Shomaila Iqbal

Trichoderma, a major fungal genus attaining importance due to its diverse application in biological control programs and is considered a substitute for chemical pesticides. This research was conducted to characterize various Trichoderma species isolated from rhizospheric soil samples morphologically followed by its confirmation using molecular tools. A systematic survey of Trichoderma populations associated with soils of different vegetable hosts would enable a clear picture of the distribution of species in the region. Samples were collected from the rhizospheres of a variety of vegetable hosts and obtained numerous Trichoderma isolates (T. harzianum, T. viride, T. hamatum, T. longibrachiatum, T. asperellum, T. koningii and T. longipile). Morphological characteristics revealed that T. harzianum resembles T. viride but is more pigmented with confined rings than T. viride and other associated species. T. viride sporulation was more rapid than other species, producing a soft mat on PD...

In order to monitor and determine the incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus chilli pepper. Surveys were conducted in 73 fields throughout the Pakistan during 2006-07. Total 706 samples (Sindh 191, Punjab 257, KPK 51 and Balouchistan 207) were collected and tested through Direct Antigen Coating Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (DAC-ELISA). ELISA results indicated that CMV prevails throughout the Pakistan with a relative incidence of 44.7%. Maximum incidence of CMV was recorded in Sindh (51.8%) and Balochistan (17.47%) followed by Punjab (8.5%) and KPK (7.8%). No district was found free from CMV infection in Sindh and Balochistan. Among the weed flora of chilli pepper field, Trianthema pentandra (itsit), Cyprus rotundus (Deela) and Portulaca olercea (Kulfa) were found to be infected among the samples collected from the Sindh province.

Non-judicial use of noxious fungicides results into ill effects on human health and putative to environment. It has provided opportunity to device alternative control measure plan. Trichoderma specie due to its mycolytic enzyme secretions has high potential to combat with the destructive plant pathogens. It fights with competitive pathogen for space and food by stopping its activities and keeling the pathogen thus play significant role in enhancing the growth of the crops of economic importance. Various biocontrol based fungicides have been formulated and distributed globally. Present study elaborates the importance of Trichoderma spp., its significant role as biocontrol agent and world distribution of various commercially available Trichoderma spp. based bioproducts.

The present study was conducted in the year 2015-2017; different methods for isolation and preservation methods were tested in CABI lab for 2 years to standardize the long term less expensive preservation technique for Trichoderma viride fungus. Multiple serial dilutions and multiple serial dilutions with 0.05% of Twen-20 were tested and proved to be best for isolation on PDA media. For long term, inexpensive storage; different techniques were tested for preservation of Trichoderma viride which were previously proved to be best for short term and long term storage to other group of fungus. Drying method proved to be best for the preservation of Trichoderma viride for long period of time. It is an easy, convenient, economical, and effective tool for the preservation of Trichoderma viride isolate. Longer monitoring of Trichoderma viride isolate and storage would further validate the reliability strains. Also, the stability of Trichoderma viride should be further assessed by molecular ...

The research was conducted to investigate the feeding potential, oviposition, larval and pupal stages of Lady Bird Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) on Crape Myrtle Aphid (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani). The research was conducted at the department of Entomology Laboratory, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. It was observed that feeding potential of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th larval instar of C. septempunctata was affected significantly (P<0.05) by host density. The feeding potential of C. septempunctata were observed, the offered aphids were 17, 20, 20 and 30. The average aphids consumed were 9±0.10, 12±0.80, 12.4±1.1 and 23±1.4 by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar of C. septempunctata grubs, respectively. Feeding potential increased while the host density increased significantly 9±0.10, 12±0.80, 12.4±1.1 and 23±1.4. The C. septempunctata Consumption percentage were also increased 52.9±0.60, 60±4.00, 62.1±5.81 and 85.4±1.9 on all the grub instars, respectively. The C. sept...

Vegetative mango malformation is a very severe disease usually appears on young seedlings at quite early stage and causes the entire death of the plant. Surveys were conducted In order to monitor and to determine the incidence of MMD in nurseries of traditional and non-traditional areas of Pakistan. Survey results indicated that higher incidence of 17% and 23.33 was recorded in Mir Pur Khas Sindh and Hamza nursery Islamabad respectively. Mango variety sunehra was found to be more susceptible to MMD. Different experiments were conducted in order to study the exact dispersal of MMD by using Water, Air and Soil. Fusarium mangiferae was found as causal agent of mango vegetative malformation, easily disperse through air from infected to healthy plant at a distance of 5 feet and due to systemic nature of fungi it can also be dispersed thorough water and soil. Mango bud mite (Aceria mangiferae) also play an important role in the transmission of Fusarium. Air play a major role in the disper...

Research was conducted in the year 2011-12 in NARC to standardize the protocol for the molecular characterization of CMV Pakistani isolates infecting chilli crop. Viral diseases are considered to be the major limiting factors in chili production. Cucumber mosaic virus is the type member of the Cucumovirus genus having isometric virus particles. It was detected through DAS-ELISA from the samples showing mosaic, leaf distortion, yellowing, and vein etching, stunting and yellowing like symptoms and also confirmed by RT-PCR. For evaluating the diversity different protocols were attempted for the standardization of RT-PCR against CMV. The coat protein (CP) gene of the CMV was amplified using RT-PCR with CP Gene-specific primers. Two steps protocol was finally followed with certain modifications; finally amplification product of an expected size [Australian Capsicum isolate (233 bp), Indian Caulicut Pepper isolate (232bp), Guangdong pepper isolate (218bp) and Indian longum pepper isolate ...

ABSTRACT Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) is destructive pathogen with widest host range, infecting more than 100 botanical families comprising more than 500 genera and 1300 plant species. Chilli pepper is a significant cash crop of Pakistan among vegetable grown. The identification of genetic resistance to CMV in Pakistan (CMV chilli isolate) in chilli pepper is of economic importance. Thus, 40 Chilli pepper genotypes, both local and imported, were evaluated by mechanical/ manual virus inoculation and resistance to CMV chilli isolate was examined by visual observations and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). On the basis of 0-5 disease rating scale and ELISA, nine genotypes viz., C-2, CV- 2, CV-5, BSS-269, PGRI, M-2001, CM-2001, M-97 and CP-328 were remained free of infection and catalogued as highly resistant. Rest of the genotypes exhibited characteristic symptoms like mosaic, mottling, leaf curling and reduced leaf size depending upon tested genotypes. Among these genotypes, five were categorized as resistant, seven as moderately resistant, eight as moderately susceptible and 11 as susceptible. These resistant and moderate resistant genotypes could be used by farmers in cultivation under integrated production systems and by breeders in developing new chilli pepper hybrid resistant genotypes to CMV.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), is a high value cash crop of Pakistan mainly concentrated in Sindh, Punjab and NWFP provinces of Pakistan. Monitoring of viral diseases infecting sugarcane crop in Punjab and NWFP during 2008, 2009, and 2010 showed the occurrence of ...