Mango is a tropical fruit and deteriorates very fast after harvest due to ripening and senescence. This study investigated the effect of different concentration of chitosan coatings 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% on postharvest quality and activities of cell wall degrading enzyme on mango cv. Choke Anan fruit stored at 25°C for 12 days. Fruit not treated with chitosan served as the control. The results showed that pre-storage application of chitosan coatings, especially at 1.5% significantly reduced decay symptoms, weight loss, respiration rate, ion leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and maintained higher firmness of mango fruit as compared to the control. Chitosan coating treatment inhibited polygalactronase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) enzyme activities. Moreover, chitosan coatings had a positive effect on retaining higher total phenolic and antioxidant activity, which reduced in the control fruit. These results suggest that chitosan coatings might be protected the fruit from quick deterioration and maintained the quality of mango by enhancing the antioxidant defense system during storage.

Cadmium (Cd) is considered as phytotoxic in nature, its toxicity on the plant development decrease the antioxidative enzymes activities under stress environment. Castor (Ricinus Communis L.) is a metal tolerant plant and its ability to survive in highly polluted soils. Castor plant exhibited the high level of the Cd stress in the soil and buildup the antioxidants i.e., super oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and malondialdehyde (MAD) on the top of the ground parts under Cd stress. Castor plant grown in the treated soil for 30 days in various levels of Cd 0, 10, 25 and 50 mg kg-1 soil treatments. Stress caused by heavy metal toxicity effects on reduced the plant growth, biomass, of castor plant respectively under 25- 50 mg kg-1 stress as against to control treatment. Our results indicated that castor significantly enhanced the Cd contents in root, stem and leaves. The POD and SOD enzyme activities were significantly increased 215.30 µmol/g-1 and 53.20 U/g respectively under 50 mg kg-1 stress as against control. While, MAD and chlorophyll content 3.11% and 0.48%, proline content 2.23 to 1.75 µg-1 were decreased under 25 and 50 mg kg-1 Cd stress as against control. According to Pearson’s correlation the our research work exposed strongly positive relationship with root, shoot, proline and malionaldihyde.  Although the destructive relationship was demonstrated by PoD and SOD enzyme activities. Hence, this study recommended that castor can grow in highly polluted soils for phytoremediation

Leaf rust is amongst major biotic constraints of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) having ability to cause substantial yield reductions worldwide. A continuous exploration for novel sources of resistance is pre-requisite for its management. Objectives of study were to conduct resistance evaluation of 112 Pakistani landraces and 48 advanced lines/ cultivars at seedling stage with total 10 virulent pathotypes of leaf rust, 3 from Pakistan and 7 from U.S.A and to detect closely linked markers for Lr10, 16, 34 and 67 genes through marker-assisted selection (MAS). Findings revealed most of Pakistani landraces showed lack of resistance at seedling stage. Only 7 accessions of landraces and 11 advanced lines were found highly resistant against all pathotypes of Pakistan. Similarly, 10 advanced lines exhibited high resistance while variability in resistance was recorded for landraces against all pathotypes tested from USA. Marker-assisted selection revealed Lr genes i.e. Lr10, Lr16, Lr34 and Lr67 were present at various frequencies. Highest frequency was observed for Lr34 followed by Lr16 Lr67 while lowest was recorded for Lr10. These genetic resources and lines identified effective against Pakistan and USA pathotypes are potential sources for improvement of leaf rust (LR) resistance and can be utilized as valuable material for breeding resistant wheat cultivars.

Potassium and sulphur are macronutrient and important for improving the growth, yield as well as quality of legume species but unfortunately are being fully ignored in the farmer's field for lentil cultivation. Due to their deficiency, yield of lentil crop has decreased up to the marked levels. The performance of five lentil genotypes namely GS-6, GS-10, P-14216, P-14223 and NVUT-E3 was evaluated against different potassium and sulphur levels i.e. K-S = 00-00, K-S = 30-15, K-S = 60-30 kg ha-1 at the experimental fields of Pulse Research Sub-Station, Tandojam. The results indicated a significant (P?0.05) impact of potassium and sulphur on lentil genotypes for all measured traits. The growth and yield traits of all genotypes were enhanced as the potassium and sulphur levels were increased. The highest growth and yield traits were recorded when the plants were treated with K-S = 60-30 kg ha-1. The control plots showed lower performance. Among the genotypes, GS-10 responded well as compared to other genotypes. While the performance of genotype NVUT-E3 was observed lower. It was concluded that potassium and sulphur at the rate of 60-30 kg ha-1 proved best for producing higher yields, while genotype GS-10 exhibited maximum results in all growth and yield traits. Keywords: Interactive impact, Potassium, Sulphur, Lentil Genotypes, Growth, Yield.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is one of the most important vegetables, used as condiments, salad and cooked with various recipes. It is a good source of vitamin C, A, calcium, iron etc. However, per acre yield in Pakistan is quite lower as compared to other countries of the world due to various factors, including diseases. Tomato crop suffers by approximately 200 diseases worldwide, among them, Fusarium wilt of tomato is highly destructive fungal disease and has caused losses up to 49.5% in Pakistan. Early strategies to manage this devastating disease include the use of cultural, physical, and chemical control are suggested, but none of these provided positive impact except cultural methods. Keeping in view the importance and losses caused by Fusarium wilt of tomato the studies on its management with fungal bioagents was conducted. For this. different bioagents were tested in lab and fields against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The highest inhibition 89.63% was noted by Trichoderma harzianum followed by Neurospora sp. 87.40% in the poisoned food method. In pot experiments, the T. harzianum was found as highly successful then Neurospora sp., Chaetomium subaffine and Arthrinium sp. providing minimum disease incidence and lowest mortality percent at higher and medium concentrations. The highest plant biomass and lowest root infection percent were noted in T. harzianum followed by Neurospora sp., C. subaffine and Arthrinium sp. at medium and lower doses. The lowest response was recorded by Nigrospora sphaerica and Dermateaceae sp. In in-vivo trials, the highest response was observed in the treatment of T. harzianum followed by Neurospora sp., Arthrinium sp., N. sphaerica, respectively. The highest fruit yield was recorded by T. harzianum 6.66 (kg) and Neurospora sp. 5.66 (kg). Interestingly, Neurospora sp., Arthrinium sp., N. sphaerica, and Dermateaceae sp. have been first time recognized in the current study as potential bioagents against fusarium wilt of tomato. Based on the findings, it is suggested that T. harzianum and Neurospora sp., may be used as potential bioagents for ecofriendly management of tomato wilt disease.