JOURNAL PLANTARUM

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL, CYTOTOXIC AND PHYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF RIBES HIMALENSE DECNE. COLLECTED FROM THANDIANI, ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN

Nimra Zeb — 2026-03-25

A comprehensive study was carried out to demonstrate the antibacterial, cytotoxic and phytotoxic potentials of Ribes himalense Decne. collected from Thandiani, Pakistan. Ethanolic extract from the leaves inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus mutans and Bacillus subtilis, with inhibition zones from 14 to 17 mm. Similarly, the stem extract showed inhibition against the same bacterial strains with inhibition zone between 13 and 18 mm. Phytotoxic studies revealed that leaf extract of 10 μL, caused no growth inhibition, while stem extract showed 10% growth inhibition. Growth inhibition reached 70% for leaves and 100% for stem at 1000 μL. Cytotoxic analysis using lethality of brine shrimp larvae showed that stem extract was more potent than leaf extract at 2000 μg/mL concentration and below, and the cytotoxicity was 90%. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05) confirmed the influence of extract type and concentration across assays. The extracts of R. himalense exhibited significant antibacterial, cytotoxic and phytotoxic activities, which highlight its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceuticals applications.

EFFECT OF POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCL) ON MUNGBEAN SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH

Abdullah Abdullah — 2026-03-25

Potassium is an essential macronutrient that plays a critical role in regulating plant growth, physiological processes and stress tolerance. This study evaluated the effect of potassium chloride (KCl) on the germination, growth performance, biomass allocation, physiological traits, and stress tolerance indices of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) seedlings under potassium chloride application. The experiment was performed under controlled conditions using a completely randomized design with two treatments: control (0 ppm KCl) and KCl at 100 ppm, which were evaluated over four consecutive weeks. Growth, physiological, and tolerance-related parameters, including germination percentage, leaf area, relative water content (RWC), vigor index, biomass ratios, growth analysis traits, and stress tolerance indices, were recorded. The results revealed that KCl application significantly enhanced seedling performance compared to the control. The germination percentage increased by approximately 10–15%, and the leaf area showed an improvement of 18–25% under KCl treatment. The relative water content was enhanced by 12–20%, indicating improved water retention and cellular stability under stress. The vigor index increased by nearly 20–30%, indicating better seedling establishment. Biomass allocation was positively influenced, with root dry weight and root–shoot ratio increasing by 15–22%, suggesting enhanced root system development. Stress tolerance indices for plant height, root length, and biomass parameters were elevated by 35–50%, demonstrating improved growth maintenance under stress conditions. Notably, the root dry weight stress tolerance index reached values up to 150%, indicating the strong adaptive capacity of mungbean seedlings to potassium supplementation. Overall, the application of potassium chloride at 100 ppm KCl markedly improved the growth, physiological performance, and stress tolerance of mungbean seedlings under normal conditions. These findings suggest that K fertilization can be an effective strategy to enhance mungbean resilience and productivity in stress-prone agroecological environments.

INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF ZINC APPLICATION METHODS AND PHOSPHORUS SOURCES ON GROWTH YIELD AND QUALITY OF FINE AND COARSE RICE CULTIVARS

Iqtidarhussain — 2026-03-25

Investigating how zinc application methods interact with phosphorus source types represents a crucial strategy for refining rice yield and grain quality in nutrient-impoverished soils. This field experiment was executed across two consecutive rice-growing seasons (2015–2016) rice season in Tibba Hamid Shah Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan. The study sought to quantify the cumulative effects of three Zn application methods, soil application at 15 kg Zn ha⁻¹, a 1.5% foliar spray, and 1.5% seed priming with three P sources, diammonium phosphate, single super phosphate and nitrophos across two rice cultivars, Basmati-515 (fine grain) and IRRI-6 (coarse grain). A split-plot arrangement with four replicates was employed. Measurements encompassed leaf emergence and tiller emergence rates, days to heading, and allometric variables including leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, and net assimilation rate. Yield determinants such as plant height, total tiller count, number of panicles bearing tillers, kernel count per panicle, 1000-kernel weight, grain and straw yield, and harvest index were recorded. The study further evaluated panicle sterility, kernel protein concentration, and Zn concentration in both grains and leaves, thereby correlating nutrient management strategies with both quantitative and qualitative yield outcomes. The study documented that soil-applied Zn at 15 kg ha⁻¹ combined with DAP as the P component markedly enhanced physiological, agronomic, and quality metrics relative to all alternative treatments. Basmati-515 consistently exceeded IRRI-6 regarding LAI, CGR, final yield, and Zn concentration in the grain. The Zn soil placement augmented yield through increased tiller number, stature, and visible radiation use efficiency, diminished panicle sterility and elevated both grain protein and Zn levels. Foliar applications delivered moderate yield response while seed priming principally fostered seedling vigor and advanced maturity by a few days.

EFFECT OF SEAWEED EXTRACT AND BORON APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L.)

Sherpacha — 2026-03-25

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is an important vegetable crop valued for its nutritional and economic significance. Optimal nutrient management, including micronutrients and natural bio stimulants, plays a key role in enhancing growth and yield. Seaweed extracts and boron have been reported to improve plant physiological processes and yield components in various crops. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar-applied seaweed extract and boron on the growth, yield, and related attributes of okra under field conditions in Peshawar, Pakistan. A field trial was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results indicated that the application of seaweed extract at a concentration of 40 mL L⁻¹ produced the maximum plant height (220.92 cm), highest number of pods per plant (39.26), longest pods (13.94 cm), widest pod diameter (16.73 mm), heaviest pods (13.69 g), highest fresh pod yield (23.61 t ha⁻¹), and the earliest flowering (41.08 days) and first pod harvest (46.25 days). Similarly, boron applied at 0.6% improved plant height (219.92 cm), pod number per plant (37.73), pod length (13.12 cm), enhanced pod diameter (15.42 mm), average pod weight (13.02 g), and fresh pod yield (22.11 t ha⁻¹), while shortening the period to first flowering (44.58 days) and initial harvesting (49.58 days). Overall, the results demonstrated that foliar application of seaweed extract at 40 mL L⁻¹ in combination with 0.6% boron significantly improved vegetative growth and yield attributes of okra. Therefore, this treatment is suggested as an effective practice for okra cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.

NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM PUNJAB AND THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Muhammad Khalid Afzal — 2026-03-25

The medicinal plants can prevent and enhance the potential health of human beings with the nutritional constituents such as fats, proteins and other phytochemical compounds. Since active medicinal constituents are present in plants, 78 percent of drugs have a plant origin. The study aimed to find out the proximate analysis and to ascertain the antibacterial and antifungal properties of five native medicinal plants in Punjab, Pakistan: Convolvulus arvensis, Sesamum indicum, Capparis spinosa, Annona squamosa, and Anethum graveolens. The sample plant levels were analyzed in terms of moisture content, ash, protein, fat and carbohydrate. Agar Diffusion was used to ascertain the anti-microbial activities on bacterial and fungal strains and reveal the presence of 5% Protein and 15% fat content in higher in Convolvulus arvensis and 83.82% carbohydrate content in Sesamum indicum. Moreover, the results of the methanolic extracted plants were constructive against bacterial and fungal strains. Capparis spinosa contained 19.73% moisture content amongst all the selected plant species and had high potential against E. coli at 10mg/ml minimum inhibitive concentration. Convolvulus arvensis and Annona squamosa gave an MIC of 1mg/ml which inhibited Salmonella Typhi. In the antifungal assay, the plant extracts recorded significant results on the fungal strains except Trichoderma. Convolvulus arvensis with MIC of less than 10mg/ml and Anethum graveolens with MIC of less than 10mg/ml were used in antifungal research with positive outcome against acremonium and pythium respectively. The paper ends up with the palm of medicinal plants of Punjab in Pakistan that can be used against microbial infections. Based on the findings, the medicinal plants that were selected provided knowledge of value to human health when used in therapeutic treatment and can be used as a substitute to synthetic medicines in the future.

MOLECULAR MARKER-BASED EVALUATION OF MICRO YIELD TRIAL FOR LEAF RUST AND YELLOW RUST

Shahid Nazir — 2026-03-25

Like in many other wheat-producing regions of the world, Pakistan's wheat crops are susceptible to two common fungal diseases: leaf (Lr) and yellow rust (Yr). The present study was conducted to screen rust resistance potential of 50 advance lines of spring wheat. In this work, DNA markers associated with various genes that provide resistance to leaf rusts and yellow rust were used. A total of 10 genes, consisting of seven Lr (Lr10, Lr19, Lr28, Lr29, Lr34, Lr46, Lr67) and three Yr (Yr5, Yr10, Yr15) were studied through linked DNA markers. Marker Lr10 and SCS265 identified the presence of the Lr10 and Lr 19 gene in 30 and one advance lines out of the 50 advances lines correspondingly, indicating their resistance to leaf rust. Marker SCS421 for Lr 28 and Lr 29 for Lr 29 amplified in 34 and 50 wheat advance lines. Marker csLV34 and XMC44 detected the presence of the Lr34/YR18/Pm38 and Lr46/YR29/Pm39 gene in 5 and 13 lines respectively. The Yr-5/Yr43 and Yr 10 genes were detected in 9 and 31 wheat lines by Wms501 and Xpsp3000, suggesting that these lines may be resistant to rust. There was no amplification of markers CFD 23 for Lr67/Yr46/Sr55/ and Xgwm413 for Yr 15 in any wheat line. This particular subset of wheat lines, including AKHBAR-19, 10141, V-20330, PGMB-20-48, V-19080, INDUS-21, NR-564, and WVH-1214, attributed to selective breeding practices or spontaneous allelic accumulation.

First report of Cladosporium cladosporioides on Mulberry in Pakistan: Expanding its host range

Najam ul Sehar Afshan — 2026-03-27

Cladosporium, commonly occurring fungal pathogen results in the losses of commercially significant plants. Different diseased plants were collected during phytopathogenic surveys conducted in Lahore. Morpho-anatomical, culturing and molecular techniques revealed the occurrence of Cladosporium cladosporioides on Morus alba. The results were supported by sequencing of ITS region of DNA. Morus alba is being recorded here as a new host plant for C. cladosporioides. This investigation may be helpful for taxonomic study of the genus Cladosporium, a cosmopolitan saprophytic and pathogenic fungus. This investigation may be helpful for taxonomic study of the genus Cladosporium, a cosmopolitan saprophytic and pathogenic fungus.