Environmental pollutants significantly impact health and quality of life. High levels of harmful metals in drinking water, vegetables, and soil can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the prevalence of cancer is notably high, and heavy metals are considered among the possible risk factors. In this study, the distribution of heavy metals, e.g., Cd, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ni, in the drinking water, vegetables, and soil in the Gilgit and Skardu Districts was assessed. A geo-accumulation index was combined with a deterministic technique to examine potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts on human health. Cr and Ni levels in drinking water exceeded the permissible limits from both districts. Drinking water had a HQ > 1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, posing significant non-carcinogenic health effects. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) by drinking water for Cd, Cr, and Ni in Gilgit (0.0087, 0.55, and 0.0048) and Skardu (0.071, 0.21, and 0.014) indicated a considerable cancer risk (>1 × 10⁻⁴) for adults. The cancer risk for vegetable intake was observed within the safe limit, while LCR_ingetsion > LCR_dermal and LCR_inhalation for the soil samples in both regions. These findings highlight the need for regular monitoring, enhanced waste management, and advanced purification methods to reduce cancer risk, lower heavy metal contamination, and safeguard public health in the region.

Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most common soil-borne fungal pathogens of legume crops worldwide. We collected rDNA-ITS sequences from NCBI GenBank, and the aim of this study was to examine the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of various R. solani anastomosis groups (AGs) that are commonly associated with grain legumes (such as soybean, common bean, pea, peanut, cowpea, and chickpea) and forage legumes (including alfalfa and clover). Soybean is recognized as a host for multiple AGs, with AG-1 and AG-2 being extensively investigated. This is evidenced by the higher representation of sequences associated with these AGs in the NCBI GenBank. Other AGs documented in soybean include AG-4, AG-7, AG-11, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-9. Moreover, AG-4 has been extensively studied concerning its occurrence in chickpea, pea, peanut, and alfalfa. Research on the common bean has been primarily focused on AG-2, AG-4, and AG-1. Similarly, AG-1 has been the subject of extensive investigation in clover and cowpea. Collectively, AG-1, AG-2, and AG-4 have consistently been identified and studied across these diverse legume crops. The phylogenetic analysis of R. solani isolates across different legumes indicates that the distinct clades or subclades formed by the isolates correspond to their specific anastomosis groups (AGs) and subgroups, rather than being determined by their host legume crop. Additionally, there is a high degree of sequence similarity among isolates within the same clade or subclade. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) further supports this finding, as isolates belonging to the same AGs and/or subgroups cluster together, irrespective of their host legume. Therefore, the observed clustering of R. solani AGs and subgroups without a direct association with the host legume crop provides additional support for the concept of AGs in understanding the genetic relationships and evolution of R. solani.

The vulnerability to environmental changes requires appropriate management of mountainous soils to harmonize agriculture productivity and health of agro-ecosystem. Information on spatial analyses in land uses is important for site-specific nutrient management. The current study investigates and maps soil properties in two land use types (agriculture and orchard) through geostatistical analyses of selected parameters using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). Geo-referenced soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth. Overall, silty loam soils were observed with slightly alkaline pH, normal electrical conductivity and adequate organic carbon in both land use types. Macronutrient results indicated that nitrate-nitrogen was medium while phosphorus and potassium were higher in both land uses. The two-way ANOVA indicated that the EC (p<0.05), NO3-N, Av. P and Ex. K (p<0.001) differed significantly across the land use types. Whereas with respect to various study locations the EC and Av. P differed significantly (p<0.01), while pH, SOC, NO3-N, Ex. K and saturation did vary. Higher Soil quality index (SQI) in agriculture soil indicating better quality or health than the orchard. The findings provide useful insights for soil fertility management in mountainous agro-ecosystems.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is the most common, high-income generative fruit and consequently plays an important part in the region's socio-economic growth. However, apricots are susceptible to several diseases and pests that cause lower yields and significant financial losses, including apricot shot hole disease brought on by Wilsonomyces carpophilus, a polyphagous fungus, creates a serious threat to stone fruits, particularly the apricot tree. The current study used descriptive statistics and geostatistical approaches to evaluate the geographical distribution of the apricot shot hole disease (5 valleys, 30 orchards, and 480 apricot trees) in district Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. From each apricot tree, 150 apricot fruits, a total of 72,000, were randomly selected to assess the incidence, disease index, and severity. Results revealed that the disease is spatially distributed within the study area, varying within valleys and orchards. The range of disease prevalence was 50.0-67.70%, incidence 56.97-64.01%, index 32.49-40.56% and mean severity 0.21-0.24%. Geostatistical techniques were used to predict the spatial dependency class. Results revealed that disease prevalence had a nugget/sill ratio of 0.915, inferring weak spatial dependence, whereas incidence, disease index, and severity inferred moderate spatial dependence with nugget/sill ratios of 0.479, 0.628, and 0.393, respectively. Moreover, the spherical semivariogram model, trend analysis graph, and GIS maps indicate the region's spatial distribution of apricot shot hole disease. This information linked to metrological data (temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity) seemingly favored the apricot shot hole disease development during the growing period. Evaluation of geostatistical mapping strategies in monitoring spatial distributions of apricot shot hole disease in a field setting will improve the decision support for disease management, selection of resistant variety, and improve sanitation condition of apricot orchards. Continuous climate and pest monitoring are essential for creating an efficient disease warning system for farmers and other organizations involved in agriculture to prevent future plant epidemics.

Apricots are the most important cash fruit in the region, and they play a key role in its socio-economic development. It is, however, susceptible to several diseases and pests, resulting in decreased yields and substantial financial losses. One of them is the genus Bactrocera, which has almost no data on its Spatio-temporal variability. Between July and September 2021 in district Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, this study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal variability of two species of fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis, in apricot fruit orchards. Results revealed that there was a significant difference between the species and month to month. B. zonata had a substantially larger population than B. dorsalis. To predict the spatial variability of fruit fly species, geostatistical analytic techniques were used. Using an inverse distance weight with a spherical semivariogram model, the spatial distribution maps were created. Both species had nugget/sill ratios of 0.00, 0.69, 0.61, and 0.73, indicating moderate to strong spatial dependence. The semivariogram graph also displayed moderate to high spatial dependence. The east-west and south-north trend lines of both fruit fly species crossed through the projected area of the sample point, indicating the overall variation trend of B. zonata and B. dorsalis. Interpolated distribution maps were also created to represent the spatial distribution of B. zonata and B. dorsalis in the study using different colors. This data, together with meteorological data (temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity), seems to promote a high population of fruit fly species in July and August. This knowledge will help with the development of integrated pest management strategies for fruit fly species and the reduction of insecticide use, which will benefit both growers and the environment.