Biodiversity of diazotrophs associated to the plant cover of north sinai deserts: Biodiversität diazotropher assoziiert mit der pflanendecke der wüsten nordsinais

Efforts are made to record biodiversity of microflora and diazotrophs associated with the plant cover of the major agricultural development areas in north Sinai, around the El-Salam canal, a newly-constructed canal that brings Nile water westward across the Suez canal. Natural plant communities were collected from three major areas. Ectorhizosphere, endorhizosphere and phyllosphere samples were examined for total microbial population and diazotrophs. The vegetation of South Qantara (area I) is characterized by the dominance of Stipagrostis scoparia followed by Nitraria retusa, Convolvulus lanatus, Cornulaca monacantha and Filago desertorum. Rabaa-Bir El Abd (area II) is dominated by Artemisia monosperma, Panicum turgidum and Zygophyllum album. Euphorbia terracina, Oligomeris linifolia, Astragalus kahiricus, Hyoscyamus muticus and Thymelea hirsuta represent the major plants of El Ser and Al Quarir (area III). Microorganisms colonized root surfaces of all tested plants ranging from >?10⁵ to 10¹⁰ cfu g^???1. Diazotrophs were common residents (10¹⁰ cfu g^???1), invaded the root tissue and established endophytically (10²?–?10⁶ cfu g^???1). Fifty-one N₂-fixing isolates were obtained. Among the 32 bacilli isolates, Bacillus polymyxa and Bacillus circulans were more common compared to Bacillus macerans. BNF Gram-negative isolates belonged to Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter gergoviae, Enterobacter amnigenus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas luteola, Pseudomonas cepacia, Agrobacterium radiobacter and Azospirillum spp.     

Are Vietnamese farmers able to combat global climate change? A case study on perceptions and attitudes towards sustainable forest management and REDD+ in Central Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Global efforts to combat climate change has led to the establishment of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation program (REDD+). This study concerns the implementation of REDD+ among local landscapes and communities in Vietnam. How do affected forest-dependent households perceive their roles in sustainable forest management and REDD+ and how do these perceptions and attitudes influence the (potential) socio-ecological performance of REDD+? Two communes consisting of forest-dependent and indigenous communities in Central Vietnam were selected for this study–the former involved in the UN-REDD program and the latter involved in a REDD+ program of Fauna and Flora International (FFI). Here, we differentiated between a ‘do no harm’ and pro-carbon (UN-REDD), and pro-poor (FFI-REDD+) approach to REDD+. Employing an applied socio-ecological systems framework, we conducted household surveys (n = 102) and we adopted qualitative research methods. This study identified the importance of traditional ecological knowledge systems in sustainable forest management. While pro-poor REDD+ was more inclusive, both REDD+ programs in our study were implemented in a top down manner. Lastly, households’ attitudes and perceptions towards rulemaking, sanctioning, monitoring, cultural capital (beliefs and worldviews) and forest protection technology were identified as (potential) local drivers for successful REDD+ implementation in both communes.     

Isolation and X-ray crystal structure of a new isoquinoline-N-oxide alkaloid from Calycotome villosa subsp. intermedia

A new isoquinoline-N-oxide alkaloid was extracted from the alkaloid fraction of a methanol extract of the seeds of Calycotome villosa subsp. intermedia. Its structure was established as 1-hydroxymethyl-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline-N-oxide (1) by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara on germination and growth behavior of some agricultural crops in Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to understand the growth inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts derived from Lantana camara L. （a globally recognized invasive alien weed） on six popular agricultural crops of Bangladesh. The test was conducted in sterilized petridishes with a photoperiod of 24 hours and an average temperature of 29℃. The effect of different concentrations ofL. camara leaf extracts were recorded and compared with control （i.e., distil water）. Result showed different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts caused significant inhibitory effect on germination, root and shoot elongation and development of lateral roots of receptor crops. Bioassays also indicated that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and higher concentration had the stronger inhibitory effect whereas the lower concentration showed stimulatory effect in some cases. The inhibitory effect was much pronounced in root and lateral root development rather than shoot and germination.     

Lesion development in stems of rough‐ and smooth‐barked Eucalyptus nitens following artificial inoculations with canker fungi

A study of lesion development in stems of Eucalyptus nitens following artificial inoculations with canker fungi was carried out on 16‐year‐old plantation trees. In a first trial cambium bark wounds on smooth‐ and rough‐barked trees were inoculated with the mycelium of nine species of canker fungi, including Endothia gyrosa. In a second trial spores or mycelium of E. gyrosa were applied directly onto undamaged or superficially wounded bark surfaces. Infection subsequent to artificial inoculation via wounding (whatever the wounding technique or type of inoculum) resulted in significantly larger external lesions (mean lesion area up to 35.6 cm² 20 months after inoculation) on smooth bark compared with those on rough bark (up to 19.0 cm²). Microscopic studies of infected rough and smooth bark suggest that, once smooth bark is compromised by wounding and artificial inoculation, the particular anatomical structure of smooth bark may offer less mechanical resistance to post‐penetration hyphal spread in comparison with rough bark. It is suggested that at a pre‐penetration stage under natural conditions spores of E. gyrosa more easily infect rough bark via cracks associated with this type of bark but not present in smooth bark.     

Investigations on the breeding behaviour of aneuploids of guava

Summary The breeding behaviour of aneuploids of guava (Psidium guajava L.) such as trisomic, tetrasomic, and higher aneuploids has been studied. Reciprocal crosses between aneuploids and diploids indicated less than 100% crossability. The aneuploids when used as male parents crossed less frequently than as female parents and certain aneuploids crossed more readily than others. Differences were observed in fruit size, fruit weight, and seed number in the reciprocal crosses.The extra chromosome was found to be transmitted through both the egg cell and the pollen. However, the frequency of transmission was greater through the egg cell than the pollen. As high as 26% transmission of extra chromosomes were obtained through the egg cell. There was no clear cut difference between trisomics and higher aneuploids with regard to the frequency of transmission of extra chromosomes.     

Screening techniques and sources of resistance to foliar diseases caused by major necrotrophic fungi in grain legumes

Summary Necrotrophic pathogens of the cool season food legumes (pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean and lupin) cause wide spread disease and severe crop losses throughout the world. Environmental conditions play an important role in the development and spread of these diseases. Form of inoculum, inoculum concentration and physiological plant growth stage all affect the degree of infection and the amount of crop loss. Measures to control these diseases have relied on identification of resistant germplasm and development of resistant varieties through screening in the field and in controlled environments. Procedures for screening and scoring germplasm and breeding lines for resistance have lacked uniformity among the various programs worldwide. However, this review highlights the most consistent screening and scoring procedures that are simple to use and provide reliable results. Sources of resistance to the major necrotrophic fungi are summarized for each of the cool season food legumes. Marker-assisted selection is underway for Ascochyta blight of pea, lentil and chickpea, and Phomopsis blight of lupin. Other measures such as fungicidal control and cultural control are also reviewed. The emerging genomic information on the model legume, Medicago truncatula, which has various degrees of genetic synteny with the cool season food legumes, has promise for identification of closely linked markers for resistance genes and possibly for eventual map-based cloning of resistance genes. Durable resistance to the necrotrophic pathogens is a common goal of cool season food legume breeders.     

Feed utilisation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on a basal diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleucine coracana</Emphasis> straw and supplemented with variously sourced protein mixed with wheat bran

The study investigated the effect of supplementation of a basal diet of Eleucine coracana (finger millet) straw with different protein sources mixed with wheat bran on feed utilisation in Ethiopian Highland lambs. Twenty yearling intact male lambs (14.9 ± 0.30 kg; mean ± SD) were used in a randomised complete block design. Dietary treatments included a basal diet of E. coracana straw ad libitum (T1); basal diet supplemented with a mixture of 222 g noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake (NSC) and 78 g wheat bran (WB) (T2); basal diet with a mixture of 234 g cotton seedcake (CSC) and 66 g WB (T3); and basal diet with a mixture of 5.4 g urea (U) and 294.6 g WB (T4). The supplements were offered at the daily rate of 300 g dry matter (DM) per lamb in two equal portions at 0800 and 1600 hours. Supplementation of Ethiopian Highland lambs on E. coracana straw basal diet with varied protein sources increased (P < 0.01) the total DM, OM and CP intake and improved (P < 0.01) the daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Lambs in T2, T3 and T4 gained weight at the rate of 22.7, 21.9 and 14.1 g/day, respectively, while lambs on the control diet lost weight at a rate of −24.9 g/day. Supplementation also improved (P < 0.01) the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF of the total diet. It was concluded that supplementation of E. coracana straw with NSC, CSC and U mixed with WB improves feed utilisation, body weight gain and digestibility in Ethiopian Highland lambs.     

Anticoccidial effects of Khaya senegalensis aqueous stem bark extract on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria species

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Graded concentrations (200, 400 and 800&nbsp;mg/kg) of the aqueous stem bark extract of Khaya senegalensis was evaluated for its therapeutic efficacy...