Extending the novel implications of plant viruses as invaluable genetic tools in the field of transgenic plant technology, Potato Virus X (PVX) based transient gene expression is a simple rapid, inexpensive methodology employed for preliminary screening and evaluation of insecticidal gene constructs in plant sucking insect species. In this study, PVX vector was employed to achieve high throughput expression of two-candidate insecticidal proteins viz. Hvt, (Hydronyche versuta spider) and ACA Lectin (Allium cepa agglutinin) in tobacco plants. The Reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR) revealed a high throughput expression of 117 bp Hvt, 325 bp ACA Lectin in tobacco were bioassayed in Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (P. solenopsis Tinsley), Aphis gossypii Glover, (A. gossypii Glover), M. persicae Sulzer (M. persicae Sulzer) and herbivorous insect species of Helicoverpa virescens (H. virescens), Spodoptera littoralis (S. littoralis). The results revealed severe insecticidal and antagonistic effect of Hvt in terms of significant insect mortality p<0.01%, reduced population survival and nymph production in P. solenopsis Tinsley, A. gossypii Glover and M. persicae Sulzer. ACA Lectin also exerted significant anti-feedent and insecticidal characteristics at p<0.01% on colonization and population survival in tested insects and larval mortality and lower dry weight gain in herbivorous insect species of H. virescens and S. littoralis. The practical application of PVX vector was extended through PVX- based VIGS mediated production of dsRNAs of two partial insect gene transcripts i.e. Voltage Gated Calcium Channel (PSCaVα1) and Elongation Factor (PSEF-1α) in tobacco plants and RNAi response in P. solenopsis Tinsley. The Reverse Transcriptase (RT-PCR) revealed a high throughput expression of 117 bp Hvt, 325 bp ACA Lectin and plants dsRNAs of 152 bp PSCaVα1 and 325 bp PSEF-1α in tobacco used in plant feeding bioassays. The results revealed significant insect mortality 96% PSCaV-α1 and 46% PSEF-1α and several allied phenotypic deformities like stiffing, melanization and shedding of cuticle, arrested growth and reduced fecundity in P. solenopsis Tinsley were consonant with declined expression of targeted genes in insects feeding corresponding dsRNAs duly elaborated by a semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The specificity of dsRNAs 152 bp PSCaV-α1 and 325 bp PSEF-1α dsRNAs derived from P. solenopsis Tinsley and 402 bp Arginine kinase (AK) from A. gossypii Glover was checked through feeding bioassays in non-target insect species like M. persicae Sulzer, H. virescens and S. littoralis. The results revealed non-significant effect of 152 bp PSCaV-α1 and 325 bp PSEF-1α and significant effect of AK in adult aphid in terms of mortality, nymphs produced and survived, larval mortality and dry weight gain in tested insect species. The cumulative results of this study highlighted the significance of PVX vector as valuable genetic tool for preliminary screening and evaluation of candidate insecticidal proteins and RNAi gene constructs. This study will enhance the efforts of biologists in a way to screen the candidate insect genes and design the complementary transgenic crop protection strategies.
Ratan Hindi was born in the Indian side of the Punjab in the 6th AH. He claimed that he had met Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) in Madinah; had accepted Islam in his presence; joined the wedding ceremony of Fatimah (RA) and had also took part in the battle of trench (Ghazwah-e-Khandaq). He also affirmed that his long age was due to the blessings of the Prophet (PBUH) who prayed for his long life. It is also said that he had witnessed the miracle of the splitting of moon in India. The present paper, after proper investigation conducted in the light of original sources, i.e. Ḥadith and its Sciences, books of Rijal and history of Islam prove his claim of Ṣahabiyyat to be false and baseless. It also presents definition of a Ṣahabi (Prophet’s Companion) along with conditions deemed by scholars of Ḥadith for such a position.
This study intended to investigate the behavior of human as an investor by capturing and envisioning the reasons for stock market participation. It examines the impact of investor‟s personality and emotional quotient on stock market participation. This study add to existing body of literature by investigating the moderating impact of financial sophistication, trading experience and gender between investor‟s personality emotional quotient and stock market participation. The study was cross sectional with time lag data collection, used multiple regressions and archival research methodology. Andrew Hayes Process was operationalize to measure the moderating relationships among the variables. The use of regression and Andrew Hayes Process helped to empirically test and validate the research hypotheses. The study finds that there was positive impact of extroversion and openness to experience on stock market participation. On the basis of literature it was hypothesized that there was negative relationship between conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism and stock market participation. The statistical results also validate and extended the support for the proposed hypothesis. It was also hypothesized that there is positive impact of motivation and self-awareness on stock market participation. Statistical results demonstrated positive impact of motivation on stock market 3 participation. While results for self-awareness were counter to the expectation and showed negative association with stock market participation. The study concludes that financial literacy, trading experience and gender can modify the relationship between some basic personality traits and stock market participation. It showed that, on the one hand, behavior finance is not completely predetermined by one‟s DNA, on the other, it also points out exactly what other traits that are not so influenced by financial literacy, trading experience and gender. Perhaps this implies that these traits are more predetermined by one‟s innate characteristics. The current study has used quantitative data for analysis, using qualitative interviews to gather more improved information would be an addition in the literature with influence of family resource management theory. The study has implications for policy makers and government at micro and macro level. The present study provides valuable insights and protection to vulnerable groups by exploring the financial behavior of individuals in case of financial planning and investments. Study provides interdisciplinary contribution by extending the usefulness of Big Five taxonomy and establishing personality as a viable approach with respect to stock market participation. The results of the study are in line with the Western settings and can be well generalized to the Pakistani settings. Furthermore the findings of this research provide firm grounds for future research. Keywords: financial sophistication, personality, emotional quotient, trading experience, stock market participation.