Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Future of Vermiculture in Southwest Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities

Aladesida, A. A.¹*, Owa, S. O.², Dedeke, G. A.¹ and Adewoyin O. A.³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
²Department of Biological Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
³Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Received 22 July, 2024; Accepted 26 October, 2024

Abstract

The prospect of vermiculture in the south-western coast of Nigeria was studied. One hundred and two respondents were interviewed in the three coastal towns of Badagry, Epe and Igbokoda. The results show that 94% of respondents made use of earthworms as fish bait, 37% buy their worms and 57% collected by themselves. The respondents, who buy, however, noted that their suppliers do not breed the worms but search for them from marshy areas. The price value placed on the worms ranged between 0.35 and ₦3.10 per kg; while the most quoted prices were 0.35 and ₦0.80 (16.7% each). The average quoted price was ₦0.70 per kg. Forty-six percent (46%) of respondents were willing to buy earthworms if supplied to them; 49% were willing to serve as sales agents if contacted and 66.7% opined that earthworm was their choicest fishing bait. The results indicate positive expectation for vermiculture as a business venture. Vermiculture should, however, put into consideration the production of Alma millsoni and Libyodrilus violaceus, the species quoted as the most preferred and effective for fishing. Vermiculture will go a long way in solving the problem of earthworm scarcity among these people, reduce the stress put on natural populations earthworms, thus conserving the worms and also reduce damage done to the soil environment in the course of excavating for worms.

Key words: Vermiculture, earthworm, prospects.
 

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Revolutionizing Mushroom Cultivation: The Role of Alginate-Encapsulated Mycelium in Sustainable Practices

Gastón Ortiz, María Belén Colavolpe and Edgardo Albertó*

Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Accepted 21 August, 2023

Abstract

Spawn quality is an important factor that affects the final yield in mushroom production. One of the most common risks is the contamination of substrates and spawn by mitosporic fungi. Some species do not easily grow on grain substrate as traditional species do and these find it real difficult to produce spawn. A method was evaluated to produce spawn for mushroom production based on aseptically encapsulated mycelium using alginate beads. Strains of four selected edible mushrooms were cultivated in liquid medium, mycelium was harvested by filtration. Subsequently, it was blended with 100 mL of 2% (w/v) sodium alginate solution or with the alginate solution with the addition of 2% (w/v) yeast extract solution or with the addition of 2% (w/v) meat extract solution. An electronic mixer was used to disaggregate the mycelium and generate a homogeneous suspension. To obtain the artificial spawn, the cells suspensions were dripped in 200 mL of 500 mM CaCl2 solution using a cut micro-tip. Beads obtained were inoculated in potato dextrose agar Petri dishes and in substrate (wheat straw or Poplar sawdust) to evaluate the growth. Tests carried out using this method, demonstrated that the incorporation of a suitable nutrient increases the ability of selected mushroom to emerge from the beads. Mycelia colonization tests were carried out on sterilized substrate, one using alginate beads and another one using the traditional spawn as inoculum. No significant differences according to t-test (p<0.05) were shown. However, spawning production based on alginate beads can be performed in only a few days, whereas the traditional method requires more time. The method proposed here represents an antecedent to improve spawn generation for future industrial applications, for further studies and for other uses as mycelium inoculant.

Key words: Alginate beads, inoculum, mushroom cultivation, spawn production.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In Vitro Regeneration of the Endangered Kaempferia galanga L.

K.P. Kochuthressia1, S.John Britto2 and M.O. Jaseentha1

11Department of Botany, Carmel College, Mala, Thrissur-680732
2The Rapinat Herbarium and Centre for Molecular Systematics St.Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli-

620002

Accepted 06 February, 2024

An efficient protocol is out lined for multiple shoot induction of a medicinally valuable Kaempferia galanga L. using rhizome segment explants. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with BA (2.0 mg/ml) and Kn (1.0 mg/ml) exhibited regeneration rate up to 10.85±1.34 shoot/explants. Spontaneous rooting of shoots occurred in the same concentration of cytokinin. The number of leaves (5.21±0.34) and profuse rooting (12.14±1.67) facilitated 100% of plant recovery on acclimation. In vitro derived plants were morphologically identical to the mother plant.

Keywords: Kaempferia galanga, multiplication, regeneration, rhizome segment.
 

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic purity testing of cotton F1 hybrid DHH-11 and parents revealed by molecular markers

Ashok B. Dongre1, *Mamta P. Raut1, Vishwajit M. Paikrao1 and Sunil S. Pande2

1Biotechnology Laboratory, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Post Box No. 2, Shankar Nagar P.O., Nagpur 440010, Maharashtra, India. 2Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology centre, RTM Nagpur University, LIT Premises, Amravati Road, Nagpur-440033,MS, India.

Accepted 16 March, 2024

Cotton F1 Hybrid DHH-11 and its parents CPD-420 (male) and CPD-423 (female) was analyzed for the development of markers, identification of Hybrids and ascertaining genetic purity in Gossypium hirsutum L. through PCR based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs) DNA Markers. Twenty RAPD primers and nineteen ISSR primers were used for analysis. RAPD primer, OPA 7 was found to be heteroallelic for parents. OPA 7 identified male specific amplicons of about 350bp in the Hybrid DHH-11. The other repeats of different base pairs were homoallelic for both the parents. ISSR primer, IS 15 was found to be heteroallelic for parents. IS 15 identified a female-specific amplicon of about 1000bp in the Hybrid DHH-11. Comparison of the RAPD and ISSR banding pattern of the parents with respective hybrid clearly identified genuine hybrid. Thus RAPD and ISSR markers individually have their own merits in the identification of parents and their hybrids. However, a combination of two PCR based markers can be used for testing the genetic purity of cotton seeds which will be more reliable substitute for GOT and a tool for seed certification. This study suggested that efficiency of RAPD and ISSR assay was evaluated successfully for hybridity determination, which would be a valuable genomic tool for the cotton breeders.

Keywords: Genetic Purity, Gossypium, RAPD, ISSR.
 

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Examining Body Dimensions and Live Weight in the Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca)

Tamer Çağlayan¹*, Kemal Kirikçi¹, Aytekin Günlü² and Sema Alaẟahan¹

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
²Department of Livestock Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.

Accepted 21 February, 2024

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine some body measurements of male and female rock partridges of varying age (hatching-14 weeks), and to demonstrate the correlations between these measurements and live weight. Body measurements increased with advancing age. The differences between live weights were significant at 6 and 14th weeks (P<0.05 to 0.01). Shank length and shank width (at the os tarsometatarsus) were found to be greater in males between the 8 and 14th weeks of age (P<0.01). Differences between the two sexes in length of head were significant at 4 and 14th weeks (P<0.05 to 0.01). As of the second week, a high significant correlation (0.366 to 0.751) was determined among all body measurements and live weight (P<0.001). The most decisive body measurements used in the determination of live weight were shank width, head length and shank length. The lowest prediction (R2 12.5%) was determined during the hatching period. However, the highest prediction (R2 = 81.4%) was determined in the 4th week, and generally prediction increased with advancing age (P<0.001). Some body measurements of male and female rock partridges of varying age and the correlation of these measurements with live weight were determined in the study. This study concludes that some body measurements, which can be easily obtained, can be used in the prediction of live weight and as criteria in selection for live weight.

Key words: Partridge, body measurements, live weight, correlation, regression.
 

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Correlation between Carrot Firmness and Water Content and Total Soluble Solids

Majid Rashidi* and Mohammad Gholami

Department of Agricultural Machinery, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Takestan, Iran.

Accepted 21 February, 2024

Abstract

Carrot firmness (FIR) is often determined using difficult and time consuming laboratory tests, but it may be more appropriate and economical to develop a method which uses easily available and known quality characteristics of carrot such as water content (WC) and total soluble solids (TSS). In this study, typical two variables linear regression model for predicting FIR of Nantes carrot based on WC and TSS of carrot was suggested. The statistical results of the study indicated that in order to predict carrot FIR based on WC and TSS of carrot, the two variables linear regression model FIR = -2805.8 + 64.9 WC + 36.4 TSS with R2 = 0.84 can be strongly recommended.

Key words: Carrot, quality characteristics, prediction, modeling, firmness, water content, total soluble solids.