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About 40,000 synthetic pigments and dyes are consumed in different industries throughout the world that severely contaminate water sources. The present study has been undertaken to remove extremely toxic and hazardous acid yellow dye from water. In total seven hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by mixing various materials with calcinized white stone powder (CWSP) and screened out for their dye removal efficiencies. The functional groups involved in the dye adsorption using 2% Cu/TiO2 composite with calcinized white stone powder were Si-O, -CO and -OH. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs of 2% Cu/TiO2 composite with calcinized white stone powder show that it has nano-granular structure as compared to other materials. The presence of distinctive and sharp peaks in X-ray diffraction indicated the crystalline nature of white stone powder, CWSP and 2% Cu/TiO2-CWSP composite. The zeta potential measurements (-22.4 mV) of calcinized white stone powder indicate that these have anionic nature. The overall acid dye removal efficacy of various hybrid nanocomposites was in the following order: Cu/TiO2-CWSP composite > Li/TiO2-CWSP composite > CaO-Fe3O4-CWSP composite > CaO-Fe2O3-CWSP composite > FeSnO4-CWSP composite, FeCdO-CWSP composite > Na2SiO3-CWSP composite. It is important to note that adsorbents have shown good adsorption at 30°C and 40°C. The optimized conditions for maximum removal of dye were pH 7, dose 0.05 g/L, initial concentration 40 mg/L and temperature 40°C. Almost 99.19% of acid yellow dye was removed by Cu/TiO2-CWSP composite under optimized conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are highly valuable crops enriched with minerals, vitamins, phenolics, and antioxidants required for daily human activities and to prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to elucidate the physicochemical and mineral evaluation of seven neglected local grape cultivars ('Kishmish', 'Sra Kishmish', 'Askari', 'Sahibi', 'Haita', 'Sundar Khani' and 'Toran') growing in Baluchistan, as it can help in future breeding, processing, and species conservation. Therefore, these cultivars were evaluated for different physical, biochemical, and availability of macro- and micro-mineral contents. In physical evaluation, the local cultivar 'Haita' showed maximum bunch length (19.72 cm) and bunch width (11.88 cm), while the highest bunch weight (527.33 g) was recorded in 'Sahibi'. Similarly, significant differences were noted in biochemical traits, and maximum total soluble solids (24.76%) and titratable acidity (1.58%) were observed in 'Sundar Khani', while the highest vitamin C (26.17 mg 100 g-1), total sugars (30.26%) in Sundar Khani, and nonreducing sugars (8.79%) were recorded in 'Haita'. The cultivars growing in Balochistan also showed variations in phenolics (113.79-346.50 mg GAE L-1) and antioxidants (85.77-90.87%). Likewise, the concentrations of macro- and microelements were also highly variable in these cultivars. Overall, among these cultivars, 'Toran' performed better in the agroclimatic conditions of Balochistan, as it has high yield attributes such as berry length, width, and weight. Moreover, it was also enriched with total soluble solids, antioxidants, and calcium contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oil palm is the world's highest yielding oil crop and its palm oil has high nutritional value, making it an oilseed plant with important economic value and application prospects. After picking, oil palm fruits exposed to air will gradually become soft and accelerate the process of fatty acid rancidity, which will not only affect their flavor and nutritional value, but also produce substances harmful to the human body. As a result, studying the dynamic change pattern of free fatty acids and important fatty acid metabolism-related regulatory genes during oil palm fatty acid rancidity can provide a theoretical basis for improving palm oil quality and extending its shelf life. Methods: The fruit of two shell types of oil palm, Pisifera (MP) and Tenera (MT), were used to study the changes of fruit souring at different times points of postharvesting, combined with LC-MS/MS metabolomics and RNA-seq transcriptomics techniques to analyze the dynamic changes of free fatty acids during fruit rancidity, and to find out the key enzyme genes and proteins in the process of free fatty acid synthesis and degradation according to metabolic pathways. Results and discussion: Metabolomic study revealed that there were 9 different types of free fatty acids at 0 hours of postharvest, 12 different types of free fatty acids at 24 hours of postharvest, and 8 different types of free fatty acids at 36 hours of postharvest. Transcriptomic research revealed substantial changes in gene expression between the three harvest phases of MT and MP. Combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis results show that the expression of SDR, FATA, FATB and MFP four key enzyme genes and enzyme proteins in the rancidity of free fatty acids are significantly correlated with Palmitic acid, Stearic acid, Myristic acid and Palmitoleic acid in oil palm fruit. In terms of binding gene expression, the expression of FATA gene and MFP protein in MT and MP was consistent, and both were expressed higher in MP. FATB fluctuates unevenly in MT and MP, with the level of expression growing steadily in MT and decreasing in MP before increasing. The amount of SDR gene expression varies in opposite directions in both shell types. The above findings suggest that these four enzyme genes and enzyme proteins may play an important role in regulating fatty acid rancidity and are the key enzyme genes and enzyme proteins that cause differences in fatty acid rancidity between MT and MP and other fruit shell types. Additionally, differential metabolite and differentially expressed genes were present in the three postharvest times of MT and MP fruits, with the difference occurring 24 hours postharvest being the most notable. As a result, 24 hours postharvest revealed the most obvious difference in fatty acid tranquility between MT and MP shell types of oil palm. The results from this study offer a theoretical underpinning for the gene mining of fatty acid rancidity of various oil palm fruit shell types and the enhancement of oilseed palm acid-resistant germplasm cultivation using molecular biology methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exogenous melatonin (EMT) application has been used to reduce postharvest senescence and improve the quality and antioxidant enzyme activities of papaya fruits during cold storage. Methods: The effects of exogenous melatonin application (1. 5 mM) were investigated on papaya fruits during cold storage (10°C ± 2°C) for 28 days in the present study. Results and discussion: The EMT treatment delayed postharvest senescence significantly with lower maturing status compared with untreated papaya fruits (control). In addition, EMT treatment maintained substantially higher titratable acidity values and ascorbic acid content but significantly lower soluble solids content and lower weight loss compared with the untreated fruits. Concerning the antioxidant capacity, the EMT-treated papaya fruit exhibited markedly higher total phenolic content and, consequently, higher DPPH-radical scavenging activity than the control group. The EMT treatment not only kept a higher enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase but also significantly inhibited the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, along with satisfying sensory attributes. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that EMT application could be commercially used as an eco-friendly strategy to reduce postharvest senescence and maintain the fresh-like quality traits of papaya fruit during cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent year, the demand for guava fruit has been increasing in domestic and international markets. However, guava fruit is extremely perishable due to the short shelf life and rapid over-ripening of the fruits suggesting the need for practical tools to extend their shelf-life. In the present study, the efficiency of calcium nitrate treatment was investigated on Golla guava fruit. Fruits were treated with different concentrations (0, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) for 12 days storage at ambient condition. Among the dipping treatments, 4% calcium nitrate significantly reduced fruit weight loss (FWL), decay percentage, and suppressed the increase of soluble solids content (SSC). Moreover, 4% calcium-treated fruits had higher total titratable acidity (TA), and lower ripening index (SSC: TA ratio) and pH during the storage period. Higher ascorbic acid, total phenolic content (TPC) and higher reducing, non-reducing and total sugars along with retained higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were observed in (4%) calcium nitrate treated guava fruits. Calcium nitrate (4%) also exhibited higher aroma, taste and flavour among the other treatments. Generally, the pre-storage calcium nitrate dipping treatment of guava fruit-maintained fruit quality for up to 12 days at ambient storage condition and could be suggested as practical solution at commercial levels in extending the shelf life of fresh guava fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This endeavor includes thirty grapes' genotypes grown in northern zones of Punjab, Pakistan to determine similarities and dissimilarities in forty-four morphological traits according to the descriptor "International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)". The relation between the genotypes was determined by principal component analysis (PCA), and similarity was worked out by using cluster analysis. The dendrogram divided the genotypes into two main groups with classes and subclasses. The variation present within the class was up to 81.72% while the difference between classes was 18.28%. The morphological quantitative traits such as bunch length, bunch width, bunch weight, peduncle length, the weight of 10 berries, number of berry in a bunch, berry length, and berry width were in the following range 27.50-11 cm, 13.75-5 cm, 583.56-77.70 g, 6.50-1.55 cm, 53.70-9.70 g, 354-28, 27.37-11.40 mm and 18.06-10.41 mm respectively, which indicated a wide level of diversity in the selected genotypes. Based on phenological attributes, "Regina", "Perlet", and "Early White" were found early maturing genotypes to prevent berry rotting due to monsoon rains at the final stage of ripening. The data generated in this study would be helpful to preserve the existing germplasm and be available for designing future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most effective rooting hormone (IBA) concentration was determined by studies on the clonal propagation of olive semi-hardwood cuttings. A semi-hardwood cutting experiment was carried out on two different olive cultivars BARI zaitoon-1 and BARI zaitoon-2 cuttings with 0, 2500, 3500 and 4500 ppm IBA solutions planted in the same rooting media (sand). Studies have shown that these two varieties have great potential for proliferation through semi-hardwood cuttings. The cuttings were grown under SPTs for 90 days to assess rooting ability and shooting capability. The sprouting percentage, number of roots, root length, shoot length and survival percentage was the highest in cuttings treated with 3500 ppm IBA concentration, while cuttings without IBA treatment have the lowest results. Overall, 3500 ppm IBA treatment performed better than other treatments. The experimental results showed that semi-hardwood cuttings treated with auxin have potential for clonal propagation in simple and economical shaded polyethylene tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several fungal plant pathogens are posing serious threat to the Ficus spp. grown as an ornamental plant for landscaping world over. Dieback disease is one of the major limiting factors in Ficus spp selection and cultivation as an ornamental plant. Typical Dieback disease symptoms were recorded on Ficus plantation from different commercial ornamental plant growing nurseries and several other landscape areas of Punjab, Pakistan. A prospective etiological study was planned and conducted using certain basic and molecular methods. Frequently associated Fusarium spp. were tested for pathogenicity confirmation using Koch’s postulates on Ficus benjamina L. Among these tested fungal isolates, FMB-45-Fi was proved as principal cause of dieback on Ficus species. The pathogenic isolate was subjected to molecular characterization by exploring three genomic regions (ITS, TEF1-α and RPBII). Molecular data validated the pathogenic isolate as Fusarium proliferatum. Here, we documented Fusarium proliferatum as causative agent of dieback in Ficus spp. in Punjab Pakistan and it is a first record to the best of our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to characterize eight olive genotypes (local and exotic) growing in Potohar region (Salt Range) of Pakistan. The genotypes "BARI Zaitoon-I", "Earlik I", "Earlik-II", "Frantoio", "Mariana", "Nocellara", "Naqvi" and "Sorani" were collected from different locations of Potohar. On the basis of morphological attributes, maximum leaf length was observed in genotypes "Mariana" (6.26 cm) and "BARI Zaitoon-1" (6.24 cm), while maximum leaf width was observed in genotypes "Frantoio" (158 cm) and "Naqvi" (153 cm). Regarding fruit weight, maximum fruit weight was measured in "Mariana" (5.41 gm) while the minimum fruit weight (0.93 gm) was observed in genotype "Earlik II". In biochemical assessment of fatty acids composition, palmitic acid (13.80- 10.12%), palmitoleic acid (2.08-1.03%), oleic acid (77.14-70.47%) and linolenic acid (1-0.21%) were found in mentioned ranges. Similarly, total polyphenols and peroxidase value found in selected genotypes were in following ranges 321-144 mg kg-1 and 15-3.03 meq of O2/kg, respectively. The information from study revealed that biochemical profiling of olive genotypes could be helpful for olive oil processing industry and for breeders to conduct their future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides contamination is a global environmental and public health concern due to their carcinogenic and highly toxic nature for all kind of living organisms including plants, animals and humans. Pakistan as an agriculture-based country, annually use a huge amount of organochlorine pesticides (OC) to control insect pests and different diseases of crops, resulting in environmental contaminations and their subsequent exposure to humans. Unfortunately, more than half million people are endured annually from OC pesticides and other agro-chemicals poisoning in Pakistan. However, recent data on the uses, contamination and exposure of pesticides in Pakistan are largely unavailable. This review summarizes the recent information and provides data on consumption and contamination of pesticides with a particular focus on their exposure to humans in Pakistan. Studies must be conducted to precisely determine the current use, contamination level and exposure of pesticides in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]