Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biplot analysis of grain yield in barley grown under differing management levels in years of contrasting season-end drought

Woldeyesus Sinebo*, Berhane Lakew and Abraham Feyissa

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P. O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 21 June, 2020

Abstract

Variance analysis and graphical biplots were used to understand the nature of genotype × environment interaction (G × E) in a grain yield data set obtained from 39 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes grown in 18 environments (a combination of three sowing dates, two crop protection treatments and three years) at Holetta, central highlands of Ethiopia. Genotype × year interaction was much more important than genotype × management interaction. Season-end drought was the environmental variable and time to maturity was the genotypic variable responsible for the high G × year interaction variance. An elite breeding line gave the highest mean yield and was the best under low but not under high season-end drought stress. Sasa, an early maturing landrace, was the best in a year of high season-end drought. Biplots enabled visual identification of compromise genotypes such as 3304 - 11 and 3381 - 04 that yielded reasonably well under both low and high season-end drought conditions. Selection for post-anthesis drought tolerance may result in high and stable yields across years and wider geographical adaptation in Ethiopian barley. The importance of unique landraces for stress situations is ascertained.

Key words: Barley landraces, genotype × environment interaction, GGE biplot, season-end drought, sowing date, insecticidal seed treatment, fungicidal disease control.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-004, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Grain yield and yield components of maize (ZEA  MAYS L.) as affected by crude oil in soil

O. M. Agbogidi

Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 07038679939.

Accepted 10 August, 2020

Abstract

A field experiment on the effect of crude oil levels: 0.0 (control), 5.2, 10.4, 20.8 and 41.6 ml applied at different stages of growth on maize yield and yield attributes, with a view to making appropriate recommendation to maize growers in the oil producing areas of the Niger Delta, was conducted in Ozoro, Delta State during the 2003 and 2004 cropping seasons. Seven maize varieties: Composite (suwan 1), Hybrid 3x-yx, AMATZER w, TZBRSYN w, AMATZBR y, TZBRSYN y and Ozoro local were evaluated. The current study has objective of evaluating the yield and yield components of seven varieties of maize grown in soil contaminated with crude oil with a view to identifying and selecting the tolerant ones and recommending the same to farmers in the Niger Delta region where oil industrial activities are predominant. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five treatments replicated four times. Crude oil application (ring application) was carried out at three weeks after planting (3 WAP), 5 WAP and 7 WAP. Plants were harvested at 112 days after planting and assessed for grain yield, 1000-grain weight, cob girth and shelling percentage. The results showed that crude oil treatment significantly reduced (P > 0.05) grain yield, grain weight and cob girth but increased shelling percentage at P < 0.05. Significant differences at the 5% probably level in the responses of maize varieties to crude oils were also recorded at 5 and 7 WAP with Hybrid 3x-yx recording highest grain yield and weight whereas Ozoro local produced the highest cob girth and shelling percentage. Based on the results obtained from this investigation, Hybrid 3x-yx appeared to be susceptible to soils affected with crude oil as death was eminent at higher oil doses. The open pollinated varieties (AMATZER w, TZBRSYN w, AMATZBR y, TZBRSYN y) are better in terms of relative tolerance hence should be recommended to farmers and maize growers in the oil producing areas of Nigeria. There is therefore the need to test the open pollinated varieties on farmers’ field to determine their adaptability to oil pollution. Furthermore, the need for further studies to determine the level of pollution at which maize growth and yield are adversely affected cannot be overemphasized. The study established varietal differences with respect to maize response to crude oil level and this provides a basis for future breeding work by plant breeders.

Key words: Crude oil, grain yield, yield components, Zea mays.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Using sulfur oxidizing bacteria and P solubilizing for enhancing phosphorous availability to Raphanus sativus

Rasool Khatibi

Department of Natural Resource, University of Zabol, Iran. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0098 05422232600.

Accepted 15 April, 2020

Abstract

The present research was conducted in the Research Field of Agricultural Research Center of Chahnimeh, Zabol, Iran. Data related to the combined effects of rock phosphate, P solubilizing bacteria, sulfur and sulfur oxidizing bacteria on Raphanus sativus growth is scanty. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with eight treatments in three replicates. Treatments including: (1) control, (2) triple super phosphate (80 kg/ha), (3) rock phosphate (160 kg/ha), (4) rock phosphate + organic matter (tea waste, 1000 kg/ha), (5) rock phosphate + organic matter + P solubilizing bacteria, (6) rock phosphate + elemental sulfur (1000 kg/ha) + Thiobacillus sp., (7) rock phosphate + Thiobacillus sp.+ organic matter, (8) rock phosphate + elemental sulfur + Thiobacillus sp.+ organic matter were tested in plots measuring 3 x 7 m. At harvest crop yield and the related components were determined. Treatment 2 resulted in the highest amount of yield and stover with a 60 and 92% increase, relative to the control treatment, respectively. The next highest corresponding values were related to treatment 8 at 38 and 70%, respectively, not significantly different from treatment 2. Treatment 8 produced the highest oil percentage, followed by treatment 2 (39% increase) relative to the control. Sulfur treatments resulted in the highest oil percentage. The combination of chemical and biological methods (biofertilizers) can be a favorable method to increase the efficiency of naturally (rock phosphate) and synthetically (elemental sulfur) produced resources and hence optimization of chemical fertilization for crop production.

Key words: Raphanus sativus, organic matter, P solubilizing bacteria, rock phosphate, sulfur oxidizing bacteria, Chahnimeh.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-009, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of antioxidant enzyme activities in leaves stems and roots of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) exposed to Chromium (VI)

Heidar Ali Malmir

Department of Biology, University of Bu Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran.E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 28 April, 2020

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the response between different organs to assess which one was more severely affected. Thus, we exposed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) to five level 0, 30, 60, 100 and 130 mg/L concentration of chromium (Cr) VI during two weeks and measuring the activity of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), total glutathione (GSG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in upper, middle and lower leaves, stems and roots of sorghum plants. Reduction in dry matter of roots, stem and leaves was noticed in Cr (VI) stress. GST and Cr (VI) activities were induced in all organs of the exposed plant, but was inhibited in 130 mgL^-1 Cr (VI). GPX and CAT activities were induced in all the organs at all studied concentrations, whereas inhibited was observed in the roots and higher leaves above 100 and 130 mgL^-1. Significant increases in lipid peroxidation in plants exposed to 100 and 130 mgL^-1.These results suggest that in roots and upper leaf of sorghum the tolerance to Cr (VI) toxicity is more dependent on the activities of GST and GR than other enzyme activities. Hyperactivity of the GR and GST indicated that these enzymes played an important role in protecting the sorghum from Cr (VI) toxicity. However, GPX took a little part in detoxification of Cr (VI). Furthermore, the conjugation of GSH with Cr (VI) ions by GST helped them to sequester into vacuole. GR participates in the GSG biosynthesis and might build up a reduced form GSG against poisoning of the Cr (VI). This might be a part of defense strategy adapted by S. bicolor against chromium toxicity to protect themselves. We find that the roots and upper leaves, often considered as a first biomarker for Cr (VI) treated plants organ compared to the other organs. A higher level of LPO was correlated with lower CAT and GPX activities. Therefore, hyperactivities of GST and GR in roots and upper leaves might be attributed to the strategies adopted by S. bicolor to overcome the toxicity of the Cr (VI).

Key words: Hyperactivity, GST, CAT, GR. activities and Sorghum bicolor, LPO.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-009, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of rooting media and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration on rooting and shoot formation of Warburgia ugandensis stem cuttings

Florence Akwatulira¹, Samson Gwali²*, John Bosco Lamoris Okullo¹, Paul Ssegawa³, Susan Balaba Tumwebaze⁴, John Richard Mbwambo⁵ and Alice Muchugi⁶

¹Department of Forest Biology and Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

²National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), P. O. Box 1752, Kampala, Uganda.

³Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

⁴Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

⁵Lushoto Forestry Research Station, Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), P. O. Box 95, Lushoto, Tanzania.

⁶Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 21 June, 2011

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of different rooting media and indolebutryic acid (IBA) hormone concentration on root and shoot development in stem cuttings of Warburgia ugandensis. Stem cuttings were treated with three different levels (0.3, 0.6 and 0.8% w/w) of IBA concentration (including a control-no IBA hormone) and propagated in three rooting media (milled pine bark, top forest soil and sand) under non -misting propagators. Data on root and shoot development, callusing, number and length of roots and shoots were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi square test. Callusing, root and shoot development were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by rooting media and IBA concentration. Milled pine bark and 0.8% w/w IBA concentration gave the highest percentages of stem cuttings that callused, rooted and shooted (38, 37, 41% and 57, 41, 59%), respectively. Similarly, milled pine bark and 0.8% w/w IBA concentration gave the greatest number and longest roots and shoots per stem cutting. Vegetative propagation of W. ugandensis through stem cuttings can be appropriately achieved by treating the cuttings with 0.8% w/w IBA hormone using milled pine bark as a growth medium.

Key words: Warburgia ugandensis, indolebutryic acid (IBA), vegetative propagation, callusing, rooting, milled pine bark.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on antimicrobial activities of some selected ferns and lycophytes in Eastern India with special emphasis on ethno-medicinal uses

Asim Mandal and Amal Kumar Mondal*

Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-721 102, West Bengal, India.

Accepted 13 June, 2020

Abstract

In this research, the occurrences of antimicrobial activity of some ferns were studied. The present paper dealt with the antimicrobial activities of some ethno-medicinally important ferns which were very common in West Mednapore District, as well as South West Bengal, against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The plants were extracted with different solvents (70% ethanol, methanol and acetone) and controlled by deionized water (DW). Our experiment revealed significant results like Dryopteris, which showed remarkable antimicrobial activities among all the selected ferns.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, ferns, ethnomedicinal uses, Eastern India.