Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of some medicinal and ornamental plant extracts toward pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae (Passerini) under laboratory conditions

Sawsan S. Moawad¹* and Amal M. F. Al-Barty²

¹Pests and Plant Protection Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Egypt.

²Science Faculty, Al- Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 05 October, 2020

Abstract

Ethanol and water extracts of five medicinal and ornamental plant species namely, Aerva lanata, Ruta chalepensis, Fagonia arabica, Malva parviflora, and Calotropis procera; were evaluated against pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini under laboratory condition. Results indicated that the ethanol extract of R. chalepensis (whole plant) showed the highest repellency (75) and mortality (79.5)  at 0.015% concentration. Followed by ethanol extract of A. lanata which elicited high repellent effect (60.68%) and moderate mortality percentage (55.54%) at 0.015% concentration. On the other side, water extracts of A. lanata caused the highest repellency (44.88%) and mortality (61.2%) at 5% concentration. Followed by M. parviflora which induced slight repellency (36.22%) and mortality (51.5%) at 5% concentration.

Key words: Pomegranate aphid, Punica granatum, plant extracts, repellent, mortality.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-008, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characteristics of organic acids in the fruit of different pear species

Shoufeng Sha^1,2, Juncai Li², Jun Wu¹ and Shaoling Zhang¹*

¹College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China.

²Liaoning Institute of Fruit Science, Xiongyue, 115009 China.

Accepted 05 September, 2020

Abstract

The contents of organic acids in the fruit of 40 cultivars of four major pear species, Pyrus ussuriensis, Pyrus bretschneideri, Pyrus pyrifolia, and Pyrus communis, were examined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the major components of organic acids present in the pear fruit were malic and citric acids. The total organic acid content and the individual contents of malic, citric, and quinic acids were significantly higher in the fruit of P. ussuriensis than in the other three species. Among the ten organic acids examined, both malic and citric acids exhibited highly significant positive correlation with quinic acid, whereas extremely significant negative correlation was observed between acetic and lactic acids, and between succinic and fumaric acids. Furthermore, significant positive correlation was observed between malic and citric acids, and between quinic acid and shikimic acids, whereas significant negative correlation was found between quinic and tartaric acids. The differences in the contents of the 10 individual organic acids and the total organic acid content in the fruit of the 40 pear cultivars reached a significant and strong level.

Key words: Pear, fruit, quality, organic acid, difference, correlation.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Postharvest application of heats treatment and thiabendazole, sodium bicarbonate fungicides on decay control and characteristics quality and quantity in the "Valencia" orange

Sajad Fatemi*, Mehrdad Jafarpour and Hasan Borji

Faculty of Agriculture, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Accepted 05 November, 2020

Abstract 

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of heat treatments and fungicides on shelf life of Valencia orange. The research was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replications and 21 treatments at two levels of inoculation and no inoculation. Treatments were included: Thiabendazole (300, 600, 1500 and 2000 ppm), sodium bicarbonate (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%), hot water (45, 50, 55 and 60°C) with the duration (1, 2 and 3 min), control treatment. The fruits, after harvest were affected by fungicides and heat treatments were in 2 levels of inoculated and non inoculated form. Then, they were maintained and kept in plastic bags for 3 months at a temperature of 6°C with relative humidity of 85 to 90% at the end of the third month, the quantitative tests and experiments including decay percent, qualitative traits of vitamin C, percentage of Tss and acidity were done on the samples. The comparison of averages indicated that, in two groups of inoculated and non inoculated, thiabendazole treatments and sodium bicarbonate had a great and more significant effect on fruit decay. In non inoculated fruits, the hot water treatments and highest level of TSS in inoculated fruits with hot water treatment (60°C for 3 min) was observed. However, there was no significant difference with 50°C hot water treatment. In inoculated and non inoculated fruits, the highest level of TA was observed in hot water treatment. On the whole, to control the induced disease of Penicillium attacks, we can recommend the use of fungicides and hot water treatments.

Key words: Shelf life, heats treatment, vitamin C, fungicide, Valencia orange.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-008, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Calibration of time domain reflectometry (TDR) on the basis of torf sand and its optimisation for irrigation automations

Ferhat Kup*, Ramazan Saglam, Ibrahim Tobi, Hasan Sahin and Cevdet Saglam

Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Osmanbey Campus, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey.

Accepted 28 November, 2020

Abstract

In this study, requirement calibrations performed for irrigation automation at the agricultural irrigation, particularly by means of taking as a base the torf sand, from the greenhouse, garden and flowerpot soil, were carried out. In order to make the TDR (time domain reflectometry) device suitable for watering automation, the water pump was automatically used to perform drip irrigation according to the humidity values provided via integrated adjusted resistances and the relay system to the device. Compatibility was determined between the values obtained from automation. As a result, TDR humidity sensors, used for soil water content measurement, are both easier and cheaper than other systems. It has been seen that this examined system can be applied for different types of soils too.

Key words: Time domain reflectometry (TDR), soil water content, torf, irrigation, automation.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of growth stage and variety on the pigment levels in Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) leaves

Seow-Mun Hue*, Amru Nasrulhaq Boyce and Chandran Somasundram

Institute of  Biological Sciences and Centre For Research in Biotechnology For Agriculture (CEBAR), Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Accepted 09 October, 2020

Abstract

The study of pigments and nutritional composition in Ipomoea batatas has been intensive, yet little studies have been conducted on their leaves. I. batatas (sweet potato) leaves which are discarded after the harvesting period can be used as a potential source of natural dye extraction due to their high level of carotenoids (particularly lutein). Selection of leaves material is dependable on factors such as leaves varieties and stages of growth developments. Variations in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total carotenoids and lutein level were determined spectrophotometrically at different stages of leaves development in 6 different varieties of I. batatas leaves. Result showed that chlorophyll a, b, total carotenoids and lutein pigments increased rapidly when measured from day 1 to 7 and remained stagnant or decreased at older stages (day 15 to 18). Both the I. batatas var Oren and Biru Putih contained the highest amount of carotenoids and lutein from day 7 onwards compared to the other varieties and thus can be used as a suitable source of natural yellow dye.

Key words: Ipomoea batatas, pigments, developmental stage, spectrophotometric, lutein.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 6 (10), pp. 001-008, October, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of pellet fertilizer application on corn yield and its components

Reza-Bagheri¹, Gholam Ali-Akbari²*, Mohammad Hossein-Kianmehr³, Zinol Abadin-Tahmasbi Sarvastani⁴ and Mehdi-Younessi Hamzekhanlu⁵

¹College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 3391653775, Tehran, Iran.

²Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 3391653775, Tehran, Iran.

³Mechanic of Agricultural Machinery, Aboureihan Campus, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 3391653775, Tehran, Iran.

⁴Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Tarbiat Modares, P. O. Box 31485- 498, Karaj, Iran.

⁵Deparment of Agronomy and Plant Breeding science, College of Aburaihan,University of Tehran, P. O. Box 3391653775, Tehran, Iran.

Accepted 22 March, 2020

Abstract

Increased use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers (N) in agricultural production continues to raise concerns, because of the risk of surplus N leaving the plant-soil system and thereby causing environmental contamination. Therefore, decreasing nitrate leaching from crop production fields, such as in corn fields, is of considerable importance. Against this backdrop, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pelleted fertilizer, produced by mixing urea and dry cow dung manure, on corn yield and its components. The study was carried out, during the 2009 corn-growing season, at the experimental farm of College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran in Iran. The factorial design of the study comprised of randomized complete block with three replications. Factors this experiment involved: first factor was two levels of fertilizer application method which include pellet and mixed with soil, and second factor was four levels of nitrogen fertilizer pulse dry cow dung (46+600, 92+600, 138+600 and 184+600 kg/ha). The biological yield, grain yield, number of grains per ear, grain weight, harvest index, and grain protein content was calculated. Treatment T8 (184+600 kg/ha pelleted fertilizer) significantly produced better harvest index, highest 1000 grain weight, the maximum biological yield, the maximum grain yield and highest grain protein content per hectare. The use of pelleted fertilizer is therefore a better alternative to uncoated nitrogen fertilizer due to its slow and continuous nutrient release for plant uptake at different stages of its growth.

Key words: Biological yield, dry cow dung, urea, grain protein content, corn, grain yield.