National Agricultural Research Center Research Articles

Evaluation of Wheat Genotypes for Growth and Yield Performance under Rainfed Conditions

This research evaluated the growth and yield potential of five wheat genotypes viz., UJ-2021, Sindh-2023, Punjab-2024, NWFP-2022 and Balochistan-2020 under rainfed environment at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during 2024. The major aim was to establish optimal and drought-tolerant genotypes in low water supply conditions. Having laid down three replications per genotype according to a randomized complete block design, the work concentrated on plant population, plant height, and number of tillers, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and biomass yield. Punjab-2024 genotype showed better performance than other genotypes in all parameters though variations were observed in plant population (210 plants/m²), plant height (112 cm), number of tillers (8. 2 per plant), 1000-grain weight (48 g), grain yield (520 g/m²), and biomass production (1. 50 kg/m²). On the other hand Balochistan-2020 had the lowest yield potential attributed to lower adaptability and productivity under rainfed environment. The current research is paramount in understanding ways of selecting better genotypes in order to increase the production of wheat under water deficit conditions. The results of Punjab-2024 indicate its enhanced yield and resource use efficiency in rainfed situation thus signifying its potential. The results are important for maintenance and improvement of high yielding and resistant wheat genotypes which would help in food security and sustainable farming. Future work should be aimed more at improving the low performing genotypes of Punjab-2024 and identify the underlying genetics for the said advantageous traits.

Development of a new hexaploid spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety “NIFA NIJAT-23” for commercial cultivation in irrigated areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Sustainable wheat farming requires an ongoing process of variety development, release, and quality seed production of new high yielding and disease resistant varieties. Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently cultivating several wheat cultivars, including NIFA AMAN-17, NIFA AWAZ-19, PIRSABAK-21, ZARGHUN-21, PIRSABAK-19, GULZAR-19, KHAISTA-17, PIRSABAK-15, INSAF-15, KP-15 and LALMA-13 under both irrigated and rainfed circumstances. The frequent changes in disease virulence, particularly yellow rust and leaf rust observed frequently over the last three years in KP, have forced breeders to develop new resistant varieties in order to increase productivity. The new hexaploid spring wheat variety NIFA NIJAT-23 (CTHN-162056) developed at NIFA has demonstrated resistance to yellow rust during testing in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wheat Yield Trials (KPWYT) at 13 distinct locations in 2019-20, and this variety with a grain yield of 3337 kg ha-1 has been placed at the third position among 24 test entries. Under normal planting conditions in 2020-21, the NUWYT (National Uniform Wheat Yield Trial) pooled analysis revealed that CTHN-162056 secured the 1st position and provided the greatest mean grain yield of 4701 kg ha-1 across all the candidate lines throughout Pakistan at 31 locations. According to the data reported by the Crop Diseases Research Institute (CDRI), Department of Plant and Environmental Protection, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, it has demonstrated highly desirable relative resistance index (RRI) for two consecutive years (2020-21 & 2021-22). The Provincial Seed Council (PSC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approved CTHN-162056 and registered as a potential variety “NIFA NIJAT-23”.

Partial replacement of inorganic fertilizer with organic inputs for enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, grain yield, and decreased nitrogen losses under rice-based systems of mid-latitudes

In the rice-based system of mid-latitudes, mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer serves as the largest source of the N cycle due to an insufficient supply of N from organic sources causing higher N losses due to varying soil and environmental factors. However, aiming to improve soil organic matter (OM) and nutrients availability using the best environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable cultural and agronomic management practices are necessary. This study aimed to enhance nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and grain yield in rice-based systems of mid-latitudes by partially replacing inorganic N fertilizer with organic inputs. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed to evaluate the effects of sole mineral N fertilizer (urea) and its combinations with organic sources—farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry compost—on different elite green super rice (GSR) genotypes and were named as NUYT-1, NUYT-2, NUYT-3, NUYT-4, NUYT-5, and NUYT-6. The study was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 rice growing seasons at the Rice Research Program, Crop Sciences Institute (CSI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, one of the mid-latitudes of Pakistan. The key objective was to determine the most effective N management strategy for optimizing plant growth, N content in soil and plants, and overall crop productivity. The results revealed that the combined application of poultry compost and mineral urea significantly enhanced soil and leaf N content (1.36 g kg− 1 and 3.06 mg cm− 2, respectively) and plant morphophysiological traits compared to sole urea application. Maximum shoot dry weight (SDW) and root dry weight (RDW) were observed in compost-applied treatment with the values of 77.62 g hill− 1 and 8.36 g hill− 1, respectively. The two-year mean data indicated that applying 150 kg N ha⁻1, with half provided by organic sources (10 tons ha⁻1 FYM or poultry compost) and the remainder by mineral urea, resulted in the highest N uptake, utilization, and plant productivity. Thus, integrated management of organic carbon sources and inorganic fertilizers may sustain the productivity of rice-based systems more eco-efficiently. Further research is recommended to explore root and shoot morphophysiological, molecular, and biochemical responses under varying N regimes, aiming to develop N-efficient rice varieties through advanced breeding programs.

Screening of Mung bean Germplasm for Resistance against Cercospora Leaf Spot under Natural Field Conditions

Mung bean is an excellent protein source pulse crop grown throughout the world. Punjab province accounts for 80% area and production of mung bean in Pakistan. Mung bean is cultivated on a large scale for its green manuring ability and grain consumption. Mung bean is prone to economically important fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by Cercospora canescens is one of the most serious disease concerns in Pakistan. The pulses program at the National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad is trying hard to get the resistant germplasm against CLS. Sixty-eight advance lines/approved varieties were evaluated in the augmented design under natural field conditions. Forty-one advance lines/approved varieties were found resistant and twenty-five advance lines/approved varieties were found moderately resistant. Two advanced lines/approved varieties did not perform well and were susceptible to CLS infection. This data indicates that the germplasm at pulses program is excellent in resistance against CLS under natural field conditions in the Arid Zone and can serve as potential future varieties.

Screening of selected wheat cultivars for leaf rust resistance genes

ABSTRACT Genetic resistance is the most economical and efficient way to reduce production losses brought on by diseases. Plant breeders continuously incorporate new, dependable sources into their breeding materials to continue developing disease-resistant genotypes. Fourteen certified wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar (Bahawalpur-2000, NIFA-Bathor08, Fareed-2006, Haider-2002, Imdad-2005, Lasani-2008, Marvi-2000, Moomal-2000, Manther-2003, Pirsabak-2006, Iqbal-2000, Pirsabak-2004, Shahkar-2013, and Wafaq-2002) seeds from the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) were grown in pots. DNA obtained from fresh leaves of the wheat cultivars were screened for leaf rust resistance genes (i.e. Lr-51, Lr-47, Lr-46, Lr-37, Lr-36, Lr-35, Lr-34, Lr-28, Lr-25, Lr-19, Lr-13, Lr-9, and Lr-1 using PCR. Results showed that the Lr-47 gene was present in nine wheat cultivars, Lr-1 and Lr-28 in eight, Lr-5, Lr-9, and Lr-13 in three, and Lr-19 and Lr-37 in one cultivar. In the selected wheat cultivars, the resistance genes Lr-25, Lr-35, Lr-36, and Lr-46 were not observed. This study suggests cultivating wheat varieties Haider-2002, Iqbal-2000, Lasani-2008, Manther-2003, Pirsbak-2004, Pirsbak-2006, Shahkar-2013, and Wafaq-2002 for high level of resistance to rust and protection against high production losses. In future studies, phenotypic data alongside genotypic screening will improve the assessment of leaf rust resistance in wheat cultivars, leading to a better understanding of their disease resistance profiles.

Scoping study of research trends on Nili Ravi buffalo applying scientometric analysis and network visualization

The study elucidates scientometric analysis of published scientific communications on Nili Ravi buffalo in journal(s) for having an appraisal of status-quo of the research and scientific activities. Metadata of 383 articles retrieved from Scopus were analysed to identify the most productive author(s), institution(s) vis-a-vis countries and to ascertain their collaboration trends. Keyword based analysis was performed to provide an overview of the strength areas of research on Nili Ravi for better comprehension. The results revealed that the research efforts on Nili Ravi were discernible after the year 2005. All except 1.30% articles have been an outcome of the collaborative authorship. There were only few productive authors with ≥10 records, but others contributed on the subject occasionally. Nearly 90% of the articles have been contributed by Pakistan and its' authors have worked in close collaboration with scientists from United Kingdom, United States of America, China, Canada, and South Korea. They also have conjoint symbiosis on academic/research endavours on Nili Ravi with experts from Austria, Netherlands, India, Germany, Italy, and Australia. Twelve leading institutions contributed to ≥10 articles. Publication outcome of the Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan; Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan; University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan and Semen Production Unit, Qadirabad, Sahiwal, Pakistan has higher Relative Citation Impact (RCI), making it obvious that their publication(s) have wider acceptance amongst scientific populace. Most productive vis-à-vis impactful journals publishing articles on Nili Ravi have also been identified.

Fortification or biofortification: complimentary strategies or duplication of effort?

Micronutrient deficiencies continue to be a global concern, with the most common deficiencies being vitamin A, iron, zinc and B vitamins (folate and B12). Addressing this requires strategies that are scalable and equitable such that they reach all members of a population irrespective of socioeconomic status and geography. Fortification and biofortification offer potential large-scale solutions, however each have strengths and limitations depending on the context, particularly the cultural and political factors that may create barriers or opportunities for effectiveness. Planning how to target scarce resources for maximum impact requires an in-depth knowledge and understanding of local food systems and market dynamics, alongside strong government policy and legislative support. A food fortification programme was launched in Pakistan in 2016, supported by UK Aid and designed to address the high prevalence of vitamin A, iron and zinc deficiency, particularly in women and children. In the same year, the first zinc biofortified variety of wheat, Zincol-2016, was released in Pakistan, supported and developed through the HarvestPlus programme in collaboration with the Pakistan National Agriculture Research Centre. This review explores the challenges faced by fortification and biofortification, initiated independently, (but around the same time) in Pakistan.

Molecular detection of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III), and Citrus viroid-IV (CVd-IV) in Palestine

Citrus hosts various phytopathogens that have impacted productivity, including viroids. Missing data on the status of viroids in citrus in Palestine were not reported. This study was aimed to detect any of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III), and Citrus viroid-IV (CVd-IV) in the Palestinian National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) germplasm collection Field inspections found symptoms such as leaf epinasty; vein discoloration, and bark cracking on various citrus varieties. RT-PCR revealed a significant prevalence of CVd-IV; CEVd and CVd-III (47%, 31%, and 22%; respectively). CVd-III variants with 91.3% nucleic acid sequence homology have been reported. The sequence of each viroid were deposited in GenBank as (OP925746 for CEVd, OP902248 and OP902249 for CVd-III-PS-1 and -PS-2 isolates, and OP902247 for CVd-IV). This was the first to report three of citrus viroids in Palestine, appealing to apply of phytosanitary measures to disseminate healthy propagating materials free from viroids.

O raro NARC-G1 alho: quantificação comparativa de alicina com perfil morfo-bioquímico e genético

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an important cash food crop, and the biotechnology industry has considerable interest in the plant because of its medicinal importance. These medicinal properties are attributed to organosulphur compounds as the accumulation of these compounds varies according to genotype, locality, light quality, and cultivation practices. In this study, we compared a newly developed garlic variety NARC-G1 by National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan with three different garlic cultivars and highlighted the distinctive attributes like phenotypic characteristics, the content of allicin, elemental profile, and gene polymorphism. Phenotypic analysis showed NARC-G1 has significantly higher bulb weight (66.36g ± 18.58), single clove weight (5.87g ± 1.041), and clove width (17.41mm ± 0.95) which directly correlates to the size of the garlic. The analytical analysis showed the highest allicin content (4.82 ± 0.001) in NARC-G1. Genotyping of the alliinase in all four cultivars showed indels in the gene resulting in distinguishable changes in organosulphur compounds' profile. NARC-G1 is unique from other garlic cultivars and could be the best choice for mass production with proper cultivation and irrigation management. Moreover, for Pakistan NARC-G1 could be a potential contender to earn the industrial benefits with inland cultivation instead of importing garlic alleviating the economic burden.

FLOWERING ANNUALS PRODUCTION BEHAVIOR AGAINST DIVERSE NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT

The marigold and zinnia are prominent in the horticulture industry and are widely growing flowering annuals in Pakistan. The well-timed study sought to investigate the effect of different fertilizer combinations on flowering annuals marigold and zinnia. The experiment comprised a completely randomized design with four replications during 2019 and 2020 at the Plant Genetic Resource Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan. The data included recording days to bud formation (DBF), days to flower persistence (DFP), flowers per plant (NFP), and days to flower senescence (DFS). Significant differences were recordable among the genotypes and treatments. Average DBF under applications of NPK fertilizers and Grow More + HB101 + Vitafeed (foliar application) revealed higher during the first year of study compared with the second year. The most effective foliar application treatment for DBF of marigold and zinnia resulted in 0.18 g Grow More + 0.18 g HB101 + 0.18 g Vitafeed. A higher number of DBF marigolds occurred for treatment 20% N + 16% P + 14% K, and the same emerged for NFP. Average days for flower persistence in marigold and zinnia were higher under manures application compared with NPK and foliar application. The higher number of DFP of both plants existed for treatment 75% leaf compost (LC) + 25% soil. The organic and inorganic fertilizers may help develop plant health, resistance to early flower senescence, and large flower size of both marigold and zinnia.

LIFE TABLE ATTRIBUTES AND FEEDING EFFICIENCY OF OENOPIA SAUZETI (MULSANT) (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) FED ON APHID (APHIS GOSSYPII)

Ladybird beetles are play vital role in agroecosystem due to successful and efficient feeding behavior against aphids, the present research experiment was carried to find out the life history and feeding efficacy of oenopiasauzetifed on Aphis gossypii,at the laboratory of Biological Control, integrated pest management programme (IPMP), National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. The results of the experiment revealed that the mean developmental time of immature stage 3rd and 4th instar have a significant difference with 3.72±0.11 and 3.87±0.036 days, while the egg to adult emergence was 39±0.35 days. The longevity has significant difference in male and female with the higher values at female 34.0 days. Similarly, the feeding efficiency was maximum in O. sauzeti females which feeds on 2227.1 mean number of Aphis gossypii, while the (409.25±1.42) mean numbers of aphids were consumed by larva. The maximum aphid consumption was observed at 4th instar larva (198.98±0.51 aphid) followed by 3rd instar larva (128.57±0.59 aphid). The mean oviposition time of O. sauzetion A. gossypii was recorded as 21.36 days and average eggs laid female-1 day-1 was 20.53, while the total laid eggs given by a female were 253.60. The apparent mortality (100qx) was maximum at egg stage (24) and the mortality survival ratio (MSR) was highest at pupal stage (0.53), similarly, the indispensable mortality (IM) was also observed high at pupal stage. The maximum survival fraction (Sx) was observed at the 4th larval stage (0.91) and the maximum life expectancy (ex) was observed at 1st larval instar (4.51) days. The total killer power (k-value) of the O. sauzetifor the complete generation was 0.49. This will help to develop an ecofriendly managing approach for the minimizing the aphids infestationin economical important crops.

English

Soil health in terms of plant available nutrients is crucial to estimate the yield potential of agricultural land in an area. Based on the availability of soil health data, it is possible to set yield targets using various yield prediction models. This study was initiated to estimate the concentration of DTPA-extractable micronutrients in Tehsil Muzaffargarh and to develop a database that can be used to develop predictive models. Soil samples (n=11537) were collected from Muzaffargarh (0-15 cm depth). The latitude and longitude values of sampling points were recorded for the purpose of georeferencing the soil samples. Micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) were extracted with diethylenetriamine penta-acetate (DTPA) extraction solution and their concentrations were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Water soluble boron (B) was determined spectrophotometrically using Azomethine-H as colour developing reagent. Critical limits established by the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan, were used as a benchmark for grading micronutrient status. The ordinary kriging technique was used to visualize the micronutrient status in the surveyed area and digital maps were prepared using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software. Results showed that the range of DTPA-extractable micronutrients Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu ranged from 0.10-5.92, 0.01-12.51, 0.09-10.00 and 0.03-8.08 µg/g, respectively. Boron concentration ranged from 0.02-1.98µg/g. Most of the soils in the studied area had adequate levels of Zn (61.9%) and Cu (48.6%) while 45.8, 43.3 and 55.4 % of the soil samples fell into the marginal category in terms of Cu, Mn, and B, respectively. The results revealed the widespread deficiency of DTPA-extractable Fe (< 4.5mg kg-1 in 74% soil samples) in Tehsil Muzaffargarh. The digitized maps developed from this study would serve as primary source to locate micronutrient deficient areas and also set site-specific yield targets along with other biophysical factors. However, these maps need ground truthing after crop harvest each year.

Growth improvement of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and zinc biofortification using potent zinc-solubilizing bacteria.

Zinc (Zn) is an indispensable element for proper plant growth. A sizeable proportion of the inorganic Zn that is added to soil undergoes a transformation into an insoluble form. Zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) have the potential to transform the insoluble Zn into plant-accessible forms and are thus promising alternatives for Zn supplementation. The current research was aimed at investigating the Zn solubilization potential of indigenous bacterial strains and to evaluate their impact on wheat growth and Zn biofortification. A number of experiments were conducted at the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Islamabad, during 2020-21. A total of 69 strains were assessed for their Zn-solubilizing ability against two insoluble Zn sources (ZnO and ZnCO3) using plate assay techniques. During the qualitative assay, the solubilization index and solubilization efficiency were measured. The qualitatively selected Zn-solubilizing bacterial strains were further tested quantitatively using broth culture for Zn and phosphorus (P) solubility. Tricalcium phosphate was used as insoluble source of P. The results showed that broth culture pH was negatively correlated with Zn solubilization, i.e., ZnO (r2 = 0.88) and ZnCO3 (r2 = 0.96). Ten novel promising strains, i.e., Pantoea sp. NCCP-525, Klebsiella sp. NCCP-607, Brevibacterium sp. NCCP-622, Klebsiella sp. NCCP-623, Acinetobacter sp. NCCP-644, Alcaligenes sp. NCCP-650, Citrobacter sp. NCCP-668, Exiguobacterium sp. NCCP-673, Raoultella sp. NCCP-675, and Acinetobacter sp. NCCP-680, were selected from the ecology of Pakistan for further experimentation on wheat crop based on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) traits, i.e., solubilization of Zn and P in addition to being positive for nifH and acdS genes. Before evaluating the bacterial strains for plant growth potential, a control experiment was also conducted to determine the highest critical Zn level from ZnO to wheat growth using different Zn levels (0.1, 0.05, 0.01, 0.005, and 0.001% Zn) against two wheat varieties (Wadaan-17 and Zincol-16) in sand culture under glasshouse conditions. Zinc-free Hoagland nutrients solution was used to irrigate the wheat plants. As a result, 50 mg kg-1 of Zn from ZnO was identified as the highest critical level for wheat growth. Using the critical level (50 mg kg-1 of Zn), the selected ZSB strains were inoculated alone and in consortium to the seed of wheat, with and without the use of ZnO, in sterilized sand culture. The ZSB inoculation in consortium without ZnO resulted in improved shoot length (14%), shoot fresh weight (34%), and shoot dry weight (37%); with ZnO root length (116%), it saw root fresh weight (435%), root dry weight (435%), and Zn content in the shoot (1177%) as compared to the control. Wadaan-17 performed better on growth attributes, while Zincol-16 had 5% more shoot Zn concentration. The present study concluded that the selected bacterial strains show the potential to act as ZSB and are highly efficient bio-inoculants to combat Zn deficiency, and the inoculation of these strains in consortium performed better in terms of growth and Zn solubility for wheat as compared to individual inoculation. The study further concluded that 50 mg kg-1 Zn from ZnO had no negative impact on wheat growth; however, higher concentrations hampered wheat growth.

Embedded AI for Wheat Yellow Rust Infection Type Classification

Wheat is the most important and dominating crop in Pakistan in terms of production and acreage, which is grown on 37% of the cultivated area, accounting for 70% of the total production. However, wheat yield is highly affected by stripe rust, which is considered the most devastating fungal disease, causing 5.5 million tonnes of loss per year globally. In order to minimize this loss, the accurate and timely detection of rust disease is crucial instead of manual inspection. Towards this end, we propose a system to detect wheat rust disease and classify its infection types into four classes, including healthy, resistant, moderate (moderately resistant to moderately susceptible), and susceptible. The wheat rust dataset is collected indigenously from the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. A pre-trained U <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> Net model is used to remove the background and extract the leaf containing the rust disease. Subsequently, two deep learning classifiers, including the Xception model and ResNet-50 are applied to classify the stripe rust severity levels, where the ResNet-50 model outperformed with the highest accuracy of 96%. This research presents a comparison between two state-of-the-art deep learning classifiers in terms of accuracy, memory utilization, and prediction time, which will assist the research community in selecting the most appropriate model for plant disease detection. Moreover, to assess the external validity, the performance of these classifiers is compared with the existing technique using a publicly available dataset, which confirms the validity of the results. Additionally, an intelligent edge computing rust detection device has been developed, where the trained ResNet-50 model is deployed, which facilitates the farmers to monitor the rust attack. The proposed research is aimed to assist the agricultural community to employ preventive measures in a site-specific manner based on the accurate diagnosis of rust disease & its severity, which is intended to improve the quality of the wheat as well as production.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NATURAL FLORA OF THE UNDERSTORY OF THE RUBBER PLANTATIONS IN SOUTHERN COTE D’IVOIRE: CASE OF THE RUBBER PLANTATIONS OF THE CNRA ANGUEDEDOU

Objective: The study was conducted in the rubber plantations of the National Agricultural Research Centre (CNRA) of Anguédédou in the south of Côte d'Ivoire, to characterize the natural biodiversity of the undergrowth of rubber plantations, through the floristic composition and the evolution of the number of species according to the age of the plantations. Methodology and results: The methodology focused on the surface inventory. Thus, 36 surveys of 20 m x 10 m, or 200 m², were installed and inventoried through the rubber plantations of different age classes ([1 to 5 years], [6 to 10 years], [11 to 20 years] and [21 to 40 years]), abandoned rubber plantations and secondary forest. Regeneration was evaluated in plots with a 5 m (25 m²) coastline. The results have shown that rubber plantations are rich in 130 natural plant species. With the exception of rubber plantations from 1 to 5 years and especially of abandoned rubber plantations, the influence of this crop on the natural flora is felt in plantations from 6 to 10 years, with only 34 species. However, this flora evolves with the aging of the plantations. In abandoned plantations, 75 species were inventoried with a good presence of endemic species such as Chlamydocarya macrocarpa, Angylocalyx oligophyllus, Chassalia kolly, Mussaenda tristigmatica. There are also some rare and/or endangered species such as Albizia adianthifolia, Baphia nitida, Commelina benghalensis, Culcasia scandens, Gloriosa superba, Greenwayodendron suaveolens, Millettia zechiana and Milicia excelsa. The floristic similarity between abandoned rubber plantations and secondary forest, indicates a shift from abandoned rubber plantations to forest formations with high regeneration density, mainly in abandoned plantations. Conclusion and application: The study showed that the impact of rubber culture is felt on the natural flora of young rubber plantations. However, when plantations are abandoned, the environment becomes secondary forest. This investigation deserves to be carried out in other rubber plantations of other ecological zones of Côte d'Ivoire.

Feeding potential and development of &lt;em&gt;Chrysoperla carnea&lt;/em&gt; (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on &lt;em&gt;Paracoccus marginatus&lt;/em&gt; (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) under no-choice conditions

Purpose: Considering the predatory effectiveness of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), studies were carried out at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan to determine the feeding potential and developmental period of its larval instars on Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Research Method: Eggs, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nymphal instars and adults of P. marginatus was provided to all three larval instars of C. carnea in a Completely Randomized Design experiment, replicated ten times. Findings: Results indicated that all C. carnea larval instars were found to feed on all P. marginatus stages. Overall mean consumption of C. carnea larvae on P. marginatus eggs, 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar nymphs, and adults was 1359.8, 1409.1, 1012.4, 1165.7 and 130.30 individuals, respectively. Third instar C. carnea larvae was more voracious than 2nd and 1st instars. The shortest developmental period (12.40±0.37 days) of C. carnea larvae was recorded on 3rd nymphal instar of P. marginatus. Moreover, C. carnea larvae took 14.90±0.23, 14.00±0.25, 13.10±0.23, and 13.60±0.34 days on eggs, first, second nymphal instars and adults of P. marginatus, respectively to complete their development. Originality/value: Therefore, it is suggested that C. carnea should be included as a key component in the integrated management of P. marginatus, especially its 3rd larval instar

Evaluation of oat accessions for different agronomic traits under agro-climatic conditions of narc Islamabad

Oat is one of the most commonly planted forages and a significant component of crop rotation in a farming system. Keeping in view the importance of oat crop, seven oat accessions were evaluated at National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad during Rabi season 2020-21. Randomized complete block design with three replications with row to row distance 30 cm was maintained for sowing the aforementioned oat accessions. Significant variation was observed for all the studied traits except plant height and leaves tiller-1. Highest mean values were observed for Jasper and Local Saryab for number of tillers plant-1 whereas Jasper was found to have maximum values for leaf area tiller-1 and leaf area index as well. Maximum flag leaf area was displayed by accession PP2-LV65 while the highest plant height was achieved by accession Local DIK. Maximum leaves tiller-1 was exhibited by S. 2000 while Local T.Jam achieved maximum green fodder yield and maximum dry matter yield t/ha. On the basis of high values for green fodder and dry matter yield Local T.Jam can be used for onward use for variety development.

TALBINAH-21: PAKISTAN’S FIRST HULL-LESS, HIGH YIELDING AND LODGING TOLERANT BARLEY VARIETY

Talbinah-21, a first hull-less barley variety was prepared at Wheat Research Institute (WRI), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad Punjab-Pakistan during 2021 and released for irrigated and moisture stress areas of Punjab as well. The proposed genotype with parental AGER/2*PETUNIA 1 with pedigree CBSW01WM00121T-0TOPY-4M-1Y-1M-1Y-OM-0AP was earmarked due to promising hull-less line and selected from the exotic breeding materials ‘’International Naked Barley Yield Trial (INBYT)’’ during 2014-15. This trial was received from International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Terbol, Lebanon, through National Wheat Coordinator, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Although, the yield performance was not up to the mark with respect to local check Jau-83, but the Entry No 12 expressed itself a promising hull-less line and acclimatised completely well among all 25 entries in the said trials.&#x0D; So, keeping in view the expressivity of the line, it was added and evaluated with the variety code of B-15006 for yield performance in regular yield trial for one year during 2015-16 and in Provincial Uniform Barley Yield Trial (PUBYT) for continuous two years during 2016-17 to 2017-18. It performed better than commercial check variety of Haider-93 by 3.78% more yield in regular yield trial and 22.41 and 8.04% high grain yield in provincial trials during both years. In national uniform barley yield trial, the purposed hull-less line also excelled the yield than the check variety by 1.72% in 2018-19 and 12.9% in 2019-20. It performed also best under rainfed areas by giving 3.76% more yield than the check during 2017-18 and 23% during 2018-19.&#x0D; Disease, infestation was also found resistant. The seed is amber in colour with shape of elliptical. Protein content in the proposed genotype is ranging from 12-14.4% while thousand grain weight was found from 37-40 gram. It was found lodging tolerant and shattering resistant. The mentioned genotype (Talbinah-21) was approved in 2021 by Punjab Seed Council (PSC) for different ecological zones across the province for general cultivation.

Wheat Varietal Response to Relative SPAD Index (RSI) and Relative Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RNDVI) under Variable Nitrogen Application and Terminal Heat Stress along with Yield Repercussion

Nitrogen (N) deficiency and heat stress (HS) are major abiotic stresses that affect the quantity and quality of wheat grains. This study was conducted to examine wheat varietal response to RSI and RNDVI at the anthesis stage and their relationship to yield and yield-related traits under variable N supply and terminal heat stress. Twelve wheat varieties were evaluated in 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan. The experiment was divided into three sets, i.e., N120 (120 kg N/ha), N60 (60 kg N/ha) and N0 (0 kg N/ha), based on the nitrogen fertilizer application. The physiological and yield-related parameters were recorded. Mean grain yield for all twelve varieties, averaged from two years of data, ranged between 1655.0 and 3890.1 kg/ha. Maximum RSI (0.99), RNDVI (1.03) and GY (3890.9 kg/ha) were recorded for FSD-08, while AARI-11 showed minimum RSI (0.50), RNDVI (0.56) and GY (1396.40 kg/ha). In the present study, mean CTD was lower, at N0 (3.57 °C), followed by N60 (5.07 °C) and N120 (5.47 °C) on average for the two years of data. The strong positive correlation of RSI and RNDVI with grain yield at R2 = 0.73 and R2 = 0.49 suggest that these parameters can be used as efficient and precise selection criteria for identifying nitrogen-use-efficient wheat varieties under terminal heat-stress conditions. This work will help the researchers to identify and develop nitrogen-use-efficient and thermos-tolerant wheat cultivars by minimizing the negative impacts of heat stress at the anthesis stage.

Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) rearing on artificial feed with Chrysoperla carnea predation (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

S. litura was reared on artificial meals in a controlled laboratory setting at 26.1°C, 16:8 h L:D, and 65.5% RH at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad, Pakistan, to evaluate its premature, mature adult stage characteristics and predation by C. cornea. On the artificial diet, the results for various parameters, including total larval duration (19.1 days, 45 percent), pre-pupal period (3.4 days, 92 percent), pupal period (7.05 days, 83 percent), and total immature duration from eggs to adult stage (33.4 days, 33 percent), as well as percent survival rate, were recorded. On a corn-based artificial diet, data on the pre-oviposition period (2.4 days), oviposition period (5.4 days), post-oviposition period (1.63 days), female fecundity (1366 eggs), and adult longevity (8.66 days) of mature stages of S. litura were collected. When supplied as prey, the predator's biological parameters and predatory capacity, C. carnea, were tested on two stages of S. litura (eggs and 1st instar larvae). The studies indicated that the prey significantly affected the total larval duration, immature duration, and % survival rate. The entire larval period was greatly minimized when C. carnea was offered eggs of S. litura for feeding. Additionally, higher % survival and fecundity were observed feeding with S. litura eggs, followed by 1st instar larvae. C. carnea consumed 443 S. litura eggs and 395 S. litura larvae during its larval development. Daily consumption of C. carnea larvae reached a maximum of 73 eggs and 53 1st instar larvae of S. litura. Comparatively, C. carnea larvae recorded maximum egg predation compared to 1st instar larvae of S. litura and the shorter developmental period when eggs were offered as prey. Moreover, 3rd instar larvae of C. carnea were found more voracious than early instars.