ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2004
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2004 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Patterns of phenotypic variation in endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) from Ethiopia
Kassa Semagn1*, Brita Stedje2 and Asmund Bjornstad1
1Agricultural University of Norway, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway.
2University of Oslo, Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 1172, Blindern, N-0318, Oslo, Norway.
Accepted 4 December 2003
Abstract
The extent of morphological variability of endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) sampled from 17 localities in Ethiopia that varied from 1600 to 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l) was investigated using 16 characters. Statistical analyses were performed using leaf hairiness and altitude as categorical variables. Cluster analysis performed using average taxonomic distance matrix revealed the separation of most plants into their respective leaf hairiness and altitude groups. When leaf hairiness was used as categorical variable, canonical discriminant analysis performed using characters selected by the stepwise procedure revealed the distinct separation of all glabrous plants from the pubescent ones with the slightly pubescent plants being intermediate. Classificatory discriminant analysis was used to assign 95.8% of the plants into their respective hairiness groups. Our data therefore support the hypothesis that pubescent forms are highly likely to be a different taxon. For altitude groups, canonical discriminant analysis performed using characters selected by the stepwise procedure resulted to the separation of most plants into lowland (1600-2100 m.a.s.l.), central highlands (2101-2500 m.a.s.l.), and highland (2501-3000 m.a.s.l) groups. Classificatory discriminant analysis was able to assign 70.8% of the plants into their respective altitude groups. However, all results from discriminant analyses of the morphological data were not strong enough to support the presence of morphological ecotypes in endod along altitudinal gradients.
Key words: Altitude, endod, morphological variation, Phytolacca dodecandra, pubescence.
Kassa Semagn*, Brita Stedje and Asmund Bjornstad
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2004
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2004 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Pathogenic and genetic characterization of Algerian isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis by RAPD and AFLP analysis
Lakhdar Belabid 1*, Michael Baum2, Zohra Fortas3, Zouaoui Bouznad 4, and Imad Eujayl 2
1Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Systèmes Biologiques et la Géomatique, Unité de Phytopathologie, B.P. 763, Mascara, Algérie.
2International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Biotechnology Lab., Germplasm Program P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria.
3Laboratoire de Biologie des Microorganismes et Biotechnologie, Département de Biotechnologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Oran, Es−Sénia, Algérie.
4Laboratoire de Phytopathologie et Biologie Moléculaire, Institut National Agronomique El Harrach, Alger, Algérie.
Accepted 21 November 2003
Abstract
Thirty-two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis were isolated from wilted lentil plants collected from different lentil growing areas in north-west Algeria. A pathogenicity test was performed for all isolates. Results indicated that the Fol isolates represent a single race but differ in their aggressiveness on the susceptible lines. The amount of genetic variation was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with a set of 6 RAPD primers and 3 AFLP selective nucleotide primer pairs. All amplifications revealed scorable polymorphisms among the isolates, and a total of 8 polymorphic fragments were scored for the RAPD primers and 93 for the AFLP primers. Genetic similarity between each of the isolates was calculated by using the Jaccard similarity coefficient and cluster analysis was used to generate a dendrogram showing relationship between them. The isolates could be grouped into two subpopulations based on RAPD and AFLP analysis. Results obtained indicate that there is little genetic variability among a subpopulation of Fol as identified by RAPD and AFLP markers and that there is no apparent correlation with geographical origin or aggressiveness of isolates. Also, the data suggest that Fol isolates are derived from two genetically distinct clonal lineages.
Key words: Lens culinaris, Fusarium wilt, molecular markers, pathogenicity.
Zouaoui Bouznad and Imad Eujayl, Zohra Fortas, Lakhdar Belabid*, Michael Baum
Page: 1 - 10
Review
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2004
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2004 International Scholars Journals
Review
Small round structured viruses (SRSVs) and transmission electron microscopy
Etsuko Tajiri-Utagawa
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Gakuen 4-7-1, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0012, JAPAN. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +81(42)561-0771.
Accepted 24 December 2003
Key words: Small round structured viruses, Caliciviruses, automated specimen search (ASS) system, transmission electron microscopy.
Etsuko Tajiri-Utagawa
Page: 1 - 10
Review
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2004
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2004 International Scholars Journals
Review
Potential use of rhizobial bacteria as promoters of plant growth for increased yield in landraces of African cereal crops
Viviene N. Matiru1 and Felix D. Dakora2*
1Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
2Research Development, Cape Technikon, Room 2.8 Administration Building, Keizersgracht PO Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Accepted 22 November 2003
Abstract
Rhizobia form root nodules that fix nitrogen (N2) in symbiotic legumes. Extending the ability of these bacteria to fix N2 in non-legumes such as cereals would be a useful technology for increased crop yields among resource-poor farmers. Although some inoculation attempts have resulted in nodule formation in cereal plants, there was no evidence of N2 fixation. However, because rhizobia naturally produce molecules (auxins, cytokinins, abscicic acids, lumichrome, rhiboflavin, lipo-chito-oligosaccharides and vitamins) that promote plant growth, their colonization and infection of cereal roots would be expected to increase plant development, and grain yield. We have used light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to show that roots of sorghum and millet landraces from Africa were easily infected by rhizobial isolates from five unrelated legume genera. With sorghum, in particular, plant growth and phosphorus (P) uptake were significantly increased by rhizobial inoculation, suggesting that field selection of suitable rhizobia/cereal combinations could increase yields and produce fodder for livestock production.
Key words: Rhizobia Rhizobia, N2 fixation, natural endophytes, non-legume infection, cereal crops, landraces, sorghum, millet.
Felix D. Dakora*, Viviene N. Matiru
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2003
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2003 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Comparison of an African herbal formula with commercially available haematinics
Okochi VI1, Okpuzor J2*, Alli LA1
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
2Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 21 July 2003
Abstract
The haematological changes observed with commercially available haematinics (Fagon 9® and Chemiron®) were compared with those of a local haematinic referred to as African Herbal Formula (AHF). Results showed that AHF produced effects in haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) levels which are reasonably comparable with the reference commercial and chemically defined haematinics.
Key words: Haematological changes, haematinics, African Herbal Formula, Trypanosome brucei brucei.
Okochi VI, Okpuzor J*, Alli LA
Page: 1 - 10
Short Communication
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2003
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2003 International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria
K. Abdullahi1, S. Muhammad1*, S. B. Manga1 and I. M. Tunau2
1. Department of Biological Sciences Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto-Nigeria.
2Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Sokoto-Nigeria.
Accepted 2 July 2003
Abstract
Three patients, 30, 2 and one and a half years, were diagnosed as having falciparum malaria and were placed on chloroquine therapy which failed. They were then placed on quinine therapy that then cleared the parasitaemia. This case report seeks to draw the attention of the presence of possible chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria.
Key words: Chloroquine-resistant malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, haemoglobin level, packed cell volume.
S. B. Manga and I. M. Tunau, S. Muhammad*, K. Abdullahi1
Page: 1 - 10