African Journal of Crop Science

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Fruit performances of the selected fig types in Turkey

Mikdat Simsek

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingöl University, Bingöl, 12000, Turkey. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +90-426-213 25 50 – 51. Fax: +90-426-213 28 66.

Accepted 19 September, 2019

Abstract

In this study, fruit performances of some types of fig (Ficus carica L.) were determined in Dara and Yardere villages of Mardin, Turkey. Seven fig types were evaluated in the study for two years. A lot of pomological characteristics to determine the fruit performances of the these types were examined during the 2004 and 2005. According to the averages in two years, fruit weight ranged between 56.29 and 30.88 g, fruit length ranged from 41.80 to 31.97 mm, ostiolum width ranged between 3.90 and 2.44 mm, total soluble solids content (TSS) ranged between 23.40 and 18.25% and acidity ranged between 0.29 and 0.14%. 47-00-4, 47-00- 6 and 47-00-7 types scored the highest in overall quality according to the results of the weighted ranked method.

Key words: Ficus carica, Southeast Anatolia region climate, fruit performance, table fig, selection.

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Discourse coalitions and consumer understanding of organic and pesticide free vegetables in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Brett Wyatt

Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50200. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 17 December, 2019

Abstract

This paper will demonstrate how discourse coalitions promote and institutionalize regulations, communicating the meanings of certified, alternative agricultural production processes through the labeling of vegetable produce. This analysis introduces the concepts of discourse coalitions as a way to evaluate the power and linkages constituting an alternative agricultural commodity network. The actors constituting these networks will be shown to work as coalitions of actors promoting complementary and competing discursive strategies which explain the role of consumer understanding in completing the commodity network. Data for this analysis was derived from a survey instrument used to determine the attitudes and propensities toward the purchase of conventional and alternative vegetables of 324 consumers in the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand Discourse coalitions are responsible for enacting the relationship between regulatory practice, method of certification and labeling practices. Effective communication of regulatory practices used in certification can be seen by the level of trust consumers have in the marketplaces and labeling.

Key words: Discourse coalition, certified agricultural commodity network.

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-017, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring the variability among smallholder farms in the banana-based farming systems in Bukoba district, Northwest Tanzania

N. Amos Mwijage¹, Nico de Ridder¹, Frederick Baijukya², Cesare Pacini³ and E. Ken Giller¹*

¹Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, P. O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands.

²Maruku Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 127, Bukoba, Tanzania.

³University of Florence, DISSAT, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italia.

Accepted 11 August, 2019

Abstract

A study was conducted in the high and low rainfall zones in the banana-based farming system in Bukoba district, Tanzania, to explore the variability among household characteristics and farm productivity. Approaches used included a participatory rural appraisal, rapid system characterization, surveys and detailed farm monitoring in two villages, one from each zone in 2005 through 2006. Based on a wealth-ranking, four household resource groups with decreasing wealth were identified: Resource group 1 > Resource group 2 > Resource group 3 > Resource group 4, distinguished by domestic assets, livestock ownership and labour relations. Through principal component analysis using additional variables defined by research team, three Functional Resource Groups from among the four Resource groups at each rainfall zone were identified distinguished by: soil fertility management, food security and farm and off-farm income as important indicators of variability. Further detailed monitoring over 14 months (from March, 2006 through May, 2007) in at least three households from each functional resource group showed that N, P and K balances among land use types and farms were driven by levels of organic inputs used and were also related to wealth and dependence on off-farm activities. However, all households were net food buyers, implying food insecurity. In addition, off-farm activities and off-farm income were important livelihood survival strategies.

Key words: Wealth ranking, principal components analysis, household characterization, participatory rural appraisal, farm productivity.

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation and molecular characterization of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) isolates occurring in South Africa

B. J. Sivparsad and A. Gubba*

Discipline of Plant Pathology, School of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.

Accepted 15 May, 2020

Abstract

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), a Tospovirus, causes high economic losses in many crops worldwide. A typical Tospovirus was isolated from naturally infected pepper (Capsicum sp.) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa (SA). The identity of the virus was confirmed as TSWV using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electron microscopy, and protein analysis. Genetic diversity of TSWV in SA was investigated. A total of six TSWV isolates originating from different regions in SA were used in this study. Total plant RNA, isolated from Nicotiana rustica infected with the SA TSWV isolates were subjected to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers specific to the nucleocapsid (N) gene of TSWV. The amplified 760 bp products was then cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the N gene revealed high similarity (> 90%) between the SA isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the multiple alignments of N gene sequences of the SA TSWV and isolates occurring in different geographical locations in the world revealed the branching of TSWV isolates into two distinct clusters designated the American and European groups. The SA isolates showed high sequence similarity with TSWV isolates from Europe. The information generated in this study will be useful in formulating effective control measures using genetic engineering approaches for this economically important virus.

Keywords: Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, South Africa, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Tospovirus.

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Response of cabbage to depth of transplanting, soil amendment and water stress on a Japanese volcanic ash soil

Nsalambi V. Nkongolo¹, Mitate Yamada² and Atsushi Yamasaki³

¹Environmental Science Program, Department of Cooperative Research Department of Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry and Physics College of Natural Sciences, Technology and Mathematics and Cooperative Research and Extension Lincoln University of Missouri Jefferson City, MO 65102-0029, U.S.A.

²Crop Production and Post harvest Technology Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS),Tsukuba Science City, Japan 305-8686.

³Vegetable Cultivation Technology Systems Laboratory, National Agriculture Research Center, Tsukuba Science City, Japan 305-8666

Accepted 13 May, 2020

Abstract

Transplants growth may be reduced by environmental factors when appropriate cultural practices are not used. We studied the response of cabbage to depth of transplanting (DT), soil amendment (SA) and water stress (WS) in a volcanic ash soil at the National Agriculture Research Center in Tsukuba Science City, Japan. Two separate experiments were conducted during a six weeks period: in field and in container. Soil amendments consisted of chemical fertilizer (CF) applied as N-P₂O₅-K₂O 14-14-14 at the rate of 143 kg ha^-1, no fertilizer (NF) and dried animal manure (AM) applied at the rate of 1111 kg ha^-1. An additional treatment for the container experiment consisted of a soil subjected to four years application of animal manure + CF (CAM). Water stress consisted in one (WS₁) and three (WS₂) irrigations per week in the field, and the same irrigation schedule per two weeks in containers. Cabbage was transplanted in three distinct phases: at the top of the root ball (DT₀), the depth of cotyledon leaves (DT ₁) and the first true leaf (DT ₂). After six of field growth, cabbage total dry mass (TDM) decreased by 43, 39 and 33% in AM, CF and NF respectively when WS₂ was imposed. These results were also confirmed in container study. Animal manure was effective in reducing the severity of the suppressive effect of DT, but not that of WS on cabbage growth. Increase in cabbage overall growth, which was higher in CF and CAM as compared to AM and NF, was mainly due to nutrient supply.

Key words: Animal manure, chemical fertilizer, cabbage growth, transplants.

African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Fruit physical characteristics responses of young apricot trees to different irrigation regimes and yield, quality, vegetative growth, and evapotranspiration relations

Sebahattin Kaya¹*, Salih Evren², Erdal Dasci² and M. Cemal Adiguzel²

¹Bingol University, Agriculture Faculty, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, 12000, Bingol, Turkey.

²Soil and Water Resources Research Institute, 25700, Aziziye, Erzurum, Turkey.

Accepted 17 March, 2020

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate effects of different irrigation regimes on fruit pomological properties of drip-irrigated young apricot trees in 2005 and 2008. Six different irrigation treatments were used: five of which (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5) were based on adjustment coefficients of Class A pan evaporation (0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50). The other treatment (S6) was regulated deficit irrigation treatment that was irrigated by applying 100% of Class A pan evaporation until harvest, but not irrigated after harvest in all the years of study. The effect of different water application levels on fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit height, seed weight, and flesh / seed ratio was found statistically insignificant. Regression analysis showed that there were significant relations among fruit yield, some quality characteristics, vegetative growth, and evapotranspiration in both 2005 and 2008. Also, the yield per tree and evapotranspiration were related with high R² values of 0.97 and 0.76 in 2005 and 2008, respectively. The fruit yield values showed an increasing trend depending on an increase in the tree crown volume, and trunk cross-section area in the experimental years. Fruit quality relationships were different according to the years and quality properties. In 2008, fruit weight reduced while fruit yield increased with fruit diameter and fruit height of more than about 47 and 38 mm, respectively. Thus, it was understood that yield increased, depending on the number of fruit rather than the weight of fruit.

Key words: Apricot, class a pan, drip-irrigation, evapotranspiration, fruit yield and quality, regulated deficit irrigation, vegetative growth.