Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 104-107, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of herbicides and manual weeding on weed management and tomato yield in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Olumidele Roland Femi

Department of Plant Science, Ekiti State University, P. M. B. 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 27 April, 2016

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of herbicides and manual weeding on weed management and tomato yield in Ado Ekiti, a southwestern Nigerian location. Pendimethalin at the rate of 1.25 kg a.i.ha^-1 was applied pre-transplanting on ridges; Paraquat was applied post-transplanting as supplementary to earlier treatments at the rate of 2.4 kg a.i.ha^-1 and manual weeding was done at 3 and 7 weeks after transplanting. The herbicide combinations provided the best weed suppression in terms of weed density and biomass reductions. Field establishment count showed that the herbicides used did not pose lethal effect on the tomato plant. Comparable yield figures were obtained from plots sprayed with the herbicide combinations: manual weeding + herbicide combinations and manual weeding at 3 and 7 weeks after transplanting (WAT). Pendimethalin applied pre-transplanting without a supplementary weed management could not give a season long weed management and thus led to lower tomato yield.

Key words: Tomato, pendimethalin, paraquat, manual weeding, yield.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 099-103, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of rhizobacterium on  the  rhizosphere and endophytic densities of M. javanica in tomato varieties

Oyembor R. Milicent¹*, Timidi Francis¹ and Ebinabor David-West Jr²

¹Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Abia State University, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 8 April, 2016

Abstract

The biological control potential of 0.2 cfu/ml of the bacterium; Psuedomonas flourescens was assessed by inundating two varieties of tomato; Roma VF and UC83B infected with 500; 1000; 1500 and 2000 eggs/(J²) juveniles of the nematode Meloidogyne javanica. The control sets were only infected with M. javanica and the randomised block designs with five replicates were adopted. Plants were grown in 30cm mouth-wide black polyethene bags containing steam sterilized soil mixture of loam and sand in the ratio of 1:1. Endophytic and rhizosphere populations of M. javanica were assessed at 30, 60 and 90 days after inoculation (DAI). Result of the study revealed that P. flourescens did not inhibit M. javanica egg hatch and root penetration 30 DAI in both tomato cultivars. However, the endophytic population density of M. javanica varied greatly within the 60 and 90 DAI, in both tomato cultivars, which was attributed to host specific factors. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the height and the girth of the controls and that of the P. flourescens inundated replicates. There were significant difference s (p<0.05) in the root weight between the control and the P. flourescens induced replicates.

Key words: Endophytic and rhizosphere population, egg hatch, nematode penetration, feeding sites and plant growth stimulatory factors.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 085-091, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Toxicity and preventive action of essential oils in growth of cotton ramulosis Colletotrichum gossypii

José  Baccarin¹, Jorge H. Ambrosio¹ and Antônio Irineu Salles²*

¹Agronomy Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), R. Dom Manoel De Medeiros, S/N, Dois Irmãos, Recife-PE. Cep. 52171-900, Brazil.

²Brazilian Company of Aricultural Research (Embrapa Algodão), Cp 174, Cep. 58107-720, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 7 February, 2016

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and preventive action of essential oils in growth of cotton ramulosis, Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides, in vitro and in vivo conditions. Six fungus-isolates obtained from cotton belts, in Southern and Mid-West Brazilian regions were submitted to different oil concentrations in bioassays and inhibition of mycelia growth were evaluated during 7 days. Then, the selected oil was used in a preventive bioassay carried out in greenhouse using a susceptible cotton cultivar infected with fungus-conidia at 1.0 × 10⁶ mL-1. Plants in greenhouse were daily evaluated during 30 days. Among all samples evaluated, clove oil at low concentration (500 ppm) provided best results as to fungus-growth inhibition. The disease severity was reduced to 60% in relation to control (no-infected plants). These results mean an interesting alternative in the preventive control of cotton ramulosis, especially to small farmers which often have adopted an agro-ecological management for disease control of crops.

Key words: Colletotrichum, toxicity, control, disease, fungus, growth, ramulosis, inhibition.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 073-078, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Utilization and conservation of soil and water samples from Zian and Qalabshu in Egypt

Gamal Boutros Chahine

Toxicology Unit, Emergency Hospital, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 7 February, 2016

Abstract

The present work was carried out on fifty water samples collected from Zian and Qalabshu during May 2010. Analysis carried out on the selected ten drainage and four subsoil water samples represent the water resources of the study area. The aim of the present work is to suggest the best and scientific method of utilization and conservation of soil and water for the future development in the area. The results showed that samples of El-Nil canal fall in high saline water class. Though such water is permissible for irrigation, it may cause a harmful effect on crops. It may be suitable for plants of moderate tolerance. Samples of El-Sokar factory canal at the front of the factory gate, rejection area of drain-2-station and suction area of drain-2-station, El-Gamaiat canal and subsoil-1, fall in very high saline class which is of doubtful quality for irrigation. Samples of El-Sokar factory canal (1 km away from the factory gate), immersed area of water, El-Moheet drain and subsoil samples, fall in the excessive saline water class which is of unsuitable quality for irrigation. To avoid the serious problem of salinity, the subsoil water was lowered either horizontally by relatively deep surface drains or vertically dewatering from the wells.

 Key words: Drainage water samples, subsoil water samples, boron.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 067-072, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hatchability of Clarias anguillaris eggs induced with frog pituitary gland and dosage recommended for breeding Clarias anguillaris

D. D. O Okoro, Atunisha Umukoro Micheal* and S. P. George

Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65 Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 15 February, 2016

Abstract 

Ripe Clarias anguillaris, with a size ranging from 350 to 600 g total body weight (TBW) (mean weight of 434.44 ± 79.39 g), were treated with frog (Xenopus laevis) crude pituitary glands at three treatment levels of 1 pituitary, 2 pituitaries and 3 pituitaries per broodstock and the control treated with Ovaprim. Each treatment was replicated three times. The frogs’ weight ranged from 29.40 to 105.59 g. The latency period before successful stripping was observed to range from 9 to 14 h according to the hormone dosage. Eggs were incubated at a temperature range of 26 to 27°C. Hatching started after 24 h and was completed by 36 h of incubation. Egg yield or fecundity was observed to vary according to the dosage of pituitary glands administered. Two pituitary glands injection yielded the highest egg number with mean fecundity of 47081 ± 10516 followed by one pituitary gland treatment with mean fecundity of 34785 ± 7537. Three pituitary glands treatment gave the least fecundity of 26007 ± 4359. Percentage fertilization and hatching of the eggs were also higher in two pituitary glands treatment with 98% fertilization and hatching. This was followed by one pituitary (75%) and three pituitary glands with 62% fertilization and hatching. The fries were reared for 8 weeks. Mortality was observed to be highest during the second week in all the three treatments. Treatment two (2 pituitaries) still had the highest survival of 68.40% followed by treatment one (1 pituitary) with 29.60% survival and treatment three (3 pituitaries) with only 4.80% survival. The stock stabilized and no mortality (0%) was recorded from 3rd to 8th weeks of rearing. Results indicated that 2 pituitary glands treatment was most effective followed by 1 and 3 glands treatments respectively. Weight of frogs and their respective pituitaries and weight of fish appeared to have relative effects on their productivity. Three frogs (T₃) of mean weight 67.52 ± 33.70 were observed to be an over dose to a fish of 434.44 g mean weight.

Key words: Clarias anguillaris, breeding, frog pituitary.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 050-059, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Health benefits and risk factors involved in Genetic modification of food

Omojuwa H. Johnson¹* and Oboli R. David²  and Damilola O. Harriet²

¹Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biological Sciences Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 5 January, 2016

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation. Genetic modification involves the insertion or deletion of genes. In the process of cisgenesis, genes are artificially transferred between organisms that could be conventionally bred. In the process of transgenesis, genes from a different species are inserted, which is a form of horizontal gene transfer. In nature, this can occur when exogenous DNA penetrates the cell membrane for any reason. To do this artificially may require attaching genes to a virus or just physically inserting the extra DNA into the nucleus of the intended host with a very small syringe, or with very small particles fired from a gene gun. However, other methods exploit natural forms of gene transfer, such as the ability of Agrobacterium to transfer genetic material to plants, and the ability of lentiviruses to transfer genes to animal cells. The large scale growth of GM plants may have both positive and negative effects on the environment. These may be both, direct effects on organisms that feed on or interact with the crops, or wider effects on food chains produced by increases or decreases in the numbers of other organisms.

Key words: Benefits, food, genetically, modified.