The Role of Soil Mineralogical Characteristics in Sustainable Soil Fertility Management: A Case Study of Some Tropical Alfisols in Nigeria

The pedogenic horizons of nine profile pits dug across three toposequences were studied to determine the soil mineralogical characteristics and its implications on sustainable management of the fertility of some tropical Alfisols in Nigeria. Results showed that the epipedon which were predominantly ochric had textures that ranged from sand to sandy loam, while the subsurface (B/Bt) horizons had sandy clay loam to sandy clay texture and were gravelly (31.79–83.04%). The soil reaction ranged from strongly acid to neutral (pH 5.10 to 7.05). Calcium and magnesium dominated the exchange sites and accounted for about 75% of the exchangeable bases. Illite/mica and kaolinite were the dominant minerals in the clay fractions, while quartz, mica, and feldspars dominated the fine sand and silt fractions of the soils. While the presence of illite and mica could be important for potassium nutrition in these soils, kaolinite and oxides of iron could also cause phosphorus fixation.     

检测葡萄无核基因DNA探针的合成与应用

利用细菌质粒 M13克隆葡萄无核基因的 RAPD标记 UBC- 2 6 94 50 后 ,采用自动荧光 DNA序列分析仪对其测序。结果表明 ,UBC- 2 6 94 50 由 4 84对核苷酸及其特定序列构成。按照该序列 ,人工合成两个寡聚核苷酸5′ CCAGT TCACT CTCAA TAGGT CC3′和 5′ CCAGT TCGCC CGTAA ATG3′分别作引物 ,当用获得该标记及其序列的亲本和无核杂种后代作模板进行 PCR分析 ,凡是可以扩增出约 5 90 bp片段即为无核基因携带者和表达者。进一步用其原始无核祖先无核白和商业化无核品种及 C78- 47× B52 - 1 2 2 杂交组合后代做模板进行 PCR扩增 ,凡出现约 5 90 bp的特殊标记即为无核基因携带者和无核性状表达者。研究结果证明 ,18bp寡聚核苷酸 5′ CCAGTTCGCC CGTAA ATG3′具有检测葡萄无核基因的探针作用 ,定名为检测葡萄无核基因的探针 1号 (GSL P1)。     

Effect of storage on some volatile aroma compounds in fresh-cut cantaloupe melon

Changes in volatile aroma constituents of fresh-cut cantaloupe melon with storage were determined by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds isolated from the fruit immediately after cutting were predominantly aliphatic and aromatic esters. Storage of fruit at 4 degrees C caused a considerable decrease in concentration of esters and synthesis of the terpenoid compounds beta-ionone and geranylacetone over a period of 24 h. This change in the volatile profile with storage is consistent with that of a stress-induced defense response in the cut fruit as an adaptation process to tissue exposure and cell disruption. The same effect occurred in fruit stored at 22 degrees C and in those treated with sodium azide and ascorbic acid prior to storage. Fruit treated with ascorbic acid and sodium azide had higher concentrations of beta-ionone and geranylacetone and retained these compounds better with storage time. The reduction of esters appears to be an important early reaction step in the loss of freshness during storage of fresh-cut cantaloupe.     

Effect of crossbreeding on fertility,hatchability and embryonic mortality of Nigerian local chickens

A total of 970 eggs were collected from matings involving three genotypes of Nigerian local chickens (Normal-feathered, Frizzle-feathered and Naked neck) and one exotic broiler breeder strain (Anak Titan) to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality. Mating was achieved through artificial insemination. Sire genotype significantly (P < 0.05) affected percent fertility and percent dead-in-shell. Naked neck sire genotype had the highest dead-in-shell (19.5%) with the least being 7.5% for Frizzle-feathered chickens. Frizzle-feathered sire genotype had the highest fertility (90.5%) and hatchability (91.4%). Dam genotype had a significant effect (P < 0.01) on fertility and hatchability, with Anak Titan dam having the highest fertility and hatchability of 88.2% and 94.6%, respectively. Fertility and hatchability were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the interactive effect of sire and dam genotypes with Frizzle-feathered × Anak Titan having 98.5% fertility and 96.8% hatchability. Both straight and reciprocal crosses involving Frizzle-feathered genotype and Anak Titan resulted in higher mean values for fertility and hatchability when compared to crosses involving the other two local chicken genotypes. This result suggests that the use of the Frizzle-feathered genotype appears to be more desirable in fertility and hatchability trials.     

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...     

Establishment of seed germination and micropropagation protocols for Senegalia nigrescens,a potential anti-virulent species

This study describes seed germination and micropropagation of Senegalia nigrescens, an economic, medicinal and nitrogen-fixing species of South Africa. Seeds of S. nigrescens were subjected to pre-sowing treatments including soaking in cold water for 24?h, sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) for 4, 8 and 12?min and mechanically scarifying seeds before sowing on Petri plates with wet filter paper. Mechanically-scarified seeds were also sown aseptically on a filter paper bridge, plain agar, ½ or full strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. Single nodal explants from MS-derived seedlings were grown on MS media supplemented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg?L^?1 of benzylaminopurine (BAP) or kinetin (KIN) and a combination of 0.5 mg?L^?1 of BAP and KIN to investigate shoot multiplication. No significant differences were observed in the number of shoots produced across all treatments. However, the treatment containing 1.0 mg?L^?1 KIN produced a significantly higher shoot length (14.17?±?5.20 mm) than 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg?L^?1 BAP (7.67?±?3.87, 6.75?±?2.93 and 8.70?±?3.56 mm, respectively). The highest rooting rate (16.7%) was obtained on ¼ strength MS supplemented with either indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at concentrations 1.0 and 0.5 mg?L^?1, respectively. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatised with a 66.7% survival rate. The findings from this study would be of great benefit for the commercial propagation of S. nigrescens.