) were recorded in sole olive oil, while minimum PV (9.69%), FFA (0.65%), AV (0.88), IV (53.40) and CI (0.146) were noted in sole palm oil. The samples kept in sunlight showed maximum PV (12.82%), FFA (1.32%) and AV (1.39), while maximum IV (63.10), CI (0.371) and BC (11.30) value were observed in samples stored at ambient temperature. Storage conditions increased PV from 218 to 27.82, FFA from 0.88 to 1.47, AV from 1.02 to 1.56, while decreased IV from 63.38 to 58.05, CI from 0.392 to 0.337 and BC from 27.87 to 3.46. It was concluded that olive:palm oils mixed at a level of 10:90% and 20:80% ratios have the best quality stricture, which are more acceptable and better than other blends when mixed together that will achieve better strength as well as financial system phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of the ethyl acetate extracts from fruit bodies, mycelia and fermentation filtrate obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus also known as the oyster mushroom. The percent mortality of Macrosiphum rosae (rose aphids) and the LC50 values were calculated and used as an indicative of insecticidal potential. The maximum mortality of aphids was achieved at 80 μg mL-1 and the LC50 for the fruit body extract after 24 HRS was calculated as 12.83μg mL-1, followed by the extract from the fermentation filtrate with LC50 value 25.03 μg mL-1. The mycelial extract with LC50 (29.96 μg mL-1) exhibited least insecticidal activity. The results obtained from this study revealed that these extracts possess metabolites with insecticidal attributes that could be used as a potential source for developing new and novel bio-pesticide(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irradiation an alternative to antibiotics is an interesting area of poultry feed research and has been recognized as a reliable and safe method for preservation. Present study was conducted to investigate the influence of gamma irradiation (5kGy) and storage at ambient conditions on proximate analysis of antibiotic free broiler feed packed in different packaging materials. Results indicated that moisture content of the experimental feed samples was influenced (P ≤ 0.05) by all the three factors. It increased with storage time, more so in irradiated samples than in their respective controls. Protein solubility was also influenced (P ≤ 0.05) by all the three factors and their interactions. The average phytic acid contents of all the samples ranged between 1.04 to 2.10 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]