International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2019. DOI: 10.46882/IJHF/1092. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of preference attributes for spider plant genotypes in Kenya: Implications for breeders and farmers

Kenneth Mutoro

Department of Horticulture and Food Security, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 23 July, 2019

Abstract

The supply of spider plant (Cleome gynandra) as one of the African leafy vegetables in Kenya is low and this is attributed to inadequate supply of genotypes preferred by both farmers and consumers. This study was carried out to evaluate preference attributes and genotypes of spider plant for both farmer and consumer production and utilization respectively.  A survey was conducted  in Kiambu county, Kenya on 114 respondents distributed as follows:- 32 farmers, 37 traders and 45 consumers. Both primary and secondary data were utilized. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 16.0 computer software. Hedonic scale of 1-9 was used in ranking preferences. Results indicated that appearance, colour, aroma and/or taste and medicinal properties influence consumer choices of vegetable lines.

Keywords: African leafy vegetables, Cleome gynandra, manure, cultivars. 

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Relation between catalase activity, salt stress and urban environments in Citrus aurantium L.

Khelifa, S.¹, M’Hamdi, M.², Rejeb, H.³, Belbahri, L.⁴* and Souayeh, N.⁵

¹Sylvopastoral Institute of Tabarka, B.P 345 - 8110 Tabarka, Tunisia.

²Department of Agronomic and Economic Sciences, Higher School of Agriculture of Kef, 7119, Kef Tunisia.

³Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, Higher Institute of Agronomy of Chott Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia.

⁴Agronomy Department, HEPIA, School of Engineering of Lullier, 150 Route de Presinge, 1254 Jussy, Switzerland.

⁵University of Gabes, Cité Erriadh 6072, Zrig, Gabes, Tunisia.

Accepted 16 May, 2019

Abstract

In order to evaluate the degree of adaptation of urban Citrus aurantium L. trees to osmotic stress and to explore the effect of seed’s origin on stress tolerance/adaptation, catalase activity levels were measured. Before carrying out the analysis, seedlings issued from high and low plant mother’s vitality were grown on NaCl stressed media during 2 months. Catalase activities revealed different levels according to cities, plant mother vitality and salt dose. It increased in stressed medium for the same seedlings origin. Thus, tissues superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity seems to be initiated on plant mother trees and seedlings behaviour is correlated with seed formation environment.

Key words: Seedlings, origin, urban trees, salt stress, catalase.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-003, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Conservation of microbial diversity to sustain primary and secondary productivity

Vijai Singh¹*, Joshi, B. B.¹ and Awasthi, S. K.¹ and Bhatt, R. P.²

¹Crop Protection Division, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow (U.P), India.

²Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, India.

Accepted 13 March, 2019

Abstract

The microbial world is the largest unexplored reservoir of biodiversity on the earth. It is an important frontier in biology under intensive investigations. The exploration of microbial diversity has been spurred by the fact that microbes are essential for life since they perform numerous functions essential for the biosphere that include nutrient recycling and environmental detoxification. The management and exploitation of microbial diversity has an important role in sustainable development with the industrial and commercial application of microbial diversity worth millions of rupees. Given the heterogeneity of natural environments and the enormous potential of microorganisms to provide novel pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and new technologies, the biotechnology industry has a vast, largely untapped resource for the discovery of new chemicals and novel processes. However, despite the obvious economic value of microbial diversity, microorganisms have been largely ignored in debates on the conservation and management of global diversity. There is, therefore, an urgent need to persuade policy-maker to be more concerned about the conservation, management and exploitation of microbial diversity. There are a number of reasons why the conservation of microbial diversity has not received the same attention as plants and animals. For example, microorganisms are invisible, less familiar and perceived primarily as agents of disease. With respect to the role of microorganisms in sustainable development, little is known about the potential contribution of microbial diversity to the national economy, to wealth creation and to improvements in the quality of life. An appreciation of these factors might be one way of changing government and public perception of microorganisms by showing that the sustainable use of microbial diversity has positive economic value. This would help justify the costs involved in conserving microbial diversity, but equally provide a useful indicator of the costs of inaction. In terms of the scientific rationale needed to underpin policy, quantification of microbial diversity has been limited. This makes it difficult to indicate what needs to be conserved in order to support the biotechnology industries and to understand fully the interactions between organisms responsible for maintaining a functional ecosystem.

Key words: Plant diversity, microbial diversity, nutrient recycling, ecosystem functioning.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Commons becoming non-commons in the efforts for reconciliation between conservation and livelihoods: A case study of northern Pakistan

S. R. Khan¹, S. A. Rahman²* and T. Sunderland²

¹Natural Resources Institute, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, 70 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2.

²Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor Barat 16680, Indonesia.

Accepted 18 March, 2019

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of converting previous open-access common land into protected areas on the community resource management system in Shimshal, northern Pakistan. We explored three main questions in this regard. First, what happens to community resource management under strict government control of the resource? Secondly, what has happened to the centuries-old practice of the traditional yak herding system of the Shimshal community as a result of the introduction of new policies leading to the creation of protected areas? Thirdly, can the community retain resource control of the protected area (state property), and how can we conceptualize it under the property regime? The research draws the following three conclusions: (1) a clear divide exists between the local government and the community on resource management and resource use, (2) the Shimshal community relies significantly on yaks for their livelihood, and the imposition of new rules and regulations in protected areas has significantly altered the Shimshal community’s traditional yak herding practices, and (3) community control over resources in protected areas would be a new experiment under the state property regime. The study concludes that it is possible to bridge the gap between what have been regarded as irreconcilable principles of protected areas and livelihoods. This arrangement needs to be contextualised by giving specific importance to the community and their management practices. The state would achieve its conservation goals by monitoring the local community’s activities and ensuring that their livelihoods and conservation efforts do not negatively affect each other.

Key words: Commons, property rights, yak herding, protected areas, livelihoods.