Advances and Trends in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 4

Ecological Impact of Plant Density and Planting Dates on the Population of Major Pod Sucking Bugs in Relation to Damage and Yield of Improved Pigeonpea Cultivar in Owerri Rainforest Zone, Nigeria

Sunday Ani Dialoke — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Field experiment was carried out to access the population of three major pod sucking bugs namely Riptortus dentipes Fab. (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stall (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Anoplocnemis curvipes Fab (Hemiptera: coreidae) and their effect on damage, yield (kg ha^-1) and yield components under varying plant densities and planting dates. The experiment was conducted at the Postgraduate Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri Imo State. Experiment was laid out in a 3 x 4 factorial and treatments comprised of four plant density of 190,474 plants ha^-1, 125,000 plants ha^-1, 80,000 plants ha^-1, 55,556 plants ha^-1 and three planting dates, April (early season), July (Mid-season), and October (late season), 2009 and 2010. The results, show that there was significant (p<0.05) population of the pod sucking bugs on pigeonpea flowers and pods at high plant density and low on plants at low plant density. There was significant (p<0.05) population of C. tomentosicollis and A. curvipes in October while April and July planting seasons showed absence of C. tomentosicollis and A. curvipes The population of R. dentipes occurred throughout the season with peak population in April which decreased as planting was delayed till October. Also plants at high density recorded high pod and seed damage resulting in low values of seed yield (147.90 kg ha^-1) in 2009, (168.80 kg ha^-1) in 2010 when compared with pigeonpea planted at low density which had low pod and seed damage with high seed yield of 223.33 kg ha^-1 in 2009, and 268.83 kg ha^-1 in 2010. Also yield components like 100 pod/seed weight (g), pod/seed yield (g) per plant, number of seeds per pod were low on plants at high density, but high on plants at low density. July planting season recorded the lowest pest loads, pods/seed damage, with resultant high pod/seed yield and yield components compared with April and October planting seasons. Therefore, for high seed yield with minimal damage by pod sucking bugs, planting the early maturing pigeonpea in July at low density should be incorporated into farming systems in this zone as integrated Pest Management alternative.

The Details of Maize Seed Quality in Response to Different Management Practices and Sites

E. T. Sebetha, A. T. Modi, L. G. Owoeye — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Maize seed quality during storage can decline to a level that may make the seed unacceptable for planting purpose. A factorial experiment randomized in complete block design with three replications was conducted during 2011/12 and 2012/13 planting seasons. The experiment comprised of three cropping systems (cowpea-maize rotation, monocropping maize and intercropped maize), three sites (Potchefstroom, Taung and Rustenburg) and two rates of nitrogen fertilizers applied in kg ha^-1 at each site (0 and 95 at Potchefstroom, 0 and 92 at Rustenburg, 0 and 113.5 at Taung). The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of cropping system, site and nitrogen fertilization on maize seed quality. Maize seeds harvested from Potchefstroom and Rustenburg had significantly (P < 0.05) higher oil content of 4.4% than maize seeds harvested from Taung. Maize plots applied with nitrogen fertilizer had significantly (P < 0.05) higher seeds protein content of 8.7% than maize plots without nitrogen fertilizer application. Maize seeds harvested from Potchefstroom had significantly (P < 0.05) higher starch content of 71.8% than maize seeds harvested from Rustenburg and Taung. Cowpea- maize rotation and intercropped maize had significantly (P < 0.05) higher seed phosphorus content of 0.50 and 0.52%, respectively than monocropped maize. In this study, site as factor played a vital role on quality of maize seeds. Maize seed quality was improved significantly by the interaction effect of site x season. There was correlation between soil N-NO₃ and maize seed starch and protein content.

Influence of Sowing Dates on Performance of Component Crops in a Pineapple-based Intercropping System

A. J. Ajayi, S. O. Agele, O. P. Aiyelari — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The effects of time of sowing cowpea into pineapple-pepper intercrop on growth and yields of cowpea and pepper in a pineapple-pepper intercropping system was investigated during the rainy and late seasons of 2011 and 2012 in Akure, a humid rainforest zone of Nigeria. The additive series of intercropping experiments were laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments were based on varying time of sowing cowpea at three weeks intervals into pineapple-pepper intercrop in addition to the sole crop components. In the rainy-season planting, cowpea seed yields declined significantly by 80% with delayed sowing (at 6 and nine weeks) into the intercrop. In the late-season, cowpea seed yields dropped by over 50% with delayed planting. Pepper fruit yields also declined by 95% when cowpea was sown at the time of transplanting pepper in both the rainy and late season experiments. Cowpea yield components declined with delayed sowing while pepper yield components increased possibly via enhanced competition between pepper and cowpea. Sowing cowpea at the time of transplanting pepper lowered pineapple fruit yield. Land equivalent ratio values were more significant than one (>1) for all species mixtures indicating enhanced returns and complementarities among component crops.

The Effectiveness of Bacterial Consortium in Bioremediation of Textile Wastewater Containing Dyes Remazol Blue: Recent Perspectives

Ratu Safitri, Mia Miranti, Mursyidah Amniati — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The research was focussed on the effectiveness of a bacterial consortium to the bioremediation of industrial waste water containing dye textiles blue Remazol, in which it has successfully been done. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the consortium of bacteria on the bioremediation of textile waste water, which contains Remazol blue dye. The process was to find out how the bacterial consortium’s capability in degrading the textile industry wastewater in which the blue dye Remazol is contained. The research was carried out experimentally using Randomized Complete Block and some factorial treatments. These two treatment factors comprise of two types; they are a). The type of microbial consortium consisting of the Consortium of Bacillus coagulans, B. pumilus, B. subtilis and Nitrosomonas sp.; consortium of bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, B. pumilus, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas putida and Nitrosomonas sp and a consortium of Paenibacillus amylolyticus bacteria, Nitrosomonas, B. circulans and B. pumilus and b). The factor of the concentration of Remazol blue on industrial wastewater. This particular textile wastewater containing Remazol blue with concentrations in which containing 200 ppm, 1000 ppm and 2500 ppm. The parameters of the study were BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total Suspended Solid) and decolorization efficiency. The data has been analyzed quantitatively. The results have shown that Bacillus coagulans, B. pumilus, B. subtilis and Nitrosomonas sp. became the most effective consortium in degrading remazol blue in textile wastewater. The evidence revealed that the higher concentration of remazol blue on wastewater, the smaller degradation effectiveness was resulted by the consortium. The consortium of Bacillus coagulans, B. pumilus, B. subtilis and Nitrosomonas sp. was able to degrade textile industrial wastewater with a maximum concentration of remazol blue up to 2500 ppm and the bacterial consortium was able to decolorize of Remazol blue that reaching to 84.9%; reducing the levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) to 57.9%; reducing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of 37.7% and finally reducing Total Suspended Solid (TSS) more or less of 52%.

Effects of Aqueous Neem Leaves Extract on 4th Stage Larvae of Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): New Perspectives

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is improperly and excessively controlled with synthetic insecticides in vegetable crops. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is reported to be an alternative natural insecticide in the control of many insect pests including P. xylostella. The aims of this study are to evaluate the lethal, antifeedant and post- treatment effects of neem leaves extract, on the 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella compared to those of 2 synthetic insecticides (Conquest Plus 388 EC and Cydim Super). Exposure of larvae on cabbage leaves (Ø = 90 mm) treated or not during 24 h, showed mortality rates between 1.67 and 13.33% and highest mortalities were due to neem extract and Cydim Super. Larvae fed with cabbage leaves disks treated with neem extract, consumed 271.67 ± 47.64 mm² of the surface while in the control, the consumption was 309.50 ± 35.57 mm². The emerging rate of P. xylostella adults was lower 57.78 ± 13.04% for neem leaves extract compared to controls and insecticide treatments whose rates were from 65.32 ± 7.34 to 89.63 ± 4.23% (p = 0). Neem extract caused wing damage to 21.86% of emerged P. xylostella, compared to the controls and insecticide treatments where all emerging adults were normal. The neem leaves extract could enhance the management of 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella by regulating its development to adults and deforming wings. Therefore it can be considered as a new hope in developing a management program against P. xylostella.

Genetic Variability, Growth, Yield and Quality Traits of Some Genotypes of Onion (Allium cepa L.) in Jos-Plateau, Nigeria

S. A. Sirajo, O. A. T. Namo — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The improvement of the fresh bulb and the economic dry matter yields of onion is dependent on the morphogenetic variability and the interrelationships amongst morphological attributes which can be used to determine the quality or performance of the crop. This research was aimed to study the genetic variability, growth, yield and quality traits of some genotypes of onion (Ares, Violet de Galmi, Red Creole, “Wase”, “Dan Zaria”, “Dan Garko”, “Dan Giyawa”, “Bahaushe”, “Bakana” and “Yar Aleiro”) in Jos, Plateau State. Using the seedlings raised in the nursery, the genotypes were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. Results showed that morphological attributes differed amongst the genotypes, except the number of leaves per plant, neck thickness and horizontal bulb diameter. The study concludes that genotypic differences, which are responsible for differences in fresh bulb and dry matter yields, exist amongst the different genotypes of onion. These attributes could be used as selection indices in the improvement of the onion.

Types of Pruning and Training Systems for Melon Plants of Momordica Variety in the Greenhouse

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In Brazil, the momordica variety of melon is cultivated in the field, growing close to soil and without any cultivation-related treatments. However, when fruits reach physiological maturity they crack, burst or the skin peels off from the pulp, exposing it to the environment and reducing the quantity and quality of the fruits produced. This problem could be minimized by adopting protected cultivation in a greenhouse or roof, with hydroponics and cultivation treatments, in particular vertical staking, pruning and fruit thinning. In this regard, this book chapter addresses the main aspects to be considered for the implementation of momordica melon cultivation in a greenhouse and the adoption of treatments that favor the full development and increase of quality and quantity of fruits yielded. The momordica variety can be grown under greenhouse, with vertical staking and fruit thinning regardless of the pruning technique used with great prospects of favorable results for yield and quality of the fruits produced.

Eggplant High Temperature Tolerance: A Brief Review

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In Northeastern Brazil, eggplant production is drastically reduced, especially when the flowering and fruiting season coincide with the high temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary that strategies for genotype evaluation and selection in the face of high temperatures should be adopted in field, screen mesh and/or greenhouse tests, based on traits associated with high temperature tolerance, aiming to obtain genotypes adapted to regions where high temperature is the limiting factor. This book chapter provides information on selection based on morphological traits associated with high temperature tolerance: FFI - fruit fixation index, NFP - number of fruits per plant, PP - production per plant and PV - pollen viability, evaluated in genotypes of eggplant in field and greenhouse tests under natural high temperature conditions in Northeastern Brazil, aiming to generate information for future eggplant breeding programs for high temperature tolerance.

Methods for Assessing Pollen Viability in Eggplant under High Temperatures

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In Northeastern Brazil, eggplant production is drastically reduced, especially when the high temperatures during flowering and fruiting of the eggplant for a prolonged period, makes pollen grains unfeasible, prevents full fertilization, results in defective fruits, reduces the fruit fixation rate, number of fruits and yield per plant. In this regard, the assessment of pollen viability under such conditions becomes of fundamental importance and can be used as an auxiliary trait in the selection processes of tolerant genotypes. This book chapter addresses the aspects to be considered when choosing and implementing the pollen viability assessment methodologies currently described for use on eggplants grown under high temperatures and their associations with the traits known to influence: fruit fixation rate, number of fruits and production per plant. There is no universal methodology for use in eggplant; but, under high temperatures the use of Carmine Acetic, Alexander stain and the germination of pollen grains in vitro proved to be efficient and with a high and positive genetic correlation with the traits associated with tolerance; they are easy to perform and inexpensive for pollens extracted from flowers in the field or greenhouse.

Protein Pattern of Phoenix dactylifera Seeded Strains Grown in Basrah Region Using Cluster and Principal Component Analysis: Brief Overview

Ali H. M. Attaha, Taha Y. Mhoder, Abdul-Kareem M. Abd — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The present study was carried out on 17 seeded strains of date palm “Phoenix dactylifera L.” grown in Basrah region to investigate variations in protein pattern of leaflets and fruits among these strains. Cluster and principal component analysis were used to identify the degree of similarity and differences between date palm strains. The leaflet and fruit protein pattern on SDS-PAGE showed differences in band number, location, thickness and density leading to variations in protein quantity and quality among the studied strains. Cluster analysis data showed a high degree of similarity between leaflet and fruit samples of these strains recording an average similarity value of 0.76 and 0.67 for leaflet and fruit samples respectively. Cluster analysis also revealed that all strains occupied two main groups and then distributed into two subgroups under each main group. The principal component analysis showed that protein banding characters for leaflets and fruits could be used for identification of date palm seeded strains.

Use of Plant Hormones on Postharvest Physiology of Bird of Paradise

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae Banks) has great market potential due to its intrinsic beauty and longer vase life. However, storage and transportation conditions are not always adequate and may lead to negative consequences on postharvest physiology and the quality of these flowers. Thus, this study determined the effect of pulsing treatment containing methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or salicylic acid (SA) in association with sucrose on the postharvest physiology of Bird of Paradise. Two independent experiments were carried out. In the first one, floral stems were treated with 100, 250 and 400 μmol L^-1 of MeJA plus 200 g L^-1 of sucrose for 24 h. In the second experiment, the treatments consisted of 2, 4 and 6 mmol L^-1 of SA in association with 200 g L^-1 sucrose for 24 h. After the pulsing treatment, the floral stems of both experiments were kept in containers with water at room temperature. The analyses were performed on days 0 and 7 and the assessment comprised: Water uptake rate, transpiration rate, fresh mass loss, electrolyte leakage, peroxidase activity (POD) and phenolic compounds of the bracts and sepals. MeJA and SA reduced the water uptake rate by the stems. SA reduced transpiration rate, loss of fresh mass and phenolic compounds of sepals on day 0. On day 7, MeJA treatment reduced electrolyte leakage and increased POD activity. Otherwise, SA had no effect on electrolyte leakage and reduced POD activity. These results suggest that MeJA and AS act antagonistically on the electrolyte leakage and POD activity which might promote different effects on the postharvest physiology of Bird of Paradise stems, such as adverse patterns of the transpiration rate.

A Study on the Effect of Blanching on Quality of Custard Apple Pulp

K. J. Kamble, S. B. Soni, Sujata Patil — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The study on the effect of blanching on quality of custard apple pulp was carried out in the Dept. of Agril. Process Engineering, C.A.E.T. and M.A.U. Parbhani in the year 2005-06. Statistical analysis and sensory evaluation of the data was carried out and it was observed that the complete inactivation of PPO activity was obtained by blanching the pulp at 83°C for 2 min. The application of heat facilitates molecule damage of constituents of pulp by denaturation of protein, evaporation of volatile constituents and gelatinization of starchy material. This may lead to the changes in sensorial characteristics of the pulp like increased viscosity, loss of flavor and taste and change in color. The average score for colour of custard apple pulp ranges from 7.25 to 7.75, for appearance from 6.91 to 7.73, for taste from 5.81 to 6.36, for texture from 6.12 to 6.5, for flavour from 5.95 to 6.5 and for overall acceptability from 6.56 to 6.76.

Salicylic Acid and Cold Storage in the Post-Harvest of Bird-of-Paradise

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The irregular opening of the florets and susceptibility to chilling damages are the major issues of cut Bird-of-Paradise flowers (Strelitzia reginae). The salicylic acid (SA) has shown to be a promising action in reducing chilling injury in many crops; however, its effect is not well elucidated in cut flowers. The objective of this study was to determine the action of SA on the development of reduction of hilling injury during storage of Bird-of-Paradise flowers. The stems were pulsed with 200 g L^-1 of sucrose in added with three concentrations of SA (2, 4 and 6 mmol L^-1) and control with only 200 g L^-1 of sucrose for 24 hours. Subsequently, the stems were transferred to containers with water and conditioned at 5°C for chilling injury induction for 28 days. Water uptake rate, transpiration rate, fresh mass, electrolyte leakage, activity of peroxidase and phenolic compounds of bracts and sepals were determined weekly. The SA reduces the transpiration rate and keeps the mass fresh until 21 days. A reduction was observed in electrolyte leakage up to 14 days. All doses of SA increased POD activity of the bracts while water uptake rate, POD activity of the sepals and phenolic compound content of bracts and sepals are dependent on dose and storage period. It is concluded that the SA applied via pulsing reduces the chilling injury on Bird-of-Paradise cut flowers. In addition, it reduces the transpiration rate and maintains the fresh mass of the floral stems until 21 days. No correlation was found between POD activity and phenolic compounds.

Pre Harvest Calcium Treatment under Selected Poly Films Improves Leaf Chlorophyll Content in Rose Cut Flower: Scientific Study

G. Oloo-Abucheli, J. N. Aguyoh, G. Liu — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Quality is a key attribute in marketing of cut flowers. This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of light transmission through selected poly films, rose cultivar and calcium foliar feed on leaf chlorophyll content. The study site was at an elevation of 2238 m above sea level with average maximum and minimum temperature ranges from 19°C to 22°C and 5°C to 8°C respectively. The area receives a total annual rainfall ranging from 1200 mm to 1400 mm. The experimental design was split split plot laid down in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with poly films forming the main plot treatments. Data collection involved use of Watch dog data logger mini weather station to determine Photosynthetically active radiation among other spectrum properties. Light transmission was evaluated using UV-1800 Shimadzu spectrophotometer. It was observed that leaf chlorophyll content increased with increase in calcium concentration in the foliar feed. The effect of temperature caused by varying light intensity on chlorophyll content is also discussed. The results obtained show impact of environmental and nutritional factors on rose cut flower quality.