Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Orlando António Quilambo

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University, P.O. Box 257, Maput, Mozambique. Tel: 258-1-429254. Fax: 258-1-429254. E-mail:[email protected] or [email protected].

Accepted 25 November 2018

Abstract

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi are associated with the majority ot the terrestrial plants. Their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. However, our knowlwdge about this symbiosis is still limited. For the semi-arid tropics, where some african countries are located, there is a great possibility of using mycorrhizas as a biological tool for sustainable agriculture. This review gives an overview on the mycorrhizal benefits and recomends some management practices for the semi-arid Africa conditions.

Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, endomycorrhizas, soil fungi, symbiosis, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of microwave heating on the thermal states of biological tissues

Nabil T. M. El-dabe, Mona A. A. Mohamed and Asma. F. El-Sayed*

Math. Department, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University ,Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 28 September 2018

Abstract

A mathematical analysis of microwave heating equations in one-dimensional multi-layer model has been discussed. Maxwell's equations and transient bioheat transfer equation were numerically calculated by using finite difference method to predict the effects of thermal physical properties on the transient temperature of biological tissues. This prediction of the temperature evolution in biological bodies can be used as an effective tool for thermal diagnostics in medical practices.

Key words: Microwave heating, Maxwell's equations, bioheat, multi layer.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Advances in root hairs in Gramineae and Triticum aestivum

Yin Wu and Dexian He*

College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, 95 Wenhua Rd., Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China.

Accepted 28 December, 2018

Abstract

Relevant literatures in the past ten years showed that lots of research activities have been conducted in diverse aspects of root hairs, in particular, of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. However, data on Gramineae root hairs are unsystematic. Much more research activities have been done theoretically than practically, and qualitatively than quantitatively. There are few studies relating active, quantitative and precise regulation and control of root hairs. With regards to wheat root hairs, literatures are insufficient. Particularly, data concerning the kinetics of formation, morphology and structure of root hairs in situ in the actual wheat production are still lacking. Future research need to be conducted before we could actively control development and improve physiological functions of wheat root hairs. Moreover, although careful observations found a hairy structure named ‘special root hair’ on the basal portion of a nodal root in wheat, little is known about its morphology, structure, among others.

Key words: Research prospects, root hair, Gramineae, Triticum aestivum L.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

The human genome project and the future of medical practice

Bennett C. Nwanguma

Centre for Biomedical Education, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Email: [email protected].

Accepted 15 July, 2019

Abstract

Contrary to the scepticism that characterised the planning stages of the human genome project, the technology and sequence data resulting from the project are set to revolutionise medical practice for good. The expected benefits include: enhanced discovery of disease genes, which will lead to improved knowledge on the genetic basis of diseases; availability of DNA- based diagnostic methods, which will find widespread application in preimplantation diagnosis, carrier screening, presymptomatic testing and population screening; the availability of more effective and more tolerant drugs, which will result in more effective therapies characterised by higher potency and reduced incidence of adverse reactions. However, there are still a number of technological, ethical, legal and social obstacles that must be addressed before these medical advances are incorporated into routine clinical practice. To justify the huge investments in the human genome project, the new advancements should be affordable by all, and must not result in a further widening of the gap between the quality of healthcare available in the resource-rich and the resource-poor countries.

Key words. Human genome, genomics, medicine, pharmacogenomics, therapy, diagnosis.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (12), pp. 001-007, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determining agricultural water demand from natural streams using the entropy concept

Mehmet Ardiçlioglu* and Serkan Özdin

Department of Civil Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.

Accepted 21 February, 2018

Abstract

Determining water flow discharge in open channels is a very important task for agricultural water management, but current methods are labor-intensive and difficult. The entropy method suggested by Chiu and Said (1995) promises to simplfy the task of measuring water flow rates. This paper offers a further simplification of ongoing discharge measurements by showing that the u_max and H_max values form a constant in a specific water channel cross section. Once the u_max/H_max constant is determined, u_max, and therefore discharge, can easily be calculated from H_max measurements. This method, which we call Q_umax method in this paper, was compared against the integrated discharge method for accuracy and was found to have an accuracy similar to that of two other common methods, the integrated Q _{0.2 to 0.8} and the entropy methods (Q_Mi). Comparisons were carried out at four sites along the tributaries of the Kizilirmak river in central Anatolia, Turkey.

Key words: Agricultural water, discharge, natural stream, entropy.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 8 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Failure rate analyses of cereal combined drills

Sait M. Say¹* and Sarp K. Sümer²

¹Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Machinery, 01330, Adana, Turkey.

²Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Agricultural Machinery Department, 17020 C.Kale, Turkey.

Accepted 21 August, 2018

Abstract

Machine availability estimations from research performed before the following season are needed to decide on the required machinery size necessary for timely operation. Additionally, estimations on machinery availability will provide useful data for making mathematically proven assumptions regarding the repair maintenance and timeliness costs. Machine reliability or operational availability analyses must be carried out, especially for combine drills and combine harvesters, which are relatively more sensitive to timeliness. In the literature, there is rare study on operational availability on combine drills. In this study, failure rates, which are a direct indication of machine operational availability, were evaluated from the farm records of cereal combine drills used in Adana, which is located in Çukurova, one of the major agricultural regions in southern Turkey. These records for combine drills of different ages and with different annual use hours were collected during three subsequent years. Moreover, different repair and maintenance policies in farms under examination were considered. As a result, it was found that different accumulated use hours and repair-maintenance policies have slightly affected failure rates. According to the data, the combine drills included in this study are commonly in a randomized breakdown period within their useful life.

Key words: Reliability, combine drill, machine availability, failure rate, timeliness.