Search

Rice (Oryzae sativa L) is suffering from several biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, brown leaf spot of rice (BLS) is potentially devastating disease of rice causing the severe yield losses up to 100%. The current study was designed to evaluate most effective synthetic fungicides management strategy towards BLS disease. For this purpose, 12 fungicides were screened out under in vitro conditions and four most effective fungicides were further demonstrated against the targeted pathogen with three different concentrations (100, 150 and 150 ppm) by using poisoned food technique. The results revealed that propiconazole and thiophanate methyl showed the strong inhibitory effect against B. oryzae followed by contaf plus and bavistin respectively. The promising fungicides (propiconazole and thiophanate methyl) under lab conditions were further evaluated in vivo against BLS disease by using 3 types of applications i.e. Pre-inoculation, Post-inoculation and after symptoms appearance. Findings showed that, Post-inoculation was found most effective as compared to other applications, furthermore combination of propiconazole and thiophanate methyl showed significant reduction in disease incidence percent as compared to solo applications. The reduction in disease incidence percent in all application methods suggested that these synthetic fungicides could be used against BLS of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: M. Atiq, A. Atiq, K. Iqbal, Q. Shamsi, F. Andleeb, S. Buzdar BACKGROUND: Better conformity may help in delivering minimum dose to organs at risk (OARs) and maximum dose [...]

Dieback of forest trees is considered as serious problem in most parts of the world. Shisham an important multipurpose tree of the Indian subcontinent is suffering from dieback. Changing climate in most parts of the world is considered an important factor of ecosystem disturbance. Impact of environmental variables, tree age and water table on the dieback of shisham was examined in different regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Significant correlation was observed between environmental variables and dieback in minimum, moderate and maximum infected trees among three age classes. Water table and rainfall expressed non- significant correlation. A multiple regression model was developed to determine the relationship between environmental variables and dieback. Coefficient of determination value (R² = 0.89) depicts that model is statistically good. Model indicated that most of the predictor variables has minor role in disease development except age and time span. With one unit increase in age and time span disease will increase 4.15 and 5.25 units respectively. Values of partial R-square indicated that age class (0.5253), time span (0.2943) and relative humidity (0.0552) are major contributors in disease development. It was concluded form the study that age and time span are significant predictor of dieback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive germplasm evaluation study of wheat elite lines was conducted at Wheat Research Institute Faisalabad-Pakistan to identify new sources of leaf, stripe and stem rust resistance and high yield potential during crop seasons 2015-2017. The parent lines were selected on the basis of phenotypic characteristics and slow rusting history for race non-specific resistance genes by the selection of desirable parents used in filial generation (F1-F5). In primary evaluation, 112 lines were selected on the basis of rust reaction and high phenotypic uniformity for further testing against rust resistance and high yield potential. Among these, 32 lines exhibited Lr34/Yr18, 22 lines showed Lr46/Yr29, and 30 lines indicated the combination of Sr2/Yr30. Principal component analysis (PCA) based cluster analysis exhibited that, cluster I and III had clear separation compared to cluster II, IV and V. It was concluded that seven elite lines i.e. V-70003, V-70034, V-70054, V-70070, V-70085, V-70103 and V-70104 exhibited both the linkages of three slow rusting genes (Lr34/Yr18, Lr46/Yr29 and Sr2/Yr30) and high yield characteristics and are expected to contribute toward food security at national and global levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is very valuable crop all over the world as well as Pakistan. It is commonly cultivated in subtropics and temperate regions. Damping off disease in chili caused by Pythium aphanidermatum is responsible for a potentially serious threat towards seedling mortality in both nurseries and field crop. The present study was designed to determine the pathogen of damping-off of chili and its management through chemicals in vitro. For this purpose, the pathogen was isolated from samples shown typical symptoms of damping-off on PDA media, purified and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics. To fulfill the Koch's postulate pathogenicity test was conducted. For the management of Damping-off disease of chili an experiment was designed where six fungicides were used i.e Contaf plus, Flint max, Score, Ellectus super, Fossil, Topsin M with three different concentrations (100, 150 and 200 ppm). to check their efficiency against isolated pathogen by using Poisoned food technique. Result showed that all the chemicals has excellent inhibition effect on growth of P. aphanidermatum at different levels, where Ellectus super expressed the best results to inhibit fungal growth (4.11mm) at 200 ppm concentration followed by Flint max (5.11mm) and Score (6.66 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red rot of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is considered as the most destructive disease in many sugarcane growing countries. C. falcatum may decrease weight of cane by up to 29% and sugar loss by 31%. In this study, nine commercial fungicide formulations were tested in lab conditions: Shincar exhibited minimum fungal growth (4.13) followed by Nativo (15.62), Amister Top (26.19), Topsin M (37.64), Ridomil Gold (45.19), Allite (52.49), Score (59.44), Antracol (67.71) and Rovral (76.81) as compared to control. In green house Salicylic acid + KH2PO4 exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.40) followed by Salicylic acid spray (13.92) and KH2PO4 spray (20.25) as compared to control. In field Carbendazim spray exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.10) followed by Salicylic acid spray (21.60), carbendazim + Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 drench (32.17), KH2PO4 spray (43.62), Carbendazim drench (51.19), Salicylic acid drench (58.49), KH2PO4 drench (65.52), Coragen (Chlorantraniliprole) drench (74.297) and micro-nutrients spray (82.854) as compared to control. Under lab conditions, shincar showed best result while in green house Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 and in field condition carbendazim showed the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived nanostructures have revolutionized the arena of nanotechnology and "green" synthesis of nanostructures with strong characteristics is great challenge for researchers. In the present study, CuNPs and AgNPs along with their complex utilizing Moringa oleifera plant extract as reducing and stabilizing agent were synthesized. Different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%) of these nanoparticles were applied using Poisoned food technique to evaluate antifungal activity against Curvularia lunata in vitro, as well as in vivo to check the efficacy of exogenously applied nanoparticles to control against Curvularia leaf spot of brinjal for better outcomes and eco-friendly management. Under in vitro conditions, [Cu-Ag] NPs complex expressed maximum inhibition (13.862) comparatively to CuNPs with growth inhibition (21.809) and AgNPs with minimum growth inhibition (23.315); however, control showed maximum fungal growth (38.647). Under field conditions, spray with [Cu-Ag] NPs complex expressed determined reduction in disease intensity at different days' interval (7, 14, 21) with infection index value (16.183, 13.217 and 10.657) followed by CuNPs with infection index value (27.717, 24.740, 20.907) and AgNPs with infection index value (33.147, 29.153, 25.743) as compared with control showed maximum fungal growth with infection index value (35.243, 38.393, 40.750). The present research aimed to highlight the biosynthesized CuNPs and AgNPs as biological control against Curvularia leaf spot of brinjal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato production is significantly harmed by the interruption of fungal diseases. Alternaria solani is responsible for substantial yield losses in tomato crops grown in greenhouse and field conditions. Silver based green synthesized nanomaterials (AgNMs) are reported as best performers in various agricultural applications and proposed to be best alternatives in plant disease management. Two green based AgNMs at three different concentrations were evaluated against the incidence of A. solani and on the components of antioxidant defense system of tomato plants. Results of current study indicated that the application of green based AgNMs reduced the disease incidence of A. solani with significant increase in tomato production, ascorbate (ascorbic acid), photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in the leaves of inoculated plants as compared to healthy ones. It is concluded that the application of green based AgNMs may be a viable approach for the management of early blight of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus is the most valuable fruit industry in the world as well as in Pakistan, due to its different nutritional aspects. But this fruit industry is facing huge losses due to various biotic and abiotic diseases. Citrus gummosis caused by water loving fungus Phytophthora species is also one of the major diseases of citrus around the globe. This study was conducted to evaluate five different chemicals (Kasumin, Evito, Cabrio top, Topsin M, Kocide @ 100, 200 and 300 ppm concentrations) and three treatments of plant based nanoparticles (Silver, Copper and their combination @ 0.25, 0.5 and 1% concentrations) against Phytophthora spp. under lab conditions through poisoned food technique. Among fungicides, the least mycelial growth was observed by application of Evito at 300 ppm concentration followed Kasumin and Kocide at same concentration, whereas among nanoparticles combination of Silver and Copper nanoparticles was found most effective against the mycelial growth followed by solo application of silver and copper at 1 % concentration respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli pepper is among the world's most popular vegetable crop with a ranking of third after potato and tomato. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichumcapsici can cause large losses to chilli. Experiments were done to determine if the mineral status of chilli is affected by infection with the anthracnose pathogen. Fruits of resistant and susceptible cultivars of inoculated and un-inoculated chilli pepper plants from six varieties/lines were collected in 2013 and 2014 and tested using nested design to determine their mineral/nutrient composition. There was variation (p ≤ 5) in the mineral status among treatments group (inoculated & un-inoculated), type (resistant & susceptible) and in varieties/lines of the chilli plants due to the infection by anthracnose disease. Resistant type of plants expressed 2.81, 2.52, 2259,1185.50, 64.95, 179.60, 431.63, 141.12, and 110.58 while susceptible type showed 1.88, 1.66, 2562.67, 991.48, 35.40, 121.28, 140.87, 191.83,and 137.04 variation in concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) (%), while potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) in ppm respectively. Resistant cultivars accumulated higher concentrations of these minerals compared to susceptible varieties and this increase in minerals in resistant host plants could help prevent the spread of pathogen by strengthening the biochemical and physiological processes of the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial seed and boll rot of cotton is a newly emerging threat to cotton in Pakistan. Three antibiotics (Streptomycin sulphate, Oxytetracycline and Agrimycin-100) were evaluated at 600ppm, 800ppm and 1000ppm against colony growth of Pantoea agglomerans. Efficacy of three homeopathic products (Tuberculinum aviara 30CH, Influenzinum 30CH and Hepatitus 30CH) was assessed at 5, 10 and 15% concentration in lab conditions by inhibition zone technique. Extracts of Datura metel, Azadirachta indica and Calotropis gigantea were evaluated at 6%, 8% and 10% concentrations. Streptomycin sulphate was the most significant (1.10 cm) antibiotic product. At 15%, Tuberculinum aviara significantly retarded (0.63 cm) bacteria colony diameter after 72 h. Datura metel was the most significant to inhibit bacterial colony (0.73 cm) at 15% concentration. In field conditions, treatments proved effective in vitro were assessed on four cotton varieties (FH-941, FH-942, MNH-886 and FH-114). Streptomycin sulphate was the most significant with respect to Tuberculinum aviara and Datura metel, controlling 45.81% disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]