The EFFICACY OF DUAL GOLD (S-METOLACHLOR) ON WEED BIOMASS (g m-2) AND ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SUGAR BEET (BETA VULGARIS L.) CV. CALIFORNIA-KWS

Weed infestation is a major problem and matter of concern as it reduces yield as well as quality of many crops including sugar beet. Manual weeding is very tedious, costly, time consuming and most probably non-availability of trained and skillful labor is another issue. Keeping in view these facts, an experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of dual gold on the weed biomass (gm-2) and on the growth and yield components of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. California-KWS during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The study was performed using RCBD having five treatments and three replications. The treatments included different application times (pre-emergence application and application after 15, 30 and 45 days after emergence) of dual gold (s-Metolachlor) and a control (weedy check). Data were recorded on fresh and dry weed biomasses (g m-2), number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1 (cm2), leaf and root weights plant-1 (g), sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1). The results showed significant variation among the treatments for all parameters during both years of study. Among the treatments the dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence reduced weed fresh and dry biomasses (g m-2) and also enhanced number of leaves plant-1, leaf area (cm2), leaf and root weight plant-1, sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1) during both years. Hence it is concluded that dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence is best for eradicating weeds at early stages of growth and hence improving yield and quality of sugar beet under Dera Ismail Khan Conditions.

GC-MS ANALYSIS PROFILE AND BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS OF FLOWERS OF Bergenia ciliata, A WEED OF ROCK CREVICES

Bergenia ciliata is a weed of hilly areas of Pakistan that generally grows in rock crevices. In the present study, flowers of this weeds were collected from Murree. The dried flowers were extracted in methanol and subjected to GC-MS analysis that showed 7 compounds in it. The predominant compound was hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (48.88%) followed by γ-sitosterol (22.56%). Moderately occurring compound was cyclohexane, 1,3,5-triphenyl- (12.87%). The remaining compounds namely n-hexadecanoic acid (4.97%), pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester (3.77%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z)- (2.94%) and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- (2.92%) were categorized as less abundant compounds. Literature survey indicated that these compounds possess antimicrobial, larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and/or antidiabetic properties.

PHYTOCHMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF SORGHUM HELEPENSE L. FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OCHRATOXIGENIC FUNGI

Ochratoxigenic fungal species are a major cause of various infections in plants and posed a serious threat to their consumers,including humans and animals. In the current study the objective was to examine the in vitro efficacy of different concentrations of leaves methanolic extract of S. helepense L. (Pers.) against target pathogenic ochratoxin producing fungal species (Trichoderma viride Pers., Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. and Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresen.) G.A. de Vries).For this purpose, different concentrations viz. 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of leaf methanolic extract were prepared and tested for antifungal potential in a completely randomized design (CRD). Results revealed that all the applied concentrations of S. helepense inhibited the growth of all the tested fungal strain. Maximum growth inhibition was observed in 2% of concentration of methanolic extract of S. helepense in case of C. cladosporoides i.e. 84%. On the other hand minimum reduction was observed in 4% of concentration of methanolic extract of S. helepense against T. viride as compared to control. The phytochemical analysis was also conducted to evaluate that which chemical entities were present that account for antifungal potency of methanolic extract of S. helepense. Results of phytochemical analysis revealed the occurrence of saponins, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids and tannins while the plant is devoid of terpenoids, phlobatanins and glycosides respectively. Hence it can be concluded that the methanolic leaf extract of the tested plant proved to be beneficial for inhibiting the growth of test ochratoxigenic fungi.

Allelopathic Allelopathic impact of sorghum on weed management, yield and quality of maize under different seed rates

A field study was carried out to estimate the allelopathic potential of sorghum immature and mature plant extracts under various seed rates on weeds density and yield of maize cultivar Dadu Maize-I. The experiment contained of different weed control practices i.e., control (No weeding), various levels of sorghum immature and mature plant extracts, herbicides and hand weeding under various seed rates (20, 25, 30 & 35 kg per ha). The analysis of variance showed that various weed control practices demonstrated substantial decrease in weeds and caused increase in kernel yield over control. The application of sorghum immature extract @ 15 L per ha in combination with herbicide (Mesotrione Atrazine) @ 1.0 L per ha decreased effectively weed density (m-2) and dry biomass (g m-2) and resultantly produced superior growth and yield traits particularly kernel yield (t per ha) of maize. Sorghum mature plant extract @ 15 L per ha in integration with herbicide (Mesotrione Atrazine) @ 1.0 L per ha ranked 2nd in effectiveness of controlling weeds as well as increasing maize kernel yield (t per ha). As much as effect of seed rates is concerned, the least weed density (m-2) and greatest kernel yield (t per ha) were noticed in seed rate 35 kg per ha but optimal kernel yield (t per ha) was record in seed rate 30 kg per ha. Hence, the results suggested that combination of plant extracts and herbicide at reduced doses controlled weeds efficiently and optimum enhancement in kernel yield of maize was noticed at seed rate 30 kg per ha.

Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton

The present study was based on the hypothesis that mulching materials can directly control weeds and indirectly crop growth and development by improving soil fertility. The present study was conducted to evaluate the “Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton” at Student’s Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, during Kharif season, 2016, in a three, replicated randomized complete block design (RCBD). The net plot size was 4m x 3m (12m-2). There were three cotton varieties (Haridost, Shahbaz, and Sind-1), three mulching materials (wheat straw, sunflower, and banana leaves, each applied at 12 t ha-1), and a control without any mulching treatment. The study revealed that the maximum sympodial branches plant-1 (27.93), opened bolls plant-1 (47.53), the weight of seed cotton plant-1 (124.55 g), seed index (8.73 g), seed cotton yield (5394.4 kg ha-1), staple length (30.33 mm), ginning out-turn percentage (37.96%) and oil contents (22.45%) were recorded in Sindh-1 with banana leaves as mulching material. The same treatment caused the maximum leaf area (136.56 cm-2), and leaf area index (4.92 cm) in Haridost. The minimum weed density (55.00 m-2), weed fresh (293.6 g m-2) and dry biomass (122.52 g m-2) with maximum weed control (81%) was recorded with banana leaves as mulching material in Sindh-1. It can be concluded that mulching with banana leaves at 12 t ha-1 significantly reduced the weeds infestation, resulting in enhanced growth, yield, and physiological parameters of cotton crop..

The EFFECT OF HYDROPHYTES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY CANAL

The hydrophytes in canal effect directly canal performance by reducing water velocity, enhances sedimentation and reduce canal cross section area which raise water level and reduces water flow. Indirectly the hydrophytes detaches from their origin and flow with water stuck with outlet and reduces its proportionality. In this regard a study was conducted on secondary canal known as Yar Husain Minor (YHM) of Maira Branch Canal, which is part of the Upper Swat Canal Irrigation System in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Maira Branch Canal and its secondary canal were designed for Crop Based Irrigation Operation (CBIO), which could supply irrigation water for maximum copping intensity (180%) even during peak periods of irrigation requirements. The current water allowance was 0.67 Ls-1 ha-1 (6.6 mm day-1), which was based on the maximum crop water requirements. The several challenges for operation of YHM and other secondary canals of Maira Branch came from physical barrier mostly in the form of hydrophytes on the performance of YHM canal. Further challenges came from the fact that it receives water from River Swat which is turbid in summer and River Indus (Tarbela Reservoir) which is clear with low turbidity. This caused sedimentation and growth of hydrophytes in the YHM. Furthermore Triangular Profile Crump’s weirs were in all secondary canals including YHM for proportional division to the tertiary outlets (moghas). The study objectives were to investigate the effects of hydrophytes on canal capacity and at the outlets on the performance of the YHM. Hydrophytes growth was observed in head reaches of canal and samples were collected and were identified at the Department of Weed Science & Botany, The University of Agriculture Peshawar. Five types of aquatic weeds were identified. The hydrophytes growth in canal head reaches directly reduces the cross section by more than 50%. Indirectly the detached hydrophytes were get stuck in the outlets and affected its performance. Therefore, daily discharges were measured with/without detached hydrophytes at each outlet from staff gauging. Frequency was based on days stone hydrophytes present divided by total time. It was concluded that secondary canal performance was low due to hydrophytes. The hydrophytes and users interventions influenced the outlets performance by 80%. Trifurcators type outlets were more prone to influence by hydrophytes followed by bifurcators outlet.

ANTI-TYROSINASE AND ANTI-OXIDANT POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF SELECTED CITRUS BERGAMIA AND FICUS CARICA PARTS

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis and its high activity leads to increasedpigmentations causing skin disorder like freckles, melanosoma and black spot. Therefore to search for new tyrosinase inhibitors is desirable. In present study, methanolic (MeOH) extracts from leaves, fruit peel and pulp of Citrus bergamia (CB) and, leaves and fruitof Ficus carica (FC) were prepared which were further process for fractional ethyl alcohol (EA), n-hexane (n-Hx) and chloroform (CHCl3)extractions (total 20 extracts) aiming to test their anti-tyrosinase potential, in-vitro. Our results confirmed that all MeOH FC and CB extracts showed significant anti-oxidant activity with IC50 range of 461.9 ± 16.1µg/ml to 2324.4 ± 116.1 µg/ml. Moreover, CB and FC all 20 extracts have significant anti-tyrosinase activity with IC50 range of 13.9 ± 0.5 µg/ml to 320.5 ± 3.3 µg/ml. Interestingly, CB MeOH-EA peel and leaf extracts showed tyrosinase inhibition (IC50) 13.9 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 17.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml, respectively) is better than all other tested extracts and positive control kojic acid (IC50=18.75±5.29µg/ml). Thus, CB MeOH-EA peel extract with lowest IC50 value among all the tested extracts and kojic acid is proposed as potent candidate to control tyrosinase rooted hyperpigmentation.

Phytoclimatic spectrum of Weeds flora of Toormang Valley, Dir Lower, Koh-E-Hindukush Range, Pakistan

Four season’s data of floristic structure and biological spectrum of Toormang Valley, Dir lower was explored during 2018-2019. The flora comprised 238 species, 164 genera associated with 60 families. The most prevailing family was Asteraceae with 42 species (17.64%), trailed by Rosaceae 16 (6.72%), Brassicaceae 13(5.46%), Solanaceae 11 (4.62%), Papilionaceae 10 (4.20%), Apiaceae, and Poaceae each with 9(3.78%), Lamiaceae 8 (3.36%), Boraginaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae each contributed by 7 species (2.94%), Amaranthaceae and Cucurbitaceae each consisted of 6 species (2.52%), Caryophyllaceae and Chenopodiaceae each with 5(2.10%) while rest of 23 families contributed by 01 species each (0.42%). The largest genera were Euphorbia (6 species), followed by Sonchus and Medicago (4 species) each. Therophytes were the dominant with 102 species (42.85%), followed by nanophanerophytes with 27 (11.34%), hemicryptophytes with 25 (10.50%), chamaephytes with 20(8.40%), microphanerophytes with 18(7.56%), megaphanerophytes with 16(6.72%), geophytes with 15 (6.30%), mesophanerophytes with 14 (5.88%) and parasite with 1 species (0.42%). The observations on leaf size revealed that microphyll was the prevailing class with 73 species (30.67%), followed by mesophyll 69(28.99%), nanophyll 60 (25.21%), leptophyll 23(9.66%), macrophyll 8(3.36%), megaphylly 4(1.1.68%) and aphyllous with 1 species (0.42%). Simple lamina species 154 while 5 species have spiny lamina shape.

The BIOHERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF Pseudomonas SPP (PF-097) To SUPRESS THE ALLELOPATHIC STRESS OF Trianthema portulacastrum LEAF EXTRACT ON Vigna mungo

Vigna mungo L. (black gram) is a summer pulse crop endemic to Central Asia. It is one of Pakistan's top five premium food beans and a highly cost-effective crop. Allelochemicals in Trianthema portulacastrum leaf extract effect and inhibit black gram germination rate, seedling length, fresh and dry biomass of seedling from low to high concentrations. The research revealed that in vitro leaf extract of black pigweed decrease the mash bean leaf germination percentage (34% to 6%), seedling length (10cm to 3cm), fresh biomass of seedling (2.4g to 0.94g), dry biomass (1.2g to 0.47g). Biological tool Pseudomonas (PF- 097) act as bioherbicide and as plant growth promoter agent (PGPR) to decrease the Trianthema portulacastrum allelopathic stress and to enhance the growth of black gram. The Pseudomonas (PF-097) PGPR addition in vitro experiment increased mash bean leaf germination (8-42%), seedling length (12-54%), and fresh biomass of seedling (8-17%) and dry biomass of seedling (0.47g-1.2g). In vivo experimental study revealed that whole plant material of black pigweed significantly suppress the shoot length (46cm to 18cm), shoot fresh biomass (2.6g to 0.66g) and shoot dry biomass (1.31g to 0.33g) and Pseudomonas (PF-097) PGPR incorporation in vivo experminet significantly increased the shoot length (4% to 12%), shoot fresh biomass (18% to 35%), shoot dry biomass (17% to 35%). Physiological activity of Catalase and peroxidase considerably increased in negative treatments amended with only T. portulacastrum and decreased in positive treatments by using biological agent Pseudomonas spp (PF- 097). By the amendment of Pseudomonas (PF- 097) protein content of mash bean seedling was significantly increased in positive treatments as compared to negative treatments.

A, The ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF CINNAMOMUM VERUM ON EMERGENCE AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF RADISH (Raphanus sativus)

Crop plants release biochemicals into surrounding environment that help in obtaining maximum yield of crop by acting bioherbicide at high concentration and plant growth hormone at low concentration. Therefore, this study was planned at Department of Agronomy in Weed Science Laboratory, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Winter 2018 to evaluate the hermetic effects of Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini) on vegetable crop Radish (Raphanus sativus) and determination and quantification Phenolic compound present in aqueous extract of bark of C. verum. The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design (CRD) having three replications. The aqueous extracts of C. verum was used on radish seeds at different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). Data regarding seed germination and seedling growth (shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root dry weigh) of radish were recorded following standard procedures. Results of our study revealed that at higher concentration act as bioherbicide and produced inhibitory effects on R. sativus while at low concentration it shows hermetic effect and promoted the seedling growth. aqueous extract showed concentration. Among different Phenolic compound (Syringic acid, p-crumeic, Ferulic acid, Quercetion and Gallic acid) determine in aqueous extract of barck of C. verum Maximum Quercetion (12.3 %) and minimum Syringic acid (0.60 %) was found. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that aqueous extract of C. verum can be used as bioherbicides at higher concentration to control weed while at low concentration as plant growth regulator.