International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 559-567, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An investigation on the influence of intra-row spacing and variety on yield and shelf life of onion

*Hailu Dinka Kidan, Aklilu M. Makonnen and Mikael T. Yimenu

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding Authors. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of intra-row spacing and, variety on yield and shelf life of onion. The study was conducted between August 2010 and April 2011 at Aksum area (Laelay Maichew District). Three different intra-row spacings (5, 7.5 and 10 cm) were evaluated using 4 varieties of onion (‘Adama’ Red, ‘Bombay’ Red, ‘Melkam’ and ‘Nasik’ Red) using randomized complete block design replicated 4 times. Data on yield and shelf life parameters were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS 9.2 software. The result showed the post harvest deterioration as measured by percentage of marketable loss, total soluble sugars in ^oBrix and dry matter content (DMC) was less on ‘Nasik’ Red variety. The largest bulb size, produced by the larger intra-row spacing, showed highest rotting percentage compared to the smaller ones. Average bulb weight loss during storage also was higher at the intra-row spacing of 5 cm than 7.5 cm. Moreover, the result revealed that ‘Melkam’ and ‘Bombay’ Red varieties were superior in yield and an intra-row spacing of 7.5 cm can gave good yield bulbs while ‘Nasik’ Red had best storage quality and ‘Melkam’ and ‘Adama’ Red are moderate.

Key words: Quality, yield, storage, onions, dry matter content.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 551-558, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Gibberellic acid and 2, 4 - dichlorophenoxyacetic acid spray on fruit yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

*Hailu Dinka Kidan, Aklilu M. Makonnen and Mikael T. Yimenu

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Experiment was conducted at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, centeral rift valley of Ethiopia from September 2008 to January 2009 with the objective to determine the effects of different concentrations and combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) spray on fruit yield and quality of tomato. The experiment consisted of two tomato varieties-one processing (Roma VF) and one fresh market (Fetan), three levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0, 5 and 10 mg l^-1) and four levels of gibberellic acid (GA₃) (0, 10, 15 and 20 mg l^-1) arranged in 2 × 3 × 4 factorial combinations, in randomized completed block design with three replications. The result showed increase in fruit length from 5.44 to 6.72 cm at 10 mg l^-1 2,4-D combined with 10 mg l^-1 GA₃ above the control, increased fruit weight by 13% due to 2,4-D and reduced fruit weight in single or combined application of GA₃ with 2,4-D. Fruit pericarp thickness was increased by about 50% due to 2,4-D and GA₃ application above the control. Titratable acidity, total soluble solids and lycopene content were also increased due to combined application of 2,4-D and GA₃ spray. Lower fruit pH is another quality attributes of tomato affected by 2,4-D application while that of GA₃ has no effect. Final fruit yield were significantly improved above the control even though both varieties responded differently. For Roma VF, GA₃ at concentration of 10 and 15 mg l ^-1 resulted in maximum fruit yield of 69.50 and 67.92 ton ha^-1, respectively in the absence of 2,4-D. For Fetan, maximum marketable fruit yield of 74.39 and 74.20 ton ha^-1 was obtained from treatment combinations of 10 + 15 and 5 + 0 2,4-D and GA₃, respectively. Hence, yield increment of about 35% for Roma VF and 18% for Fetan were produced at 10 mg l^-1 GA₃ and 10 + 15 mg l^-1 2,4-D and GA₃, respectively over the control. Significant increase in fruit size and weight due to 2,4-D and increased fruit number due to GA₃ spray contributed to increased fruit yield. The results indicated that both PGRs are important in tomato production to boost yield and improve fruit quality under unfavorable climatic conditions of high temperature. Therefore, it is important to further investigate application methods and concentrations of the PGRs under concern in different growing conditions on different tomato cultivars.

Key words: Gibberellic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, fruit yield, quality.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 513-516, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
 

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of contrasting gamma irradiations on barley (Hordeum vulgare spp.)

*Mahathir V. Ibrahim, Chef Boon Azman and Yasmin Tan Wan

Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

Hordeum vulgare (barley), is an important agricultural crop for food, feed and also has been used virtually worldwide as a model plant for biological research. It is a diploid crop with a low chromosome number (2n = 14) and targeted as a proper crop for intense research on mutagenesis, mutagens and mutants (Khattak and Klopfenstein, 1989). Recently, heavy-ion beams have been used as novel and efficient mutagens in plant breeding. Many plant variations were induced by irradiation and many novel experimental materials and practical cultivars were generated. The present research aimed to estimate the effect of different gamma radiation on germination and emergence indexes of Barley variety Nosrat. Barley seeds were treated with 4 different gamma ray doses (0, 200, 700, 1200 Gy) from 3 angels. Results of this study expressed that high gamma ray doses decreased emergence index compare with control treatment and also, radiation has inhibitory effect on stem height and width. Base on experimental and green house studies doses of 700 and 1200 Gy strongly decline plant growth and treated plant seeds with these radiation doses did not emerge in the field. Therefore we suggest that 200 gamma ray dose was the best treatment to screen mutant Barley.

Key words: Barley, emergence index, gamma ray, germination index, Hordeum vulgare. mutation.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 580-586, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Selection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germpalsm against ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab.] correlation and combining ability analysis for different quantitative features

Salmaan Taseer Khalid

Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The present study was conducted to estimate correlation and combining ability analysis among quantitative traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during 2008 to 2010. Ten chickpea varieties/lines (08-AG-004, CH-70/02, CH-76/02,. Nine lines viz. AUG-27, M-98, 114, 115, 117, 781, 1049, 4025, and 5006 exhibited moderately NOOR-91, K-70005, K-70008, K-70022, CM-2008, YN-08004 and K-70009) were evaluated for the source of resistance against Ascochyta rabiei but none was found highly resistant. However, four lines (08-AG-004, CH-70/02, CH-76/02 and NOOR-91) were moderately resistant and five lines (K-70005, K-70008, K-70022, CM-2008 and YN-08004) exhibited moderately susceptible reaction. Among twenty varieties/lines were evaluated for the source of resistance but none was found highly resistant and two lines 101 and 620 were resistant. However, four lines viz. Paidar-91, Pb-2000, 818 and 870 were found to be moderately resistantsusceptible reaction and three lines 205, 1205, and 1288 exhibited susceptible reaction. The genotypes Paidar-91, 620, PB-2000, 101 and 870 were crossed in 5 × 5 diallel fashion. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for various quantitative traits like days taken to flowering, days taken to maturity, plant height, primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, plant biomass, 100-seed weight, number of grains per plant and seed yield per plant were ascertained.

Key words: Ascochyta rabiei, Cicer arietinum , blight, chickpea, germplasm,  diallel.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 435-45, May, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigating the effect of storage time and growth regulator furolan on the contents of protein fraction composition and amino acids in winter wheat grain

*Essien Okon¹, Hannah Etta¹ and Natali Nenco²

¹Department of Biological Science, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria.

²Department of Food Engineering and Advanced Technology, Kuban State University of Technology, Krasnodar, Russia.

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of storage time and growth regulator, Furolan (the extrinsic factors) on the contents of protein fraction composition and amino acids (the intrinsic factors) of three varieties of winter wheat grains namely Batko, Diya and Krasnodar 99. The determination of mass fraction of amino acids and fractional composition of protein complex was respectively carried out by capillary electrophoresis and Osborne methods. During harvest, Furolan-treated varieties of Diya (42.9%) and Batko (41.7%) were found to differ from Furolan-treated Krasnodar 99 (48.3%) variety by their low content of  albumin and globulin and the high content of alcoholic-and alkaline- soluble fractions of protein (protein gluten) due to the genetic potential of these varieties. During storage there was a decrease in the albumin and globulin contents and an increase in the protein gluten content of Krasnodar 99 variety in the control. It was observed that, during 12 months of storage the contents of cyclic amino acids in all the varieties studied decreased. Similarly, there was a decrease in monoaminomonocarboxylic amino acids (glysine, alanine, serine, threonine, valine, leucine) content of the average-ripening (Diya and Krasnodar 99) varieties.

Key words: Furolan, storage, winter wheat, protein, amino acids, gluten.