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Tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop. The plant is economically very important. To ensure a successful and economically viable harvest, it is essential that all aspects of its production to be monitored. At present, there is a limited scientific data regarding the use of pesticides in relation to the seasonal incidence of insect pests in the Bajaur district of Pakistan. This study was carried out at a local farm, where the efficacies of Flurofenafire pesticide were examined. The pesticide Flurofenafire was applied once a week to examine its efficacy. The stability of the pesticide was highly dependent on the weather. The occurrence of rain within 24 hours of spraying resulted in Aphid, Jassid, White fly, Thrips and Fruit borer infestations. Aphid infestations were observed on the tomato crop in May 2019, which peaked in July. Bemisia Tabaci infestations peaked in August. Amrasca Biguttula populations peaked in September 2019. Scirtothrips dorsalis and Helicoverpaarmigera infestations were also observed on the tomato crops and caused significant damage. The application of Flurofenafire was able to control these infestations. In conclusion the pesticide Flurofenafire was found effective against a wide range of insect pest of tomato plant. Key Words: Flurofenafire, Pest, Pesticide, Seasonal incidence, Lycopersicon esculentum

A total of 30 plant species belonging to 14 genera of Rosaceae were collected from different localities of Dir upper. In which seven plant species were belonging to genus Prunus, five Rosa, three of Potentilla, two each of Cotoneaster, Rubus and Pyrus, one each of Crataegus, Eriobotrya, Fragaria, Malus, Sibbaldia, Sorbus, Sorbaria, Spiraea. It was concluded that members of the Rosaceae need attention not only for its cultivation but emphasis must be made on conservation for sustainable utilization of plant resources.

Anthropogenic activities in the past and present eras have created global warming and consequently a storm of drought stress, affecting both plants and animals. Being sessile, plants are more vulnerable to drought stress and consequently reduce plant growth and yield. To mitigate the effects of drought stress on plants, it is very crucial to determine the plant response mechanisms against drought stress. Drought response mechanism includes morph-physiological, biochemical, cellular and molecular processes takes place in plants underlying drought stress. These processes include improvement in root system, leaf structure, osmotic adjustment, relative water content and stomata regulation. In addition, calcium and phytohormone (Abscisic acid, Jasmonic acid, Salicylic acid, Auxins, Gibberellins, Ethylene etc.) signaling pathways and scavenging of reactive oxygen species are the key mechanisms to cope with drought stress. Moreover, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi also have an important role in drought tolerance enhancement. To further elucidate and improve drought tolerance in plants, quantitative trait loci, transgenic approach and application of exogenous substances (nitric oxide, 24-epibrassinoide, glycine betaine and proline) are very crucial. Hereby, the present study integrates various mechanisms of drought tolerance in plants.

Salvia santolinifolia is a medicinal plant and an efficient in vitro conservation system is established. The influence of N6Benzylaminopurine (BAP), N6-(2-isopentyl)-adenine (2iP) and Kinetin at various concentrations were evaluated, single and in mixture with NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid) for the production of auxiliary shoots from nodal explants of S. santolinifolia. BAP at 3.0 mg/L in MS1 media produced maximum (11.66±3.38) number of shoots while elongated (5.37±1.45) shoots were produced in the MS2 medium in subcultures at 2.0 mg/L of 2iP. Least number of shoots were formed when auxin and cytokinin were used in combination. Length of culture, age was an important consideration for the initiation and development of roots. Rooting of shoot was attained with Indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) (3.0 mg/L) from shoots of 4th, 5th and 6th subculture while shoots taken from 1st, 2nd and 3rd subculture failed to form roots.

The current study was carried out to explore the phytochemical, antioxidant potential and antibacterial activities of the crude methanolic extract of A. santolinifolia Turcz. Ex Besser. The antioxidant activity was carried out by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay, while methanolic extract displayed the highest scavenging activity (DPPH) was 61.31µg/ml on Artemisia santolinifolia root and the lowest (51.05µg/ml) was record for their leaves. Similarly, in (ABTS) the highest activity (89.16µg/ml) was recorded for roots of A. santolinifolia followed by leaves (68.14µg/ml). In low inhibitory concentration assay, the crude methanolic extracts showed significant inhibition against all tested microbes on different concentrations like 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, and 100 µg/ml. The leaves extract of A. santolinifolia AsL showed MIC of 12.5µg/ml for B. subtilis, a gram-positive bacterium, 50µg/ml for gram positive bacteria S. aureus and 37.5 µg/ml for gram negative bacteria P. aeruginosa that is almost equal to the response of standard ciprofloxacin. Our current study revealed that Artemisia santolinifolia root (AsR) exhibited a significant antioxidant potential while AsL showed good antibacterial effect which is suggested to be used for treatment and management of different infectious diseases.

Honey is a suitable matrix for the evaluation of environmental contaminants including organochlorine insecticides. The present study was conducted to evaluate residues of fifteen organochlorine insecticides in honey samples of unifloral and multifloral origins from Dir, Pakistan. Honey samples (5 g each) were extracted with GC grade organic solvents and then subjected to Rotary Evaporator till dryness. The extracts were then mixed with n-Hexane (5 ml) and purified through Column Chromatography. Purified extracts (1μl each) were processed through Gas Chromatograph coupled with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) for identification and quantification of the insecticides. Of the 15 insecticides tested, 46.7% were detected while 53.3% were not detected in the honey samples. Heptachlor was the most prevalent insecticide with a mean level of 0.0018 mg/kg detected in 80% of the samples followed by β-HCH with a mean level of 0.0016 mg/kg detected in 71.4% of the honey samples. Honey samples from Acacia modesta Wall. were 100% positive for Heptachlor with a mean level of 0.0048 mg/kg followed by β-HCH with a mean level of 0.003 mg/kg and frequency of 83.3%. Minimum levels of the tested insecticides were detected in the unifloral honey from Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Methoxychlor, Endosulfan, Endrin and metabolites of DDT were not detected in the studied honey samples. Some of the tested insecticides are banned in Pakistan but are still detected in honey samples indicating their use in the study area. The detected levels of all insecticides were below the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and safe for consumers. However, the levels detected can cause mortality in insect fauna. The use of banned insecticides is one of the main factors responsible for the declining populations of important insect pollinators including honeybees. Resumo O mel é uma matriz adequada para a avaliação de contaminantes ambientais, incluindo inseticidas organoclorados. O presente estudo foi conduzido para avaliar resíduos de 15 inseticidas organoclorados em amostras de mel de origem unifloral e multifloral de Dir, Paquistão. Amostras de mel (5 g cada) foram extraídas com solventes orgânicos de grau GC e, em seguida, submetidas ao evaporador rotativo até a secura. Os extratos foram então misturados com n-hexano (5 ml) e purificados por cromatografia em coluna. Os extratos purificados (1μl cada) foram processados através de cromatógrafo gasoso acoplado a detector de captura de elétrons (GC-ECD) para identificação e quantificação dos inseticidas. Dos 15 inseticidas testados, 46,7% foram detectados enquanto 53,3% não foram detectados nas amostras de mel. O heptacloro foi o inseticida mais prevalente com um nível médio de 0,0018 mg / kg detectado em 80% das amostras, seguido por β-HCH com um nível médio de 0,0016 mg / kg detectado em 71,4% das amostras de mel. Amostras de mel da parede de Acacia modesta foram 100% positivos para heptacloro com um nível médio de 0,0048 mg / kg seguido por β-HCH com um nível médio de 0,003 mg / kg e frequência de 83,3%. Níveis mínimos dos inseticidas testados foram detectados no mel unifloral de Ziziphus jujuba da usina. Metoxicloro, Endosulfan, Endrin e metabólitos do DDT não foram detectados nas amostras de mel estudadas. Alguns dos inseticidas testados são proibidos no Paquistão, mas ainda são detectados em amostras de mel, indicando seu uso na área de estudo. Os níveis detectados de todos os inseticidas estavam abaixo dos Níveis Máximos de Resíduos (MRLs) e seguros para os consumidores. No entanto, os níveis detectados podem causar mortalidade na fauna de insetos. O uso de inseticidas proibidos é um dos principais fatores responsáveis pelo declínio das populações de importantes insetos polinizadores, incluindo as abelhas.

Transcriptional factors are the major regulators of plant signaling pathways in response to environmental stresses i.e., drought, salinity and cold. Hereby, the GhMYB108-like was characterized to determine whether it regulate these stresses. The GhMYB108-like cDNA consisted of 1107 base pairs (bp) with 807 open reading frame encoded a protein of 268 amino acids. Its isoelectric point and molecular weight are 5.51 and 30.3 kDa respectively. Phylogenetic analysis and online databases revealed that GhMYB108-like proteins are closely related with the Arabidopsis thaliana MYB2. Important cis-elements were detected in the promotor region of GhMYB108-like responding to stresses and phytohormones. The 3D structure of GhMYB108-like protein has been predicted. In addition, various physico-chemical properties of GhMYB108-like have been determined. Subcellular localization confirmed that GhMYB108-like are nuclear localized protein. Quantitative expression analysis showed that polyethylene glycol and salt treatments significantly induced the expression of GhMYB108-like. Overall, our findings suggest that GhMYB108-like is an important gene that would plays important regulatory role in response to drought and salt stresses.

This review presents an overview of published studies for a better understanding of the anti-mutagenic potential of medicinal plants and the precise indications for the utilization of natural compounds as chemo-preventive agents. Reports on the anti-mutagenic potential of medicinal plants published from 1997 to 2019 were searched through different scientific databases using the following keywords: medicinal plants and mutagens, carcinogens, the anti-mutagenic potential of medicinal plants. The data relevant to the anti-mutagenic potential of some common medicinal plants is summarized in this mini-review. These medicinal plants include Carum carvi, Withania somnifera, Panax ginseng, Mentha spicata, Curcuma zedoaria, Cassia angustifolia, Cymbopogon citrates, Ipomoea batatas, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Citrullus colocynthis, Capsicum annuum and Asparagus racemosus. An overview of the identified molecules or enzymes being targeted is also presented, with a focus on anti-carcinogenic and/or anti-mutagenic activity. The recent advancements in the research on medicinal plants pave the way for the better understanding and future prospects of the use of natural components as chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic agents.

The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climate change, due to the rapidly increasing population and delicate mountainous ecosystem. The relatively limited observed instrumental record impedes our understanding of long-term climate variability and their assessment. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, a 395-year (1620 to 2014 C.E.) tree-ring chronology of Abies pindrow (Royle) (Himalayan fir) was developed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The results of the growth-climate relationship demonstrated that the radial growth of Abies pindrow was limited by minimum temperature. Using a robust reconstruction model, a 310-year (1705 to 2014 C.E.) minimum temperature was reconstructed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The reconstructed minimum temperature accounts for 38% variance of the actual minimum temperature, and provides the evidences of Dalton minimum and modern maximum periods. The coldest years in the reconstruction were 1726, 1727, 1892, 1921, and 2001, whereas the hottest years were 1789, 1807, 1814, 1846, 2011, and 2013. Multi-taper method (MTM) spectral analysis showed a significant shorter quasi-cycles (2.3 to 3.5 years) and decadal cycles (11.5 to 17.5 years), suggesting a possible teleconnections with El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) respectively.

Genetic diversity can be investigated through different methods such as morphological traits, biochemical (SDS PAGE) and molecular markers. The present work was conducted on the basis of morphological and biochemical characterization in order to estimate the genetic diversity among the barley landraces; to explore significant variation which can be used in breeding programs. For this purpose, 40 barley landraces were collected from Dir Lower and Swat, districts of KP, Pakistan. A total of 18 traits were recorded, 10 qualitative characters including spike density, awn barbs, glume awn, lemma type and awn color, length of the rechilla hairs, lemma color, auricle pigmentation, photoperiod sensitivity and stem pigmentation. Variation was observed in these qualitative traits through frequency distribution. In quantitative traits maximum variation was found for plant height ranging from 36cm to 50cm, days to flowering range from 130 to 133 days), while 100 seed weight ranged from 36 to 86 g and plant biomass range from 50 to 199.5 g per plant. SDS-PAGE analyses of total seed storage protein resulted in a total of 18 polymorphic bands. Total genetic diversity on the basis of total seed storage protein analysis was 17.5%. In Band, the 14 total genetic diversity was (0.60%) followed by Band 16 (0.58%) and Band 17 (0.55%). Similarly, Band 3 showed diversity, while Band 8, 4 and 5 indicated 0.45, 0.38 and 0.35%, respectively. A cluster dendrogram tree was constructed which was divided into two linkage and further divided into seven clusters. The variation was found among the clusters. The information obtained from the study is useful in planning further crop improvement.

Polygonum hydropiperL. and related species are reported to possess neuroprotective potentials. In an attempt to validate its anti-Alzheimer’s potentials, leaf oils (Ph. Lo) were extensively evaluated in this study against severalin vitroandin vivomodels of Alzheimer’s disease. The Ph. Lo were tested against pathological targets of Alzheimer’s diseases (ADs). Thein vitroandin vivoassays were done for cholinesterase inhibition, anti-radical properties and cognitive assessments using transgenic animal models. In preliminary cholinesterase inhibition assays, Ph. Lo were more active against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals. Subsequently, Ph. Lo was evaluated for its effects on special memory, exploratory behavior, and coordination using shallow water maze (SWM), Y-maze, open filed, and balance beam tests. Animal pre-genotyping was doneviapolymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgene, and after completion of drug therapy, brain homogenates from the cortex and hippocampus were evaluated for cholinesterase and free radical studies. In SWM task, disease control animals treated with 10 mg/kg of Ph. Lo for 5 days exhibited significant improvement in cognitive performance indicated by low escape times on 5th day compared with normal animals. In the Y-maze test, transgenic animals showed higher spontaneous alternation behavior than disease control animals and standard control group animals. Ph. Lo therapy has improved the exploratory behavior and declined anxiety behavior in diseased animals as accessedviaopen field test. Ph. Lo administration significantly augmented the motor and coordination abilities of transgenic animals when compared to other groups of animals and declined AChE, BChE activities as well as free radicals load in the cortex and hippocampus tissues. Based on our finding, it is concluded that Ph. Lo exhibit significant neuroprotective potentials preliminary due to their anti-radicals and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. Ph. Lo need further detailed studies as potential aromatherapy against neurodegenerative disorders.

Withdrawal: Igra Afzal, Sadia Zia, Shamaila Kausar, Ali Hazrat, Tour Jan, Madeeha Anwar, Muhammad Riaz, Fahad Said Khan, Muhammad Akram, Ghulam Rasool, Dose Response Relationship of Aloe vera to Cure Atopic Dermatitis in Rats, Dermatology Therapy 2020, (https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.13376). The above article, published online on 3 April 2020 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), as an Accepted Article (https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.13376) has been withdrawn at the authors' request, and in agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief Torello Lotti, and John WileySons Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed because in continuing work on this project the authors became aware of additional parameters to be considered.