Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Ghulam Hussain Jatoi, from the institute of Pakistan.  Shar Muhammad, from the institute of Pakistan. Wazir Ali Metlo,  from the institute of Pakistan.  Laith Khalil Tawfeeq Al-Ani,  from the institute of  Iraq. Haseenullah, from the institute of Pakistan.  Manzoor Ali Abro, from the institute of Pakistan. Muswar Ali Gadhi, from the institute of Pakistan. Naveed Wahid Awan, from the institute of Pakistan. and  Manzoor Ahmed Reki, from the institute of Pakistan. wrote a Research Article about, Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination. Entitled, Efficacy of different essential oils, fungicides and biocontrol agents against Aspergillus niger the causal agent of fruit rot in Pomegranate. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB.  an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Different essential oils, fungicides and biocontrol agents against Aspergillus niger the causal agent of fruit rot in pomegranate. The importance of survey and sampling were done and the pathogenicity test against Aspergillus niger was performed. The antifungal potential of different essential oils like Laung, Turpentine, Castus root, Neem, Gulab and Khashkhas was carried out at different doses i.e. 5% 10% and 15% find out the effective oil for the growth inhibition of Aspergillus niger effect of some fungicides viz., Melodyduo, Topsin-M, Prevail, Antracol, and Cabriotop against the causal pathogen by food poisoning method at 3 different concentration (100, 200, 300 ppm). Disease incidence was recorded in Killi Oryagi (40%) followed by Killi Murtath (20%), Killi Pattankot (18%) and Killi Zangiwal (14%). Minimum disease incidence was recorded in Killi Lashti (8%). Injection method of inoculation showed a higher percentage of rotting (7.0%) as compared to the cut method of inoculation (4.05%). Minimum colony growth of Aspergillus niger (0.10, 0.20 and 0.30%) examined Laung at the dosage Turpentine (57.33, 45.52 and 25.13%), Gulab (41.50, 35.50 and 29.50%), Castus root (65.57, 44.45 and 32.96%), Neem oil (45.00, 42.00 and 37.00%) Maximum colony growth of Aspergillus niger (49.00, 45.00 and 41.00%) was observed Minimum linear colony growth of Aspergillus niger as observed for Prevail (13.20, 4.72 and 0.25%) at various concentrations respectively followed by Topsin-M (28.50, 20.50 and 11.50%), Cabriotop (33.00, 26.50 and 13.50%), Antracol (49.84, 33.54 and 21.96%), Alliete (44.09, 32.65 and 22.83%) and maximum growth of fungus were determined under Melodyduo (57.16, 45.31 and 37.42%). The fungus growth was observed up to 90% under control.

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Introduction 

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit of tropical, sub-tropical and arid regions. It belongs to the family Punicaceae the name pomegranate comes from a Latin word meaning apple with many seeds and is believed to the native of the middle East (Iran, Pakistan and adjoining countries) and spread to most tropical and subtropical countries of the world. The yearly production of pomegranate in Pakistan is 50109 tons. Balochistan being the major producer counts for 65% of the entire production (Gross, 2007, da Silva et al., 2013). It believed to originate from the Middle East (Iran and adjoining countries) and spread to most tropical and subtropical countries of the world. It is widely cultivated in Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Spain, Afghanistan, and India and in some place of California, and Bulgaria. Approximately 7990 hactares land under pomegranate are cultivated in Balochistan during 2014-15, in Balochistan the main districts where pomegranate is cultivated are Loralai, Zhobe, Khuzdar, Kalat etc. (Aly et al., 2011). Pomegranate has a high medicinal value. Pomegranate seeds are used to make pomegranate seed oil, which has many positive health effects both internally and externally. It is a good source of vitamins B and C, antioxidant polyphenols, pantothenic acid and potassium and also reduces systolic blood pressure by inhibiting serum of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Pomegranate fights against many diseases like cancer, heart diseases, fertility problems and improves immunity, cholesterol level, bone health, arteries and also improves the dryness of skin and hair (TomásBarberán et al., 2013)Pomegranate has been used for ages in many civilizations for the prevention and treatment of a varied number of health maladies such as cancer, diabetes, inflammation, dental plaque, dysentery, and to fight malaria parasites and intestinal infections. It is an important source of bioactive compounds such as Ellagitannins and the Punicalagin (Bharani & Namasivayam, 2016). Pomegranate has been described by the Holy Quran as the fruit of heaven and has been mentioned twice. Local varieties of pomegranate grown in Balochistan are Red Kandhari, Zalari, Bedana, Metha Anar, Sofaid Anar and Khata Anar. Pomegranate is being attacked by several insect pests and diseases. The diseases included Alternaria fruit rot, Aspergillus fruit rot, Botrytris fruit rot, are the major limiting factors in terms of yield losses both qualitatively and quantitatively. Among the above-mentioned diseases, fruit rot of Pomegranate caused by Aspergillus niger is one of the major post-harvest infections in which it may cause considerable losses in some cases up to 94% to the pomegranate growers. In Pakistan, this disease invariably appears every year in the pomegranate orchards causing significant yield and quality losses. The disease is more severe in the rainy season and fruit symptoms appeared in two forms; spherical depressed spots occurred in the scattered form on the pericarp only and black rot restricted to internal fruit tissues. Worldwide fruit rot of pomegranate caused by fungi A. niger, Aspergillus spp., B. cinerea, C. gloeosporioides, P. versicolor, Penicillium spp., Nematospora spp., Coniella spp., S. racemosum, P. granati and Rhizopus spp. (Bardas et al., 2009, Jamadar et al., 2011, Mirabolfathy et al., 2012, Sharma & Jain, 1978, Snowdon, 1990, Thomidis & Exadaktylou, 2011, Hebert & Clayton, 1963) essential oils viz. Terpentine Cstos root oil khashkhasoil neem oil and (Mint)were tested on A. niger in vitro condition. All the essential oils significantly inhibited the radial mycelia growth of the test pathogen (A. niger). (Munhuweyi et al., 2016) Five fungicides viz., carbendazim (0.05%), mancozeb (0.25%), companion (0.25%), copper oxychloride (0.3%) and captan (0.3%) against fruit spot and rot diseases of pomegranate were conducted. Bio-control agents like Trichoderma viride and other biocontrol agents were evaluated against aspergillus niger causing fruit rot of pomegranate. For this purpose, dual culture technique was used (Jain & Desai, 2018).

Reference

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Bardas G, Tzelepis G, Lotos L, Karaoglanidis G. 2009. First report of Botrytis cinerea causing gray mold of pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Greece. Plant disease 93, 1346.

Bharani RA, Namasivayam SKR. 2016. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extract-A Study On Potential Source Of Pharmacological Activities. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 7, 282-90.

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Chami F, Chami N, Bennis S, Bouchikhi T, Remmal A. 2005. Oregano and clove essential oils induce surface alteration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives 19, 405-8.

Da Silva JaT, Rana TS, Narzary D, Verma N, Meshram DT, Ranade SA. 2013. Pomegranate biology and biotechnology: a review. Scientia Horticulturae 160, 85-107.

Dorman H, Deans SG. 2000. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. Journal of Applied Microbiology 88, 308-16.

Gross PM. 2007. Superfruits take center state. NPI Center. Retrieved October 17, 2007.

Guynot M, Ramos A, Seto L, Purroy P, Sanchis V, Marin S. 2003. Antifungal activity of volatile compounds generated by essential oils against fungi commonly causing deterioration of bakery products. Journal of Applied Microbiology 94, 893-9.

Hebert T, Clayton C.  1963. Pomegranate fruit rot caused by Coniella granati. Plant Disease Reporter 47, 222-3.

Inouye S, Tsuruoka T, Watanabe M. 2000. Inhibitory effect of essential oils on apical growth of Aspergillus fumigatus by vapour contact. Mycoses 43,  17-23.

Inouye S, Uchida K, Abe S. 2006. Vapor activity of 72 essential oils against a Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 12, 210-6.

Jain K, Desai N. 2018. Pomegranate the cash crop of India: a comprehensive review on agricultural practices and diseases. International J Health Science Res 8, 315-36.

Jamadar M, Jawadagi R, Sataraddi A, Patil D, Patil R. 2011. Status of pomegranate diseases of northern Karnataka in India. Acta horticulturae 890, 501-7.

Jeff-Agboola Y, Onifade A, Akinyele B, Osho I. 2012. In vitro antifungal activities of essential oil from Nigerian Medicinal Plants against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 6, 4048-56.

Li Y, Gao F, Gao F, Shan F, Bian J, Zhao C, 2009. Study on the interaction between 3 flavonoid compounds and α‐amylase by fluorescence spectroscopy and enzymatic kinetics. Journal of Food Science 74, C199-C203.

Mirabolfathy M, Groenewald J, Crous P, 2012. First report of Pilidiella granati causing dieback and fruit rot of pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Iran. Plant Disease 96, 461.

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Munhuweyi K, Lennox CL, Meitz-Hopkins JC, Caleb OJ, Opara UL. 2016. Major diseases of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), their causes and management—A review. Scientia Horticulturae 211, 126-39.

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Tomás-Barberán FA, Ruiz D, Valero D. 2013. Health benefits from pomegranates and stone fruit, including plums, peaches, apricots and cherries. Bioactives in Fruit: Health Benefits and Functional Foods, 125-67.

Article source : Efficacy of different essential oils, fungicides and biocontrol agents against Aspergillus niger thecausal agent of fruit rot in Pomegranate

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Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Jason G Tuang-tuang, from the different institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination. Entitled, Status of scleractinian corals and reef-associated benthos in Tres Marias Islets, Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. This research paper published by the Journalof Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Coral reefs of the Tres Marias Islets provide habitat for diverse marine organisms and significantly contribute to the economic activities in Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. Unfortunately, no comprehensive and detailed study was conducted to determine the status of the hard coral and the reef-associated benthic resources in Tres Marias Islets, particularly, Tabuk Islet being a marine protected area. Baseline coral resources assessment was done in randomly identified stations in the Tres Marias Islets. The modified Reef Check methodology was used to determine the percentage covers and generic diversity based on the Taxonomic Agglomeration Units (TAUs). Tabuk Islet had the highest hard coral cover and generic diversity than the other two Islets. Four Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) hard coral species were recorded in Tres Marias Islets. Furthermore, a coral bleaching event was observed in the area and reported officially in this study. The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of the establishment of a marine protected area in the growth and recruitment of reef-building corals.

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Introduction

Statuses of coral reefs in the country were assessed over the years (Gomez et al., 1981; Gomez et al., 1994; Licuanan and Gomez, 2000; Licuanan et al., 2017; Licuanan et al., 2019). Results of these assessments revealed significant loss of scleractinian coral cover in the country affecting the ecosystem services it provides (Licuanan et al., 2019). Coral reefs provides significant environmental and economic contributions in the country which accounts a total of US $ 352,249.00/ha/year (Azanza et al., 2017). Unfortunately, reef-building corals are continuously declining due to competition for resources caused by unprecedented rise of population, and global stressors (Hughes et al., 2017).

Management strategies like establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) were launched. This approach provides enough time for reef-building corals to grow into bigger sizes, thus improving the coral cover (Edgar et al., 2014). Moreover, the reef-associated organisms will replenish their stocks through the reduction of pressures and stressors (Groves & Game, 2016). Protections imposed in the MPAs are helpful in achieving its primal objective for the sustainability of marine resources (Sale et al., 2015).

In Palompon, Leyte, one of the islets in Tres Marias Islets, Tabuk Islet, was declared a marine protected area since 1996. This declaration was executed in response to the declining fishery stocks brought by unsustainable and illegal fishing practices done in the area. However, no comprehensive and detailed assessments were done to check the improvement of coral cover, biodiversity, and fishery stocks in Tres Marias Islets, particularly in Tabuk Islet. Studies conducted in Palompon, Leyte focused on the siganid fishery (Paraboles and Campos, 2018) and fish corral industry (Cabansag et al., 2011). Hence, effectiveness of conservation and protection could not be determined without data from monitoring activities.

Thus, the establishment of baseline data on the status of coral and other associated benthic resources in the Tres Marias Islets needs to be undertaken for future comparison to determine effectiveness, improvement of hard coral cover, and biodiversity and address sustainability of reef-associated stocks.

Reference

Azanza RV, Aliño PM, Cabral RB, Junio-Meñez MA, Pernia, EM, Mendoza RU, Siriban CS. 2017. Valuing and Managing the Philippines’ Marine Resources toward a Prosperous Ocean-Based Blue Economy. Public Policy (Philippines) 18, 1-26.

Cabansag JBP, Tuazon AKRT, Paraboles LC. 2011. Fish Corral Composition, Abundance and Distribution in the Reef Flat of Palompon, Leyte, Philippines. Annals of Tropical Research 33, 62-84.

Cesar SA, Amoin NB, De Dios HHY, Dy DT. 2014. Thermal stress affects zooxanthellae density and chlorophyll-a concentration of the solitary mushroom coral, Heliofungia actiniformis. Philippine Journal of Science 143, 35-42.

Crabbe MJC. 2016. Coral at the EDGE of Existence. Journal of Marine Science: Research and Development 6, e143.

Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith RD, Willis TJ, Kininmonth S, Baker SC, Banks S, Barrett NS, Becerro MA, Bernard ATF, Berkhout J, Buxton CD, Campbell SJ, Cooper AT, Davey, M, Edgar SC, Försterra G, Galvan DE, Irigoyen AJ, Kushner DJ, Moura R, Parnell PE, Shears NT, Soler G, Strain EMA, Thomson RJ. 2014. Global Conservation outcomes depend on marine protected areas with five key features. Nature 506, 216-220.

Flower J, Ortiz JC, Cholett I, Abdullah S, Castro-Sanguino C, Hock K, Lam V, Mumby PJ. 2016. Interpreting coral reef monitoring data: A guide for improved management decision. Ecological Indicator 72, 848-869.

Gomez ED, Alcala AC, San Diego AC. 1981. Status of Philippine Coral Reefs – 1981. Proceedings of the Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium; 1981; Manila. 1, 275-282.

Gomez ED, Aliño PM, Yap HT, Licuanan WY. 1994. A review of the status of Philippine reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 29, 62-68

Graham NAJ, Nash KL. 2012. The importance of structural complexity in coral reef ecosystems. Coral Reefs 32, 315-326.

Groves CR, Game ET. 2016. Conservation planning: Informed decisions for a healthier planet. Greenwood Village, Colorado: Roberts and Company Publishers.

Guest JR, Low J, Tun K, Wilson B, Ng C, Raingeard D, Ulstrup KE, Tanzil JTI, Todd PA, Toh TC, McDougald D, Chous LM, Steinberg PD. 2016. Coral community response to bleaching on a highly disturbed reef. Science Reports 6, e20717.

Guzman C, Shinzato C, Lu T, Conaco C. 2018. Transcriptome analysis of the reef-building octocoral, Heliopora coerulea. Science Reports 8, 8397.

Hughes TP, Barnes ML, Bellwood DR, Cinner JE, Cumming GS, Jackson JB, Kleypas J, van de Leemput IA, Lough JM, Morrison TH, Palumbi SR, van Nes EH, Scheff M. 2017. Coral reefs in the Anthropocene. Nature 546, 82-90.

Licuanan AM, Reyes MZ, Luzon, KS, Chan MAA, Licuanan, WY. 2017. Initial findings of the nationwide assessment of Philippine coral reefs. Philippine Journal of Science 146, 177-185.

Licuanan WY, Gomez ED. 2000. Philippine coral reefs: status and the role of the academe to improve their management. Proceedings 9th International Coral Reef Symposium; October 23-27, 2000. Bali, Indonesia.

Licuanan WY, Robles R, Reyes M. 2019. Status and recent trends in coral reefs of the Philippines. Marine Pollution Bulletin 142, 554-550.

Littler MM, Littler DS, Brooks BL. 2006. Harmful algae on tropical coral reefs: bottom-up eutrophication and top-down herbivory. Harmful Algae 5:565-585 Sale, P.F. et al. 2005. Critical science gaps impede use of no-take fishery reserves. Trends in Biology & Evolution 20, 74-80.

Paraboles LC, Campos WL. 2018. Fecundity and Oocyte Development of the White-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus (Park, 1797) in Palompon, Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Philippines. Asian Fisheries Science 31, 245-251

Sale PF, Cowen RK, Danilowicz BS, Jones GP, Kritzer JP, Lindeman KC, Planes S, Polunin NVC, Russ GR, Sadovy YJ, Steneck RS. 2005. Critical science gaps impede use of no-take fishery reserves. Trends in Biology & Evolution 20, 74-80

Van Woesik R, Done TJ. 1997. Coral communities and reef growth in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 16, 103-115.

Ward-Paige CA, Risk MJ, Sherwood OA, Jaap WC. 2015. Clinoid sponge surveys on the Florida Reef Tract suggest land-based nutrient inputs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51, 570-579.

Article source : Status of scleractinian corals and reef-associated benthos in Tres Marias Islets, Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines

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Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Rays Affect Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Fatimah, Agung Nugroho, Yuspihana Fitrial, and Rukmini, from the different institute  of Indonesia. wrote a Research Article about, Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Rays Affect Jatropha Seed Germination. Entitled, Comparison of Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae growth on Nymphaea pubescens seed culture media. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract 

Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) is a commonly used medium for the growth of Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. The purpose of the study was to determine Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger growth in the fermented process of Nymphaea pubescens unhulled seed. The hull of Nymphaea pubescens seed consists mostly of lignin and cellulose. The fungi that can grow in the Nymphaea pubescens seed fermentation process are expected to accelerate the Nymphaea pubescens seed dehulling process. This research is an experimental study with the initial stages of conducting a qualitative test of cellulolytic activity of Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. Then inoculate Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger on PDA media and cultivate at Nymphaea pubescens unhulled seed. Observation of extracellular cellulases for the formation of clear zones around the cellulase-producing colonies in the cellulolytic qualitative test of Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. The macroscopic observations of the growth hyphae of Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. The results showed that Aspergillus niger has cellulolytic activity and can grow in the Nymphaea pubescens unhulled seed. But Rhizopus oryzae did not have cellulolytic activity and cannot grow in the Nymphaea pubescens unhulled seed at fermentation process.

Read more : Boost or Barrier? How 60Co Gamma Radiation Influences Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Introduction

Nymphaea pubescens seeds have long been used by the people of wetland areas in Indonesia (Fatimah et al., 2022) and several countries (Aliyu et al., 2017) as an ingredient in the manufacture of traditional foods. Nymphaea pubescens seed has the main content of carbohydrates, proteins (Aliyu et al., 2017), and phytochemical components that have antioxidant activity (Aliyu et al., 2018). Nymphaea pubescens seeds consist of three main parts, namely macrosclereids, osteosclereids, and endosperm. Lignin and cellulose are the main components of the macrosclereids part of the grain.

Fungi have specific enzymatic for metabolism, including breakdown of the materials for organism growth. Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger commonly use Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media for cultivation growth. Pre-treatment dehulling using enzymes have been used in several grains, including proteases (Sreerama et al., 2009), xylanase, pectinase, and cellulase (Dabhi et al., 2019; Murumkar et al., 2016). The purpose of the study was to determine whether Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger could grow in the fermented process of Nymphaea pubescens unhulled seeds. The fungi that can grow in the Nymphaea pubescens seed fermentation process are expected to accelerate the Nymphaea pubescens seed dehulling process.

Reference

Aliyu M, Atiku MK, Abdullahi N, Imam AA, Kankara IA. 2018. Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant Potentials of Nymphaea lotus and Nymphaea pubescens Seed Oils. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review 24, 1-8.

Aliyu M, Atiku MK, Abdullahi N, Zaharaddeen A, Imam AA. 2017. Comparative Evaluation of Nutritional Qualities of Nymphaea lotus and Nymphaea pubescens Seeds. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review 19, 1-10.

Amadioha AC. 1993. Production of Cellulolytic Enzymes by Rhizopus Oryzae in Culture and Rhizopus-Infected Tissues of Potato Tubers. Mycologia 85, 574-578.

Dabhi MN, Sangani VP, Rathod PJ. 2019. Effect of enzyme pretreatment on dehulling, cooking time and protein content of pigeon pea (variety BDN2). Journal of Food Science and Technology 56, 4552-4564.

Fatimah, Fitrial Y, Rukmini, Nugroho A. 2022. Effect of grain moisture on dehulling of Nymphaea pubescens seed. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 976, 012056.

Kusumawati N, Wardani AK, Zubaidah E, Sumarlan SH. 2020. Isolation, screening and identification of potential cellulolytic and xylanolytic mold from oil palm waste. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 475, 012083.

Murumkar RP, Borkar PA, Munje SS, Rathod PK, Rajput MR, Dhoke SM. 2016. Effect of enzyme pre-treatments on milling of pigeonpea. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology 5, 23.

Sreerama YN, Sashikala VB, Pratape VM. 2009. Effect of enzyme pre-dehulling treatments on dehulling and cooking properties of legumes. Journal of Food Engineering 92, 389-395.

Article source : Comparison of Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae growth on Nymphaea pubescens seed culturemedia  

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Boost or Barrier? How 60Co Gamma Radiation Influences Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Baudouin K. Nyembo,  Alexandre N. Mbaya,  Calvin C. Ilunga,  Jean-Louis N. Muambi,  and  Luc L. Tshilenge, from the different institute  of DR-Congo. wrote a Research Article about, Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes. Entitled, Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR. an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of different gamma radiation doses from Cobalt -60 isotopic source on seed germination and early growth parameters of Jatropha curcas L. Healthy and dry seeds were subjected to three doses of gamma rays (100, 200 and 300 Gy). The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design, with three replicates. The significantly maximum germination percentage (89.85 %), seedling survival (92.3 %), seedling collar diameter (0.892 cm), plant height (17.30 cm), number of leaves (7) were observed at 30 days after germination. The results revealed that seed germination percentages and seedling shoot length decreased with increasing dose of gamma-rays. Higher gamma-ray dose (300 Gy) in particular had a pronounced effect on these germination parameters than others, probably because high-dose inhibited cell division due to free radicals and DNA system damage. The LD50 for seeds germination rates was obtained at 254 Gy. These results implied that germination traits of Jatropha curcas seeds were sensitive to increase in gamma-ray.

Read more :  Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes | InformativeBD

Introduction 

Jatropha curcas L. belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, a multipurpose, perennial, drought resistant shrub or tree which is widely distributed in the wild or semi-cultivated areas in Central and South America, Africa, India and South East Asia (MartinezHerrera et al., 2006; Tatikonda et al., 2009). That is one of the important oil seed crops and a potential source of vegetable oil as a replacement for petroleum and in particular, the production of biodiesel (King et al., 2009). It is gaining a lot of economic importance because of its several potentials in industrial application and medicinal values. It is established different parts of this biodiesel producing plant including leaves, oil, sap, stem; roots and bark have numerous health benefits (Prasad et al., 2012; Agbogidi et al., 2013).

In Democratic Republic of Congo (RDCongo), the vernacular names of this plant are Nakakula, Mitanda, Ludimba by the Luba; Mupuluka, Dasikamabete, Mpulungu, Mukadipemba, Ngubanguedi, by the Kongo (Kambu, 1990).

Jatropha is a fast growing plant and produce seeds after approximately two years depending on many factors such as rainfall conditions and either the plant is propagated from cuttings or from seeds (Heller, 1996). The first developmental stage of the plant is germination, a critical stage in the life cycle of plants and this growth stage is strongly influenced by environmental factors (De Villiers et al., 1994). The studies on seed germination are needed to contribute to the knowledge of Jatropha curcas cultivation.

Improved varieties of J.curcas with desirable traits for specific growing conditions are not available, which makes growing Jatropha a risky business. This plant can be improved through application of mutation breeding to bring the change in the desired traits (Divakara et al., 2010; Surwenshi et al.,2011; Nayak et al., 2012). Mutation breeding which is efficient and much cheaper method than others can play an important role in crop improvement either directly or by supplementing the conventional breeding. Mutagenic agents, such as radiation and certain chemicals, can be used to induce mutations and generate genetic variation in seed germination, growth and yield traits of J.curcas (Dhakshanamoorthy et al., 2010; Chiangmai et al., 2014). The doses of 10, 15, 20 and 25 Gy of gamma applied to cutting because of its higher water content were able to increase genetic variability in J. curcas (Dwimahyani and Ishak, 2004). Sarhan et al. (2015) induced mutation in Jatropha curcas L. with gamma rays 20 and 25 Kr dose in order to increase the tolerance and resistances salinity of it. Pandey (2016) reported the effect of gamma rays on initial development of Jatropha curcas especially on the cotyledonary leaves. Irradiation dose of 225 Gy was good to be given in acute, intermittent, and split-dose methods on the performance of Jatropha plants (Surahman et al., 2018).

The main objective of the present investigation was to study the effects of different gamma radiation doses from Cobalt -60 isotopic source on seed germination and early growth of Jatropha curcas L.

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Chiangmai P Na, Pootaeng-on Y, Meetum P, Jankomon N, Muangnoi D, Kitthip D. 2014. Mutation Induction in Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) by Colchicine Treatments. Silpakorn U Sciences & Techiques Journal 8(2), 28-39.

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Dias MP, Dias DCFS, Dias LAS. 2007. Germinação de sementes de pinhãomanso (Jatropha curcas L.) em diferentes temperaturas e substratos. In: II Congresso da RedeBrasileira de Tecnologia de Biodiesel, Brasília. Anais do II Congresso da Rede Brasileira de Tecnologia de Biodiesel. Brasília: MCT/ABIPIT, p, 1-5, 2007.

Divakara BN, Upadhyaya HD, Wani SP. Gowda CL, Laxmipathi. 2010. mutagenesis in Jatropha curcas L. to induce variability in seed germination, growth and yield traits. Romanian Journal of Biology – Plant Biology 55(2), 113-125, Bucharestest.

Dwimahyani I, Ishak. 2004. Induced mutation on Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) for improvement of agronomic characters variability, 53-60. www.digilib.batan.go.id/atomindonesia/fulltex/v30-n2-7-2004/Ita-Dwimahyani-Ishak.pdf.

Heller J. 1996. Physic nut Jatropha curcas L. promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. Institute of Plant Genetic and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/ International Plant Genetic Resource Institute, Rome, Italy.

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Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes | InformativeBD

Wafaa K. Taia, Selim Z. Heneidy, Laila M. Bidak, Amal M. Fakhry,  and Soliman M. Toto, from the different institute  of Egypt. wrote a Research Article about, Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes. Entitled, Ecological acclimation on the pheno-characters of Ginkgo biloba L. outside its native range: Perspective to pollen grains, Egypt.  This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

A fertile branch at three meters high was chosen from a 25-year-old Ginkgo biloba male tree for this investigation. The tree was examined daily to record the suitable time of mature yellow catkins (male cone), which was in April 2023. Pollen grains from the mid catkin from the nine fertile nodes beside those collected from the four Earths directions have been examined carefully by both the light and Scanning electron microscopes. Element contents have been investigated within the different pollen stages. The data obtained revealed that most of the investigated pollen pheno-characters showed highly significant differences between the catkin developmental stages and in between the different positions in each catkin stage, except within few characters. Despite the state of differences recorded within the different positions of the catkins there were highly significant differences between the different nine stages of the catkin position. This investigation showed that G. biloba trees growing in Alexandria city are adapted to the city climate and release their pollen grains gradually to ensure successful pollination. The microsporangia mature gradually; accordingly, their pollen grains are in different developmental and hydrolytic states. The obtained results proved the high adaptation processes which are shown in both the phenol-morphological states beside their mineral contents of the G. biloba pollen grains.

Read more : Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park | InformativeBD

Introduction

Ginkgo biloba is a mysterious tree; it is the oldest living gymnosperm tree which overcomes much generic extinction, and it is the only species still adapt with all the environmental disorders from the Ginkgophyta (Zhou & Zheng, 2003). It is considered as a unique tree in many aspects, it occupies its unique taxonomic division, class, order, family and genus with great genetic distances with its relatives beside its important food content, and medicinal values. This species is considered a living fossil as it overcomes many global catastrophes and adapts with great environmental and climate changes. This species has many forms of adaptation which made it modulate with the environmental disturbance meanwhile it has its specific way of fertilization. It produces huge amounts of light pollen grains to succeed its anemophilous mode of pollination. G. biloba pollens carried inside microsporangia in subsequent degrees of development to insure long fertile time (Lu et al., 2016). After pollen dispersal, the pollen grain releases water and becomes typically folded inwards in its aperture or leptoma to keep the exposed aperture area in hydrated state (Hesse et al., 2009). Worth noticing that the shape of dry pollen grains after dispersal is bilaterally symmetrical with monosulcate wide aperture and nearly smooth exine ornamentation (Lu et al. 2011a). After hydration with the pollination drop, the pollen converts into a round shape (Tekleva et al., 2007). This pollen shape change is considered as a mode of adaptation to keep more pollen grains in fertile and hydrated form.

Trees of G. biloba are native to China and introduced to Japan, Europe, and North America (Del Tredici 1991 & 2000; Tsumura et al., 1992). Its trees are commonly planted in the parks as ornamentals for their woody trunk and characteristic leaves. The trees are dioecious i.e., the female megasporangia carried in trees separate from those who carried the microsporangia. The microsporangia are carried in an inflorescence called catkin. The catkins originated from the axils of the leaves on short shoots and their numbers differ from node to another. Each sporangiophore consists of a stalk and sterile extension which bears two pendant pollen sacs and release their pollens by the aid of longitudinal slit (Klimko et al., 2016).

Pollen morphological characteristics have been studied in detail as they are essential for successful fertilization and reproduction in G. biloba. This study presents information on aspects of pollen development of G. biloba, which are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics as an introduced species in Egypt. Meanwhile to find out how much the catkin-like developmental stages affect the pollen morphological characters and its hydration state which in turn affect its fertility to help in the process of the species conservation and reproduction. In addition, to highlighting the special strategy of G. biloba to acclimate with environmental factors outside its native range with respect to pollen grain characters.

Reference 

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Article source : Ecological acclimation on the pheno-characters of Ginkgo biloba L. outside its native range:Perspective to pollen grains, Egypt 

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Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park | InformativeBD

Robelyn S. Lizardo, from the  institute of Philippines.  Ginalyn G. Laron, from the institute of Philippines. Derick T. Boado, from the institute of Philippines and Beatriz E. Aspiras, from the institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park. Entitled, Quantitative vegetation analysis of Agoo Eco-park in Sta. Rita West Agoo, La, Union using grid-based mapping. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The quantitative vegetation analysis in Agoo Ecopark is assessed. This study is aimed to identify the plants present and classify them based on distribution, conservation status, and their ecological indices. This study also assessed the soil physicochemical composition. A quantitative and naturalistic observation was employed. Transect sample was used to obtain samples. There were 17 plants identified, 7 are native, 4 are naturalized, 3 exotics,1 cultivated, and 2 undocumented. Sonneratia alba recorded the highest Importance Value Index (IVI), the dominant plant family are the Fabaceae. Seven of the plants found are also native species and only two species are exotic. Moreover, this study shows that native species are dominant in the sampled area over exotic species. This study also shows that the soil conditions tolerable for the identified plants are extremely low Phosphorus, extremely high Potassium, normal pH range, which is acidic, and lightly textured due to the high presence of sand, and electrical conductivity which is non-saline. It is highly recommended that the Agoo Eco-park may be evaluated against other locations with the same ecosystem and a complete enumeration of vegetation may also be considered to create better results.

Read more : When Nutrients Go Missing: Visual Deficiency Signs in Shorea Seedlings | InformativeBD

Introduction

Biodiversity is important to most aspects of lives. People heavily rely on the various vegetation for resources in order to survive. Biodiversity, in general, has utilitarian and intrinsic values, complexity, diversity, spiritual significance, wildness, beauty and wonderness. Utilitarian values include the other basic needs humans receive from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Among the richest in biodiversity globally has been the Philippine rainforest, which used to conceal about 90% of the country’s land area. During the last decades, the forest cover has been minimized to less than 10% of the original, only a fraction of which is old-growth forest During the 1970 to 1990 period, the percentage of remaining rainforest in the country was drastically reduced from about 70% of what it was in the 1900s to less than 10% (Perez, 2020). Vegetation can even affect the weather conditions. It is of vital importance to maintain healthy forest ecosystems and provision of multiple services of ecosystem (Felipe-Lucia et al. 2018). Vegetation such as trees, bushes, wetlands, and wild grasslands naturally slow down water and help soil to absorb rainfall. Trees and other plants clean the air we breathe and help us tackle the global challenge of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

In 2021, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) started to reforest the place under its national greening program (NGP). The park is a part of the Agoo- Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape (ADLPS), which covers 10,774.68 hectares as core zone and 135 hectares as buffer zone. Of this area, only 3 percent is land and rest is marine ecosystem. The Agoo Eco-Park, which was once identified as Agoo-Damortis Protected Landscape has been designated as a Protected Landscape and Seascape at national level in 2018 (DOPA, 2021). Agoo Eco-Park has been developed. Transects and quadrats are two ecological tools that permits quantifying the relative abundance, richness, diversity and evenness of species in an area. To track changes over time, it is important to be able to quantify changes in abundance. This method allows estimation of plant densities, frequency based on scattered points over a larger geographic area. This study utilized transects due to the vast extent of sampling sites. Measuring importance value can aid understanding the succession stages of a forest habitat. Importance values are one objective way of measuring this dominance. The three factors that are used to determine the importance value of a species are the density, dominance and frequency. The significance of this study is to analyze the vegetation Agoo Eco-Park in Sta. Rita West, Agoo, La Union.

In this light, this study was a quantitative vegetation analysis of the Agoo Ecopark in Sta.Rita Agoo, La Union. The foci of the study were to identify the plants (family and genus) and its ecological importance; identify the conservation status of the plant species based on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list; identify the distribution status of the plant species based on Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines, (2011); and determine the physicochemical composition of the soil. The study is mainly focused on the vegetation analysis of floristic diversity in the forest areas of Ecopark Sta. Rita West, Agoo, La Union which was covered 10,648.94 hectares of coastal area, including mangrove swamps, stretches of fine black sand beaches, and seagrass beds. It was the first posted as a national park in 1965 and known as the Agoo– Damortis National Seashore Park. It covers approximately 30 kilometers of coastline of the Lingayen Gulf shared between the municipalities of Agoo, Santo Tomas and Rosario. In previous years the seascape has 10,197.61 hectares and 315.59 hectares landscape. The study area of Agoo Ecopark showing in Google Earth map where each line in the grid accounts 300 meters away from the seashore. It is evident that with the change in the seascape, there was also a change in the landscape. A lot of pioneer species are teeming in the Ecopark due to the expansion of land.

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Article source : Quantitative vegetation analysis of Agoo Eco-park in Sta. Rita West Agoo, La, Union using grid-based mapping

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