The genus Fusarium includes a number of pathogenic species which are distributed worldwide and causes disease on both cereal and non-cereal hosts. Pathogenicity of Fusarium spp is associated with the production of different toxins mainly fumonisin B1 (FB1). In addition to causing pathogenicity in crops, fumonisin B also contaminate food which causes severe diseases in animals and humans. The potential of the genus Bacillus to antagonize phytopathogens is associated with the production of cyclic lipopeptides. The most common lipopeptides produced by Bacillus species include surfactin, iturin and fengycin, among which surfactin is effective against multiple pathogens. Depending upon the type of lipopeptides, they may serve as biocontrol agents which are eco-friendly and alternative as chemical pesticide replacement. The present study was designed to get insight and depth of knowledge of interaction of fumonisin B1 with surfactin producing Bacillus species. For this purpose the fumonisin B1 was purified from Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium oxysporum through HPLC and FB1 presence was confirmed through LCMS. Biosurfactant activity of Bacillus spp. was characterized; their motility and biofilm formation capabilities were studied. In addition, we extracted lipopeptides from these bacteria to assess their antifungal activities and analyzed these products by mass spectrometry (MS). B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42, Bacillus sp. NH 217 and B. subtilis NH100exhibited excellent biosurfactant and surface spreading activities, whereas B. atrophaeus 176s and Paenibacillus polymyxa C1225 showed moderate activity, and B. subtilis 168 showed no activity. Strains FZB42, NH-100, NH-217, 176s and CC125 exhibited excellent biofilm formation capabilities. Lipopeptide extracts displayed good antifungal activity against various phytopathogens and their associated diseases, such as Fusarium moniliforme (rice bakanae disease), Fusarium oxysporum (root rot), Fusarium solani (root rot) and Trichoderma atroviride (ear rot and root rot). Lipopeptide extracts of these strains also showed hemolytic activity, demonstrating their strong potential to produce biosurfactants. LCMS-ESI analyses identified the presence of surfactin, iturin and fengycin in the extracts of Bacillus strains. Biologically active surfactin fractions were purified by HPLC and surfactin Avarients with chain lengths from C12 to C16 were confirmed by LCMS-ESI. In haemolytic assay, a positive correlation between surfactin A production and halo zone formation was observed. Purified surfactin A had strong antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. solani, Trichoderma atroviride and T. reesei. Maximum fungal growth suppression (84%) was recorded at 2000 ppm against F. moniliforme. Surfactin A retained antifungal activity at different pH (5-9) and temperatures (20, 50 and 121°C). The surfactin producing FZB42, NH-100 exhibited high resistance against different concentrations (2, 5, 7, 9 and 12 ppm) of FB1 as compared to NH-217 and 176s strains. There was negative correlation between surfactin production and FB1 concentration. Expression analysis of srf A in the presence of a F. moniliforme supernatant showed that gene encoding srf A in B. subtilis NH-100 and B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 was upregulated at 24 h time point and down regulated at 48 h. Biocontrol activity of surfactin producing Bacillus (SPB) strains NH-100, NH-217 and their purified surfactin A was also evaluated against rice bakanae disease. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted to determine the biocontrol activity of SPB strains and their purified surfactinA on rice super basmati. Surfactin production in the rice rhizosphere was detected by LCMS-ESI at early growth stages in hydroponics experiment inoculated with SPB strains. However, maximum yield was observed with consortium of SPB strains (T4) and purified surfactin A (T5) treatments in the pot experiment. The outcomes of present study revealed that surfactin A significantly reduced rice bakanae disease up to 80%. These findings suggest that purified surfactin A could be effective biocontrol agent against bakanae disease of rice, intended for its incorporated practice in strategies of disease management. Thus, the SPB strains assayed in this study show potential as biocontrol agents against various phytopathogens especially Fusarium species responsible for serious economic losses.
پوتا، مفتی عتیق الرحمن عثمانی بُرہان اورندوۃ المصنّفین کے احباب کویہ معلوم کرکے صدمہ ہوگا کہ گزشتہ ماہ دسمبر کی ۷؍ تاریخ کومولانا مفتی عتیق الرحمن صاحب عثمانی کااکلوتا پوتا دس برس کی عمر میں تین چاردن کی علالت کے بعد سب کو داغِ مفارقت دے گیا۔بچّہ نہایت ذہین وطباع اورہونہار تھا،تعلیم بھی بہت اعلیٰ پیمانہ پر ہورہی تھی، ایک نہیں کئی کئی گھروں کاچشم وچراغ اور رونقِ خانہ تھا۔ موت برحق ہے لیکن اُس غنچۂ ناشگفتہ کوکیاکہیے جس نے عالمِ آب و گِل میں داخل ہوکر ابھی زندگی کا ارمان کیاہی تھا کہ موت کے دستِ ستم نے اُس کوخوابِ عدم میں پہنچا دیا۔ اناﷲ واناالیہ راجعون۔ اللھم اجعلہ لنا اجراً وذخراً وشافعاً ومشفعاً۔ [جنوری ۱۹۶۷ء]
This research article explores the rationale behind Islamic injunctions regarding inheritance. Unlike other Islamic injunctions, which are briefly enunciated in the Quran but elaborated in Sunnah, inheritance has been detailed in considerable length in the Quranic text itself. This coupled with numerous Prophetic traditions underpins the unique importance Islam accords to the question of inheritance. However, despite its exceptional importance, the subject of Islamic law of inheritance remains mostly a neglected one, even among the students of Islamic seminaries and Ulema. Resultantly, Islam’s brilliant system of inheritance is often not implemented by the adherents of Islam, much to the miseries and hardships of the legal heirs, especially the children and women. Thus these marginalized segments of society are deprived of their rights today just as they were treated before the advent of Islam. This research brings home the fact that the divinely ordained Islamic injunctions of inheritance are based on sound rationale and justification in the best interest of humanity, and that the believers must adhere to these injunctions that are based on three key principles: proximity in relationship, need, and distribution of wealth. The paper explains in great length the types of relatives and legal heirs, the principles of distribution among them, the justification for such shares, and the limits imposed by Quran and Sunnah with regard to the right of the deceased, the heirs, relatives and the state. It also discusses some of the contentious issues in contemporary debate on Islam: an orphan grandson’s title to inheritance, and the philosophy behind 2: 1 inheritance distribution formula between son and daughter. In doing so, the author has not only relied on the main sources of Islamic jurisprudence viz. Quran and Sunnah, in addition to classical and modern Islamic scholarship but also sound argumentation and logical exposition.
Soil salinity is a worldwide problem which not only influences the physical and chemical properties of soil but may also seriously affect the microbiological properties of soil. This project was undertaken to assess the behavior of various microbiological properties of soil in relation to salinity in a series of incubation and pot experiments during 2009-12. Initially the soil microbiological properties of thirty naturally occurring diverse salt affected soils were determined. Based on the results of preliminary experiments, further experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of NaCl and MgCl 2 induced salinity on N dynamics and soil microbial activity in soil. Finally, a pot experiment was conducted to assess the effect of important amendments such as pressmud, gypsum and farmyard manure, which are normally used for the reclamation of salt affected soils, on growth of wheat and maize and on various microbial attributes in a highly saline-sodic soil (EC 20.3 dS m -1 ). In addition, some bacteria and fungi were isolated from a highly saline-sodic soil, and the effects of same organisms were also tested in the above experiment. For experiment 1, soil samples at 0-20 cm were collected from various salt affected soils ranged in salinity from EC < 4.0 to 32 dS m -1 in November 2009. The samples were analyzed for soil microbiological (such as microbial biomass-C, microbial biomass-N, N mineralization, nitrification, rate of soil respiration) and chemical properties (such as pH, EC, soluble Ca+Mg, soluble Na, SAR (sodium adsorption ratio), ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage), carbonates, bicarbonates, chloride). The results showed that almost all microbial indices including microbial biomass-C (MBC), microbial biomass-N (MBN), basal soil respiration, nitrification and net N mineralization were negatively correlated with increasing salinity (r = -0.89, -0.74, - 0.79, -0.64 and -0.57 respectively). The results further showed that the depressive effects of SAR and ESP on various soil microbial indices were much stronger than that of carbonates and bicarbonates. Both NaCl and MgCl 2 induced salinity significantly reduced the rate of CO 2 evolution and N mineralization during all xiiiincubation periods. The depressive effects increased with increase in salts level. The NaCl induced salinity depressed cumulative CO 2 production by about 80% and N mineralization by 50% during 40 days of incubation. Whereas MgCl 2 induced salinity decreased cumulative CO 2 production by 95% and N mineralization by 81% during 30 days of incubation. These results suggested that the impact of MgCl 2 salinity on microbial indices was stronger than that of NaCl. The amendment of saline-sodic soil with pressmud, gypsum and farmyard manure (FYM) significantly improved the rate of CO 2 evolution, N mineralization, microbial biomass-C and microbial biomass-N. The effects were more pronounced with combined application of pressmud with farmyard manure or gypsum. It was also evident that the effect of pressmud + FYM was further improved with microbial inoculation of microbial isolation from highly salt affected soil. Organic matter decomposition generally increases the production of CO 2 and liberation of H + ions. The H + ion enhance the dissolution of CaCO 3 and releases more Ca to replace Na from clay particles and thus helps in the reclamation of saline-sodic soils. Both wheat and maize seeds failed to germinate under the prevailing saline-sodic conditions despite repeated re-seeding and thus no data was generated in this respect. These results suggested that all microbial indices decreased significantly with increasing salinity levels indicating that soil microorganisms were sensitive to different types of salinity. Thus, salinity is a stress factor and can reduce microbial diversity and control microbial abundance, composition and functions. Although, amendments of saline-sodic soil with organic sources (such as FYM, pressmud) substantially improved microbial attributes they did not enable the germination and survival of wheat and maize sown in the soil. Nevertheless the evidence suggests that organic matter may play significant role in the amelioration of saline-sodic or sodic soils.