Quorum sensing activity of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Serratia glossinae GS2 isolated from the sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) rhizosphere

Jung, B. K.,Khan, A. R.,Hong, S. J.,Park, G. S.,Park, Y. J.,Kim, H. J.,Jeon, H. J.,Khan, M. A.,Waqas, M.,Lee, I. J. UNIV. OF MILAN DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND MICR 2017 ANNALS OF MICROBIOLOGY Vol.67 No.9

<P>Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) affect plant growth through various mechanisms, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, and biofilm formation. The aim of the study reported here was to isolate and characterize rhizobacteria that produce quorum-sensing signal molecules and other PGPR-related molecules. A biofilm-forming bacterium, GS2, was isolated from the rhizosphere of a sesame plant and subsequently found to produce two quorum-sensing signal molecules that were identified as N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (m/z 200) and N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (m/z 228) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The strain was also found to produce IAA (17.2 mu g mL(-1)), gibberellins (113.7 mu g mL(-1)), and ACC deaminase (9.7 mu M alpha-ketobutyrate mg(-1) protein h(-1)). The strain was identified as Serratia glossinae based on a comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Inoculation of the strain promoted growth of a gibberellin-deficient rice dwarf mutant (Waito-C). Different growth attributes, including shoot and root elongation, chlorophyll content, and plant weight could be attributed to the PGPR characteristics of strain GS2. These results suggest that S. glossinae strain GS2 can serve as a microbial agent that improves plant growth.</P>

Additive effects due to biochar and endophyte application enable soybean to enhance nutrient uptake and modulate nutritional parameters

Waqas, M.,Kim, Y. H.,Khan, A. L.,Shahzad, R.,Asaf, S.,Hamayun, M.,Kang, S. M.,Khan, M. A.,Lee, I. J. Springer Science + Business Media 2017 Journal of Zhejiang University. Science B. Biomedi Vol.18 No.2

<P>We studied the effects of hardwood-derived biochar (BC) and the phytohormone-producing endophyte Galactomyces geotrichum WLL1 in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with respect to basic, macro- and micronutrient uptakes and assimilations, and their subsequent effects on the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging activity. The assimilation of basic nutrients such as nitrogen was up-regulated, leaving carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen unaffected in BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean plants. In comparison, the uptakes of macro- and micronutrients fluctuated in the individual or co-application of BC and G. geotrichum in soybean plant organs and rhizospheric substrate. Moreover, the same attribute was recorded for the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and DPPH-scavenging activity. Collectively, these results showed that BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean yielded better results than did the plants treated with individual applications. It was concluded that BC is an additional nutriment source and that the G. geotrichum acts as a plant biostimulating source and the effects of both are additive towards plant growth promotion. Strategies involving the incorporation of BC and endophytic symbiosis may help achieve eco-friendly agricultural production, thus reducing the excessive use of chemical agents.</P>

Salvaging effect of triacontanol on plant growth, thermotolerance, macro-nutrient content, amino acid concentration and modulation of defense hormonal levels under heat stress

Waqas, M.,Shahzad, R.,Khan, A.L.,Asaf, S.,Kim, Y.H.,Kang, S.M.,Bilal, S.,Hamayun, M.,Lee, I.J. Gauthier-Villars ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2016 Vol. No.

<P>In this study, it was hypothesized that application of triacontanol, a ubiquitous saturated primary alcohol, at different times-before (TBHS), mid (TMHS), and after (TAHS) heat stress-will extend heat stress (HS) protection in mungbean. The effect of triacontanol on the levels of defense hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) was investigated along with the plant growth promotion, nutrient and amino acid content with and without heat stress. Heat stress caused a prominent reduction in plant growth attributes, nutrient and amino acid content, which were attributed to the decreased level of ABA and JA. However, application of triacontanol, particularly in the TBHS and TMHS treatments, reversed the deleterious effects of HS by showing increased ABA and JA levels that favored the significant increase in plant growth attributes, enhanced nutrient content, and high amount of amino acid. TAHS, a short-term application of triacontanol, also significantly increased ABA and JA levels and thus revealed important information of its association with hormonal modulation. The growth-promoting effect of triacontanol was also confirmed under normal growth conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the beneficial effects of triacontanol, with or without heat stress, on mungbean and its interaction with or regulation of the levels of defense hormones. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.</P>

Modification of the structural and electrical properties of graphene layers by Pt adsorbates

Iqbal, M Waqas,Iqbal, M Zahir,Khan, M Farooq,Jin, Xiaozhan,Hwang, Chanyong,Eom, Jonghwa TaylorFrancis 2014 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol.15 No.5

<P>The properties of graphene are strongly affected by metal adsorbates and clusters on graphene. Here, we study the effect of a thin layer of platinum (Pt) metal on exfoliated single, bi- and trilayer graphene and on chemical vapor deposition-grown single-layer graphene by using Raman spectroscopy and transport measurements. The Raman spectra and transport measurements show that Pt affects the structure as well as the electronic properties of graphene. The shift of peak frequencies, intensities and widths of the Raman bands were analyzed after the deposition of Pt with different thicknesses (1, 3, 5 nm) on the graphene. The shifts in the G and 2D peak positions of the Raman spectra indicate the n-type doping effect by the Pt metal. The doping effect was also confirmed by gate-voltage dependent resistivity measurements. The doping effect by the Pt metal is stable under ambient conditions, and the doping intensity increases with the increasing Pt deposition without inducing a severe degradation of the charge carrier mobility.</P>

Foliar application of methyl jasmonate induced physio-hormonal changes in Pisum sativum under diverse temperature regimes

Shahzad, R.,Waqas, M.,Khan, A.L.,Hamayun, M.,Kang, S.M.,Lee, I.J. Gauthier-Villars ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2015 Vol. No.

Global climate change brings with it unwarranted shifts in both abiotic (heat stress, cold stress, wind, precipitation) and biotic (pathogens, pests) environmental factors, thus posing a threat to agricultural productivity across the world. In plants, lodging due to storms or herbivory causes wounding stress and consequently enhances endogenous jasmonates. In response, the plant growth is arrested as plant defense is prioritized. We pre-treated pea plants with elevated methyl jasmonate (MeJA) levels i.e. 50 μM, 100 μM and 200 μM under controlled growth chamber conditions. The pre-treated plants were then kept at 40 <SUP>o</SUP>C (heat stress-HS), 4 <SUP>o</SUP>C (cold stress-CS) and 20 <SUP>o</SUP>C (optimum/control temperature-OT) for 72 h. The effect of such treatments on plant growth attributes, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, cell death rate, and regulation of endogenous hormones were observed. Elevated MeJA application hindered plant growth attributes under HS, CS and OT conditions. Moreover, elevated MeJA levels lowered the rate of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, induced stomatal closure, caused higher cells mortality in leaves under HS, CS, and OT conditions. Endogenous ABA contents significantly declined in all MeJA treatments under HS and OT, but increased under CS conditions. Exogenous MeJA enhanced endogenous jasmonic acid contents of pea plants, but altered endogenous salicylic acid contents under varying temperatures. Current study shows that higher concentrations of exogenous MeJA strengthen plant defense mechanism by hindering plant growth under stress conditions.

Enterobacter sp. I-3 배양액 처리에 따른 Cyperus microiria 잡초발아억제와 생장억제 효과

박재만(Park, J. M.),김윤하(Y. H. Kim),강상모(S. M. Kang),라말링감 라다크리샨(Radhakrishnan. R),무하메드 와카즈(Waqas. M),이석민(S. M. Lee),샤흐쟈드 라힘(R. Shahzad),금보라(B. R. Gum),김민성(M. S. Kim),이인중(I. J. Lee) 한국잡초학회 2014 한국잡초학회 별책(학술대회 초록집) Vol.34 No.1

A review on nutritional composition, health benefits, and technological interventions for improving consumer acceptability of camel meat: an ethnic food of Middle East

Waqas N. Baba,Nuzhat Rasool,M. Selvamuthukumara,Sajid Maqsood 한국식품연구원 2021 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.8 No.-

Camel meat is an ethnic food consumed across the arid regions of Middle East and North-East Africa. It can be a potential alternative red meat for human consumption worldwide. Camel meat is nutritionally as good as any conventional meat source, in fact has an edge over beef or lamb due to its low intramuscular fat, low cholesterol content, and high iron content. Camel meat quality is a function of age, breed, and type of muscle consumed. Various techniques such as aging, low-temperature storage, and pre-treatment with antioxidants improve the quality and shelf life of camel meat. Active packaging and fermentation are promising techniques to improve consumer acceptance and shelf-life of camel meat. Very limited research is available about the use of novel pre-treatments, packaging, and processing techniques that can improve the consumer acceptability of camel meat. Due to restricted use of camel meat and its products to ethnic regions, a review highlighting the nutritional potential and strategies to improve the quality of camel meat and its products may enhance its global acceptance as an alternative source of red meat.

Trends in integrated pest management strategies for the control of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) caterpillars on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Waqas WAKIL,Muhammad ASHFAQ,권용정,M. U. GHAZANFAR 한국곤충학회 2009 Entomological Research Vol.39 No.1

A study was carried out at the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan to integrate different control measures against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) on chickpea, to minimize the use of hazardous insecticides and develop an eco-friendly management program. Cultural (weeding), mechanical (hand picking), biological (release of Trichogramma chilonis), microbial (spraying of Bacillus thruingiensis) and chemical (Steward) control practices were applied three times at 10 day intervals individually and also in various combinations. The application of Steward proved most effective when applied alone, with 0.41 larvae/plant, pod infestation of 9.31% and the highest grain yield (1203.66 g/plot); however, the integration of weeding, hand picking and Steward proved to be the most effective in reducing the larval population (0.12 larvae/plant) with minimum pod infestation (5.45%) on variety CM-2000, which resulted in the maximum grain yield (1260.33 g/plot). The cost–enefit ratio in the treatment where Steward was applied alone was 1:2.20, and it was 1:3.53 where weeding and hand picking practices were integrated.

Occurrence and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in cultivated and uncultivated soils in Pakistan

Waqas Wakil,M. Usman GHAZANFAR,Tahira RIASAT,권용정,Mirza Abdul QAYYUM,Muhammad YASIN 한국곤충학회 2013 Entomological Research Vol.43 No.1

The distribution of entomopathogenic fungi in various geographical areas of Punjab, Pakistan, is poorly understood. The present study was planned to explore the occurrence and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi from soils collected from cultivated and non‐cultivated habitats. The detailed survey of different habitats (crop fields, fruits, vegetables, forests) was conducted to collect soil samples and the associated fungi were isolated using Galleria bait method. Among 210 soil samples, 168 fungal isolates were recovered and identified, with 98 from forests, 32 from vegetables, 30 from field crops and 8 from fruits. The major entomopathogenic fungi recovered from these samples were Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces lilacinus, B. brongniartii, P. chlamydosporia and Lecanicillium attenuatum. The diversity of entomopathogenic fungi was greater in soil samples from forests compared to crop fields, vegetables and fruits, respectively. The geographical attributes (altitude, longitude, latitude) greatly influenced the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi with the highest number of isolates found from >600 m altitude, 33°–34′N latitude, and 73°74′E longitude from soil samples. The results of the surveys clearly indicated that the entomopathogenic fungi are distributed in the soils which may be used in successful IPM programs in future.

Diagnosis and Management of Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Waqas Ullah,Maryam Mukhtar,Hafez Mohammad Abdullah,Mamoon Ur Rashid,Asrar Ahmad,Abu Hurairah,Usman Sarwar,Vincent M. Figueredo 대한심장학회 2019 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.49 No.5

The objective of this study was to analyze the three different management modalities for isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection. We did a comprehensive literature search and found 703 articles on the initial search, out of which 111 articles consisting of 145 patients were selected for analysis. The mean age was 55.7 years (standard deviation,9.7;33–85) and 80.6% were male. These patients were managed conservatively (41.3%), endovascularly (28.1%) or surgically (30%). The median follow-up was 10 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4–18 months), 12 months (IQR, 6–19 months) and 14 months (IQR, 6–20 months) respectively. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was the most commonly used diagnostic tool in the conservative group (43.8%), while conventional CT scan was the most widely used in endovascular (58.1%) and surgical group (50%). 17% percent of the conservative group had SMA angiography for diagnosis, while this was less than 3% in the other groups. Of these patients, 96.7%, 97.4%, and 100.0% recovered successfully in the conservative, endovascular, and surgical groups respectively. There was no significant difference in the mortality between the three groups (Pearson χ2=0.482). This suggests a conservative and endovascular approach could be used in most patients, which can reduce costs and surgery-related morbidity and mortality. Surgical management should be reserved for cases having infarction or widespread bowel ischemia and in cases where other treatment modalities fail.