Volume 7 (2019), Issue 2

Salvadora species has been promoted by World Health Organization and as an arid zone climate plant, it is at risk of extinction; however, sustainable high economic, and ecological benefits of limited land resources could be achieved through cultivation of such hardy plants to feed ever increasing population of the world. More than 870 million people of the world are malnourished with 2.6 million children’s death every year. As potensive halophyte, Salvadora is an arid horticultural and forest crop, successfully grown in harsh conditions of desert zones of the world in changing climate scenario of the world. All plant parts of Salvadora has medicinal, pharmaceutical, industrial and nutritional importance. Desert ecosystem and arid zones of the world could be conserved through massive plantation of halophytes. However, global warming, less precipitation, water scarcity, population pressure, deforestation and over grazing made Salvadora an endangered species in the world. This review will cover the prospects of Salvadora in agriculture, plantation success on marginal lands, molecular based germplasm conservation and breeding to facilitate viable agricultural practices on earth.

Mungbean or greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is an important legume of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Indian subcontinent due to its high nutritional value. The yield of this important crop is decreasing due to facing different biotic and abiotic stresses. Traditional breeding program in mungbean has limited success due to limited mungbean germplasm and less genetic compatibility with its wild relatives. The problem of bottlenecks in mungbean breeding can be achieved by applying modern biotechnological tools and genetic engineering. Mungbean is recalcitrant in nature to in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation like other food legumes. First successful report on genetic transformation in mungbean was reported in 2001 by using Agrobacterium tumafaciens. Thereafter, A. tumafaciens mediated genetic transformation in this recalcitrant crop by incorporating different genes of interest ranged from marker/selectable to genes for increasing resistance against pathogens, insects and salinity stress were reported by many researchers. In these studies, different techniques, protocols and explants were tested on medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs) and selective agents in order to induce putative transgenic plants with high genetic transformation efficiency. Putative transgenic shoots were rooted and acclimatized in the pots containing different substrates. Molecular techniques like PCR, RT-PCR, hybridization techniques, ELISA, Histochemical analysis and leaf bioassay were performed in order to confirm genetic transformation and efficiency.

This study was conducted to determine grain yield and leaf chlorophyll content of some dry bean varieties in several growing periods in the Konya ecological conditions. The cultivars included were Akman-98, Goksun, Goynuk-98, Karacasehir-90, Noyanbey-98, Onceler-98, Yunus-90 and Zulbiye. The experiments were set up according to Randomized Block Design with 3 replicates through the dry bean growing periods (May-Oct.) of the years 2012-13 in Bahri DaÄŸdas International Agricultural Research Institute Experimental Area. The highest values of SPAD I (early leaf chlororphyll content) were obtained from Yunus-90 with 33.78, SPAD II was shown by Onceler-98 (leaf chlororphyll content at blooming stage) with 41.55 and SPAD III (leaf chlororphyll content after blooming) was obtained from Karacasehir-90 with 42.10. The lowest values of SPAD I and SPAD II were obtained from Akman-98 with the values of 26.18 and 30.57, respectively while Noyanbey-98 showed the lowest SPAD III value with 31.77. Noyanbey-98 produced the highest grain yield with 2574.6 kg ha-1 while the lowest was obtained from Akman-98 with 1045.0 kg ha-1.

Determining zinc (Zn) distribution in calcareous soils, is important for efficient and effective management of Zn fertilizer for optimum crop yield and quality food. The study was conducted to analyze the relationships among DTPA-extractable Zn and chemical Zn fractions in soils, important soil properties, and leaf Zn status in wheat. Seventy-five wheat fields of southern Punjab were sampled for soils (depth of 0–30 cm) and flag leaves at early heading stage of wheat. All the sampled soils were alkaline-calcareous in nature and the soils were low in DTPA-Zn, ranged from 0.2 to 1.03 mg kg–1, and variable in soil textural classes. Relative proportion of Zn fractions present in the soil-textural-class groups was in the order: structural Zn > iron (Fe)-manganese (Mn) oxide bound Zn > carbonate bound Zn > organically bound Zn >exchangeable Zn. The corresponding average Zn concentration in wheat flag leaves ranged from 12 to 18 mg Zn kg–1. Leaf Zn was significantly correlated with DTPA-extractable Zn, exchangeable Zn, structural Zn, clay contents and soil organic matter contents in soils. Soil texture determined the Zn distribution in different forms. Therefore, soil texture is an important factor in measuring the plant Zn status. Hence, management of Zn fertilizer should be managed accordingly.

During the last few years, the production of cotton crop declined sharply due to unfavorable environmental conditions and attack of several insects such as cotton mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis). It is a very troublesome insect and causes severe damage to the cotton crop. Its outbreak habit and great variance in biology makes it more noxious. Entomologists are striving hard to develop an effective method for its control. However, several agronomic approaches can be employed to overcome this problem like clean cultivation (to destroy alternate host weeds), use of acid delinted seed, site recommended varieties, growing of alternate host crops (Cajanus cajan, Pennisetum glaucum and Zea mays) and regular pest scouting. Entomologists have also developed some botanical and biological methods to control its population. Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) seed extract @ 50ml/L and its seed oil @ 5ml/L are effectively used to control the population of cotton mealy bug. This is an eco-friendly method and does not have any consequence for the environment. Moreover, fish oil along with neem extract (10ml/L) can also be sprayed for controlling its population. Some organism like Cryptolaemus montrouzeiri, Aenasius bambawalei and Cryptolaemus montrouzeiri are also being used as biological control agents. Some bio-insecticides such as Verticillium lecanii and Beauveria bassiana (@10gm/mL) are effectively sprayed during the month of August-October at the rate of 10gm/mL for the control of its population.

The present study was carried out in three different tehsils of Faisalabad, to assess the food and feeding behavior of Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus). Food items consumed by jackal in four different seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) were identified by stomach analysis of shot animals. Number of shot animals for each season was 10. Total number of shot animals for all seasons was 40. Twenty seven different types of food items were identified for all seasons from stomach contents. It included 19 plant species, 4 types of animal material and remaining was reptiles, insects, unknown plants and unidentified materials. Nine and eleven plant species were consumed by jackal in spring and summer seasons, respectively while in autumn and winter, only 7 plant species were consumed. Four types of animal matters were eaten by jackal in spring, summer and autumn while in winter, 3 types were consumed. Among crop plants, wheat (Triticum aestivum), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), maize (Zea mays) and sorghum (sorghum bicolor) were the most prominent species. Among trees, beri (Zizyphus mauritiana), shahtut (Morus alba), pipal (Ficus religiosa) and lasura (Cordia myxa) were consumed. Among animal food, domestic birds, domestic animals and rats were prominent. Among plant species, Morus alba with mean relative frequency 9.21 + 4.82 was the most extensively consumed plant. Unknown plants were consumed in significant proportion ((3.75 + 2.14). In animal contents, domestic birds (14.49+5.52) and domestic animals (10.79+6.65) were frequently consumed. Insects (2.42+2.42), unknown materials (8.55+4.81), unidentified matter (4.23+2.21) were consumed in different quantities. Asiatic jackal in the study area during all the four seasons, ranging from 40.06% to 53.48%, with maximum consumption occurring during winter season.

Pesticides have a negative impact not only on the environment but also on human health. Therefore, alternative method of integrated pest management (IPM) is a suitable technique used to control insect pest and to protect the environment for the betterment of human health. It is a combination of biological, chemical, cultural and mechanical methods. All these methods are essentially integrated with each other. The purpose of the study was to identify the residual impact of pesticides on environment and health of sugarcane farmers; with special reference to integrated pest management. The study was conducted in District Rahim Yar Khan was taken randomly as a universe of the study from the province of Punjab. Tehsil Sadiqabd was selected randomly from District Rahim Yar Khan. Out of twenty-nine rural Union Councils (RUCs) of Tehsil Sadiqabad, two RUCs were selected purposively due to high production of sugarcane. From each selected Union Council, two villages were selected into account to investigate the health-related issues of sugarcane growers and its holistic effects on environment. A pre-tested and well-structured interview schedule was developed for the collection of information from sugarcane farmers. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results indicated that various diseases were present among sugarcane workers due to residual impact of pesticides. The diseases were skin burning, skin infection, nausea, chest pain, diarrhea, respiratory problems, hypertension, convulsion, bleeding, cramping, nausea, asthma, fever, dizziness and vomiting. It also indicated that pesticides affects the natural enemies of sugarcane, physical structure of soil, climatic condition, increase resistant in sugarcane pests and cause environmental pollution. The results revealed that the majority of the respondents were unable to practice IPM due to lack of technical knowledge, practical skills and awareness related to the identification of sugarcane pest and their management. Results indicated that IPM technology is a source of reduction of pesticides, protect environment and human health. The study recommended that awareness regarding integrated pest management should be promoted through proper campaigns to overcome the blind use of pesticides for mitigation insect pest of sugarcane.