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The newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has deteriorated the global order economically, socially and politically. As an emergency of global concern, the disease continuously spread havoc with its dreadful health manifestations with no regard for any race, religion and region. The mortality rates in different countries are surprisingly variable and there is debate about population-wise differential response to virus. Different countries have imposed lock-down to reduce the spread of virus; however, the positive outcomes of lock-down in terms of reducing mortality rate and transmission of virus are still questioned. Further, public accusations and debate of world powers regarding the origin of virus has created regional hate sentiments and political chaos which could result is serious repercussions following miscalculation of actual facts. Scientific communities are struggling to cope with the disease by developing potential vaccines against the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 and were testing the already marketed drugs against this coronavirus. Therefore, several medicinal plants and various vaccinations have been used against Covid-19. This review highlights the origin, virulence, vaccination but most importantly the plants extracts used against the causative agent of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lab experiment was conducted at Weed Science Research Laboratory, The University of Agriculture Peshawar. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized having two factors. Factor "A" was maize varieties including (Burhan, Jalal and Azam) while, factor "B" was different weed water extracts i.e. Trianthema portulacastrum, Xanthium strumarium, Convolvulus arvensis and Distill water treatment was also included for comparison. The results showed that nearly all weeds water extracts significantly affect all the studied parameters of maize varieties. The result revealed that T. portulacastrum showed the most toxic effect against all maize varieties as it permit only 76.66% of maize seed to germinate. While, among maize varieties Azam showed high resistance toward the allelopathy of studied weed species and gave 97.50% germination. Maize variety Jalal found susceptible to the phytotoxicity of the studied weeds. As T. portulacastrum declared the most problematic weed of maize. Hence, it was recommended that proper measures to be taken for the effective control of T. portulacastrum weed to secure the maximum production of maize in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic visualization of micro‐morphological characters were analyzed using a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) tool, which has proven to be very successful to analyze the pollen surface peculiarities. The significant goal of this research was to perform microscopic examination of pollen of some of the most frequently visited honeybee floral species around apiaries. Micro‐morphological characterization of frequented honeybees foraged plants were discussed. A total of 15 species, belonging to 11 different families were identified for the foraging activities of honeybees, namely, Lantana camara, Jatropha integerrima, Helianthus annuus, Tecoma stans, Lagerstroemia indica, Duranta erecta, Cosmos sulphureus, Hymenocollis littoralis, Moringa oleifera, Cestrum nocturnum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Volkameria inermis, Catharanthus roseus, Malvastrum coromandelianum, and Citharexylum spinosum. The microscopic slides were prepared using the acetolysis method, and the qualitative and quantitative features were measured and described using microscopic tools. The pollen type sculpture varies from psilate scabrate to echinate and colpi from tricolpate to tetracolpate. Quantitative parameters such as polar diameter, mesocolpium distance, equatorial dimensions, aperture size, spine diameter, and exine thickness were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. The exine thickness was measured at its maximum in C. roseus (3.85 μm), whereas it was at its minimum of 0.90 μm in L. indica and D. erecta. Pollen fertility was estimated to be highest in H. annus (88%). The current research validates scanning microscopic features of pollen of the honeybee floral species, which is helpful for the accurate identification and commercializing of honey production to generate revenue for beekeepers through the exploration of bee floral diversity. Research Highlights: Pollen spectrum examination using microscopic imaging techniques.Variations examined through scanning microscopy in pollen ultrastructure.Micro‐morphology has taxonomic value for accurate identification of honeybee flora.Authentication of Honeybee floral species for sustainable beekeeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P), one of the most important macronutrients for plants, is given to the soil through phosphatic fertilizers and organic manures. The application of PSB to soils is one of the most effective and successful ways, since it can replace or reduce the demand for inorganic P fertilizers and could be a long-term strategy for conserving P resources. The goal of the study was to determine the contribution of PSB to phosphorus (P) availability in organic, mineral, and natural sources. For this purpose, a laboratory incubation experiment was conducted at the University of Agriculture Peshawar. The experiment was consisting of four sources of P [poultry manure (PM), farm yard manure (FYM), rock phosphate (RP) and single supper phosphate (SSP)] for obtaining 45 mg P2O5 kg-1 and two types of inoculation (control and PSB) arranged in two factorial complete randomized design with three replications. Resultantly, PSB inoculation significantly improved. P availability at all incubation intervals except day zero. A 3.4%, 5.4%, 12% and 16 % increased were observed in P as compared to control, at day 7, 14, 28 and 56 respectively. Similarly, significant differences were observed in P release for P sources at all incubation intervals. Initially higher P release was observed for SSP but at day 14 onward PM and FYM proved to be the best P releasable sources as compared to mineral P sources. RP released the lowest P at all incubation intervals however it performed statistically at par to SSP at 56 days. The significant interactive effect of P sources and PSB at day 28 and 56 demonstrated that soil receiving P from organic sources inoculated with PSB released higher P than other treatments combination. Thus, it is suggested that P must be applied from organic P sources (PM and FYM) along with PSB inoculation for better P nutrition and crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil fertility and leaf nutrient assessment is key factor towards sustainable fruit production. Improvement of soil productivity and fruit quality depends on the knowledge of soil fertility status. However, little information is available on the present soil fertility level and fruit quality of cherry orchards in the Baltistan region of Pakistan, one of the country's primary cherry-producing regions. The current study was carried out to determine the soil fertility status of cherry orchards in the districts of Skardu, Kharmang, Shigar, and Ganache. Soil samples were tested for pH, EC, organic matter, texture, N, P, K, and micronutrients. While, samples of fruits and leaves were tested for sugar, ascorbic acid, TSS, P, K, and pH. The soil samples were slightly alkaline, non-saline, sandy loam, and sandy clay loam in texture, with adequate organic matter ranging from 1.19 to 2.15%, low to moderate (NO3-N), low extractable P, low K, and moderate to adequate (NO3-N), as well as high micronutrient levels (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). While leaf samples indicated low quantities of P and K, marginal to high levels of N, and sufficient to high levels of micronutrients. The fruit sample's qualities were within the optimal range, with a yield of 5 to 50 kg per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel is a promising, bio‐based, renewable, nontoxic, environment friendly, and alternative fuel for petroleum derived fuels which helps to reduce dependency on conventional fossil fuels. In this study, six novel, nonedible seed oil producing feedstock were explored for their potential for sustainable production of biodiesel. It is very important to correctly identify oil yielding plant species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used as reliable tool for authentic identification of oil yielding seeds. Macromorphological characters of seeds were studied with light microscopy (LM). Outcomes of LM of seeds exposed distinctive variation in seed size from 16.3 to 3.2 mm in length and 12.4 to 0.9 mm in width, shape varied from oval to triangular, and color from black to light brown. Oil content of nonedible seed ranged from 25 to 30% (w/w). Free fatty acid content of seed oil varied from 0.32 to 2.5 mg KOH/g. Moreover, ultra structural study of seeds via SEM showed variation in surface sculpturing, cell arrangement, cell shape, periclinal wall shape, margins, protuberances, and anticlinal wall shape. Surface sculpturing varied from rugged, reticulate, varrucose, papillate, and striate. Periclinal wall arrangements confirmed variation from rough, wavy, raised, depressed, smooth, and elevated whereas, anticlinal walls pattern showed variation from profuse undulating, smooth, raised, grooved, deep, curved, and depressed. It was concluded that SEM could be a latent and advanced technique in unveiling hidden micromorphological characters of nonedible oil yielding seeds which delivers valuable information to researchers and indigenous people for precise and authentic identification and recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica napus L. is one of the essential oilseed crops playing a significant role in commercial edible oil production. To determine diversity within this specie, ten different genotypes of B. napus L. including Chinese (CA-2, CA-4, CA-5) and doubled haploid lines from a population were field-tested at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar (UAP). Genotypes were examined for seven morphological traits including days to flowering, primary branches mainstem-1, plant height, main raceme length, pods mainraceme-1, pod length, 1000-seed weight and three seed quality traits; oil content, glucosinolate and erucic acid. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) found significant variation among Brassica napus L. lines for all the studied morphological and seed quality traits. Furthermore, analysis of correlation revealed that 1000 seed weight was significantly correlated with primary branches on main stem, main raceme length, pods mainraceme-1, and pod length. Two traits erucic acid and pod length had significant correlation with oil content. Among the studied lines, DH-3 had high oil content, DH-2 had low glucosinolate and CA-2 had low erucic acid content. Similarly, CA-2 and CA-5 performed better for seed-related traits. Based on the results of current study, genetic variation was observed in studied lines. Also, CA-2 and CA-5 were identified as superior genotypes for seed yield and hence were the best genetic resources to increase seed yield in rapeseed. Traits including primary branches on main raceme, pods mainraceme-1, pod length and erucic acid were important while making indirect selection to improve seed weight and oil content in rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increase in energy catastrophe and accompanying environmental issues, the search for renewable and alternative energy resources is a fiercely disputed problem in the scientific world. Biodiesel has proven to be the finest sustainable alternative to gasoline. Because of their environment‐friendly character and cost‐effectiveness, nonedible oil‐bearing seeds could be the possible resource for biodiesel production. Therefore, the present study uses scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate and identify micromorphological features of six novel, nonedible oil‐bearing seeds of Verbenaceae as potential biodiesel feed stocks. Selected seeds of Verbenaceae range in size from 1 to 5 mm in width and 1.8 to 6.4 mm in length, according to light microscopic studies. The oil content of seeds ranges from14 to 19%. Seed texture, color, shape, size, periclinal and anticlinal wall patterns, and cell outline are all more variable in SEM‐mediated seed ultrastructure analyses. The findings of this work imply that SEM could be a useful method for revealing hidden micromorphological features in a variety of nonedible oil‐producing seeds, which could aid to future investigation, proper identification, seed categorization, and authenticity. These seeds were hard to be identified by the native people due to their resemblance in seed color and shape, so there is a need to give a detailed description of seed characters for proper identification of these plants. This work will determine the new features of the seeds, which will be helpful in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petiole anatomy of 15 species of family Asteraceae was examined which aimed to investigate petiolar anatomical structures for species level identification. Shandon Microtome was used for petiole histological preparations. Both qualitative and quantitative features were studied under microscope which showed significant variation in petiole, collenchyma, parenchyma shape/size, vascular bundles arrangement/size, and vessel elements quantity. Artemisia japonica Thunb., Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., Myriactis nepalensis Less., Seriphidium brevifolium Ling & Y.R.Ling, Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg., and Xanthium strumarium L. showed winged petioles. Maximum length and width of upper and lower epidermis was found in Tagetes erecta L. which is 23.05 ± 0.89 μm, 24.9 ± 1.257 μm length and 21.75 ± 1.38067 μm, 22.75 ± 0.467 μm width, respectively. Petioles of Parthenium hysterophorus L. was longest one with 9.85 ± 10.45 μm while A. japonica Thunb. showed highest number of vessel elements. Maximum size of vascular bundles was found in T. erecta L. with 5.05 ± 14.25 μm. Artemisia annua L., C. vulgare (Savi) Ten, Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob., Helianthus annus L., M. nepalensis Less., P. hysterophorus L., Senecio chrysanthemoides DC. have trichomes while Tussilago farfara L. has highest number of vascular bundles. All species have angular collenchyma type except M. nepalensis Less., P. hysterophorus L., S. brevifolium Ling & Y.R.Ling, Tagetes minuta L., T. officinale L., S. chrysanthemoides DC., and T. farfara L. Cluster analysis implemented that distinct plant species in cluster. Petiolar anatomical structures and taxonomic key will helpful for distinguishing Asteraceous taxa at genus and species level. This taxonomic significant investigation will also provide baseline to taxonomists for other Asteraceae studies and phylogenetic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current study, 22 herbaceous plant specimens have been examined with the help of light microscope to carry out leaf epidermal anatomy. Foliar micro‐morphology of herbaceous plants from Tilla Jogian, Jhelum Pakistan was held first time. The plants were collected from different parts of Tilla Jogian at different elevations. The main objective of the study is to use this information as an aid in plant taxonomy. Significant variations were observed in both qualitative and quantitative features. With the help of microscopy significant variations in characters like stomata size, number, epidermal cell size, shape and number, guard cell size, trichomes, and subsidiary cells were recorded. On the basis of these findings, light microscopy of leaf epidermal anatomical features holds great interest for taxonomists to identify complete taxa. Foliar epidermal anatomy of herbaceous flora serves as baseline data along with taxonomical data and can be helpful in demarcation and limitation of nearly associated taxa to gain better use of anatomical characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the palyno‐morphological features of species of family Vitaceae from Pakistan. A total of nine species, belonging to four genera were collected, pressed, identified, and then analyzed microscopically. Both quantitative and qualitative characters of the pollen grains were recorded including polar and equatorial diameter, P/E ratio, number of colpi and pores, exine thickness and shapes of the pollen in both polar and equatorial view, and exine sculpturing using Leica microscope fitted with camera Meiji Infinity 1 and then analyzed statistically using software IBM SPSS Statistics 20. The results of the present study demonstrated the variations in polar and equatorial diameter, exine thickness, P/E ratio, pollen shape, and exine sculpturing of the studied species and highlighted the significance of pollen morphology as an identification tool. The present study may contribute to better understand the classification at genus level, which will support the future phylogenetic characterization of the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is spread through contamination of water sources and results in morbidity globally. In the current study 300 water samples were processed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection ofToxoplasma gondii. The overall prevalence in different water sources was 6.6% (17/300). Among different water sources the highest prevalence was recorded in drain water at 7% (7/100), followed by tube well water at 7.5% (3/40) and open well water at 5% (5/100) ,and the lowest was recorded in tap water at 3.33% (2/60). The highest prevalence was recorded in summer. Evidence indicates that cleaning and filtration need to be adopted to avoid the health hazards of waterborne zoonotic parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C(11)H(13)N(2)O(+)·Cl(-)·2H(2)O, the dihydrate of (+)-vasicinol hydro-chloride, is a pyrrolidinoquinazoline alkaloid. It was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the leaves of Peganum harmala L. The pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the C atom at position 2 acting as the flap and the C atom at position 3, carrying the hydroxyl substituent, has an S configuration. The absolute configuration was determined as a result of the anomalous scattering of the Cl atom. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules stack along the a axis, connected to one another via inter-molecular O-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming approximately triangular-shaped R(2) (1)(7) rings, and O-H⋯Cl and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming penta-gonal-shaped R(5) (4)(10) rings. The overall effect is a ribbon-like arrangement running parallel to the a axis.