International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation the effect of rooting media and hormonal concentrations (IBA) in three olive cultivars growing in SiwaOesis-Egypt

Yahia Ibrahem Mohamed

Faculty of Desert and Environmental Agriculture-Fouka, Alexandria University, Egypt.

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of three rooting media (perlite, mixturepeat-moss+perlite and Sand+peat-moss) and Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) treatment (2000, 4000 or 5000 ppm) on rooting ability of three olive cultivars from Siwa Oasis, Egypt (Hamed, Wateken and Maraki). Parameters were measured, the percentage of cuttings that rooted, the number of roots produced by cutting and the survival rate.These parameters were significantly influenced by the interactive effect of rooting media, cultivar and IBA treatment. The cuttings planted in perlite had higher rooting percentage than those planted in perlite&pet-moss and sand&pet-moss with a significant differencebetween cultivars. Very low rooting accurred in cuttings dipped in low concentration for all cultivar and rooting media.The greatest percentage of rooting (100 %), were in 4000 and 5000 ppm IBA in perlite medium with Wateken and Hamed variety, respectively, the highest percentage of rooted cuttings was observed in perlite (100%), perlite&pet-moss 1:1 (80%) and sand&pet-moss 1:1(70%)  with cultivar Hamed and Wateken respectively, while Maraki cv. Recorded worst performance in all substrates tested. The results showed that cultivar had a significant effect on all measured parameters.

Key words: Olea europaea, Maraki, Hamed, Wateken, propagation, Rooting media, Auxins. 

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 487-491, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of two plant extracts for the control of post harvest fungal diseases of cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) in Calabar, Nigeria

Arikpo Ikpi Okoi¹, Nsor Odo Alobi², Magdalene Obi-Abang², Mike Omini Eko³ and Essien Archibong Okon¹

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Pmb 1123, Calabar, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Pmb 1123, Calabar, Nigeria.

³Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

The bioactive and efficacy of ethanolic extracts of Zingiber officinale Rosc. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. were investigated in vitro on causative agents of post harvest decay of cassava. The phytochemical screening of the two plants were obtained by analysis of their extracts using established procedures. Results revealed high presence of saponins, cyanogenetic glycosides and polyphenols in Zingiber officinale, as well as anthraquinones in Gongronema latifolium, with moderate presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and cyanogenetic glycosides in the two plants, indicating their antifungal potentials. The pathogens isolated were Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium expansum, Fusarium moniliforme and Aspergillus niger. The fungi were cultured with the two plant extracts at concentrations of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%, using potato dextrose agar (PDA). The antifungal activity increased with increase in concentration of the plant extracts. At 100% concentration, extract of Zingiber officinale showed the highest inhibition of mycelia growth in Aspergillus niger (97.37±1.56%) while that of Gongronema latifolium was 88.60±0.85%. Specifically, extracts of Zingiber officinale was more effective in inhibiting growth of the fungal isolates; and Aspergillus niger was found to be most sensitive to the extracts.

Key words: Evaluation, plant extracts, control, postharvest, fungal diseases, cassava.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 423-457, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of best-fitted regression model for prediction of body weight in attappady black goats

T.V. Raja¹, R. T. Venkatachalapathy², A. Kannan³ and K.A. Bindu³

¹Assistant Professor and Corresponding Author; ²Associate Professor, University Sheep and Goat Farm, Mannuthy; ³Associate Professor, COVAS, Pookode, India.

^1,2,3College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode- 673 576, Kerala, India.

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the best-fitted regression model for the prediction of body weight using different linear body measurements of Attappady Black goats in Kerala, India. Data on body weight and body measurements recorded on 1412 Attappady Black goats consisting of 493 males and 919 females from its breeding tract were used for the study. The whole data was classified into five age groups viz., 0-3, >3-6, >6-12, >12 and 0-12 months. The simple and multiple regression models were fitted with body weight as dependant variable and chest girth, body length and height at withers as independent variables. The correlation coefficients between body weights and body measurements at different ages were positive and strongly correlated (P<0.01) ranging from 0.509 to 0.915. The chest girth alone accounted for a maximum of 79.4 and 77.9 per cent of the total variation in body weight in males and females, respectively, signifying its importance for the prediction of body weight. Highest coefficient of determination (R²- value) was obtained in the models when all the body measurements were included. These models also showed smaller RMSE and standard deviation ratio (SDR) thereby registering a better goodness of fit.

Key words: Body weight, correlation, prediction, regression models, Attappady Black goats.  

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 492-493, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bio-efficacy of triticonazole 8%+pyraclostrobin 4% FS, pyraclostrobin 20% FS,triticonazole 2.5 % against loose smut of wheat

D P Singh¹, M S Saharan², Rajan Selvakumar³, A K Sharma⁴ and Indu Sharma⁵

^1,2,3,5Directorate of Wheat Research, Post Box No. 158, Karnal (Haryana) 132 001 India.

⁴NBAIM, Kushmaur, Mau NathBhanjan, U. P. 275 101 India.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The field trials were conducted to evaluate the bio efficacy of new fungicide Triticonazole 8%+ Pyraclostrobin 4% FS (Insure Perform 12% FS) @ 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 ml per kg of seed against loose smut of wheat (Triticumaestivum) caused by Ustilagotriticiby taking infected seeds during 2011-12 and 2012-13 crop seasons at Karnal, India in comparison with recommended fungicide Tebuconazole 2% DS. The test fungicide,Triticonazole 8%+ Pyraclostrobin 4% FS (Insure Perform 12% FS) was highly effective in controlling the disease and gave more than 95% control that was at par with Tebuconazole @ 1.0 g perkg of seed. It may therefore be used as an alternative to already recommended fungicides for the management of loose smut of wheat.

Keywords: Wheat, Triticumaestivum, Loose smut, Ustilagotritici, Fungicides, Control,Triticonazole, Pyraclostrobin.

International Journal of Agriculture Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 414-425, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of water stress and fertilization on yield and quality of sugar beet under drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in sandy soil

M.I. Masri¹,B.S.B.Ramadan¹, A.M.A. El-Shafai²and M.S. El-Kady²

¹Agronomy. Dept., Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt.

²Sugar Crops. Res. Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

With increasing concern about declining water resources, it has become mandatory to apply appropriate methods to conserve water and reduce chemical inputs in the field of crop production in line with sustainable agricultural practice. Therefore, two field experiments were conducted at Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt (30°23'19.89˝ N latitude and 30°21'41.06˝ E longitude) during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons to study the effect of water stress (100%, 75% and 50% of irrigation water requirements), two organic fertilization levels (zero and 5 ton compost/fed) and three nitrogen fertilization rates (60, 90 and 120 kg N/fed) on growth, yield and quality of sugar beet plants grown under conditions of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Results revealed that drip irrigated sugar beet plants with 75% of irrigation water requirements (IWR) recorded the highest significant leaf area index, sucrose%, purity% and extractable sugar% in both seasons and white sugar yield in the second season only, while application of sprinkler irrigate at 100% of IWR gave the heaviest root weight, root number, purity %, root yield in both seasons. Applying compost (5 ton/fed) with sprinkler irrigation significantly increased root weight, root number and root yield in the both seasons. Also, application of compost (5 ton/fed) with drip irrigation system increased root yield. Increasing N rate up to 120 kg N/fed significantly increased LAI, individual root weight, root number/fed and impurities percentage as well as root yield (ton/fed) in both seasons and white sugar yield (ton/fed) only in the first season. Excessive N application lowered beet quality in terms of sucrose, purity and extractable sugar percentage in both seasons.

Keywords: Sugar beet - Dip irrigation system - Sprinkler irrigation system - Water stress - Compost - Nitrogen fertilization.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 407-413, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation and characterization of Rhizobium sp. from a wild legume from BGSBU campus of District Rajouri, J&K

¹Sheezan Rasool, ¹Bharti Sharma and ²Sehreen Rasool

¹School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Centre for Biodiversity studies, BGSBU Rajouri, J&K, 185131.

²Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Rhizobium plays an important role in agriculture by fixing nitrogen. It is symbiotic bacterium and leads to the formation of root nodules in legume plants. In this study, we isolated the Rhizobium sp. from the root nodules of Vicia sativa and characterized them by means of various biochemical tests. We isolated the Rhizobium sp. on YEMA. These bacteria were rod shaped, Gram negative, motile, acid and mucous producing. Strain was positive for methyl red and showed catalase, citricase, urease, nitrate reductase, oxidase, amylase and β-hemolytic activity. The strain also utilized D-glucose and sucrose as a carbon source but not lactose. They were found to be temperature and salt tolerant. Farmers of the region can be made aware to cultivate Vicia sativa like leguminous plants as forage crops and to use cost effective biofertilizers which can improve their socio-economic status as well.

Key words: Rhizobium, bromothymol blue, biofertilizers, Vicia sativa, Nitrogen.