African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12478

Table of Content: 19 June 2013; 12(25)

June 2013

Detection of viruses in seeds of some vegetables by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

  The present study was carried out to detect the presence of Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus (AMV), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), lettuce mosaic potyvirus (LMV), cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus (TBSV), tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), tomato black ring nepovirus (TBRV) and tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV) in seeds of pepper, tomato, cucumber and lettuce which are...

Author(s):   M. Gumus and I. C. Paylan  

June 2013

Alteration of rice growth and development via antisense expression of OsGA20ox2 gene

  GA 20-oxidase is a key enzyme involved in gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. To investigate the roles of OsGA20ox2 in regulating plant growth and development, we used reverse genomic approach to generate dwarf transgenic rice plants with antisense technology. OsGA20ox2 nucleic acid sequence includes three exons and two introns. We constructed three antisense vectors named pA1CK, pA2CK, pACK,...

Author(s):   Qiao F. and Chen Z  

June 2013

Amplification of the active site of BnLIP3 gene of Brassica napus L. during germination

  Lipases are useful enzymes that are responsible for the hydrolysis of triacylglycerides and play an important role in plant growth. In this study, we report a rapid molecular method to amplify a partial sequence of the lipase class 3 family designated BnLIP3gene of Brassica napus L. in order to follow its expression and analyze its role during seed germination. Therefore, we conceived PCR...

Author(s):   GLAIED GHRAM Imen, BELGUITH Hatem, MESSAOUDI Abdelmonaem, FATTOUCH Sami, VICENTE Oscar and BEN HAMIDA Jeannette  

June 2013

Molecular characterization of olive cultivars grown in Iraq using amplified fragment length polymorphism and simple sequence repeat markers

  In this study, genetic relationships among olive cultivars grown in Iraq were investigated by means of two DNA molecular marker classes: amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR). Total genomic DNA was isolated from young leaves of the selected olive...

Author(s):   Hussam Saaduldeen Mohammed Khierallah, Salwa  Jaber Al-Awadi, Eqbal Harbi Mohammed and Samer Lababidi  

June 2013

Optimisation of phenolic compound biosynthesis in grape (Bogazkere Cv.) callus culture

  The objective of this study was to improve metabolite accumulation of grape cells by manipulating culture and environmental conditions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design and conduct the study with the independent variables being: percent depletion of KH2PO4 or NH4NO3 and light intensity. Wounded grape leaves (Bogazkere cv.) were used for the initiation of callus formation....

Author(s):   Mehmet KARAASLAN, Mustafa OZDEN, Hasan VARDÄ°N, Fatih Mehmet YILMAZ  

June 2013

Differences between the Texas phoenix palm phytoplasma and the coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma revealed by restriction fragement length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the NUSA and HFLB genes

  A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to amplify the nusA gene from a DNA sample extracted from a cabbage or sabal (Sabal palmetto) palm showing symptoms of Texas Phoenix decline (TPD) and from three DNA samples from coconut (Cocos nucifera) palms showing symptoms of lethal yellowing (LY). TPD is caused by a 16SrIV-D phytoplasma and LY by a 16SrIV-A strain. From the sabal DNA...

Author(s):   Khayalethu Ntushelo, Nigel Anthony Harrison and Monica Lynn Elliott  

June 2013

Tissue culture as an alternative for commercial corm production in saffron: A heritage crop of Kashmir

  The present study aimed at developing a commercially viable protocol for in vitro corm production in saffron. Three-step sterilization process involving fungicides and sterilants ensured 94% clean viable cultures. Plant growth regulator (PGRs) ensuring initial bud sprouting, direct shoot regeneration from the base of the sprouted bud and cormlet production from multiple shoots have been...

Author(s):   Salwee Yasmin, F. A. Nehvi and Shafiq A. Wani  

June 2013

Total β-carotene content of orange sweetpotato cultivated under optimal conditions and at a rural village

  At community level, sweetpotato is often cultivated in marginal soils, with low agricultural inputs and is harvested when needed. Total β-carotene content of orange sweetpotato harvested four, five and six months after planting at optimal cultivation conditions and at a rural village was determined. Compared to those produced under optimal conditions, sweetpotato produced under rural village...

Author(s):   Mieke Faber, Sunette M. Laurie and Paul J. van Jaarsveld  

June 2013

Probable functions of calcium oxalate crystals in different tissues of the edible aroids (Xanthosoma and Colocasia spp.) in Nigeria

  Representatives of seven major edible aroid accessions were screened for calcium oxalate using standard histochemical methods. All the accessions were noted to contain calcium oxalate in the forms of raphide bundles and intra-amylar crystals. The crystals were widely present in all parts of the plants including spongy mesophyll of the leaves, laticifers in the midrib and petioles, cortex of the roots and in...

Author(s):   Osuji, Julian O.  

June 2013

Influence of Glomus etunicatum and Glomus intraradices fungi inoculums and micronutrients deficiency on root colonization and dry weights of tomato and sorghum in perlite bed culture

  The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of micronutrient deficiency on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and to assess the role of AMF on growth of sorghum and tomato plants in perlite bed culture. In a pot culture experiment with sterile perlite, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants were inoculated with...

Author(s):   Ebrahim Shirmohammadi and Nasser Aliasgharzad  

June 2013

Establishment of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden in vitro using commercial products for seed treatment

  Given the current demand for timber from forest species, there is a need to develop new strategies for the mass propagation of eucalyptus. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of different doses of Standak Top® and CoMo Raiz® on the establishment of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden from seeds in vitro. The experimental...

Author(s):   Moacir Ribeiro Neto, Cíntia de Oliveira Martendal, Flávia Dionísio Pereira, Edson Luiz Souchie and Fabiano Guimarães Silva  

June 2013

Biochemical responses during the pathogenesis of Sclerotium rolfsii on cowpea

  The hypersensitive reaction (HR), one of the most efficient and visible parts of the defense mechanisms in nature against invading pathogens, is associated with a coordinated and integrated set of metabolic alterations which are instrumental in impeding further pathogen ingress or alleviating stress. It includes a variety of novel proteins and secondary metabolites. This study aimed to examine the induction...

Author(s):   S. Nandi, S. Dutta, A. Mondal, A. Adhikari R. Nath, A. Chattopadhayaand S. Chaudhuri  

June 2013

Estimation of genetic parameters for yield components and seed yield in sunflower using line x tester analysis

  Combining ability and heritability of yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) breeding lines were studied using line x tester analysis. Eight lines and six testers along with their 48 F1 single cross combinations and two checks were planted in simple lattice design with two replications. The results of analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for...

Author(s):   Seyed Abbasali Andarkhor, Valiollah Rameeh and Ramzan Ali Alitabar  

June 2013

Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Mazandran, Sari, Iran.

  The aims of the study were to evaluate water quality of Tajan River in Sari in terms of chemical pollution and the impact of pollutant sources near the river by considering the climate, hydrological and hydraulic condition on it. In this study, 10 critical points of river were selected as sampling stations from dam to sea. Sampling was randomly done monthly from Apr 2009 to Mar 2010. Samples were analyzed in...

Author(s):   Mohammad Ali Zazouli, Anoshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, Syed Ahmad Mirbagheri and Yahya Esfandyari  

June 2013

Warm season performance of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands vegetated with rice treating water from an urban stream polluted with sewage

  The performance of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands vegetated with rice (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated in Campina Grande (7º 13' 11" S; 35º 52' 31" W; 550 m above mean sea level), Paraíba state, northeast Brazil. The pilot-scale system comprised 24 circular tanks (76.80 cm diameter, 54 cm height) batch fed daily with water from a nearby urban...

Author(s):   Meira, C. M. B. S.; de Oliveira, R., Ceballos, B. S. O., Coura, M. A. and Nascimento, R. S..  

June 2013

Mixed cultures of Kimchi lactic acid bacteria show increased cell density and lactate productivity

  This study was carried out to determine the characteristics of cell growth, lactate production and amino acid secretion among four kimchi lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc mesenteroides JEI, Leuconostoc kimchi 132, Lactobacillus sakei 171, and Weissella koreensis 521) alone and in selected mixtures. In solo culture, L. sakei171 was superior in cell growth, lactate...

Author(s):   KiBeom Lee, Ho-Jin Kim and Eun-Jung Lee  

June 2013

Seasonal variation in chemical composition, aroma volatiles and antioxidant capacity of pomegranate during fruit development

  This study was conducted to investigate compositional changes and antioxidant capacities of pomegranate fruit (‘Bhagwa’ and ‘Ruby’) at five distinct stages of maturity over two growing seasons. Total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), phenolic concentrations, antioxidant capacity and aroma volatile constituents were investigated. Principal component analysis (PCA) and...

Author(s):   Olaniyi Amos Fawole and Umezuruike Linus Opara  

June 2013

Extracellular proteolytic activity of Deinococcus geothermalis

    Production of extracellular protease by extremophilic bacteria Deinococcus geothermalis cultivated in liquid media containing 0.1% (w/v) of peptone K, 0.1% yeast extract and 0.2% marine salt reached a maximum in 14 h of the cell growth at 45°C and pH 8.0. The enzyme was purified by a two-step procedure using fractionation by a graded ammonium sulphate precipitation technique and gel...

Author(s):   Olga Pietrow, Anna Panek and Józef Synowiecki  

June 2013

Genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by cadmium and zinc in the planarian, Dugesia dorotocephala

  This study sought to determine the DNA damage, and the lipoperoxidative effect, as well as changes in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities induced by CdSO4 (Cd), and ZnSO4 (Zn), in addition to two different mixtures of the metals. Planarian Dugesia dorotocephala collected in the Ignacio Ramirez reservoir, México, adapted to laboratory conditions, and exposed...

Author(s):   Sandra García-Medina, Lucero García-Medina, Marcela Galar-Martinez, Isela Alvarez-González, Osiris Madrigal-Santillán, Celene Razo-Estrada, Leobardo M. Gómez-Oliván and Eduardo Madrigal-Bujaidar  

June 2013

Bioevaluation of garlic on growth, haematological and serum characteristics of growing pigs

  A total of 18 grower pigs aged 70 days were used in an eight weeks feeding trial to evaluate the biological importance of feeding varying dietary levels of sun dried garlic to pigs. The 18 pigs were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (T1, T2 and T3) with 0, 100 and 200 g of garlic powder incorporated per 100 kg of feed, respectively. Each treatment was replicated twice with three pigs per...

Author(s):   Onyimonyi, Anselm Ego and Omeje, Martina Uzoma