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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
April 2011 | Vol. 6 No. 4 |
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Title: |
Phenotypic correlations among body
measurements and physiological parameters in muturu and zebu
cattle
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Author (s): |
I. Udeh,
P. O. Akporhuarho and C. O. Onogbe
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Abstract: |
Data on linear body
measurements and physiological parameters obtained from 10
matured muturu and 10 zebu cattle were used for this study.
The linear body measurements studied include: head to
shoulder (HTS), shoulder to tail drop (STD), height at
withers (HTW) heart girth (HGT) and body length (BLT), while
the physiological parameters include rectal temperature (RT),
respiratory rate (RR) and pulse rate (PR). Each of the body
parameters in Zebu was significantly (P<0.01) superior to
the Muturu cattle. The results obtained from the
physiological parameters showed that muturu had
significantly (P<0.01) higher physiological values than the
Zebu cattle. The results also showed that there was no
significant (P>0.05) difference between the pre and post
grazing responses of muturu and Zebu cattle on physiological
parameters. The correlation coefficients among the body
parameters were high, positive and highly significant
(P<0.01) in bath muturu and zebu cattle. However, the
relationship between the body measurements and physiological
parameters were negative and highly significant (P<0.01)
with values ranging from - 0.44 - 0.80 in Muturu and -0.45
to -0.78 in Zebu cattle. The correlations among the
physiological parameters were positive and highly
significant (P<0.01). It was suggested that improvement on
non genetic factors such as nutrition and general husbandry
management will bring about an improvement in body
parameters as well as maintaining the physiological balance
of the animal.
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Title: |
Effect of seed size on seed germination
behavior of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) |
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Author (s): |
Hossein
Sadeghi, Fardin Khazaei, Saman Sheidaei and Liela Yari |
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Abstract: |
In order to evaluate the effect of seed Size on different
aspect of Safflower
(Carthamus tinctorius L.) germination, an experiment
was conducted at Seed and Plant Certification and
Registration Research Institute, Karaj, Iran. The experiment
was carried out in a 4×3 factorial design based on
randomized complete blocks with three replications.
Experimental units included four cultivars (Goldasht,
Padideh, Esfahan and Sina) and three seed size (small, large
and control). Germination percent, germination speed,
seedling length, radicle length, coleoptiles length,
seedling fresh and dry weights, coleoptiles fresh and dry
weights and 1000 seed weights were measured. Variance
analysis results revealed that some measured indices such as
Germination percent, germination speed, coleoptiles fresh
and dry weights, radicle fresh weight, radicle length and
1000 seed weights affected by cultivars. Mean comparisons
based on Duncan method indicated that Goldasht cultivar
produced the highest Germination percent, stem fresh weight,
stem dry weight, radicle fresh weight and 1000 seed weights
among cultivars. The effect of seed size on Germination
percent, germination speed, coleoptiles fresh weight,
radicle dry weight and 1000 seed weights were significant.
Large seeds produced the highest Germination percent,
coleoptiles fresh weight, coleoptiles dry weight, radicle
fresh weight and 1000 seed weights compared other seed size. |
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Title: |
Effect of pre-storage treatment on the
shelf-life of TIS2 sweet potato variety |
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Author (s): |
E. Teye,
R. S. Amoah and J. P. Tetteh |
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Abstract: |
The sweet potato (Ipomoea
batatas L.) variety TIS2 is a popular variety grown in
Cape Coast metropolis. However, it is
confronted with a myriad of post harvest challenges
resulting from heavy losses (deterioration in storage). In
this study the tuberous roots were pre-treated with four
pre-storage treatments (Ash, Brine, Lantana camara
extract and a Control) and stored at a
temperature and relative humidity of 25oC and 90
% respectively. Using a completely randomized design (CRD),
the tuberous roots were stored for twelve (12) weeks in an
evaporative cooling barn. At the end of the storage, sweet
potato roots pre-treated with the L. camara extract
was the best with 90.7% wholesomeness, 18 % weevil damage,
3.6 % shrinkage, 14% weight loss and 19% incidence of
decay. The ash pre-storage treatment was most effective in
reducing sprouting (42%) as compared to the others.
Pre-treatment of TIS2 with Lantana camara extract
may be explored to extend the shelf-life of sweet potatoes. |
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Title: |
Inhibition of some food borne pathogens
by pure and mixed lab cultures during fermentation and
storage of ergo, a traditional Ethiopian fermented milk |
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Author (s): |
Anteneh
Tesfaye, Tetemke Mehari and Mogessie
Ashenafi |
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Abstract: |
The antagonistic effect of
nine lactic acid bacterial strains, either as pure or
defined mixed-cultures, was assessed against food borne
pathogens (E. coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella
Typhimurium DT104, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC
25923) during fermentation and storage (at ambient and
refrigeration) of ergo.
At the end of
fermentation at 72 h, the pure LAB cultures
reduced the mean count of the target entero pathogens by 3
log units. The
count of all target pathogens was also reduced almost by 2,
3 and 5 log units at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively during
fermentation by mixed LAB cultures. During storage of
ready-to-consume ergo at ambient condition, the count
of test organisms decreased by 3-4 log units at 24 h; and
the test strains were totally eliminated within 30-48 h. In
contrast, during storage of ergo at refrigeration
condition, the average count of the test pathogens was
reduced by 3-4 log units at 72 h. The LAB strains survived
at counts of log 8.0 cfu/ml or higher up to 72 h during
ambient and refrigeration conditions. These findings suggest
that the isolates are possible candidates for the
formulation of bioprotective starter cultures that can be
employed for production of safe and potentially probiotic
ergo. |
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Title: |
Weight and measurement issues in retail
marketing of fresh tomatoes: Evidence from Osun State,
Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Adejobi A. O.,
Babatunde R. O. and Idowu E. O. |
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Abstract: |
This study investigates the
activities of the marketers of fresh Tomatoes especially,
the weights and measurements aspects of the market
institutions in Ife Area, Osun State. The problem here is a
standardization problem in marketing and it has significant
effects on the consumers of the product. Using primary data
collected from 60 randomly selected marketers of Tomatoes,
the study examined the types of weights and measures used in
the markets under study and assessed the various policies
guiding the weights and measurements in terms of awareness
and adherence. Also, the profit margins of the marketers
were estimated and the determinants of these margins among
the marketers were modeled using multiple linear regression
analysis. The results show that in spite of high level of
awareness about government policies guiding weights and
measures, the policy was not well adhered to because
majority of the marketers in the area prefer other types of
illegal measures in the study area. Furthermore, profit
margins are high and are affected by some socio-economic
characteristics of the marketers. It was therefore
recommended that volume measures should be done away with
and weights measures adopted with a fixed price for each
unit of weight measure to reduce difficulties in buying and
selling of fresh Tomatoes. |
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Title: |
Response of antioxidant
enzyme activities of sugar beet to drought stress |
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Author (s): |
Saeed
Sayfzadeh and Majid Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
In order to evaluate the
response of antioxidant defense system of three sugar beet
genotypes to drought stress, a two-year field experiment was
conducted at the Research Site of Sugar Beet Seed Institute
in Karaj, Iran during 2008 and 2009. Irrigation treatments
arranged in main plots during growing seasons included: 80
mm (I1: as control), 130 mm (I2) and
180 mm (I3) evaporation from A class pan under
surface irrigation method, 30 mm (I4), 80 mm (I5),
130 mm (I6) and 180 mm (I7: as severe
drought) evaporation with 100% volume of water requirement
under trickle irrigation (Tape) method, and 30 mm (I8)
evaporation with 75% volume of water requirement under
trickle irrigation (Tape) method. Genotypes included: 7112
(G1), BP-Karaj (G2) and BP-Mashhad (G3)
were in sub plots. Results of the study showed that drought
stress increased the activities of catalase (CAT),
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)
in sugar beet leaves. There were significant differences
among genotypes for antioxidant enzyme activity. Also,
irrigation × genotype interactions showed significant
difference on CAT and GPX activities. Results of the study
also indicated that drought stress causes production of
reactive oxygen species (ROSs), which results in greater
membrane permeability, i.e. malondialdehyde (MDA) content
and oxidative stress in the plants. Moreover, genotypes
having greater levels of antioxidants showed better
resistance to drought stress. |
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Title: |
Physiological studies of fungi
complexes associated with cashew diseases |
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Author (s): |
D. O.
Adeniyi, S. B. Orisajo, O. A. Fademi, O. O. Adenuga and L.
N. Dongo |
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Abstract: |
A field study to determine
the incidence of fungi complexes associated with cashew
diseases revealed three fungi of genera Lasiodiplodia,
Fusarium and Pestalotia when cultured on Potato
Dextrose Agar medium. The optimum temperature for the growth
of Fusarium was 250C while all the
temperature treatments 200C, 250C and
300C were found suitable for the growth of
Lasiodiplodia and Pestalotia. It was also found
that alternating 12 hours light plus 12 hours darkness was
more suitable for the growth of Fusarium than
continuous darkness. The growth of both Lasiodiplodia
and Pestalotia were not affected by the light
condition. |
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Title: |
Seed source variation and polybag size
on early growth of Jatropha curcas |
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Author(s): |
Abugre
S. and C. Oti-Boateng |
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Abstract: |
The study was carried out to
find the variation in Jatropha curcas seed sources
and the effect of polybag size on the growth of the
seedlings. The germination experiment was laid in Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications and the
split plot design in RCBD with 3 replicates were used to lay
the effect of polybag size and seed source on seedling
growth. The results showed significant variation in seed
weight from the various seed sources but did not show any
significant difference in seed length and seed width. The
maximum seed germination was 96% and the lowest was 93%.
Seedling growth of Jatropha curcas was high with
increasing polybag size. Based on the results obtained
larger polybag size would be ideal for raising seedlings. |
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Title: |
Land capability classification for
integrated watershed development by applying remote sensing
and GIS techniques |
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Author (s): |
Sachin
Panhalkar |
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Abstract: |
Land is the most valuable
natural resource, which needs to be harnessed according to
its potential. Due to over exploitation and mismanagement of
natural resources coupled with socio-economic factors, the
problem of land degradation is on the rise. Land resource is
one of the limited resources. The use of land is not only
determined by the user but also by the land capability. The
land capability is governed by the different land attributes
such as the types of soil, its depth and texture, underlying
geology, topography, hydrology, etc. The study region
selected for the present study is Dudhganga basin of
southern Maharashtra which is facing severe land degradation problems. Here, an attempt has
been made to apply RS and GIS for integrated watershed
development of the study region. The parameters like slope,
soil depth, texture and land use/ land cover are assessed by
applying remote sensing and GIS techniques for the land
capability classification of Dudhganga basin. Slope analysis
has been carried out by using SRTM data. To assess Land use/
land cover conditions, Landsat ETM image of 2006 year is
assessed by supervised classification techniques. Finally,
Intersect overlay technique of GIS is used to integrate
spatial information and to create Land capability
classification of the Dudhganga basin. The analysis reveals
that Class II, III, IV and VI are present in the study
region. Out of that Class II which is much suitable for
agriculture accounts 16.30 per cent. Class IV is a
dominating class as far the areal extent is concerned with
34.05 per cent. The Class VI is most susceptible to land
degradation which accounts for 28.61 per cent. |
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Title: |
Effect of foliar application of
nitrogen, potassium and zinc on wheat growth |
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Author (s): |
Hasina
Gul, Ahmad Said, Beena Saeed, Fida
Mohammad and Ijaz Ahmad |
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Abstract: |
An experiment was conducted
to find out the effect of foliar application of Nitrogen
(N), Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) solutions on the growth of
wheat variety Ghazanive-98 at the experimental farm of the
Agriculture Research Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar
during 2002-2003. Data was recorded on emergence m-2,
number of tillers m-2, plant height (cm), days to
anthesis and number of spikes m-2. The
statistical analysis shows that number of plants emerged m-2,
number of tillers m-2, plant height(cm) and
number of spikes m-2 were significantly affected
while days to anthesis was not significantly affected by
foliar treatments. Maximum emergence m-2 (309),
number of tillers (527) m-2, plant
height (100.50cm) and number of spikes (238) m-2
were recorded in those plots which were sprayed with 0.5% N,
0.5% K and 0.5% Zn solutions two times while minimum
emergence m-2 (130), number of tillers (263)m-2,
plant height (75.25cm) were recorded in control plots and
minimum number of spikes (123)m-2 was recorded in
plots sprayer with 0.5% K solution two times. It was
concluded that growth performance of wheat was highly
influenced by application of two time’s spray of 0.5
% N, 0.5% K and 0.5% Zn solutions. |
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