Central Cotton Research Institute Multan, ( مرکزی ادارہ برائے تحقیقات و علوم نخ ) established in 1970 in Multan, Pakistan, is one of the renowned research institutes of Pakistan. The institute has many divisions dedicated to different aspects of cotton research including Agronomy, Breeding and Genetics, Cytogenetics, Physiology, Fiber Technology, Statistics and Agricultural Engineering.Over the years, many achievements have been made in the development of high yielding varieties with standard fibre quality characteristics like staple length, fineness and strength etc. The fine tuning of production technology at the grass-root level of common farming community to the progressive farmers has made tremendous impact on enhancing cotton productivity.At the time of establishment of the Institute in 1970, the cotton productivity was 370 kg per hectare which has now risen to the level of 772 kg per hectare during the current year. The continuous and untiring research endeavors of the scientists have yielded 20 cotton varieties (17 Non-Bt and 03 Bt). The introduction of efficient water use technologies i.e. bed-furrow sowing technique, identification of water stress & heat tolerant cotton varieties and other water saving techniques were advocated to the farmers to economize cotton production. Salient features of five new varieties viz. CIM-612, Cyto-124, Bt.CIM-600, Bt.CIM-616 and Bt.Cyto-177 were presented in the 71st Meeting of the Expert Sub Committee held at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad on 09.03.2015. Apart from having up to the standard fibre quality traits, Bt.CIM-600 is tolerant to heat stress whereas Bt.CIM-616, CIM-612 and Bt.Cyto-177 are highly CLCuV tolerant with promising yield potential.The Institute has made tremendous efforts in popularizing the technology for herbicide use in weed management. The continuous research on screening of weedicides and fine tuning of their application techniques (pre- and post-emergence) is another milestone of this Institute. The quantification of optimized fertilizer levels, application methodologies for efficient utilization and exploring the alternate nutrient sources remained as a continuous endeavor to achieve yield sustainability. The technique of plant mapping, disseminated from this Institute, for forecasting/ estimating yield potential is being practiced by the various research, academia and government departments. In the field of plant protection, the invasion of secondary pests like mealybug, dusky cotton bug and red cotton bug are becoming potential threats to achieve yield targets. A due attention is being made to devise pest management strategies to tackle these emerging pests. In the scenario of extended Bt cotton cultivation, the research has been diverted towards this new dimension for controlling sucking pests and studies on resistance management accrued due to inbuilt bollworm resistance in cotton plant. The country has suffered huge financial losses due to yield reduction in cotton crop caused by the wide scale infestation of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) disease. Accepting this hard challenge, the scientists at the Institute were able to evolve varieties through introgression that have a high degree of tolerance to CLCuV. A variety Cyto-124, which is recently recommended by Expert Sub Committee, has shown its stability towards virus tolerance in early as well as late sowing (March to June planting). A couple of more promising genotypes (Cyto-120 & Cyto-122) are in pipeline. The contribution in the development of disease resistance is the outcome of continuous involvement by the Pathology Section for quantification and transformation of resistant character and its build up in the new genetic material.The development of new varieties is based on the maintenance of high fibre quality traits to cope with the standards of the textile industry. The varieties released by the Institute are stable and maintain their fibre quality under various ecological zones. The Institute is at advanced level in developing transgenic cotton through classical breeding along with biotechnological tools. Results of the data gathered from the experiments and surveys cannot be deduced or inferred without the statistical analysis. The mass scale statistical analysis of data has made success to bring out this 44th Progress Report of the Institute. The results are not confined in the four-walls of the Institute. Message dissemination measures through print and electronic media, personal communication, training of farmers, field staff of seed, fertilizer and NGOs remained a regular phenomena throughout the year. Various programs are televised through TV channels based at Multan.e.e.e.
RATIONALIZING nitrogen (N) use via lowering its application rate is a crucial tactic for reducing the environmental issues. However, low N supply could limit sustainable production of cotton. Adopting eco-friendly N applications, as well as cultivation of genotype that uses nitrogen efficiently, can maintain productivity while using nitrogen economically. This research tested the response of cotton varieties (Giza 95, Giza 96 and Giza 97), grown solely or accompanied with cowpea (C) plant, to different N levels (0, 30, 45 and 60 kg N fed-1). All tested traits substantially responded to variety, and N level and their interaction. Giza 96 was the excelsior variety for producing the highest seed and lint yields surpassing Giza 95 by 14.11 and 9.66%, and Giza 97 by 1.98 and 1.85%, respectively. As expected, cotton plants experienced declined growth due to lowering N rate. While, raising N rates up to 45 kg fed-1, where fertilizing with 45 kg N fed-1+C treatment resulted in significant improvements in cotton yields, reaching increases of 1.62 times in seed yield and 1.74 times in lint yield compared to no N application. It should be noted that under N rates lower than 45 kg N fed-1+C treatment, Giza 97 was the potent variety for out yielding the highest seed and lint yields. According to estimation of yield response index, there is no any variety of the tested cotton varieties was belonging to efficient and responsive to N application. Therefore, it could be concluded that application of N at a rate of 45 is sufficient to fulfill the N requirement of cotton plants intercropped with cowpea. Also, more efforts are needed to breed and develop the Egyptian cotton varieties to be more efficient and responsive to N supply.
T HIS WORK investigates water shortage effects on fifty cotton genotypes to select tolerant genotypes at two seasons (2021-2022), three water treatments were used: well watered, 50% and 75% water shortage, trials were conducted at Sakha Experimental Farm in split-plot arrangement under RCBD, irrigation treatments occupied main plots and sub-plots contained genotypes, results revealed significant differences among genotypes, water treatments and their interactions, genotypes varied significantly under each treatment and over treatments due to their different genetic potential, water shortage treatments significantly reduced most of studied traits, the reduction increased as water shortage increase, the significant G x T interactions mentioned the potential for selecting some drought tolerant genotypes, seven genotypes (G.3, G.4, G.12, G.17, G.35, G.42 and G.43) were defined as the most tolerant genotypes for both water shortage treatments for cotton yields and can be used in hybridization breeding program to improve cotton productivity under drought conditions, contrarily, the tested genotypes were not tolerant for all fiber traits together and selection must be done for each trait separately, almost all of extra-long staple cotton genotypes were most susceptible to water stress in productivity and fiber quality, selection for tolerance to water shortage stress must be practiced under the stress conditions, GGE biplot analysis for seed cotton yield/plant exhibited five genotypes (G.39, G.1, G.25, G.27 and G.48) as the ideal genotypes with the highest yield and stability across water treatments and the well-watered treatment (control) was the ideal treatment, GGE biplot analysis defined five genotypes as ideal genotypes.
The Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) red palm weevil is one of the most devastating hidden palm pests leading to extensive economic damages and endangering ornamental and commercial palms all over the world. Traditional management (where mass trapping is done with pheromones, broad-spectrum insecticides, sanitation, and quarantine) is expensive and may be inadequate due to deep-trunk infestation, which is hard to detect early, and selection pressure due to run-offs of chemical use (residues, non-target effects). Nanotechnology has proved as a complementary technology to crop protection in (i) nano formulation of conventional active ingredients to enhance delivery and persistence, and (ii) as active agents (nano insecticides) or carriers of biopesticides in the form of metal / metal-oxide nanoparticles. This review summarizes the existing evidence base on nanoparticle-based bioinsecticides in the context of RPW management with specific discussion on copper (Cu/CuO), iron oxide (Fe3O4/Fe2O3) and magnesium (MgO/Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles. Synthesis pathways (chemical, physical, and green/biogenic), key characterization parameters governing bioactivity (size, morphology, crystallinity, surface chemistry, and colloidal stability) and the mechanistic pathways of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles on insects (cuticular disruption, ion release, oxidative stress, neuro- and enzyme inhibition, and gut damage) have been reviewed in it. Subsequently describe internationally recognized methods of toxicity testing, such as acute, sublethal bioassays, histopathology, biochemical biomarkers, and non-target and environmental risk assessment. Important research gaps have been mentioned such as standardization, realistic exposure in palms, formulation and delivery within the trunks, and field validation to translate nanoparticle-enabled solutions into safe, effective parts of the integrated pest management (IPM) against RPW.
The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), is a notorious insect pest that affects palm species worldwide. Temperature plays a significant role in regulating the colonization, population dynamics, survival, fecundity, and seasonal abundance of this pest. Therefore, the present study investigated the phenological response of R. ferrugineus under various temperature conditions, specifically 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 degrees C. Observations were focused on the larval developmental period, pupal duration, adult longevity, sex ratio, and fecundity of R. ferrugineus. The newly emerged grubs were provided with a soft portion of sugarcane stem in plastic boxes equipped with mesh tops for ventilation under controlled laboratory conditions. Among the tested temperature regimes, 30 degrees C was found to be the most suitable for the development, survival, and reproduction of R. ferrugineus. The minimum total (71.68%), adult emergence (100%), and adult weevil lifespan (123.40 d for males and 115.29 d for females) were noted at 30 degrees C. However, the maximum fecundity (181.40) was observed at 35 degrees C. In contrast, the longest developmental durations, minimum survival rate, and minimum reproduction were recorded at the lowest temperature (15 degrees C). Overall, the optimum temperature for R. ferrugineus growth and reproduction was approximately 30 degrees C. Lower temperatures (15 degrees C and 20 degrees C) and higher temperature (40 degrees C) were found to be unsuitable, negatively affecting development, survival, and reproduction. These findings will be valuable for developing effective strategies to manage R. ferrugineus.
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a crucial global fibre and oil seed crop faces diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, temperature stress strongly influences its growth, prompting adaptive physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes. In this study, we explored the proteomic changes underscoring the heat stress tolerance in the leaves of two locally developed cotton genotypes, i.e., heat tolerant (GH-Hamaliya Htol) and heat susceptible (CIM-789 Hsus), guided by morpho-physiological and biochemical analysis. These genotypes were sown at two different temperatures, control (35°C) and stress (45°C), in a glasshouse, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. At the flowering stage, a label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics of cotton leaves revealed the differential expression of 701 and 1270 proteins in the tolerant and susceptible genotypes compared to the control, respectively. Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that the heat-tolerant genotype responded uniquely to stress by maintaining the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (25.2-17.5 μmolCO2m-2S-1), chlorophyll (8.5-7.8mg/g FW), and proline contents (4.9-7.4 μmole/g) compared to control, supported by the upregulation of many proteins involved in several pathways, including photosynthesis, oxidoreductase activity, response to stresses, translation, transporter activities, as well as protein and carbohydrate metabolic processes. In contrast, the distinctive pattern of protein downregulation involved in stress response, oxidoreductase activity, and carbohydrate metabolism was observed in susceptible plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proteomic study on cotton leaves that has identified more than 8000 proteins with an array of differentially expressed proteins responsive to the heat treatment that could serve as potential markers in the breeding programs after further experimentation.
