Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth most important staple food in the world after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). In Pakistan, potato crop is cultivated over an area of 191.6 million hectares. On an average potato production in Pakistan is 20 tonnes per hectare.A target has set by The Government of Pakistan to produce about 4.871 million tons potatoes during Rabi Season 2020-21. (Federal Committee on Agriculture FCA) The potato production exceeds 376 million tonnes harvested from an area of 19.25 million hectares in the world (FAOSTAT 2018). Ralstonia solanacearum causing bacterial wilt is a major threat to potato production. Management through biocontrol agents is one of the best methods that can replace synthetic chemical-based formulations. In the current study combine effect of antagonist rhizobacteria as biocontrol agent and spent mushroom compost as biofertilizer were tested against bacterial wilt disease pathogen. Potato plant samples infected with R. solanacearum and rhizobacteria were collected from potato growing fields in Rawalpindi. Out of twenty tested antagonistic rhizobacterial isolates, only three viz., Rh10, Rh12 and Rh 15 showed maximum inhibitory effect against R. solanacearum. In another experiment different combinations of treatments containing rhizobacteria alone or combined with fresh and spent mushroom composts were also tested against the bacterial wilt pathogen under laboratory conditions. Combination of rhizobacteria along with weathered compost (T5) reduced the disease incidence to 15.92 % when compared against 77.81 % in control after six weeks. Significant increase in plant height up to 41.83 cm was also observed as compared to control viz., 35.5cm. Similarly, T2 (only fresh compost), T3 (containing fresh compost along with rhizobacteria) and T4 (rhizobacteria along with weathered compost) also showed better results as compared to against control (T0) where there was no application of rhizobacteria and compost. Application of rhizobacterial along with spent mushroom compost can significantly reduce the disease incidence along with the improvement in plant growth parameters.

Background: Heavy metals have their adverse effects on growth and physiology of plant. Plant growth regulators help in improving the growth and physiological phenomenon in plants. A pot culture experiment was devised to explore the ameliorative potential of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) for toxicity of rhizospheric lead (Pb) on two varieties of Mung bean [Vigna radiate (L.) Wickzek]. Methods: Seeds of two varieties i.e., M- 8 and MN-92 were grown in earthen pots filled with sandy loam soil and were arranged under complete randomization. Fifteen days after germination, the lead (Pb) was added @ 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg soil as solution Pb NO3. Indole Acetic Acid @100.0mM was foliarly sprayed twice at 15 and 30 days of plants emergence. Physiological parameters i.e., Photosynthetic Rate, Transpiration Rate, Stomatal conductance, Sub Stomatal CO2 Concentration and biomass production in the form of stem, root and leaf dry weights were determined at the age of physiological maturity for three replicates. Result: By application of IAA, photostnthetic rate reduction was declined from 24.61% to 17.78% under 10mg Pb stress and from 55.54% to 27.35% under 20mg Pb stress. Stomatal conductance reduction was declined from 0.56% to 0.28% under 10mg Pb stress and from 3.37% to 1.68% under 20mg Pb stress. Alleviation of Pb stress by IAA for transpiration rate was non significant. Similarly, the role of IAA for alleviation of Pb stress in term of dry weights of stem,root and leaves were non significant statistically.

Plants are adapted to stressful environments by synthesizing secondary metabolites as antioxidant having either toxicological or medicinal properties. Before utilizations of metabolites one should explore reality about their nature. By testing their in vitro effects on blood, their curing or toxic potential for influence on physiology and health status of an individual can be evaluated. In this experiment, secondary metabolites of some shrubs of Thal desert of Pakistan were extracted in ethanol and used to explore their in vitro effects on some hematological attributes as enlisted in tables. Results were statistically analyzed using Analysis Of Variance. Means of data were compared to control by DMR (Duncan’s multiple range) procedure. Ethanolic extract increased the leucocytes count granulocytes percentage, monocytes lymphocytes MCV, MCH and platelets except extract of Haloxylon stem. HBG were decreased by extract of stems of Leptadenia, Calligonum and Salsola. Leptadenia stem extract also decreased the platelets. Lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and RBC were increased by most of the plant extracts. The practical application of the plant secondary metabolites needs careful further extensive study.

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The present study was conducted to explore the nutrient ions status, their uptake ratio and floristic indices of some medicinal plants of Cholistan desert of Pakistan from Drawar fort area. Vegetations on sand dunes of approximately equal size were evaluated with three replications. In soil of zone 1 (top of dune), maximum frequency (100) of Caligonum polygonoides and minimum (33.34) of Salsola imbricata and Capparis decidua were recorded. In soil of zone 2, maximum frequency (100) of Caligonum polygonoides while minimum (33.33) of Calotropis procera while in zone 3, 100% frequency of lonely species Symbopogon jawarancusa was observed. In soil of zone 1, maximum concentrations were of sodium (Na), bicarbonate (HCO3), nitrogen ((N) and organic matter (OM) while in soil of zone 2, EC, pH, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were maximum. Leaf K and Na were the highest (27.10mg/g) and (118.36mg/g) respectively in Prosopis cineraria. Leaf P was the highest (0.42mg/g) in Prosopis cineraria also. Maximum stem Na (333.00mg/g) was in Salsola imbricata. In flowers, highest P (0.42mg/g) was found in flower of Salsola imbricata.