ISSN 2375-1185
Research Article
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The effect of light on ROS-scavenging systems and lipid peroxidation under cold conditions in saffron (Crocus sativus L.)
E. Esfandiari1, S. S. Alavi-Kia2*, A. Bahmani3 and M. A. Aazami3
1Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.
2Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
3Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.
Accepted 10 April, 2019
Abstract
Saffron is one of the most important crops cultivated in Iran. Because of low water demand and tolerance to winter cold as well as its high price and quality compared to that of other countries, Iranian saffron deserves closer attention. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of light under low temperature on the defense mechanisms of this plant. Corms of saffron were cultivated on the education and research farmlands of the University of Maragheh on October 1st 2007. Following the drop in weather temperature on December 23rd, 2007, some of the plants were covered in a way that sunlight could not reach them. After 6 h, the samples of saffron leaves were taken and the activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalases (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) enzymes as well as the amount of lipid peroxidation (MDA content) in the samples were measured. The results indicated that the activity level of CAT, GR and APX in light and low temperature conditions were significantly higher than that of dark and low temperature conditions. Meanwhile, SOD activity was significantly lower in light and low temperature conditions compared to that of dark and low temperature conditions. Increased activity of CAT, GR and APX alleviated the damaging effect of light presence at a low temperature on cell membranes.
Key words: Antioxidant enzyme, lipid peroxidation, low temperature, saffron.
E. Esfandiari, A. Bahmani and M. A. Aazami, S. S. Alavi-Kia*
Page: 1 - 5
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1089Research Article
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-013, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Application and evaluation of the DSSAT-wheat in the Tiaret region of Algeria
W. Rezzoug*,1, B. Gabrielle2, A. Suleiman3 and K. Benabdeli4
1Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Ibn Khaldoun University, Tiaret, Algeria.
Environment and Arable Crops Research Unit, Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique, Thiverval-Grignon, France.
2Environment and Arable Crops Research Unit, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Thiverval-Grignon, France.
3Land, Water and Environment Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Amman, Jordan.
4Mustapha Stambouli University, Mascara, Algeria.
Accepted 19 February, 2019
Abstract
Crop simulation models are essential tools to design management practices to mitigate such adverse conditions. They can be used to predict crop yield expectancies under limited environmental resources and various management scenarios. However, the application of crop models requires an accurate knowledge of the genotype-related coefficients, which are commonly not available. This paper aimed to evaluate the DSSAT crop model in Algeria for wheat, including the determination of DSSAT -specific genetic coefficients of wheat. Experimental data from three seasons and of nine cultivars were used for model calibration and testing. The results showed that the root mean squared error (RMSE) were 9.5 d and 1.8 d for anthesis and maturity respectively for model calibration ; and was 4.4 d and 3.5 d for anthesis and maturity in testing of the model, respectively. The RMSE of final grain yield was 0.7 t ha-1 for calibration and testing. This study showed that DSSAT may be used to predict the growth and yields of wheat genotypes in Algeria. In consequence to compare several crop management strategies in a wheat cropping area.
Key words: Wheat; simulation; DSSAT; genotype.
W. Rezzoug*, A. Suleiman and K. Benabdeli, B. Gabrielle
Page: 1 - 13
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1087Research Article
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Residual effects of relay-cropped mucuna and lablab on maize and bean yields in northwest Kenya
E. M. Nyambati1*, L. E. Sollenberger2, M. Eilitta2 and J. G. Mureithi1
1Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), National Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya.
2Agronomy Department, University of Florida, 2183 McCarty Hall, P. O. Box 110300, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0300, USA.
Accepted 11 March, 2019
Abstract
In many areas of the tropics, soil nutrient depletion is a major constraint to food production. Performance of legumes relay cropped with a long-season maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid were studied to determine whether subsequent maize grain yield could be increased. Treatments were the factorial (2 × 2 × 3) combinations of two legume cropping systems [based on the legume used; mucuna (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. Utilis (Wright) Bruck) and lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet cv. Rongai)], two levels of legume defoliation (none or herbage above 10 cm from soil surface removed prior to residue incorporation into soil), and three crop sequences (legume in first year only, both years and second year only). There were three controls; (1) 30 kg ha-1 inorganic N; (2) natural fallow and; (3) 5 t ha-1 cattle manure. Mucuna yielded more herbage in the leaf fraction than lablab (1.6 vs. 0.86 t ha-1), and defoliation resulted in lower (0.76 vs. 0.13 t ha-1) leaf biomass. Lablab accumulated more biomass in the stem than mucuna (1.8 vs. 1.3 t ha-1). Leaf N accumulation for the defoliated mucuna treatment (D-M) averaged 48% that of undefoliated mucuna (UD-M), but for defoliated lablab (D -L), the value was only 4% that of undefoliated lablab (UD -L). When legume residue was applied for two consecutive years, UD-L yielded higher (p < 0.006) maize grain than UD- M (6.72 vs. 4.46 t ha-1), and D-M resulted in higher (p < 0.028) maize grain yield than D -L (6.08 vs. 3.98 t ha-1). After 2 years of residue application, maize grain yield was greater for D-M than UD-M, but defoliation resulted in a reduction of maize grain yield under lablab treatments. The D- M (6.08 t ha-1) and UD-L (6.72 t ha-1) after 2 years of residue application, yielded higher maize grain yield than the natural fallow control (4.11 t ha-1). Residual nutrients from legume residue incorporation in March 2000 increased maize yield in the 2001 season over that obtained for a natural fallow. It is concluded that single-year or alternate-year intercropping of mucuna and lablab can increase subsequent maize grain yield, even when a portion of top-canopy legume biomass is removed as livestock fodder.
Key words: Residual effects, lablab, mucuna, residue quality, soil fertility, maize, bean.
E. M. Nyambati*, M. Eilitta and J. G. Mureithi, L. E. Sollenberger
Page: 1 - 10
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1086Research Article
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Genetic variation of leaf antioxidants and chlorophyll content in safflower
P. Golkar1*, A. Arzani1, A. M. Rezaei1, Z. Yarali2, and M. Yousefi2
1PhD student and Professors, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 8415683111, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2Payame Noor University, Najaf-Abad, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Accepted 10 March, 2019
Abstract
An efficient antioxidant defense system represented by enzymatic and non-enzymatic forms is important in the control of oxidative stress caused by free radicals and other reactive species. Leaf antioxidant activity and chlorophyll content of 20 safflower (Carthamus tinctoriuos L.) genotypes comprising eight parental and 12 F1 hybrids originated from reciprocal crosses of four parental lines were evaluated in this study. Five leaf antioxidants including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), super oxide dismutase (SOD), carotenoids and lipid peroxidastioin (LP) were assessed. Chlorophyll (a, b, a+b) content was also evaluated. Analysis of variances for all traits showed the significant differences among the genotypes (P < 0.05). The highest antioxidant activity was consistently belonged to APX and GR in all genotypes. Cross 22-191 ´k 21 was superior for GR and APX activity among F1 hybrids. The highest activity of SOD and LP was observed in C4110 genotype. GE-62918 showed the highest content of carotenoids. The highest chl a and chl a+b was related to a F 1 hybrid (22-191×K21). In the majority of F1 hybrids the activity of antioxidant was higher and chlorophyll content was intermediate when compared to those of their parents. Significant differences were observed between reciprocal crosses for the antioxidants with the exception of the GR. This result in turn indicated that the cytoplasmic effects on the antioxidant activity in safflower. There was no significant difference between reciprocal crosses for chlorophyll content with the exception of 22-191×K21 cross. The heterosis effect for SOD activity was significant (143, 95 and 54.4) in three genotypes related to superior parent and in three genotypes (96.2, 40 and 31) related to mean of parents. Significant heterosis (122.86 and 156.20) was only observed for two genotypes related to mean of parents for Chl a and Chl b contents, respectively.
Key words: Safflower, Carthamus tinctoriuos, antioxidant, carotenoids, chlorophyll.
A. M. Rezaei, A. Arzani, Z. Yarali and M. Yousefi, P. Golkar*
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1085Research Article
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-011, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Genetic analysis of grain yield and some agronomic traits in hulless barley
R. Eshghi* and E. Akhundova
Faculty of Biology, Department of Genetics and Darwinism, Baku State University Azerbaijan.
Accepted 02 February, 2019
Abstract
The choice of an efficient breeding procedure depends to a large extent on the knowledge of the genetic system controlling the character to be selected. An eight-parent diallel, involving hulless barley varieties ICNBF-582, ICB-102607, ICNBF93-328, SB91925, ICNBF8-613, BBSC congana, Petuina2 and ICNBF93- 369, was evaluated to determine the genetic parameters contributing to plant height, days to maturity, number of tillers, number of grains per spike and grain yield per plant. Furthermore, generation mean and variance analysis was carried out on six generations (P1, P 2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) derived from the cross ICNBF93-369 ´ ICNBF-582 and SB91925 ´ ICB-102607 to complement the genetic information obtained from the diallel analysis. Wr/Vr graph in diallel analysis and average degree of dominance together with narrow -sense heritability values in both experiments revalued additive gene effects for plant height, number of tillers and days to maturity and over-dominance gene action for number of grains per spike. Although in cross ICNBF93-369 ´ ICNBF-582 the dominance effects had a greater share, the additive effects in diallel analysis and cross SB91925 ´ ICB- 102607 played major role in the inheritance of grain yield per plant, since narrow-sense heritability of this trait was low. It can therefore be concluded that direct improvement of this trait is somehow problematic because environmental factors contribute greatly in the control of the trait.
Key words: Hulless barley, diallel, generation mean analysis, gene effects, agronomic traits.
E. Akhundova, R. Eshghi*
Page: 1 - 11
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1084Short Communication
African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-003, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
Histochemical studies of some Nigerian species of Aneilema R. BR. (Commelinaceae): An under growth of rubber plantation
Ogbebor O. N1* and Edeoga H. O2
1Plant protection Division, Rubber research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 1049, Benin City, Nigeria.
2Department of Biological Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
Accepted 13 January, 2019
Abstract
Four Nigerian spp of Aneilema (A. aequinoctiale, A. beniniense, A. paludosum and A. unbrosum) common as under growth of rubber plantations were screened for their condensed tannins and saponins. This is because of the importance of tannins and saponins in industries, such as the leather industry. Both chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses were employed in this study. Procyanidin and saponins related to furostanol saponins were isolated from these spp of Aneilema investigated. This report of the presence of these chemical constituents in Nigerian Aneilema spp is the first to be documented in literature. Since these Aneilema spp serve important medicinal purposes in Nigeria, the need to develop and determine proper methods of producing these active components from these Aneilema spp is suggested. Furthermore, the defensive role of tannins and saponins in the ecological survival of these plants as perennial herbs in the thick tropical rain forest of West Africa sub–region is discussed. This is as a result of the importance of these Aneilema spp studied both as livestock and weeds of plantation crops in Nigeria.
Key words: Aneilema spp. Commelinaceae, Saponins, Tannins, Histochemical study.
Ogbebor O. N*, Edeoga H. O
Page: 1 - 3
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1083