African Journal of Tropical Agriculture

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-009, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Production of bioethanol from sweet sorghum: A review

A.  Almodares^1* and M. R. Hadi²

¹Department of Biology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan-Iran.

²Department of Biology, Sciences and Research Branch of Fars, Islamic Azad University, Iran.

Accepted 13 August, 2018

Abstract

The consumption of bioethanol as biofule may reduce greenhouse gases, gasoline imports. Also it can be replaced with lead or MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) that are air and underground water pollutants, respectively. Plants are the best choice for meeting the projected bioethanol demands. For this scope, a comparative analysis of the technological options using different feedstocks should be performed. Our research and other studies indicate that sweet sorghum can be used as a feedstock for ethanol production under hot and dry climatic conditions. Because, it has higher tolerance to salt and drought comparing to sugarcane and corn that are currently used for biofuel production in the world. In addition, high carbohydrates content of sweet sorghum stalk are similar to sugarcane but its water and fertilizer requirements are much lower than sugarcane. Also, sugarcane is not a salt tolerant plant. On the other hand, high fermentable sugar content in sweet sorghum stalk makes it to be more suitable for fermentation to ethanol. Therefore, it is suggested to plant sweet sorghum for biofule production in hot and dry countries to solve problems such as increasing the octane of gasoline and to reduce greenhouse gases and gasoline imports.

Key words: Sweet sorghum, carbohydrate, bioethanol, biofuel.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Indole acetic acid production and enhanced plant growth promotion by indigenous PSBs

Sadaf Shahab, Nuzhat Ahmed and Nasreen S. Khan

Centre for Molecular Genetics, University of Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.

Accepted 18 September, 2018

Abstract

Indigenous soil samples were tested for Phosphate solubilization. Efficient phosphate solubilizng bacteria were isolated. Effect of four different media on phosphate solubilization were determined. Auxin production by these bacteria were determined via bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography by the bacteria in liquid culture. Indole acetic acid and indole butyric acid were produced by these bacteria in varying concentration with and with out the addition of tryptophan. These bacteria showed stimulatory effects on the growth of root and shoot elongation of mung beans (Vigna radiata). Three promising isolates CMG854, CMG857 and CMG860 were investigated to establish the effect on plant growth. On a comparative basis isolate CMG860 was most promising in promoting plant growth.

Key words: Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, plant growth, phytohormones, vigna radiate.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 6 (10), pp. 001-006, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bioecology of broad bean bruchid Bruchus rufimanus Boh. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in a region of Kabylia in Algeria

F. Medjdoub-Bensaad^1, M. A. Khelil² and J. Huignard³

¹Laboratoire d’entomologie. Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences Biologiques et des Sciences Agronomiques. Université Mouloud Mammeri Tizi- Ouzou 15000, Algérie.

²Laboratoire de valorisation des actions de l’homme pour la protection de l’environnement et application en santé publique. Faculté des sciences Université de Tlemcen 13000, Algérie ³Institut de Recherche sur la biologie de l’Insecte, Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours.

Accepted 06 Aug, 2018

Abstract

In this study, the conditions of colonisation of the broad bean Vicia faba L. by the adults of the Coleoptera Bruchidae Bruchus rufimanus Boh. were analysed in the region of Kabylia in Algeria. B. rufimanus adults began to colonise the V. faba cultures in February after termination of a larval and a reproductive diapause. Males appeared in February and had terminated their reproductive diapause. Females began to colonise the broad bean culture in March; they terminated their reproductive diapause after consumption of nectar and pollen of the host- plant flowers. The adult density depended on the abundance of the trophic resources at the beginning of adult colonisation phase. The females oviposited on the green pods as soon as they appeared on the plants and laid on these pods as long as they did not became mature. The first and the secondary larval instars developed in maturing seeds in the green pods. The last larval instars and the pupae developed in dry seeds after harvesting and storage in granaries. A high inter- individual variability in the duration of the post-embryonic develop-ment was observed in this study. The adaptive signification of this developmental heterogeneity was analysed in this study.

Key words: Vicia faba, Bruchus rufimanus, host plant colonisation, life cycle, larval and reproductive diapause, post-embryonic development.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-003, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Aspect of the biology of Rastrococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Psuedococcidae) on Acalypha hispida in southern guinea savanna of Nigeria

Akintola A. J.¹* and Ande A.T.²

¹Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology P.M.B. 4000

²Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 26 March, 2018

Abstract

The biology and description of various developmental stages of the mealybug found on the green acalypha plant in Ogbomoso, Southern Guinea Savanna was evaluated. The study shows that the stylets of the 1^st and 3rd instars as well as adult stages are straight while that of the 2nd instar is somewhat coiled up. Furthermore, identification key chart was prepared using the characters which are peculiar to each instar. The third instar can be identified using the tip of abdomen that is broad with inconspicuous setae and body length that is 13 mm. The adult stage is peculiar with its tip of abdomen which is narrow with 2 short setae and a body length usually 13 mm.

Key words: Acalypha, antenna, instar, Rastroccocus, savanna, stylet.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 6 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza on root anatomy in Zea mays and Lycopersicon esculentum

Jeff H. Taylor^*, Adrianne Waltenbaugh and Michelle Shields

Department of Biology Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057 U.S.A.

Accepted 26 November, 2017

Abstract

The absorption of water and nutrient ions from the soil solution is among the primary roles of roots. To reach the xylem for axial transport, the water and minerals must circumvent the exodermis and (or) endodermis, both of which act as barriers to radial apoplastic diffusion. To do this, the water and minerals must enter the symplast of cells located outside of the outermost apoplastic barrier. Mycorrhiza are known to impact root anatomy and ion uptake, but their effect on those cells where symplastic entry must occur is not known. To examine their impact, the surface area of those living cells apoplastically exposed to the soil solution in Zea mays and Lycopersicon esculentum was examined. For each species, plants inoculated with vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza and uninoculated plants were examined. The average cell size and number of cells located outside the endodermis (L. esculentum) or exodermis (Z. mays) was assessed by microscopic observation and the appropriate calculations were performed. The absorptive surface area of L. esculentum was not significantly different between inoculated (161 cm²/cm root length) and uninoculated (163 cm²/ cm root length) plants. However, there was a statistically significant difference between Z. mays inoculated (average 37 cm² /cm root length) and uninoculated (average 11 cm²/cm root length). How this may impact ion uptake pathways is discussed.

Key words: Mycorrhiza, Lycopersicon esculentum, Zea mays, ion uptake potential.

Key words: Foliar epidermis, Bignoniaceae, Nigeria.