November 2010
The progress and issues in the Dutch, Chinese and Kenyan floriculture industries
The review covered the progressive trends in the floriculture industry of The Netherlands, China and Kenya. The Netherlands maintained the largest market share of 70 - 75% in the industry. However, in 2008 its export declined to 3.9%. The Netherlands had moved from the traditional production role to distribution and marketing. Annual floriculture growth in Kenya was 15% and had become the highest...
November 2010
Morpho-agronomic and molecular characterisation of Oryza glaberrima germplasm from Mali
In order to exploit the important agronomic traits that make Oryza glaberrima Steud suitable for harsh growing conditions, 79 Riz Africain du Mali (RAM) including four checks of known cultivated rice species (Oryza sativa and O. glaberrima) were used for both field evaluation over two seasons (2007 and 2008) and assessment of molecular diversity. The molecular characterization showed all...
November 2010
Cottonseed oil and yield assessment via economic heterosis and heritability in intraspecific cotton populations
Due to the difficulty in producing cotton F1 hybrid seed through hand emasculation and pollination, the capture of heterosis in cotton production is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of 6 × 6 F1 and F2 intra-hirsutumdiallel hybrids relative to heterosis, inbreeding depression, heritability and correlation. Average F1 hybrids mean values were higher...
November 2010
Analysis of Genetic diversity and reltionships in local Tunisian barley by RAPD and SSR analysis
The genetic variation and relationships among 12 local barleys and the varieties Martin and Manel were evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR). A high level of polymorphism was found with both RAPD and SSR markers and the mean polymorphism information content (PIC) values were 0.477 and 0.533 for RAPD and SSR markers, respectively. In RAPD analyses,...
November 2010
Genetic variation among pelt sheep population using microsatellite markers
Genetic variation in three Iranian pelt sheep breeds namely: Gray Shiraz, Zandi and Karakul were investigated using fifteen microsatellite loci. Genomic DNA was extracted from 360 blood samples by extraction kits and salting-out procedure with some modifications. The total number of alleles ranged from 6 to12 in loci. The fifteen tested loci were all polymorphic in the three breeds. The average direct...
November 2010
Callus induction and regeneration of elite Indian maize inbreds
Five elite Indian maize inbreds namely; HKI1105, HKI1105, HKI335, CM300 and LM5 were evaluated for callus induction and regeneration. Immature embryos obtained 14 days after pollination were used as explants. Genotype, medium, type of auxin and their concentrations influenced callus induction. N6 medium supplemented with different concentration of 2,4-D (1, 2 and 3 mg/l) and Dicamba (1, 2 and 3 mg/l)...
November 2010
Direct shoot organogenesis from petiole and leaf discs of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
An efficient and reproducible procedure is described for direct shoot regeneration using petiole and leaf explants of Withania somnifera (L.). The shoots were mainly induced from the distal end of the petiole, whereas in leaf explants, shoot regeneration was initiated from the basal part and wounded tissue. The regeneration medium that induced the highest numbers of shoots in the petiole and leaf...
November 2010
Eco-physiological responses and symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity of salt-exposed Hedysarum carnosum plants
Nitrogen nutrition of Hedysarum carnosum, a pastoral legume common in Tunisian central and southern rangelands, largely depends on atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Yet, this process is greatly affected by environmental factors such as salinity. This study aimed to characterize the tolerance limits and the physiological responses ofH. carnosum to salinity under symbiotic nitrogen fixation....
November 2010
Effects of nitric oxide on the growth and antioxidant response of submerged plants Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
To investigate the effect of exogenous Nitric oxide (NO) on submerged plants,Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle was treated with 25 - 400 μΜ sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) for 0.5 - 4 d. The alterations in plant growth, H2O2, total chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the antioxidant response were assayed. The results showed that 25 - 100 μΜ SNP increased the plant growth...
November 2010
Effect of biosolids application on soil chemical properties and uptake of some heavy metals by Cercis siliquastrum
The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of three kinds of biosolids usage on soil chemical properties and uptake of heavy metals by Cercis siliquastrum leaves. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with seven treatments including: no fertilizer as a control (C), sewage sludge (SW), cow manure (CM), municipal solid waste compost (MC), mixture of...
November 2010
Hexadecane degradation by bacterial strains isolated from contaminated soils
A study was undertaken to detect and monitor the degradation of hexadecane by three potential degrading bacteria (Pseudomonas putida, Rhodococcus erythroplolis and Bacillus thermoleovorans) isolated from contaminated soils in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The extraction of the bacterial populations from these polluted soils were 5.25 x 105, 1.76 x 106 and 5.11 x 105 cells/ml,...
November 2010
Photosynthesis of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) in rainfed ecology of Pakistan
The effect of planting window (PW) acting as changing temperature scenarios and water availability at critical stages of wheat (Zadok’s scale) on photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E) as well as their relationship with yield of spring wheat genotypes viz: Chakwal-50, Wafaq-2001 and GA-2002 was studied. The research was conducted at three locations of varying climatic...
November 2010
Bioleaching of dewatered metal plating sludge by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using shake flask and completely mixed batch reactor
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the application of bioleaching technique to recover heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr) in dewatered metal plating sludge not containing sulphide or sulphate compounds. The effects of pH, pulp density of the sludge and agitation time were investigated in both shake flask and completely mixed batch reactor experiments. The leaching of heavy metals...
November 2010
Treatment performance of small-scale vermifilter for domestic wastewater and its relationship to earthworm growth, reproduction and enzymatic activity
A vermifilter system packed with quartz sands and ceramsite was studied for domestic wastewater treatment. Results showed that good performance of vermifilter was achieved and removal rates were COD (47.3 – 64.7%), BOD5 (54.78 – 66.36%), SS (57.18 – 77.90%), TN (7.63 – 14.90%), and NH4-N (21.01 – 62.31%), respectively. An increase in hydraulic loading led to a decrease in...
November 2010
Novel method of wine production from banana (Musa acuminata) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) wastes
Wine production from banana and pineapple wastes (Musa acuminata and Ananas comosus) was carried out by controlled fermentation for 5 days. Fermentation of these wastes was done in groups: Group 1 and 3 (test and control group for banana wastes) and group 2 and 4 (test and control group for pineapple wastes). Pumpkin leaves (Telfaria occidentalis) macerate was added to group 1 and 2 to obtain substrate:...
November 2010
Vitamin C attenuates copper-induced oxidative damage in broiler chickens
This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of vitamin C on copper-induced oxidative damage in the erythrocyte and liver of broiler chickens. Three week old birds were fed a basal diet (n = 40), or basal diet supplemented with 250 mg CuSO4/kg diet (n = 40) for 56 days. On the 57th day, the birds of the two groups were further subdivided and fed for 14 days as follows: Group 1A (Control, n =...
November 2010
Kinetics of endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase production by parent and mutant derivative of moderately thermotolerant Bacillus subtilis GQ 301542 on optimized medium
A moderately thermotolerant bacterial strain was isolated from the hot spring of Tatta Pani (AJ and K) Pakistan and was designated as Bacillus subtilis strain GQ 301542 after biochemical, morphological and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. This strain and its catabolite repression resistant mutant CRM197 were utilized for the study of different production kinetic parameters of both endoglucanase and...
November 2010
The Cytoarchitectural alterations in the neocortex of Wistar rats: Effects of aqueous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves extract exposure
This study investigated the effects of corresponding 11.7 mg/kg body weight and 5.8 mg/kg body weight/day of the tobacco leaves aqueous extract for a period of 20 days on the functions of rats’ brain after extract administration. Nicotiana tabacumis the scientific name of the tobacco...
November 2010
Standardization of Elaeis guineensis with respect to authenticity, assay and chemical constituent analysis
In consideration of commercialization of formulations based on medicinal plants, quality control standards of various medicinal plants used in traditional medicine are becoming more important. An attempt for the standardization of Elaeis guineensis leaf has been carried out with respect to authenticity, assay and chemical constituent analysis. Many parameters of authentication involved in this study...
November 2010
Characterization of immobilized alkaline cyclodextringlycosyltransferase from a newly isolated Bacillus agaradhaerens KSU-A11
Alkaliphilic bacteria were isolated from soil and water samples obtained from Egyptian soda lakes (Wadi Natrun area, Egypt). Screening for cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase)-producing alkaliphilic bacteria resulted in isolation of 10 positive strains. Strain KSU-A11 was selected as the best CGTase producer (2.1 U/ml). 16S rDNA sequence analysis identified the KSU-A11strain as Bacillus...
November 2010
Test and gonad characteristics in different genders of cultivated sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius, Agassiz): First insight into sexual identification
Ten test and gonad characters in both genders of cultured sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius, Agassiz) were investigated for sexual identification and sex ratio. Both test (test height-diameter ratio) and gonad characters (gonad index, gonad color and gonad moisture content) were significantly different between male and female sea urchins. For the first time, we report that cultivated...
November 2010
Efficacy of Pediococcus acidlactici-based probiotic on intestinal Coliforms and villus height, serum cholesterol level and performance of broiler chickens
The objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of Pediococcus acidlactici-based probiotic on broilers performance. One hundred and sixty male Ross broiler chicks were allocated in 2 experimental treatments for 6 weeks. The experimental birds received a corn-soybean meal basal diet that was supplemented as follows: “control,” with no other additions;...
November 2010
Expression of porcine myosin heavy chain 1 gene in Berkshire loins with a high pH24 value
An important factor in evaluating porcine meat quality is the pH at post-mortem 24 h (pH24). In the current work, we conducted a GeneFishing polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based screen to identify differentially expressed genes in Berkshire loins with high versus low pH24. Total RNAs were extracted from Berkshire loins with high and low pH24 and subjected to GeneFishing PCR. Four genes were found...
Advertisement
Advertisement
