Journal of Agriculture and Applied Biology
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Evaluation of stored potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for soft rot bacteria in Ibadan, Nigeria
No full textPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a tuberous crop from the Solanaceae family which is a source of starch and food to many in Nigeria, however, its production is being hampered in field and storage by bacterial pathogen which causes rot of the stored tubers. To this end, the study aimed at screening potatoes from different stores within Ibadan for the evaluation and diversity of bacteria pathogens responsible for rot in potatoes. Damaged stored potato samples were collected from different locations in Ibadan for studies, these samples were isolated for bacterial pathogen and characterized biochemically and observed under the microscope for identification. Three genera of bacteria were observed to be responsible for potato rot in the study and they include Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum. Of all the isolated bacteria, Pectobacterium carotovorum has the highest occurrence with a frequency of 60%, while Pseudomonas syringae has a frequency of 33% and Ralstonia solanacearum has a frequency of 27%. The pathogenicity of the isolates were tested and this revealed that Pectobacterium carotovorum is the most virulent with a severity score of 4.3, while Ralstonia solanacearum follows with a score of 3.3 and a score of 2.7 was recorded for Pseudomonas syringae, while the control had a score of 0. The diversity and differences shown in the isolated bacteria indicated that potato rot is a serious disease which is caused by different bacteria and need an integrated approach for its control from the field of harvesting to the storage house
Copper levels in three commonly edible fruits: Are consumers at risk?
No full textThis study aimed to investigate levels of copper in three commonly edible fruits, namely, Lycopersicon esculenta (tomato), Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) and Cucumis sativus (cucumber) traded in Dar es Salaam city. Also, the study scrutinized risk associated with heavy metal intake in the fruits. The fruits were collected from Buguruni Market, one of the biggest markets in the city, and thereafter, were processed, and analyzed to determine copper levels. The average daily intake and human health risk indices were calculated based on the obtained copper levels. The findings revealed that the mean levels and average daily intake in L. esculenta (0.3267 mg kg-1, 0.0279 mg kg-1 person-1) and C. lanatus (0.2523 mg kg-1, 0.0216 mg kg-1 person-1) did not differ considerably (p = 0.05) from each other while the two fruits had significantly higher values than C. sativus (0.1610 mg kg-1, 0.0137 mg kg-1 person-1). The copper levels and average daily intake values were below WHO/FAO and Tanzania Bureau of Standards permissible limits. The human health index (HRI) was in the order: L. esculenta > C. lanatus > C. sativus and all the values were less than unit, suggesting that there is no health risk from consuming the fruits. Concerning copper levels, the study concludes that the fruits are safe for human consumption
Morpho-physiological responses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L) influenced by normal and water stress conditions
No full textDrought is a disaster around the world accumulating salt and erosion in lands. Presently, a research was conducted to determine the mor-pho-physiological response in bread wheat under normal and stress irrigations. This experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Hyderabad, Pakistan, for two consecutive years during the Rabi season of the year 2011-12 and 2012-13. Stress was imposed by withholding irrigations at three dif-ferent growth stages of the plant, i.e. T1: normal irrigations applied, T2: stress at tillering stage, and T3: stress at the booting stage. The progenies Sarsabz x Khirman and Sarsabz x TD-1 contributed the highest heritability% (81.0% and 85.5%) for osmotic potential (-MPa) at stress at booting stage. For grain yield spike-1(g), the progeny Kiran-95 x Khirman showed maximum heritability as 84.37 in T3. However, the progeny TD-1 x Imdad proved to be the best combiner progeny indicating highest heritability percentage (91.0%) among the progenies for grain yield at booting stress
Assessing impact of saline intrusion on rice cultivating area in Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province, Vietnam
No full textThis study was carried out to evaluate the effects of saline intrusion on agricultural activities, thereby proposing adaptation and mitigation measures for local people. Salinity was measured at 15 locations on the main and tributary rivers in Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province, Vietnam from January to September 2020. The method of direct interview with farmers was used to evaluate the knowledge and effects of saline intrusion on agricultural production. Salinity measurement results showed that salinity intrusion occurred and lasted from February to the end of May during the dry season (the Winter-Spring rice crop). During the rainy season (June-September), due to the large amount of water, salinity was only between 0.01 and 0.1‰. However, the research has found significant effects in the Summer-Autumn rice crop due to the accumulation of salinity in the soil from the Winter-Spring rice crop, which reduces the rice yield by 10-30%. The interview results revealed that more than 80% of the farmers were aware of the effects of saline water intrusion. Local authorities also regularly organize seminars to disseminate basic knowledge to the community to minimize the risks and impacts of saltwater intrusion. The proposed temporary solutions include rainwater storage, maintenance of saline prevention sluices, construction of more water regulation canals, financial support, and strengthening of salinity monitoring stations. In order to adapt to the long-term salinity conditions, local authorities need to focus on researching changing cropping patterns, crop structure, using new rice varieties that are able to adapt to drought and salty conditions. Besides, there will be technical assistance, capital for people to adapt well to the saline intrusion situation
Genotoxic effects of profenophos on Pisum sativum
No full textProfenophos is a commonly used organophosphate pesticide in pulse crops; however, it is difficult to say whether it is safe from cytogenotoxic effects. Test plant materials (field pea seeds) were soaked in 250 ml of 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% profenophos 50% EC separately for 6 hours. The mechanism behind various types of chromosomal anomalies observed due to treatment with profenophos has been discussed in detail. The effects of the pesticide that appeared in M1 generation diluted in M2. The appearance of C-metaphase with univalent and bivalents, multipolarities, chromatin bridges suggest that these organophosphate pesticides like profenophos affect genetic recombination which may lead to loss of important factors, gain of undesirable characters. This study aims at finding the cytological and genotoxic effect of pesticide profenophos on germ cells of Pisum sativum var. arvense and suggests judicious means of application of pesticides and agrochemicals in appropriate condition to elude further damages in the future
Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forskal) and its management: A review
No full textThe desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), is the world’s most dangerous and destructive migratory pest. It is a highly voracious and polyphagous insect. Its swarms can migrate hundreds of kilometers per day and invade areas covering millions of square kilometers, causing significant and widespread crop losses. In this review, we synthesize published research and reports on the life cycle, behavior, phases of desert locust along with its damage and management. Elements of locust management include population monitoring and population prediction. However, there are difficulties involved with estimating locust populations because locust swarms are highly mobile. Control techniques for managing locust swarms include cultural control (digging, burning), baiting (scattering locust food impregnated with insecticides), dusting with insecticide, and spraying liquid insecticides (chemical or biological) using ultra-low volume (ULV) application. Effective management strategy relies on improved knowledge of pest biology, more efficient monitoring and control techniques
Effects of weed management on agronomic performance and productivity of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)
No full textThe yield loss as a result of weed infestation is a major problem in maize fields. Hence, this research meant to examine the impacts of weed chemical control on maize growth and yield. The design of experiment was randomized complete block, and comprised 10 treatments viz., T1 (Control, weedy check), T2 (Weed free), T3 (Atrazine 1.5 kg ha-1 pre-emergence), T4 (Atrazine 750 g ha-1 + Pendimethalin 750 ml ha-1 pre-emergence), T5 (Atrazine 1.5 kg ha-1 followed by 2,4-D amine 0.4 kg ha-1 at 25 days after sowing as Post-emergence), T6 (Halosulfuron 67 g ha-1 at 25 DAS), T7 (Atrazine 1.5 kg ha-1 pre-emergence followed by Halosulfuron 90 g ha-1 25 days after sowing), T8 (Tembotrione 120 g ha-1 Post-emergence at 25 days after sowing), T9 (Pendimethalin 1000 ml ha-1 pre-rise fb Atrazine 750 g ha-1 + 2,4-D amine 0.4 kg ha-1 at 25 days after sowing as Post-emergence) and T10 (Atrazine 1.5 kg ha-1 pre-emergence followed by Tembotrione 120 g ha-1 Post-emergence at 25 days after sowing) with 3 replicates. The results showed that among other treatments, T10 recorded highest number of kernels per row (36.18), number of kernel cob-1 (499.12) and kernel weight cob-1 (136.97 g). A higher plant height (172.19 cm), leaf area (396.6 cm2 plant-1), dry matter accumulation (211.37 g plant-1), kernel yield (6.7 t ha-1) and stover yield (11.6 t ha-1) were found with weed free check plot which is on par with T10 treatment which brought about a higher value of plant height (162.93 cm), dry weight accumulation (205.7 g plant-1), leaf area (384.3 cm2 plant-1), kernel yield (6.5 t ha-1) and stover yield (11.4 t ha-1). In the meantime, T9 treatment reasonably increased kernel yield (6.2 t ha-1) and stover yield (11.0 t ha-1). It shows that application of herbicides as pre-emergence followed by post-emergence, such as T10 treatment could be a good method for weed control in maize fields
Agricultural landscape management strategies in watersheds towards resilient agroecosystems
No full textA resilient and sustainable agriculture must be able to meet the needs of food for people while taking into account the state of the ecosystem. Aims of this study is to develop a suitable management strategy to be applied to the agricultural landscape in the upstream of Jeneberang watershed in order to form a resilient agroecosystem. This research is a descriptive-analysis research. In this study, information was collected regarding the development of agricultural and agroecosystem activities in the upstream of the Jeneberang watershed. The data used were derived from primary data and secondary data. Primary data obtained from interviews and distributing questionnaires to respondent farmers, as well as field surveys. Meanwhile, secondary data retrieved from literature studies and data from various related agencies. Several strategies for managing agricultural landscapes towards resilient agroecosystems in the upstream Jeneberang watershed are as follows: diversify agricultural crops and agricultural activities in the upstream Jeneberang watershed; combine the use of environmentally friendly technology to make it suitable for the land; build good communication among the community; and develops agrotourism or ecotourism activities