Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science       ISSN 1990-6145
 
 
 

 
Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science                      May  2007 | Vol. 2  No. 3

 

Title:

Effects of light on seed germination and growth pattern of straits rhododendron (melastoma malabathricum L.)

Author (s):

Mahdi Faravani and Baki Bin Bakar

Abstract:

The effects of media on seed germination and general growth patterns of M. malabathricum under different light and temperature regimes were studied in the laboratory and insect-proof house conditions in University of Malaya. Fifty fresh or dried seeds of M. malabathricum were  placed in each petri-dish and  moistened with water or solutions of the chemical media, KNO3, H2O2 and HNO3 and placed either in darkness or fully exposed to fluorescence light at temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35oC in growth chambers. Seed germination of M. malabathricum was positively photoblastic. The highest rate of germination of 40-37 % was observed at 25 -30oC for oven dried seeds in distilled H2O. No seed germination prevailed in darkness, or when exposed to chemical media, and at temperature regimes less than 20oC. Uniform two-month seedlings were exposed to two light regimes, viz. full sunlight (FSP) in an open (at midday, mean photosynthetically active radiation, PAR = 622 μ mole photon m-2 s-1 ) or  20% of full sunlight within the greenhouse (Partial  exposed plants)(PEP)(at midday, PAR =125 μ mole photon  m-2 s-1). Light regime strongly influenced both clonal and reproductive growths of M. malabathricum. Floral initiation in M. malabathricum requires exposure to no less than 400 μ mole photon m-2 s-1 for 15-20 days. The FSP displayed higher rate of growth in terms of number of berries, seeds, 2o branch, leaves /2o branch, leaves /1o branch, berries/2o branch and total number of leaves/plant .Exposure to full sunlight led to higher reproductive and clonal growths with higher number of leaves/plant and number of 1o branch/plant, number of flowers/plant, number of seeds/plant for the FSP plants, but the PEP had more secondary and tertiary branches and internode’s length. The regression analysis generated model for plant height data in relation to days after planting (x) were y = 56.2Ln(x) - 209.3, r = 0.96 for the PEP plants, and y = 15.99Ln(x) - 2.65, r = 0.92 for the FEP counterparts.

 
 
 
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Title:

Variability among mungbean (vigna radiata) genotypes for yield and yield components grown in Peshawar valley

Author (s):

Rozina Gul, Sajid Ali, Hamayoon Khan, Nazia, Farhan Ali and Imran Ali

Abstract:

To evaluate the performance of mungbean genotypes, an experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during summer 2005. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data was collected on number of leaves plant-1, pod length, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, 100-seed weight and seed yield plant-1. Significant variations were observed for all the parameters except number of pods plant-1. Genotype KRK mung-1 produced maximum number of leaves plant-1 and maximum number of seeds per pod-1. Maximum pod length and maximum 100-seeds weight was recorded for genotype NFM 3-3. Mungbean genotypes NM 21 produced maximum seed yield plant-1, followed by NM-92 and KRK mung-1, while FM 3-3 produced minimum seed yield plant-1. This variation may be used for further breeding programmes to develop improved mungbean genotypes, adapted to the climatic condition of Peshawar valley through crossing and selection.

 
 
 
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Title:

Efficacy of azoxystrobin on colletotrichum gloeosporiodes penz growth and on controlling mango anthracnose

Author (s):

S. Sundravadana, D. Alice, S. Kuttalam and R. Samiyappan

Abstract:

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the most damaging disease causing reduction of flower set and yield losses in mango. Application of fungicide was one of the approaches to control the disease. In this study, the efficacy of azoxystrobin, one of the strobilurin class fungicides, was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In in vitro tests, azoxystrobin completely inhibited mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. In field experiment, azoxystrobin at 1, 2 and 4 ml/l significantly suppressed the development of both panicle and leaf anthracnose. Mango trees treated with azoxystrobin produced more fruits compared to control and showed no phytotoxicity. The reduction of anthracnose incidence and yield increased curve obtain, shows flattening between the range 2.0 and 4.0 ml/l rates, hence the optimum rate of azoxystrobin was fixed to be at 2.0 ml/l for the control of anthracnose disease. This systemic fungicide azoxystrobin was useful in managing this destructive disease of mango in field.

 
 
 
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Title:

Investigation of mortality incidence and managemental practices in buffalo calves at commercial dairy farms in Peshawar city

Author (s):

Zaib Ullah Khan, Sarzamin Khan, Nazir Ahmad and Abdur Raziq

Abstract:

Data regarding buffalo calves rearing and calf mortality was collected from 111 buffalo farms in Peshawar city. Total number of buffaloes was 3092 in these farms having 27.85 buffaloes on average. 2492 calves born in one year of which 448 calves were died (17.98% mortality rate).  Colostrum feeding to newly born calves was practiced in all farms. In addition to suckling, solid feeding to calves was started during the second week of age. The weaning age ranged from 24 to 48 weeks. Calf mortality was influenced (P < 0.05) by total number of animals but did not vary due to number of buffaloes, number of cows, total calves, age and season.

 
 
 
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Title:

Response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bradyrhizobium japonicum to air pollution stress in soybean

Author (s):

Ghazala Nasim, Rukhsana Bajwa and Abdul Hakeem

Abstract:

Filtered air (FA) resulted in greater plant height, more number of leaves and shoots per plant, greater number of flowers and pods per plant as compared to unfiltered air (UFA) and ambient air (AA). As regard to soil treatment, the treatment with sterilized soil with AM and Rhizobium inoculation showed an overall significant performance as compared to other cases. The efficacy of N-fixation enhanced in filtered air as compared to other treatments. The number of root nodules also increased. As far as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization is concerned, all the fungal organs showed maximum intensity. Spores formation was also significantly high in plants of filtered air grown in sterilized inoculated soil than other air or soil treatments. In the unfiltered air (UFA and AA), mycorrhizal plants showed better results than non-mycorrhizal plants in all respects. The mycofloral composition of soybean at the time of final harvest constituted a total of (29) species of AM fungi, majority of which belonged to the genus Glomus. While some sensitive species failed to sporulate indicating the prevalence of unfavorable conditions. A few AM species like G. tenue were sensitive to dust pollution and could not form spores in ambient air.

 
 
 
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