African Journal of Tropical Agriculture

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (12), pp. 001-005, December, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

IN VITRO regeneration of ACACIA  NILOTICA  (L.) Willd. ex Del from nodes on B5 medium

Gabriel Samake^1,2*, Fousseni Folega^3,4, Hamidou Senou² and Hua-Fang Wang¹

¹College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University. Beijing 226 100083. P. R. China.

²College of Agronomy, IPR / IFRA, Katibougou Bp: 06, Koulikoro, Mali.

³Key Laboratory for Sylviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education Beijing Forestry University Beijing – China.

⁴Laboratoire d’Ecologie végétale et de Botanique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, BP: 1515 Lomé-Togo.

Accepted 13 May, 2017

Abstract

ACACIA NILOTICA (L.) Willd. ex Del epicotyls buds were initiated in a medium supplemented by a combination of naphthalene acetic acid NAA (0.1 mg/L), benzyl amino purine BA (1.5 mg/L) and gibberellic acid GA (1.5 mg/L) were then used to produce a factorial experiment on B5 medium supplemented with auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and cytokinin BA with five levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L) of each. At 0.5 mg/L level BA produced the highest number of nodes (5.8) and longest stem length (55.83 mm). However, the interaction between the two hormones (IBA and BA) had a negative effect on the growth and rooting of the shoots. High level, on the other hand, had a shortening effect on the internodes. BA used only with high doses has an effect of shortening on plants. Level 1.0 mg/L of IBA produced 100% rooted plants with short roots. Shoots are thin and have general growth retardation.

Key words: Acacia nilotica, regeneration, microcutting, rooting, node.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biofertilizer: A novel approach for agriculture

Swapnil D. Topre⁴*, Sreejit S. Panikar¹, Sarita U. Mahajani² and Satish B. Patil³

¹Department of Biotechnology, Rajmata Jijau Shikshan Prasarak Mandal’s (RJSPM’s) College, Bhosari, Pune 411039, Maharashtra, India.

²Lokmangal Biotechnology College, Wadala, North Solapur 413 222, India.

³Department of Environmental Science, University of Pune, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India.

⁴30/4, Golf Residency, Near IBM, Yerwada, Pune-411006, Maharashtra, India.

Accepted 18 January, 2017

Abstract

The nodulation activity in some legume plants was estimated using two nitrogen fixing microorganisms that produced and introduced in different growth conditions. Two isolates of agriculturally important nitrogen fixing microorganisms, Rhizobium meliloti and Azospirillium lipoferum were isolated from Western Maharashtra soil habitat. The standard isolation technique was carried out in laboratory and was characterized by 16S rDNA method. The growth of mentioned microorganisms was studied at different pH, the optimal pH was found to be 6.5 and 7 for R. meliloti and A. lipoferum respectively. The nodulation activity of R. meliloti was confirmed. Carrier plays an important role in maintaining sufficient shelf life, so, survival of mentioned microorganisms in different carriers at 28°C was deduced. However, lignite was found to be the most efficient carrier for R. meliloti and A. lipoferum to introduce as biofertilizer. The mentioned biofertilizer was checked for colony count to meet the standard requirement (that is, 10⁷ cells/gm). Furthermore, the mentioned microorganisms were multiplied for mass production using lignite as carrier.

Key words: Rhizobium meliloti, Azospirillium lipoferum, biofertilizer, lignite.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (10), pp. 001-003, October, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phenotypic correlation of bodyweight and linear body measurement in Chinchilla rabbits (Orycotolagus cuniculus)

V. M. O. Okoro*, C.T. Ezeokeke, U. E. Ogundu and C. Chukwudum

Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria.

Accepted 19 April, 2017

Abstract

Data on bodyweight and linear body measurements (LBMs) namely ear length (EL), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), head to shoulder (HS), leg length (LL) and tail length (TL) of 178 Chinchilla breed of rabbits at 3, 6 and 8 weeks of age were analyzed to obtain the phenotypic correlation between the various LBMs on one hand and LBMs on bodyweight on the other. The value of the Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient defined by the Greek alphabet rho ( ) determines the level of relationship between the LBMs. It ranged from 0.36 - 0.91, 0.47 - 0.82 and 0.34 - 0.71 in weeks 3, 6 and 8 weeks respectively. This shows that as the animal grows, there is a positive relationship between its bodyweight and LBMs. This implies that a particular LBM or a combination of it can be used to determine the bodyweight or another LBM of a chinchilla rabbit. The values also showed high significance at 5, 1 and 0.1% respectively. This means that the probability of determining the bodyweight or LBMs using LBMs is possible at 95, 99 and 99.9 trial times respectively.

Key words: Chinchilla, breeds, linear body measurements, correlations.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Design, construction and performance evaluation of solar maize dryer

Ahmed Abed Gatea

Department of Agricultural mechanization, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 19 April, 2017

Abstract

This paper presents the design, construction and performance evaluation of solar drying for maize, the solar drying system consists of V-groove collector of 2.04 m² area, drying chamber and blower. It was designed in such a way that solar radiation is not incident directly on the maize. K-type thermocouples were used for temperature measurement, while solar radiation was measured by solar meter m od.776. The thermal energy and heat losses from solar collector were calculated for each three tilt angles (30º, 45º, 60º). The results obtained during the test period denoted that the maximum gained energy occurred at 11 o'clock hour and then gradually declined since the maximum solar radiation occurred at this time. The performance of the solar drying system was highly dependent on the solar radiation, tilt angle and ambient temperature. The total loss factor of the collector increases with the increase in the intensity of solar radiation intensity. The theoretical thermal energy, the experimental actual heats gain increase by increasing radiation intensity.

Key words: Solar energy, solar air collector, v-corrugated collector, solar drying system performance study.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (8), pp. 001-008, August, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of varying levels of Parkia husk powder for the control of Striga gesnerioides in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

C. Zitta¹, E. I. Magani²* and R. I. Ahom²

¹Department of Agricultural Technology, Plateau State College of Agriculture, Garkawa, Nigeria.

²Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.

Accepted 06 April, 2017

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Plateau State College of Agriculture Garkawa (Latitude 08°52’N; Longitude 69°24’E) to evaluate the effect of different Parkia husk levels in the control of Striga gesnerioides in the Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. The treatments consisted of different Parkia husk rates thus: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g/hill, seed coated with Parkia husk and no Parkia husk check. These treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. The results indicated general delayance in the emergence of Striga with increased Parkia husk rates. In addition, application of Parkia husk before planting significantly reduced the number of crop plants infested with Striga, reduced Striga shoot, increased crop vigour, delayed flowering of Striga, reduced number of capsules/Striga plant and increased number of pods per net plot with subsequent increment in grain yield of cowpea. The application of Parkia husk reduced significantly the number of capsules per plant of Striga. The implication of this is that there will be depletion of seed bank build up for future infestation, thereby ensuring control of Striga over time

Key words: Parkia biglobosa husk, control, Striga gesnerioides, cowpea.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 5 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Traditional knowledge on ethno-medicinal uses prevailing in tribal pockets of Chhindwara and Betul Districts, Madhya Pradesh, India

Nath Vijendra and Khatri Pavan Kumar*

Tropical Forest Research Institute, PO: RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur, 482021 MP, India.

Accepted 11 January, 2017

Abstract

The present paper deals with the traditional knowledge of traditional herbal healers of Chhindwara and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh, India regarding the use of plants for the treatment of various diseases prevalent in the tribal pockets. The herbal healers of these region use plant/plant parts of their suitable preparation for treating various ailment. Information collected from traditional tribal healers, medicine men etc has revealed that plant/plant parts of 77 species from Chhindwara district and 50 species from Betul district of forest origin are utilized as paste, powder, juice, decoction and extract for the treatment of various diseases of local people of the area. The knowledge of plants used by traditional herbal healers for ailments would be immense help to replace synthetic drugs.

Key words: Traditional knowledge, herbal healers, medicinal plants, disease.