Diet impacts on the biological aspects of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under controlled laboratory conditions.

BACKGROUND: Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a native pest of Asia and preferably invasion on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop as a commendatory host plant. Commercially, G. hirsutum is known as white gold and is an important cash crop all over the globe. Limited studies were published to focus on certain dietary compositions against different cotton pests. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in the laboratory under controlled conditions (temperature: 27 ± 2°C and relative humidity: 60 ± 10%) to determine the impact of three different treatment diets (wheat germ meal, okra, and chickpea) on the biological aspects (lifetime, developmental period) of P. gossypiella. RESULTS: Results revealed that the shortest larval time of P. gossypiella was observed on the okra feed diet while the longest period was recorded on the wheat germ diet. Meanwhile, the pupation delay was noted on the wheat germ diet. The dietary influence was also observed on adult stages of female and male P. gossypiella (43.00 and 37.50 days respectively) and compared with a standard diet (56.50 and 52.50 days respectively). Furthermore, larval weighed more on the okra and chickpea diet followed by the wheat germ diet, whereas highest pupal weight was observed on the standard diet followed by the chickpea diet and okra diet. CONCLUSION: Developmental parameters were significantly variant across all treatment diets, whereas the higher significant difference was reported on the okra diet. Therefore, the existing data of this study offers fruitful interventions for the future as a modified diet for large-scale and rapid mass production of P. gossypiella larvae.

New promising high yielding cotton Bt-Variety RH-647 adapted for specific agro-climatic zone.

The Bt-cotton RH-647 was developed by Cotton Research Institute CRI, Khanpur has been acknowledged for its possesses superior plant characteristics and potential to yield out under harsh agro-climatic conditions of cotton productive district of Rahimyar Khan in Bahawalpur Division and southern Punjab in 2016. RH- 647 for its novel plant structure and improved fiber quality heat and drought tolerant to withstand successfully sustain yield out in harsh, highly variable hot and dry climatic conditions of and harsh seasoned. RH-647 was developed through one-way hybridization of elite parental genotypes accompanied by pedigree selection method through gene pyramiding technique for incorporation of excellent combinations of fiber traits and CLCuV disease tolerance with higher yield potential right from F1 population. The superior plant combinations were selected in F2-F6 generations were entirely based on phenotypic plant traits and progeny yield potential in field, plant shape, number of bolls per plant, average boll weight (g) and fiber quality traits over standard varieties. The single plant progenies were selected 56 sister lines were tested for Bt-gene (Cry1 Ac) were evaluated for high yielding performance for this superior cross and finally RH-647 as superior breeding line was bulked in year 2010. The strain was evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design in preliminary yield trials (PYT) and two years in Advance Yield Trials (AYT) trials and Zonal Varietal trials for two years. The superior line 647/10 was ensued for performance in variety attestation tests as RH-647. RH-647 performed best in two years varietal trials (NCVT and PCCT and DUS) conducted for two successive growing seasons (2014-2015 and 2015-2016). RH-647 yielded out significantly compared with standard varieties MNH-886, FH-142 and CIM 602. After completion of mandatory trials in year 2016, RH-647 was approved as new Bt. cotton variety "RH-647". RH-647 is early in maturity with high yield potential and best suited for wheat-cotton cropping pattern. It has fluffy opening and is easy to pick, strongly tolerant to CLCuV disease, high Ginning out turn GOT% (40.2%) with improved fiber traits; staple length (28.3 mm), fiber strength (4.2ug/inch) is duly capable to fulfill all industrial requisitions.

In-vitro and In-vivo management of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood and Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler in cotton using organic's.

Root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood and Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler, fungus, are very dangerous root damaging pathogens. Present study was planned to establish a chemical control of these root deteriorating pathogens under lab conditions as well as in field. Maximum death rate of nematode juveniles and minimum numbers of nematode eggs hatched were recorded in plates treated with Cadusafos (Rugby® 100G) @12 g/100 ml and Cartap® (4% G) @9g/100 ml. Chemical treatment of Rhizoctonia bataticola with Trifloxystrobin + Tebuconazole (Nativo®) @0.2 g/100 ml and Mancozeb + Matalaxyl (Axiom) @0.25 g/100 ml significantly controlled the mycelial growth in plates. The best treatments tested in laboratory were applied in field as protective and curative treatments. Results proved that chemical control of root-knot nematode and root rot fungi by tested chemicals at recommended time and dose is a significant management technique under field conditions.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for physiological and biochemical attributes in a Pasban90/Frontana recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under salt stress condition.

Salt stress causes nutritional imbalance and ion toxicity which affects wheat growth and production. A population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed by crossing Pasban90 (salt tolerant) and Frontana (salt suceptible) for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for physiological traits including relative water content, membrane stability index, water potential, osmotic potential, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and biochemical traits including proline contents, superoxide dismutase, sodium content, potassium content, chloride content and sodium/potassium ratio by tagging 202 polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Linkage map of RILs comprised of 21 linkage group covering A, B and D genome for tagging and maped a total of 60 QTLs with major and minor effect. B genome contributed to the highest number of QTLs under salt stress condition. Xgwm70 and Xbarc361 mapped on chromosome 6B was linked with Total chlorophyll, water potential and sodium content. The increasing allele for all these QTLs were advanced from parent Pasban90. Current study showed that Genome B and D had more potentially active genes conferring plant tolerance against salinity stress which may be exploited for marker assisted selection to breed salinity tolerant high yielding wheat varieties.

Effect of hyperventilation on electroencephalographic activity.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of voluntary hyperventilation on electroencephalographic activity during routine EEG recording on patients referred to a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted at Neurophysiology Lab, Department of Neurology at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi from May 2007 to September 2007. Data of 326 patients was collected prospectively and analyzed by SPSS version 10.0. At least 3 minutes voluntary hyperventilation was performed by the subjects. All those patients who were able to perform voluntary hyperventilation adequately were included in the study. RESULTS: Of 326 recordings, 256 (78.8%) were normal and 69 (21.2%) were abnormal. Focal epileptiform discharges were identified in 8.6% and generalized in 8.3% of subjects. Physiological slowing was found in 31 records. Out of 55 epileptics, 3 had discharges only during HV and 9 had increase in epileptiform discharges. CONCLUSION: Hyperventilation has significant effect on background rhythm during EEG recording. It is a useful activation method utilized to increase the yield of EEG.