ACHIEVEMENTS

Analysis of Physical Characteristics of Punjab, Balochistan & Barani Wheat
Determination of physical quality characteristics like thousand grain mass (TGM), test weight, shriveled grain and moisture content of some prevalent commercial wheat varieties of Punjab and NWFP for the crop year 2001-2002 was carried out. The results showed that TGM varied from 32 to 46 percent in different wheat varieties of Punjab. The variation in TGM between varieties was 30%. However variation within the variety was 7 to 15 percent. The TGM maximum ranged between 40g and 46g in Channab-2000 whereas the rest of the varieties fell between 30g and 40g. The lowest TGM was recorded in Soghat-90.

The results indicated that the test weight of Punjab wheat varieties varied from 72 to 80 kg/hl showing a variation of 8% among different wheat varieties. The highest test weight of 78-80 kg/hl was found in varieties Soghat-90, Zamindar-80 and Zarghoon-99, NWFP90 and Barani, respectively. The lowest test weight was recorded in Shahkar-95, (72-76 kg/hl) and Kohistan (74-77 kg/hl) in Punjab and NWFP varieties, respectively. Rest of the varieties in both the provinces exhibited test weight to range between 74 and 78 kg/hl.

Physical Quality Analysis of Wheat of Punjab Food Department
A survey was conducted to collect the wheat samples from southern districts of Punjab i.e., Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar. A total of 759 wheat samples were collected for the analysis of physical quality parameters. Data revealed that most of the quality attributes showed a fair degree of variation. Percentage of foreign matter showed a significant variation among districts and localities in the same district (Table 1)

Data also indicated that wheat of district Rahim Yar Khan is inferior in quality than the wheat of district Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar due to less test weight, higher percentage of foreign matter, broken, shrivelled, damaged and insect infested grains.

Monitoring of Resistance to Phosphine in Stored Grain Pests and in Strains Collected from Sindh
A total of 45 strains of T. castaneum, R. dominica, S. oryzae and T. granarium collected from different locations of Sindh, and were tested for their level of resistance against Phosphine . It was observed that the highest level of resistance in T. castaneum was in strains collected from Padedan with a RF of 56.7 while strains of the same species collected from other locations showed relatively low level of resistance (Table 2). Strains of Rhizopertha dominica collected from Sukkur-1 showed highest level of resistance with a RF range of 75.9-93.9. T. granarum and S oryzae collected from Karachi SGG-III and Dadu-1 showed the RF value from 141.9-195.4 and 25.1, respectively against phosphine. The data presented showed that the storage period effect the level of resistance. In Karachi mostly wheat was stored for 8-10 m o n t h s whereas in other cities the maximum storage period is about six months. Results indicate that none of the strains of insects collected were susceptible, however, the level of resistance varied considerably.

Determination of Stored Grain Pests and against in Stored Grain Insect Pests
Fumigated wheat was treated with insecticides namely K-obiol, Decis, Decis + piperonylbutoxide, Deltamethrin and Permethrin, in the laboratory to check the residual persistence against Trogoderma granarium, Tribolium castaneum, Rhizopertha dominica and Sitophilus oryzae.

Seed Borne Mycoflora, its Role in Spoilage of Stored Wheat
Wheat samples collected from Punjab Food Department godown located in Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar were analyzed to detect the occurrence and intensity of fungi associated with grains. Results showed that samples of Rahim Yar Khan were heavily infected with fungi, infection range was 22-65% in un-sterilized grains. Grains sterilized with 0.1% Hgcl solution showed 9-42% infection. The purpose of seed sterilization with mercuric chloride (HgCI) solution was to remove fungi attached on the surface of the grains. Mostly the fungi species found were Aspergillus and Rhizopus.

Wheat samples from Bahawalpur district showed comparatively low fungal infection than Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar districts. In unsterilized and sterilized grains the range of infection was 18-49% and 9-22%, respectively.

Samples from Bahawalnagar district were also found heavily infected with fungi ranging between 19% and 58% before sterilization but after sterilization the infection range was 7% and 42%. The predominant fungi was Aspergillus spp.

ON-GOING PROJECTS

1- Title: Establishment of Grain Quality Testing Lab 
Project Incharge: Mr. Mubarik Ahmed 
Funding Agency: GoP 
Budget: Rs. 198.0 million 
Start Date: 2002 
End Date: 2004 

2- Title: Assessment of Suitable Salient Material to Increase Gas Tightness of Public Sector Warehouses and Tarpaulins used for Covering the Open Stock (Ganjee) 
Project Incharge: Asim Rehan Kazmi 
Funding Agency: ALP 
Budget: Rs. 2.785 million 
Start Date: 2003 
End Date: 2006

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