International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Cutting-Edge Research (HEC Recognised)

Screening of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance through Estimation of Chlorophyll and Proline Contents

Adnan Shehzad, Abdul Majid, Ubairah, Hafiz Ullah, Nasr Ullah Khan — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is a staple food cereal crop for the majority of the global population. Water scarcity is a major challenge to wheat productivity under changing climate conditions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. During recent years, different agronomic, physiological, and molecular approaches have been used to overcome the problems related to drought stress. The adverse effects of single or multiple environmental stresses, such as drought, high and low temperatures, and nutrient deficiencies on plant growth and yield have become severe in recent years due to increased global climate change and the occurrence of extreme weather events. This study was designed to investigate the screening of wheat genotypes under drought and irrigated conditions and to identify the best-performing genotypes under both conditions. Five different genotypes were used in two factors and three replications at Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, and investigated for yield and drought tolerance under irrigated and drought conditions by the estimation of chlorophyll and proline contents. Data collected for yield/pot (g) and drought tolerance by estimating chlorophyll and proline contents was subjected to Statistix 8.1 software at the 5% probability level. Results revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) among genotypes for chlorophyll and proline contents, and yield/pot. Under both irrigated and drought treatments, AZRC Dera exhibited the highest chlorophyll content value (46.33 and 45.11, respectively), followed by RK-2022 (43.32 and 41.89, respectively). Similarly, under drought stress conditions, RK-2022 (20.21) and AZRC Dera (18.86) recorded the accumulation of the highest proline content, followed by Wadan (18.21). Moreover, the irrigation treatments and stressed plants varied the grain yield from 0.72 to 0.49 and 0.52 to 0.28 grams/plot, respectively. AZRC Dera and RK-2022 exhibited a higher yield/plot (g) under both irrigated (0.72g and 0.65g, respectively) and drought (0.52g and 0.48g, respectively) conditions. Considering yield and drought-responsive high chlorophyll and proline contents, AZRC Dera and RK-2022 showed greater drought tolerance and revealed potential to grow under water deficit conditions in comparison to other cultivars.

Observations on the Reproductive Structures in Schizodactylus (Schizodactylidae: Orthoptera)

Maleeha jamil, Riffat Sultana — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The genus Schizodactylus exhibits highly peculiar characteristics in its social, reproductive, and burrowing behaviors, consistently attracting the attention of entomologists. This study presents detailed morphology of the reproductive structures in Schizodactylus (Orthoptera: Schizodactylidae) with a focus on both male and female reproductive systems. The male reproductive systems contain several specialized structures, such as paired ring-like gonads (testes), malleable vas deferens, epididymis, accessory gland tubules, seminal vesicle, and ejaculatory duct. Each part is well adapted for the production, maturation, storage, and transfer of sperm. Schizodactylus monstrosus studied an extensive network of accessory gland tubules, and this species' accessory gland significantly contributes to increased reproductive performance. The female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries with 26–30 ovarioles, paired oviducts, a median genital chamber, and a spermatheca. An ovariole is formed of a terminal filament, a middle egg tube, and a basal pedicle, giving the ovariole a compact, foam-like structure. Progressive oocyte layering of the egg chambers is characteristic, and a muscular calyx at the ovariole base helps move eggs into position for transfer. These structures exhibit complex adaptations in Schizodactylus that enhance its reproductive success. We believe that the present study contributes to a deeper understanding of this ecologically significant and taxonomically distinct orthopteran genus.

Development of Biscuit with the Addition of Various Levels of Wheat Bran from Selected Hard Wheat Varieties

Aftab Ali, Tahseen Fatima Miano — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study was conducted to study the development of biscuits with the addition of various levels of wheat bran from selected hard wheat varieties during the year 2022-23 at the laboratory of the Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. This study aimed to analyze the wheat grain quality of selected hard wheat varieties V1: TJ-83 (Tandojam-83-83), V2: Mehran-89, and V3: IV-2 (Imadad variety) collected from the wheat research centre in Tandojam. The whole wheat grains were processed by cleaning and removal of debris and contaminated material. The sample of wheat grains was subjected to chemical analysis by using an Inframatic grain analyser machine. The results were recorded for maximum moisture observed in V2, 10.2%, protein observed in V3, 11.9%, zeleny observed in V3, 46%, starch observed in V1, 72.6%, and hardness observed in V2, 48.3%.The grains of three hard wheat varieties were separately passed through a machine to achieve the maximum % of flour and bran. The result for maximum flour 80% in V1 and bran 23 % was found statistically in V3. The wheat flour and bran of all varieties were used to prepare bran-rich biscuits. The biscuit samples were prepared with the addition of flour 100g, 95g, 90g and 85g and bran % 0 g, 5g, 10g, and 15 g with other ingredients, respectively.

Principal Component Analysis of Yield and Fibre-Related Traits in Cotton Genotypes

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Studies on principal component analysis of cotton genotypes for hereditary diversity by yield and related characters, including fibre quality attributes, were conducted at the Research Farm of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D I K, during the cotton crop season 2023. The trial was conducted to examine the impact of genetic variability in cotton accessions, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and to estimate heritability and genetic gain for fibre quality, yield, and associated factors in cotton germplasm. Sixty-four cotton germplasms were assessed in an RCB design with three replications. Statistics were documented for various yield and related attributes along with fibre quality attributes like plant height, monopodia, sympodia, and No. of bolls, weight, population, seed cotton produce, GOT, fibre length, strength, micronaire value, and uniformity index. Results revealed that estimations of genotypic and phenotypic quantity of difference were observed to be maximum and commonly similar to each other, whereas environmental quantity of variance was low, indicating that all evaluated traits were organized heritarily with a minute environmental impact. Heritability estimates were highest for all the studied attributes, depicting very little influence of the environment on these genotypes. Similarly, genetic advance was also maximum for all the evaluated attributes. Among the 14 principal components, 5 had eigenvalues greater than 1 and an aggregate variation of 78% for entirely evaluated traits. PC I and PC II contribute approximately 50 % of the aggregate variances. Sixty-four germplasms were organized into three clusters (1, 2, and 3) with an average similarity level of 79.83% among clusters. Baghdadi, CIM 622, Sitara 008, CEMB 66, Leader 5, Cyto 178, FH Lalazar, CRIS 600, AA 703, and Sitara 009 were assessed as heritably maximum varied genotypes which can be successfully used in the cotton development program in the future.

Emergence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus from Subclinical Mastitis of Cholistani Sheep Posing a Great Threat to the Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Malik Asif Naich, Muhammad Altaf, Nasir Iqbal, Zubair Luqman, Zainab Javed — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Mastitis is a serious illness that affects dairy sheep. All around the world, dairy farms have been shown to harbour methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The study investigated the subclinical mastitis in sheep, associated risk factors, the presence of MRSA its susceptibility against different antibiotics. The positive milk samples were cultured for identification of Staphylococcus aureus on mannitol salt agar and confirmed through biochemical tests and Gram staining. MRSA was identified and confirmed by phenotypic method using oxacillin antibiotic discs through disc diffusion test. A data capture form was used for recording various assumed determinants related to subclinical mastitis in sheep. The study revealed that 12% (48/400) samples were positive for subclinical mastitis, and among these, a majority of the samples (88%, 42/48) were positive for S. aureus. Prevalence of MRSA based on disc diffusion test was 21.42% (9/42). Poor milker care during milking, unhygienic milking, high milk yield, use of teat dips, and mixed type of grazing were significantly (p<0.05) associated with subclinical mastitis in sheep. Results of in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility trials showed that MRSA was 100% resistance to Cefoxitin (30µg), 11.11% to Oxytetracycline (30µg) and Tylosin (30µg), 33.33% to Fusidic acid (10µg) and Vancomycin (30µg), 11.11% to ciprofloxacin (5µg) while it was sensitive to Moxifloxacin (5µg), Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole (1.2µg, 23.75µg) and Linezolid (30µg). The study concluded that subclinical mastitis is an important issue in sheep; the presence of resistant isolate MRSA needs effective treatment to prevent its spread in lambs and humans to reduce antibiotic resistance issues.