International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-015, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Floristic composition and canopy structure of home-gardens in São Luís city, Maranhão State, Brazil

¹F. K. Akinnifesi^1,3*, G. Sileshi¹, Joselene da Costa³, E. G. de Moura³, Rosele F. da Silva³, O. C. Ajayi¹, J. F. P. Linhares^3,4, A. I. Akinnifesi², Maria de Araujo³ and M. A. I. Rodrigues³

¹World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P. O. Box 30798, Lilongwe, Malawi.

²Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi.

³Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil.

⁴Universidade Federal de Maranhão (UFMA), São Luis, Brazil.

Accepted 14 January, 2019

Abstract

Tropical home-gardens are widely recognized as a repository of biodiversity of domesticated and wild plant, and animal species that need to be developed to meet livelihood needs and for purpose of their conservation. Despite being the oldest form of agroforestry, this system is still poorly studied and understood. This study investigates the pattern of indigenous and exotic flora in the home-gardens managed by urban dwellers in São Luis city, Maranhão, Brazil. Forty home-gardens were randomly selected from ten locations and studied for their species richness and diversity, floristic distribution and canopy structure. The species were categorized as exotic and indigenous to Brazil. The home-gardens were species-rich, with 186 plant species in total. Of the species recorded, 62% produced edible fruit and nut trees, 17% were food crops, 7.5% were condiments, 7.5% were of medicinal value and 6.4% were timber species. Nearly 60% of all species were indigenous. Differences in species composition determined differences in vertical canopy structure. The floristic composition and high abundance of indigenous and exotic species managed or retained in the home-gardens demonstrates high degree of biodiversity conserved by urban dwellers in São Luís.

Key words: Homegardens, canopy structure, floristic composition, São Luis.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Increasing the efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum for nutrient uptake and control of red rot in sugarcane

V. Singh*, P. N. Singh, R. L. Yadav, S. K. Awasthi, B. B. Joshi, R. K. Singh, R. J. Lal and S. K. Duttamajumder

Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow-226 002, U. P., India.

Accepted 04 January, 2019

Abstract

The application of Trichoderma multiplied culture (TMC) of T. harzianum strain Th 37 @ 20 kg/ha on the stubbles at the ratoon initiation stage increased the availability of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by 27, 65 and 44%, respectively. Availability of some of the micronutrients viz., Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were also enhanced, respectively by 6, 100, 79 and 66%. There was a considerable increase in organic carbon (55%) with concomitant decrease in soil pH (6%).There was significant difference in nutrient uptake between highly red rot susceptible variety (CoLk 7710) and moderately resistant variety (CoS 96268). The increase of N uptake was more in susceptible CoLk 7701 (69%) where as the uptake was only 45% in moderately resistant CoS 96268. P uptake increased by 96% in CoLk 7701 and 69% in CoS 96268. K uptake increased 128% over control of CoLk 7701 and 59% in CoS 96268. The level of protection against red rot increased up to 78% in combination with TMC + salicylic acid (SA) and 86% with metabolites + SA where as the protection was 60 and 71%, respectively with TMC and metabolites. Application of TMC + SA resulted in significant growth promotion through improvement in ratoon initiation (15%), number of tillers (8%), cane height (5%), girth (4%), number of internode (8%), length of internode (2%), single cane weight (5%) and number of millable cane (4%) which was reflected in the improvement in average yield by 23%.

Key words: Sugarcane, Trichoderma harzianum, red rot, Colletotrichum falcatum, biocontrol, nutrient uptake, salicylic acid, agrochemicals, growth promotion, management.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The methods of nitrogen application influence on essential oil yield and water use efficiency of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.)

Ali Alizadeh Sahzabi¹, Ebrahim Sharifi Ashoorabadi², Amir Hossein Shiranirad³, Bohlool Abbaszadeh² and Hossein Aliabadi Farahani⁴*

¹Islamic Azad University, Takestan Branch, Iran.

²Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands, Iran.

³Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran.

⁴Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Iran.

Accepted 13 January, 2019

Abstract

To evaluate the beneficial impact of methods of nitrogen application on summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.), some yield characters were investigated. The objective in this study was, the interactive effects of foliar nitrogen application and solid nitrogen application on: essential oil yield and water use efficiency at Iran in 2006. The experiment was carried out using a factorial design with three replications. Certain factors including solid nitrogen application (non-application, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha^-1) and foliar nitrogen application (non-application, 4.5, 6 and 7.5%) that sprayed in three stages (stem elongation stage, the beginning of flowering stage and the beginning of seed formation stage) were studied. The final statistical analysis indicated that in the high solid N application, yield compounds were significantly higher. Flowering shoot yield, essential oil yield, seed yield and root yield of plants were higher in units by higher solid N application in plant. The foliar N application treatment significantly increased yield compounds, biological yield, essential oil percentage and water use efficiency. Foliar N application persist less in damaging of soil N application result, and it enables plant to significantly grow its shoot and root developing along soil depth and consequently increasing essential oil yield and water use efficiency of summer savory. The findings may give applicable advice to commercial farmers and medicinal and aromatic plants researchers for management and concern on fertilizer strategy and carefully estimate solid N supply by foliar N application.

Key words: Foliar nitrogen application, solid nitrogen application, essential oil yield, water use efficiency, Satureja hortensis L.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-014, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of gamma irradiation on enhancement of growth and seed yield of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Monech] and associated molecular changes

A. Z. Hegazi¹* and N. Hamideldin²

¹Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

²Natural Product Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, NCRRT. Atomic Energy Authority P. O. Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 09 December, 2018

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of different gamma irradiation doses and water soaking on okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench- Malvaceae] seeds of two varieties (Sabahia and Balady). Both varieties showed similar trends in response to different treatments. Gamma irradiation at 400 Gy was superior for both varieties in growth criteria enhancement, photosynthetic pigment contents, seed yield and seed quality. The results also showed that 300 Gy had positive effects with respect to all studied growth parameters. Seeds irradiated with either 500 Gy or soaked in water (hydropriming) for 12 h before planting showed lower effects than other treatments but still greater than the control (direct dry seed sowing). Soaking in water or application of gamma irradiation induced changes in the number of protein bands in the two varieties, but high doses of gamma irradiation (400 and 500 Gy) caused highest changes. The variation in DNA profile in responses to gamma irradiation treatments was detected by RAPD -PCR technique. In variety Sabahia, the percentage of polymorphism was 47.37%, but in variety Balady it was 50%. The relatively high doses of gamma irradiation (400 and 500 Gy) induced more changes in genomic DNA pattern than the low dose (300 Gy).

Key words: Okra, gamma irradiation, hydropriming, protein patterns, RAPD-PCR.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-011, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Horticultural potential of wild edible fruits used by the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya

S. Jeeva

Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam - 629 165, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 14 October, 2018

Abstract

Plants provide most of the food products consumed by indigenous people in tropical countries. A study of wild edible fruits in the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya was carried out to assess their horticultural importance. One hundred fifty-one species belonging to 49 families were encountered, which include folk name, habit and the season of availability. Among them 100 were trees, 34 shrubs, 12 climbers and 5 herbs. Some edible plants have great economic value and are highly linked with socio-economic development of tribal communities of the state. The importance of documenting the use of wild edible species in this hotspot region is especially important because of rapid loss of biodiversity due to anthropogenic disturbance. The outcome of the present study may be helpful to have an understanding and thus make a conservation strategy of the wild edible species.

Key words: Ethnobotany, indigenous community, Khasi tribe, Meghalaya, wild edibles.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diet of pine plantation and non-plantation ranging baboon (Papio ursinus) groups with reference to bark consumption in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe

C. A. T. Katsvanga¹*, L. Jimu¹, D. Zinner², J. F. Mupangwa³

¹Department of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.

²Department of Cognitive Ethology, German Primate Center (DPZ), Kellnerweg 4, Gottingen D37077, Germany.

³Faculty of Agriculture, Umutara Polytechnic, P. Bag 57 Nyagatare, Rwanda.

Accepted 05 December, 2018

Abstract

Bark stripping of pine trees by chacma baboons in plantations of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe has been on the rise leading to the assumption that bark constitutes baboon food. The study investigated diet variation among habituated bark stripping and non-stripping, plantation and non-plantation ranging baboon groups primarily to determine the noteworthy of pine bark in baboon diet. Food resources contributing >0.1% of the observations as well as pine bark were noted by group and season. Feeding observations were done through hourly instantaneous scan sampling which lasted for 5 min. During the scan, data on food items where possibly identified on species level, and part eaten were noted. To determine feeding variation, one way analysis of variance was applied with feeding percentage observations as the dependent variable and baboon groups, seasons, consumed species as well as plant parts as independent. The percentages of feeding observations were compared across baboon groups, seasons, consumed species and plant parts through the generalised linear model using SPSS version 15 (2006). Differences between means were tested using Bonferroni post hoc tests with a 5% level of significance. Feeding observation percentages did not vary significantly (P > 0.05, F = 1.02; df = 2, N = 960) across groups and seasons (P > 0.05, F = 1.957; df = 2), food species and plant parts were however, consumed at significantly (P < 0.05, F = 2896.85, df = 24) varying percentages. Bark consumption was lowest with 0.03 ± 0.16%. Pine bark is therefore not a preferred baboon food item. The establishment of plantations provided high quality food in the form of seed for the baboons.

Key words: Baboon groups, bark consumption, consumed species, feeding observations, food items.