Foliar application of the exogenous plant hormones at pre-blooming stage improves flowering and fruiting in cashew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anacardium occidentale</Emphasis> L.)

The problem of declining tree yield has led to an investigation into the effectiveness of foliar application of exogenous hormones to improve flowering, fruit set, and fruit retention in cashew. Five exogenous hormones, one Gibberellic Acid (GA₃) and four Auxins (IAA, IBA, NAA, and 2,4-D) at seven different rates of application (0 mg L⁻¹, 10 mg L⁻¹, 25 mg L⁻¹, 50 mg L⁻¹, 100 mg L⁻¹, 250 mg L⁻¹, and 500 mg L⁻¹) were tested on six yield-related components of the two Brazilian cashew genotypes. This trial was a factorial split-split-plot design with each treatment replicated five times within a tree and three replications (three trees) per genotype. Responses varied significantly between exogenous hormones, concentrations and genotypes. The cashew plants used showed hormone-specific and optimum concentration response patterns. Of the five exogenous hormones tested, GA₃ was most effective as its application at 50–100 mg L⁻¹ gave five-fold improvements in flowering (precocity and number of hermaphrodite flowers) and fruiting, and about 69% increase in fruit retention ability and 25% in nut size. Panicles treated with GA₃ also produced relatively bigger nuts compared to the untreated. Days to flowering was found to be hormone sensitive, while production of hermaphrodite flowers, fruit set, and nut development tended to be concentration specific. The GA₃ exhibited a broad concentration tolerance among the five exogenous hormones investigated. Our data showed that using GA₃ at 50 mg L⁻¹ will enhance flowering precocity, shorten flowering duration, increase production of hermaphrodite flowers and fruit set significantly, and resultant nuts develop optimally with high percentage retention. Thus, it suggests cashew yield could be increased by exogenous foliar application of GA₃ at 50–100 mg L⁻¹ at pre-blooming stage.     

Erratum to: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of enterococci isolated from poultry and cattle sources in Nigeria

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the pig-production chain in Ibadan,Nigeria

Staphylococcus species colonises humans and animals and is a major food contaminant with public health significance. Here, we assessed the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nares of 120 pigs and 10 farmers were sampled with sterile swabs whilst 54 pork samples were collected from a retail slaughterhouse. Staphylococcus species were isolated using enrichment, cefoxitin–aztreonam selective broth and Mannitol salt agar. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to cefoxitin (30 μg), oxacillin (1 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolates were characterised using conventional biochemical tests. From 184 samples, 364 staphylococcal isolates were obtained. Amongst the 54 pork samples, 44.0% were contaminated with Staphylococcus species. Overall, 9 (2.5%) MRS were obtained and presumptively identified as Staphylococcus xylosus (n = 3), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 3), Staphylococcus warneri (n = 2) and Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 1). There was no relationship between the prevalence of MRS between pigs and pig handlers in the farms, but Farm 2 had the highest frequency of 66.7% (p < 0.05). Piglets had the highest prevalence of 66.7% (p < 0.05) whilst MRS was absent in workers and pork samples. This study raises concerns about the cross-contamination of staphylococci in the food chain. Constant surveillance is imperative to ensure food safety.     

Variance components,correlation and path analyses in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Cowpea as a low-input crop has a potential to significantly ameliorate poor nutrition and food insecurity in sub-Sahara Africa if problem of poor seed...     

Rural household chicken management and challenges in the Upper River Region of the Gambia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Systematic assessment and documentation of extensive livestock production systems are necessary to design or review breeding programs, extension services,...     

Comparative effect of slow and rapid freezing on sperm functional attributes and oxidative stress parameters of goat spermatozoa cryopreserved with tiger nut milk extender

Comparative effect of slow and rapid freezing on sperm functional attributes and oxidative stress parameters of goat spermatozoa cryopreserved with tiger nut milk (TNM) extender was examined in this study. Pooled semen samples obtained from West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks were diluted with Tris‐based extenders containing different levels of TNM (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ml/100 ml extender). The diluted semen samples were subjected to slow and rapid freezing for a period of 7 days and thereafter evaluated for sperm functional attributes (percentage motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, abnormality and livability) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA] concentration and acrosin activity) parameters. Results showed that higher (p < 0.05) motility, livability, membrane and acrosome integrities in semen cryopreserved with slow freezing compared to rapid freezing. These parameters (motility, livability and membrane integrity) were higher (p < 0.05) in semen cryopreserved with 15% TNM in both slow and rapid freezing protocols. The results revealed that semen cryopreserved in slow freezing had lower (p < 0.05) abnormality compared to rapid freezing. Acrosin activity was higher in slow freezing compared to rapid freezing. Acrosin activity was higher at 15% TNM in both slow and rapid freezing. Lower (p < 0.05) MDA concentration was observed in semen cryopreserved using slow freezing compared to rapid freezing. The findings revealed improved post‐thaw sperm functional attributes and oxidative stress parameters of WAD goat spermatozoa cryopreserved with 15% TNM using slow freezing.     

Compatibility and fruit-set in cashew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anacardium occidentale</Emphasis> L.)

Understanding complex factors controlling yield is very crucial to the improvement of cashew in major producing countries currently experiencing very low yield and consequently making cashew farming unprofitable and the whole industry unsustainable. Eleven cashew clones were evaluated for their compatibility and fruit set between 2000 and 2002 seasons, in a diallel cross using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected on number of fruit set at 6 weeks after pollination were statistically analyzed. Significant differences between the parents at the 1% level, revealed the existence of variability for compatibility and fruit set, with 34% cross-compatibility, 51% partial cross-compatibility and 15% cross-incompatibility recorded, while 37% of the parents were self-compatible. Parents sharing the same apples colors tend to be highly cross-compatible, while some clones showed evidence of unilateral compatibility. Maximum value of 55% fruit set obtained from cross-pollination probably indicates upper limit for fruit set in cashew. Significant correlation between compatibility and variation in fruit yield suggests the important role of parental compatibility in selection of planting materials for the establishment of cashew plantation.     

Antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of enterococci isolated from poultry and cattle sources in Nigeria

This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence of Enterococcus from poultry and cattle farms. Three hundred and ninety samples: cloacal/rectal swabs (n?=?260) and manure (n?=?130] were processed for recovery of Enterococcus species. Standard bacteriological methods were used to isolate, identify and characterize Enterococcus species for antimicrobial susceptibility and expression of virulence traits. Detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction. Enterococcus was recovered from 167 (42.8%) of the 390 samples tested with a predominance of Enterococcus faecium (27.7%). Other species detected were Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus raffinosus, Enterococcus avium, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus mundtii and Enterococcus durans. All the isolates tested were susceptible to vancomycin, but resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin and gentamicin was also observed among 61.0, 61.0, 45.1 and 32.7% of the isolates, respectively. Sixty (53.1%) of the isolates were multidrug resistant presenting as 24 different resistance patterns with resistance to gentamicin-erythromycin-streptomycin-tetracycline (CN-ERY-STR-TET) being the most common (n?=?11) pattern. In addition to expression of virulence traits (haemolysin, gelatinase, biofilm production), antibiotic resistance (tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO and ermB) and virulence (asa1, gelE, cylA) genes were detected among the isolates. Also, in vitro transfer of resistance determinants was observed among 75% of the isolates tested. Our data revealed poultry, cattle and manure in this area are hosts to varying Enterococcus species harbouring virulence and resistance determinants that can be transferred to other organisms and also are important for causing nosocomial infection.