Abstract Terminal drought is threatening the wheat productivity worldwide, which is consumed as a staple food by millions across the globe. This study was conducted to examine the influence of foliage‐applied stress signalling molecules hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ; 50, 100, 150 μ m ) and nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 50, 100, 150 μ m ) on resistance against terminal drought in two bread wheat cultivars Mairaj‐2008 and BARS‐2009. These stress signalling molecules were applied at anthesis stage (BBCH 61); drought was then imposed by maintaining pots at 35% water holding capacity. Terminal drought caused significant reduction in grain yield of both tested bread wheat cultivars; however, foliage application of both stress signalling molecules at either concentration improved the performance of both bread wheat cultivars. Maximum improvement in 100‐grain weight (12.2%), grains per spike (19.7%), water‐use efficiency (WUE; 19.8%), chlorophyll content index (10.7%), total soluble phenolics (21.6%) and free leaf proline (34.3%), and highest reduction in leaf malondialdehyde contents (20.4%) was recorded when H 2 O 2 was foliage‐applied at 100 μ m . Foliage application of SNP enhanced the grains per spike, 100‐grain weight and grain yield by 14.9%, 11.3% and 20.1%, respectively, than control. The foliage‐applied stress signalling molecules improved the accumulation of soluble phenolics, proline and glycine betaine with simultaneous reduction in malondialdehyde contents, which enabled wheat plants to sustain the biological membranes under stress resulting in better stay green (high chlorophyll contents) under drought. This helped improving the grain number, grain weight, grain yield, WUE and transpiration efficiency. In crux, foliage‐applied H 2 O 2 and SNP , at pre‐optimized rate, may be opted to lessen the drought‐induced yield losses in bread wheat in climate change conditions.
The application of water-retention polymers with improved fertilizers is a better crop-growing technique, especially in soils where the water-retention capacity is low. In Pakistan, different types of fertilizers, such as urea, DAP, MOP or SOP, are used from sowing to harvesting of crops. The use of water-retention polymers in low water-retaining soils is very important to increase its retention time. The experiment was conducted on half an acre of land in FFC Research Center located in Dyyalgarh, Millat Rd., near Deputy Wala interchange M4, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The seed variety used in this experiment is zincole and the seed rate is 50 kg/acre. This experiment contains four different treatments, and each treatment contains three replicates. In T1, no water-retention polymers were used, while T2 was treated with standard and neem-coated urea under no water-retention polymer application. While in T3 and T4 recommended doses of polymers were used with standard and neem-coated urea. Irrigation scheduling was determined using tensiometers.. The research is aimed to keep moisture available in the root zone for better growth. For proper moisture monitoring tensiometers were installed.
Background: The triple-negative tumor is a high-risk tumor as a targeted therapy to these proteins is not possible with this type of cancer. Objective: To investigate the prognostic factors that can help in treatment selection in the triple-negative phenotype breast tumors Study design: A cross-sectional study Place and duration: This study was conducted at People's University of Medical and Health Sciences Nawabshah from Nov 2021 to Nov 2022 Methodology: The present study examined numerous cases of invasive carcinoma of the breast. The patients visited for follow-up for a long time and they were examined by tissue microarray. The series was stained through concurrent immune-histochemical prognostic panels. This was done to specify the subgroups of different types of breast cancer and for the identification of prognostic markers as well as the aggressive behavior of the tumors. Results: In the beginning, a total of 280 cases were included in the study, out of which 45 (16.07%) patients had triple-negative breast cancer. Most of these cancers were grade 3 carcinomas. A strong association was seen with pushing margins, development of recurrence, large size, poorer Nottingham Prognostic Index, and distant metastasis. Moreover, the association was also seen with loss of expression of E-cadherin and androgen receptors, basal phenotype, p53, EGFR, and P-cadherin. The size of the tumor, androgen receptors, and lymph node staging were the most valuable prognostic markers. Androgen receptor and size had prognostic significance in the tumor subgroup with lymph node-positive tumors. On the other hand, the basal phenotype was the only prognostic marker in the subgroup with lymph node-negative tumors. Some other parameters considered in the present study are histological grade, size of the tumor, age of the patient, and vascular invasion. Conclusion: The most significant markers identified were basal phenotype and androgen receptor. Also, tumor size and the status of the lymph node are quite significant in low-risk and high-risk patients while selecting surgical or non-surgical treatment for the triple-negative tumors Keywords: Triple-negative, breast tumor, prognostic markers, androgen receptors
Abstract Lentil ( Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important grain legume crop, mostly grown in semi‐arid environments and often faces intermittent drought spells during different growth stages, which severely hamper its yield. This study, comprising of three separate experiments, was conducted to evaluate the potential of seed priming with CaCl 2 in improving drought tolerance in lentil. In the first experiment, lentil seeds were hydroprimed (water) or osmoprimed with 0.5 and 1% CaCl 2 ; while non‐primed seeds were taken as control. In the second and third experiments, lentil seeds were subjected to pre‐optimized osmopriming (1% CaCl 2 ) and hydropriming followed by surface drying or re‐drying of primed seeds to original weight. The first two experiments were conducted in petri plates, while, in experiment 3, seeds were planted in plastic pots containing peat moss, maintained at 75% water holding capacity (WHC; well‐watered) or 50% WHC (water deficit). Hydropriming and osmopriming improved seed germination, seedling growth, biomass production, chlorophyll intensity, sugar accumulation and reduced the oxidative stress in lentil under water deficit. However, osmopriming (1% CaCl 2 ) was more effective than the hydropriming in improving the lentil growth, biomass production, Ca accumulation and sugar metabolism under both well‐watered and water deficit conditions. Seed surface drying, after priming, was more beneficial in improving the lentil performance, under both well‐watered and water deficit conditions, than re‐drying to original weight. Osmopriming (1% CaCl 2 ) increased the seeding dry weight (67%), SPAD value (140%), leaf Ca concentration (56%), α‐amylase activity (55%), total soluble sugars (48%) and reduced malanodialdehyde content (35.9%) and total antioxidant activity (29.2%) than un‐primed seeds under water deficit. In conclusion, osmopriming improved the lentil performance under optimal and water deficit conditions through early and synchronized emergence, better sugar and Ca accumulation which reduced the oxidative damage and resulted in better seedling growth and biomass production.
Increasing nitrogen fertilizer will increase wheat grain yield and grain quality at the same time, but the goal of high quality and stable yield in weak-gluten wheat production is to reduce grain protein content and increase grain yield. Our research goal is to reduce nitrogen input while increasing planting density to maintain high quality and stable yield. Field studies were conducted during two successive seasons using a widely planted cultivar, Yangmai 15. We studied the effects of reduced nitrogen topdressing and increased planting density on yield, quality and nitrogen agronomic efficiency. The field experiment was conducted with four nitrogen (N) levels for topdressing at jointing stage: 37.8 (N1), 43.2 (N2), 48.6 (N3) and 54 kg N ha−1 (N4). Moreover, there were three planting densities: 180, 240 and 300 × 104 plants ha−1 (D1, D2 and D3, respectively). When the amount of nitrogen topdressing was reduced, the number of tillers and spikes in each growth period of wheat decreased significantly, and the yield increased first and then decreased, with the highest yield at the level of 48.6 kg N ha−1. When the planting density was increased, the number of tillers and spikes in each growth period of wheat increased significantly, the yield increased significantly, and the yield was the highest at the level of 180 × 104 plants ha−1. Under the same density level, the flag leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nitrogen production efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency decreased with a decrease in the nitrogen application rate. Under the same nitrogen topdressing amount, the nitrogen fertilizer production efficiency and nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency increased with the increase in density. The relative chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nitrogen partial factor productivity, nitrogen use efficiency, grain accumulation, grain distribution ratio and grain yield of wheat were the highest under the treatment of a planting density of 300 × 104 plants ha−1 and nitrogen topdressing amount of 48.6 kg N ha−1. The combined decrease in nitrogen recovery and increase in planting density decreased protein content, sedimentation value and wet gluten content. Increasing density significantly improved dry matter accumulation in the population, partially compensating for the yield loss due to nitrogen reduction by increasing the effective number of spikes, thereby further improving grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, agronomic approaches combining low nitrogen and high planting densities may be effective in simultaneously increasing grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency and stabilizing grain processing quality in weakly reinforced wheat.
Context Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses challenging alfalfa (Medicago sativa) production. Aims In this study, we evaluated the potential of nano-sized chitosan-proline (NsCP) seed priming and biochar application to enhance salt tolerance in alfalfa. Methods Seeds of two alfalfa genotypes (OMA-84, salt-sensitive; and OMA-285, salt-tolerant) were soaked for 18 h in aerated distilled water (hydropriming) or a solution of NsCP (100 mM) for seed priming. Seeds were then planted in plastic pots containing acid-washed pure sand supplemented with or without biochar (25 g kg−1 sand) and with or without salt stress (120 mM). Key results Both genotypes showed significant reduction in root and shoot growth, biomass production, and carbon assimilation under salinity stress, with more pronounced effects on OMA-84. However, applying both NsCP seed priming and biochar significantly improved the biomass production and plant photosynthetic assessment traits. Notably, this combined approach proved more effective in enhancing salt tolerance than individual treatments. Biochar amendment increased the Na+ and Cl− concentration but it also contributed to salt tolerance by elevating K+ level, promoting proline accumulation, and antioxidant activities. Conclusions NsCP seed priming enhanced the salinity stress tolerance in alfalfa genotypes by facilitating osmotic adjustment (proline accumulation), maintaining ionic homeostasis (higher K+ and lower Na+ concentration), and increasing the levels of α-tocopherol, flavonoids, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Implications Integrated application of NsCP and biochar significantly enhanced salt tolerance in alfalfa, demonstrating practical strategies for sustainable agriculture in saline environments by promoting ionic homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant defence mechanisms.
Cotton is one of the most important industrial crops in the world, belongs to Malvaceae family of genus Gossypium; this genus is comprised of ~50 species. Among cultivated cotton species, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense are allotertraploid (2n = 52) while Gossypium herbaceum and Gossypium arboreum are diploid (2n = 26). Cotton seed germination and root growth is affected by suitable environmental conditions. High or low soil/air temperature limits the cotton germination and root development. Moreover, emergence and development of roots are also reduced under drought or water-logged conditions. Cotton has normal, sea-island/sub okra, okra, and super okra leave types; however, cotton genotypes having okra shape leaves are more efficient due to high chlorophyll contents, CO2 fixation rate and less insect attack due to thicker leaves. Cotton has indeterminate growth habit; therefore, reproductive and vegetative growth goes side by side. Temperature is very critical during reproductive sites development. Cotton fiber development is principally consisted of four stages viz. initiation, elongation, secondary cell wall formation and maturation. These all stages are very sensitive to adverse climatic conditions. Abiotic stresses viz. drought, salinity, thermal stresses, and waterlogging disturb the source-sink relationship of cotton through increase in the sucrose content and activity of sucrose synthase (SuSy), and reduction in the sucrose transformation, cellulose contents, invertase, and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities which results in low cotton yield with poor quality fiber. This chapter describes the physiology of cotton seed germination, seedling growth, plant developments, and yield formation has been discussed. Influence of abiotic stresses (viz. temperature extremes, drought, and waterlogging) on the cotton plants is also described.
The inability of humans and many farm animals to synthesize certain amino acids has long triggered tremendous interest in increasing the levels of these so-called essential amino acids in crop plants. Hence, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of straw mulch (8 t ha−1) and biochar applied at various rates (0, 4, 12, 36 t ha−1) on the chlorophyll, photosynthesis, total nitrogen in soil, essential and nonessential amino acid (AA) contents of maize grain. The maize straw mulch and biochar significantly increased chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis rate of maize crop and total soil nitrogen. The application of biochar (12 t ha−1) increased the chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis rate and total soil nitrogen during both years. However, excessive biochar applications (more than 12 t ha−1) had negative effects on chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis rate of maize crop and total soil nitrogen of soil. The AAs were significantly affected by biochar, depending on the application rate. In conclusion, the application of straw mulch and biochar improved the rate of leaf chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis rate and amino acid contents in maize grain when applied at appropriate rates, but the effects were negative when biochar was overused.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of QL block in patients undergoing laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting: Kalsoom International Hospital, Islamabad. Period: Dec 2022 to June 2023. Methods: In this, all patients between the ages of 18 and 70 who were scheduled for laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair to repair a one-sided inguinal hernia and did not have any complications related to the hernia. In one group, the patients received general anesthesia and in the other group, the patients were given sedation along with a technique called QL block. Age, gender, pain score on VAS at 1 hours, 6 hour and 12 hours after procedure was noted. Comparison of pain according to the VAS by type of anesthesia was done between the two groups and independent sample t-test was applied to see the statistical significant. Results: The patients' mean age was 43 + 9.09 years. Around 70% of the patients were males, while 30% were females, indicating a male predominance. The study's outcome was the mean pain score after 1 hour, 6 hours, and 12 hours. The two techniques of anesthesia utilized in the two groups were compared in terms of pain. The mean VAS at 1 hour after the initiation of anesthesia was not significantly different between the two groups, but it was statistically significant at 6 and 12 hours (p value of 0.001). Conclusion: QL block is a safe and effective alternative for patients undergoing TEP inguinal repair because to the observed reduction in early postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and cheaper anesthetic and hospital costs. Although our research showed that pain was significantly reduced for up to 12 hours after the operation, more information is needed before we can confidently endorse it for widespread use.
The core purpose of this current research was to meticulously survey four tehsils of Sargodha district and to probe the present status of citrus decline in infected citrus orchards. The utmost fungi (39.52%) were secluded from the roots followed by the soil (38.86%). The highest Fusarium sp. followed by Aspergillus, Phytophthora, Pythium, Penicillium and Alternaria species were remote from the collected samples of roots and soil from the four tehsils of Sargodha district of Pakistan. The maximum Fusarium sp. was isolated from the roots of declining citrus trees from tehsil Bhalwal (68.57%) followed by Kot Momin (65.87%), Sillanwali (55.87%) and Sargodha (50.32%). Toxin studies were also carried out using thin layer chromatography which revealed that F. solani produces toxins (anhydrofusarubin) which may cause decline in citrus. In vitro effect of fungicides on the mycelial growth rate of Fusarium solani exposed aliete to be more effective at 50 and 100 ppm, respectively. Ridomil Gold and Dithane M-45 showed same effect while Deconil showed least effect. Key Words: Citrus, citrus decline, Fusarium solani, toxin, Anhydrofusarubin, aliete.
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