International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-013, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Responses of some selected Malaysian rice genotypes to callus induction under in vitro  salt stress

Nwe Nwe Htwe¹, Mahmood Maziah^1,2, Ho Chai Ling³, Faridah Qamaruz Zaman⁴ and Abdullah Mohd Zain⁵

¹Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

³Department of Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

⁴Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,

⁵Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu Malaysia.

Accepted 5 November, 2018

Abstract

Tissue culture technique can be used as a source for genetic variability by means of genetic modifications through the process of IN VITRO cultures. This technique has been widely used for breeding purposes, especially for stress tolerance selection, which severely limits rice production. Also, the establishment of a suitable plant regeneration system is a prerequisite for successful genetic transformation. The aim of this study is to identify the most suitable medium and to assess the genotype performance for IN VITRO salt stress responses in some selected Malaysian rice genotypes. Differences in culture conditions, growth rate, plant hormone responses and accumulation of proline content were monitored. All the selected genotypes showed that the callus-growth capacities were significantly affected by the genotypes and the culture media. Evidently, callus was best induced on the MS medium added with 10 µM dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.4 gm/l casein hydrolysate. In addition, the shoot regeneration capacity from the callus was the most effective in ½ MS added with 10 µM 6 benzylaminopurine (BAP). The two genotypes, that is, MR219 (line 4) and MR219 (line 9), consistently performed the best in both callus culture (93.51 and 92.22%) and plant regeneration capacity (27.03 and 26.34%), respectively. When the callus were transferred to different concentrations of NaCl (0 to 250 mM) supplemented medium in order to examine their responses to salinity, the two genotypes, that is, MR219 (line 4) and MR219 (line 9), showed a significant decline in the callus growth (18.83 and 23.5%) and regeneration capacity (7.33 and 7.68%), respectively. A similar trend was also observed for the proline content. All the genotypes significantly resulted in proline accumulation. MR211 showed the highest accumulation, whereas MR219 (line 4) revealed the lowest proline accumulation. These proline content analyses further suggest potential salinity tolerance in the rice genotypes.

Key words: Plant regeneration, embryogenesis, salinity, callus.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Profitable fertilizer recommendations for maize production on a selected benchmark soil in Sudan savannah

*Kofi G. Micheal, Ajoko E. B and Nana J. Quame

Kumasi Institue of Tropical Agriculture, Ghana.

Accepted 15 June, 2017

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in the Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana is hindered by erratic rainfall and low soil fertility. This study was conducted to refine profitable fertilizer recommendations for maize production on a selected benchmark soil in Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone using Decision Support System for Agro-technology transfer (DSSAT). Maize variety Obaatanpa was used for the experiment and the rates of N P K nutrients evaluated were 0-0-0, 0-90-90, 40-90-90, 80-90-90, 120-0-90, 120-45-90, 120-90- 90, 120-90-0, 120-90-45 and 160-90-90 kg ha-1. Predictive ability of the model was tested and validated and the simulation of maize yields with nutrient rates. Results showed that treatment 160-90-90 was efficient for maize production in 2010 growing season and 120-0-90 was efficient for maize production in 2011 growing season. However, the use of treatment 120-90-90 was more preferred and sustainable option for maize production due to the available types and combinations of fertilizer in the Ghanaian market, affordability and prevalence of P-deficient soils. Model sensitiveness to N fertilizer rates should be reworked in order to make model predictions for treatments with low N rates more accurate.

Key words: maize production, agro-ecological and fertilizer.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-019, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Phenolic compounds as quality-grade markers for the preparation of human foods

*Vincent Van Karel, Mata Gullit Hari and Rembrandt O. Willem

Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 8128,

6700 ET Wageningen, The Netherlands

Accepted 26 May, 2017

Abstract

Phenolic compounds and related enzymes such as phenol biosynthesizing enzym es (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) and phenol catabolizing enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase) are determinants for sorghum utilization as human food because they influence product properties during and after sorghum processing. Phenolic compounds are quality-grade markers for the preparation of several foods because of enzyme inhibitory activities, color, or antioxidant activities. Large inter-varietal differences in contents of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activities among sorghum varieties exist. Moreover, some red sorghum varieties have higher antioxidant activities than the most important sources of natural antioxidants. Oxidation products of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase (benzoquinones and polymeric compounds) affect food quality. This paper reviews the current advances in phenolic compounds and phenolic enzymes in sorghum as human food, with emphasis on nutritional and health aspects. This may provide some guidance for researchers in further Investigations and for industries in developing practical health agents and functional foods.

Key words: sorghum, phenolic compounds, antioxidants, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study on morphologic variation of different Iranian melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L.)

*Bernand Kuok, Ananda P. Nurhaliza and Ahmad Rahman

Department of Agrotechnology, faculaty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia.

Accepted 20 February, 2017

Abstract

Information about the correlation and linkage among different horticultural characteristics is of primary importance in the field of crop improvement. In order to determine a morphologic variation of eleven native melon cultivars, a field trial conducted in completely randomized design at Torbat-e-Jam, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, during 2010 and 2011 was carried out. Statistical parameters used included; mean traits, correlation and cluster traits analysis. The results showed that there was a wide diversity in melon cultivars. Correlation analysis between traits showed a significant positive relation between fruit length with sugar content and positive relation between fruit weight with fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, skin thickness, and sugar content. A negative relation that was observed was between fruit length with fruit diameter, flesh thickness and skin thickness. Significant negative relation was observed between fruit length and seed cavity width. Based on quantitative data, genotypes were divided into six groups. The sixth, fourth and third clusters had maximum flesh thickness, and the third cluster had the highest content sugar than other clusters. The sixth cluster had the strongest period of germination to ripening. Cluster four, and cluster three had less skin thickness than other clusters.

Key words: Cluster analysis, correlation, sugar content.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-012, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic variation in (Artemisia capillaries) using RAPD and ISSR markers

*Abdullah Krishnan, Robert Fernandes and Bernand Majid

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Accepted 18 January, 2017

Abstract

Artemisia capillaris (Thunb.) commonly known as wormwood or sagebussh is under-exploited plant. Genetic variation between A. capillaris was evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. Among these markers, RAPD primers generated 291 amplification products of which 108 were polymorphic and ISSR markers produced 283 amplification products, out of which 54 were polymorphic. RAPD fingerprinting detected more polymorphic loci (95.60%) than the ISSR fingerprinting (66.67%). Similarity, index values ranged from 0.1579 to 0.8189 (RAPD), 0.5686 to 0.9016 (ISSR) and 0.3933 to 0.8468 (combined RAPD and ISSR) and mean similarity index value of 0.4739, 0.7457 and 0.6174 for RAPD, ISSR and combined (RAPD and ISSR) data, respectively. RAPD and ISSR marker systems were found to be useful for the genetic diversity studies in A. capillaris and to identify the variation.

Key words: Artemisia capillaris, genetic variation, polymorphism, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR).

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sources of damages and losses that affect productivity and livelihood of cocoa farmers in Western Nigeria

Lelia Nkechinyere Dongo¹, Dele Omoyele Adeniyi¹* and Evarestus Uche Asogwa²

¹Plant Pathology Section, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan.

²Entomology Section, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan.

Accepted November 11, 2018

Abstract 

This study reports possible sources of damages and losses that affect productivity and livelihood of cocoa farmers in Western Nigeria. Primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaire and collected data were analyzed. The results of 208 farmers showed that cocoa farming is the primary work of 86.5% in Ondo State and 75.8% in Osun State whilst the rest are either produce buyers or engaged in other businesses. Majority of the farmers are male, literacy level is high as only 2.7 and 3.5% of the farmers did not have formal education in Ondo and Osun States respectively and over 90% of the farmers are member of one association or the other. The losses of cocoa bean by farmers in Ondo and Osun States are significant as about 96% have one loss or the other ranging from 10 to 70 bags annually, out of which 40% of the losses were identified to be due to insect damage, 50% of the losses caused by disease infections, 3.4% jointly caused by insects and diseases and 6.6% of losses could be attributed to other factors. Most (93%) of the non-growers respondents’ dealt with raw cocoa beans of which 43.5% of them export less than 250 tons of cocoa annually and 60% agreed that damages of cocoa beans are of multiple sources. The analysis of data showed negative linear correlation between gender and the level of education, size of farm, farmers’ group and household size and also between size of farm and sex, age category and primary occupation. Significant correlation was observed between age category and age of farm, level of education and primary occupation as well as between size of farm and age of farm and household size and between age of farm and size of farm, age of farm and household size.

Key word: Cocoa, losses, value chain, damages, productivity, farmers, buying agents.