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Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayern University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Agricultural Engineering and Irrigation Programme, NAERLS, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.16
Key words: Irrigation levels, fertilizer levels, and watermelon, semi arid region
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Abstract: Watermelon is a crop with a high economic value, which is grown and traded for export in many countries. With the expansion of land under irrigation and provision of irrigation facilities in many of the semi-arid regions including Nigeria, local farmers now grow the crop under irrigation, which hitherto, was restricted to rainy season or under residual moisture. A field study was earned out to investigate the effects of varying levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 or 50 kg N ha-1 and irrigation regime (7, 14 or 21-day intervals) on the performance of watermelon at Kadawa (11 o 39’ N, 08o 02’ E), Nigeria. The result revealed that nitrogen significantly affected the growth, yield and yield components in the range of 50-150 kg ha-1 . Similarly, frequency of irrigation affected some of the growth parameters; however, the total and marketable yields were not significantly affected when irrigation regime was delayed up to 21-day interval. Thus, the volume of water would be reduced thereby increasing efficient use of water in the region which is the major limiting factor during the dry season farming.
United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Laboratory of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Iwate University, Ueda 3-18-8, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.17
Key words: Eggplant, leaf area ratio, leaf weight ratio, relative growth rate, specific leaf area, tomato, unit leaf rate
Abstract: A quantitative growth analysis was performed using instantaneous leaf growth parameters for eggplant and tomato under soil water deficit conditions. A conventional approach was applied for quantifying the relative growth rate (RGR) calculation and was compared with directly measured RGR. Relative leaf growth rate (RLA) was also measured in relation to leaf area (LA). Total plant dry weight (Ldw) was significantly reduced under stress for both the crops and hence RGR. Total Leaf area (LA) and leaf weight (Ldw) was higher in tomato than that of eggplant and adversely affected by periodic water deficit at reproductive stage. Water deficit lowered the leaf growth in terms of LA and Zdw in eggplant by 34 and 3% and in tomato by 25 and 25 %, respectively. Tomato plants showed higher CET (Cumulative evapotranspiration) by increasing water use at reproductive stages than eggplant but both plants lowered the CET underwater deficit. Among the leaf growth characteristics, leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf weight ratio (LWR) and unit leaf rate (ULR) were quantified and used as important parameters for RGR analysis. The index LAR was very sensitive and had great influence on simulated RGR although it fluctuated during all growth stages. Higher SLA at reproductive stage representing lower thickness of leaf was the characteristics of eggplant. But tomato showed lower SLA that was attributed to accumulate photosynthates in leaves during reproductive stage. ULR varied during the experiment but exhibited more efficiency in tomato. In general, higher RGR at vegetative and early reproductive stages was common for both crops followed by lower RGR. The measured and calculated RGR were not constant at all at any growth stage. The calculated RGR based on leaf growth characteristics were, in general, well agreed with measured RGR for both cases indicating leaf growth characteristics credibly provides useful information for crop growth behavior. The present findings also suggest that LAR along with ULR had positive influence on RGR of eggplants and tomato at any growth stage.
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore -641 003, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.18
Key words: Zn enriched manure, Zn solubilizers, yield, curcumin content, soil nutrients, turmeric
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Zn enriched organic manures and Zn solubilizers on the yield, curcumin content of turmeric and nutrient status of the soil. The treatment with FYM + zinc solubilizing bacteria showed higher turmeric rhizome yield increase of 21.6 percent than the FYM alone treatment (9.1 per cent) than no manure (control). The dry rhizome yield, reflected the promising effect of Zn and Fe enriched coirpith or FYM, and Zn enriched coirpith or FYM at M1 (no manure) while at M2 (NPK + FYM) and M3 (NPK+FYM+Zn solubilizing bacteria), the foliar spray of Zn + Fe + MOP excelled the remaining treatments. Incorporation of farmyard manure at 12.51 ha-1 along with Zn solubilizing bacteria stood superior by registering highest values for available of N, P and K content in the soil. The Zn solubilizing organism (Bacillus sp.) identified interestingly proved to have favorable effect on the availability of N, P and K. The effect of micronutrient treatments comprising of soil application of per se ZnSO4, FeSO4 and fortified FYM with Zn and Fe and foliar spray of these two nutrients resulted in synergistic effect on the enhanced availability of not only micronutrients but also K. The DTPA - Zn content of the soil though evidenced significant variation for the different treatments of FYM, FYM + ZSB (Zn solubilising bacteria) and micronutrients on an overall basis did not exceed the deficiency level. Addition of Fe with Zn either as such or fortified with FYM / with coirpith showed synergistic effect on Zn availability in the soil. The available B content of the soil showed an upheaval trend for manuring and Zn and Fe applications. During different stages of crop growth and at harvest stage, DTPA - Fe content in none of the treatments exceeded the threshold level. However, enhancement for treatments with organic manures and micronutrients were statistically perceptible. The availability of Cu and Mn in the soil, brought out the positive effect of Zn and Fe added as such or as fortified either alone or along with FYM and FYM + ZSB. Both content as well as uptake of all the major nutrients in the turmeric plant right from the early phase of crop growth to harvest were positively altered by FYM, FYM + ZSB and soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe.
College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, The University in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. P.O. Box: 482 Burida
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.19
Key words: Water stress, Conocarpus, growth, osmotic adjustment, osmotic potential, arid conditions
Abstract: Six-month-old buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) seedlings were grown in containers under different soil water potentials (soil), ) to 1) determine the minimum soil water potential at which Conocarpus trees can survive and grow fairly well, 2) to study the soil-plant water relationship at different irrigation regimes, and 3) to examine the capacity of Conocarpus seedlings for osmotic adjustment via solute accumulation. Seedling growth was not affected significantly until soil water potential was lower than -0.1 MPa (between 40 and 30% FC), after which, plant height, leaf area and shoot and root dry weights became disrupted by severe water deficit. Water stress decreased osmotic potential of leaves and roots. Leaves tended to osmoregulate their cell sap through osmotic adjustment process as their content of soluble sugars increased. The positive survival under low soil water potential could be related to increased osmotic adjustment. Soil water potential values seem more useful tool than FC values to estimate water requirements and use over an extended period of time, for plant grown under different soil types and different environmental conditions. The study indicate that Conocarpus seedlings can withstand reasonable water stress and can survive at moderately low water potential but, in contrast to other studies, can not be classified as a high drought tolerant or resistant species.
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer, Jordan. University of Jordan, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.20
Key words: Rose, cultivars, rootstocks, Rosa indica, Rosa canina, Rosa hybrida, yield, mineral composition
Abstract: Performance of three rose cultivars First Red, Versilia, and Virginia was evaluated when were grown on their own roots and when grafted onto three rootstocks Rosa indica, Major; Rosa canina, Inermis and Rosa hybrida, Natal Briar in a plastic house. Yield, dry weight and mineral composition were investigated for two successive years. Scion rose cultivars especially on the rootstock Natal Briar produced more flowers/plant which was greatly dependent on the rootstock. The Natal Briar rootstock was superior to that of R. indica and R. canina rootstocks. In addition, more yields were obtained from plant combinations than cultivars grown on their own roots. Scion/rootstock combinations were superior to those grown on their roots with respect to dry weight percentage and nutritional status. Higher and efficient macro and microelement contents were found in shoot and root portions of plant combinations than in the cutting plants. There was no relation between the yield and the elemental status of the root tissues except for phosphorus. Furthermore, shoot and root dry weights were highly correlated to the yield/plant. Shoot dry weight was highly correlated to manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, respectively. While root dry weight was mainly correlated to the manganese, zinc, and magnesium. We conclude that rose yields can be improved through more uniform mineral distribution within the plant tissue by selecting efficient rootstocks to grow scion cultivars on them.
Division of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut-673012, Kerala. Centre for Medicinal Plant Research, Kottakkal, Kerala, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i02.21
Key words: Aerial stem, apical meristem, axillary meristem, direct regeneration, ginger, transformation, Zingiber officinale Rose.
Abstract: An efficient and reproducible protocol for direct multiple shoot induction through in vitro culture of aerial stem (pseudostem) of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) is reported. Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with BAP and NAA in different combinations (1:0.5,1:1,2:1,3:1 mg l-1 ) resulted in high frequency shoot / root organogenesis from the basal and middle segments of the aerial stem explants of in vitro grown ginger as compared to the other hormone combinations. Maximum of 3.1 shoots could be obtained. Genotypes differed in their in vitro response of multiple shoot induction. Anatomical studies revealed the origin of shoot primordial from axillary, apical and primary thickening meristem and of root primordial from primary thickening meristem. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and successfully established in the field conditions and harvested after 8 months.
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.02
Key words: callus, gene expression, genes, genetic engineering, genetic transformation, in vitro culture, in vitro regeneration, leaves, tissue culture, transgenic plants
Abstract: Green-fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression was observed in tissues of litchi (Litchi chinensis) after transformation using Agrobacterium. In vitro grown leaf tissues were used for transformation. After four weeks in culture, expression of GFP was apparent when the regenerated callus and the leaves were observed under fluorescence microscope fitted with a blue exciter filter, a blue dichroic mirror and a barrier filter. Although no transformed litchi plantlets were regenerated, screening for GFP gene expression may prove useful to improve transformation efficiency and to facilitate detection of transformed litchi plants.
College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, PO Box: 1482 King Saud University, Al-Qassim Branch, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.03
Key words: antitranspirants, chlorophyll, drought, evapotranspiration, irrigation scheduling, kaolin, leaf conductance, net assimilation rate, photosynthesis, pinolene, plant water relations, stomata, turgor, water stress
Abstract: The effects of pinolene-base Vapor Gard (VG) emulsion type film and Kaolin (Surround WP) particle type film antitranspirants on stomatal behaviour, water status, carbon assimilation and transpiration rate of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) cv. Double plants, grown under irrigation regimes of 100, 80 and 60% of total evapotranspiration (ET) values, were studied to select the most suitable antitranspirant for conserving irrigation water, with no detrimental effects on growth and production of tuberose plants grown in arid regions. Severe water stress decreased the stomatal frequency and conductance (gs), leaf water potential ( Psi w), osmotic potential ( Psi pi ) and turgor potential ( Psi p), relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (chl), carbon assimilation rate (A) and transpiration rate (E). Both types of antitranspirants effectively enhanced the performance and physiological activities of water-stressed plants particularly, at the 80% ET, but they did not compensate for the negative effects caused
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.04
Key words: boron, calcium, chemical composition, copper, crop yield, foliar diagnosis, grapes, iron, magnesium, manganese, mineral nutrition, nitrogen, nutrient balance, nutrient deficiencies, petioles, phosphorus, plant composition, plant nutrition, potassium, sodi
Abstract: Diagnostic norms were developed from 53.2% top yielding vineyards in Tamil Nadu, India, among 940 observations on yield and petiole analyses of Muscat grapes using bivariate Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS)/Modified Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (MDRIS) and multivariate Compositional Nutritional Diagnosis (CND). About 66 optimum nutrient ratios and concentrations were computed from N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, B, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn analytical results. When several nutrients are limiting yield simultaneously, the diagnosis of nutrient disorder by multivariate CND approach is required for higher diagnostic precision. Based on the classification of NIIs, approximately 17% were severely limited by mineral nutrition and 32% of the vineyards were identified as having possible imbalances. The norm values and identification of yield limiting nutrients were close to each other with DRIS and CND, while there was no consensus with Critical Value Approach norms and diagnosis.
Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Division, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar - 751 015, Orissa, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.05
Key words: auxins, benzyladenine, buds, culture media, cytokinins, IAA, in vitro culture, in vitro regeneration, micropropagation, plant growth regulators, rooting, shoots, sucrose, tissue culture
Abstract: Efficient and rapid micropropagation system was developed for Geoderum purpureum [Geodorum purpureum], an important terrestrial orchid, through axillary meristem culture by manipulating cytokinin and auxin. Multiple shoots were induced from axillary meristems cultured on agar-based MS medium supplemented with 2.0-3.0 mg benzyladenine/litre, 0.5-1.0 mg IAA/litre and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Maximum number of shoot buds were obtained with 3.0 mg benzyladenine and 1.0 mg IAA/litre. The rate of shoot multiplication was maintained in subsequent subculture on similar fresh culture medium. Elongated shoots were separated and rooted on half strength basal MS medium supplemented with IAA or IBA and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Maximum percentage of rooting was obtained on medium having 0.5 mg IAA/litre. Plantlets, thus developed were established in soil with 80% survival.
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.01
Key words: bananas, databases, geographical information systems, plantations, precision agriculture
Abstract: Results are presented of experiments conducted in Thailand to construct the geographical databases of land suitability for Musa (ABB) group plantation, to assess land suitability for Musa (ABB) group using geographical information systems, and to select the possible lands for new banana plantations.
Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.06
Key words: benzyladenine, buds, carotenoids, chlorophyll, enzyme activity, enzymes, growth, IBA, in vitro culture, internodes, leaf area, light intensity, micropropagation, moisture content, peroxidase, plant growth regulators, propagation, rooting, roots, shade pla
Abstract: Although all nodal segments of Syngonium podophyllum irrespective of their age and different concentrations of benzylaminopurine [benzyladenine] (BAP) showed axillary shoot growth, young nodes cultured on MS medium supplemented with 5 micro M BAP gave the best results. Elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 5 micro M IBA. Increase of the frequency of axillary bud sprouting and decrease in the frequency of root formation with the increase of light intensity were recorded, which was accompanied with increase of relative peroxidase activity. Instead of peat, soil consisted of sawdust, sand and clay (1:1:1) was a suitable combination producing valuable plant survival. Subjecting the plants growing in the soil to full sunlight for one day enhanced the peroxidase activity and aggressive chlorophyll degradation, thereby leading to leaf bleaching especially at relatively high temperature (40 degrees C) or low moisture content of the soil (50% field capacity). Plants grown under illu
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.07
Key words: clonal propagation, cuttings, growth, internodes, jackfruits, plant morphology, rooting, roots, shading, shoots
Abstract: The study considers the effect of different levels of shade on growth and morphology of shoots and rooting ability of cuttings developed from decapitated ground layered stock plants. Two-year-old seedling-originated stock plants of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) were decapitated at the tip and layered on ground. Shoots were allowed to develop at three levels of shade: vegetational shade (75% of full sun), lateral shade (40% of full sun) and overhead shade (10% of full sun). Different levels of shade significantly affected the growth and morphology of shoots. Active bud percentages as well as number of shoots produced per stock plant with longer internodes were significantly higher in lateral shade. Rooting percentages of cuttings obtained from the shoots of vegetational, lateral and overhead shade were 80, 87 and 90, respectively. The maximum number of roots (6.2) and root dry mass (20.7 mg) were found in cuttings obtained from lateral shade, followed by overhead shade. The results are discussed in the
Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.08
Key words: crop quality, ethanol, fruits, postharvest treatment, ripening, sugar content, tomatoes
Abstract: Mature-green tomato fruits (cv. 'Bombay') were exposed to ethanol vapour at 0, 1, 2, or 4 ml/kg for 24 hours at 25 degrees C. Ripening was measured as a change in fruit colour. Ethanol treatment delayed fruit ripening which was concentration dependent. Higher concentration of ethanol vapour delayed tomato fruit ripening for more days. Postharvest treatment of ethanol vapour to tomato fruits showed higher TSS, lower acidity, higher brix:acid ratio and high sugar content compared to untreated fruits. The relative association of applied ethanol concentration showed a negative association with acidity and a positive association with sugar content at red-ripe stage. There was a negative relationship between titratable acidity and sugar content in ripe tomato fruit. Postharvest use of ethanol improves the sensory quality of fruits after complete ripening.
Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow - 226 001, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.09
Key words: branches, correlation analysis, crop yield, genetic gain, heritability, leaf cuttings, leaves, plant height, protein content, selection criteria, stems, yield components
Abstract: An experiment was conducted during 2003 kharif season in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 29 vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) cultivars to identify the suitable direct and indirect component traits that contribute towards foliage yield. The first cutting of foliage started after the third week of sowing and subsequent cuttings were conducted at 15-day intervals. Data were recorded for plant height, stem diameter, branches per plant, leaves per plant, leaf size, protein content and foliage yield. Heritability values were high for all the characters in all the cuttings and pooled values. Foliage yield showed maximum heritability in all 4 cuttings followed by plant height and leaf size. Genetic gain was highest for foliage yield followed by leaf size and stem diameter. In general, the genetic advance values were high in all the cuttings for foliage yield, plant height, leaf size and stem diameter. Only plant height was positively correlated with foliage yield in all the cuttings. In the first and second
