Morphophysiological diversity of rhizobia nodulating pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) growing in Ethiopia
February 2018
Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important protein source grown in several tropical and sub-tropical countries, and is considered a multi-purpose plant that is resistant to the conditions where drought and salinity is a common phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of pigeon pea plants grown in central and southern Ethiopia. A total...
Controlled fermentation of the zoom-koom dough using two isolates of lactic acid bacteria (LAB 1 and LAB 5) as starter cultures: Effect on hygienic, rheological, nutritional and sensorial characteristics of the final product
January 2018
Zoom-koom is a popular non-alcoholic beverage in Burkina Faso, which is based on cereals and mainly produced by women with important socio-economic implications. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of controlled fermentation using two selected isolates of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as starter cultures, on the rheological and hygienic quality of zoom-koom. The starter cultures were used singly in monoculture and both...
Identification and major technological characteristics of Lactococcus and Lactobacillus strains isolated from "hamoum", an Algerian fermented wheat
January 2018
Twenty-eight strains of lactic bacteria were isolated from fermented wheat "hamoum" and phenotypically attributed to the following species: seven strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, six strains of Lactobacillus brevis and 15 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum. The acidifying behavior of the strains is considerably variably demanding on considered strain. The amounts of lactic acid produced reached 9.7...
Bio-preservation of Nigerian soft-white cheese in submerged consortium of bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria culture
January 2018
Bio-preservation of Nigerian soft-white cheese (wara) in submerged consortium of bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) culture was investigated. Lactobacillus acidophilus PIT17 and Lactococcus lactis PIT30 were isolated from pito using the pour plate technique on MRS medium. The selection of L. acidophilus PIT17 and L. lactis PIT30 for the bio-preservation studies were based on their ability to produce...
Evaluation of genetic diversity of okra accessions [Abelmoschus esculentus (L. Moench)] cultivated in Burkina Faso using microsatellite markers
January 2018
Okra is a traditional vegetable grown throughout Burkina Faso. Despite a food and non-food valorization of all parts of the plant, its genetic diversity is still little known. Thus, 50 accessions of okra from Burkina Faso were characterized using 19 microsatellite markers in order to determine the level and structure of genetic diversity. The results reveal a total of 34 alleles including 3 rare alleles and a number...
Antibacterial effect of Thymus sp. and Boswellia sp. extracts on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates
January 2018
The antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Boswellia and thyme (Boswellia sp., and Thyme sp.) was evaluated against 20 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and 5 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Essential oils were prepared using methanol and water (1:1) with HPLC technique. Antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were measured using disk diffusion method against 20 isolates of...
Effect of antioxidants (taurine, cysteine, α-tocopherol) on liquid preserved Kolbroek boar semen characteristics
January 2018
Successful artificial insemination depends on maintaining longevity of semen in the reproductive tract, and semen characteristics among others. The study compared efficacy of Androhep extender supplemented with 75 mM taurine, 5 m M-cysteine, or 200 mg/l alpha-tocophero on liquid preservation of Kolbroek boar semen characteristics over 24 and 48 h after storage at 17°C. Total motility was evaluated using computer...
Antioxidant and antikindling effect of Tapinanthus globiferus growing on Ficus glumosa in pentylenetetrazole induced kindled rats
January 2018
Tapinanthus globiferus growing on Ficus glumosa is a plant used locally for the treatment of epilepsy. It is found in West Africa on many tree crops. The present study aims to investigate the anti-kindling and antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of T. globiferus. A total of 40 rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10). Groups 1 to 3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, of the extract orally, followed by...
Optimized production of phytase by solid-state fermentation using triticale as substrate and source of inducer
January 2018
This study was carried out to evaluate the process of phytase production by Aspergillus niger in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using triticale waste. A waste that currently has no use was reported for this biotechnological process, and is of high impact due to the null use. The process was carried out using an additive free medium, supplemented with only one nitrogen source. Under these conditions, phytase activity of...
Dormancy breaking and germination of cat thyme Teucrium marum (Labiatae)
January 2018
Cat thyme is an important medicinal plant used for treating many diseases. With renewed interest as arthropod deterrent and repellents, there is immediate need to cultivate cat thyme on large scale in the laboratory. To improve cat thyme seed germination, obstacles involved in its seed dormancy must be investigated. To address such challenges, mechanical abrasion and chemical treatments were used to enhance the rate of...
Application of cassava harvest residues (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in biochemical and thermochemical conversion process for bioenergy purposes: A literature review
January 2018
Bioenergy production from biomass and agricultural wastes has gained significant interest due to rising fossil fuel prices and their decrease in air pollutant emissions. This review paper evaluates the state-of-art for the several applications from cassava harvest residues and their use in bioenergy industry, using different thermochemical and biochemical processes. Regarding the great available literature for this...
Effect of Moringa oleifera leaves extract on the oxidative stress and gastric mucosal ulcer induced by indomethacin in rats
January 2018
Indomethacin is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medication; however, it has the side effect of gastric ulcer formation which is an actual common gastrointestinal illness that may result in dangerous complications and even death. Various diseases have been treated widely by the use of oriental herbal medicines, this study aims to evaluate the antiulcerative and antioxidative effect of two doses...
Biodegradation of phenol by free and immobilized Candida tropicalis NPD1401
January 2018
The present research aimed to evaluate the free and immobilized cell of Candida tropicalis NPD1401 for phenol degradation. Immobilized cell of C. tropicalis degraded efficiently up to 98% at a concentration of 1000 mg/l of phenol whereas free cells degraded up to 63% of the same concentration under 9 days of incubation. Stored immobilized beads were reused after 15 days and found to have successfully degraded 62.1% of...
Semen quality characteristics and testosterone levels of rabbit bucks fed Costus afer leaf
January 2018
Previous studies have shown Costus afer to possess ethno-medical and ethno-veterinary properties, however, the link between C. afer and reproductive activities are not clear. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of C. afer leaf on semen quality characteristics and testosterone levels of adult buck rabbits. Eighteen adult crossbred New Zealand and Chinchilla breeds were divided into three treatments (A, B...
Influence of spacing and application of biofertilizer on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
January 2018
The adequate spacing in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) influences its growth and fruit production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, the leaf composition and okra production in different spacing with and without biofertilizer. This research was carried out from October, 2012 to March, 2013, at the Federal University of Paraiba, Areia county, Paraiba State, Brazil. The experimental design was a...
Isolation, characterization and antibiotics susceptibility of β-glucuronidase producing Escherichia coli and other enteric bacteria from ground beef
January 2018
The current work aimed to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli in fresh ground beef purchased from butchers' shops in Suez Governorate, Egypt, and the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolated bacteria. E. coli was isolated and detected on tryptone bile glucuronide agar (TBGA) plates as chromogenic selective medium for this species. The sensitivity and resistance of the isolated bacteria to...
Inflorescence developmental polymorphism and its horticultural significance in plantain (Musa spp. AAB)
January 2018
Inflorescence developmental polymorphism and its horticultural significance in plantain (Musa spp. AAB) was investigated in this study. The study was designed to evaluate the consistency of inflorescence dichotomy as well as the horticultural significance of the double and triple bunching plantain phenotypes during several production cycles. Four plantain accessions with different types of multiple bunches or...
Response of four cultivars of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) plantlets free of cassava mosaic virus to micropropagation in different media
January 2018
The aim of this study was to identify the best medium for the micropropagation of four cultivars (Six-mois, M61/061, Yalipe and Rendre) of cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) plantlets free of mosaic virus. The effect of media on the morphogenesis in vitro was studied using different growth regulators combinations, added to MS medium, M0: MS without growth regulator; M1: MS+NAA (0.02 mg/l) ; M2 : MS+BAP (0.05 mg/l); M3:...
Plant cell suspension culture of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum. in shake flask and stirred tank reactor scale: A comparative study
December 2017
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of changing the shake flask for a stirred-tank bench bioreactor on the performance of Thevetia peruviana cultures. Maximum cell growth of 18.59 and 8.46 g DW/L for shake flask and bench bioreactor at day 14 was obtained, respectively. The end of the exponential growth phase in shake flask was correlated with total sugar consumption, while this behavior was not observed in...
Chemical composition of neem and lavender essential oils and their antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi causing ginseng root rot
December 2017
The aim of this study was to assess in vitro, the antifungal activity and characterize the chemical constituents of the essential oils of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Lavandula angustifolia (lavender). The essential oils of A. indica and L. angustifolia plants were tested against several isolates of pathogenic fungal genera causing root rot disease of ginseng. Agar plate assay indicated that lavender oil at 10%...
Effects of Salaha-A (herbomineral drug) on blood parameters of rats and in silico inhibition of P-glycoprotein by it bioactive compounds
December 2017
The drug under study is a herbomineral drug containing tortoise shell ash and ground seeds of Piper nigrum used in the treatment of cancer. Salaha-A was found to contain essential minerals that could have medicinal importance to human. Calcium was found to be the major element in the tortoise shell ash and piperine is the pioneer alkaloid found in Piper nigrum. This work evaluates the effects of Salaha-A at different...
Changes observed in Pritchardia pacifica palms affected by a lethal yellowing-type disease in Mexico
December 2017
Lethal yellowing (LY) is a devastating disease, affecting more than 35 palm species. One of them, Pritchardia pacifica, was found to be very susceptible in Florida and it is affected by a LY-type syndrome in Yucatan, Mexico. In this study, plants of P. pacifica were exposed naturally to feral insects in an area affected by LY in Mexico. All the plants exposed died showing symptoms of leaf decay with death occurring...
Trichoderma as biological control weapon against soil borne plant pathogens
December 2017
The genus of Trichoderma is widely applied for the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi in agriculture sector. Moreover, Trichoderma species are also excessively exploited in different industrial purposes due to their production of important lytic enzymes such as chitinases, glucanases and proteases. Several genetic improvement trials are carried out for maximizing the role of Trichoderma as biological control agents via...
Overexpression of key enzymes of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for improving squalene production in Escherichia coli
December 2017
2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway has been extensively employed for terpenoids biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. In this study, to obtain key-enzymes of MEP pathway for squalene production, overexpression of different combination of MEP pathway genes were compared. Squalene production in strain YSS12 with overexpressed dxs, idi and ispA of MEP pathway from E. coli was improved by 71-fold when compared...
Genetic and population diversity of bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.) in Chapada Limpa extractive reserve, Maranhão State, Brazil
December 2017
Landscape studies illustrate how the structure and configuration of ecological/agroecological zones influence the genetic diversity of a species. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess how landscape structure and conservation influence the genetic diversity indices of Platonia insignis Mart. (bacuri) in Chapada Limpa Extractive Reserve, Chapadinha County, Maranhão State, Brazil. The study was carried out...
Evaluation of serum sialic acid and other risk factors in diabetes mellitus
December 2017
The main cause of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is disturbed carbohydrate metabolism indicated by hyperglycemia. Insulin secretion is disturbed by inflammatory process in the body due to imbalanced diet, hormonal disturbance and genetics. The serum sialic acid has been investigated as a parameter to evaluate intensity of DM2. 200 individuals of both genders were included and were divided into four groups (50 each)...
Anaerobic decomposition of submerged macrophytes in semiarid aquatic systems under different trophic states, Paraíba State, Brazil
December 2017
The macrophytes play an important role in the regulation of biological and chemical processes in aquatic ecosystems, particularly in shallow lakes. They also play an important role in storage and nutrient cycling, serving as a source of organic matter to native environments. The aim of this study was to describe the kinetic aspects of the nutrients released during the anaerobic decomposition process of Egeria densa...
The impact of over-expression of NPK1 gene on growth and yield of sorghum under drought stress
December 2017
Sorghum bicolor L. is an important crop in many tropical regions, yet it has received little attention in applying modern biotechnologies for improvement due to transformation difficulties. Drought is among the most important factors limiting sorghum productivity. The Nicotina Protein Kinase 1 (NPK1) gene confers tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. The present work was conducted to determine the amenability...
Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities associated to somatic embryogenesis potential in an elite hybrid genotype of Theobroma cacao L.
December 2017
Cross-fertilization and somatic embryogenesis stand as potential useful tools for genetic improvement and vulgarization of agronomical interesting cocoa planting material for sustainable cocoa culture. Manual cross-fertilization (♀SNK13×♂UPA143) was conducted. ♀SNK13×♂UPA143 derived hybrid genotypes were tested for their susceptibility to black pods disease (BPD). The most tolerant hybrid genotype (KHACa12)...
Evaluation of productivity of sweet potato genotypes for first and second generation bioethanol production
December 2017
The increased supply of ethanol fuel and its spread as an alternative to fossil fuels depend on the exploration of biomasses that can be regarded as alternatives to sugarcane and maize. In this study, the agricultural productivity and the potential for production of ethanol from roots and the aerial portion of twenty sweet potato genotypes were evaluated. The roots and branches were harvested 180 days after planting....
Comparative biosorption of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solution using Moringa oleifera plant parts: Equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic studies
November 2017
This research article presents a comparative study of the adsorption properties of Moringa oleifera biomass using Pb2+ ions as test analyte. The investigated parameters which affected the adsorption process were the effect of pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, and temperature. The comparison of adsorption process was evaluated in the pH range of 3 to 8, concentration range from 5 to 20 ppm,...
Variability of seed oil content and fatty acid composition in Shantung maple (Acer truncatum Bunge) germplasm for optimal biodiesel production
November 2017
Shantung maple seed oil methyl esters have emerged as the potential feedstock for producing biodiesel. The goal of this work was to assess variations in seed oil content and fatty acid compositions for optimal biodiesel production among 138 Shantung maple accessions native to 14 regions of China. Dramatic differences in seed oil content were observed among trees grown in the various regions tested; seeds of trees grown...
Effect of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) as feed additives, on growth and haematology of Clarias gariepinus Juvenile
November 2017
The rebirth and use of medicinal plants in aquaculture has become necessary as the use of synthetic drugs and chemicals is been discouraged due to their aftermath effects on cultured organisms and aquatic environment. A 56-day study was conducted to assess the effects of Roselle and ginger as dietary additives, on growth and hematology of Clarias gariepinus juvenile. Total of 150 C. gariepinus juveniles...
Diversity and extracellular enzymes of endophytic fungi associated with Cymbidium aloifolium L.
November 2017
Cymbidium aloifolium is an epiphytic orchid used in treatment of many human ailments. The endophytic fungi associated with orchids are diverse and have potential to produce many bioactive compounds including extracellular enzymes. A total of 165 endophytic fungi representing 22 different fungal species were obtained from root, leaf and flowers of C. aloifolium. The colonization rate (CR) and isolation rate (IR) varied...
In vitro selective cytotoxicity of activated parasporal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis serovars kumamotoensis and tohokuensis against human cancer cell lines
November 2017
The anti-cancer activity of alkali-solubilized protease-activated parasporal proteins produced by 78 local Bacillus thuringiensis strains and 14 reference B. thuringiensis strains was screened against five human cancer cell lines (CACO-2, Hep2, HepG2, K562, and MCF-7). Activated parasporal proteins were tested for their hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. It was found that activated parasporal proteins of 25...
Correlation and path coefficient analysis of agronomic and quality traits in a bioenergy crop, sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
November 2017
Sweet sorghum is considered one of the best sources of bioethanol due to its higher total reducing sugar content, which ferments completely to produce ethanol coupled with its adaptation to the changing climate. A study was carried out in Ethiopia, during the 2015/16 crop season, to determine the extent of phenotypic and genotypic relationships among 13 agronomic traits and six quality components of 28 sweet sorghum...
A method of rapid in vitro proliferation and morphological characterization of the medicinal plant Aloe vera L.
November 2017
Morphological characterization was carried out on Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) accessions collected from different locations in India. The experiments were conducted on 12 Aloe accessions and the leaf length, width, thickness, stem length, and thickness were measured using vernier calipers. The plantlets were chemically treated with 2.5% (w/v) of sodium hypochlorite which is an alternative safer surface...
Effect of different stablizers on quality characteristics of the set-type yogurt
November 2017
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of seven different stabilizers on some properties of set-type yogurt. Stabilizers used were sodium caseinate, gelatin, carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum (LBG), native corn starch. For the control group, no stabilizer was added. During the storage period, while the fat and pH values of the yoghurt samples were reduced, the stabilizers had no effects on...
Effect of adenine sulphate, casein hydrolysate and spermidine on in vitro shoot multiplication of two banana varieties (FHIA-21 and PITA-3)
November 2017
A highly reproducible and efficient in vitro shoot regeneration system was developed for two banana varieties (FHIA-21 and PITA-3) using shoot tip as explant. Shoot tip was inoculated onto Murashige and Skoog (MS, 1962) medium supplemented with cytokinins [benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kin) and 2-isopentenyl (2-iP)] and additives [Adenine sulphate (Ads), spermidine (Spd) and casein hydrolysate (CH)] for shoot...
Production and characterization of proteases from edible mushrooms cultivated on amazonic tubers
November 2017
Proteases are important commercial enzymes, and among their numerous sources are the Basidiomycetes. The use of proteases in many industrial areas promotes the search for enzymes with new properties. The aim of this study is to produce and characterize peptidases of a biocomposite from mycelial biomass grown in Amazonic tubers. Lentinus citrinus DPUA 1535 and Pleurotus ostreatoroseus DPUA 1720 were cultivated on...
Conversion of lignocellulose from palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit fibre and physic (Jatropha curcas) nut shell into bio-oil
November 2017
Harmful gases are released into the atmosphere through burning of residues which is commonly practiced in Nigeria and can be attributed to climate change issues. Agricultural residues have the potentials to be used as energy and chemical source and meet its deficit in the country. This paper focuses on utilization of lignocellulosic materials obtained from two agricultural residues through renewable technology to...
Occurrence and genetic variability of partial coat protein gene of Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) in Kenya
November 2017
A survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) infecting sweet potato in Kenya. Vine cuttings of sweet potato were collected in 2011 from fields in Central, Western and Coastal regions of the country. The cuttings were grown in an insect-proof screen-house and scion grafted to Ipomoea setosa indicator plants. DNA was extracted from leaf samples of graft-inoculated I. serosa...
Promising substrates to increase the production of tannase under solid state fermentation (SSF) by Penicillium spp.
November 2017
Tannase (tannin acyl hydrolse, E.C.3.1.1.20) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ester and depside bonds of hydrolysable tannins. Among the filamentous fungi the genus Penicillium is recognized as the second best producer of tannase. This enzyme presents applications in several industrial segments, such as in the production of judges and teas. The industrial production of tannase can be performed through solid...
Optimization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SKM10 single cell protein production from mango (Magnifera indica L.) waste using response surface methodology
November 2017
The present study aims at optimizing the production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SKM10 single cell proteins (SCP) from mango waste. To optimize the production process, the effect of two independent variables was evaluated by a three-level full factorial design using response surface methodology (RSM). The parameters studied were inoculum size (2 to 12% v/v) and concentration of substrates (5 to 10 g/L). Analytical...
Comparative evaluation of anti-oxidative potentials of fermented locust bean condiment and its moringa fortified variant
November 2017
The need to boost daily intake of natural antioxidants to combat free radicals causing degenerative diseases has become more imperative. Fermented locust bean condiment was fortified with moringa leaf powder (rich in antioxidants) at 20, 30 and 50% substitution levels. Proximate composition, phenolic content, total flavonoid, reducing power, and the sensory properties of the condiments were determined using standard...
Morphogenesis and plant regeneration from Anthurium andreanum cv Calypso leaf explant
November 2017
Anthuriums are among the most attractive ornamental plants; however, the commercial production of these plants is limited by the slow propagation methods presently in use. This situation can be resolved with the application of in vitro culture techniques which allow massive plant propagation through morphogenic processes. Plant growth regulators (PGR) and the composition of the basal media comprising the culture medium...
Genetic variability and character association of some local wheat varieties (Triticum species) using agromorphological traits grown in South Gondar zone, Ethiopia
November 2017
Wheat is the most important cereal crop in Ethiopia ranking third in terms of area after teff and maize and second in terms of production after maize. Six local wheat varieties cultivated in South Gondar, one of the 11 zones found in Amhara region, were collected from the local farmers to study their variability, heritability and trait associations using 12 agro-morphological traits. The studied genotypes were grown in...
Salinity increased vitamins concentration in Amaranthus cruentus leaves
November 2017
Salt stress is one of the major environmental constraints limiting agricultural productivity and influencing the concentration of bioactive compounds of vegetables. In this study, the effect of NaCl salt stress on nutrient contents of leaves in a cultivar of amaranth, an important leafy vegetable cultivated in some tropical regions worldwide, was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a screen house at Center for...
Impact of trona-aided boiling on the phytochemical constituents and beneficial micronutrients of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.)
October 2017
The influence of boiling lima bean, using trona solution, on its phytochemical constituents and selected micronutrients was investigated. Lima bean was initially boiled for 3 h using 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% trona solution, respectively at ratio 1:5 (bean/trona solution). The boiled lima bean was subsequently dried in an oven at 55°C for 12 h after which it was subjected to various analyses. Maximum reduction of...
Extracellular biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Actinomycetes from amazonic biome and its antimicrobial efficiency
October 2017
The microbial sources used for the production of nanoparticles are important, and one of the reasons for bacterial preference is their ease of manipulation and ecofriendly potential. Three bacteria strains of Streptomyces genus were used for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The aim of the present study was to confirm Streptomyces spp. as biological systems in the synthesis and extracellular...
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