ISSN 2375-1134
Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture Vol. 1 (4), pp. 057-059, October, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Control of Aspergillus niger with garlic, onion and leek extracts
Reyhan Irkin1 and Mihriban Korukluoglu2
1Balıkesir University,Susurluk Vocational School, Susurluk, Balikesir, Turkey.
2Uludag University, Agricultural Faculty, Food Engineering Department, Görükle, Bursa, Turkey.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]r. Tel: +90 2244428970 Fax:+902244428077
Accepted 7 August, 2013
Abstract
Antifungal activity of “Allium” vegetables that is garlic (Allium sativum L.), onion (Allium cepa L.) and leek (Allium porrum L.) were investigated against Aspergillus niger. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of aqueous, ethyl alcohol and acetone extracts were determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods in the test tubes. Onion extract with ethyl alcohol (275 mg/mL MFC), aqueous garlic extract (325 mg/mL MFC) and aqueous leek extract (900 mg/mL MFC) found the most inhibitory against A. niger.
Key words: Aspergillus niger, garlic, onion, leek, antifungal activity.
Mihriban Korukluoglu2, Reyhan Irkin
Page: 57 - 59
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1013Research Article
Genetic diversity of Annona senegalensis Pers. populations as revealed by simple sequence repeats (SSRs)
Kingdom Kwapata1, Weston F. Mwase1*, J. M. Bokosi2, M. B. Kwapata1 and P. Munyenyembe3
1University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture Department, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe,
Malawi.
2 University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Crop Science Department, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi 3University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources Management, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (265) 1 277 361 Fax: (265) 1 277 364
Accepted 19 August, 2013
Abstract
Annona senegalensis Pers. is one of the wild fruit tree for domestication in southern Africa. An assessment of the genetic diversity in A. senegalensis would assist in planning for future germplasm collection, conservation and fruit domestication programmes. During 2004 to 2006 nine populations were collected from different locations in Malawi and genetic diversity was evaluated using microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) developed in Annona cherimola. In total 23 alleles were detected in the populations studied and genetic diversity parameters revealed high levels of heterozygosity with 4.0 to 14 alleles per locus and the populations were genetically different by 19% as given by the value of theta. Results demonstrated association between genetic and geographical distance in the species indicating that large-scale geographical and ecotypic differentiation was reflected by the SSR markers. The high genetic diversity is attributed to biological characteristics of the tree species and habitat heterogeneity. The study has revealed evidence of application of SSR markers from A. cherimola towards genetic fingerprinting of A. senegalensis. Implications of the SSR marker data for optimizing genetic management of the species are discussed.
Key words: Annona, conservation, genetic diversity, heterozygosity, microsatellites, SSRs, population.
Weston F. Mwase, J. M. Bokosi, Kingdom Kwapata, M. B. Kwapata and P. Munyenyembe
Page: 49 - 56
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1009Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture Vol. 1 (1), pp. 008-010, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial studies of 1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone (emodin) isolated from the leaves of Cassia nigricans Vahl
R. G. Ayo1, J. O. Amupitan2 and Yimin Zhao3
1Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
2Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
3Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, PR China.
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
Accepted 21 May, 2007
Abstract
Emodin was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Cassia nigricans Vahl. The structure of the emodin was established by chemical spectroscopy. The LC50 (lower – upper limits) of the emodin was 42.77 (11.80 – 72.94) µg/ml. Emodin was found to be highly cytotoxic. It showed significant antimicrobial activity on some common pathogens. The isolation of this active principle emodin, from the leaves of Cassia nigricans for the first time and the antimicrobial activity of the compound are reported in the present study. The isolation of the active principle justifies the use of the leaves of C. nigricans in herbal medicine for the treatment of skin diseases and gastro-intestinal disorders.
Key words: Cassia nigricans, leguminosae, emodin, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity.
R. G. Ayo, J. O. Amupitan and Yimin Zhao
Page: 8 - 10
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1004Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Estimation of water pollution by genetic biomarkers in tilapia and catfish species shows species-site interaction
Ahmed M. El-Shehawi1*, Fagr K. Ali2 and Mohamed A. Seehy1
1Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Aflaton St., Elshatby, Alexandria, Egypt.
2Department Water Pollution, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
*Corrosponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 203-592-5405. Fax: 203-592-2780.
Accepted 20 April, 2013
Abstract
This study was aimed at the estimation of water pollution with heavy metals using four biomarkers as well as to study the species-site interaction. Two species of tilapia as well as two catfish species caught from four sites that represent differential environmental stresses were used for this purpose. Water samples and gills were analyzed for heavy metal contents. Three enzyme biomarkers (acid phosphatase (AP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), metalothionein (MT) gene expression) as well as real time PCR quantification of metalothionein transcripts from liver were used to monitor fish response to water pollutants. Results showed various activities of the four biomarkers at the different studied sites. There were clear interaction between fish species and the level of heavy metals. Real time PCR evaluation of metalothionein gene expression revealed species variations at similar sites. It is concluded that there are various types of interaction of species at different sites. These types of interaction depend on the type of biomarker tested.
Key words: Water pollution, heavy metals, metalothionein, catfish, tilapia, real time, PCR, GOT, GPT, acid phosphatase.
Fagr K. Ali and Mohamed A. Seehy, Ahmed M. El-Shehawi
Page: 1 - 7
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1006Research Article
Molecular characterisation of Mycovellosiella koepki, the causal agent of yellow spot disease of sugarcane
V.M. Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya1* and A. Dookhun-Saumtally2
1Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.
2Biotechnology department, Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, Mauritius.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 14 April, 2013
Abstract
Yellow spot of sugarcane is a fungal disease caused by Mycovellosiella koepki. Yellow spot symptoms are variable and differ in several sugarcane varieties and the existence of more than one strain of the fungus has been evoked. 29 isolates of the fungus were characterised morphologically and no significant differences were observed on the type, colour and size of the spores. Following restriction digestion of the ITS region, no significant differences were observed among isolates of the fungus and DNA sequencing of this region of the ribosomal DNA confirmed the absence of polymorphisms among the fungal strains.
Key words: Yellow spot, PCR, sequence analysis.
A. Dookhun-Saumtally, V.M. Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya
Page: 17 - 21
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1007Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture Vol. 1 (1), pp. 014-016, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
PCR identification of Fusarium genus based on nuclear ribosomal-DNA sequence data
Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam 1,3*, Ibrahim N. Aly2, Mohmed A. Abdel-Satar2, Mohmed S. Khalil1 and Joseph A. Verreet3
1 Agricultural Research Center, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. 2 Suez Canal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Ismailia, Egypt.
3 Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Phytopathologie, Kiel, Germany.
*Corresponding author; phone: (49 431) 880 2993, fax: (49 431) 880 1583, E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 25 April, 2013
Abstract
We have developed two taxon-selective primers for quick identification of the Fusarium genus. These primers, ITS-Fu-f and ITS-Fu-r were designed by comparing the aligned sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of a range of Fusarium species. The primers showed good specificity for the genus Fusarium, and the approximately 389-bp product was amplified exclusively. PCR sensitivity ranged from 100 fg to 10 ng for DNA extracted from Fusarium oxysporum mycelium. No amplification products were detected with PCR of DNA from Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina isolates using these primers. The assay is useful for rapid identification of Fusarium spp. cultures. The application of these PCR methods for early diagnosis of the seedling and wilt disease of cotton needs to be studied further.
Key words: rDNA, taxon-specific primer, Fusarium genus, Gossypium barbadense.
Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam, Mohmed A. Abdel-Satar, Mohmed S. Khalil and Joseph A. Verreet, Ibrahim N. Aly
Page: 14 - 16
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1008