August 2019
Studies on the sod culture and the management of soil moisture for the improvement of waxapple quality
In Taiwan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung districts are the main cultivating areas of waxapple in Taiwan. The quality of waxapple is commonly involved in appropriate fertilization. Therefore, the demonstration orchards were established in Kaohsiung and Pingtung districts. This research was conducted to the effects of sod culture and management of soil moisture on the improvement of waxapple quality. The results showed that soil...
August 2019
Morphological and molecular characterization of Jatropha curcas L. germplasm in Botswana
Jatropha curcas L. is an undomesticated plant species that has recently received great attention for its utilization in biofuel production in many countries including Botswana. The experiment investigated 30 J. curcas accessions, and the results revealed high significant differences (P<0.01) among accessions for peduncle length, number of seed per fruit, length of fruit stalk, fruit length, fruit width, seed length,...
August 2019
Antioxidants enhance banana embryogenic cell competence to Agrobacterium mediated transformation
Gene transfer into the plant cell is a key step towards its successful genetic modification and its efficiency is heavily dependent on plant and bacterial cell biological status and a wide array of physical conditions. Gene transfer efficiencies in East African Highland Banana (EAHB) cell lines remains low compared to other monocotyledonous crops like rice and wheat due to factors such as high oxidative stress. The use...
August 2019
The urothelium enhancive polarization in CfTX-1 peptide intervened toad urinary bladder
Toad urothelium barrier is the model to mimic and investigate urothelium permeability. Thiazide blocked ionic transportation in polarized membrane state. Jellyfish venom causes pores to be adjusted to urothelium permeability which improved polarization. This study aimed at CfTX-1 peptide in urothelium permeability evoked polarizations. Thiazide pretreated toad urothelium permeability to ions were investigated in...
August 2019
Effects of salt stress on antioxidant system activity and peroxidation damage in root tip cells of strawberry
In this study, strawberry seedlings were treated with 250 mmol·L-1 NaCl solution; then the O2- production rate, the content of H2O2 and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), electrolyte leakage (EL), the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in the root tip cells were determined to be used for analysis after salt stress. The results revealed that the O2-...
August 2019
Effect of explant source and different hormonal combinations on in vitro regeneration of Heracleum candicans Wall: An important medicinal herb
In vitro regeneration of plants is influenced to a great extent by genotype, the type of explant used, media composition and plant growth regulators. This research was devised to study the effect of explant source and different hormonal combinations on the in vitro regeneration of Heracleum candicans. Two different explants viz; leaf and petiole were used to investigate their morphogenic response on MS medium...
August 2019
Anti-Xanthomonas activity of Antarctic fungi crude extracts
Agriculture suffers considerable losses in its production caused by plant diseases. In the citrus culture some problems were associated with citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. That same way, sugarcane plantations are impaired to leaf scald disease caused by Xanthomonas albilineans. One of the measures used to contain citrus canker is the spray of cupric bactericides; however for scalding leaves...
July 2019
Molecular characterization of some bacteria isolated from munitions contaminated sites in Kachia Military Firing Range, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Environmental pollution is principally caused by human activities that usually result in the release of man–made pollutants such as biological, chemical and radioactive in such states as solid, liquid and gaseous substances into the biosphere via, land, water and air. Globally, the increasing rate of environmental contamination by ammunition/explosives resulting from their increasing deployments in the rising...
July 2019
Genetic diversity in some Ghanaian and Malian sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] accessions using SSR markers
The study was carried out to assess genetic diversity among forty-one sorghum accessions obtained from Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Nyankpala, Northern Region of Ghana and the germplasm collection of Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Cape Coast. Genetic diversity and relationship among the forty-one accessions were evaluated using 22 microsatellite primers. The 22...
July 2019
Effective method to control Vibrio mimicus infection in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus
Recently, a skin ulcerative disease caused by Vibrio mimicus has led to heavy economic losses in catfish, including yellow catfish, southern catfish, and Zhengchuan catfish in China. Currently, there was no effective method of controlling the outbreak of this disease. In this study, the bacterial isolates were obtained from dying channel catfish and identified as V. mimicus, which consist of formalin-inactivated V....
July 2019
Morphological and molecular screening of rice accessions for salt tolerance
The ever-increasing demand for rice raises the need to increase productivity by using salt tolerant varieties on saline soils. In this study, 12 rice accessions were screened for tolerance to salt at seedling stage using morphological and molecular methods. The study was carried out in a hydroponic system using Hoagland solution. Scoring was done using the modified standard evaluation score (SES) system after 14 days of...
July 2019
Enhancement of phytoremediation efficiency of Acacia mangium using earthworms in metal-contaminated soil in Bonoua, Ivory Coast
In this paper, the impact of Pontoscolex corethrurus on Acacia mangium growth and its phytoremediation efficiency in metal-contaminated soils were studied in a greenhouse pot culture under four treatments: non contaminated soil-non inoculated, control (C); non contaminated soil-inoculated (NcI); contaminated soil-non inoculated (CNi); contaminated soil-inoculated (CI). The results showed that A. mangium growth...
July 2019
Review of microfluidics approaches to mimic the kidney
The use of microfluidics and nanotechnology in bioscience is gaining favor among the next generation of bioscience and clinical researchers, and this field has expanded to include organ-specific applications and modeling. While certain organ-specific microfluidic chips/applications, such as those in the heart and liver, are ubiquitous in the peer-reviewed literature, the kidneys require more focus and attention to drive...
July 2019
Role of mucous cell and p53 protein in gastroprotective activity of methanolic extracts of Ageratum conyzoides Linn in rats
Ageratum conyzoides Linn is a medicinal plant used for diverse ethnomedicinal applications including anti-ulcer treatment. Usually, protection of gastric mucosa from injury or ulceration is dependent on the efficacy of intrinsic or induced protective factors against erosive effects of aggressive factors. In this study, our aim was to ascertain the gastroprotective activity of methanolic leaf extracts of A. conyzoides L....
July 2019
Modified protocol for RNA isolation from different parts of field-grown jute plant suitable for NGS data generation and quantitative real-time RT-PCR
High quality RNA extraction from field-grown jute plants can be difficult due to the presence of complex polyphenolic, polysaccharide and waxes. But isolation of RNA in high quality is a basic need in plant genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, molecular biology and related physiological investigations. Here, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) based modified RNA isolation protocol suitable for isolating high quality...
July 2019
DNA barcoding of Ghanaian fish species: Status and prospects
Ghana’s waters are biologically diverse with different fish species due to different ecological habitats and niches harboring several cryptic fish species. However, the fish production has reduced over the past decade; hence an urgent conservation and management strategies are required to save Ghanaian fishery such as accurate identification of species to formulate species-specific conservation and management...
July 2019
Genomic sequencing and recombinant expression of proinsulin isolated from cow and buffalo in Pakistan
This study was conducted to determine the heterologous expression of eukaryotic gene in Escherichia coli variable. The expression of Pakistani buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and cow (Bos taurus) proinsulin genes in BL21 codon plus cells is 30% of total cellular protein. Total RNA was isolated from pancreatic tissues of local (Pakistani) breeds of buffalo (B. bubalis) and cow (B. taurus), converted to cDNA and cloned in a T/A...
July 2019
Optimization studies of chitin and chitosan production from Penaeus notialis shell waste
Optimization studies of extraction of chitin and chitosan from pink shrimp (Penaeus notialis) shell waste and of the degree of deacetylation (DDA) of extracted chitosan were investigated via the Box-Behnken design of experiments using response surface methodology. Robust quadratic models for predicting the extraction yields of chitin and chitosan and DDA of chitosan were obtained. These models were verified by...
July 2019
Somatic embryogenesis and regeneration of Kenyan wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes from mature embryo explants
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement via genetic transformation depends on an efficient regeneration system for recovery of transgenic events. This study reports a somatic embryogenesis-based regeneration system for two Kenyan wheat genotypes (Eagle 10 and Njoro bread wheat II) from mature embryos. The study investigated the efficiency of mercuric chloride, commercial bleach, and chlorine gas in surface sterilizing...
June 2019
A comparative assessment of the performance of a stay-green sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) introgression line developed by marker-assisted selection and its parental lines
A glasshouse experiment was conducted to compare the performance of a stay-green QTL introgression line (RSG 03123) and its parental lines (B35, a stay-green and R16, a high yielding cultivar with rapid senescence) after flowering, when water-limited (WL) or well-watered (WW). Flowering time and plant height were similar in RSG 03123 and the recurrent parent, R16. Under WW conditions, retention of green leaf area (GLA)...
June 2019
Microencapsulation of Aspergillus niger phytases produced in triticale by solid fermentation and microencapsulates characterization
This paper aimed to carry out the stabilization of phytase produced in solid-state fermentation by means of Aspergillus níger 7A-1 in triticale as substrate. The crude extract obtained in liquid state was stabilized with glycerol and maltose. These materials presented a synergic effect that improve phytase stability around 80% with ki of 0.031 and a shelf-time of 156 days (22.35 weeks) with glycerol 30% and...
June 2019
Notice of Retraction: Sodium metabisulfite-induced polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin incubated in the extracts of three medicinal plants (Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, and Terminalia catappa)
The editors of the African Journal of Biotechnology (AJB) are retracting the article, “Sodium metabisulfite-induced polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin incubated in the extracts of three medicinal plants (Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, and Terminalia catappa)” published in 2011 (Vol. 10(32), pp. 6154-6161, 4 July). This is based on Dr. Paul C. Chikezie’s...
June 2019
Explant type and hormone regime influences somatic embryogenesis and regeneration of cassava
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a tropical root crop that serves as a food staple and a vital income source to resource deprived farmers in the tropics. Despite its importance, cassava production and consumption is faced by a myriad of biotic/abiotic constraints. Genetic transformation which can be applied to mitigate these challenges however has as a prerequisite the availability of robust regeneration systems....
June 2019
Efficient low cost seesap (CSUP) technique for micropropagation of newly introduced sweetener plant, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
Stevia rebaudiana is a non-caloric sweetening herb, which has a high potential for commercialization. During this study low cost media sterilization, seesap (CSUP) technique which applies sodium hypochlorite was used as an alternative to autoclaving. In vitro cultures were established using nodal segments collected from stevia mother plants. These in vitro shoots were cultured on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium...
June 2019
Physicochemical properties of rhodanese from the kidney of cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)
We report the properties of partially purified rhodanese, a cyanide detoxifying enzyme isolated from the kidney of the greater cane rat commonly known as grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus). T. swinderianus kidney rhodanese had a specific activity of 1.43 µmole/min/mg protein, a fold of 2.31 and a 55% recovery. The apparent Km values of 0.408 and 0.316 mM were obtained for both sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) and...
June 2019
Characterisation of volatile compounds and flavour attributes of Lablab purpureus bean accessions
The Lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) has potential of being an outstanding resource for human food and animal feed in tropical agricultural systems. The bean is however grossly underutilized due to anti-nutritional factors, which may affect its nutritive value and organoleptic properties. In this study, twenty-four (24) lablab bean accessions were assayed for sensory flavor characteristics and volatile compounds to...
June 2019
Bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils by lipopeptide producing Bacillus subtilis SE1
Hydrocarbons released into ecosystems have led to environmental pollution and generated a serious threat to human health. Bioremediation is an effective method to break down hazardous hydrophobic environmental contaminants with avoiding economic and technical disadvantages. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Bacillus subtilis SE1, a lipopeptide biosurfactant producer isolated from a petrochemical...
June 2019
Nano Selenium: Reduction of severe hazards of Atrazine and promotion of changes in growth and gene expression patterns on Vicia faba seedlings
Atrazine is a widely used herbicide on many crops and is considered one of water pollutant with approved biological hazards on plants, animals and human. Vicia faba seedlings as a biological system, is used to investigate the genotoxicity of Atrazine. Also, Nano selenium (N-Se), a Nano particle with reactive oxygen species scavenging activity was applied to reduce the genotoxicity of Atrazine. Atrazine treatment at...
May 2019
Effect of 6-benzylaminopurine and α-naphthalene acetic acid hormonal supplements on the in vitro seed germination and seedling development of orchid Otochilus albus Lindl
Otochilus albus Lindl is one of the important orchids especially used for the horticultural purpose and commercial use. It is listed as a rare and critically endangered species in Nepal. An attempt to preserve the important orchids was done by establishing an efficient in vitro regeneration protocol using seed. This study was carried out by using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and the MS medium supplemented with growth...
May 2019
Enhancing 15N-uptake in maize (Zea mays L.) by native Trichoderma spp. strains in Central Mexico
A study was undertaken to evaluate the role of Trichoderma strains on 15N-uptake by maize under greenhouse and field conditions. The Trichoderma strains were isolated from different maize production systems in Guanajuato State, Central Mexico. A total of 39 Trichoderma isolates were obtained, 23 correspond to Trichoderma harzianum (Intra-Genic-Segment). Some colonized the endorhizosphere of maize better than others;...
May 2019
Capacity building for genetically modified organism (GMO) detection in West Africa: Identifying a circulating GMO maize variety in Mali
DNA-based methodology employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been successfully used to examine the incidence of genetically modified (GM) maize in Mali. This study aims to ascertain whether screening elements could also be used to detect GM maize. Fourteen maize varieties and one unknown dark color seeded variety from Mali were tested. DNA was extracted from three seeds of each variety. Three...
May 2019
Alginate microporous beads promote higher ethanol productivity than the normal beads in a repeated-batch ethanolic process involving Saccharomyces cerevisiae LC 269108
Mass transfers pose significant challenge in fermentation due to wide diffusion gradient existing between the culture broth and the immobilized cells. In the present study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae LC 269108 was immobilized in a recently described microporous alginate beads. The new method was compared with the conventional calcium alginate gel beads in a repeated batch process for the production of ethanol. The...
May 2019
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for intermittent drought tolerance in BRB 191 × SEQ 1027 Andean Intra-gene cross recombinant inbred line population of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).
Drought is a major constraint of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production in Uganda where irrigation for the crop is very uncommon. This study aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying drought tolerance in 128 F5 RILs derived from an Andean intra-gene cross between drought-tolerant SEQ 1027 and BRB 191. Eighteen traits were evaluated under drought stress and non-stress conditions in the field for...
May 2019
Chemical study of Peganum harmala seeds
Peganum harmala belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae and is popularly known as "Arruda of Syria". It presents a broad therapeutic potential, highlighting the anti inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, antiseptic and antibacterial activities. It is used in the preparation of religious rituals beverages with effects on the central nervous system as an inhibitor of the enzyme monoaminoxidase, whose action is due...
May 2019
Establishment of a transformation protocol for Uganda’s yellow passion fruit using the GUS gene
Horticulture is one of the fastest growing sectors in Uganda, exporting products worth US$100 million annually. Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) growing and export is one of the critical contributors to this sector employing over a million farmers. However, a number of biotic and abiotic constraints have initiated widespread enterprise abandonment by farmers. Passiflora improvement efforts by conventional breeding has...
May 2019
Dehairing of animal hides and skins by alkaline proteases of Aspergillus oryzae for efficient processing to leather products in Tanzania
The leather industry is one among the most vital sectors for economic development contributing to high earnings. However, tanning of hides and skins is constrained by primitive technology and the use of hazardous chemicals that contribute to environmental pollution. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of alkaline protease on dehairing animal hides and skins under different conditions. Alkaline protease was...
May 2019
Exploring the nutritional efficiency of genotypes of Coffea arabica L. from different parental lineages in contrasting environments for N availability
The different responses of improved genotypes to alterations of the availability of nutrients indicate that it is possible to modulate the nutritional efficiency by exploring the interaction between the intrinsic response of a genotype and the level of nutrient supply. The objective of this research was to assess the response of genotypes of Coffea arabica L., from different parental lineages, to contrasting...
May 2019
Chemical composition of Cyperus esculentus nut and Phoenix dactylifera fruit
This study investigated the chemical composition of Cyperus esculentus nut and Phoenix dactylifera fruit. The nuts and fruits were purchased as commonly sold in Wukari, Nigeria. They were cleaned, sorted for healthy parts, sun-dried and milled into fine powder. The AOAC, AAS and GC-MS methods were adopted for the proximate, mineral and phytochemical analysis, respectively. The results show that C. esculentus nut is...
May 2019
Antibacterial saponins from the leaves of Polyscias fulva (Araliaceae)
Saponins are a major family of secondary metabolites that occur in a wide range of plant species. Bioassay - guided fractionation of extract of the leaves of Polyscias fulva led to the isolation of three known saponins named, 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin (1), 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-hederagenin (2) and...
May 2019
Uterotonic effect of aqueous extract of Launaea taraxacifolia Willd on rat isolated uterine horns
Launaea taraxacifolia is used by the traditional health practitioners in Sokoto to ease labour pains and augment labour thereby facilitating child birth. This study examined the effect of the aqueous extract of the whole plant on isolated uterus from non-pregnant rats pre-treated with stilbestrol and from pregnant rats in late gestation. This was compared to the effects of uterine contraction agonists, namely; oxytocin,...
May 2019
Physicochemical, spectroscopic and tableting properties of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from the African breadfruit seed hulls
This study evaluates the physicochemical, tableting and spectroscopic properties of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from the African breadfruit seed hulls. The seed hulls were dried, pulverized, sieved and digested with 2% w/v aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The resultant pulp was further treated with 17.5% w/v NaOH solution and 2.5N hydrochloric acid to produce α-cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose...
May 2019
Transferability of microsatellite loci from Croton floribundus Spreng. to Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)
Croton urucurana, known as “sangra-d’água”, is a tree species with timber and beekeeping potential, and also with medicinal potential. The use of microsatellite markers, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) is efficient in population genetic studies, with high transferability rate between correlated species. The present study aimed to optimize the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol and to test...
April 2019
Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by hydrocarbonaclastic bacteria
Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by bacteria isolated from spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soils was investigated using nitrogen limitation in the production medium. Out of ten isolates, three were selected as the best based on their ability to metabolize SEO effectively and fluoresce orange when stained with Nile Blue A dye. Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophometer was used as a confirmatory test for PHA...
April 2019
Cellulase production and molecular identification of Xanthobacter flavus (IM32-90) isolated under eucalyptus plantation in the cerrado of Minas Gerais
Lignocellulosic biomass has become a major ally for production of biofuels as a clean and renewable energy source. The manufacturing of cellulolytic enzymes capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose and producing fermentable sugars has been, and still is a great challenge. There is a wide variety of microorganisms, both bacteria and fungi, capable of producing cellulolytic enzymes. These microorganisms can be grown by solid...
April 2019
In silico prediction and segregation analysis of putative virus defense genes based on SSR markers in sweet potato F1 progenies of cultivars ‘New Kawogo’ and ‘Resisto’
In sweet potato, an anti-virus defense mechanism termed reversion has been postulated to lead to virus freedom from once infected plants. The objectives of this study were to identify anti-virus defense genes and evaluate their segregation in progenies. Reference genes from different plant species were used to assemble transcript sequences of each sweet potato defense gene in silico. Sequences were used for evaluate...
April 2019
Early selection in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. progenies in Savanna, Brazil
Genetic parameters were assessed and correlated to evaluate the feasibility of early selection for diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height (TH) in a half-sib progenies test of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The test is established in the Santo Antônio do Leverger municipality, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, with 132 progenies, five blocks and three plants per plot at 3 x 2 m spacing. REML/BLUP procedure was...
April 2019
Genetic diversity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from South Western Kenya for resistance to Pythium root rot disease
Common bean landraces represent an important source of genetic resources, which is under-exploited by Kenyan crop breeding programs. The objective of this study was to characterize 51 common bean landraces from South Western Kenya for resistance to Pythium root rot using 5 peroxidase gene (POX) markers. Following infection with Pythium spp., 11.77, 54.90 and 33.33% of the landraces were moderate-resistant, susceptible...
April 2019
Isolation and characterization of a lytic bacteriophage (VB_PAnP_PADP4) against MDR- Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from septic wound infections
Resistance to multiple drugs by pathogens has become the sweltering problem for the treatment of bacterial infections. To overcome this problem of drug resistance, several diversified bacteriophages can be used as one of the alternatives and attractive approaches. The present study aimed to detect, isolate and partially characterize the bacteriophage used against MDR-Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wound...
April 2019
Genetic diversity among Fusarium species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Southern Ethiopia
Fusaria are very diverse and destructive pathogens affecting different crops. However, their identity and diversity are unresolved in countries like Ethiopia, where various crop species are grown under differing environmental conditions. The objectives of this paper were to identify Fusarium spp. associated with sorghum stalk rot in Southern Ethiopia, and elucidate the genetic diversity within and between the species....
April 2019
Copper (II) ions adsorption by untreated and chemically modified Tectona grandis (Teak bark): Kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies
In this study, untreated Tectona grandis (UTG) and citric acid- modified T. grandis (CAMTG) bark powder were used for the adsorption of Cu (II) ions from aqueous solution. The UTG and CAMTG were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption characteristics were carried out by determining the solution pH, initial concentration of Cu (II) ions, effect of time...
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