Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Heterosis for Enhanced Shelf Life and Earliness in Onions (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes
No full textThirty-seven Onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes comprising of twelve parents (12) and twenty-five hybrids were evaluated for enhanced storage shelf life and early maturity at the Fadama Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto during the 2015/2016 dry season. The objective of the research was to determine superior hybrids that can be stored as well as those that matures early. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. After harvesting, the genotypes were stored for five months under farmers practice. The analysis of the results indicated significant (P < 0.05) difference between the genotypes with respect to plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index, percentage bolting, days to maturity, bulb diameter, bulb height, average bulb weight, fresh bulb yield, cured bulb yield, yield and percentage loss after five months of storage. Cross B × K had the tallest plants (57.73 cm), B × E had the highest number of leaves/plant of 17, B × K had the broadest leaf area of 166.5 cm2, B × E recorded the highest leaf area index of 4.704, H × L recorded highest bolting percentage of 69.45%, E × F recorded lowest number of days to maturity of 91 days, E × F recorded broadest bulb diameter of 8.75 cm, D × H recorded tallest bulb height of 7.2 cm, B × E had the highest average bulb weight, fresh bulb yield and cured bulb yield of 0.282 kg, 47 t/ha, and 46.11 t/ha respectively. Cross C × E had the least percentage loss of 23.60%, while E × F had the highest loss of 68.15%. Based on the results obtained. The cross C × E was recommended for storage while B × E was recommended for early maturity
Assessment of Some Heavy and Essential Elements Accumulation in Seeds and Leaves of Parent and Introgression Lines in Oryza sp.
No full textIn this study, element concentrations in grains of three wild rice species (i.e., Oryza rufipogon, Oryza officinalis and Oryza meyeriana) and three cultivated rice varieties (i.e., Nipponbare, 93-11 and HY-8) as well as in leaves of Oryza officinalis and its introgression lines were measured. The wild rice species were highly useful in terms of the quality and the harmful heavy metal resistance. The results showed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals in the soil was in the ranking order of Ti > Zr > Sr > Pb > Rb > As. The essential element concentrations, it was found that the ranking order was Ca > Fe > K > Mn > Zn > Cu > Mo. In grains, the content of Ca, Zn and Sr elements in wild rice species was higher than that of cultivated rice varieties. Oryza meyeriana had the highest content of Ca and Sr, and Oryza officinalis had the highest content of Zn. The levels of Mo were high in Oryza rufipogon, while extremely low in Oryza officinalis and Oryza meyeriana. Oryza officinalis had much higher Cu than other varieties. Bioaccumulation values of all elements were less than one in the rice grain. The concentrations of elements varied in different parts of rice plants, and the highest concentrations occurred in the leaves comparing with grains. The introgression lines i.e., FC7-12, FC7-6, FC7-20 and FC7-1 showed good performance and ability in heavy metals resistance. High genotypic and phenotypic variances were observed in Mn concentrations followed by Fe concentrations, respectively. This study preliminarily proves that there is genetic diversity in element absorption and accumulation among different genotypes of wild rice species, cultivated varieties and introgression lines. Wild rice species are useful for developing high quality and improving tolerance to heavy metals in modern rice cultivars
Amelioration of Biotic Stress Induced by Onion Yellow Dwarf Potyvirus on Onion Seed Crop Using Nutrition
No full textThis study was conducted in the field to evaluate the effect of onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) on growth and yield of onion seed crop of two local onion genotypes (var. "Saggai" and Shendi"). It evaluated the possibility of alleviating the disease expression through the use of phosphorus and foliar spray (ADB) fertilizers. OYDV caused pronounced stunting of plants and reduction of leaf length, leaf width, and height and diameter of floral stalk. The virus infection was also associated with significant reduction in yields as demonstrated by umbel size and number of fertile florets carried by the small heads. Nutrition (phosphorus and ADB) was found to have a profound enhancement on growth and seed yield and seed quality of onion plants infected with OYDV. This was demonstrated by a substantial increase in the size of var. "Saggai" leaves (31.0% in length, 17.2% in width) and in the size of "Shendi" floral stalks (28.6% in height, 33.3% in diameter) in response to phosphorus plus foliar spray or phosphorus alone. Significant improvement in yield components, particularly in umbel size and number of fertile florets was obtained from both onion genotypes. The umbel diameter and number of fertile florets decreased in infected plants of cv. "Saggai" by 42.2% and 47.0% and in "Shendi” by 19.1% and 30.6%, respectively. Consequently, the loss in the final seed yield was substantial with reductions of 47.1% and 32.5% in "Saggai" and "Shendi", respectively. Although "Shendi" was comparably affected in its growth parameters to cv."Saggai", but it was affected considerably less in the yield components indicating that "Shendi" is perhaps tolerant to OYDV infection as far as the seed yield is concerned. However, the response to nutrition under test was noticeable for both onion genotypes in all growth and yield components including the final seed yield
Toward Conventional or Organic Agriculture? A Sustainability Check from Cameroon
No full textAims: The environmental advantages of organic over conventional agriculture have gained increasing importance in the last decades. The organic agriculture discourse has been mainly propelled by food-sufficient countries in the West and the emerging economies in Asia. Strangely, it has not attracted similar attention in Sub-Saharan Africa where agriculture plays a significant role in the economy, is a key livelihood activity for most inhabitants and food insufficiency is rampant. The objective of this paper is to comparatively analyze sustainability aspects of conventional and organic agriculture, using the common cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata.
Study Design: We apply the randomized complete block design.
Place and Duration of Study: Centre de Formation du Noun (CEFAN), in Noun division, in the western region of Cameroon, between August and October 2016.
Methodology: 1250 cabbage plants were planted on 10 equal and randomly selected plots. 5 replications were each subjected to conventional and organic practices. Plant parameters such as leaf area, plant height, survival rates, plant yields and soil pH were recorded from randomly selected plants from all plots, and used to estimate economic and ecological sustainability dimensions.
Results: Data analysis revealed that all captured parameters with the exception of soil pH were higher on average in the conventional agriculture plots. Survival rates and subsequent gross margin were significantly higher for conventionally cultivated cabbages (X2=.05, P=.04 respectively).
Conclusion: We therefore conclude that in agriculture-dependent economies at lower levels of development where market differentiation is highly deficient, conventional agriculture should be the preferred practice. 
Value Addition Assessment of Rice Production in Anambra East Agricultural Zone of Anambra State
No full textThis study assessed the extent to which values are added to rice and how profitable rice becomes when value is added to it through processing in Anambra-East Agricultural zone of Anambra State Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to sample 90 respondents. Results showed that majority of the farmers were males, aged 41-50 years engaged fully in value addition in rice production and processing. This indicated that the younger youths were rarely found in the business, majority of the farmers stopped at primary level of Education and their mean years of experience was 20. The gross margin for paddy production was N175, 000, while the gross margin for milled rice is N290, 000 and the benefit cost ratio for paddy production is 2.4 while that of milled rice is 2.2. The most serious problems confronting rice farmers in the zone were disease and pest infestation, lack of access to land, inadequate irrigation, inadequate extension agents, poor access to institutional credits.Bad rural road network, the inadequacy of modern storage and processing facilities and poor/low level of education. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to participate actively in farmers/social organizations and cooperative societies in order to strengthen their group action. Efforts should be made to provide adequate input to the farmers to eschew competitiveness among inputs used. Government should therefore put effort towards establishing microfinance and agricultural banks in some of the rice producing areas. This institutions should have low interest rate and low collateral
Growth Response of Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.) on Plant Population and Phosphorous Levels
No full textThe study focused on establishing Growth Response of Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.) on Plant Population and Phosphorous levels due to various recommendations are given on spacing for the same crop by various extension service providers that have made farmers plant the crop using broadcasting, 30 cm x 10 cm, 30 cm x 15 cm and 50 cm x 15 cm, which have not facilitated adequate productivity. The experimental design used was randomised complete block design with three replicates. Three plant spacing of 45x15 cm, 30x15 cm and broadcasting were subjected to five different levels of (0, 20 kg/ha, 30 kg/ha, 40 Kg/ha, 50 Kg/ha). Ten plants per plot were randomly selected and tagged for data collection. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests using SPSS software. Means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of significance. Results indicated that plant height; the number of branches, number of pods and seed yield were significantly affected by spacing and phosphorus levels. The wider spacing and highest level of P had significant effects on the growth of plants and seed yield. The spacing 45× 15 cm had a more positive effect on growth parameters and seeds weight as compared to other spacing(S1 = broadcasting, S2 = 30 x 15 cm). The phosphorus levels of F5 = 50 kgs/ha, F4 = 40 kgs/ha, F3 = 30 kgs/ha and F2 = 20 kg/ha had higher effect on growth and seed yield than the control (F1) by F5 registering much effects than the rest. Accordingly, the spacing of 45x 15 cm with phosphorous level 50 kg/ha is recommended for optimal results in spider plant seed production
Determination of Parcel Value Number with Detailed Method in the Land Consolidation
No full textAims: In this study, it was aimed to determine parcel value numbers used in land consolidation studies in more detailed.
Study Design: 14 different questions were created considering properties of the study area. Parcel value numbers of the study area were determined according to these detailed questions.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in 3 districts located in the Aksu province in Antalya in 2017.
Methodology: Generally, parcel value numbers were determined according to the parcel index. The current parcel index equation cannot perform a detailed calculation because it uses just three parameters such as soil index, productivity score and location score. However, in the new detailed equation created in this study, parcel index values were determined by using soil index and land quality index, which consisted of 14 different questions taking into account the properties of the region applied. In addition, proportions of parameters used in the current equation were revised in the new equation created. Results obtained with new detailed equation were compared with the results obtained by the institution that performs land consolidation with the current method in the region.
Results: As a result, the total parcel value numbers of the two districts were calculated higher in the new equation than the current equation. The total parcel value number in just one of the districts was determined lower in the new equation than the current equation.
Conclusion: According to results obtained in the study, the new equation can be used in the land consolidation studies instead of the current equation because the new equation has provided a much more detailed and fair land distribution
Evaluation of Calcium Regulating Role of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Eddo Corms in Hydroponic Solution Containing Calcium at Different Concentrations
No full textAims: Involvement of calcium oxalate crystals in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis in the corms of eddo in hydroponic solution containing calcium at different concentrations was investigated.
Study Design: Plants of eddo [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott var. antiquorum Hubbard & Rehder] cv. Aichiwase was used in this study. Seed corms were planted in plastic pots filled with vermiculite and the plants were sprouted by watering under natural temperature, light and humidity conditions in the green house at Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan. After 2 months the plants were grown in a growth chamber. Plants with new growing corms were subjected to grown in water culture solutions containing one of the four treatments as 0 mM calcium, 1 mM calcium nitrate (control), 15 mM calcium nitrate and 15 mM calcium chloride.
Results and Discussion: Under scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, few number of raphide crystals were observed in the cortex and many druse crystals were observed in the lateral part containing cortex, the connecting part between root and corm, and the peripheral part of stele. Very few number of druse crystals were observed in the center part of stele. The number and size of crystals in the lateral part of corms under 1 mM calcium nitrate treatment were significantly higher than that in 0 mM calcium solution and were significantly lower than that in the 15 mM calcium solutions. Calcium mapping images by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry showed a positive correlation between the amounts of calcium in the lateral part of corms and calcium concentration in treatment solutions. The weight percentage of calcium relative to the total weight of major constituent elements per crystal idioblast was significantly higher than that per parenchyma cell in the lateral part. However, the weight percentage of calcium per parenchyma cell except idioblasts of the lateral part was stable among the treatments. The results suggest that calcium is accumulated in crystals under calcium-excessive conditions and is released from crystals under calcium-deficient conditions for stabilisation of calcium levels in the tissues other than the idioblasts in the lateral part of eddo corm. In addition, the weight percentage of calcium per storage parenchyma cell of stele was stable among the treatments and was significantly lower than the weight percentage of calcium per parenchyma cell of the lateral part.
Conclusion: The results indicate that calcium delivered from roots is mostly entered at the lateral parts of corms and is accumulated in calcium oxalate crystals in the cortex, the connecting part between root and corm, and the peripheral part of stele. As a result, calcium contents of the storage parenchyma cells of stele may remain stable at a low level under different calcium treatments
Comparative Analysis of Germination Behavior of Three Species of Solanum at Different Storage Periods and Conditions
No full textSolanum constitutes the largest and most complex genera of the Solanaceae family, many of which are economically important. However, seed germination of the majority of the cultivated species of general Solanum is a major constraint to its production. The objective of this study was to investigate the germination behavior of three Solanum species under three storage environments at different periods. Seeds of three accessions of the Solanum species: S. macrocarpon, S. nigrum and S. aethiopicum were used in this study. The processed seeds of each accession were partitioned into three equal parts and packed in aluminium cans. Samples from the three accessions were kept separately in three storage environments, namely: ambient, short and medium term conditions in February 2015. The stored seed samples were drawn at quarterly intervals starting from May 2015 to February 2016 which constituted three storage periods and evaluated for germination. The laboratory experiment was conducted at Seed Testing Laboratory of the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in 3 x 3 x 3 factorial using completely randomized design (CRD) in three replications. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that effects of Solanum species, storage environments, storage periods and their interactions were highly significant (P=.01) on germination. The germination values of 18.67%, 41.83% and 44.17% were observed for seed samples stored under ambient, short term and medium term conditions respectively. Also, germination decreased as storage period increased with values of 44.2%, 38.5% and 16.2% for the first, second and third quarters respectively. In conclusion, the result of the interactive effect of storage environments and periods on germination revealed that a medium storage condition is the best environment to store Solanum species seeds. However, <50% germination value observed in all the storage periods indicates that further studies could be carried out on effective dormancy breaking method for these species to enhance their germination
Physicochemical Properties and Bacteriological Profile of Wheat Flours Produced and (or) Sold in Calabar, Nigeria
No full textThis study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical properties and bacteriological profile of white wheaten flour, wheat semolina and whole wheat meal produced and/or sold in Calabar. Ten (10) samples of each flour type was bought from ten strategic locations and analysed. The following physicochemical parameters of the samples were analysed: pH, moisture, ash, fat, gluten, protein, falling number. Microbiologically, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), total coliform count (TCC), Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens counts were determined. Results showed that the ash contents of five white wheaten flour samples and the fat content of one white wheaten sample did not conform to SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria) standards. TMAB and TCC of all samples conformed to SON standards. Salmonella spp was identified in 10% of all samples and E. coli was identified in one wheat semolina sample. However, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were not detected in any of the samples. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.01) between the three wheat flour types for ash, fat, gluten and protein, falling number, TMAB and TCC. This study highlights the need for product monitoring by relevant regulatory agencies to ensure conformity to standards