<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">spina-christi</Emphasis> (L.) Willd.: a multipurpose fruit tree

Neglected and underutilized species often play a vital role in securing food and livestock feed, income generation and energy needs of rural populations. In spite of their great potential little attention has been given to these species. This increases the possibility of genetic erosion which would further restrict the survival strategies of people in rural areas. Ziziphus spina-christi is a plant species that has edible fruits and a number of other beneficial applications that include the use of leaves as fodder, branches for fencing, wood as fuel, for construction and furniture making, and the utilization of different parts e.g. Fruits, leaves, roots and bark in folk medicine. Moreover, the plant is adapted to dry and hot climates which make it suitable for cultivation in an environment characterized by increasing degradation of land and water resources. Lack of research in Z. spina-christi hinders its successful improvement and promotion. Therefore, studies are needed to fully exploit this species. This article aims at summarizing information on different aspects of Z. spina-christi to stimulate interest in this crop which is of importance in Sudan and other countries of the semi-arid tropics.

Isolation of Brucella abortus from experimentally infected dromedary camels in Sudan: A preliminary report

Six camels were experimentally infected with two strains of Brucella abortus, four with S19 and two with a field bovine strain. In all cases antibody titres were detected within 6 to 11 days. Serum agglutination titres peaked between days 11 and 32 and complement fixation titres between days 11 and 52; both titres then declined steadily. No clinical signs were observed in the four camels inoculated with S19. Slight non-specific symptoms were seen in the two camels infected with the field bovine strain. On post mortem examination no gross lesions were observed although histopathological sections showed focal granulomata in the liver and a generalized lymphadenitis. The organism was recovered mainly from the lymph nodes of the head and genital tract.     

Participatory analysis of seasonal incidences of diseases of cattle, disease vectors and rainfall in southern Sudan

During an investigation into a chronic wasting disease in southern Sudanese cattle, a participatory appraisal method called a ‘seasonal calendar’ was used to understand local perceptions of seasonal variations in cattle diseases, disease vectors, intermediate hosts and rainfall. Repetition of a standardized seasonal calendar with Dinka informants demonstrated good reproducibility of the method. Comparison of rainfall data produced by seasonal calendars and objective measures of rainfall demonstrated good validity of the seasonal calendar method. Subjective assessment of seasonal calendar scoring patterns by veterinarians indicated that herders’ perceptions of seasonal populations of biting flies, ticks and snails were similar to modern veterinary knowledge. The uses of seasonal calendars in veterinary epidemiology are discussed.     

Determination of seedborne fungi and detection of aflatoxins in sudanese fenugreek seeds

Following incubation of fenugreek(Trigonella foenum- graecum L.) seeds on potato dextrose agar and moist filter papers at 28±2°C, 59 species and 11 varieties belonging to 21 genera of fungi were determined as seedborne in fenugreek crops. Among these isolates, 45 species and 9 varieties are new records for this crop; and two species are new to the mycoflora of Sudan:Aspergillus stellifer andEmericella variecolor. The genusAspergillus (15 species and 8 varieties) is the most prevalent, followed byDrechslera (3 species),Rhizopus (3 species),Alternaria andFusarium (6 species each),Emericella (4 species and 2 varieties)Cladosporium andPenicillium (4 species each),Chaetomium (3 species) andCurvularia (3 species and one variety). The remaining 11 genera displayed low level of infection. Of the common pathogens of fenugreek plants,Fusarium oxysporum (2.13%) was recovered from the seeds of this crop. Thin layer Chromatographic analysis of chloroform extracts of 13 seed samples showed that two samples were naturally contaminated with aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ (7.5–35.2 μg/kg). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 4, 2001.     

Note: Survey of seedborne fungi of sudanese cultivars of onion,with new records

Through incubation of onion (Allium cepa L.) seed samples on potato dextrose agar and moist filter papers at 28±2°C, 32 species and four varieties belonging to 19 genera of fungi were determined as seedborne in this crop. Among them, 23 species are new reports to the mycoflora of onion seeds.Aspergillus (11 species and three varieties, ∼42.1% of the total colony count of fungi) was the most prevalent genus:A. niger (∼19.7%) was found at the highest rate in the seeds, followed byA. parasiticus (∼17.3%,A. oryzae (∼17.3%) andA. flavus (∼14.5%). The genusAspergillus was followed byPenicillium (∼12.4%),Sclerotium (∼7.1%),Fennellia, Rhizopus, Chaetomium, Drechslera andAlternaria (∼12.4%),Fusarium, Emericella andByssochlamys (∼7.1%), whereas the remaining eight genera displayed a low level of infection (∼10%). Twenty-seven species, three varieties and 12 genera represent Hyphomycetes; four genera, three species and one variety — Ascomycotina; one genus and one species — Zygomycotina; two genera and two species — other Deuteromycotina; and one genus — Oomycetes. Some species, which are known to cause devastating pre- and postharvest diseases to onion crops, were recovered from the seeds of this crop, suggesting the high possibility of their transmission by seed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

不同青草料对夏季雏鸵鸟饲用效果的研究

为选择适宜的青草料在夏季饲喂雏鸵鸟Struthio camelus,试验选取10日龄雏鸵鸟30只随机分成2组。在相同基础日粮条件下,试验组饲喂苏丹草Sorghum sudanense,对照组饲喂红薯Ipomoea batatas叶,试期28 d。结果表明:试验组平均日增重为60.0 g/只,料肉比为2.829∶1;对照组平均日增重为53.71 g/只,料肉比为3.162∶1。试验组各周增重显著高于对照组(P<0.05);总增重组间差异显著(P<0.05);试验期内,试验组日增重在第2周加速,而对照组在第3周日增重才加速。说明在夏季用苏丹草饲喂雏鸵鸟效果优于红薯叶。     

塔里木河中下游地区苏丹草生态适应性研究

针对干旱荒漠地区生态环境的特点 ,本文系统论述了苏丹草在塔里木河中下游干旱地区引种的生物学特性 ,并对其栽培与管理方法、各物候期的积温、日照、旬平均气温等环境因子进行了研究 ,分析了一年中的累积植株生长量和植株生长量与主导作用的气象因子的关系 ,突出苏丹草的物候期、生长规律、生物量和营养成份的变化 ,评价此物种在塔河中下游地区种植的适宜性和优质高产生产性能 ,试验结果表明苏丹草年产鲜草 91 369.85～ 1 47646.2kg/hm2 ,苏丹草的种子的耐盐性 ( >2 .0 % )明显高于苜蓿 ,具有很强的适宜性 ,具有相当高的生态、经济、社会效益。     

高效液相色谱法测定苏丹红的研究

建立了一种简单、快速的基于高效液相色谱分离的测定苏丹红的方法.探讨了流动相组成、流速、柱温等对苏丹红分离的影响,优化后的苏丹红分离条件为:流动相为100%甲醇,流速为1.0mL/min,柱温为30℃.测定苏丹红Ⅰ～Ⅳ的线性范围为0.01～40mg/L,相对标准偏差均小于5%,检出限在0.01～0.02mg/L之间.用于实际水样和食品中苏丹红的分析获得满意结果.     

苏丹草、甜高粱与高粱雄性不育系杂交父本生产性能的初步评价

试验选用苏丹草、甜高粱品种(系)与高粱雄性不育系进行杂交,选育优势杂交组合。共参试15个品种(系)。为避免后续杂交育种工作中选择亲本的盲目性,使针对性更强,首先,通过8个农艺性状指标和两个产量指标先对15个父本进行选择,以减轻工作量,为日后选育高产草量、高产籽量和适中含糖量的杂交育种工作提供理论性依据。最后,共选择了7个父本:W010、T03、N0601、06-071⑤、DxK、B8①和B9⑤。在这7个入选的父本中,同等种植密度下,B8①为籽粒产量高的苏丹草品种,而鲜草产量偏低;甜高粱DxK的籽粒产量最低,鲜草产量较高;其余5个父本的籽粒产量和鲜草产量兼得,是理想的父本材料。