Dr. Farid Asif Shaheen

Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L., is a major pest of stored chickpea. To reduce infestation of chickpea grains by this pest, the impact of short temperature changes on various life cycle aspects of this pest on chickpea grains was studied. Shifts of temperatures, from the average storage temperature of 30 o C, of plus or minus 5, 10 or 15 o C for either five or ten minutes each day for two days, was sufficient to affect the life cycle of the pest and reduce infestation. In general the larger the temperature shift and the longer the time at the shifted temperature, the greater was the effect. The treatment of 15 o C for 10 minutes proved to be the most effective reducing the number of days to death from 19.77 to 4.97 days, the number of eggs laid per grain from 3.92 to 1.21 eggs, the number of F1 adults per test sample from 13.71 to 0.93 adults, the lifespan of F1 adults from 18.39 to 2.75 days, the number of holes per grain from 1.63 to 0.18 holes and the percent weight los...

Climate change is an expected phenomenon, however, its impact on life, environment and different sectors of economies such as agriculture could be unexpected. Agriculture sector is more prone to climate change both directly as well indirectly such as new emergence of pest and diseases in changing climate. Agriculturists through simulation crop modeling successfully forecast the impact of changing climate on different crops. Crop modeling by comparison with plant disease modeling is much simple as only plant and subsequent impact of environment on it is predicted. Forecasting plant disease is much more complex as it involves the pathogen, plant and environment.  Plant disease forecasting in advance remains paradox due to cryptic and complex nature of plant diseases. It is paradox as some pathogens only grow well when temperature is high, and humidity is low while on other hand low temperature and high humidity is pre-requisite for most of pathogens. Therefore, an expected phenomenon ...

Importance of cucurbits is evident from its routine life usage as salad, desert, fruits and as essential part of kitchen item as vegetable. Different aspects responsible for yield reduction contain attack by the insect pest including red pumpkin beetle. This pest cause damage losses 35-75% to seedlings of cucurbits, leaves and fruits stage. Effect of plant three plant extracts viz., Neem seed kernel extract (Azadirachta indica), Moringa oleifera, Aloe vera for the management of the pest was studied during the experiment to screen out one promising botanical. The minimum population (4.31 insects plant-1) and minimum percent leaf infestation (9.1% plant-1) recorded in neem (Azadirachta indica L) treated plots. Population and percent leaf infestation reduction percentage was calculated. Maximum population reduction percentage (36.43 insect plant-1) and maximum percent leaf infestation reduction percentage (37.50% plant-1) was recorded in neem treated plots.

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana was used as biological control agent to control pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis in chickpea grains at different temperatures. Five concentrations (1×106, 1×107, 1×108, 1×109 and 1×1010 spores/ml) of commercially available conidia of B. bassiana were prepared by adding the sterile 0.02% tween 80 in distilled water. Haemocytometer was used for counting spores. Mortality of pulse beetle was directly proportional to concentrations of B. bassiana. B. bassiana was less effective at 25 oC as compared to 30 oC. At 25 oC, highest mortality was recorded at concentration of 1×1010 spores/ml after 5, 10 and 15 days and vice versa. At 30 oC, B. bassiana showed better results and all pulse beetles were died after 15 days at each concentration. This effective control strategy has significant contribution towards development of commercial microbial formulations of B. bassiana and is recommended to be a part of integrated pest management of pulse ...

Chickpea has to face post-harvest losses in storage due to heavy bruchid infestation. Fifteen cultivars of chickpea namely Bittle-98, Parbat, Punjab-91, Paidar-91, C-44, Noor-91, NCS-2003, CM-2000, CH-41/91, Flip 97-192C, Dasht, C-44×E-100YM, NUYT-90395, BH-73111 and CM-72 were studied for antibiosis test of Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Bruchidae: Coleoptera). Cultivars having thick, hard, wrinkled and rough seed coat were found more resistant as compared to thin, soft and smooth seed coat. For antibiosis test, the cultivars of C-44, Punjab-91, CM-72, Parbat, Bittle-98, NUYT90395, Dasht, C-44×E-100YM and NCS-2003 were found resistant showing minimum longevity of C. chinensis with a range of 11.53 to 13.56 days. Minimum days (11.53) to 100% mortality were observed for Bittle-98 and the maximum days (16.88) were recorded for Noor-91. The minimum F1 adults (2.67) were observed in grains of Dasht and the maximum (11.46) were recorded in Flip 97192C. The minimum days (9.16) to 100% morta...

Objective: To evaluate the progress and refining the educational environment for nursing students in Pakistan Armed Forces. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: College of nursing AFPGMI Rawalpindi from Mar to Aug 2018. Material and Methods: The study population consists of 303 nursing students from college of nursing Rawalpindi. Structured validated data collection tool e.g. DREEM questionnaire has been used to evaluate the educational environment. Results: The total mean score of DREEM at College of nursing AFPGMI was 132.6/200 (66.3%). The total score of Students perceptions of learning domain was 32.8/48 (68.33%). Student’sperceptions of teaching domain were 27.5/44 (62.5%), while that of SASP was 22.5/32 (70.3%). Student’s perception of atmosphere domain was 32.4/48 (67.5%) and that of SSP was 17.4/28 (62.1%). For SPL, SPT, SASP, and SPA domains the score was ≥50%. However for SASP domain achieves the highest score was 70.3%. Conclusion:...

Current study was conducted on Gomphidae dragonflies in Hazara region of Pakistan. A total 125 specimens were collected and identified in to 8 species and 6 genera. Five morphometric parameters were based to evaluate the variations and similarities among species. The results were obtained using the principle component analysis. Components PC1 and PC2 were observed positive correlated with all variables. Highest Euclidean distance was observed (5.14) between Platygomphus dolabratus and Anormogomphus kiritschenkoi, while the lowest Euclidean distance was found (0.27) between Onychogomphus biforceps and O. bistrigatus. Cladogram was showed two groups I and II and result of Line plot highly support the cladogram. Case wise variability showed 6 (75%) and 2 (25%) species were conspired in the same region between (0 to +2.5) and (0 to -2.5) respectively. The component/factors variability plot was observed the cumulative share for PC1 (60.60%) and PC2 (36.82%) respectively. Morphometry and ...

Postharvest almond moth (Cadra cautella Walker; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestation is one of the primary challenges for production of dates, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) cv. ‘Khodari.’ This study was a simulation of early almond moth infestations in uncontrolled storage conditions. It aimed to investigate the effects of low level almond moth infestations on the population growth of the moth, the damage to the dates, bacterial and fungal contamination, and the nutritional value of the dates. One, 2, and 3 pairs of male and female moths were introduced into 250 g Khodari date samples. Noninfested dates were used as controls. Each treatment was performed in 10 replicates. The results showed a more than 25-fold increase in the almond moth population and significant damage to the dates. The moth population in the 2 pair treatment was the highest. Moth infestation also increased microbial contamination by more than 3-fold compared with noninfested dates. The treatment of the 3 pair...

Pea (Pisumsativum L) is a major legume grown in Pakistan which used both as fresh vegetable and canned food. However, pea production in Pakistan is under stress due to various abiotic and biotic factors. Among biotic, the most destructive is bacterial blight caused by Pseudomonassyringae pv pisi(Ppi). Therefore, in present study different pathogenicity assays were performed to observe the innate immunity present in different commercial pea cultivars against Ppi isolated from pea seeds. The results of pathogenicity assays showed that leaf detach method was best method for symptom development as it took 2 days in comparison to foliar injection and soil drenching methods where incubation period prolonged for 6-8 days respectively. Pea varieties viz. DMR-4, DMR-7 Green forest, Rondo and Dasan showed susceptibility against Ppi isolates in all three methods of inoculations. Commercially growing pea germplasm is not showing resistance against Ppi which considered a looming threat to pea pr...

Biotic stress is one of the major environmental factors that affect the plant’s growth and life cycle. Plant pathogens are major constraints and severe threats to agricultural production in changing climate scenarios. The effects of climate variability on plant diseases and pathogens have been examined in various plant pathosystems. Climate change is predicted to affect the development of pathogens, their survival, vigor, sporulation, multiplicity, and host susceptibility that ultimately cause changes in the crop diseases. It also affects the inoculum dispersion and pathogenicity. These effects vary depending on pathosystems and geographic locations. Climate change not only affects optimal conditions of infection but also host specificity and infection mechanism in plants. Temperature, light, and humidity are the major factors that control the development and growth of diseases. So, climate change is an emerging challenge that is impacting and driving the plants and pathogens growth, disease development in a pathosystem. This overview is aimed to summarize the previous research, reviews, opinions, and recent trends in studying the effects of climate variability on pathogens and plants health. However, managing and predicting climate change impacts are complicated because of the interaction between the indirect effects and global climate change drivers. Similarly, uncertainty in plant disease development models in changing climate needs the diversification in management strategies. Protection of plants against diseases and pathogens is an essential direction for researchers to make the plants more resistant to pests and diseases. There is a need for further research in different areas under multiple climate-changing factors and scenarios using the disease modeling frameworks such as BIOMA and APSIM-DYMEX.

The diamondback moth, Plutellaxylostella (Lepidoptera; Plutellidae) is one of the most notorious and cosmopolitan insect pests of brassica crops around the world. P. xylostella may causes 90% yield losses in brassica crops. Various control measures have been adopted to manage this pest; however, the most effective control method is the use of synthetic chemical insecticides. Overuse of insecticides have many adverse effects including insecticide resistance, hazardous to environment, long persistency, interfere with food chain. There is an urgent need for alternative control measures which should be effective, environmental friendly and economically safer. Bio pesticides include plant extracts and green synthesized nano-based insecticides are among these measures, which can be useful for the management of P. xylostella. Less work has been carried out on the use of green synthesized plant products against P. xylostella. Therefore, current study has been planned to evaluate the toxicit...

Waste management is necessary for environmental and economic sustainability, but it depends upon socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors. More countries are shifting toward recycling as compared to landfilling; thus, different researchers have presented the zero waste concept, considering the importance of sustainability. This review was conducted to provide information about different well established and new/emerging technologies which could be used to recover nutrients from wastes and bring zero waste concepts in practical life. Technologies can be broadly divided into the triangle of nutrient accumulation, extraction, and release. Physicochemical mechanisms, plants, and microorganisms (algae and prokaryotic) could be used to accumulate nutrients. Extraction of nutrient is possible through electrodialysis and crystallization while nutrient release can occur via thermochemical and biochemical treatments. Primary nutrients, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are...

Evidence of fruit rot disease was observed in 12 bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fields located in the Chakwal district (32°56′00″N, 72°51′30″E) of Pakistan during the period June 2016 to 2017. Disease incidence was estimated to be between 15 and 24%. Yield loss in affected fields was estimated as 11%. Symptoms of disease were seen as water-soaked, discolored necrotic lesions predominantly around the calyx. There were also symptoms of internal rot as seeds and the inner fruit surface were covered with white to light gray fungal growth. In the case of severe disease symptoms, fungal growth was also observed externally at the calyx end. The disease progressed as a soft decay with leakage. Diseased fruits were cut into 5-mm² pieces, surface disinfested with 1% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed thrice with sterile distilled water, and incubated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25 ± 2°C for 3 to 4 days under continuous fluorescent light. Eighteen isolates of similar morphology were purified using the hyphal tip technique. Colonies were fast growing, fluffy, white with pale cream to beige coloration on the reverse side of the Petri dish. Microconidia were hyaline, single celled to one septate, and 3.5 to 5.0 × 2.7 to 4.0 μm (mean = 4.0 × 3.8 μm). Mesoconidia were fusoid, usually three septate, and 9.8 to 17.5 × 3.0 to 4.5 μm (mean = 13.4 × 4.0 μm). Macroconidia were three to five septate, cylindrical, slightly curved, tapered at the apex, and 26.2 to 37.4 × 3.5 to 4.8 μm (mean = 32.5 × 4.2 μm). Based on morphological characteristics, the fungus was tentatively identified as Fusarium incarnatum (Leslie and Summerell 2006). DNA from two representative isolates, FICW7 and FICW16, was amplified with translation elongation factor (EF1-α) and β-tubulin genes using primers EF1/EF2 (O’Donnell et al. 1998) and Bt1a/Bt1b (Glass and Donaldson 1995), respectively. The obtained sequences for EF1-α (accession nos. MF977815 and MG770586) and β-tubulin (MF977818 and MG770587) were deposited in GenBank. The MegaBLAST and Fusarium ID database analysis revealed 99 to 100% homology to the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, GenBank accession no. JF270273 (EF1-α), and AB587036 (β-tubulin) respectively. Pathogenicity tests of six isolates were conducted on three healthy bell pepper fruits per isolate, wound inoculated with a 20-μl drop of 10⁶ spores/ml. Three control fruits per isolate were inoculated with 20-μl droplets of sterile distilled water. Inoculated and control fruits were incubated in moist chambers at 25°C. After 3 to 5 days, white fluffy mycelial growth surrounded by water-soaked necrotic lesions appeared identical to the symptomatic fruits observed in the field/tunnel. No symptoms were observed on control fruits. The fungi isolated from the diseased fruits were morphologically similar to the original isolates on PDA. The pathogen was previously reported to cause the internal fruit rot disease of bell pepper in Trinidad (Ramdial et al. 2016). This is the first report of F. incarnatum (Desm.) Sacc. causing fruit rot on bell pepper in Pakistan. New strategies need to be developed for effective management of disease.

Chickpea ranks 3rd among pulses on global basis and constitutes 88% of the rain-fed cropping system. A survey was conducted to observe the pest status of Pulse Beetle (PB), Callosobruchus chinensis L., in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Percent damage/infestation by PB to ...

Out of ten genotypes of sunflower (ISB 1-99, FJ 1-99, Sehala 1-99, Bahatar 1-99, Jatli 1-99, Jhelum 1-99, Dena 1-99, Hysun-33, Sohawa 1-99 and Triumph-573) screened against the attack Odontotermes obesus at `Chaccanwali Deri Farms under UGC/UAAR Sunflower project, Hysun -33 ...

Journal of Entomology 2 (1): 29-32, 2005 ISSN 1812-5670 © 2005 Asian Network for Scientific Information Management of Callosobruchus chinensis on Stored Chickpea {Cicer arietinum) with Brassica juncea Malik Arshad Ayyaz, Muhammad Aslam, FA Shaheen, I. Abbas and ...

The influence of environmental factors including temperature and relative humidity was observed on thrips feeding on Rose, Rloss indica Var. Iceberg, ( Rosaceae) planted at the main campus of University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi. The results revealed that there was a ...

This study was focused on isolation and biochemical characterization of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed borne bacteria. A total of 25 bacteria were isolated from pea seeds collected from different sources. Of 25 isolates, 3 most aggressive isolates (Psp-1, Psp-6, Psp-14) which produced hypersensitive response (HR) within 24 hours of post inoculation on tobacco leaf were picked for further biopathological assays. Bacterial isolates were able to produce brown necrotic spots on pea leaves after few days of inoculation which later coalesced and gave peculiar blight like appearance. However, bacterial isolates were unable to reduce nitrogen and also unable to grow at 41 0 C which considered as a hall mark of only plant pathogenic pseudomonads. Furthermore, results of LOPAT (levan production from sucrose (L), presence of oxidase (O), pectolytic activity on potato (P), the presence of arginine dihydrolase (A) confirmed that seed borne bacteria were Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi which are report...

Maize flour was infested with fresh emerged Tribolium castaneum adults, and its nutritional composition was evaluated after 0, 45, and 90 days of the infestation. Furthermore, 99% carbon dioxide was applied to different developmental stages of T. castaneum for its management. There were six treatments and five replicates; for each replicate, maize flour (150 g) was taken in a 250-ml plastic jar container, insects were released in the flour, and jars were placed into the incubator at a temperature of 28 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH. Similarly, the application of 99% CO was done with four exposure times of 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, at 35 °C 65 ± 5% RH. Present results showed major fluctuations in the nutritive composition of maize flour. Increase in the moisture, fat, fiber, protein, and ash contents was directly proportional to the increase in infestation level and time, contrary to the depletion of carbohydrates and total weight loss. The results of CO treatment indicated that pupa was the most r...

... is to plant insect resistant cultivars, which is one of the most effective, feasible, economical and environmentally safe pest management tactics (Pedigo, 1996 ... Ahmad et al., (1993) reported that cultivars with hard seed surface showed non-preference (resistance) by pulse beetle. ...