Correcting molybdenum deficiency of chickpea in the High Barind Tract of Bangladesh

A major limitation to chickpea grown on residual soil moisture after the harvest of rice in the High Barind Tract (HBT) of Bangladesh is acidic surface soil. A diagnostic trial conducted in the 2001/02 season showed that Mo was limiting growth and yield of chickpea. Multilocational on‐farm trials in the 2002/03 season established that Mo applied to the soil at 500 g ha^–1 improved nodulation and plant growth and resulted in grain‐yield responses of 58%–173%. In addition, we tested an application method suitable for resource‐poor farmers where Mo and Rhizobium were added in the seed‐priming process. Multilocational trials in farmers' fields in 2003/04 confirmed that this was as effective as soil application of Mo, giving yield responses of 37%–90%. In each of 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons, 50 farmers implemented on‐farm evaluations of adding Mo + Rhizobium in the priming solution in operational scale plots (666 m²) across the HBT. Mean responses of up to 50%, compared to priming in water only, were obtained. These results suggest that the severe N deficiency of chickpea commonly observed in the HBT can be effectively alleviated by applying Mo and Rhizobium inoculum through a simple low‐cost technology within the scope of resource‐poor farmers.     

Effect of Nano Fe-Chelate,Fe-Eddha and FeSO4 on Vegetative Growth,Physiological Parameters and Some Nutrient Elements Concentrations of Four Varieties of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) In NFT System

In order to investigate the effects of different iron (Fe) sources (nano iron (Fe)-chelate, Fe- ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (EDDHA) and iron (II) sulfate (FeSO₄)) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth in alkaline solutions, an experiment was arranged in hydroponic system. This study showed that leaf Fe content and overall plant growth was significantly increased by Fe-chelate application, and the highest values of leaf Fe, plant pigments and vegetative growth were recorded in plants treated with nano Fe-chelate. The lowest Fe, chlorophyll, carotenoids and soluble sugars in leaves were observed in FeSO₄ treatment. There were no difference in soluble sugars contents of plants between nano Fe-chelate and Fe-EDDHA treatments. Fertilization of lettuce plants with different Fe-chelate sources had a beneficial effect on the manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) uptake in plants. It is concluded that application of chelated form of Fe (especially nano Fe-chelate) must be performed in hydroponic system with alkaline water, to overcome Fe deficiencies and to make better nutritional status.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Mycobacterium isolates from fighting fish Betta spp. in Malaysia

Mycobacteriosis due to mycobacteria is one of the most common bacterial diseases in ornamental fish. We describe here the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Mycobacterium isolates from fighting fish Betta spp. using ATCC Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium chelonae as references. A total of four isolates (M1, M2, M3, M4) were obtained from four out of 106 fish samples using selective agar, and identified to Mycobacterium genus using acid-fast staining and 16s rRNA gene-based genus specific polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequencing and NCBI-BLAST analysis further identified isolate M1 as M. marinum and isolates M2, M3, M4 as M. fortuitum. Morphological, physiological and biochemical tests were carried out for phenotypic characterizations. Universal M13 and wild-type phage M13 RAPD dendogram was generated to illustrate the genetic relationship of the isolates and reference strains.     

Early sowing and irrigation to increase barley yields and water use efficiency in Mediterranean conditions

In rainfed Mediterranean areas, early sowings which lead to early growth and maturity to escape terminal heat and drought usually give higher grain yield than late sowings in years when rains come early. We test the hypothesis that early sowing coupled with a small amount of irrigation to ensure earlier emergence increases grain yield significantly, while improving irrigation water productivity. Replicated field experiments were conducted for 4 years in the semi-arid central Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. Barley was sown early, and half of the plots were irrigated with 25-30 mm of water immediately after sowing (EI). Half of the plots also received irrigation around heading stage (LI). Besides yields, other agronomic data were collected throughout crop growth, and the supplemental irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_SI) was calculated. Our results confirm the hypothesis that in Mediterranean areas early sowing followed immediately with a small amount of irrigation increases barley grain yield significantly. Farmers in the region should seriously consider practicing this technique as it produces a higher WUE_SI than irrigation at the heading stage.     

Lipid evaluation of cultivated and wild carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed oil growing in Turkey

Studies were carried out on the oil content, fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols in the seeds of two carobs (Ceratonia siliqua), cultivated and wild, from Turkey. The oil yields of cultivated and wild carob seeds were established as 1.73 and 1.82% on a dry weight basis, respectively. The main fatty acids in cultivated and wild carob seed oils are linoleic (49.1% and 51.0%), oleic (30.4% and 26.5%), palmitic (10.3% and 12.0%) and stearic (3.5% and 4.6%), respectively. Tocopherols and phytosterols are important constituents of the unsaponifiable fraction of several seed oils. The major tocopherol in both seed oils was γ-tocopherol. The composition (mg/100 g) was as follows α-tocopherol (69.06 and 70.39 mg/100 g), P8 (22.29 and 24.78 mg/100 g), δ-tocopherol (8.70 and 10.66 mg/100 g), β-tocopherol (2.30 and 1.85 mg/100 g). The total tocopherol contents had 208.45 and 223.14 mg/100 g, respectively. The total content of sterols of both oils were determined as 16400.94 and 30191.55 mg/kg, with β-sitosterol as the predominant sterol that accounted for more than 70% of the total amount of sterols other sterols, campesterol (5.33–5.32%), stigmasterol (0.58–11.43%) 7-avenasterol (3.45–3.03%), 7-stigmasterol (2.16–2.4%), and chlerosterol (1.33–1.0%) were detected in both carob oils. As a result, the accurate quantification of these analyses has very important applications for the nutrition sciences.     

Characteristics of some almond kernel and oils

The proximate properties, the fatty acid and mineral contents of different almond kernel varieties were determined. The crude protein contents of kernels ranged between 12.7% (guara) and 16.3% (cristomorto). The oil yields from these kernels were established between 48.8% (cristomorto) and 55.7% (ferragnes). The acidity value of oils were found between 1.389 and 3.559%. In addition, peroxide values were established between 7.586 (nonpareil) and 15.590 mequiv./kg (cristomorto). The major fatty acids of almond kernel oils were oleic (72.5–79.9%), linoleic (13.5–19.8%) and palmitic acids (5.9–6.7%). The predominant mineral in most kernel was potassium (13.1–15.1 mg/100 g). The mineral contents of the kernels were established as 7.94–9.38 mg/100 g potassium, 2.9–4.0 mg/100 g magnesium and 1.84–2.94 mg/100 g calcium. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the kernels of almond varieties are being potential sources of valuable oil which might be used for edible and other industrial applications.     

An outbreak of suspected tick paralysis in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Sudan

An outbreak of suspected tick paralysis occurred in one-humped camels in Southern Darfur, the Sudan, between latitudes 11-12 degrees N and longitudes 24-25 degrees E, when the camels were herded in tick infested areas. It involved 251 camels of different ages, in ten herds causing 34.3% mortality. The symptoms were incoordination of movements, unsteady gait and recumbency followed by death or recovery. Hyalomma adults and/or Rhipicephalus nymphs and adults were incriminated to be the cause of the disease. Transient paralysis in a guinea pig was produced after experimental feeding of ticks. Removal of the camels from the tick infested areas and treatment against the ectoparasites with Lindane at the concentration of 0.23% contributed to controlling the disease.     

Fertility of Zebu cross-bred dairy cows following oestrus synchronisation with PRID "Abbovestrol"

Contents: Abbovestrol® (Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal Device PRID) was administered to 5 non-pregnant cows intravaginally for 12 days (group 1). 5 other cows were left untreated as control group (group 2). Four animals in group 1 exhibited behavioural oestrus; peripheral plasma concentration of progesterone was 0.5 ng/ml and the oestradiol 17β concentration was similar to that in the control group. It is concluded that the Abbovestrol® device can induce a fertile oestrus in Zebu cross bred cattle.     

Highly client-oriented breeding,using local preferences and selection,produces widely adapted rice varieties

When explicit measures are taken to account for the needs of clients (farmers and consumers) it results in highly client-oriented breeding. This involves the participation of farmers to specify the design of desirable varieties and, once they are produced, their testing without delay with the target clients in the target environments. The term highly client-oriented breeding (COB) explains the purpose of farmer involvement – the deliberate achievement of a high degree of client orientation – rather than simply explaining the process of farmers participating in plant breeding (participatory plant breeding). Client-oriented breeding is sometimes based on the preferences of relatively few farmers in a small area, so a possible drawback is that it will produce varieties that are too locally adapted. We describe the testing of varieties in the High Barind Tract (HBT) of Bangladesh from a COB programme carried out in Chitwan district, Nepal. The two best lines, Judi 582 and Judi 567, yielded 19–50% more during the T. Aman season and 106% more during the Aus season than check varieties in the HBT. Research to determine farmers’ preferences and adoption consistently showed these varieties were preferred over all available alternatives. The new varieties were broadly adapted as they were superior in all the three rice-growing seasons over varying levels of inputs. This broad adaptation could be explained by the breeding method: the generations were advanced in two contrasting seasons and each generation was grown on a different farmer's field under different management and planting dates. Because the segregating generations were grown under moderate and fluctuating levels of nitrogen, it is to be expected that genotypes with good nitrogen use efficiency will be selected that can also respond to added nitrogen. Overall, the cost-effectiveness of COB was high as it produced widely adapted genotypes from a small breeding programme, and knowledge of farmers’ preferences increased the efficiency of targeting new germplasm.