Exploring Freshwater Algae in Kalpani Stream, Mardan, Pakistan | InformativeBD

Musharaf Khan, Farrukh Hussain, and Shahana Musharaf, from the different institute of the Pakistan. wrote a research article about, Exploring Freshwater Algae in Kalpani Stream, Mardan, Pakistan. entitled, A fraction of fresh water algae of Kalpani stream and adjoining area of district Mardan, Pakistan. 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 | NNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Present study deals with morpho-taxonomic description of 73 fresh water algae belonging to 34 genera, 25 families, 17 orders and 09 classes in Kalpani stream and adjoining area of district Mardan. Among these, 48 species (65.75%) belong to 17 genera, 12 families, 08 orders and 05 class of Phylum Chlorophyta and 09 species (12.33%) belong to 09 genera, 04 families, 02 orders and 01 class of Phylum Cyanophyta. In addition to it, 08 species (10.96%) belong to 05 genera, 05 families, 04 orders and 01 class of Phylum Bacillariophyta and 05 species (6.85%) belong to 03 genera, 02 families, 02 orders and 01 class of Phylum Ochrophyta. Furthermore, 03 species (4.11%) belong to 03 genera, 02 families, 01 orders and 01 class of Phylum Cyanobacteria. Fresh water algae are producer of aquatic ecosystem as they are source of food. Further studies are required to make extensive collection and identification of fresh water algae and other algae from various parts of district Mardan. 

Read more : Impact of AbioticFactors on β-sitosterol in Prunus Africana in Cameroon | InformativeBD

Introduction

The algae have been an interesting group for investigation because of their very primitive nature and a world-wide distribution, which is due to their capability to exist under most varied environmental conditions. Ertan & Morkoyunlu, (1998) recorded 73 taxa belonging to the Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta and Euglenophyta divisions from Aksu Stream (Isparta, Turkey). Reshmi, (2004) conducted a detailed study on Chlorophycean biodiversity in Wet lands on Satna (M.P.) India. Please write about the general features of fresh water algae with reference.

In Pakistan a few taxonomical studies have been conducted of fresh water algae. In Karachi (Farzana & Nizamuddin, 1979 and Shameel & Butt, 1984), other areas of Sindh Province (Leghari & Arbani, 1984 and Leghari, et al., 2000) and Punjab Province (Ghose, 1919 & 1924., Randhawa, 1936., Ali & Sandhu, 1972., Masud-ul-Hasan, 1978, 1980) reported some fresh water algae. But little attention has been paid on the study of fresh water algae of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (Faridi, 1971, Sarim & Zaman, 2005 and Sarim, 2005). It appeared that vast areas of the Pakistan were however not studied. Therefore, this study was undertaken to make a survey of fresh water algae from Mardan.

Study area The district lies from 34°12'0"N 72°2'24"E. The elevation of the valley is 1000 to 2056m above sea level. It is bounded on the north by Burner district and Malakand protected area, on the east by Swabi and Burner districts, on the South by Nowshera district and on the west by Charsadda district and Malakand protected area. The total area of the district is 1632 kilometers. Mardan district may broadly be divided into two parts, North-Eastern hilly area and south western plain. Kalpani, an important stream of the district rises in the Baizai and flowing southwards join Kabul river. Other important streams which join Kalpani are Baghiari Khawar on the west and Muqam Khawar, coming from Sudham valley and Naranji Khawar from the Narangi hills on the left. (Fig. 1).

Reference

Akiyama M, Yamagishi T. 1981. Illustrations of the Japanese Fresh water algae published by Uchidarokokuho Publishing Co Ltd 1-2-1 Kudankita Chiyoda ker, Tokyo, Japan U.R. No. 200-2, p-1-933.

Ali S, Sandhu, GR. 1972. Blue green algae of the saline soil of the Punjab. Oikos 22, 268-272.

Ertan O O, Morkoyunlu A. 1998. The Algae Flora of Aksu Stream (Isparta -Turkey). Turk. J. Bot. 22, 239-256.

Faridi MAF. 1971. The genera of freshwater algae of Pakistan and Kashmir. Biologia 17, 123-142.

Farzana A, Nizamuddin M. 1979. Studies on some members of Cyanophyta from Karachi. Nova Hedw 31, 247-256.

Ghose SL. 1919. The Myxophyceae of Lahore. J.Ind. Bot. Soc. 1, 8-13.

Ghose SL. 1924. A systematic and ecological account of the collection of blue-green algae from Lahore and Simla. J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 46, 333-346.

Leghari SM, Arbani SN. 1984. Survey of freshwater algae (Cyanophyceae) in ponds and lakes of lower Sindh. Sindhol. Stud. 1, 67-91.

Leghari SM, Jafri SIH, Mahar MA, Lashari KH, Ali SS, Jahangir TM, Khuhawar MY. 2000. Limnological study of Sonharo, Mehro Pateji and Cholari lakes of district Badin, Sindh, Pakistan. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 3, 1904-1999.

Masud-ul-Hasan.   1978.   A   contribution   to   the freshwater algae of the Punjab-II. Biologia 24, 81-96.

Masud-ul-Hasan.  1980.  A  contribution  to  the freshwater algae of the Punjab-III. Biologia 26, 71-79.

Prescott GW. 1961. Algae  of  the  Western  Great Lake Area Monograph. Michigan State University 1-975.

Randhawa MS. 1936. Occurrence and distribution of the freshwater algae of north India. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 4, 36-44.

Reshmi S. 2004. Chlorophycean biodiversity in Wet lands of Satna (M.P.), India. Biodiversity and Environment 171-190.

Sarim FM. 2005. The fresh water algae of Bara River Peshawar, Pakistan. Pak. J. Pl. Sci., 11 (1), 133-136.

Sarim  FM,  Zaman  A.  2005.  Some  freshwater algae of District Charsadda NWFP, Pakistan. Peshawar University Teacher`s Association Journal 12, 5-10.

Shameel M, Butt NI. 1984. On the occurrence of Cyanophyta from Karachi, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot. 16, 75-79.

Siddiqi II, Faridi MAF. 1964. The Chlorococcales of Peshawar valley. Biologia, 10, 1-88.

Smith GM. 1950. Fresh Water Algae of United State of America. Mc Graw Hill, New York.

Tiffany  LH,  Britton  ME.  1971.  The  Algae  of Illinois: 395 Hapner P. Comp.

Welch PS. 1952. Limnology (II ed.) McGraw. Hill book CO, London.

Source : A fraction of fresh water algae of Kalpani stream and adjoining area of district Mardan, Pakistan

 

 

 

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Impact of Abiotic Factors on β-sitosterol in Prunus Africana in Cameroon | InformativeBD

Maurice Tchouakionie, Emmanuel Youmbi, Michel Ndoumbe Nkeng, Siméon Fogue Kouam, Marc Lamshôft, and Michael Spiteller, from the different institute of the Cameroon and Germany. wrote a research article about, Impact of Abiotic Factors on β-sitosterol in Prunus Africana in Cameroon. entitled, Effect of some abiotic factors on the concentration of β-sitosterol of Prunus Africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman in the tropical forests of Cameroon. 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 | NNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Prunus africana is a medicinal plant which develops in the mountains of several African countries. β-sitosterol can be used as a marker for the control of the product quality of the aforementioned plant in terms of phytotherapy. Farmers and public authorities do not have information on the influence of altitude and chemical characteristics of soils on the concentration of β-sitosterol of P. africana. To contribute to solve the problem, this research, carried out in Cameroon, aims to appreciate the effect of abiotic factors on the above phenotypic character. In nine composite samples of barks taken at different altitudes, the concentration of β-sitosterol is appreciated via qualitative analyses by Thin Layer Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography and quantitative analyses by Gas Chromatography coupled with the Mass Spectrometry. The chemical analyses of soils taken under the stems of the aforementioned trees were made. The statistics were carried out using the SAS software. The concentration of β-sitosterol in each population of P. africana varies from zero to 38.65 µg/ml. There is variability between the averages of the aforementioned concentration with respect to altitude and chemical elements of the soils but the differences are not significant. The Ascending Hierarchical Clustering distributes populations into three groups. These tools obtained are indispensable for the ground management, the products exploited from this tree species and the production of seeds for creating forest and agro-forest plantations.

Read more :Participatory Watershed Management for Rural Livelihoods in Gibe, Ethiopia | InformativeBD

Introduction

Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman is a medicinal plant which develops in the forests of mountains at altitudes going from 700 m to more than 1000 m in several countries of Africa (Avery et al., 2001). Its bark is exploited and marketed internationally because of its effectiveness in the treatment of benign prostates and hyperplasia (Watt and Bryer, 1962, Bankill, 1997, cit. by Hall et al., 2000). In pecuniary terms of value, one Kilogram of rough bark is bought at 300 F CFA from farmers and the drawn extract from the aforesaid Kilogram costs 500 000 F. CFA in pharmaceutical industries (Vockins, 2000, cit. Avana et al., 2006). P. africana is a component of biodiversity which represents 6 % of the species used for forest and agro-forest plantations in the agro-ecological zone of the high plateaus of the West of Cameroon (Tchouakionie et al, 2010). To optimize the output of the plantations, it is necessary to take into account the biotic and abiotic factors relating to the P. africana. The small farmers and public authorities do not have formal information on the variability of the concentration of β-sitosterol, the principal active matter of P. africana with respect to altitude and the chemical characteristics of the soils of the aforementioned species plantations. The general objective of this study is to appreciate the effect of some abiotic factors on the concentration of β-sitosterol of P. africana within mount Cameroon and the Bamenda high land areas. To achieve this goal, three specific objectives were formulated: To evaluate the effect of altitude on the concentration of β-sitosterol of P. africana; to appreciate the correlation between the chemical characteristics of the soils and the concentration of β-sitosterol of the aforementioned species; to group the populations of P. africana according to their concentration in β-sitosterol. In the biological context, P. africana belongs to the family of Rosaceae and are found practically only on mountains (Letouzey, 1982).The detailed description of the adult tree is materialized by characteristic phytogenetic parts (fig. 1). The stem (Fig.1.A) is a seed-bearer in an agro-ecosystem in Akum, within Mezam Division, in the North-West of Cameroon. The base of trunk presents a simple footing of 8-10 cm (Fig.1. B). The young seedlings are visible under this tree. These seedlings come from two modes of pollination in particular: self-fertilization and cross-pollinated parents. Pollination here is primarily entomophilous. However the implication of certain birds was noted (Avana, 2006). Flowering is irregular in P. africana and occurs every 2 to 3 years. Fructification intervenes 2 to 3 months after the beginning of flowering. The number of fruits per inflorescence varies from 1 to 6 units (Fig. 1.C). The natural ecological zone of P. africana in Cameroon is confined to the mountain and sub-mountain forests of altitudes ranging between 1500-3000 m (Vivien and Faure, 2011). The surface distribution of the forests of P. africana planted from 1976 to 2007, reached 625 ha with at least 1.526.430 trees (Kadu et al., 2012). The peasants partly receive seeds from non-governmental organizations and official establishments. Concerning the influence of biotic factors on the development of P. africana, analyses carried out by Dawson and Powell (1999) using molecular markers indicated that the variation is quite effective at the level of the genes (fig. 2). There are quantitative and qualitative differences in chemical compounds from the barks of P. africana within geographically dispersed populations (Hall et al., 2000). The concentration of β-sitosterol, the major component of the bark of P. africana, varies from 101 to 150 μg/ml between origins and 50 to 191μg/ml between individuals (Simons and Leakey, 2004, cit. Avana, 2006). One of the factors of the environment which has an influence on the behavior of the plant is the physico-chemical composition of the soils (Sant' Anna, 1980). Sudberg (2005) established that β-sitosterol is the most significant sterol chemical compound which exists in the extract of P. africana. It can be used as a marker for the control of the quality of barks of this species. Kadu et al., (2012) established that most chemical components of the bark of P. africana are correlated between themselves. Environmental parameters such as temperature, precipitation and the altitude of the sites are not correlated with the concentration of the aforesaid components. The metabolic chart of β-sitosterol (Anonym, 2013) shows that its empirical formula is C29H50 O and developed: In a natural environment, plants are nourished, from organic matter transformed beforehand into minerals by the organisms present in the soils (Larouche, 1983). These soils minerals influence the aspect of some phonotypic characters of the trees within its ecosystem. Reference Anonym. 2013. Showing metabocard for Beta-sitosterol (HMDB00852), Canada.5 p. Avana TML. 2006. Domestication de Prunus africana (Hook, f.) Kalkam (Rosaseae) : Etude de la germination et du bouturage.Thèse de Doctorat (Ph.D), Université de Yaoundé I. 8-115. Avery R, Wirsly E, Etorie M, Ewane D. 2001. Prunus: A Booklet for Extension Workers, Limbe Botanic Garden. 6-21. Dawson IK, Powell W. 1999. Genetic variation in the afromontane tree Prunus africana, an endangered medicinal species. Molecular Ecology, Nairobi. 123-156. Letouzey R. 1982. Manuel de Botanique Forestière Afrique Tropicale, Tome 2A, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical. 169 -170. Hall JB, O’Brien EM, Sinclair FL. 2000. Prunus africana: a monograph. School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences: University of Wales, Publication Number 18, 55 -104. Kadu CA, Parich A, Schueler S, Konrad H, Mulund G.M, Eyog-Hatig O, Muchugi A, Williams VL, Ramamoniisca L, Kapinga C, Foahom B, Katsyanga C,Hafashimana D, Obama C, Vinceli B, Schumacher R, Geburk T. 2012. Bioactive constituents in Prunus africana: geographical variation through out Africa and associations with environmental and genetic parameters, Elsevier, Federal Research Centre for Forests, Department of Forest Genetics, Vienna, Austria. 10 -18. Larouche AR. 1983. La matière organique et ses décomposeurs : l’équipe par. Excellence en jardinage, Projets pour une agriculture écologique. Collège Macdonald, Université McGill, Québec, Canada. 4-10. Pilate G, Pâques M, Leplé JC, Plomion C. 2002. Les biotechnologies chez les arbres forestiers, outils et méthodes : Unité Amélioration, Génétique et Physiologie forestières INRA-Orléans. France. 12-20. Sant’Anna R. 1980. Major soils for food production in Africa, FAO: Natural Resource Management and Environment Department, Rome, Italy. 14-22. Sudberg S. 2005. Optimization of extraction methods of some of the pentacyclictriterpenes, sterols and linear alcohols and quantification of β-sitosterol in Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman [Rosaceae] by High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) with comparative analysis by HPLC, Alkemists Pharmaceuticals, Inc: the plant authentication experts, Florida, USA. 22-33. Tchouakionie M, Youmbi E, Amougou Akoa, NdoumbeNkeng M. 2010. Study of phenotypic characters of Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman relating to altitudes in two regions of Cameroon, Book of abstracts, Cameroon Biosciences Society (CBS), Yaounde, Cameroon. 49-50. Valérie M. 1968. Notice explicative: carte pédologique du Cameroun Occidental au 1/1000.000, Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-mer (O.R.S.T.O.M), Centre de Yaoundé 165, 69-70. Vivien J, Faure JJ. 2011. Arbres des forêts denses d’Afrique Centrale, COMIFAC, GIZ et la Fondation pour la Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS), Project Resource Management (PRM), Rouen, France. 652-653. Source : Effect of some abiotic factors on the concentration of β-sitosterol of Prunus Africana (Hook.f.)Kalkman in the tropical forests of Cameroon

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Participatory Watershed Management for Rural Livelihoods in Gibe, Ethiopia | InformativeBD

Melese Gogo Massamo , and Mulugeta Abebe Mamo,  from the different institute of the Ethiopia. wrote a research article about Participatory Watershed Management for Rural Livelihoods in Gibe, Ethiopia. entitled, The role of participatory watershed management practices for sustainable rural livelihood improvement in Handosha Watershed, Gibe district, Southern Ethiopia. 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 | NNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The sustainability of environmental management practices such as watershed management intervention strategies relies on the understanding of the connection of the rural community’s participation, and livelihoods. However, there have not been many efforts effort to document the relationship between watershed management and sustainable livelihoods. In line with this, the research has assessed the role of participatory watershed management practices for sustainable rural livelihood improvement in Handosha Watershed, Gibe district, Southern Ethiopia. To address the above objective, household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview were employed to collect and analyze the data from 122 randomly selected households in four sub-watersheds. Descriptive analysis, independent t-test and chi-square test were applied to analyze the data. The result of the study indicated that the collective value of overall livelihood assets and the specific major components that encompass crop diversification, food availability, land productivity, and physical assets were better after watershed intervention than before watershed intervention. The key finding of the research presents that due to different interventions the livelihood of the community was diversified and enhanced especially; profits, soil fertility, crop productivity, forest, water and food availability become enhanced. Findings of the study suggested that further emphasis is needed to enhance the households’ livelihood assets for sustainability of livelihoods. Local administrators and development agents need to recognize socio economic and topographic specific features as well as the constraints to involve society fully in various activities of participatory watershed management activities.

 

Read more : Yield Potential of Meristem-Derived Potato Varieties | InformativeBD

Introduction

Sustainable livelihood improvement is a growing issue, particularly in the developing countries given the mounting challenge of poverty, low economic development and poor agricultural. Ethiopia is not an exception where the degradation of land resource base and associated decreasing land productivity have been a major challenge for the sustenance of livelihoods of people (Teklewold et al., 2013). Agriculture is the economic mainstay of the overwhelming majority of people in Ethiopia and will continue to be the base for sustainable livelihood of the country (Gessesse et al., 2016). However, the ongoing watershed degradation in the form of soil erosion and soil nutrient depletion is the threatening factor for agricultural development (Shiferaw and Singh 2010). The degradation of watershed has been associated with the interacting effects of biophysical and socioeconomic factors and exacerbated by rapid population growth which would be resulted in not only decreasing land productivity but also aggravate ecological degradation, hampered households’ livelihood improvement and social development (Kerse 2018). In addition, much watershed conservation related research in Ethiopia is fragmented, focusing on biophysical (Taye et al., 2015) and economic returns (Kassie et al., 2011). Furthermore, a more specific conceptual framework that explains the nexus of the perception, community participation, and livelihoods to- wards sustained watershed management program is rarely found.

In response to the watershed degradation problems in the country, massive conservation, rehabilitation and afforestation movements were undertaken in Ethiopia (Engdawork & Bork, 2014; Tesfahunegn et al., 2012). Furthermore, conservation measures had been regularly accepted by farmers aimed decreased soil erosion, increased soil fertility and safeguarding the soil long-term productivity (Moges & Amsalu, 2017) and achievements in food security, poverty reduction and ecological sustainability (de Graaff et al., 2008; [Teshome et al., 2016). The acceptance of watershed management practices has been considered as agricultural development policy. Farmers gain incentives from agricultural and international initiatives to invest watershed management practices (de Graaff et al., 2013). However, the efforts couldn’t bring perceived changes as expected (Teshome et al., 2016). Consequently, this brought a low acceptance rate of some of these sustainable watershed management practices in the rural regions( Berresaw et al., 2010) for its top-down approach (de Graaff et al., 2013). As farmers were completely ignored from decision making in the selection, designing evaluation and implementation processes of watershed management practices The conservation measures in place were also undertaken without farmer’s interest and conviction. As a result, these drive the farmers to remove conservation structures following the change of foodfor- work programs (Deressa et al., 2009). Furthermore, there was little monitoring and assessment of the status of conservation measures and moreover, negligible maintenance for their sustainability (de Graaff et al., 2013). On the other hand, failure conservation efforts emanated from the fact that was implementing agencies couldn’t notice local level institutional, physical and socioeconomic realities (Enki et al., 2001). Thus, it’s vital to plan appropriate watershed conservation measures that are acceptable by farmers, require practical consideration of different socio-economic determinants affecting farmers’ decision (Shiferaw et al., 2009). Inadequate success in the acceptance of watershed management practices has been a problem as lesser willingness of farmers to implement watershed management practices ( Moges & Amsalu, 2017; Teshome et al., 2016).

Effective watershed management practices can be realized only when farmers believe and decide on the benefits of practices and are actively involved in the evaluation and implementation activities. The farmer’s decision to use and manage natural resources highly depends on their perception of the landscape (Mekuriaw et al., 2018b. In fact, farmers can modify the technologies to their real situations (Teshome et al., 2016).

Their perception and participation also vary in space and individual households due to different interactive factors. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the roles of participatory watershed management practices for sustainable rural livelihood improvement in Gibe district, southern Ethiopia.

Reference

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Teshome A, de Graaff J, Kassie M. 2016. Household-Level Determinants of Soil and Water Conservation Adoption Phases: Evidence from North-Western Ethiopian Highlands. Environmental Management 57(3), 620-636.

Yadav RC, Bhushan LS. 2002. Conservation of gullies in susceptible riparian areas of alluvial soil regions. Land Degradation & Development 13(3), 201-219.

Zhou P, Luukkanen O, Tokola T, Nieminen J. 2008. Effect of vegetation cover on soil erosion in a mountainous watershed. Catena 75(3), pp.319-325

 Source: The role of participatory watershed management practices for sustainable rural livelihoodimprovement in Handosha Watershed, Gibe district, Southern Ethiopia

  

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Yield Potential of Meristem-Derived Potato Varieties | InformativeBD

M Rezaul Karim, Hafizur Rahman, Tanziman Ara, MST Rehena Khatun, M Monzur Hossain, and AKM Rafiul Islam, from the different institute of the  Bangladesh. wrote a research article about, Yield Potential of Meristem-Derived Potato Varieties. entitled, Yield potential study of meristem derived plantlets of ten potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.).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 | NNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Ten exotic potato varieties (var. All Blue, All Red, Cardinal, Diamant, Daisy, Granulla, Green Mountain, Japanese Red, Pontiac and Summerset) were used the present experiment during November 2010 to January 2011. In vitro grown plantlets were spend 21 days old and achieve 4-5 cm long with good root system, were transferred and established in the trial field for showing yield performance of tuber number per plant and tuber weight per plant from 10 randomly selected potato plants of each variety. The highest tuber number (57.52) per plant was recorded in var. Daisy and the lowest tuber number (8.82) per plant was recorded in red varieties. On the other hand total tuber weight per plant was the highest (344.60g) recorded in var. Diamant and total tuber weight per plant was the lowest (65.05 g) recorded in var. All blue varieties showed the most potential yield in this experiment.

Read more : Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus flavus in Imported Maize in Kenya | InformativeBD

Introduction

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food and cash crop in Bangladesh. It is a member of the family Solanaceae and belongs to the genus Solanum. Potato varieties are highly heterogeneous and usually vegetative propagated. Potato can be grown in all types of soil, except saline and alkaline soils. Loamy soil, sandy loamy soil and organic matter enriched soil are the most suitable for cultivation of potato crop. The potato is a crop of temperate climate and it is moderately tolerant to frost. The young plants grow best at a temperature of 24 0C. Late growth is favored at a temperature of 18 0C. Tuber production is the maximum at 20 0C and decrease with rise in temperature. At about 30 0C the tuber production is totally stop. Relative humidity is need above 50 %. Photo period are need 14-16 hours. The varieties can be grouped into two parts in Bangladesh such as indigenous potato varieties and modern varieties. Indigenous potato varieties are popular for good test but low yielding and high price. On the other hand modern varieties are high yielding. Potato is very much susceptible to the viral diseases. The yield reduction may be up to 75 % caused by the infection of some viruses. Meristem culture is one of important methods to produce virus-free stock plants. The virus-free clone produced more vigorous haulm and about 10% higher yields, attributed to more tubers rather than large ones (Bawden and Kassams, 1965). The technique has been widely applied in many countries. In our country, average production of potato was 14-16 MTs/, hectares (2008).But in our research field and many developed countries of the world it's yield 30-40 MTs /hectares. The main causes of yield reduction in Bangladesh are lack of quality seed potato, pathogen infected seed potato used, low yielding variety used and faulty management. It is proved that use of quality seed potato may produced 20-30% high yield. However, at present there is no alternative way of high yielding variety developed in the world. Because agricultural land has decrease and the people increase. Plant Breeders feel of this subject and conducted research for developed and selection of high yielding variety. As that part, study of yield potential of plantlets of ten exotic varieties of potato developed through meristem culture.

Reference

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Ahmmad SK. 1999. Production of Virus-free clone through meristem culture of Solanum tuberosum L. M. Sc. Thesis. Plant Breeding Laboratory, Genetics and Breeding Department, University of Rajshahi.

Ali MS, Shaikh MAQ. 1987. Variability and correlation studies in summer mungbean (Vigna radiata). Bangladesh J. Agric. 12 (2), 63- 71.

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Bremner PM, Redley RW. 1966. Studies in potato agronomy. The effects of variety and time of planting on growth, development and yield. J. Agric. Sci. 66, 253- 262.

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Dayal TR, Upadhya MD, Malhotra VP and Mehra KL. 1972. Heritability and correlation in yield and other quantitative characters in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Indian J of Agric. Sci. 42 (6), 464- 466.

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Hussain MM. 1993. Studies on production of seed potatoes in relation between variety and production practice. Ph.D. Thesis. Submitted to Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensigh.

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Rahman FM. 1999. Production and evaluation of virus-free plants through meristem culture of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). M. Sc. Thesis. Plant Breeding & Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi.

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Simmonds   NW.  1974.  Dry  matter     content  of potatoes in relation to country  of origin. Pl. Bree. Abst. 44 (11), 650.

Singh  SS,  Rathore  SVS.  1973.  Estimation  of genetic  variability  and  correlation  study  in  Pisum sativum L. Allahabad. 47, 384.

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Source : Yield potential studyof meristem derived plantlets of ten potato varieties (Solanumtuberosum L.)

 

 

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Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus flavus in Imported Maize in Kenya | InformativeBD

Joseph Oduor Odongo, Paul O. Angi’enda, Bramwel Wanjala, Catherine Taracha, and David M. Onyango,  from the different institute of the Kenya. wrote a research article about, Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus flavus in Imported Maize in Kenya. entitled, Molecular characterisation of Aspergillus flavus on imported maize through gazetted and ungazetted points of Entries in Kenya. This research paper published by the International journal of Microbiology and Mycology (IJMM). an open access scholarly research journal on Microbiology. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | NNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Maize is a vital staple crop in Kenya, serving as a primary source of food and feed. Contamination of maize (Zea mays) by Aspergillus flavus and the subsequent production of aflatoxins pose significant threats to food safety and human health. The risk of A. flavus contamination on imported maize at both gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry has not been extensively studied. The primary objective of this study was to examine the genotypic, phenotypic, and aflatoxigenic traits of A. flavus biovars derived from imported maize at Gazetted and Un-gazetted Points of Entries in Kenya. Furthermore, the study sought to establish the phylogenetic relationships among the identified A. flavus strains. A total of 600 imported maize samples were tested for aflatoxin contamination using the Total aflatoxin ELISA test. Out of 600 samples, 4.17% tested positive and were further subjected to morphological and molecular studies.  The morphological analysis revealed the presence of 13 biovars of A. flavus. Micro-morphologically, variations were observed in spore color, size, structure, conidiophore structure, and vesicle shape. The specific primers Calmodulin (CaM), the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA was successfully amplified in 10 out of the 13 biovars that were presumed to be A. flavus, confirming their positive identification as A. flavus. A single band of approximately 700 bp, which corresponds to the expected size of the ITS region in Aspergillus flavus, was observed in 10 out of the 13 biovars. This indicates the presence of A. flavus DNA in those biovars. The amplification of the ITS region provides a specific molecular marker for the identification of A. flavus. These findings highlight the significance of aflQ (ordA) and aflD (nor-1) genes as reliable markers for evaluating the aflatoxigenic potential of A. flavus biovars. Regarding aflatoxigenicity, DV-AM   method was used, and qualitative analysis was conducted. Out of the 13 biovars of A. flavus biovars tested, 23.08% exhibited aflatoxigenicity, while the remaining 10 biovars did not show any aflatoxigenicity. These findings indicate the presence of both aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus among the imported maize samples. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Taxon 31 (AY495945.1 Aspergillus flavus biovar 92016f aflR-aflJ intergenic region partial sequence) and Taxon 32 (NR 111041.1 Aspergillus flavus ATCC 16883 ITS region from TYPE material). This genotypic and phenotypic characterization provides valuable information for understanding the diversity and potential toxigenicity of A. flavus strains on imported maize. This study contributes to the understanding of the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of A. flavus on imported maize in Kenya.

 

Read more : Cassava Phytoplasma Insect Identification in Côte d’Ivoire | InformativeBD

Introduction

Maize plays a central role in the food security and livelihoods of Kenyan populations. It serves as a staple food crop for a significant portion of the population, contributing to both dietary needs and income generation. Moreover, maize is an essential component of livestock feed, supporting the growth of the domestic livestock industry. In sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, maize is ranked third in importance among cereal crops, following rice and wheat (Shiferaw et al., 2011). The cultivation and trade of maize have a considerable impact on regional economies and food systems. Maize (Zea mays) is often contaminated by Aspergillus fungal species during pre- and post-harvest practices, storage, and transportation. Studies by Horn (2007) showed that Aspergillus species are commonly found in the soil, which acts as a source of primary inoculum for infecting developing maize kernels during the growing season. Aspergillus flavus is distributed globally with a high frequency of occurrence in warm climates which favor the growth of the fungus (Cotty et al., 1994).

Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity of A. flavus is crucial for diversification of effective management strategies. Different strains of A. flavus may have varying levels of aflatoxin production and pathogenicity, which can influence the severity of contamination in maize (Abbas et al., 2013). Additionally, certain strains may exhibit resistance or susceptibility to control measures, such as biological control agents or fungicides. Therefore, identifying specific strains or groups within the A. flavus population can aid in the selection of appropriate control strategies to minimize aflatoxin contamination. Moreover, the genetic diversity of A. flavus may also have implications for host-pathogen interactions and disease development. Different strains may exhibit variations in their ability to infect maize kernels, colonize host tissues, and compete with other microorganisms in the maize ecosystem (Atehnkeng et al., 2014). Understanding these interactions can help in the development of resistant maize varieties and cultural practices that can limit fungal growth and subsequent aflatoxin production. The population structure and genetic diversity of A. flavus strains isolated from maize play a significant role in aflatoxin contamination and disease development. The existence of multiple strains within the A. flavus population highlights the need for comprehensive investigations to characterize their phenotypic and genotypic traits. Such studies will provide insights into the factors influencing aflatoxin production, the design of effective control strategies, and the development of resistant maize varieties to minimize the health and economic risks associated with aflatoxin contamination. Aspergillus species, including Aspergillus flavus, are of great concern due to their ability to produce aflatoxins, potent carcinogens and toxins that contaminate various agricultural commodities, including maize. The accurate identification and characterization of Aspergillus species is crucial for assessing their potential to produce aflatoxins and understanding their impact on food safety.

Gene sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool for the accurate identification and classification of Aspergillus species. In recent years, numerous studies have utilized gene sequencing data to characterize Aspergillus biovars from different sources. By comparing the genetic sequences of specific genes, such as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, researchers can determine the species and genetic diversity within a population. In addition to genetic characterization, a polyphasic approach is commonly employed to identify and characterize Aspergillus biovars. This approach combines morphological and molecular analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biovars. Morphological characteristics, such as colony color, texture, spore color, size and structure, conidiophore structure and vesicle shape are observed and recorded. These characteristics help in differentiating between various Aspergillus species and subgroups. Furthermore, molecular techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of specific genetic markers, allow for a more precise identification of aflatoxigenic and nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus biovars. These methods target genes associated with aflatoxin production, such as the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster genes, to determine the potential of a biovar to produce aflatoxins. The combination of gene sequencing and polyphasic approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity, population structure, and aflatoxinproducing potential of Aspergillus species, particularly A. flavus. This information is essential for risk assessment, development of effective control strategies, and ensuring the safety and quality of imported maize and other agricultural commodities.

This study contributed to the understanding of the population dynamics and potential risks associated with A. flavus in imported maize. Given the prominence of maize in Kenya, research efforts focusing on this crop are crucial. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize assumes particular significance in the Kenyan context. A thorough understanding of the genetic diversity and potential for mycotoxin production in A. flavus populations is essential for developing effective control strategies and mitigating the health risks associated with mycotoxin contamination. Gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry play a crucial role in facilitating the importation of maize. However, the risk of A. flavus contamination in imported maize has not been thoroughly investigated, warranting a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic characterization of this fungus. Understanding the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of A. flavus on imported maize is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for the identification of specific genetic traits and phenotypic features associated with higher aflatoxin production, thus enabling the development of targeted control strategies. Secondly, it provides insights into the diversity of A. flavus biovars present in imported maize and their potential for aflatoxin contamination. This knowledge can contribute to risk assessment and management strategies aimed at preventing or minimizing aflatoxin contamination in the domestic maize supply chain.

Genotypic characterization involves studying the genetic makeup of A. flavus biovars to determine their relatedness, genetic diversity, and potential for toxin production. Several molecular techniques have been used for genotyping A. flavus, including random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) (Abdallah et al., 2018). These methods have provided valuable insights into the genetic diversity and population structure of A. flavus, highlighting the presence of distinct genotypes in different geographic regions (Klich et al., 2015). Phenotypic characterization involves studying the observable traits and behaviors of A. flavus, such as growth patterns, conidiation, and mycotoxin production. Phenotypic characterization is essential for understanding the pathogenicity and virulence of A. flavus strains on imported maize. Researchers have observed variations in colony morphology, growth rate, and sporulation among different A. flavus biovars (Calvo et al., 2016). Furthermore, studies have demonstrated the production of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, by certain A. flavus strains (Chang et al., 2019). Phenotypic characterization provides valuable information for risk assessment and identifying high-risk A. flavus biovars in imported maize. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize plays a crucial role in assessing the potential health risks associated with mycotoxin contamination. By combining genotypic and phenotypic data, researchers can identify highly toxigenic A. flavus strains and evaluate their prevalence in imported maize.

This information is essential for implementing targeted control measures, such as crop management strategies, post-harvest interventions, and storage practices, to minimize mycotoxin contamination and ensure food safety (Li et al., 2020). Investigating A. flavus on imported maize specifically at gazetted and ungazetted points of entry in Kenya is crucial. Gazetted points of entry are official border checkpoints designated for the importation of agricultural products, while un-gazetted points of entry refer to informal channels through which goods, including maize, are smuggled into the country. Analyzing both types of entry points can provide a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with A. flavus contamination in imported maize, as well as the efficacy of control measures implemented at official checkpoints. In this study, we aim to conduct a detailed genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize at both gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry in Kenya. We will analyze the genetic diversity, aflatoxin production capability, and other phenotypic traits of A. flavus biovars obtained from imported maize samples. By doing so, we hope to gain insights into the potential sources and pathways of A. flavus contamination in imported maize and develop targeted strategies to ensure the safety and quality of imported maize in Kenya.

Reference

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Source : Molecular characterisation of Aspergillus flavus on imported maize through gazetted andungazetted points of Entries in Kenya

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