International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro clonal propagation of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and its evaluation of genetic stability through RAPD markers

N. Sathyanarayana*, T. N. Bharath kumar, P. B. Vikas and R. Rajesha

Department of Bio-Technology, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore – 562 157, India.

Accepted 20 November, 2024

The Mucuna pruriens var. utilis is an important legume cover crop. Almost all the parts of the plant are reported to contain L-3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-Dopa). Here we report a rapid and reliable method for high fidelity micro-propagation. Auxiliary bud explants from 14-day-old seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins. During the first culture on 3.5 µM 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) maximum of 6.70 ± 1.15 shoots with an average shoot-length of 1.07 ± 0.21 cm were produced. The number of shoots increased up to 16.33 ± 0.58 recording average length of 1.16 ± 0.29 cm, when the intact shoots were subjected to re-culturing on the same hormonal medium. The shoots exhibited adequate elongation of 4.00 cm on 2.89 µM gibberellic acid (GA3). The elongated shoots produced a maximum of 16.67 ± 2.89 roots on half-strength MS liquid medium supplemented with 16.20 µM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The plantlets were acclimatized by transferring them first to peat moss: compost (1:1) mixture followed by sand: soil (1:1) mixture, recording 95% survival. The genetic fidelity of the regenerated shoots was confirmed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis employing 15 operon primers. This system provides high fidelity micro-propagation system for efficient and rapid micro-propagation of this important green manure cover crop with medicinal properties.

Key words: Mucuna pruriens var. utilis; auxiliary bud, multiple shoots, rapid micro-propagation, fidelity, RAPD.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the Role of Treatment Strategies in Modulating Sugar Content in Tomatoes

M. Melkamu, T. Seyoum* and K. Woldetsadik

Haramaya University, College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 131, Haramaya, Ethiopia.

Accepted 14 November, 2024

The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the combined effect of pre- and post harvest disinfection and evaporatively coolled storage on the changes in sugar content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). The preharvest treatments used were ComCat®, manure, NP and the combinations of ComCat® with the two forms of fertilizers and a control. The tomatoes were periodically analyzed for reducing sugar and total sugar. Preharvest ComCat® and ComCat® + manure treatments improved the quality of tomato in terms of maintaining higher (P < 0.05) leveles of sugar during storage. Storage at ambient conditions resulted in rapid change in sugar that resulted in quality deterioration of tomatoes. Disinfection seemed to have very limited effect on the changes in sugar content of tomatoes during storage. Two-way interactions between preharvest and storage conditions on changes in total sugar were significant at P < 0.05 level during the first week of storage and at P < 0.001, thereafter. In general, maintenance of higher reducing sugar and total sugar in tomatoes was found to be the benefits of the combined effect of preharvest treatments and evaporatively cooled storage.

Key words: ComCat®, tomato, disinfection, evaporative cooling, reducing sugar, total sugar.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of Fortified Cow Dung Application on Green Maize Yield and Soil Fertility

O.T. Ayoola1* and E.A Makinde2

1Farming Systems Research and Extension Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B 5029. Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2Federal College of Agriculture, I.A.R and T, P. M. B 5029.Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted March 12, 2024

Organic manures are known to have the ability of supplying both the required macro and micro plant nutrients but in low quantities and usually not early enough for quick utilization. Enriching the manure combats the deficiency of late and low supply of nutrients. Experiments were conducted to assess the growth and yield of maize with Nitrogen-enriched cow dung. This was compared with performance with inorganic NPK fertilization and no fertilizer control. Maize growth was significantly (P = 0.05) affected by application of an enriched cow dung. The plants were comparable in height and leaf area with inorganic fertilizer. Fertilization of maize gave significantly (P = 0.05) higher grain yields. Fortified cow dung gave an average yield of 3.78 t ha-1 while inorganic fertilizer gave a yield of 3.70 t ha-1. The unfertilized control plants had an average yield of 2.47 t ha-1. Yield from the enriched cow dung was comparable with yield from inorganic fertilization. This shows the potential of the use of N-enriched cow dung as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers. Fortified cow dung increased soil N, P and K contents by 25, 1 and 62%, respectively. It also increased the soil Ca and Mg contents by 2 and 8%, respectively. Decomposed cow dung, fortified with Nitrogen can be applied at 2.5 t ha-1 to cultivate maize. It gives a comparable yield as inorganic fertilizer and increases the soil N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents.

Key words: Maize, growth, yield, cow dung, N-fortification, soil nutrients.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Manure Application on Growth Dynamics and Nutrient Assimilation in ‘PITA 14’ Plantain Hybrid (Musa sp. AAAB)

K. P. Baiyeri1* and A. Tenkouano2

1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 008 Nchia Eleme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
2    IITA-Humid Forest Eco-regional Center, BP 2008 Messa, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 22 October, 2024

Low soil organic matter and associated poor soil fertility cause yield decline in Musa species, necessitating external nutrient input to maintain yield. Best fertilization practices include applying the correct fertilizer at the correct rate, time and place. In this regard, manure placement effects on growth, root system development and nutrient uptake of a plantain hybrid were evaluated in a screen-house. Three manure placement methods, whereby the full dose of manure was applied as top- dressing (T1), bottom -dressing (T2), or a split combination thereof (T3), were assessed together with a no manure control (T4). There was significant (P<0.05) treatment effects on most of the parameters studied. T1 gave the best growth indices 3 months after transplanting (MAT) but not at 5 MAT. The highest root NPK and leaf N at 3 MAT was associated with T3. T3 also induced the best plant growth at 5 MAT, followed by T2. Expectedly, the control treatment produced plants with the poorest growth. Whole-plant biomass yield and distribution were influenced by manure placement as was specific leaf area. Significantly large correlations between leaf-3 parameters and whole-plant growth indices were observed. Thus, dry weight of leaf- 3 predicted whole-plant biomass yield with high reliability (r2 = 94.1%), supporting leaf- 3 analysis as a non-destructive alternative for assessment of plant performance in response to manure. It was apparent from the study that plant performance indices at 3 and 5 MAT showed that split dressing at the top and the bottom of the pots (T3) was a more sustainable method for manure application to Musa.

Key words: Plantain hybrid, manure placement; root and shoot growth; nutrient uptake, biomass yield.

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Wheat Straw and Waste Tea Leaf Composts on Yield Performance of Agaricus bisporus with Supplementation from Local Peat

Hakan Simsek1*, Ergun Baysal1, Mehmet Colak1, Hilmi Toker1, and Ferah Yilmaz2

1Mugla University, Faculty of Technical Education, Kotekli, 48000, Mugla, Turkey.
2Mugla University, Mushroom Research Center, Kotekli, 48000, Mugla, Turkey.

Accepted 5 November, 2024

The study was conducted to investigate yields of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts. Mixtures (50:50, v/v) of some locally available peats including peat of Bolu (PB), peat of Agacbasi (PA), peat of Caykara (PC) and their mixture (80:20; v/v) with which piece of mosaic and sand were used. Also, some activator materials such as wheat bran, wheat chaff, chicken manure, pigeon manure, and poplar leaves were used for A. bisporus cultivation. The results on wheat straw based composts provided the highest mushroom yield (23.01%) that was obtained on wheat straw and pigeon manure based compost using a mixture of PA with PC (50+50; v/v) as casing material. For waste tea leaves based composts, the highest mushroom yield (24.90%) were recorded on wheat straw and pigeon manure based compost using a mixture of PC with sand (80+20; v/v) as casing material.

Key words: Mushroom, waste tea leaves, wheat straw, activator materials, casing materials, yield.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Pumpkin Varieties (Cucurbita maxima/moschata) in Zimbabwe

Oswell Farai Ndoro², Rufaro M. Madakadze¹*, Susan Kageler² and Arnold B. Mashingaidze²

¹Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, P Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, Empangeni, 3886, South Africa. ²Department of Crop Science, University of Zimbabwe, P O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Accepted 1 November, 2024

Abstract

A survey was conducted in four districts of Manicaland province of Zimbabwe on pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata) to document ethnobotanical knowledge of the pumpkin and to identify the local landraces. Informal surveys for key informants, formal surveys and focus group discussions and other participatory rural appraisal approaches were used in the study. Seven distinct landraces of pumpkin were identified by local names as “Nzunzu”, “Ditimanga”, “Ndodo”, “Hokore”, “Musatani”, “Dasanana”, and “Muzwere”. Landrace “Nzunzu” was the most popular followed by “Ditimanga” and “Ndodo”. The most prevalent landraces by area were “Nzunzu” (65% of respondents), followed by “Ditimanga”, “Hokore” and “Musatani”. One landrace (Musatani), was specifically grown by the local people as a leafy vegetable mainly and was available all year round. Landrace “Nzunzu” had large variegated fruit while “Ditimanga” has large creamy yellow to white fruit. Landraces “Nzunzu”, “Hokore” and “Ndodo” have variegated leaves perceived to be resistant to powdery mildew while the rest of the landraces had plain leaves. The pumpkin is grown mostly in intercrops mainly with maize, (85 % respondents) and was planted and grown mainly in summer (67%) as the crop is damaged by frost. Pumpkin is mainly fertilized by cattle manure and most respondents (62%) do not apply an N side dress to the crop. Leaf harvest started 2 - 3 weeks after emergence in landraces such as “Nzunzu” and “Ditimanga” while the other landraces can be started at about 4 weeks after emergence. The pumpkin leaves are consumed 3 - 4 times a week during the rainy season. The main problem during production of pumpkin was insect pests and diseases. Farmers use mainly retained seed (71.9%) for planting that is stored in any available container in the home. This study highlighted local indigenous knowledge of pumpkins and established a baseline of the cultural practices carried out by smallholder farmers.

Key words: Pumpkin, traditional vegetables, landraces, indigenous knowledge, Zimbabwe and participatory approaches.