African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Physicochemical characteristics of Jamun fruit

Muhammad Shahnawaz¹* and Saghir Ahmed Sheikh²

¹Department of Food Technology, Karakoram International University, Gilgit Pakistan.

²Institute of Food Science and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan.

Accepted 09 February, 2020

Abstract

Jamun fruit (SYZYGIUM CUMINII L) processing in Pakistan is uncommon or still traditional methods are used during its processing and preservation. It becomes imperative to characterize the fruit cultivars with a view to understand the properties that may affect the design to handle its processing. This study was carried out to present basic principles of physical properties of Jamun fruit in order to facilitate its handling and processing. The morphological parameters includes weight, volume, length, diameter, shape, color, firmness/softness, edible and non-edible contents, specific gravity, juice and seed contents. Two prominent cultivars of Jamun, that is, (V1) improved and (V2) indigenous were analyzed. The improved cultivar was found superior in all parameters analyzed whereas indigenous cultivar was found substandard except seed portion which was more in it. The weight, length, width and volume of V1 was determined as 9.55 g, 3.88 cm, 2.98 cm and 7.60 ml whereas V2 was determined as 6.71 g, 2.73 cm, 2.10 cm, and 5.33 ml respectively. Likewise, edible portion was 69.10% whereas non-edible portion was 30.90% in V1. In case of V2, edible portion was determined as 39.19% whereas non-edible portion was 60.81%. These few parameters indicate that V1 is comparatively better than V2. These research findings would be beneficial references for processors, post harvest practitioners and fruit exporters.

Key words: Jamun fruit, varieties, physical and chemical properties, Sindh, Pakistan.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Physiological responses of six tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars to water stress

Zuzana Jureková¹, Kristína Németh-Molnár¹, Viera Paganová²*

¹Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Marianská 10, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia.

²Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tulipánová 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia.

Accepted 22 November, 2019

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological responses of six tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars to water stress. To this end, plants were exposed to slow dehydration at the third unfolded leaf stage for 23 days. The relative water content (RWC), leaf area and leaf L-proline were determined at 10, 17 and 23 days after treatment application. Our results showed that during slow dehydration, the leaf RWC declined in all studied genotypes, whereas L–proline accumulated. A statistically significant effect of the sampling date (water stress duration) on RWC values was also observed. In addition, the differences in proline content were significantly influenced by tomato genotype, sampling date and the level of substrate saturation. Putting all these together, the results of this study indicate that the adaptive potential of the studied genotypes was expressed in a different relationship between the relative water content and growth of the leaf area. However, three of the tomato genotypes exhibited reduced growth in leaf area in response to the decreased RWC, whereas other tomato genotypes retained a balanced RWC accompanied by further growth of the leaf area.

Key words: Tomato, genotypes, growth, water stress, L-proline, relative water content.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of government financial incentives on peri-urban vegetable production in Botswana

M. E. Madisa and Y. Assefa*

Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana.

Accepted 07 July, 2020

Abstract 

In its effort to increase agricultural productivity, the Government of Botswana has established a financial scheme to improve vegetable production. Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and CEDA young farmers fund are encouraging farmers to get involved in vegetable production through financial and technical assistants. However, data on the impacts of these funds on vegetable production in the country are scarce and often unreliable. Very little is in fact known about the change in the quantity of vegetable produced, vegetable produce imported to the country and consumed after these funds are introduced. This paper discusses the impact of these government incentives on farm land allocated to vegetables, total vegetable production and import of vegetable in Botswana. The increasing interest in vegetable production, the change in demography and the trend in import of production inputs are also discussed.

Key words: Botswana, Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), financial incentives, government, urban, vegetable.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of photoperiod on propagation of strawberry (FRAGARIA×ANANASSA  Duch.)

Sayed M. Zain Hasan¹, Isam Al-Madhagi¹*, Aziz Ahmad² and Wan Abdullah Bin Yusoff³

¹Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

²Faculty of Science and Technology, (UMT) University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

^bMalaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.

Accepted 06 July, 2020

Abstract

The effect of photoperiod on multiplication of commercial strawberry cultivars was investigated at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Station in Cameron Highlands. Two strawberry cultivars, Camarosa and Camaroga, were grown under a plastic rain-shelter supplemented with three levels of photoperiod, 12 (normal day length of Cameron Highland), 15 and 17 h. The result showed that photoperiod, cultivars, photoperiod × cultivars had significantly affected on a number of runners per plant and increased the length of runner and number of plantlets per runner and per plant. 15 h long-day were found to be very efficient in multiplying the strawberry plant under which the number of plantlets per plant had significantly increased to about 19.79 as compared to about 7.4 under the 12 h photoperiod. The result also showed that cultivar Camaroga was capable to produce a significant number of about 17.31 plantlets per plant compared to about 13.06 in Camarosa. The analysis of photoperiod × cultivar interaction indicated that the highest number of about 22.06 plantlets per plant was obtained from Camaroga, grown under the 17 h photoperiod. This study indicated that propagating performance in Camaroga is better than Camarosa under Cameron Highland climatic condition.

Key words: Fragaria × ananassa, photoperiod, propagation.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of age and cropping system on tree population structure in South West Ghana

Kenneth A. Anyomi^1,2*, Dieter R. Pelz², Boateng Kyereh³ and Luke C. N. Anglaaere⁴

¹Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, UniversitéLaval, Québec, Canada, G1V 0A6. Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Local 2145B, Canada.

²Department of Forest Biometry, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany.

³Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

⁴Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG; CSIR), Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 10 January, 2020

Abstract 

Timber tree recruitment and retention was assessed within cocoa farms and mixed perennial farms of varying age classes in south western Ghana. The rationale was to be able to understand the pattern of change in timber tree populations within farms, as well as identify the extent to which farm management activities explain these changes. Each farm was sub-categorized according to farm age into Phase I (farm age < 5 years), Phase II (farm age > 5 years) and Phase III (abandoned farms). Density and species richness of mature trees, that is with diameter at breast height (DBH) above 5 cm and regeneration (DBH of 5 cm and below) were determined while height, DBH and crown area were measured for only mature trees. About 96 farmers were also selected from 16 communities in the study area and interviewed. Results show that regeneration was most vigorous during the phase III (abandoned farms) compared to active cropping stages. Mixed perennial farms retained much less of recruits and if efforts are made to retain much of the recruits, timber supply could be largely augmented from this system. Within cocoa based cropping system, it was also observed that mature tree populations do not reflect the vigour of regeneration during the early stages (Phase I) of farm growth and this was attributed to the influences of farm management activities. Sustainable production of timber tree species from farming areas must take into account variations in tree densities and species richness among cropping systems as well as overtime (age classes) within a cropping system.

Key words: Cocoa based cropping system, mixed perennial cropping system, timber tree species, correlation test.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of various salt compounds and their combinations on growth and stress indicators in maize (Zea mays L.)

Birol Tas¹* and Haluk Basar²

¹Vocational School of Technical Science of Uludag University, Bursa-Turkey.

²Soil Science Department of Agricultural Faculty of Uludag University, Bursa- Turkey.

Accepted 13 February, 2020

Abstract

Salinity is an important stress factor for crop plants. In current research work, salt stress was applied to RX 770 hybrid maize plant. The effects of additional supply of Ca, K, and Mg salts to plants under salt stress was evaluated using membrane permeability, relative water content and proline concentrations as stress indicators. Furthermore, effects of the treatments on growth and on macro and micro nutrient concentrations in shoots and roots were determined. It was observed that supplemental Ca, Mg, and K had positive effects on plant performance, by decreasing membrane permeability and enhancing relative water contents (RWC) under salt stress.

Key words: Proline, salt stress, membrane permeability, relative water content.