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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
November 2011 | Vol. 6 No. 11 |
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Title: |
Multiple
copies of the activator interact with a heterologous
promoter to regulate gene expression |
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Author (s): |
Shijuan
Liu |
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Abstract: |
To extend our knowledge of
gene expression regulated by multiple copies of the same
activator, a chimeric promoter was constructed, which
contained five copies of the ocs activator (-294 to
-116 relative to the transcription start site) added
upstream of the same truncated mas promoter (-189 to
+65 relative to the transcription start site). The chimeric
promoter was linked to a β-glucuronidase reporter gene and
introduced into tobacco plants. The results of the
fluorometric assays exhibit that addition of five copies of
the ocs activator to the mas promoter
increases the level of GUS activity 3.5-fold in leaves but
3.3-fold in roots, respectively. This indicates that
affixing multiple copies of the same element can produce
higher gene expression. Further study has shown that
multimerization of the ocs activator also influences
wound inducibility of the chimeric promoter. |
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Title: |
Beta-lactam
antibiotics residues in pasteurized milk by beta star test
in the North West region of Iran |
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Author (s): |
Mohammad
Hosein Movassagh and Amir Reza Karami |
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Abstract: |
One hundred fifty pasteurized milk samples
were collected from Tabriz supermarkets from April 2010 to
September 2010 by systematic random sampling methods. All
samples were examined by Beta star screening kit (Neogen,
USA). Of all samples 4(2.66%) were positive for beta-lactam
antibiotic residues in pasteurized milk in the northwest
region of Iran. This study showed that the effective
monitoring program must be run in the northwest region of
Iran for control of beta-lactam antibiotic residues presence
in milk. |
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Title: |
Profit
efficiency among maize producers in Oyo State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Ogunniyi
L. T. |
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Abstract: |
The study employed a stochastic frontier
profit function to measure profit efficiency among maize
producers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage random
sampling technique was used to select 240 maize producers.
The results showed that profit efficiencies of the farmers
varied widely between 1% and 99.9% with a mean of 41.4%
suggesting that an estimated 58.6% of the profit is lost due
to a combination of both technical and allocative
inefficiencies in maize production. From the inefficiency
model, it was found that education, experience, extension
and non-farm employment were significant factors influencing
profit efficiency. This implies that profit inefficiency in
maize production can be reduced significantly with
improvement in the level of education of sampled farmers. |
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Title: |
Diagnosis
of sub-clinical mastitis in bovine using conventional methods
and electronic detector |
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Author (s): |
Muhammad
Shahid, Naveed Sabir, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Raj Wali Khan, Muhammad
Irshad, Muhammad Rizwan and Sajjad Ahmed |
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Abstract: |
Sub-clinical mastitis is an
important disease of dairy cows and buffaloes causing huge
economic losses in form of reduced milk production. In the
current study, 125 animals (25 buffaloes, 30 crossbred cows,
15 Sahiwal and 55 Achai breed), apparently mastitis free,
were selected for the collection of milk samples. These
samples were subjected to surf test, NaOH, pH meter and
Electronic detector. On the electronic detector 65.2%
animals were positive for sub-clinical mastitis. On Surf and
NaOH tests, 56.8% animals were found positive for each test.
While On pH meter, 40.8% animals were positive for
sub-clinical mastitis. In case of Sahiwal cattle, prevalence
of sub-clinical mastitis was more in left fore quarter
(P<0.05). In buffaloes, it was more prevalent in both hind
quarters. In Achai and crossbred cows, no significant
difference was found in quarter wise prevalence. The results
of the current study indicate that electronic detector is
more sensitive than surf test, NaOH and pH detector. It
gives the results on spot and can also help to detect
quarter wise prevalence. So the farmers can easily use this
technique to screen out their dairy animals for sub-clinical
mastitis. |
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Title: |
Determination of the dry matter content of cassava (Manihot
esculenta, Crantz) tubers using specific gravity method |
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Author (s): |
Teye E., Asare A. P., Amoah R.
S. and Tetteh J. P. |
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Abstract: |
The
determination of the dry matter content of cassava tubers
using oven dry method is a major constraint in tropical
developing countries where the source of electricity is
unreliable. In this study a prediction equation was
developed as an alternative approach to dry matter
determination with the oven dry method. The study was
conducted for two years with eleven cassava accessions
(using 13 and 15 month old tubers). In the first year, the
specific gravity and the dry matter content (oven dry
method) of the same tubers were used to derive the
prediction equation that can be used for easy and faster
estimation of the dry matter content of cassava tubers. The
specific gravity and dry matter content based on the oven
dry method ranged from 1.0966-1.1469 and 31.45-40.74 %
respectively. There was a perfect correlation (R2=0.9979)
between specific gravity and oven dry matter content of
cassava tuber. The middle portion of the cassava tubers gave
the true representation of the dry matter content. The
prediction equation developed was Y = - 175.46 + 188.61 X
where: X = specific gravity and Y = percentage dry matter
content. The dry matter content based on the prediction
equation for the various accessions was found to be between
31.88-41.53 % with a mean of 38.39 %. The chi-square test
conducted at probability level of 0.05 shows that there was
no significant difference between percentage dry matters
estimated using the oven dry method and the prediction
equation. Hence, the prediction equation could be used to
estimate the percentage dry matter content of cassava tuber
if the specific gravity is known. |
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Title: |
The
effect of rootstocks on Soursop (Annona muricata L.)
grafting |
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Author (s): |
Ni Luh
Putu Indriyani and Karsinah |
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Abstract: |
Soursop (Annona
muricata L.) is commonly propagated from seeds.
Propagation by seeds will produce vary plants as a result of
cross-pollination. To overcome these problem, propagation
through vegetative must be done i.e., by grafting.
Vegetative propagation by grafting require the availability
of rootstocks and scions. The aim of the research was to
study the effect of rootstock on soursop grafting. The
research was conducted at Aripan Experimental Field,
Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute, from July 2007
until June 2008. The treatments were the kind of rootstock
i.e., Annona muricata L. (soursop) x Annona
muricata L. (soursop) and
Annona montana
Macf. (Mountain soursop) x Annona muricata L. (soursop),
each treatment consist of 48 plants. The parameters measured
were percentage of graft success, percentage of grafted
material success, shoot length, number of bud eye which grow
per scion, leaf number per bud eye, total leaf number,
rootstock diameter, graft union diameter, scion diameter,
scion/rootstock ratio and graft union/rootstock ratio. The
results indicated that the percentage of grafted material
success of soursop on A.
montana Macf. x A.
muricata L. and A. muricata L. x A.
muricata L. rootstocks was not descriptively
different. The grafted materials of soursop on A.
montana
Macf. x A. muricata L. had the same shoot
length with that on A. muricata L. x A.
muricata L. rootstocks, but the total leaf number and
scion diameter were bigger on A. montana Macf.
x A. muricata L. than on A. muricata
L. x A. muricata L. rootstocks. Until 3.5
months after grafting, there was no growth emphasis by A.
muricata L. (soursop) x A. muricata L. (soursop)
and A.
montana Macf. (Mountain soursop) x
A. muricata L. (soursop) rootstocks to scion. This
result can be used as reference to look for the other
rootstock which compatible with soursop. |
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Title: |
Effect of
seedling age on tillering pattern and yield of rice (Oryza
sativa L.) under system of
rice
intensification |
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Author (s): |
Partha
Sarathi Patra and Samsul Haque |
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Abstract: |
Field experiments were conducted during
Boro season of 2008 and 2009 at Uttar Banga Krishi
Viswavidyalaya farm, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal to
study the Effect of seedling age on tillering pattern and
yield of rice under system of rice intensification (SRI) in
Terai zone of West Bengal. The experiments were laid out in
randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated
thrice. It was revealed that the highest numbers of
effective tillers hill-1 were produced with
seedling of 10 days age. Similarly the plots transplanted
with 10 days old seedling also recorded the highest number
of grains panicle-1, panicle length and test
weight resulted in higher grain yield. Transplantation of 10
days old seedling gave 18.66 % and 24.99 % more grain yield
than T1 and T7, respectively. It was
also seen that for every days delay in transplanting beyond
the age of 10 days, yield was reduced to the extent of 4.5 %
ha-1 year-1. |
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Title: |
Reversing
the Indus basin closure |
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Author (s): |
Ajmal Saifal |
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Abstract: |
After independence, a swift and extensive
development of Indus river basin has intensified commitment
of water resources. During dry period, the indication
of over commitment and basin closure are visible. In the
beginning 2000s, the river basin water resources were
committed to more than 99% without any environmental flows.
The paper tries to unfold drivers closing the Indus basin
and the scope for change. Defining and implementing water
allocation mechanism to ascertain equity, sustainability and
more productive uses of rare water resources for both human
benefit and environment conservation through a basin-wide
approach for water resources development and management will
act as turning point. |
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Title: |
Irrigation and mulch significantly enhance yield but not
quality of purple passion fruits |
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Author (s): |
Gaturuku
J. K. and Isutsa D. K. |
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Abstract: |
Purple passion fruit (Passiflora
edulis f. edulis Sims.) is an important fruit in
the juice industry, but its yields can drastically decline
under drought stress. The present study evaluated the
effects of irrigation and mulch on drought stress
amelioration in purple passion fruits. The experiment was
set up in a rain shelter in randomized complete block
design, replicated four times and repeated once. The study
had four irrigation rates (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 L/plant) and
three mulches (black plastic film, wheat straw and none).
Each treatment had 12 plants in 45cmx45cm holes spaced at
1.5mx1.5m and trellised onto posts and wires. A trench lined
with plastic film prevented water seepage across treatments.
Plants were maintained uniformly until the fifth week when
treatments were imposed. Data were recorded up to 56 weeks
after planting (WAP) and subjected to analysis of variance
using the SAS software. Irrigation significantly increased
fruit number at 52 WAP only, and fruit weight at 48, 52 and
56 WAP. The effect of irrigation
on cumulative fruit weight (6016 g/plant) for
20 L was significantly
(P<0.05) greater than the
5052 g/plant for 2.5 L. Black
plastic mulch significantly increased fruit number and
weight at 43 WAP only. Irrigation and mulch did not
significantly (P>0.05)
affect passion fruit quality traits, which were nevertheless
within standard magnitudes. Generally, when irrigating with
over 5 L, there was no additional benefit of mulching, but
mulch ameliorated drought stress when deficit irrigation
(2.5 L) was applied. Wheat straw and 10 L/plant once per
week is generally optimal and should be used in mitigating
drought stress to enhance purple passion fruit yields.
Irrigation is more effective in enhancing passion fruit
yield than mulching and hence it should be given first
priority. |
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Title: |
Energy
use efficiency and economic analysis of canola production in
three different areas in Iran |
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Author (s): |
Dehshiri
Abbas |
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Abstract: |
Canola cultivation in Iran is
relatively new and fairly unpracticed. The background of
canola cultivation in Iran came back two decades ago and its
planting area has been faced with ascending trend recently.
Canola is one of important oil seed crop that is tilled in
different areas of Iran. Energy in agriculture is important
in terms of crop production and agro processing for value
adding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical
and economic aspects of canola production in Iran. Data were
collected from 30 canola farms in three different areas by
using a face to face questionnaire method. The results
revealed that canola production consumed a total of 44889 MJ
ha-1 of which diesel fuel and chemical fertilizer energy
consumption were 37% and 36.3%, respectively. About 52.1%
was direct (human labor, diesel) and 47.9% of the total
energy inputs used in canola production was indirect (seeds,
fertilizers, manure, chemicals, machinery). Nonrenewable
energy was 98.8% of total input energy that concluded canola
production needs to improve the efficiency of energy
consumption in production and to employ renewable energy.
Mean grain canola yield was about 2567 kg ha-1, it obtained
under normal conditions on irrigated farming, and taking
into account the energy value of the seed, the total output
energy, net energy was estimated to be 108489 and 63600 MJ
ha-1 respectively. Also energy productivity value and energy
use efficiency was determined 0.057 Kg MJ-1 and 2.42
respectively. Economic analysis of canola production showed
that total expenditure, Gross income, net income and
benefit–cost ratio (B : C ratio) were Calculated as 1424.59$
ha-1, 1765.44$ ha-1, 340.85$ ha-1 and 1.24, respectively. |
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