Bioline International
Not a member yet
20181 research outputs found
Sort by
Effects of gibberellic acid on water uptake and germination of sweet sorghum seeds under salinity stress
No full textSweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a potential feedstock
crop in biomass energy development, and is much more resistant to
saline soils than crops. Healthy seed germination is critical for the
growth cycle of plants, and determines the establishment of seedlings
and subsequent crop production. High salinity conditions can result in
difficulty for seed germination and delays the germination period. So,
screening salt-tolerant genotypes and method for healthy seed
germination under salinity stress are vital to crop production and food
security. Therefore, a controlled study was conducted to explore the
interactive amendment effects of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA3) and
salinity on seed germination process of sweet sorghum. Seeds were
presoaked in different levels of GA3 water solutions (0,144, 288, and
576 \u3bcM) and then cultivated in gradient NaCl solutions (0, 50 and
100 mM). The effects of salinity and external GA3 on seed water uptake
and germination characteristics were investigated. Compared with the
effects of 0 \u3bcM GA3 at 0 mM NaCl, slight salt stress of 50 mM NaCl
improved the cumulative water uptake, germination and germination
index, but high salinity level of 100 mM NaCl significantly inhibited
these germination traits. However, either 100 mM NaCl or 576 \u3bcM
GA3 had significantly negative effects on seed cumulative water uptake,
cumulative germination, germination index, and length of germ and
radicle. The appropriate concentration of GA3 prominently relieved salt
stress and improved the seed germination of sorghum seeds, and the
optimum concentration for seed germination of sweet sorghum was 288
\u3bcM GA3 at each salinity level
Changes in the physical properties of an Amazonian Inceptisol induced by tractor traffic
No full textWith agricultural expansion in Amazonian regions, studies are needed to
verify the effect of mechanization on the soils of the regions. This
study aimed to assess soil physical attributes under different
compaction conditions induced by tractor traffic on a soil of southern
Amazonas State, Brazil. Treatments consisted of three compaction
levels: conventional soil tillage without additional compaction (CT)
and conventional soil tillage with additional compaction with four
(CTc4) and eight tractor passes (CTc8). An intense increase in soil
aggregate diameter was observed in the superficial soil layer
(0.00-0.05 m) from four tractor passes, decreasing in the successive
soil layers (0.05-0.20 m). Soil density increased up to a depth of 0.10
m. The reduced macroporosity and soil moisture on the soil surface
(0.00-0.05 m) did not significantly alter soil microporosity in the
different treatments. For the macroporosity, the 0.00-0.05 m layer was
the most impaired, with a reduction of more than 50% for the treatments
submitted to compaction (CTc4 and CTc8). The penetration resistance for
the 0.00-0.05 m layer was increased by more than 150% between the
treatment without compaction (CT = 0.88 MPa) and compaction (CTc4 =
2.25 MPa; CTc8 = 2.50 MPa). These results show a greater caution in the
agricultural machinery management in Amazonian soils, which may be
aggravated due to the intense water regime in the region
Rootstock affects the blend of biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted by \u7f5Hass\u92 avocado
No full textGrafting, using tolerant rootstocks, has been necessary to increase
avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) production in drought, salinity,
pest, and soil disease conditions. The avocado rootstock has shown an
influence on scion vigor, nutrient absorption, fruit quality, and
disease tolerance. Nevertheless, the avocado rootstock influence on the
biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted from
\u7f5Hass\u92 shoots has not been reported. Our objective was to
study the effect of two avocado rootstocks of the Mexican race on BVOC
emitted by avocado \u7f5Hass\u92 shoots. We collected BVOCs emitted
by \u7f5Hass\u92 avocado shoots grafted on \u7f5Mexicola\u92
and \u7f5Zutano\u92 rootstocks. All volatile collections were made
from living plants for 24 h through a dynamic headspace technique. The
chemical profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass
spectrometry (GC-MS). BVOC emission rates were highly variable in
amount and composition. The monoterpene \u3b1-pinene was emitted at
5.06 \ub1 0.74, 0.73 \ub1 0.14, and 1.43 \ub1 0.61 \u3bcg mL-1
by graft \u7f5Hass\u92/\u7f5Mexicola\u92,
\u7f5Hass\u92/\u7f5Zutano\u92 and ungrafted
\u7f5Mexicola\u92, respectively. Grafted \u7f5Hass\u92 on
\u7f5Mexicola\u92 emitted a wide variety of monoterpenes as
\u3b2-pinene, cumene, 3-carene, R-limonene and (Z)-\u3b2-ocimene,
whereas grafted plants on \u7f5Zutano\u92 only released
\u3b1-pinene and cumene. Estragole was only detected on ungrafted
\u7f5Mexicola\u92. We found that the chemical profile of volatile
compounds released by \u7f5Hass\u92 grafted avocado plants was
qualitatively and quantitatively influenced by rootstocks
Morphological characteristics and genetic diversity of Ethiopian sesame genotypes
Get PDFSesame ( Sesamum indicum L.) is produced worldwide, although more
than 96% of the world sesame seed is produced in Africa and Asia. The
objective of this study was to determine morphological properties and
identify the genetic diversity of cultivated sesame genotypes grown in
different parts of Ethiopia. Three hundred sesame genotypes collected
from diverse ecologies of Ethiopia and introduced from different
African and Asian countries, were used in this study. Genotypes showed
wide variability for most morphological traits, except for plant growth
type, leaf glands, anther filament colour, anther connective tip gland,
and anthocyanin colouration of the capsule. Genetic divergence using
Mahalanobis D2 statistics was computed, and the genotype lines were
grouped into six different clusters. Clustering was not associated with
the geographical distribution; instead genotypes were grouped mainly
based on morphological differences. The lowest divergence was noticed
between cluster I and V (10.06). Maximum inter-cluster distance was
observed between clusters IV and VI (D2 =342.56, followed by clusters I
and VI (D2 =217.9783), and III with IV (D2 =190.8707). Maximum genetic
recombination and variation in the subsequent generation, is expected
from crosses that involve parents from the clusters characterised by
maximum distances. Thus, maximum distances or varation could maximise
opportunities for transgressive segregation, since unrelated genotypes
would contribute unique desirable alleles at different loci.Le s\ue9same ( Sesamum indicum L.) est produit dans le monde
entier, bien que plus de 96% de la graine de s\ue9same mondiale soit
produite en Afrique et en Asie. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude
\ue9tait de d\ue9terminer les propri\ue9t\ue9s morphologiques
et d\u2019identifier la diversit\ue9 g\ue9n\ue9tique des
g\ue9notypes de s\ue9same cultiv\ue9s dans diff\ue9rentes
r\ue9gions d\u2019\uc9thiopie. Trois cents g\ue9notypes de
s\ue9same collect\ue9s dans diverses \ue9cologies
d\u2019\uc9thiopie et introduits dans diff\ue9rents pays africains
et asiatiques ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s dans cette \ue9tude.
Les g\ue9notypes ont montr\ue9 une grande variabilit\ue9 pour la
plupart des caract\ue8res morphologiques, \ue0 l\u2019exception du
type de croissance des plantes, des glandes foliaires, de la couleur du
filament d\u2019anth\ue8re, de la glande de
l\u2019extr\ue9mit\ue9 conjonctive de l\u2019anth\ue8re et de
la coloration anthocyanique de la capsule. La divergence
g\ue9n\ue9tique \ue0 l\u2019aide des statistiques de Mahalanobis
D2 a \ue9t\ue9 calcul\ue9e, et les lign\ue9es g\ue9notypiques
ont \ue9t\ue9 regroup\ue9es en six groupes diff\ue9rents. Le
regroupement n\u2019\ue9tait pas associ\ue9 \ue0 la
r\ue9partition g\ue9ographique; au lieu de cela, les g\ue9notypes
ont \ue9t\ue9 regroup\ue9s principalement en fonction des
diff\ue9rences morphologiques. La divergence la plus faible a
\ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e entre les grappes I et V (10,06). La
distance maximale d\u2018 inter-grappes a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e
entre les grappes IV et VI (D2 = 342,56, suivie des grappes I et VI (D2
= 217,9783) et III avec IV (D2 = 190,8707). La recombinaison
g\ue9n\ue9tique maximale et la variation dans la
g\ue9n\ue9ration suivante est attendu de croisements qui impliquent
des parents des grappes caract\ue9ris\ue9es par des distances
maximales. Ainsi, les distances maximales ou la variation pourraient
maximiser les possibilit\ue9s de s\ue9gr\ue9gation transgressive,
puisque des g\ue9notypes non apparent\ue9s apporteraient des
all\ue8les uniques souhaitables \ue0 diff\ue9rents locus
Mapping of soil nutrient deficiency in oil palm plantations of Southern Benin
Get PDFSoil degradation poses a threat to sub-Saharan sustainability of
agriculture namely because of chemical and physical degradation. The
objective of this study was to characterise soil properties in oil palm
plantation in the districts of Ou\ue9m\ue9 and Plateau and develop
spatial maps for soil nutrients useful in agricultural land use as a
basis for designing soil fertility management strategies. A survey
carried out in oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations in the
southern Benin, revealed mineral deficiency symptoms consequent to poor
mineral nutrition of the plant. A total of 428 soil composite samples
were collected under farmers\u2019 adult oil palm trees, randomly
selected. These oil palm plantations were located on four soil types:
Acrisol, Plintics and luvisols, Hydromorphic soil and Vertisols. In
total, 370 samples were collected on plantations under Acrisols, 22
samples under Plintics and luvisols, 26 samples under Hydromorphic soil
and 10 samples under Vertisols. Geostatistic methods were used to
determine the spatial variability; and semi-variogram methods were
established using ordinary kriging. A strong spatial dependency for
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium was observed; while
spatial dependency of calcium was moderated. The map of nutrient
deficiency revealed two large areas. The first, included the districts
of Bonou, Adjohoun, Sak\ue9t\ue9, Adja-Ou\ue8r\ue8, and
Pob\ue8, where oil palm plants showed an acute nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium deficiency; and the second area of Dangbo,
Miss\ue9r\ue9t\ue9, Ifangni, Avrankou, Adjarra which presented
nitrogen, potassium and slight phosphorus deficiency in the oil palm
plantations. Most of the soils under the oil palm plantations showed
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium deficiency.Afin d\u2019apporter une solution \ue0 la manifestation des
sympt\uf4mes de d\ue9ficience min\ue9rale dans les plantations
paysannes de palmier \ue0 huile, la pr\ue9sente \ue9tude vise
\ue0 d\ue9terminer la variabilit\ue9 spatiale des
d\ue9ficiences en nutriments au niveau de trois types de sol au sud
B\ue9nin pour une cartographie des manifestations. A cet effet, 428
\ue9chantillons composites de sol ont \ue9t\ue9 collect\ue9s au
niveau des plantations paysannes de palmier \ue0 huile sur sols
Ferrallitiques, sols Ferrugineux tropicaux, sols Hydromophes et
Vertisols. Au total 370 \ue9chantillons ont \ue9t\ue9
pr\ue9lev\ue9s au niveau des sols Ferrallitiques, 22 au niveau des
sols Ferrugineux tropicaux, 26 au niveau des sols Hydromorphes et 10 au
niveau des Vertisols. La g\ue9ostatistique a permis de
d\ue9terminer la variabilit\ue9 spatiale des carences
min\ue9rales des sols et les semi-variogrammes ont \ue9t\ue9
\ue9tablis \ue0 l\u2019aide du krigeage ordinaire. Un grand nombre
d\u2019arbres ont pr\ue9sent\ue9 des carences en azote, phosphore,
potassium et magn\ue9sium, en revanche, la dispersion spatiale des
arbres pr\ue9sentant une carence en calcium \ue9tait
mod\ue9r\ue9e. La cartographie des d\ue9ficiences min\ue9rales
des sols a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 deux grandes zones similaires\ua0:
la premi\ue8re pr\ue9sentant des signes de carence en azote,
phosphore et potassium regroupe les communes de Bonou, Adjohoun,
Sak\ue9t\ue9, Adja-Ou\ue8r\ue8, et Pob\ue8, la seconde
constitu\ue9e des communes de Dangbo, Miss\ue9r\ue9t\ue9,
Ifangni, Avrankou, Adjarra avec des palmeraies pr\ue9sentant des
signes de carence s\ue9v\ue8re en azote et potassium et des signes
de carence moins prononc\ue9s en phosphore
Karyotypic analyses of accessions of Kersting\u2019s groundnut
No full textKersting\u2019s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpa) is an orphan crop of
significant food and household income in sub-Saharan Africa. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the chromosomal variability
among the accessions of the species through analysis of the karyotypes.
Six accessions of Kersting\u2019s groundnut were subjected to
conventional cytological techniques, using root tip meristems. The
somatic chromosome number was 2n = 20 in all the accessions. The
highest total chromosome length was obtained in Tkg 1
(1.739\ub10.047); while the least was in Tkg 12 (1.014\ub10.029).
All the accessions had metacentric, submetacentric and subtelocentric
chromosomes. However, there was a preponderance towards metacentric
chromosomes, suggesting a symmetrical karyotype, which is known to be a
primitive condition. Five of the accessions were grouped in karyotype
2A while one accession, Tkg 9 was grouped in karyotype 2B. The 2B
karyotypes are known to have greater chromosomal asymmetry than 2A;
thus Tkg 9 may be advancing evolutionarily faster than the other
accessions. Hierarchical cluster analysis divided the accessions into
three clusters. Cluster 1 comprised of four accessions (Tkg 1, Tkg 6,
Tkg 9 and Tkg 11); while Cluster 2 comprised of one accession (Tkg 6);
and cluster 3 had one accession (Tkg 12). Tkg 6 and Tkg 12 were
observed to be distantly related to the other accessions; as such could
serve as parents in hybridisation programmes to generate wider
variability for the improvement of the species.L\u2019arachide de Kersting (Macrotyloma geocarpa) est une culture
orpheline alimentaire et de revenus significatives des m\ue9nages en
Afrique Subsaharienne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait
d\u2019\ue9valuer la variabilit\ue9 chromosomique parmi les
accessions de l\u2019esp\ue8ce en utilisant les analyses des
caryotypes. Les six accessions ont \ue9t\ue9 soumises \ue0 des
techniques cytologiques conventionnelles en utilisant des
m\ue9rist\ue8mes de la pointe des racines. Le nombre de chromosomes
somatiques \ue9tait de 2n = 20 dans toutes les accessions. La
longueur totale de chromosome la plus \ue9lev\ue9e a \ue9t\ue9
obtenue en Tkg 1 (1,739 + 0,047); tandis que le moins \ue9tait en Tkg
12 (1,014 + 0,029). Toutes les accessions avaient des chromosomes
m\ue9tacentriques, subm\ue9tacentriques et subt\ue9locentriques.
Cependant, il y avait une pr\ue9pond\ue9rance de chromosomes
m\ue9tacentriques, sugg\ue9rant un caryotype sym\ue9trique qui
est connu pour \ueatre une condition primitive. Cinq des accessions
ont \ue9t\ue9 regroup\ue9es dans le caryotype 2A tandis
qu\u2019une accession, Tkg 9 a \ue9t\ue9 regroup\ue9e dans le
caryotype 2B. Les caryotypes 2B sont connus pour avoir une plus grande
asym\ue9trie chromosomique que 2A; ainsi Tkg 9 peut \ue9voluer plus
vite que les autres accessions. L\u2019analyse hi\ue9rarchique des
clusters a plac\ue9 les accessions en trois clusters. Groupe 1
compos\ue9 de quatre accessions (Tkg 1, Tkg 6, Tkg 9 et Tkg 11);
tandis que le groupe 2 comprenait une accession (Tkg 6); et le groupe 3
avait une accession (Tkg 12). On a observ\ue9 que les Tkg 6 et Tkg 12
\ue9taient \ue9loign\ue9es des autres accessions; en tant que tel
pourrait servir de parents dans les programmes d\u2019hybridation pour
g\ue9n\ue9rer une plus grande variabilit\ue9 pour
l\u2019am\ue9lioration de l\u2019esp\ue8ce
FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF POSTNATAL CARE SERVICES AMONG POSTNATAL MOTHERS WHO DELIVERED FROM CHINA-UGANDA FRIENDSHIP HOSPITAL, KAMPALA DISTRICT
No full textIntroduction: Only 13% of women in Africa attend postnatal care
appointments. Despite the availability of postnatal care services at
China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru (CUFHN), utilization of PNC
services remains low. Purpose: Specifically, this study looked at the
level of utilization of postnatal care services, the individual and
healthcare factors and modalities for improving utilization of
postnatal care services among postnatal mothers who delivered from
CUFHN. Methods: Analytical cross sectional research design was used,
with quantitative methods of data collection. A sample of 381
respondents who were postnatal mothers was used, selected by simple
random sampling. Data was collected using researcher administered
questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Findings:
Utilization of postnatal care services was low at 14%.
Socio-demographic factors that were significantly associated with
utilization of PNC services were; age (p=0.001), religion (p=0.024),
marital status (p=0.048), education (P=0.034). Significant individual
factors included; work (p=0.001), cultural norms (p=0.014), education
about PNC (p=0.006), birth order (p=0.010), having children (p=0.025),
HIV testing (p=0.024), husbands\u2019 involvement (P=0.002), use of
herbal medicine (p=0.004), financial constraints (p=0.001), means of
transport (p=0.001). Significant healthcare factors included; distance
(P=0.001), availability of maternity services (p=0.038), affordability
of drugs at local pharmacies (P=0.001), availability of drugs
(p=0.042), diagnosis before prescription and treatment (P=0.005),
availability of health workers (p=0.033), privacy (p=0.039), waiting
time (p=0.001) and enough seats and beds (p=0.038). Conclusion: There
was low utilization of PNC services. This was mainly due to maternal
old age, high parity, and knowledge about PNC, among others. Policy to
enhance PNC service utilization needs to be enacted and revised from
time to time to enhance effective utilizatio
Intra-tumoral distribution of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 in ER+ mammary carcinoma: quantitative evaluation
Get PDFBackground: In spite of the strong evidence demonstrating the role of
overexpression of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 markers in breast carcinomas,
clinical and pathological data remain to be discussed. This can be
explained partly by intratumor heterogeneity. Objectives: To define the
prevalence and clinical significance of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1
overexpression in primary breast tumors ER positive, while highlighting
the existence of intratumor heterogeneity in this type of cancer
Materials and methods: 51 ER positive breast cancer tumors were used to
evaluate the intratumoral distribution of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1
expression. Image acquisition and visualization of the markers were
performed by optical microscopy and stereology sampling method.
Results: The mean Ki-67 labeling index was distributed heterogeneously
in the same tumor, from 20.67\ub16.87 to 45.10\ub110.65. The
coefficient of variation (COV) revealed dispersion values between 13.4%
and 42.9%. Associated with positive ER status, all the tumors presented
a Cyclin D1 expression with a COV varying between 19% and 28.5% and a
mean labeling index fluctuating between 19.40\ub14.42 and
41.64\ub110.08 within the same patient showing important intratumor
heterogeneous distribution. Conclusion: In this study, we have adopted
a strictly quantitative approach to evaluate and demonstrate intratumor
heterogeneity. This establishes one of the main factors for poor
response to cancer therapy. To achieve this, intratumor heterogeneity
should be usually definable and quantifiable but this domain awaits
future progress and methods need to move towards a better understanding
of molecular and cellular mechanisms that initiate and maintain this
tumor heterogeneity
Association of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and T941G polymorphism of monoamine oxidase (MAO-A) gene with aggression in Pakistani subjects
Get PDFBackground: Human behavioral traits are known to be significantly
heritable. Certain individuals have a greater tendency of negative
behavioral aspects including aggression. The quest to identify
tunderlying genetic causes has led to identification of a number of
genetic markers, one of them is the monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) gene.
Objective: We aimed to genotype a variable number of tandem repeats
(VNTRs) in the promoter region and a functional SNP within this gene
(T941G, dbSNP ID: rs6323) in the recruited cohort of 482 subjects.
Methods: After DNA isolation, genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP and the
results were confirmed by sequencing. Results: For VNTRs, the results
showed, highest frequency of 3.5 repeats in males and 4 repeats in
females in the promoter region. The genotype frequencies for the SNP in
cases were GG=16.3%, TG=20.6% and TT=63.1%, while in controls, the
frequencies were GG=12.7%, TG=6.3%, and TT=81.0%. The allele
frequencies were significantly different between cases and controls
(p=0.015; OR=1.51; CI=1.085-2.102). Conclusion: The selected VNTR and
SNP appeared to be significantly associated with aggression. These
VNTRs and SNP have not been studied previously in the Pakistani
population, hence they represent a unique ethnic group. These results,
however, would have to be replicated in larger cohorts
Co-existence of NDM-1 and OXA-48 genes in Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
Get PDFBackground: The noteworthy spread of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae
(CR-KP) isolates represents a significant safety threat. Objective:
Determination of the carbapenemase genes incidence among CR-KP clinical
isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Methods: A total of 230 K. pneumoniae
isolates were recovered from four hospitals in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
Susceptibility testing was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and
automated-Vitek2 system. CR-KP isolates were tested using modified
Hodge test (MHT) and combined disk synergy test. PCR and DNA sequencing
were conducted for CR-KP isolates to recognize the included
carbapenemase-genes. Results: Out of 230 K. pneumoniae isolates, 50
isolates presented resistance to carbapenem (meropenem). All 50 CR-KP
isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Genes like blaNDM-1 and
blaOXA-48 were the only detected genes among CR-KP with an incidence of
70.0% and 52.0%, respectively. Up to 74.0% of the tested isolates
carried at least one of the two recorded genes, among them 48.0%
co-harbored both blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes. The accession-numbers of
sequenced blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes were MG594615 and MG594616,
respectively. Conclusion: This study reported a high incidence of MDR
profile with the emergence of blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48 genes co-existence
in CR-KP isolates in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Hence, more restrictions
should be applied against the spread of such serious pathogens