Plants endure many abiotic stresses, such as temperature (heat or frost), drought, and salt. Such factors are primary and frequent stressors that reduce agriculture crop yields. Often alterations in nutrient management and constituents, along with variations in biosynthetic capacity, ultimately reduce or halt plant growth. Genetically, stress is an environmental condition that interferes with complete genetic expression. A vast range of molecular genomic markers is available for the analysis of agricultural crops. These markers are classified into various groups based on how the markers are used: RAPD (Random amplified polymorphic DNA) markers serve to identify and screen hybrids based on salinity and drought stress tolerance, while simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are excellent for the assessment of stress tolerance. Such markers also play an important role in the QTL (Quantitative trait loci) mapping of stress-related genes. Dehydrins for drought and saltol for salinity stresses are primitive genes which regulate responses to these conditions. Further, a focus on traits using single-gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers supports genetic mapping and the sequencing of stress-related traits in inbred lines. DNA markers facilitate marker-assisted breeding to enhance abiotic stress tolerance using advanced techniques and marker modification.

Tea tree oil (TTO) from the genus Melaleuca L. has antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties and is used by the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and horticultural industries. In Pakistan, Melaleuca bracteata can be exploited for essential oil purposes, as this species is well adapted to Pakistan’s agroclimatic conditions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the yield of M. bracteata essential oil together with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties under local prevailing conditions of the subtropics. Essential oil was extracted through the hydrodistillation method. Using this method, six batches of 8 kg samples (fresh leaves and branches) underwent a distillation process for 4–5 h. The average yield obtained was about 0.2%. The GCMS was used to identify the components of extracted essential oil. Eugenol methyl ether is the major component in extracted essential oil, i.e., 96% of the total. A high content of flavonoids and phenolics and a Fe-reducing power ability of M. bracteata were observed. The oil was also found effective against B. subtilis, B. cereus, White rot, and A. flavus. Hence, it is concluded that there is a possibility to use TTO for its biocidal properties, and it must also be inspected and then commercialized in Pakistan by the agriculture and cosmetic industries.

The reuse of organic wastes in agriculture is an appropriate method for environment management and providing nutrients to the plants. The objective of this study is to utilize possibility of agricultural waste as component of growing media and comparative evaluation of best potting media for flower production. The research was conducted at Floriculture Research Area, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. There were total four treatments (garden soil, biochar + peat moss + leaf compost, leaf compost + soil, peanut shell compost + soil, rice straw + soil). Each treatment was replicated three times, having 10 plants each. Different agricultural waste materials such as leaf compost, peanut shell compost, rice straw and biochar were used as source for quality growth of Stock and Geranium. Physio-chemical analysis (N, P, K, pH, EC) were best in the growing media comprising biochar + peat moss + leaf compost. The experiment was arranged according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD) under factorial arrangement. The results regarding maximum plant height (57.4 cm), number of leaves per plant (62.5), root length (43.1 cm), number of flowers (31.6), flower diameter (4.8 cm), evapotranspiration rate (7.38 mol/m²/s), transpiration rate (46.4 mmol/m²/s) and leaf total chlorophyll contents (81.0 SPAD) were recorded in biochar + peat moss + leaf compost media while maximum leaf area (46.58 cm²), photosynthetic rate (2.11 μmol m²/s), stomatal conductance (1.73 mol/m²/s), respiration rate (416.67), internal CO₂ (375.67) and minimum days to first flower emergence (43.8) were observed in peanut shell + soil media. Statistically all the parameters were positively correlated with each other.