African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring Floral Phenology and Seed Yield Traits in Egusi Melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.)

Ogbonna, Peter Ejimofor

Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 7 October, 2024

Abstract

A research was carried out in the experimental farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study some aspects of floral, fruit and seed yield characteristic of accessions of “Egusi” melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.). It was observed that male flower anthesis occurred earlier than female flower anthesis. Male flowers opened between 30 to 32 days after seedling emergence while female flowers opened at 32 to 34 days after seedling emergence. Number of male flowers at first female flower anthesis was in the range of 27 to 32. First male flower bud was produced in the fourth node on the main vine while the first female flower bud was produced in the ninth node on the main vine in all the accessions. The male flowers were also produced in a higher proportion than the female flowers. The ratio of male to female flowers produced/plant was in the range of 4:1 and 7:1. Number of fruits/plant, fruit yield/plant (kg) and average fruit weight (kg) ranged between 3.42 and 4.54, 3.08 and 3.72 and 0.78, and 0.90, respectively. Number of seeds/fruit, number of seeds/plant, seed yield/fruit (g) and seed yield/plant (g) ranged between 162.82 and 190.88, 652.81 and 815.25, 18.8 and 23.02, and 76.52 and 101.74, respectively.

Key words: Egusi melon, accessions, flower, fruit.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-013, July, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijaerd/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring the Bacterial Diversity in the Midguts of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus: A Study of Laboratory-Reared Versus Wild Specimens in Kenya

Erastus Mwaringa Mwadondo¹, Amanuel Ghilamicael², Amos Ematiti Alakonya^2,3 and Remmy Wekesa Kasili²*

¹Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
²Institute for Biotechnology Research, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
³International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Headquarters, PMB, 5320, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria.

Received 5 August, 2023; Accepted 21 June, 2024

Abstract

Midgut symbiotic bacteria are known to play fundamental roles in the biology of mosquitoes, however knowledge of midgut bacterial communities associated with mosquitoes is scanty due to limitation of the isolation techniques based on culturing. In this study, the composition and diversity of midgut bacteria in field collected and lab reared adult female Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes was explored using the Illumina sequencing. Deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from the pooled midgut extracts and their 16S rRNA gene sequenced using Illumina sequencing platform. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were analyzed using QIIME 1.8.0; taxonomy was assigned using BLASTn against SILVA 119 and hierarchical clustering was done using R program software. Out of the total number of sequence reads obtained, 145 OTUs were realized at 3% genetic distance. The 145 OTUs spanned 12 phyla; Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Euryarchaeota, Gemmatimonadetes, Spirochaetae, Archeabacteria Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Bacteriodetes, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria. Microbial community composition based on OTUs showed significant difference between field collected and lab reared mosquitoes (ᵪ2 = 45.0799, p = 3.2 × 10-5). Similarly, there was a significant difference in community composition at OTU level between Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus (ᵪ2 = 31.2257, p = 7.7 × 10-4). The bacterial composition and diversity appeared to be influenced by the environment and the species of the mosquitoes.

Key words: Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus, midgut, DNA, diversity.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-010, July, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijaerd/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating Nitrogen Fertilization and Dehydration Methods for Optimal Tifton 85 Hay Yield

Loreno Egidio Taffarel¹*, Eduardo Eustáquio Mesquita¹, Deise Dalazen Castagnara², Patricia Barcellos Costa¹ and Paulo Sérgio Rabello de Oliveira¹

¹Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Marechal Cândido Rondon, PR, Brazil.
²Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brasil. 

Accepted 13 September, 2023

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate Cynodon species ‘Tifton 85’ at different hay production phases (harvest, baling, and storage) and different (N) rates. Dehydration of the first crop was carried out in the field, while the second crop was in the shed. Dry matter and protein content increased linearly with the N rates. Dehydration in the shed was not effective for hay production, since dry matter did not reach the desired level of 850 g kg-1. During the hay production period (harvest, baling, and storage), the content of acid detergent fiber of the first crop and the second crop increased by 25.32 and 7.38%, respectively, and that of lignin increased by 21.33 and 32.27%, respectively. Forage digestibility decreased by 4.55%, when dehydration occurred in the field, whereas it decreased by 14.68% when dehydration occurred in the shed, a difference higher than 300% due to the loss of soluble carbohydrates. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that forage dehydration for hay production needs to be carried out in the field under appropriate environmental conditions to prevent nutritional losses. Additionally, dry matter of Tifton 85 increased by 20.40% and protein content increased by 18.65%, which equals 514.27 kg of soybean meal at 100 kg ha-1 of N.
    
Key words: Fertilization rates, hay production, nutrient quality of forage, pasture.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-011, July, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijaerd/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Cropping Systems on Fungal Ear Rot Pathogens in Maize: A Focus on Push-Pull and Monocropping Practices in Western Kenya

Maxwell J. Owuor^1,2*, Charles A. O. Midega¹, Meshack Obonyo² and Zeyaur R. Khan¹

¹International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30- 40305, Mbita, Kenya.
²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.

Accepted 14 September, 2022

Abstract

It is imperative to establish the distribution and density of soil fungal communities as a requisite for formulating strategies for management of ear rot infections and mycotoxin contamination. In a two seasons study, short (SR) and long rainy (LR) seasons, we investigated the distribution of Aspergillus and Fusarium fungi causing ear rots and producing mycotoxins from 120 soil samples collected from maize fields under push-pull (PP) and maize monocrop (MM) systems in Western Kenya. Cultural methods were used for identification of Aspergillus and Fusarium species, while molecular techniques were used for confirmation of Fusarium section Liseola. Detection of total aflatoxins in cultures of section Flavi isolates was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 338 fungi were isolated; 80% were identified as Aspergillus and 4.4% Fusarium. The distribution of fungi was significant with season but not cropping systems. The frequency of occurrence was higher during the LR (68.4%) than the SR (31.6%). In cropping systems, the frequency of occurrence of Aspergillus flavus was higher in MM (60.2%) than PP (39.8%). However, Aspergillus parasiticus was more frequent in PP (71.4%) than MM (28.6%); and during the SR (78.6%) than the LR (21.4%). Majority (81.3%) of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were toxigenic. There was low recovery of Fusarium species in soil samples. These findings show that soils from both cropping systems are potential for Aspergillus infection and aflatoxins contamination; however, low Fusarium distribution in soil suggest external inoculum source for Fusarium ear rot infections common in most maize fields in Western Kenya.

Key words: Aspergillus, Fusarium section Liseola, push-pull, soil.
 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijaerd/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of fungal species and aflatoxin Rrisks in processed Ogi-Egusi and Ogi-Ugba within the Abakaliki food chain

Fidelis Azi1, Michael O. Odo¹*, Peter A. Okorie¹, Helen A. Njoku¹, Veronica N. Nwobasi¹ and Amechi S. Nwankwegu²

¹Department of Food Science, Ebonyi State University, P. M. B 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
²Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Accepted 28 September, 2023

Abstract

This study investigated fungi and total aflatoxins quality of ogiri [fermented melon seed (Citrullus vulgaris] and fermented African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla) consumed as soup condiment in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The ogiri samples were purchased from two major markets in Abakaliki metropolis [meat market (OM and UM) and rice mill market (OR and UR)]. The samples were screened for their pH values, total fungi count and total aflatoxins content. A total of four samples were analzed for six weeks. The total aflatoxins were analyzed using highly sensitive competitive enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. The ogiri samples were also analyzed for total fungal count using a digital colony counting machine (CCM China). The result showed that all the ogiri samples analyzed were heavily contaminated by the fungal cells. The total mean fungal count for the ogiri processed from melon seed were 2.2 × 107 and 2.2 × 107 cfu/g for OM and OR, respectively while the ogiri processed from African oil bean were 1.4 × 107 and 1.6 × 10 7 cfu/g for UM and UR samples, respectively. The ogiri samples also contained unacceptable levels of aflatoxins as the average total aflatoxins for all the samples were above the minimum acceptable limits (10 ppm), according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of USA. The research also revealed that ogiri samples have high moisture content. The study recommends that more improved process line be put in place to ensure that all ogiri sold in Abakaliki are produced using Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Key words: Ogiri, aflatoxins, fungi, African oil bean, melon seed, enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Optimizing Maize and Faba Bean Cultivation: A Study on Intercropping Population Densities

Esmaeil Rezaei-Chianeh¹*, A. Dabbagh Mohammadi Nassab¹, M. R. Shakiba¹, K. Ghassemi-Golezani¹, S. Aharizad² and F. Shekari²

¹Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz-Iran.
²Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Maragheh University, Maragheh-Iran.

Accepted 24 June, 2024

Abstract

In order to determine the best combination and efficiency of resource utilization in intercropping of maize (Zea mays) and faba bean (Vicia faba), a field experiment was conducted as factorial on the bases of randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were intercropped combinations of maize densities (6, 7 and 8 plant/m2) and faba bean densities (30, 40 and 50 plant/m2) and 6 sole-cropped treatments. Two species were intercropped as additive series. The biological and grain yields of maize and faba bean were significantly affected by maize and faba bean densities. Maximum land equivalent ratio (1.97) was attained by 6 maize plants/m2 with 40 and 50 plants/m2 of faba bean intercropping combinations indicating that the area on which monocultures were planted would need to be 97% greater than the area allotted to the intercrop for the two produced the same combined grain yield. The highest standard land equivalent ratio (LERs) produced by intercropping of 8 maize plants with 50 faba bean plants/m2. Maximum RVT (1.31) was obtained in maize and faba bean intercropping with 8 maize and 50 faba bean plants/m2. Whereas, intercropping monetary advantage in comparison with mono cropping was 30%. The combination of 8 maize and 50 faba bean plants/m2 showed the highest profitability and could be introduced as best intercropping system.

Key words: Faba bean, grain yield, intercropping, land equivalent ratio, maize.