Agricultural development and food security： The way out of crisis

The purpose of this study is to elicit how investments in agricultural development and food security would safeguard the Virgin Islands （BVI） and the Caribbean, by extension, from future global crisis. History shows that agriculture played a significant role in the rise of civilization globally and was the main contributor to the Caribbean economy before the 1950＇s. Overall, it was determined that the BVI population, in general, is desirous of more investment opportunities within the agricultural sector, to assist with the alleviation of poverty at the national level, to advance economic development and trade across the region and to make sustainable development more attainable for the Caribbean, as a whole. To do this, agricultural development and food security must become the focal point of the BVI and other Caribbean economies. Accordingly, the paper recommends that investment within the agricultural sector be undertaken more aggressively across the region. The mixed research approach method was used to validate these claims.     

Magnetic field increase weight and water content in date palm （Phoenix dactylifera L.）

Magnetic field effects on different plant species have been subject of many studies in the last decade. Magnetic fields are known to induce changes in plant metabolism, growth and productivity. In this study, effect of magnetic field on date palm weight and water content has been investigated. Seedlings of date palm were treated with two types of magnetic fields in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, seedlings were treated with static magnetic field SMF using electromagnetic circuit set to produce three levels of magnetic field intensities 10, 50 and 100 mT for different durations （0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min）. In the second experiment seedlings were treated with alternating magnetic field AMF, using magnetic resonance imaging providing 1500 mT for 0, 1, 5, 10 and 15 min. After two months of exposure, plants growth parameters （fresh, dry weights and water content for both leaves and roots） were recorded. The measurements revealed that leaf fresh, dry weight and water content increased significantly in response to SMF treatment. Similarly, roots fresh weight and water content were increased significantly; however roots dry weight increasing were insignificant. In the second experiment, AMF has affected plant growth all parameters were increased significantly. Measurements reached the highest level at 15 min of exposure. This study revealed that magnetic fields affect date palm growth parameters by increasing osmotic pressure and water potential which increase water absorption and enhance flesh weight.     

Genotypic variations in nitrogen use efficiency of rice cultivars at various levels of nitrogen under subtropical environment

Insufficient N supply is an important constraint to productivity of lowland rice. Studies on N nutrition of rice cultivars with different durations representing the north western part of Indo-Gangetic Plains are scanty. A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2006 and 2007 at PAU, Ludhiana to assess the differences in grain yield and N utilization of three popular rice cultivars at varying N doses. Significant differences among genotypes were observed in grain yield, N uptake, N use efficiency and N utilization efficiency. The cultivar PAU-201 was found to be superior among all the tested genotypes. Total N uptake and grain N uptake was highest in cultivar PAU-201 followed by cultivars PR-115 and PR-113. On an average, the response to applied N for grain yield was observed upto 90 kg N ha1. Grain yield increased significantly up to 90 kg N hal in cultivars PR-115 and PAU-201 and up to 120 kg N ha1 in PR-113. Apparent recovery efficiency （ARE） and Partial factor productivity （PFPN） of N was significantly reduced at higher level of N （150 kg N hal）. It was concluded that N uptake is predominant factor in grain yield formation and cultivars differ in NUE suggesting that it may be possible to develop cultivars that are efficient at low nutrient level or are capable of using N more efficiently when applied as fertilizer.     

Effects of Ligustrazine Combined with Cis- dichlorodiamine Platinum on Anti-proliferation,Cell Cycle and Apoptosis of Human Gastric Carcinoma SGC-7901 Cell Lines

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the combination effects of ligustrazine and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum （DDP） on anti-proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cell lines in vitro. [Methed] SGC-7901 cells were treat- ed with ligustrazine and DDP alone or combined for 48 h for morphology assay. Anti-proliferative effects with the same treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h were assayed by MTT method, respectively. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis assay of treated cells were performed in flow cytometry. Zhengjun Jin＇s protocol was used to assay the effect of drug combination. [Result] Ligustrazine significantly increased the prolif- eration inhibition rate of DDP on SGC-7901 cells in combination with DDP, com- paring with the effects of ligustrazine or DDP alone, and exhibited synergistic antitu- mor effect. The combination drug treatment induced cell cycle arrest occurred in S and G2 phase of the cell cycle and increased the apoptosis rate significantly. [Conclusion] Our results indicate that ligustrazine, as a low-toxic and natural herbal component, can significantly increase the anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis rate of antitumor drug DDP on human gastric carcinoma SGC：.-7901 cells.     

Spatio-temporal relationships of Clania miniscula （Lepidoptera： Psychidae） and garden spider （Araneae： Araneidae） in sasanqua orchard

Spatio-temporal relationship of the phytophagons Clania miniscula （Butler） and garden spiders was examined through analysis of their niche and distribution as they occur in sasanqua orchard in Southern Anhui, China from June 2003 to May 2004. The dynamic relationships between Clania minuscula and garden spiders were seasonal in time and space. Spatio-temporal niche breadth was high for the two groups, ranging from 0.57 to 0.98; niche overlap was also high between the two groups from 0.76 to 0.96 during the seasons of June 2003 to May 2004. Geostatistical results indicated that Clania minuscula and garden spiders were aggregated during the emergence periods. The pest Clania minuscula was spatially dependent to a range from 33.48 to 46.84 m while spatial dependence from 30.93 to 51.11 m for garden spiders. The correlation analysis of distribution maps further illustrate the distribution of garden spiders always coincided with that of Clania minuscula. These results showed spatio-temporal synchrony of Clania minuscula and garden spiders at different periods. Adequate knowledge of spatio-temporal correlation between Clania minuscula and garden spiders contributed to provide information for biocontrol at different periods in sasanqua orchard.     

Effect of SHAKTI and KUBOTA power tillers on physical properties of soil and rice yield under Sawah production system in Nigeria

The use of the power tillers （walking tractors） are increasingly popular in Nigeria among farmers adopting Sawah rice production technology. This study compares the effects of two types of power tillers on physical properties of soil and rice yield. because soil properties determine to a large extents rice yield. Data on soil properties and rice yield were collected and subjected to t-test statistics. The results show that, significant differences exit for all the physical properties of soils rice yields from fields where the two power tiller were used with yields from rice field where SHAKTI was used was higher than KUBOTA. It is important that farmers using these models of power tillers for rice production should not only focus on the purchase cost of these power tillers but their overall efficiency in order to achieve the desired high level of yield.     

Maize-rice cropping systems in Bangladesh： Status and research needs

Maize-rice cropping systems are expanding in Bangladesh. Hybrid maize has increasing demand and value, particularly for poultry feed, while rice remains the traditional dominant starch staple food. Bangladesh maize yields （with average farm yields around 5.7 t·ha^-1） are among the highest found in Asia. Cool winter （Rabi） season maize followed by T. Aman （monsoon） rice is the major cropping system; however it is now becoming diversified with many other crops including potato. Financially, hybrid maize is far more profitable than boro （irrigated） rice, wheat, or most other competing winter season Rabi crops. Although maize is relatively problem-free in Bangladesh, some constraints are intensifying with increased concern over input supply and soil-related environmental sustainability. An array of new technologies for sustainable intensive maize production systems is emerging in Bangladesh and some are being promoted and adopted. Continued sustainability of hybrid maize production in Bangladesh depends on optimization of planting time, quality seed of appropriate hybrids, balanced use of nutrient inputs along with soil fertility conservation and other management, for which further research would be high priority.     

Fruit production and quality improvement in aonla （Emblica Officinalis Gaertn.） through canopy management

In order to maintain the health and vigour and to sustain the productivity, a pruning experiment was conducted on four year old ＂Balwant＂ cultivar of aonla grown in laterite soil, planted at a spacing of 5m×5m. To find out the best pruning method, six levels of pruning was performed i.e., （1） Light judicious pruning, （2） Detopping of primary branches at 8 feet from ground level ＋ removal of all secondary branches, （3） Detopping of primary branches at 8 feet from the ground level ＋ removal of all secondary branches at 2 feet from the base of primary branches, （4） Detopping of primary branches at 8 feet from the ground level ＋ removal of all secondary branches at 1 feet from the base of primary branches, （5） Light judicious pruning ＋ Detopping of plant canopy of at 8 feet from the ground level, （6） No pruning （control）. Results of three consecutive years of investigation revealed that light judicious pruning of thin, overlapping, criss-crossed, dead, unproductive and looping branches gave highest fruit yield in all the three years and resulted 64.4 percent yield increment over control when average of three years was considered. Severe pruning of primary and secondary branches caused drastic reduction of yield for two consecutive years after pruning. Judicious pruning helped to produce better sizeable and quality fruits.     

In vitro antioxidant activity of callus culture of carrot （Daucus carom）

Carrot （Daucus carom） is a valuable source of health promoting ingredients such as anthocyanin, carotenes, phenolic compounds etc. These substances are important to man as a source of pharmaceuticals, fragrance, agrochemicals as well as food additives and used for prevention of many chronic diseases. Since these activities may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds, extract of carrot and carrot callus were evaluated for their anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenolic content as well as total antioxidant activity. Anthocyanin content was measured by spectrophotometric method. Total phenols and flavonoids were analyzed according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method and total antioxidant activity was assessed by ferric reducing/antioxidant power （FRAP） assay. Anthocyanin, flavonoids and total phenolic content were estimated to be 9.36 mg%, 46.96 mg% and 57.01 mg% for callus and 6.82 mg%, 32.96 mg% and 42.69 mg% for carrot, respectively, on fresh weight basis. The total antioxidant activity for the callus and carrot was found to be 51.13 mg, 118.77 mg, 91.08 mg and 140.08 mg equivalent and 79.40 mg, 184.44 mg, 141.43 mg and 217.52 mg equivalent to gallic acid, vitamin C, butylated hydroxyanisole （BHA） and trolox, respectively, when expressed per 100 g on fresh weight basis. The antioxidant activity of fresh carrot was found to be higher compared to its callus.     

Factorial analysis of the effect of sugarbeet vinasses on agroecological indices in horticultural field

The impact on soil of applying sugarbeet vinasses （V） was analyzed through a field experiment in horticulture greenhouse, arranged in a 23 factorial design. Two levels of three independent variables--application of V, use of polyethylene cover （PC） on the soil. and soil depth （D）---on various dependent variables were studied. Vinasses favoured crop yield and reduced the number of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles in soil. The concentrations ofN. P and K increased with the interaction VxD, with PC also increasing N concentration. The amounts of humic acids and humin decreased with D; fulvic acid concentration increased with V, but decreased with the interaction VxPC. Soil physical factors were improved mainly with D and V. Aromaticity of humic acid-like fractions increased ~＇itb V. In general, V showed significant effects mainly on the topsoil, suggesting low leaching risks. The results indicate that the levels of the independent factors improving a group of variables were not the same that those contributing to another group. Therefore, their best combination should be determined for each scenario to achieve optimum agroecological performance.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of intercropped winter wheat under limited supplemental irrigation in the semiarid northwestern China

A field experiment was conducted for intercropped winter wheat （Triticum aestivum） in 2002/2003 to evaluate the effects of limited supplemental irrigation on photosynthetic characteristics of intercropped winter wheat in semiarid environment. The result indicated that significances occurred in grain yield between the intercropped wheat treatments and sole wheat control （CKW）, and in yield between the irrigated intercropped wheat plots （WC2W, WC3W, WC5W） and not irrigated （WC1W） except for WC4W plots with nearly the same yield as WC1W. In comparison with CKW, 11.8%, 18.5%, 23.6%, 11.5%, and 30.7% of yield increase in the intercropped wheat plots were obtained in WCIW, WC2W, WC3W, WC4W, and WC5W respectively. Compared to the intercropped wheat plots without irrigation, yields in WC2W, WC3W, and WC5W were improved by 5.9%, 10.5%, and 16.9%, respectively. The dynamics of CGR and NAR in both intercropped （WC1W-WC5W） and solely cropped wheat （CKW） showed a type of ＂single peak＂ curves, with both the maximum CGR and NAR occurred during jointing to heading （14/4-6/5） of wheat. In addition, soil water potential （SWP） fluctuated as a function of the precipitation and limited supplemental irrigation.     

Amylose contents of cereals; influence of household processing on the amylose contents of these foods

Amylose is a food starch found in cereals, legumes and root vegetables. Keeping in view the importance of amylose for various food industries as well as its importance on domestic level, the current study was conducted to analyze the amylose content of common cereals e. g rice （sela, coarse and basmati）, maize yellow, Kisan and Azam varieties and wheat （Tatara, Fakhr-e-sarhad and Bakhtawar-92） varieties as well as quantifying the influence of cooking/boiling procedures on the amylose contents of cereals. The maximum amylose content were observed for wheat variety Tatara （24.28%） followed by Bakhtawar-92 （22.74%） and Fakhr-e-sarhad （19.77%）. Among maize and rice varieties studied, Kisan and course rice were rich in amylose content with values of 27.19 and 30.48% respectively. The chapti of Tatra wheat were scored highest for appearance （7.6）, flavor （7.5）, texture （7.6） and overall acceptability （7.55）. The roti of Kisan and Azam varieties got maximum appearance score of 7.6 as compared to 7.4 for maize yellow variety. Basmati rice was scored highest regarding appearance （8.4）, flavor （8.6）, texture （8.6） and overall acceptability （8.53. The moisture content ranged from 10.61 （Azam） to 8.01% （wheat variety Fakhr-e-sarhad）. Cooking reduced the amylose content of wheat bread from （19.77%-24.28%） to （15.47%-15.94%） with cooking time of 5 min, maize bread from （21.48%-27.19%） to （19.53 %-25.85%） with maximum cooking time of 10 min and boiled rice from （24.90%-30.48%） to （24.18%-30.19%） with cooking time ranging from 12 to 20 min. It can be inferred from these studies that the reduction in amylose content were more in chapti/roti preparation of wheat and maize varieties as compared to boiling of rice varieties and that significant varietals differences exist in amylose content of the uncooked samples.     

Magnetic fields-induced modification of DNA content in date palm （Phoenix dactylifera L.）

Plant stress caused by exposure to magnetic fields （MF） induces modifications at molecular level, particularly in DNA synthesis, structure, and function. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of various doses of non-ionizing radiation of magnetic field on date palm （Phoenix dactylifera L.） based on DNA content. Date palm seedlings （cv. Khalas） established for 2 weeks on filter paper were subjected to static magnetic field and alternating magnetic field. Static magnetic fields （SMF） were applied at 10, 50 and 100 mT for 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 360 min; while alternating magnetic field applied by magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） at 1500 mT for 1, 5, 10 and 15 min. The seedlings were grown in potting soil following exposure for 4 weeks after which DNA was extracted from leaves and its content was determined. Generally, the exposure to magnetic field caused reduction in the content of DNA. The lowest exposure time tested, 30 rain, was sufficient to induce reduction in DNA content. This was true even at the lowest intensity, 10 mT. This dosage caused the DNA content to decrease from 49 ~tg/g to 45 pg/g. Further, increase of the exposure duration to 60 min caused significant reduction in the DNA content, 36 μg/g. At intensities higher than 10 mT, DNA content decreased significantly even at the shortest exposure of 30 min. At 50 and 100 mT, significant decrease in DNA content was also noticed in response to 30 min exposure; whereas the level of DNA increased after 1 min of MRI exposure to 52 ~g/g, then decreased after 5 min to 46 ~g/g. However, longer durations caused no further decrease in the DNA content. These observations indicate that magnetic fields interact with DNA processes, probably by inhibiting synthesis or stimulating degradation of DNA. This response merits further exploration as a mutational agent for date palm genetic manipulation.     

Ecoagriculture evaluation of household level in red soil area of China

A hundred and twenty-one households in Yujiang county, Jiangxi province were investigated by adopting questionnaire method, and the evaluation system of index was established according to the integrative, hierarchical, scientific, practical, comparative and dynamic principles. The investigation data were firstly standardized and then processed with SPSS software. The index weight was confirmed by principal component analysis. Finally, the evaluation scale of ecoagriculture was calculated. The results showed that the evaluation value ranged from 0.141 to 0.689 for 121 households. Agricultural status of 113 households got the primary phase of ecoagriculture which accounting for 93.38%; 7 households into the second phase, representing 5.79% and only 1 household into the third phase according to the evaluation value. However, the ecoagriculture was divided into 5 stages, according to the evaluation value. Therefore, the ecoagriculture has huge potential to develop in red soil area, China.     

Studies on genetic relationships among Oakleaf loquat,Daduhe loquat and common loquat by RAPD and ISSR

The genetic relationships among oakleaf loquat （Eriobotrya prinoides）, Daduhe loquat （Eriobotrya prinoides var. dadunensis） and common loquat （Eriobotrya japonica） were studied by RAPD and ISSR markers. The results showed that the similarity coefficient between oakleaf loquat and common loquat was minimal （0.6996 and 0.7219, respectively） and the similarity coefficient between oakleaf loquat and Daduhe loquat was maximal （0.8403 and 0.8211, respectively）, while the similarity coefficient between Daduhe loquat and common loquat was always intermediate （0.7195 and 0.7219, respectively）. The highest additivity was obtained when Daduhe loquat was regarded as the undetermined hybrid （44.9% and 45.8%, respectively）. The specific bands of oakleaf loquat and common loquat were present in Daduhe loquat. Thus, it could be concluded that Daduhe loquat was a hybrid of oakleaf loquat and common loquat.     

Prediction of net energy value of corn and soybean meal for broiler chicken

Net energy （NE） is the most accurate and unbiased way in characterizing the energy content of feed. Comparatively speaking, research on NE prediction is still limited and under development. Therefore, it is important to correctly assess NE for further study. In this study, an energy balance trial and a fasting metabolism trial were used to measure the net energy for production （NEp） and the net energy for maintenance （NEm）, respectively. Meanwhile, a backward method of multiple linear regression was applied to establish prediction equations for NE. The results showed that corn NE is about 2 times higher than that of soybean meal, due to the efficiency of ME （k） utilization by the ingredients. Meanwhile, AME and acid detergent fiber （ADF） were found to be better predictors for the NE of corn and soybean meal, respectively. Furthermore, Equations 1（R^2=0.993, RSD=0.0091） and 12 （R^2=0.999, RSD=0.0008） were found to be better prediction equations in multiple linear regression analyses for corn and soybean meal, respectively. However, considering the cost of the analytical procedures, the accuracy of the prediction （RSD）, and the additional variability or errors due to interlaboratory variance, Equation 4 （R^2=0.990, RSD=0.0109） and Equation 20 （R^2=0.996, RSD=0.0043） were better models for corn and soybean meal, respectively. Nevertheless, these equations for corn and soybean meal should be applied only under similar experimental conditions.     

Phylogenetic relationships between purple and tea-green individuals of the blue swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus by PCR-SSCP analysis

Given the morphological characters of purple crabs identical with that of the tea-green ones except the body color, it is expected that the purple crabs and the tea-green ones were from the same species. In order to identify the phylogenetic relationships between them at the molecular level, we amplified and compared two conserved mitochondrial gene fragments of purple and tea-green crabs through PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing analyses. The results showed that there was no distinct variation of DNA bands of both the CO1 and 16srRNA genes detected in polyacrylamide gels through SSCP analysis between purple and tea-green crab samples, and the following sequence analysis of color-different crab individuals presented 99.81% and 99.91% nucleotide sequence identity of the CO1 and 16srRNA genes respectively. These indicated that there was no species or subspecies differentiation between purple and tea-green crabs, meaning that they belonged to the same species, Portunus trituberculatus.     

Interbreeding of mouth malformed and crooked-back Clarias gariepinus （Burchell, 1822）

Interspecific crossing was carried out among and between two strains of Clarias gariepinus with mouth malformation and crooked-back traits to determine the source（s） of their deformities and the effects of these morphological deformities on their growth and survival. Synthetic ovaprim hormone was used for their inducement at 0.5 mL/kg of the brood stock body weight at FEDAK integrated farm, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Under indoor management, highest mean survival rate was 73% recorded in the hybrid of female mouth malformed C. gariepinus x male crooked back C. gariepinus and the least mean survival rate was 70% recorded in the mouth malformed C. gariepinus parental. Under outdoor rearing crooked back C. gariepinus parental had the highest mean growth rate （11.20 grammes） while the hybrid of the cross between female crooked back C. gariepinus and male with mouth malformed C. gariepinus had the least mean growth rate （8.63 grammes）. High frequency of occurrence of various morphological aberrations （0.92%） was recorded in the mouth malformed C. gariepinus parental and low frequency of occurrence （0.57%） of morphological aberrations recorded in hybrid of female crooked back C. gariepinus x male mouth malformed C. gariepinus. The reoccurrence of some of these morphological deformities in Clarias is a mystery based on their consistent occurrence even under a very good hatchery management. More research works still need to be done in this area of study of Clarias to unravel the mystery behind this morphological imbalance, because the deformities play special roles in discouraging both the farmers and the consumers of this fish.     

Re-examining Geos Neighbourhood for Its Energy Self-sustained Ability Through Ecological Footprints,Net Energy,and Life Cycle Assessment Tools

There are mounting evidences that human consume significant quantities of resources and have a major impact on the environment. Some research indicates that since the 1980 s human demands on the biosphere have exceeded its regenerrative capacity. One way to solve this problem is to minimize the inappropriate exploitation from environment.This essay will focus on energy self-sustained project, which is a specific way to reduce energy requirements. Energy self-sustained project refers to that energy production is equal to the amount consumed. Three concepts are quoted in the following to assess whether the project achieve zero-energy or not. First, ecological footprint, which provides an indication of the human load on the biosphere, is utilized to measure the inputs and outputs of the bioregion, which is also beneficial for defining the potential energy. Another one is life cycle assessment, which evaluates environmental load that relates to the entire life periodic system of a product, is helpful to measure the products used in the energy self sustained project. In addition, net energy, and gross resource abundance, definitions for selection, or hierarchy of different energy resources, can evaluate the new energy resources in project.Geos Neighbourhood, located in colorado, was planned as the largest net-zero energy neighbourhood in the United States. To meet the energy self sustainability,earth and sun power completely sustain the community's energy needs, and replace all fossil fuels. Compared with the traditional communities, Geos Neighbourhood minimize the adverse impact on the environment. As tools for assessment,ecological footprint, life circle assessment, and net energy, are all used to analyse the planning and design principles in the neighbourhood. By the research, the design principles and energy use in Geos Neighbourhood will be re-examined that whether the zero energy project achieves the reduction of ecological footprint, and energy self sustainability. In addition, life circle assessment will re-examine the materials used in the community also. Finally, the concept of ‘net energy' will test solar energy and earth power which is the major energy used in Geos Neighbourhood.     

Effect of probiotics on growth performance,development of small intestinal tract and microbial populations in broilers

The experiment was conducted using a total of 1392 one-day-old, Cobb commercial male broilers to investigate the effects of a commercial probiotic addition in diet on growth, the development of the small intestine and microbial populations of broilers. Broilers were randomly allotted by BW to 1 of 6 replicate cages （29 chicks per cage） for each of 8 treatments in a randomized block design involving one factorial arrangement of treatments. Dietary treatments included the basal diet （including corn, soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed meal） added with 100 mg/kg antibiotic, 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, 0.25% or 0.3%. The experiment last 42 d and divided into the starter period （1-21 d） and the finisher period （22-42 d）. The results showed that there were significant differences in broiler body weight （BW） （P〈0.001）, average daily feed intake （ADFI） （P=0.033）, relative length of the duodenum （P〈0.001）, jejunum （P=0.008）, ileum （P〈0.001） and the populations of lactobacillus （P〈0.001） and coliform （P〈0.001） in the rectum between the probiotics treatments and the control treatment only in the starter period of the trails. No significant differences were observed in intestinal morphology parameters in two periods of the experiment. Our results indicated that the probiotic was able to improve the performance of broiler chickens, and it was better in the starter period to be used than in the finisher period.