Abstract: Background: Parthenium hysterophorus L. is one of the top ten worst weeds globally and is recorded in the global database of invasive species. Objective: The current study was aimed to evaluate the herbicidal potential of Alternaria brassicicola (Schwein.) Wiltshire and Alternaria gaisen Nagano. culture filtrates against a problematic weed P. hysterophorus. Methods: A. brassicicola and A. gaisen culture filtrates were tested in vitro against the test weed. A. gaisen culture filtrates were found most effective against the test weed, and this test fungus was partitioned with various fractions viz. n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol were isolated. In vitro bioactivity of these fractions were tested against P. hysterophorus. The most productive n-hexane fraction was subjected to GC-MS analysis, and thirteen compounds were identified. Results: A. gaisen original (100%) and diluted (50%) culture filtrates showed significant herbicidal activity against P. hysterophorus. However, culture filtrates of A. gaisen suppressed the germination, root and shoot growth of the test weed to a greater extent compared with culture filtrates of A. brassicicola . Original culture filtrates of A. gaisen significantly reduced germination of P. hysterophorus by 88% as compared to diluted concentration by 56% in comparison with control. On the other hand, original and diluted culture filtrates of A. brassicicola reduced the germination of P. hysterophorus by 69% and 50%, respectively, over control treatment. The n-hexane fraction was found more effective in suppressing the P. hysterophorus growth as compared to other fractions. Both 0.10% and 0.05% concentrations of n-hexane fraction significantly inhibited P. hysterophorus seedlings germination by 88% and 81%, respectively. The n-hexane fraction was subjected to GC-MS analysis, and thirteen compounds were identified. Among these, ocimene (27.63%); benzene 1-ethyl-3-methyl-(20.30%) and n-hexadecanoic acid (10.27%) were major compounds. Conclusion: The present study concludes that A. gaisen culture filtrate has substantial herbicidal potential against P. hysterophorous.

Abstract Background Fluoroquinolones are the backbone of multidrug resistant tuberculosis treatment regimens. Despite the high burden of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in the country, little is known about drug resistance patterns, prevalence, and predictors of fluoroquinolones resistance among multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients from Pakistan. Objective To evaluate drug resistance patterns, prevalence, and predictors of fluoroquinolones resistance in multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a programmatic management unit of drug resistant tuberculosis, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty-three newly diagnosed multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients consecutively enrolled for treatment at study site from January 1, 2012 to July 28, 2013 were included in the study. A standardized data collection form was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic, microbiological, and clinical data. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis. Results High degree of drug resistance (median 5 drugs, range 2–8) was observed. High proportion of patients was resistant to all five first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (62.6%), and more than half were resistant to second line drugs (55.1%). The majority of the patients were ofloxacin resistant (52.7%). Upon multivariate analysis previous tuberculosis treatment at private (OR = 1.953, p = 0.034) and public private mix (OR = 2.824, p = 0.046) sectors were predictors of ofloxacin resistance. Conclusion The high degree of drug resistance observed, particularly to fluoroquinolones, is alarming. We recommend the adoption of more restrictive policies to control non-prescription sale of fluoroquinolones, its rational use by physicians, and training doctors in both private and public–private mix sectors to prevent further increase in fluoroquinolones resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a well known allelopathic plant species. However, Pakistani farmers generally incorporate the sunflower residue in the soil with the aim to enhance soil fertility and organic matter. Field experiments were, therefore, carried out to evaluate the effect of sunflower residue incorporation on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. For rice crop, there were four treatments viz. control, sunflower residue incorporation (RI), NPK fertilizers, and NPK+RI. Two rice varieties (Basmati Pak and Basmati Super) were cultivated. Incorporation of sunflower residue markedly reduced plant growth and yield in ’Basmati Pak’. There was 34% reduction in yield of this variety due to RI. ’Basmati Super’ was tolerant to sunflower allelopathy, where the effect of RI was generally insignificant on plant growth and grain yield. Two commonly cultivated varieties of wheat (Inqalab 91 and Punjab 96) were sown in the same plots after harvesting the rice, without any addition of either RI or NPK. In ’Punjab 96’, the effect of RI or RI+NPK was insignificant on grain yield. In contrast, in ’Inqalab 91’, RI in combination with NPK fertilizers significantly reduced the grain yield by 41% as compared to NPK alone. The present study concluded that rice ’Basmati Super’ and wheat ’Punjab 96’ are suitable for cultivation under sunflower allelopathic stress.

El girasol (Helianthus annuus L.) es una planta alelopática bien conocida. Sin embargo, los agricultores de Paquistán generalmente incorporan el residuo de girasol en el suelo con el objetivo de mejorar la fertilidad y la materia orgánica del suelo. Los experimentos de campo se realizaron para evaluar el efecto de la incorporation de residuos de girasol en el crecimiento y production de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) y trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) subsecuente. Para el cultivo de arroz hubo cuatro tratamientos viz. Control, incorporation de residuo de girasol (RI), fertilizantes NPK, y NPK+RI. Se cultivaron dos variedades de arroz (Basmati Pak y Basmati Super). La incorporation de residuo de girasol redujo marcadamente crecimiento de planta y production en ’Basmati Pak’. Hubo una reduction de 34% en production de esta variedad debida a RI. ’Basmati Super’ fue tolerante a alelopatía del girasol, siendo el efecto de RI generalmente insignificante en crecimiento de planta y production de grano. Dos variedades comúnmente cultivadas de trigo (Inqalab 91 y Punjab 96) se sembraron en las mismas parcelas después de cosechar el arroz, sin adicion de RI o NPK. En ’Punjab 96’, el efecto de RI o RI+NPK fue insignificante en rendimiento de grano. En contraste, en ’Inqalab 91’, RI+NPK redujo significativamente la production de grano, 41% comparado con NPK solo. El presente estudio concluyo que el arroz ’Basmati Super’ y trigo ’Punjab 96’ son apropiados para cultivo bajo estrés alelopático de girasol.

Herbicidal activity of culture filtrates of four Drechslera spp., namely D. australiensis (Bugnic.) Subram. & B.L. Jain, D. biseptata (Sacc. & Roum.) M.J. Richardson & E.M. Fraser, D. hawaiiensis Bugnic. ex M.B. Ellis, and D. holmii (Luttr.) Subram. & P.C. Jain, prepared in malt extract broth was investigated against parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) in both laboratory bioassays and pots. In laboratory bioassays, the effect of original (100%) and diluted (50%) culture filtrates of the four Drechslera spp. was studied on parthenium germination and seedling growth in 90 mm diameter Petri plates. Original culture filtrate of all the four Drechslera species significantly reduced germination, shoot length, shoot fresh biomass, root length, and root fresh biomass of parthenium seedlings by 43 to 77%, 77 to 82%, 69 to 82%, 90 to 92%, and 67 to 83%, respectively, as compared to the control. In pot trials, foliar application of original fungal culture filtrates was carried out on 1-wk and 2-wk old parthenium seedlings. Culture filtrates of all the four Drechslera spp., except D. holmii, markedly reduced parthenium shoot dry weight. Two-week-old plants were more susceptible to foliar spray than the 1-wk old plants. There was a 13 to 55% and 28 to 65% reduction in shoot dry weight of 1-wk and 2-wk old parthenium plants, respectively, due to culture filtrates of various Drechslera spp. The present study concludes that Drechslera spp. culture filtrates can be used as alternative herbicides for parthenium weed management.

Se investigó la actividad herbicida de filtrados de cultivos de cuatro especies de Drechslera spp., i.e. D. australiensis (Bugnic.) Subram. & B.L. Jain, D. biseptata (Sacc. & Roum.) M.J. Richardson & E.M. Fraser, D. hawaiiensis Bugnic. ex M.B. Ellis, and D. holmii (Luttr.) Subram. & PC. Jain, preparados en caldo de extracto de malta contra la maleza Parthenium hysterophorus L. en bioensayos de laboratorio y en macetas. En los bioensayos de laboratorio se estudió el efecto de filtrado de cultivo original (100%) y diluido (50%) de Drechslera spp. en la germinación y crecimiento de plántulas de parthenium en placas Petri de 90 mm. El filtrado de cultivo original de las cuatro especies Drechslera redujo significativamente germinación, longitud de brote, biomasa fresca de brote, longitud de raíz, y biomasa fresca de raíz de plántulas de parthenium en 43-77%, 77-82%, 69-82%, 90-92% y 6783%, respectivamente, comparado con control. En ensayos en maceta, la aplicación foliar de filtrados de cultivos fúngicos originales se realizó en plántulas de parthenium de 1 y 2 semanas de edad. Filtrados de cultivo de todas las especies, excepto D. holmii, redujeron marcadamente el peso seco de brote de parthenium. Plantas de 2 semanas de edad fueron más susceptibles a aspersión foliar que aquellas de 1 semana. Hubo reducción de 13-55% y 2865% en peso seco de brote de plantas de 1 y 2 semanas de edad, respectivamente, debido a filtrado de cultivo de diversas Drechslera. El presente estudio concluyó que los filtrados de cultivo de Drechslera spp. pueden usarse como herbicidas alternativos para el manejo de parthenium.

Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) is a problematic weed of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Pakistan. The present study was designed to evaluate the herbicidal activity of culture filtrates of four Trichoderma spp., namely T. harzianum, T. pseudokoningii, T. reesei and T. viride, against this weed species. In a laboratory bioassay, original (100%) and diluted (50%) culture filtrates of T. harzianum and T. pseudokoningii significantly reduced shoot and root growth of A. fatua seedlings. Only original culture filtrates of T. reesei exhibited significant effects, while the effect of filtrates of T. viride was insignificant against shoot and root growth of the target weed species. Generally, original concentrations of culture filtrates of all Trichoderma spp., except T. harzianum, significantly reduced various parameters of root and shoot growth of wheat seedlings. In foliar spray bioassay, pot-grown 1-wk and 2-wk old A. fatua and wheat seedlings were sprayed with 100% culture filtrates of the four Trichoderma spp. thrice with 5 d interval each. Culture filtrates of all except T. viride significantly diminished root and shoot biomass of A. fatua plants in 1-wk old plants. The effect of foliar spray on root and shoot growth of wheat was insignificant. Present study concludes that metabolites of T. harzianum, T. reesei and T. pseudokoningii contain herbicidal constituents for the management of A. fatua.

La avena silvestre (Avena fatua L.) es una maleza problemática del trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) en Paquistán. El presente estudio se diseñó para evaluar la actividad de filtrados de cultivos de cuatro Trichoderma spp.: T. harzianum, T. pseudokoningii, T. reesei y T. viride, contra esta especie. En un bioensayo de laboratorio, filtrados de cultivos originales (100%) y diluidos (50%) de T. harzianum and T. pseudokoningii redujeron significativamente el crecimiento de brotes y raíces de plántulas de A fatua. Sólo los filtrados de cultivos originales de T. reesei exhibieron efecto significativo mientras el efecto de filtrados de T. viride fue insignificante contra el crecimiento de brotes y raíces de la maleza. Las concentraciones originales de filtrados de todos los cultivos de Trichoderma spp. excepto T.harzianum redujeron significativamente varios parámetros de crecimiento de brotes y raíces de plántulas de trigo. En el bioensayo de aspersión foliar, plántulas de A. fatua y trigo de 1 y 2 semanas de edad cultivadas en macetas se asperjaron con filtrados de cultivo 100% de las cuatro especies de Trichoderma tres veces con 5 d de intervalo cada uno. Los filtrados de cultivo de todos excepto T. viride redujeron significativamente la biomasa de raíces y brotes de plantas de A. fatua en plantas de 1 semana de edad. El efecto de la aspersión foliar sobre el crecimiento de raíces y brotes de trigo fue insignificante. El presente estudio concluye que los metabolitos de T. harzianum, T. reesei y T. pseudokoningii contienen constituyentes herbicidas para el manejo de A. fatua.

This pot study investigated the effect of the combined application of two commercial biofertilizers viz. Biopower and EM (Effective Microorganisms) on rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and yield in soils amended with farmyard manure, green manure, and NPK fertilizers. Biopower is a product of the Nuclear Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Pakistan, which contains species of associative and endophytic diazotrophs. EM (effective microorganisms), a product developed by Japanese scientists, consists of co-existing beneficial microorganisms, mainly species of photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, as well as yeast. Applying Biopower adversely affected plant growth and yield in NPK fertilizer amendment. Conversely, this biofertilizer markedly enhanced plant growth and yield in green manure amended soil while its effect was not significant in farmyard manure amendment. In green manure amendment, applying EM enhanced grain yield by 46%. Co-inoculation of Biopower and EM evidently improved root and shoot growth in farmyard manure amended soil. This study concludes that the two biofertilizers clearly enhanced shoot biomass and grain yield in green manure amended soils.

El presente estudio en macetas fue realizado para investigar el efecto de la aplicación combinada de dos biofertilizantes comerciales, Biopower y EM (Effective Microorganisms), en el crecimiento y producción de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) en suelos enmendados con estiércol de granja, abono verde y fertilizantes NPK. Biopower es un producto del Nuclear Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Pakistán, que contiene especies de diazótrofos asociativos y endofíticos. Effective Microorganisms es un producto desarrollado por científicos japoneses que consiste en microorganismos benéficos co-existentes, principalmente especies de bacterias fotosintéticas y ácido lácticas, y levadura. La aplicación de Biopower afectó adversamente el crecimiento y producción vegetal en enmienda de fertilizante NPK. Inversamente, este biofertilizante mejoró marcadamente el crecimiento y producción vegetal en suelo enmendado con abono verde mientras en enmienda con estiércol de granja su efecto fue insignificante. En enmienda con estiércol verde, la aplicación de EM mejoró el rendimiento de grano en 46%. Co-inoculación de Biopower y EM mejoró marcadamente el crecimiento radical y de brotes en suelo enmendado con estiércol de granja. El presente estudio concluye que los dos biofertilizantes mejoraron marcadamente la biomasa de brotes y rendimiento de grano en suelos enmendados con abono verde.