Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science       ISSN 1990-6145
 
 
 

 
Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science           July/September 2007 | Vol. 2  No. 4-5

 

Title:

Genetic variability for yield parameters in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes

Author (s):

Naushad Ali Turi, S. Salim Shah, Sajid Ali, H. Rahman, Tahir Ali and Muhammad Sajjad

Abstract:

The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability in maize genotypes for yield and yield components under agro climatic conditions of Peshawar valley. The experiment was conducted at NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, during spring 2005. Significant variability was observed for cob length, grains rows cob-1, fresh cob weight, grain moisture content, 300-grains weight and grain yield.  Sarhad white had maximum cob length (16cm) while PESV-3-1 and EV-2 x Pahari had least cob length (11cm). Azam and EV-2 x Pehari had maximum number of grain rows cob- 1 (16cm), while minimum grain rows cob-1 was recorded in Jalal and FRW-4 x EV-3 (13cm). Data recorded for fresh cob weight showed that genotype FRW-4 X EV-3 (Late) had maximum fresh cob weight (14.30kg) while the minimum fresh cob weight (4.4kg) was recorded for EV-2. The maximum percent grain moisture content was obtained in genotype PESV-3-3 ( 43.40%), while the minimum was obtained in the genotype EV-2 (15.00%), maximum value for 300 grain weight was shown by Azam (11.0g), while the minimum value (6.2g) was recorded in genotype FRW-4 x EV-3 (Late). FRW-4 x EV-3 (Late) showed higher grain yield ha-1 with the value of 11900kg ha-1, while the genotype Azam had low grain yield ha-1 (1171kg ha-1). The present study revealed considerable amount of diversity among the tested populations which could be manipulated for further improvement in maize breeding.

 
 
 
Full Text  

Title:

Synthesis and bactericidal studies of some copper (ii) carboxylates with urea

Author (s):

I. O. Adeoye, A. A. Ayandele and Odunola O. A.

Abstract:

New coordination compounds of copper (II) carboxylates with urea and thiourea have been synthesized tested with Pseudomonas aeuriginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, E. coli and Staphylococcus sp. The compounds exhibited promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the five antibiotics (Amoxicillin Cotrimoxazole Ciprofloxacin Gentamycin and Tetracyclin) used as standard positive control.

 
 
 
Full Text  

Title:

Physiological responses of mango (Mangifera indica) rootstock seedlings to water stress

Author (s):

Luvaha E., Netondo G. W. and G. Ouma

Abstract:

Water stress affects plant growth and crop productivity in the vast semi-arid and arid regions of Kenya. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of different watering regimes on the growth of young mango rootstock seedlings. Six months old mango (Mangifera indica) rootstock seedlings were grown in polythene pots in a green house at Maseno University, Kenya and were subjected to four watering regimes namely watering daily, twice in a week, once in a week and once in two weeks. Treatments were in a completely randomized design replicated six times. The physiological parameters determined were stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, CO2 assimilation rate and intercellular CO2 concentration, all determined by infra red gas analyser and leaf chlorophyll content determined by standard methods. The results showed that increasing water stress reduced the physiological parameters particularly at the later days of plant growth, due to stomatal and non-stomatol factors. Leaf chlorophyll content however, chlorophyll content was slightly increased since the chrophyll pigments may have been resistant to dehydration. It was concluded that increase in water stress reduces the gas exchange parameters of mango rootstock seedlings but slightly increased chlorophyll content.

 
 
 
Full Text  

Title:

Effects of environment on progesterone level of dairy cattle in district Nowshera

Author (s):

Ajab Khan, Zaib Ullah Khan and Abdu Razziq

Abstract:

Effects of environment on fertility measures early in lactation, such as the interval from calving to first luteal activity (CLA), proportion of samples with luteal activity during the first 60 days after calving (PLA) and interval to first ovulatory estrus (OOE) were studied. Traditional measurements of fertility, such as pregnancy to first insemination, number of inseminations per service period and interval from first to last insemination were studied as well as associations between the early and late measurements. Data were collected from an experimental herd during 15 years and included 1106 post-partum periods from 191 Holsteins and 325 Jersey dairy cows. Individual milk progesterone samples were taken twice a week until cyclicity and thereafter less frequently. First parity cows had 14.8 and 18.1 days longer CLA (LS-means difference) than second parity cows and older cows, respectively. Moreover, CLA was 10.5 days longer for cows that calved during the winter season compared with the summer season and 7.5 days longer for cows in tie-stalls than cows in loose-housing system. Cows treated for mastitis and lameness had 8.4 and 18.0 days longer CLA, respectively, compared with healthy cows. OOE was affected in the same way as CLA by the different environmental factors. PLA was a good indicator of CLA, and there was a high correlation (−0.69) between these two measurements. Treatment for lameness had a significant influence on all late fertility measurements, whereas housing was significant only for pregnancy to first insemination. All fertility traits were unfavorably associated with increased milk production. Regression of late fertility measurements on early fertility measurements had only a minor association with conception at first AI and interval from first to last AI for cows with conventional calving intervals, i.e. a 22 days later, CLA increased the interval from first to last insemination by 3.4 days. Early measurements had repeatability of 0.14–0.16, indicating a higher influence by the cow itself compared with late measurements, which had repeatability of 0.09–0.10. This study shows that early fertility measurements have a possibility to be used in breeding for better fertility. To improve the early fertility of the cow, there are a number of important factors that have to be taken into account.

 
 
 
Full Text  

Title:

Contributions of shoot N, P and K to tuber yield of Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) at Samaru, Nigeria

Author (s):

Babaji B. A., Amans E. B., A. M. Falaki, U. F. Chiezey, Mahmud, M., Mahadi M. A. and Muhammad A. A.

Abstract:

Trials were conducted during the dry seasons of  1998/99 and 1999/2000 at the Irrigation Farm, Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru to test the response of four varieties of Irish potato (Greta, Nicola, RC 767-2 and WC 732-1) to four rates of NPK fertilizer (0, 300, 600 and 900 kg/ha), two forms of seed tuber (whole and cut-tubers).  Positive and highly significant correlation (P = 0.01) was observed between tuber yield and shoot N (r = 0.47, 0.74 and 0.57), P (r = 0.51, 0.41 and 0.57) and K (r = 0.33, 0.48 and 0.47) during the dry seasons of 1998/99 and 1999/2000 and the combined of the two seasons, respectively.  A strong and positive relationship (P = 0.01) was also found when shoot N, P and K contents were correlated among each other during the two seasons and the two year combined except in 1998/99 dry season when a positive though non significant correlation was observed between shoot N and shoot K (r = 0.15).  The direct contributions of shoot N and P to tuber yield were generally much higher than the indirect contributions except for shoot K whose indirect contribution to tuber yield out weighed that of the direct contributions in most cases. The indirect contributions to tuber yield were generally higher through either shoot N or shoot K.  Shoot N (25.21%) generally made the highest percent contribution followed by Shoot K (3.37%) and finally shoots P (2.36%). Combined percent contribution from shoot N + P (9.11%) was more than that from shoot N + K (7.75%), and the least was from shoot P + K (2.77%).  Shoot N and P contributed more to tuber yield individually and in the combined form, directly and indirectly.

 
 
 
Full Text  

 

 

     

  

   

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       arpnjournals.com                                                       Publishing Policy                                                  Review Process                                           Code of Ethics