African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability Vol. 1 (5), pp. 067-070, December, 2013.© International Scholars Journals
 

Full Length Research Paper

A karyological analysis of PUNTIUS  CONCHONIUS (Hamilton, 1822) (Pisces, Cyprinidae), a new cytotype from Dal Lake Srinagar Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India

Farooq A. Ganai* and A. R. Yousuf

Limnology and Fisheries Laboratory, Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal Srinagar-190 006, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 2 May, 2013

Abstract 

The karyotypic and cytological characteristics of Rosy barb, PUNTIUS CONCHONIUS (Hamilton, 1822) (cyprinidae) were investigated by examining metaphase chromosomes spreads from the anterior kidney following Thorgaard and Disney (1990). The fishes were obtained from the local fishermen and transported live to the Limnology and Fisheries Laboratory of Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir. Ten fish were injected intraperitoneally with two doses of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), 4 µg g^-1body weight with a 20 h interval to induce cell division. After 8 h in 20°C water, the fish were injected intraperitoneally with colchicine 0.05% at 0.5 ml/50 g body weight to depress the cell division in the metaphase stage and left for 2 to 3 h before sacrificing. Kidney and gill epithelia were used for karyotype analysis. The diploid chromosome number of the fish was 2n = 50, consisting of 11 pairs of metacentric, 8 pairs of submetacentric and 6 pairs of telocentric chromosomes respectively. Centromeric index, arm ratio and Fundamental Number were determined as 0 to 50, 1-∞ and 88 respectively. No heteromorphic sex chromosomes were cytologically detected.

Key words: Chromosome, Puntius conchonius, Dal Lake, karyotype.

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability Vol. 1 (5), pp. 094-098, December, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Environmentally friendly superabsorbent polymers for water conservation in agricultural lands

Fidelia Nnadi* and Chris Brave

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando 32816, Florida.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 407-823-6513. Fax: 407-823-3315.

Accepted 13 June, 2013

Abstract

Polymer complexes of crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and starch were synthesized to form superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and their performances as a water retaining aid for irrigation were assessed. The SAP was crosslinked with aluminum sulfate octadecahydrate for optimum water retention. Starch from vegetables and chemically modified cellulose fibers were used as the basis for the polymer structure because of their biodegradability and the sustainability of their sources. The starch vegetables include potatoes, yam, cassava, and corn. Radish seeds were planted in pots that contained soil amended with the SAPs (as well as soils control with no amendment). For the first two weeks the plants were given a healthy amount of water, then watering was reduced to observe how the plants responded to drought. The plants with no amendment to the soil stopped growing after the first two weeks and showed signs of dehydration. All the plants in the amended soil continued to grow after the first two weeks and they looked much healthier. Performance evaluation of the response to the four starch types suggests that potato based SAP performed the best with 73% water retention, while corn gave 56%. The study also suggests that lower dosage of 0.12% by weight of the potato based SAP performed better than 0.24% when used for soil amendment.

Key words: Carboxymethyl cellulose, starch, superabsorbent polymer, water retention, biodegradable.

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability Vol. 1 (2), pp. 030-032, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
 

Full length Research paper

Non-linear growth models for Beetal goats

Shakeel Nouman¹* and Yasir Abrar²

¹Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadurnagar (Okara), Pakistan.

²Livestock Experimental Station, Bahadurnagar (Okara), Pakistan. *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 26 March, 2013

Abstract

The data were taken from the “Enhancing of Mutton Production through goat breeding” a Project run at Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadurnagar (Okara); the growth performance of Beetal goats were compared by statistical non-linear models, like Exponential, Gompertz and Logistic models. These models were based to obtain the best fitted model by following the criteria of mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Run test were used to check the independence and normality of the models and residuals were checked by Shapiro - Wilk test. Errors were found to be normal and independently distributed. Body weights of Beetal goats and Bucks were examined by shape of the curves and it revealed that the values of α, β and γ of Gompertz model were higher than that of exponential and logistics in both the district of Okara and Sahiwal. Also, values of MAE, RMSE and MAPE of Gompertz model were lower than the logistic and exponential.

Key words: Bodyweight of Beetal, Gompertz, least value.

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability Vol. 1 (3), pp. 045-048, October, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ethyle methane sulphonate (EMS) induced mutagenic attempts to create genetic variability in Basmati rice

J.  I. Wattoo*, K. Aslam, S. M. Shah, G. Shabir, M. Sabar, S. A. Naveed, R. Waheed, Samiullah,

Q.  H. Muqaddasi and M. Arif

National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, An Affiliate Institute of Pakistan, Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 22 May, 2013

Abstract

Chemical mutagens have long been used to create genetic variability in crop plants for breeding research and genetic studies. In rice, more than 500 varieties have been released through induced mutations. Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) is the most commonly used chemical mutagen in plants. EMS normally induces Gas chromatography GC to AT transitions in the genome and thus resulting protein in the mutant plant has different functions than normal. The present study was carried out to investigate the mutagenic effects of different concentrations of EMS on germination and yield parameters of two basmati rice cultivars (Super basmati and Basmati 370). The seeds were subjected to different treatment levels of EMS. The treated and untreated plants were observed under different agronomic parameters. EMS was quite effective in inducing genetic variability in Basmati rice. The results revealed significant difference among all the traits studied. The efficiency of EMS was found to depend upon its concentration and it was higher at lower concentration in both genotypes. The study further revealed that the use of EMS is an effective approach for creating new rice germplasm.

Key words: Rice (Oryza sativa L.), induced mutations, mutation breeding, EMS.

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Tillage system and genotype effects on early vigor and water use in bread wheat in the Mediterranean region

Mohammed Karrou

ICARDA, P. O. Box 6299, Rabat-Institutes, Morocco. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 April, 2013

Abstract

The southern part of the Mediterranean basin is among the regions that are characterized by recurrent droughts and it is threatened by the effects of climate change. To deal with these problems in wheat, improved techniques of rain water conservation and adapted varieties need to be developed. Combining zero tillage and varieties with early vigor can reduce evaporation and improve transpiration and water productivity and hence increase yields. To test this hypothesis, a field trial was conducted at ICARDA’s research station at Tel Hadya, Aleppo, Syria in 2008/2009 and 2011/2012. The treatments tested were “zero tillage vs. conventional tillage” and five genotypes of bread wheat. In 2008/2009, results showed that zero tillage improved leaf area index, specific leaf area, above ground biomass production and actual evapotranspiration at the beginning of stem elongation. The values increased, respectively for these parameters, from 2.34 to 3.25, 202.9 to 226.5 cm² g^-1, 1799 to 2333 kg ha ^-1 and from 91 to 101 mm. Water productivity was improved by 15%, on average. In year 2011/2012, the effect of tillage system on all the parameters was not statistically significant. In general, all genotypes responded positively to zero tillage for these measured variables. From this study, we can conclude that zero tillage under dry conditions is a technique that can improve the early vigor of the seedlings. This enhanced early growth can ensure a good canopy cover that reduces the loss of rainwater by evaporation and increases transpiration in relatively early dry years. The non disturbance of soil by tillage reduces water loss by evaporation. However, under wet conditions due to high rainfall, the positive effect of zero tillage on soil moisture and plant growth disappears.

Key words: Wheat, zero tillage, genotype, leaf area, biomass, evapotranspiration.