Allelopathy in the rhizosphere and amended soil of Chenopodium murale L.

Soil infested with Chenopodium murale and amended with it were investigated to verify their allelopathic effects on seedling emergence and some growth and physiological parameters of five test species, Trifolium alexandrinum, Triticum aestivum, Melilotus indicus, lycopersicum esculentum and Cucumus sativus. The two types of soil exhibited phytotoxic effects on the seedling emergence of the test species. Growth and physiological parameters were significantly inhibited when the soil was amended with a high concentration of C. murale tissues. Soil amended with shoot tissue had more inhibitory effects than soil amended with root tissue, at the same concentration. M. indicus was more inhibited than the other species in relation to leaf area, dry matter, pigment, carbohydrates and protein contents.     

New durum wheat with Hessian fly resistance from Triticum araraticum and T. carthlicum in Morocco

Hessian fly is an important pest of wheat on the North American continent and the temperate Mediterranean drylands. Yield losses caused by this insect in Morocco are the heaviest in the Mediterranean region and are estimated to be 36% on average. Genetic resistance to Mediterranean Hessian fly biotypes has not been found in durum wheat, although large numbers of durum accessions were screened. Genes for resistance were found in common wheat; some of which are transferable to durum. However, there is a need to broaden the genetic base for resistance in durum wheat. The objective of this work was to introgress resistance from selected Triticum araraticum and T. carthlicum accessions using multiple backcross methodology. The experimental recipient durum wheat included numerous adapted and high‐yielding lines. Testing for Hessian fly resistance under controlled conditions and field yield data showed that this programme yields Hessian fly‐resistant durum lines with good yields and adaptation.     

Evaluation of Cow Pea Seed Meal,Vigna sinensis,as a Dietary Protein Replacer for Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (L.), Fingerlings

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of partial and total replacement of fish meal (FM) protein by cow pea seed meal (CPSM) protein in practical diets on growth performance, feed utilization, and body composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Fish of an average initial weight of 4.6 ± 0.2 g were stocked in 15 glass aquariums (80 L each) at a rate of 15 fish per aquarium. FM protein (30% of the diet) was used as the sole source of animal protein in the control diet. Percent replacement of FM by CPSM on the basis of crude protein were as follows: 0% (control diet A), 25% (diet B), 50% (diet C), 75% (diet D), and 100% (diet E). Diets were fed to fish at a rate of 4% of the total fish biomass daily, for a period of 16 wk. The results of this study revealed that the fish fed control diet A (100% FM) had the best average final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR %/d), weight gain (g/fish), weight gain %, while the poorest results for all parameters were obtained with fish fed diet E (100% CPSM). The same parameters of fish fed diets B (25% CPSM) and C (50% CPSM) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of fish fed the control diet A. Feed utilization parameters of fish fed diets A, B, C, and D were better than for diet E. Proximate composition of whole‐body moisture and ash contents were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all experimental diets and control diet. Whole‐body protein contents for fish fed diets B and C were superior to the control diet A. Incorporation of CPSM in the diets significantly increased whole‐body fat content. Incorporation of CPSM in the diets significantly decreased apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein crude fat and energy. Diets B and C were not significantly different from control diet A. Therefore, these findings suggest that up to 50% of FM protein can be replaced by CPSM protein in Nile tilapia diets without any adverse effects on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and digestibility.