Showing papers in "Journal of Biological Sciences in 2001"

Nutritional Status and Growth of Maize Plants as Affected by Green Microalgae as Soil Additives

Abstract: The effect of using dry microalga (Chlorella vulgaris) as soil additives on the nutrient status and shoot and root growth of maize plants (Zea mays L. var. Triple-hybrid 310) was investigated. Algae were added to the soil before sowing in the rates of 50, 100, 150 and 200 Kg/Fed, in addition to the basic NPK fertilizers. Significant increase in the nutrient taken up by shoots and roots was calculated as a result of adding different alga-levels. Addition of algae has significant increases in root volume, chlorophyll formation, dry weight of shoots and roots as well as plant height. The best treatments were 150 and 200 Kg algae/Fed.

Effect of Variable Rates of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Maize (Golden)

Abstract: Plant height was significantly affected by the variable rates of N and T(150-120-60) treatment 5 produced the tallest plants than other treatments. The number of cobs plant was significantly different from 1

Genotype-Environment Interaction in Wheat

Abstract: Thirteen advance lines and three check varieties viz. , Chakwal-86, Pak-81 and Rawal-87 of wheat were planted at nine locations to estimate genotype x environment interaction. Both the linear and non-linear (pooled deviation) components were highly significant, indicating the presence of both predictable and unpredictable components of “G X E” interaction. The stability parameters for the individual genotype revealed that the genotypes, 89R-35 and 90R-36 showed the regression closer to unity along with low deviation from regression and thus may be stated as stable genotypes. Key word: Wheat, stability, genotype environment interaction

Effect of Sewage Sludge on the Growth of Maize Crop

Abstract: Introduction having basal dose of NPK (120:90:35 kg haG ) and FYM Sewage sludge is the solid by-product of domestic and/or (35 ton haG ) were also included in the experiment in order industrial waste-water-treatment plants which has been t o compare their results with the sewage sludge. The soil spread on the land for decades, and its use will likely wi thout sludge and inorganic fertilizer was used as a increase in the future. The product Milorganite, a dried cont ro l. Each treatment was replicated thrice. All cultural s l udge has been used widely in North America since 1927. a n d agronomic practices were followed throughout the There ar e many reports from all over the world that exper iment. Maize seeds were sown on 23 July 1998. The Sewage Sludge material can be effectively used as a sowing was done with dibbling method. During the harvest, source of fertilizer for crop yield and for improving physical t h e following different parameters of maize crop were and chemical properties of soils (Subbiah and Sree Ramulu, measured and recorded. 1980; Benmouffok, 1994). Korentajer (1991) reported increased supply of major plant nutrients particularly N and 1. Germination % P, along with some of the essential micronutrient (e.g. Zn, C u, Mo and Mn) and improvement in the soil physical properties with the application of sewage sludge. F o rd et al. (1993) conducted an experiment on the effect of sewage sludge on soil properties and crop growth. After four years of testing no harmful effects on the chemical or microbiological constituents were found in the crop mater ia l or soil from test plots, the soil physical properties were improved and crop yield was increased. C h ristodoullakis and Margaris (1996) conducted an expe r iment in which maize was pot-grown in nutrient d e ficient sandy soil. Sewage sludge application promoted g rowth in maize, compared with the application of t rad i t ional fertilizer. Plant height in maize increased by 77% in the sludge treated pots compared with 25% in plants treated with chemical fertilizers. Keepin g in view the importance of sewage sludge in Agriculture, the experiment was conducted in order to s t u d y its influence on Maize crop under the Agro-climatic condition of D.I.Khan.

Rooting Response of Semi-hardwood Cuttings of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) to Various Concentrations of Different Auxins

Abstract: The study was conducted to investigate the influence of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) each at 0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 or 6000 ppm on the semihardwood cuttings of guava (Psidium guajava L.) Cv. Sufida taken in April, 1996. The cuttings were dipped in these solutions for 5 minutes. After treatment, the cuttings were planted and covered with transparent plastic sheet to arrest the water vapours for maintaining humidity. The experiment was laid out in the lathe house of Horticulture Section, Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar. The auxins had no effect on the number of days to bud sprout whereas, sprouting in itself was significantly increased by IBA at 1000 and 3000 ppm and NAA at 2000 ppm with 79.84, 75.96 and 76.59% respectively. The highest survival (12.50%) was noted in the cuttings treated with IAA at 3000 and 6000 ppm, IBA and NAA both at 6000 ppm. IAA at 3000 ppm significantly increased the number of leaves (16) per cutting. The highest number of roots (23.75) per cutting was recorded in the cuttings treated with IBA at 4000 ppm. The significantly maximum root length (4.13 cm) was noted in the cuttings treated with IAA 3000 ppm. Cuttings treated with IAA at 5000 ppm and IBA at 4000 ppm exhibited significantly highest root weights of 16.25 and 16.62 g respectively.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Some Morphological Characteristics of Three Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

Abstract: Wheat cultivars Pirsabak-91 (P-91), Khyber-87 (K-87) and Tarnab-78 (T-78) were irradiated with 10kR, 20kR, 30kR and 40kR doses of gamma irradiation. The cultivars showed significant reduction in plant height, survival percentage & 1000-grain weight under the influence of high gamma rays doses (30kR & 40kR) excepting days to germination. Germination of all the cultivars was significantly delayed in response to all the gamma rays doses and low dose (10kR) increased the plant height in case of Pirsabak-91. Higher gamma rays doses (30 & 40kR) also created abnormalities in plant height. All the cultivars responded differently to different gamma rays doses with respect to some of the characters.

Germination of Soybean Seed Primed in Aerated Solution of Polyethylene Glycol (8000)

Abstract: Seed priming have been used successfully in an attempt to improve germination and seedling establishment of many vegetables and field crops. The objective of this research was to study the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 concentrations and seed treatment durations on soybean seed germination. Three experiments were conducted: In experiment 1, the seeds were treated for 1, 2, or 7 days. The osmotic potentials of the PEG solutions were 0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.4, -0.5, -0.7 and -1.1 MPa including control. In control the seeds were treated with water for the above duration. In experiment 2, the seeds were treated for 24, 48 or 72 hours The osmotic potentials of the PEG solutions was 0, -0.3, -0.5, -0.9 and -1.5 MPa including control. The control was not treated with water or PEG. In experiment 3, the seeds were separated into small and large seed and was treated with PEG solution having osmotic potentials of -0.5, -1.1 and -1.8 MPa for 0 (control), 24 and 48 hours. The control was not treated with water or PEG. PEG solution having osmotic potentials (-1.1 and -1.8 MPa) improved germination compared to control (no PEG treatment). Seed treatment durations longer than 48 hours was deleterious and reduced the germination. Seed size has no effect on germination.

Effect of three different culture media on mycelial growth of oyster and chinese mushrooms

Abstract: The sporocarps obtained from NARC, Islamabad and local market were utilized as a source of tissue culturing. Initial culturing was done on malt extract agar plates. The discs (0.5 cm in diameter) from actively growing culture plates of three different mushrooms were planted on the fresh media plates of Malt extract agar medium (MEA), Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium and potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Three replicates were taken in each case. An increase in diameter of the culture discs was recorded daily. The results indicted that the mycelial growth of Pleorotus ostreatus, varieties sajar, caju, citydeosus and Volvariella volvacea were maximum in medium plates containing MEA medium. The results were significant at P = 0.05 level of significance. While potato dextrose agar medium (PDA), ended up with slowest growth.

Concentration Levels of Heavy and Trace Metals in the Fish and Relevant Water from Rawal and Mangla Lakes

Abstract: A study was carried out to investigate the quality of drinking water for which water and fish samples of Rawal and Mangla lakes were analyzed for heavy and trace metals by Flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The metals present in the highest concentration were in the order of Fe>Ni>Mn>As>Cu in the water samples of Rawal lake, whereas Fe>As>Cu>Cr>Pb were high in the water samples of Mangla lake. In general, the metals were present in higher concentration in water samples as compared to fish samples caught from both lakes. The higher concentration of various metals in water and fish samples of Rawal lake is probably due to the addition of untreated domestic wastes. The reason for higher concentrations of various metals in the water and fish samples of Mangla lake is due to geological weathering of those areas. On the basis of results obtained we can predict that if present situation of water pollution continues then in the future survival of fish population and other animals will be extremely difficult.

Interaction Between Vasicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae and Antagonistic Biocontrol Micro-organisms on Controlling Root-rot Disease Incidence of Geranium Plants

Abstract: 1 Wafaa, M. Haggag and 2 Abdel-latif , Faten M. 1 Plant Pathology Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Egypt 2 Plant Pathology Branch ,Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty Agricultural Moshtohor, Zagazig University Egypt. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: The individual and interaction of vasicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM), Glomus mosseae and antagonistic biological control agents (BCAs) i. e. Trichoderma harzianum, Penicillium oxalicum and Bacillius subtilis were studied on normal root –rot disease incidence of geranium plants . Application of combined VAM and BCAs reduced rootrot caused by Fusarium solani and Machrophomina phaseolina either in artificial or in natural infested soils compared with individual treatments. VAM was the most effective plant colonization in the presence of BCAs while, biocontrol microorganisms were much higher in soil rhizosphere in mycorrhizal plants over 90 days of plant growth compared with non-mycorrhizae. Furthermore, different biocontrol mat enhanced VAM growth and chitinase production in dual culture. The plants inoculated with combined VAM and BCAs showed increased in chitinase induction in plant roots as well as plant growth, Phosphorous concentration and oil percentage were also increased. The plant which inoculated with G. mosseae showed higher in the presence of either T. harzianum or P. oxalicum. Combined BCAs and VAM had a synergistic effect on disease control.

Population Analysis of Some Agronomic and Technological Characteristics of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), Using Diallel Analysis

Abstract: Significant differences among hybrids and their parents were noted in number of bolls per plant, seeds per boll and lint percentage (GOT), exposed additive type of gene influence while Vr/Wr graphs indicated over-dominance type of gene action for seed cotton yield per plant. The non-significant deviation of regression line from unit slope indicates the absence of non-allelic interaction in number of bolls per plant, yield of seed cotton and seeds per boll showing absence of epistasis which provides positive out lines for isolating superior genotypes. The significant deviation from unit slope indicates the presence of epistasis in lint percentage (GOT) which confirmes its less effectiveness from selection point of view.

Growth Performance, Heritability and Inter Relationship in Some Quantitative Traits in Sunflower

Abstract: SUMMARY ring, maturity, and oil content showed high heritability values of 98.65%, 98.56%, 98.38%, 96.03% and 95.72%, respectively. Seed yield was positively correlated with all traits studied. Path coefficient analysis revealed that first flower had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield followed by seed per capitulum, 100-achene weight complete flower, and head diameter, while 50% flower had the greatest negative direct effect on seed yield.