{"title":"Nitrate uptake and nitrite efflux in wild type and Li + -R and Na + -R strains of Spirulina platensis under different nitrogen concentration and light- dark condition.","authors":"N. Sharma, Surendra Singh, Rekha Patel","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.2.77.81","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.2.77.81","url":null,"abstract":"In the present study we have investigated that 4.0gL -1 NaNO3 concentration is toxic to the growth of wild type Spirulina platensis and its Li + R and Na + R mutant strains. Highest level of extracellular nitrite release was shown by Na + R strain, when grown in 4.0gL -1 NaNO3 concentration followed by Li + R and wild type strain of S. platensis whereas Li + R strain uptake nitrate more rapidly followed by Na + R and wild type strain of S. platensis, when estimated after 8d of incubation. Cultures assimilate nitrate more rapidly in light than in darkness which suggests that nitrate uptake process depend on photosynthetically generated light energy. The nitrate uptake pattern consisted of two distinct phase : initial rapid phase followed by the slower second phase. There is no lag in the initial uptake of nitrate in either of the culture suggesting that rapid phase is not dependent on reduction of nitrate whereas slower phase seemed to be dependent on metabolism. Among these three strains of S. platensis Li + R strain assimilate nitrate more rapidly and fix it into ammonia by sequential action of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"26 Pt 5 1","pages":"77-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76052862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Production of specific antiserum against aflatoxin g1 and determination of its efficiency to detect the toxin in wheat and barley grains","authors":"Sarah Al Nabwany, A. Alawami","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.2.39.42","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.2.39.42","url":null,"abstract":"The present study was carried out to produce antiserum for aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) and to use indirect ELISA to detect Aflatoxin in grain samples. Antiserum of AFG1 was produced in New Zealand white rabbits. The results of indirect ELISA showed that the second collection (after 7 days) was the best that contained antibodies and gave the highest values of absorbance. Positive ELISA values were obtained up to dilution of 1:204800 with antiserum of the second collection. On the other hand, the indirect ELISA used to detect aflatoxin G1 in grain showed that 2 wheat samples and 7 barley samples gave a positive reaction with produced antiserum which possessed absorbency values were double that of the normal serum.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"47 1","pages":"39-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84743779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of four different tillage practices on maize performance under rainfed conditions","authors":"S. Aikins, O. Owusu-Akuoko","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.25.30","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.25.30","url":null,"abstract":"An experiment was conducted on Ferric Acrisol under rainfed conditions during the 2010 minor crop growing season in Kumasi, Ghana to determine the effect of different tillage practices on Akposoe maize (Zea mays .L) variety performance. The experiment was arranged in a randomised complete block design with four treatments namely disc ploughing only, disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing, disc harrowing only and No Tillage. Each treatment was replicated three times. At ten weeks after planting, the disc harrowing only plots produced the tallest plant, biggest stem girth, highest number of leaves per plant, and highest leaf area index. On the other hand the No Tillage plots presented the shortest plant, smallest stem girth, lowest number of leaves per plant, and smallest leaf area index. At harvest, the longest root, highest dry matter yield and highest fresh cob weight were obtained from the disc harrowing only plots while the shortest root, lowest dry matter yield, lowest fresh cob weight, lowest dry cob weight, and smallest 1000-seed weight were located in the No Tillage plots. The disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing treatment produced the highest dry cob weight and highest 1000-seed weight. There was no significant difference in Akposoe maize plant growth, dry matter yield and yield components between the disc harrowing only and the disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing treatments. Thus, considering the soil and weather conditions of the experiment, the optimum tillage practice for producing Akposoe maize variety is disc harrowing only.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"14 1","pages":"25-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87795525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preparation and physicochemical characterization of icacina starch citrate – a potential pharmaceutical / industrial starch","authors":"M. Omojola, O. Orishadipe","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.11.16","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.11.16","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"26 1","pages":"11-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74827243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of four different tillage practices on soil physical properties under cowpea","authors":"S. Aikins, J. Afuakwa","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.17.24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.17.24","url":null,"abstract":"Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) is grown by resource poor farmers in Ghana using different tillage practices. Most of these farmers perform tillage operations without being aware of the effect of these operations on soil physical properties and crop responses. A field study was conducted during the 2009 and 2010 major crop growing seasons under rainfed conditions on sandy loam soil (Ferric Acrisol) to compare the effect of different tillage practices on some selected soil physical properties under Asontem cowpea variety. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of disc ploughing only, disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing, disc harrowing only and no tillage. Compared with the other treatments, the disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing treatment gave the most favourable soil conditions (i.e. lowest soil penetration resistance, lowest dry bulk density, highest soil moisture content, and highest total porosity). The no tillage plots produced the most unfavourable soil conditions (i.e. highest soil penetration resistance, highest dry bulk density, lowest soil moisture content, and lowest total porosity). Therefore, under the soil and weather conditions of the experiment, the best tillage practice identified for Asontem cowpea production is disc ploughing followed by disc harrowing.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"4 1","pages":"17-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89502509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Further physicochemical characterization of anchomanes difformis starch","authors":"M. Afolayan, M. Omojola","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.31.38","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.31.38","url":null,"abstract":"Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl. [family ARACEAE] is an herbaceous plant with prickly stem having huge divided leaf and spathe that arise from a horizontal tuber occurring in the forest of West Africa and presently untilized. The tuber of the plant was examined for its starch composition and physicochemical properties. The starch was isolated using 1 % w/v sodium metabisulphite and it gave a yield of about 21 % which is slightly off white in colour. The starch percentage solubility at 85 O C was 17.32 with a swelling power of 9.66 and gelatinization temperature of 72 O C. It has a browning temperature of 257.0 – 268.2 O C, charring temperature of 281.4 – 291.6 O C, water absorption capacity of 71 %, pH of 5.6, foam and emulsion capacities of 3.6 % and 9.17 % respectively. Phytochemical screening of the starch revealed the presence of carbohydrates, terpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides while the proximate analysis (in %) was found to be: fat – 1.0, ash – 0.75, crude fibre – 1.6, protein – 0.66, moisture – 6.0, and carbohydrates – 88.9.The paste clarity was determined at 580 nm as a function of the starch concentration. The photomicrograph indicates that the starch granule is generally small sized, not distinct but clustered with size ranging between 1 – 1.5 μm which is a reflection of the parent source. Generally, the values obtained from the physicochemical characterization of anchomanes difformis starch show that it has high potential for industrial applications especially in the food, textile and pharmaceutical industries.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"50 1","pages":"31-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76769884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbial degradation potential of some Ghanaian soils contaminated with diesel oil","authors":"I. Lawson, E. Nartey","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2012.3.1.1.5","url":null,"abstract":"The experiment was conducted in the laboratory to investigate the degradation of diesel oil in four soils obtained from semi-deciduous forest (Bekwai and Kokofu series) and savanna (Toje and Nyankpala series) zones with the aim to assess the degrading potential of these soils. The soils were contaminated with diesel oil at 10 g oil /kg soil. The contaminated soils were incubated under room temperature and sampled for total aerobic heterotrophic (TAH) bacterial counts, hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (HUB) populations, and quantity of diesel oil degraded. The TAH bacteria and HUB counts in all the soils increased in response to diesel oil contamination. The TAH bacteria counts in the forest soils took a longer time to reach their peaks than the savanna soils. The cumulative diesel oil degraded gave an upward trend during the period of study. Between 15 and 40 days after incubation the forest soils (Bekwai and Kokofu) degraded more oil than the savanna soils (Toje and Nyankpala). This study revealed that the main factors responsible for differences in degrading abilities of these soils are presence of large populations of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, availability of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. The study also therefore indicated that the Ghanaian soils used in the present investigation have the potential of degrading diesel oil.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"101 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73638069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification of suitable parents and temperatures for breeding Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato virus X (PVX) resistant potatoes","authors":"K. Njoroge, J. Onditi, I. S. Shibairo","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1409.1415","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1409.1415","url":null,"abstract":"Mixed infection of Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato virus X (PVX) together with other potato viruses have the potential of causing yield losses of up to 80 % in the major varieties grown in Kenya. In search for suitable resistant parents and a favourable temperature range for cross breeding, seven virus resistant potato genotypes from International Potato Centre (CIP), Lima Peru were test crossed (progeny tested) with one local PVY and PVX susceptible cultivar (Tigoni) under low (11-18 ◦ C), medium (18-27 ◦ C) and high temperatures (28-34 ◦ C) at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Tigoni. Low temperature range of (11-18 ◦ C) with the highest percentage (43%) of successful crosses was identified as the most favourable for cross breeding. Among the seven CIP clones tested, CIP395196.4 gave the highest percentage (98 %) of resistant progenies and was found to have multiplex Ry Ry Ry ry / Ry Ry Ry Ry genes for PVY and PVX resistance. This type of parent was the most suitable for cross breeding because it produced significantly (P=0.05) 100% resistant progenies when crossed with a susceptible cultivar hence eliminating the need (cost and labour) for preliminary seedling screening.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"56 1","pages":"1409-1415"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84538039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of egg size and strain on growth performance of cockerel","authors":"L. T. Egbeyale, S. Abiola","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1445.1453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1445.1453","url":null,"abstract":"This study was conducted to determine the effect of egg size and strain on growth performance of cockerel chicks obtained from Dominant Black (DB) and Yaffa Brown (YB) strains of pullet. A total number of two hundred and seventy day-old cockerels hatched from three different egg sizes (i.e 45 chicks from small, medium and large egg sizes for each of DB and YB) were used for this study. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance in a 2 x 3 factorial experimental layout. The initial weight of the chicks was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the egg size. Final weight and average daily weight gain were the only growth parameters affected (P<0.05) by egg size till the end of starter phase. The effect of strain on all the growth parameters measured were not significantly (P>0.05) different. At the growing phase, feed intake decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in egg size. It was concluded that setting of medium and large egg sizes could only be beneficial if the target was to sell chicks of the two strains at the end of chick phase.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"1 1","pages":"1445-1453"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82191948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Distribution of injected pesticides in date palm trees","authors":"Adnan Al Samarrie, A. Akela","doi":"10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1416.1426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2011.2.12.1416.1426","url":null,"abstract":"The insecticides Rogodial (dimethoate + phenthoate), Actellic (primiphos-methyl), Salut {(chlorpyrifos-ethyl) + dimethoate}, Reldan (chlorpyrifos-methyl) and Karate (lambda-cyhalothrin) translocation and movement in date palm trees were evaluated. It found that the systemic and non-systemic insecticides moved out of injection pores. The injected pesticides detected 10 Days post Injection (DPI) at one meter above the injection point in the same and opposite side of injection pore. The five individual injected pesticides distributed downward at concentrations of 0.01, 0.011, 0.009, 0.011 and 0.009 mg/kg of actellic, salut, karate, reldan and rogodial respectively. At 20 DPI all studied pesticides were detected in the pith at 2m above the injection side either individually or mixture injected pesticides, Similarly, the pesticides were found to be distributed downward at concentrations of 0.042, 0.036, 0.005, 0.019 and 0.025 mg/kg of actellic, salut, karate, reldan and rogodial respectively. The residues of four insecticides detected in dates 100 DPI, the insecticide residue levels of karate in the dates were 0.0034 & 0.019 of mixed and individual injected pesticides respectively which were the highest levels at 100DPI.","PeriodicalId":7409,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America","volume":"45 1","pages":"1416-1426"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75096683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}