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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a genetically diverse group of vegetables having various cultivars with distinct traits. The study was conducted to explore the available germplasm of cucumber for better yield. Different commercial open pollinated and hybrid varieties of cucumber were planted in the field and evaluated for morphological variability in traits such as canopy, floral and fruit traits. Higher leaf length (6.16 mm) and width (6.29 mm) was found in “CP001” whereas the highest length (2.39 m) of first 15 nodes was observed in “Local khera” accession. However, dark color leaves were observed in “4308” accession. The highest number of female flowers plant-1were observed in “CP001” (3.33) and “Champion” (2.67) accession whereas the highest male flowers were observed in “Local khera” (329.33) and “Green pearl” (313.33). The highest number of fruits plant-1 were found in accessions “CP001” (18) and Local khera (17). Similarly, the highest fruit yield plant-1 was found in accession “CP001” (3.15 kg) followed by Local khera (2.98 kg). It was concluded from current studies that accession “CP001” performed better under Faisalabad climatic conditions.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF010301

At present time, farmers’ conflicts are considered as emerging threat to supply chain from agricultural production to consumption. Rural conflicts are on top especially those may intimidate the integrity of agricultural activities in the country. These conflicts also cause hindrance for smooth transfer of agricultural technology. Present study was conducted in Sargodha district of Punjab province in Pakistan. The population for the present study consists of all residents of rural areas of district Sargodha. Multistage sampling technique was used for selection of the sample from the study area. The data were analyzed using computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive and inferential statistics such as ranks, mean scores, percentages and non-parametric Chi-square test were used for interpretation of the data. It is concluded that farmer-to-farmer conflicts are of complex in nature due to low education and difference in social status. It is further concluded that trust-deficit between farmers and Extension field staff exists and provides huge constraint for transfer of technology among farming community in the study area. It is recommended that EFS must possess accommodative attitude towards farmers to resolve their conflicts and must be incorporated in their job responsibilities and training curriculum.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF040301

Garlic (Allium satium L.) is categorized as an important medicinal plant worldwide which was known for its very high therapeutic value. Several biotic and abiotic factors may affect its sustainable yield and quality. Viral diseases of garlic Asexual mode of propagation may cause of spread of viral diseases in garlic which may be eliminated through in vitro techniques. Therefore, research was carried out to determine effect of different sterilization methods, carbon source and explant on in vitro production of disease-free garlic. The highest numbers of clean cultures were obtained using treatment combination of 70% ethanol 1 min-1 and 55% Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) 20 minutes-1. All other treatments either fail to produce clear cultures or reduced the efficiency of germination. Sugar and maltose were used as carbon source and no significant variation was observed among them during germination of cloves Two commercial varieties NARC G1 and White garlic were used as source of explant. Calli mass were assessed after interval of every 10-15 days and subsequently sub-cultured. Data was obtained after 60 days. Both accessions produced maximum callus (59.73% and 58.39% respectively) when used shoots were used explant. The calli were yellowish white in hue and had a dense and nodular morphology. Different concentrations of 2, 4-D showed significant variations in the average frequency of induced calli, germinated shoots explant of NARC G1 variety of garlic produced the highest calli at plant growth regulator concentration of 3.0 mg L-1 of 2,4-D. The result of present studies may provide a source of disease-free material for genetic manipulation of garlic genotypes.

10.52587/JAF020301

Generation mean analysis through 6 parameter model for three parents along with four generations viz F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 of two crosses of Brassica campestris was studied and evaluation was done in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in 2019. Additive variance was noted for 1000 seed weight in cross Span × Toria and for days to 50% flowering in cross TR8 × Toria. Hence selection at early generation may be helpful for the improvement of these traits. Negative dominance effect was present for glucosinolate in cross TR8×Toria which might be supportive for the reduction of this trait. Genetic interactions were found fixable for plant height, siliqua length, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of seeds per siliqua, yield, oleic acid and erucic acid in cross Span × Toria and for plant height, siliqua length, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, oil contents, oleic acid, linoleic acid, erucic acid and glucosinolate in cross TR8 ×Toria. The traits showed fixable interaction mass selection and progeny selection would be effective while for others exploitation of heterosis breeding may be effective and selection would be delayed to attain homozygosity.

10.52587/JAF040301

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive soil bacterium that makes crystal proteins toxic for insects, particularly larvae of Diptera and Lepidopteron. Bt genes has been frequently used to develop genetically modified (GM) insect resistant crops. Various factors affecting the gene expression and protein accumulation in GM crops hence, present work was designed to evaluate the effects of temperatures and age on expression pattern of Cry1Ac gene in Bt cotton. Transformation event was verified using digital PCR and the presence of endotoxin was initially confirmed through immuno-strip assay. Toxin accumulation level in top third leaf was investigated using quantitative ELISA after 20 days intervals starting from 60 days. Results showed that protein level gradually increased with plant’s age, and it was maximum at 100 days in plants placed under 35oC. Toxin level declined under all temperature regimes at advanced growth stages and minimal toxin was observed at 25oC. Bt cotton MNH-886 showed higher and stable toxin accumulation in comparison with FH-lalazar even at elevated temperatures and lateral growth stages. These findings demonstrated that expression of Cry1Ac gene is influenced by temperatures and age of the plant, while MNH-886 is a more stable genotype regarding Cry1Ac protein accumulation.

10.52587/JAF050301

The present study was carried out in 2020 to analyse the fertilizer management practices pertaining to its sources and application methods in the perspective of 4R approach, at farm level, in the rice-wheat cropping zone of Punjab-Pakistan. Multistage random sampling and cross sectional research design were used to conduct the study in Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts of Punjab were randomly selected. Two tehsils namely Muridke and Shahkot from two districts and 5 rural UCs from each tehsil were randomly selected. A sample size of 400 rice farmers was drawn with 5% confidence interval and 95% confidence level. The data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule which was pretested for validity and reliability. The quantitative data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. It was found that the efficient usage of fertilizers was hindered by some socio-economic problems and concluded that there was highly significant association between fertilizer management practices and socio-economic variables. It was recommended that the provincial government should encourage local production of the seed and fertilizer drills at subsidized prices so that the farmers can afford to apply efficient fertilizer application methods. It was also recommended that extension wing of agriculture department should design tailor-made training modules about the economic returns of using efficient fertilizer sources and application methods such as placement, fertigation or drill after standardizing them according to local farm conditions.

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF00301

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is susceptible to most disastrous Curvularia leaf spot disease which severely affects the eggplant yield, quality, and leads to severe economic losses and becoming an alarming problem for farming community. In this regard, 15 accessions of brinjal were screened against leaf blight. Result showed that two hybrids (“Sandhya F1”, “Chaudry 54 F1”) showed resistant response with 4.72 and 3.95% disease incidence, respectively. Four varieties (“Twinkle star”, “Janak F1”, “Rani”, “Brinjal 3715”) showed moderately resistant response against leaf blight. Two accessions (“Dilnasheen”, “EP-273”) of them exhibited moderately susceptible and two (Pahuja Black round, Black pearl long) showed susceptible response towards leaf blight. Highly susceptible response was shown by five varieties/advance lines including Local-II Ever green, Black Beauty SSI, Global Round-Desi, Green Gold and Local-I Ever green with 96.68, 94.62, 93.67, 87.66 and 87.43% disease incidence, respectively. All these epidemiological factors (temperature, humidity, rainfall) showed highly positive correlation with disease development. It is concluded that “Sandhya-F1” and “Chaudry (54)-F1” can be used as resistant varieties against leaf blight disease of brinjal.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF030301

This study was conducted at Barani Agricultural Research Station, Fatehjang, Punjab, Pakistan for two years during 2018 and 2019. A set of one hundred genotypes of wheat including commercial varieties and advanced lines from different sources were screened against yellow rust under field conditions. Based on observations against yellow rust, it was found that out of these 100 wheat genotypes 48 showed 60-100% yellow rust severity and characterized as susceptible to moderately susceptible. Twenty-three genotypes showed 40 – 59% yellow rust infection, while 17 showed 20-39% disease severity and characterized as moderately susceptible & moderately resistant to moderately susceptible respectively. Four genotypes showed 10-19% disease severity and were characterized as moderately resistant while only eight genotypes remained resistant. Yield losses were more than 46 % in wheat genotypes having maximum yellow rust severity upto 80% and yield losses were minimum in moderately resistant to resistant genotypes. When the maximum temperature rises in the winter months (February and March) then an increase in the yellow rust epidemic was seen. It was concluded from the study of these two consecutive years that the stripe rust disease epidemic is highly dependent on favorable environmental conditions like more humidity due to rainfall and a rise in maximum temperature.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF080301

The research study was carried out in the year 2019 to evaluate the sugar mills extension services on promoting modern sugarcane production technology and its impact on sugarcane production in district Muzaffargarh. A sample of 120 sugarcane growers was selected and interviewed personally from eight Union Councils (UC) of the study area. The results revealed that demographic traits were significantly linked with sugarcane production. All the respondents in the area acknowledged getting information regarding modern sugarcane cultivation practices and the latest research findings from sugar mills staff on enhancing sugarcane productivity. The most notable finding was the awareness and adoption of approved & recommended sugarcane varieties, filter cake, facility of soil/water testing and biological control laboratories services of sugar mills. Moreover, a 23.3% increase in sugarcane yield per acre was seen due to the facilitation of sugar mills extension services in the study area.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF090301