Investigating the biochemical variations in onion leaves due to purple blotch disease and its management through induced resistance Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Atiq, Muhammad Usman Ali, Ghalib Ayaz Kachelo, Nasir Ahmad Khan, et al. Plos One, 2025 Purple blotch (PB), caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) ciferri, poses a significant threat to onion crop, resulting in major economic losses in both bulb and seed production globally. The incidence of this disease underscores the critical need for an effective management. In the present study, screening of onion genotypes for PB under field conditions revealed that the genotypes like Phulkara and Ceylon expressed resistant, response with 8.21 and 8.91% disease severity index (DSI) respectively, whereas Desi Black and Red Imposta were highly susceptible, with DSI of 67.38 - 79.41%. Furthermore, resistant and susceptible genotypes were also evaluated for biochemical variation analysis. Significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) in antioxidant enzymes were observed across reaction groups (inoculated and un-inoculated), types (resistant and susceptible), and onion varieties in response to A. porri infection. The analysis of variance showed significant changes in antioxidant enzymes level of onion leaves, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and super dismutase (SOD). Results indicated that the concentration of SOD (55.37%), POD (41.87%) and CAT (37.92), respectively, in resistant plant leaves, whereas susceptible varieties showed SOD (43.71%), POD (28.3%) and CAT (26.59%). Furthermore, the amount of antioxidant enzymes was reduced in both resistant as well as susceptible varieties of onion after inoculation. Amount of SOD (68.04%), POD (57.45%) and CAT (50.87%) were recorded in un-inoculated group of onion plants that reduced to 31.05, 12.98 and 13.64% in inoculated group respectively. For the management of A. porri four different plant activators (salicylic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid and di-potassium hydrogen phosphate) at three different concentrations (0.5, 0.75 and 1%) were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions. Among all salicylic acid was found to be most effective in controlling this disease under greenhouse and field conditions. The present study revealed that purple blotch affects the biochemical mechanism of the plants, which helps in activating the resistance process against pathogens through various enzymes. Additionally, salicylic acid demonstrated significant efficacy in controlling purple blotch in onions.
Computational and experimental approaches to explore defense related enzymes conferring resistance in Fusarium infected chilli plants by regulating plant metabolism through nutritional products Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Atiq, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, Muhammad Sagheer, Ye Xia Plos One, 2025 Nutritional status being the first line of defense for host plants, determines their susceptibility or resistance against invading pathogens. In recent years, the applications of plant nutrient related products have been documented as one of the best performers and considered as alternatives or/and supplements in plant disease management compared to traditional chemicals. However, knowledge about application of plant nutrient related products for the management of destructive fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. capsici and their impact on the components of the antioxidant defense system, especially in chilli plants, still needs to be discovered. Therefore, in this current study, we aimed to evaluate two nutrient fertilizers viz. Krystafeed and Micro Plus at three different concentrations by soil drenching method for their effects against the Fusarium wilt of chilli and investigate the components of the antioxidant defense system of chilli plants. Correlation and computational analysis on the components of antioxidant defense system in various pathways were performed to predict the suitable binding sites of mineral ions. Results indicated that the combination of Krystafeed and Micro Plus was found the most effective with (27.01, 26.59%) disease incidence, followed by Micro Plus (29.56, 32.35%) and Krystafeed (38.21, 41.15%), both in greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. Moreover, the combination of Krystafeed and Micro Plus significantly increased the concentration of SOD (27.53, 108.96)%, POD (37.29, 45.65)%, CAT (19.33, 95.33)%, H2O2 (22.13, 118.98)%, TPC (27.39, 17.37)%, chlorophyll a (21.80, 35.74)%, chlorophyll b (57.57, 18.25)%, total chlorophyll (30.21, 19.83)%, Tocopherol (13.08, 33.66)%, TrxR (5.03, 36.56)%, MDA (13.84, 54.79)%, ascorbate (4.72, 17.28)%, Proline (5.94, 59.31)%, and phytoalexin (Capsidiol) (11.33, 55.08)% in the treated plants of resistant and susceptible chilli varieties, respectively, as compared to the untreated plants. Pearson’s correlation heat-map analysis showed that all the enzymes of antioxidant defense system were found positively correlated with each other. It is concluded that the improvement of crop resistance by the application of plant nutrient related products may be viable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for managing Fusarium wilt disease of chilli and potentially other pathogens.
Advancements in Plant Gene Editing Technology: From Construct Design to Enhanced Transformation Efficiency Pu Yuan, Muhammad Usman, Wenshan Liu, Ashna Adhikari, Chunquan Zhang, et al. Biotechnology Journal, 2024 Plant gene editing technology has significantly advanced in recent years, thereby transforming both biotechnological research and agricultural practices. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in this rapidly evolving field, showcasing significant discoveries from improved transformation efficiency to advanced construct design. The primary focus is on the maturation of the Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein (CRISPR/Cas)9 system, which has emerged as a powerful tool for precise gene editing in plants. Through a detailed exploration, we elucidate the intricacies of integrating genetic modifications into plant genomes, shedding light on transport mechanisms, transformation techniques, and optimization strategies specific to CRISPR constructs. Furthermore, we explore the initiatives aimed at extending the frontiers of gene editing to nonmodel plant species, showcasing the growing scope of this technology. Overall, this comprehensive review highlights the significant impact of recent advancements in plant gene editing, illuminating its transformative potential in driving agricultural innovation and biotechnological progress.
Entomopathogenic Fungi as Alternatives to Chemical Acaricides: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects for Sustainable Tick Control Mahvish Rajput, Muhammad Sohail Sajid, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, David Robert George, Muhammad Usman, et al. Insects, 2024 Entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) can infect and kill a diverse range of arthropods, including ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) that can transmit various diseases to animals and humans. Consequently, the use of EPFs as a biocontrol method for managing tick populations has been explored as an alternative to chemical acaricides, which may have harmful effects on the environment and non-target species. This review summarizes studies conducted on EPFs for tick control between 1998 and 2024, identifying 9 different EPF species that have been used against 15 different species of ticks. One of the most well-known and widely researched EPFs used against ticks is Metarhizium anisopliae, a fungus known for its ability to infect and kill various arthropods. When applied to tick-infested areas, M. anisopliae spores attach to the tick’s cuticle, germinate, and penetrate through the cuticle, leading to the eventual death of the tick due to the fungal infection. Whilst a number of studies support the potential of this and other EPF species against ticks, this review suggests that limitations to their effective use may include factors such as heat, humidity, and ultraviolet light (UV-A and UV-B). This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the potential of EPFs in tick control, focusing on their mode of action, previous field successes/failures, advantages, potential applications, and prospects for future practical developments.
Genomic characterization of Puccinia triticina using molecular marker technology M. Usman, M. Habib, M. Sathish, S. Iqbal, J. Altaf, et al. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2024 Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, is the most common rust disease of wheat. The fungus is an obligate parasite capable of producing infectious urediniospores. To study the genetic structure of the leaf rust population 20 RAPD primers were evaluated on 15 isolates samples collected in Pakistan. A total of 105 RAPD fragments were amplified with an average of 7 fragments per primer. The number of amplified fragments varied from 1 to 12. GL Decamer L-07 and GL Decamer L-01 amplified the highest number of bands (twelve) and primer GL Decamer A-03 amplified the lowest number of bands i.e one. Results showed that almost all investigated isolates were genetically different that confirms high genetic diversity within the leaf rust population. Rust spores can follow the migration pattern in short and long distances to neighbor areas. Results indicated that the greatest variability was revealed by 74.9% of genetic differentiation within leaf rust populations. These results suggested that each population was not completely identical and high gene flow has occurred among the leaf rust population of different areas. The highest differentiation and genetic distance among the Pakistani leaf rust populations were detected between the leaf rust population in NARC isolate (NARC-4) and AARI-11and the highest similarity was observed between NARC isolates (NARC-4) and (NARC-5). The present study showed the leaf rust population in Pakistan is highly dynamic and variable.
Bacterial biological control agents and resistance resources to enhance defense and morphological attributes of Capsicum annuum against Fusarium wilt M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, M Sagheer, Y Xia Journal of Plant Pathology, 1-22 , 2026 2026
Impact of silica nanoforms on the health and yield of crops M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, M Shad, AM Arif Nanomaterials for Enhanced Plant-Based Food Production 1, 111-124 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Computational and experimental approaches to explore defense related enzymes conferring resistance in Fusarium infected chilli plants by regulating plant metabolism through … M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, M Sagheer, Y Xia PLoS One 20 (1), e0309738 , 2025 2025 Citations: 14
Entomopathogenic fungi as alternatives to chemical acaricides: Challenges, opportunities and prospects for sustainable tick control M Rajput, MS Sajid, NA Rajput, DR George, M Usman, M Zeeshan, ... Insects 15 (12), 1017 , 2024 2024 Citations: 29
Advancements in plant gene editing technology: from construct design to enhanced transformation efficiency P Yuan, M Usman, W Liu, A Adhikari, C Zhang, V Njiti, Y Xia Biotechnology Journal 19 (12), e202400457 , 2024 2024 Citations: 26
Investigating the effect of SUMO fusion on solubility and stability of amylase-catalytic domain from Pyrococcus abyssi M Shad, A Nazir, M Usman, MW Akhtar, M Sajjad International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 266, 131310 , 2024 2024 Citations: 22
Efficacy of Green Synthesized Silver Based Nanomaterials Against Early Blight of Tomato Caused by Alternaria solani M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, M Shad, N Lili, S Iqbal, AM Arif, ... Journal of Crop Health 76 (1), 105-115 , 2024 2024 Citations: 37
DETECTION OF PHYTOPHTHORA NICOTIANAE INDUCED CITRUS GUMMOSIS BY THE LOOP-MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION H AHMAD, NA RAJPUT, M ATIQ, GA KACHELO, M USMAN, H TARIQ, ... Pak. J. Bot 56, 5 , 2024 2024 Citations: 17
NEW fangled tactics towards cotton leaf curl virus disease A review M Atiq, MZ Talib, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, MA Khan, M Usman, A Jabar, ... Journal of Natural Fibers 20 (2), 2217364 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Exploration of computational approaches to predict the structural features and recent trends in α‐amylase production for industrial applications NH Mohsin Shad, M Usman, MW Akhtar, M Sajjad Biotechnology and Bioengineering 120, 2092-2116 , 2023 2023 Citations: 45
Management of damping-off disease of chili caused by Pythium aphanidermatum using synthetic chemicals. N Rajput, M Atiq, S Sahi, A Hameed, M Usman, A Nawaz, G Kachelo, ... Journal of Agricultural & Marine Sciences (JAMS) 28 (2) , 2023 2023
Estimation of green synthesized silver and copper nano-particles for the management of leaf spot caused by Curvularia Lunata on brinjal. M Atiq, I Naeem, N Rajput, S Sahi, M Usman, S Iqbal, A Nawaz, H Ahmad Journal of Agricultural & Marine Sciences (JAMS) 28 (2) , 2023 2023
Evaluation of chemicals and plant defense activators against red rot of sugarcane caused by Colletotrichum Falcatum. A Nawaz, M Atiq, S Sahi, N Rajput, M Usman, S Iqbal, G Kachelo, ... Journal of Agricultural & Marine Sciences (JAMS) 28 (2) , 2023 2023
Management of Phytophthora spp. associated with citrus gummosis by using chemicals and nanoparticles. H Ahmad, N Rajput, M Atiq, S Sahi, G Kachelo, M Usman, A Nawaz, ... Journal of Agricultural & Marine Sciences (JAMS) 28 (2) , 2023 2023
Moringa olefra plant based copper and silver nano particles and its antibacterial activity towards leaf spot of chilli caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. T Fatima, NA Rajput, M Usman, GA Kachelo, U Ahmad, AM Arif, A Nawaz, ... 2023 Citations: 11
Structural-Functional Characterization of Cytochrome b in bc1 and b6 f Complexes along with Polymorphic Analysis M Shad, M Usman, QA Gardner Pakistan Journal of Zoology 55 (2), 975 , 2023 2023 Citations: 17
Estimation of biocidal potential of desert phytopowders for the management of citrus canker M Atiq, K Fatima, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, A Hameed, M Usman, U Ahmad, ... Sains Malaysiana 52 (3), 757-770 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Induction of resistance in mungbean against cercospora leaf spot through plant defense activators WD Laraib Malik, Muhammad Atiq, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, Muhammad Usman, Azeem ... Agricultural Sciences Journal 5 (3), 28-34 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Synthetic fungices for controlling brown leaf spot of rice caused by Bipolaris oryzae HMU Shaheen, NA Rajput, M Atiq, L Amrao, WR Arshad, GA Kachelo, ... International Journal of Biology and Chemistry 16 (2), 33-42 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Determination of biochemical baseline of resistance against bacterial leaf spot of chilli after application of plant defense activators T Zaid, Bin, A Muhammad, R Nasir, Ahmed, A Azeem, A Asif, Mahmood, ... Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences 11 (01), 61-67 , 2023 2023 Citations: 10
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Exploration of computational approaches to predict the structural features and recent trends in α‐amylase production for industrial applications NH Mohsin Shad, M Usman, MW Akhtar, M Sajjad Biotechnology and Bioengineering 120, 2092-2116 , 2023 2023 Citations: 45
Nanoparticles: A safe way towards fungal diseases M Atiq, I Naeem, ST Sahi, NA Rajput, E Haider, M Usman, H Shahbaz, ... Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 53 (17-18), 781-792 , 2020 2020 Citations: 39
Efficacy of Green Synthesized Silver Based Nanomaterials Against Early Blight of Tomato Caused by Alternaria solani M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, M Shad, N Lili, S Iqbal, AM Arif, ... Journal of Crop Health 76 (1), 105-115 , 2024 2024 Citations: 37
GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER AND COPPER NANOPARTICLES FROM LEAVES OF EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS AND ASSESSMENT OF ITS ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL TOWARDS XANTHOMONAS CITRI PV. CITRI CAUSING … M ATIQ, M. – MAZHAR, H. M. R. – RAJPUT, N. A. – AHMAD, U. – HAMEED, A ... APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 20 (3), 2205-2213 , 2022 2022 Citations: 30
Entomopathogenic fungi as alternatives to chemical acaricides: Challenges, opportunities and prospects for sustainable tick control M Rajput, MS Sajid, NA Rajput, DR George, M Usman, M Zeeshan, ... Insects 15 (12), 1017 , 2024 2024 Citations: 29
Advancements in plant gene editing technology: from construct design to enhanced transformation efficiency P Yuan, M Usman, W Liu, A Adhikari, C Zhang, V Njiti, Y Xia Biotechnology Journal 19 (12), e202400457 , 2024 2024 Citations: 26
Investigating the effect of SUMO fusion on solubility and stability of amylase-catalytic domain from Pyrococcus abyssi M Shad, A Nazir, M Usman, MW Akhtar, M Sajjad International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 266, 131310 , 2024 2024 Citations: 22
Mango anthracnose: global status and the way forward for disease management S Iqbal, MA Khan, M Atiq, NA Rajput, M Usman, A Nawaz, GA Kachelo, ... Journal of Innovative Sciences 8 (2), 222-235 , 2022 2022 Citations: 18
DETECTION OF PHYTOPHTHORA NICOTIANAE INDUCED CITRUS GUMMOSIS BY THE LOOP-MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION H AHMAD, NA RAJPUT, M ATIQ, GA KACHELO, M USMAN, H TARIQ, ... Pak. J. Bot 56, 5 , 2024 2024 Citations: 17
Structural-Functional Characterization of Cytochrome b in bc1 and b6 f Complexes along with Polymorphic Analysis M Shad, M Usman, QA Gardner Pakistan Journal of Zoology 55 (2), 975 , 2023 2023 Citations: 17
A way forward towards the management of chilli anthracnose-a review M Atiq, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, A Akram, M Usman, GA Kachelo, H Ahmad, ... Agricultural Sciences Journal 4 (1), 1-10 , 2022 2022 Citations: 15
Computational and experimental approaches to explore defense related enzymes conferring resistance in Fusarium infected chilli plants by regulating plant metabolism through … M Usman, M Atiq, NA Rajput, M Sagheer, Y Xia PLoS One 20 (1), e0309738 , 2025 2025 Citations: 14
NEW fangled tactics towards cotton leaf curl virus disease A review M Atiq, MZ Talib, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, MA Khan, M Usman, A Jabar, ... Journal of Natural Fibers 20 (2), 2217364 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Moringa olefra plant based copper and silver nano particles and its antibacterial activity towards leaf spot of chilli caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. T Fatima, NA Rajput, M Usman, GA Kachelo, U Ahmad, AM Arif, A Nawaz, ... 2023 Citations: 11
Determination of biochemical baseline of resistance against bacterial leaf spot of chilli after application of plant defense activators T Zaid, Bin, A Muhammad, R Nasir, Ahmed, A Azeem, A Asif, Mahmood, ... Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences 11 (01), 61-67 , 2023 2023 Citations: 10
Estimation of biocidal potential of desert phytopowders for the management of citrus canker M Atiq, K Fatima, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, A Hameed, M Usman, U Ahmad, ... Sains Malaysiana 52 (3), 757-770 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Determination of bactericidal potential of green based silver and zinc nanoparticles against bacterial canker of tomato. M Atiq, M Ashraf, NA Rajput, ST Sahi, A Akram, M Usman, S Iqbal, ... 2022 Citations: 8
Epidemiological factors increasing the Alternaria leaf spot of cabbage and their management strategies Aboomer, MW Safder, M Usman, S Iqbal, MH Abbas, HH Anum, H Firdous, ... The international Journal of Biological Research 2, 1-16 , 2019 2019 Citations: 7
Synthetic fungices for controlling brown leaf spot of rice caused by Bipolaris oryzae HMU Shaheen, NA Rajput, M Atiq, L Amrao, WR Arshad, GA Kachelo, ... International Journal of Biology and Chemistry 16 (2), 33-42 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Impact of downy mildew disease caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis on cucumber germplasm and its horticultural attributes. SH Khan, I Mubeen, A Jabbar, HMF Shaheen, K Fatima, M Usman, ... 2021 Citations: 5