The continuous increase in population the water demand by agriculture, domestic and industrial sectors have caused great stress on world water resources. Population in emerging countries is expected to grow; 4.3 billion in 2002, 5.5 billion in 2025 and 6.2 billion in 2050. For the least developed countries these figures will be 0.8, 1.1 and 1.6 respectively. Agriculture sector consumes about 70-72 % of total water resources. Average irrigation efficiency of the world is 37%. The water resources of Pakistan are under immense stress due to increased agricultural expansion, population growth and associated urbanization and industrialization. The gap between water demand and supply is growing rapidly. Based on current population growth rate, the shortage of water in country will increase to 50% in 2025. To overcome this shortage of water, adoption of efficient water saving techniques is the need of day and future food security. The current study was carried out to evaluate the appropriateness of surface and subsurface drip irrigation system for crops and fruit trees. The efficiency of these irrigation systems in relation to yield, yield to water ratio and economic viability of drip irrigation systems under different cropping schemes and varying flexibility drip pipes were also carried out. Three field experiments were conducted, one in greenhouse and two in open field area at Al-Qassim (Buraidah), Saudi Arabia. Under these experiments, surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems were studied in detail in crops and fruit trees. Important parameters of these systems such as hydraulic performance of flexible drip pipes used, water consumption, yield of crop/fruit, yield to water ratio of crop/fruit and cost analysis of surface and subsurface drip irrigation type under crops and fruit trees were determined. The yield under vegetable crop from the subsurface drip irrigation system was found to be 28% and 25% (Notorah and Red rock varieties of tomatoes) more than that from the surface drip irrigation system. The yield under fruit trees from the subsurface drip irrigation system by using three varying flexible drip pipes (Low, medium and high) and was found to be 42% and 49% more than that from medium and high flexible drip pipes, while under surface drip irrigation system, it was found 46% and 51% more from medium and high flexible drip pipes. The water use efficiency of subsurface drip irrigation system is much more than that of surface drips irrigation system in both vegetable crops as well as in fruit tree because all water utilized by plant in case of subsurface drip irrigation but as for surface drip VIirrigation system partly utilized by plant and partly evaporated, Bigger wetted volume of soil in root zone was observed in the case of subsurface drip irrigation while it is smaller wetted volume of soil in case of surface drip irrigation system. Further investigation of subsurface drip irrigation system needs to be undertaken for other crops and fruit trees to confirm the benefits of the use of low flexible drip pipes.
Media in its various forms has become a significant part of everyday social life. It influences both how we see ourselves and the world around us to some extent. At different screens of media, images of men and women are presented in different ways and with different characteristics. Studies have been conducted at large regarding representation of gender in movies and television drama serials. This paper was meant to be an addition to this vast canvas of research through analysis of gender representation in the comedy dramas of Pakistan. According to West and Zimmerman’s theory of ‘doing gender’, gender is performed by the people in their everyday actions and interactions. Keeping in view the concept of doing gender this study analyzed roles of males and females and tried to find out how different characters maintain their gender identities in comedy dramas. Results suggested that the characters were, at many places, observed to be acting contrary to the roles associated to their genders by the society. They did or performed gender to maintain their identities.
Germin like proteins (GLPs) are member of a large gene family and ubiquitously expressed as plant proteins. The exact mode of action and role in metabolism is not well understood. It is believed that these putative stress proteins are expressed at various developmental stages in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. The present study was designed to clone full length and 5'' abbreviated Oryza sativa Root expressed GLP2 (OsRGLP2) promoter, its genetic transformation into Arabidopsis and characterization. Cloning of full length and 5'' abbreviated OsRGLP2 promoters was carried out by employing GATEWAY™ Technology. Amplification was performed by specific primers designed on the promoter region. Recombinant entry clones were created by using pENTR/D-TOPO® cloning kit. Expression vectors were prepared by employing LR recombination reaction between recombinant entry clones and promoter less destination vector pHGWFS7. Confirmation was carried out by PCR and sequencing. Recombinant expression vectors were named as pNSS-F1 (Full length promoter) and pNSS-F2, pNSS-F3 and pNSS-F4 (5'' deleted promoters). Plant transformation into Arabidopsis was carried out by Agrobacterium mediated floral dip method. T0 and T1 lines were established and transgenic plants were analyzed by molecular and physiological approaches. T1 transgenic lines for each promoter constructs were selected through GUS assay and tested for wound, salt and temperature stresses. Real-time PCR was performed by using two sets of primers, Actin (Housekeeping gene) and GFP (Gene of Interest). Real-time PCR analysis was done by employing 2-ΔΔCt method in which data was normalized by software inbuilt in the real-time PCR system by taking calibrator or untreated sample value xxi as 1. The graphical data shows the times fold increase or decrease in the expression with comparison with untreated control samples. Expression analysis revealed that OsRGLP2 promoter is efficient and specific to wound, salt and temperature stresses. When comparison was done between full length and 5'' deleted promoters, the promoter named pNSS-F3 of 565 bp along with other two larger promoter pNSS-F1 and pNSS-F2 of sizes 1063 bp and 776 bp respectively were responding to all stresses applied during this study. However, when a further deletion was made and shortest promoter pNSS-F4 was created which comprises of 283 bp size, unable to respond against stresses applied. So it can be concluded from present study that during 5'' deletion of full length OsRGLP2 promoter (creation of pNSS-F4), a critical region between P-565 and P-283 on promoter fragment was deleted which contain promoter elements necessary to respond against certain stresses like wound stress, salt stress and temperature stress. While during other deletions (in case of pNSS-F2 and pNSS-F3) in which when the critical part was intact, the promoter responded to applied stresses. It can be further concluded that pNSS-F3 is a good replacement for full length promoter. Due to smaller size of pNSS-F3 promoter (565 bp) and it‟s efficient and specific response against abiotic stresses it can be fused with other promoter and used in combination against certain abiotic or biotic stresses.