The study assessed the influence of pressmud (PM) application on soil available phosphorus (P) content, growth, yield, and arsenic (As) accumulation in wheat grains on a salt-affected soil receiving irrigation of As-contaminated water. Wheat seeds (cv. Faisalabad-2008) were sown in pots containing saline soil (EC 11.72 dS m^-1; pH 8.07; SAR 31.3 mmol^1/2 L^-1/2) amended with PM (0, 2.5, 10 and 15 g kg^-1) and irrigated with As-contaminated water (0, 25 and 100 µg L^-1). The pot experiments had two sets, one was harvested after 30-days of germination while the other at crop maturity. Pressmud application at 2.5, 10 and 15 g kg^-1 improved biomass of 30-days old wheat seedlings by 44%, 86% and 90%, respectively compared to unamended soil. Irrigation with As-contaminated waters did not affect seedling biomass or grain yield of wheat. Plant height, fertile tillers, straw biomass and grain yield increased from 57-62 cm, 3-5 no. plant^-1, 2.93-5.31 g plant^-1 and 3.93-7.11 g plant^-1, respectively by 15 g PM kg^-1 soil. Moreover, PM application resulted in an 8-fold increase in soil available P content, which resulted in higher grain P uptake. Irrigation with water of 25 and 100 µg As L^-1 increased soil available P by 7.6% and 11%, respectively, but its influence on the grain P concentration was non-significant. Pressmud application in combination with As-contaminated water increased accumulation of As in grains. By applying water of 25 and 100 µg L^-1 As, accumulation of As in wheat grains increased from 3.12-42.4 and 49.58-91.85 µg kg^-1, respectively compared with normal water. However, these concentrations of As in wheat grains were still below the permissible limit of 430 µg kg^-1 prescribed for agronomic crops. In conclusion, PM is very effective in improving wheat productivity on salt-affected soils but it can aggravate As accumulation in wheat grains if applied in combination with As polluted water.

The prime objective of the current study was to investigate the occurrence of mycotoxin patulin (PAT) in apples, grapes and their value added products. PAT was determined by a validated method based on HPLC with UV detector. A total of 381 samples comprising apple and grape fruits (n = 133 each), apple-based products (n = 76, juice, puree, jam) and grape juice (n = 39) were analyzed. PAT was found in 58.9% samples of apple and apple-based products, with a mean of 49.8 µg/kg (maximum 396 µg/kg), while 27.3% samples contained PAT beyond the maximum regulatory limit of 50 µg/kg. The average levels of PAT contamination in apple-derived products was higher in apple juice concentrate, followed by apple puree, apple juice and apple jam. The incidence of PAT in table grapes was 65.1%, with a mean of 53.9 µg/kg (maximum 505 µg/kg), whereas 23.8% exceeded the maximum level. Among the fruit samples, there were differences in PAT contents due to apple variety (6 types) or grape variety (8 types), as well as for sampling location. Our investigations showed the wide PAT occurrence in fruits and derived value-added products affecting consumer product safety, so that the population is chronically exposed to this toxin.