Online: ISSN 2784 – 0360 | ISSN – L 2784 – 0360 | Print: ISSN 2784 – 0379 ISSN-L 2784 – 0360

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2021

The Impact of Two Anticoagulants on Erythrocytes Morphology in Different Vertebrate Species

Jan 27, 2022 |

Daniel Cocan, Vioara Mireşan, Camelia Răducu, Paul Uiuiu, Alexandru Giurgiu, Tudor Păpuc, Radu Constantinescu, Călin Laţiu

ABSTRACT. In this study, we aimed to highlight the influence of anticoagulants on erythrocyte morphometry in different vertebrate species. Anticoagulants are a category of substances that inhibit blood clotting through various mechanisms. Due to this property, they are used to collect blood samples for a wide range of laboratory tests. The literature mentions that the use of anticoagulants produces morphological changes of erythrocytes, thus influencing results. Blood samples were collected from three warm-blooded vertebrate species (horse, rabbit, and chicken) and one lower vertebrate species with nucleated erythrocytes (fish) in vacutainers with Heparin and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), in a normal concentration and a double concentration. At the time of harvesting, control smears were performed. In order to be able to compare the effects produced by anticoagulants on the morphology of erythrocytes, they were evaluated morphometrically at intervals of 3, 6, and 24 hrs. after harvest. The following features were evaluated using the Toup View software: length, width, surface and perimeter of erythrocytes for species with anucleated erythrocytes. The same characteristics were evaluated in the nucleus for species with nucleated erythrocytes. The data obtained were processed with statistical programs to highlight changes in erythrocyte morphology produced by anticoagulants.

Keywords: blood cells; length-width ratio; cell surface; shape; vacutainer.

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The Profile of Fatty Acids and the Eggs Quality from Hens Fed to the Diet with Flax Seeds, Rapeseed Meal and Vitamin E Supplements

Jan 25, 2022 |

Petru Alexandru Vlaicu, Tatiana Dumitra Panaite, Raluca Paula Turcu, Gabriela Maria Cornescu, Petruța Vișinescu

ABSTRACT. This experiment investigates the effect of flaxseed meal, rapeseed meal and vitamin E supplementation, when used together, on the production parameters of fatty acid composition and eggs quality characteristics in Tetra SL laying hens (38 to 46 weeks of age). For this, 120 hens were allocated one of three treatments, with 40 hens in each group. The hens were fed either a control diet (C), a control diet including 2.5 % flaxseed meal and 2.5% rapeseed meal (E1) or 2.5% flaxseed meal and 2.5% rapeseed meal with 73 mg/ kg feed of vitamin E as an antioxidant supplement (E2) for 8 weeks. Hens consuming the E1 diet had greater egg production and egg mass than those from group C. The feed conversion ratio in both the E1 and E2 groups was lower (P < 0.05) than in the C diet group. E2 had considerably higher egg weight, albumen pH, yolk pH and Haugh unit than E1 and C (P0.05), as a response to the vitamin E antioxidant effect. The most α-linolenic fatty acid content (1.07 g FAME) was found in eggs produced by chickens fed the E2 diet, (1.07 g FAME), followed by E1 (0.91 g FAME), with both being significantly higher than C eggs (0.23g FAME). Furthermore, all n-6 studied fatty acids concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in E1 and E2, while all n-3 fatty acids concentrations were significantly greater (P > 0.05) in E1 and E2. When comparing the n-6/n-3 ratio of fatty acids from experimental treatments (6.44 and 6.74) with C treatment (18.19), a significant difference was observed (almost 65% lower).

Keywords: egg fatty acids; egg quality; flaxseed; laying hens; rapeseed.

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Fertilisation Source and Dose Optimisation Boost Yield of Durum Wheat in Mediterranean Climatic Conditions

Dec 23, 2021 |

Mazlum Ayhan, Ferhat Kizilgeçi, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal

ABSTRACT. Climate change, global warming, environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields, stagnant wheat yields and reduced farm economic returns require optimisation of sources and doses of plant nutrients. A field study was conducted to evaluate wheat response to different forms of fertilisers and nitrogen (N) doses under Mediterranean conditions. The field trial was comprised of fertiliser sources, including chemical fertilisers, compost and leonardite, while different nitrogen levels (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha-1) were also tested. The experimental variables included yield attributes (height of the, length of the spike, spikelets number per spike, thousand-grain weight and grain yield). In addition, nutritional quality attributes like protein and starch contents were studied along with NDVI values of wheat under different fertilisation regimes. The trial was executed using a randomised complete block (factorial) design using four replications. The results revealed that fertiliser forms and N doses remained ineffective for boosting yield attributes of wheat. For nutritional characteristics of wheat grains, a higher N dose remained instrumental in boosting protein, starch and wet gluten contents. Thus, 240 kg ha-1 of N dose might be recommended for general adoption under Mediterranean conditions; however, study findings are limited in scope and further in-depth studies are needed by testing organic manures from plant and animal origins.

Keywords: compost; leonardite; NDVI; nitrogen doses; protein content.

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Plant Spacing and Its Effect on Yield, Fibre Quality and Physiological Parameters in Cotton

Dec 7, 2021 |

Rojda Altundag, Emine Karademir

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to see how changing plant spacings affected cotton yield, yield components, fibre quality traits, and physiological parameters. In this study, six plant spacings (no thinning, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm) were investigated. Plant density caused significant differences in the number of first fruiting branches, number of bolls, ginning percentage, seed cotton yield, fibre yield, and normalised difference vegetative index (NDVI). Plant height, the number of sympodial branches, number of monopodial branches, boll weight, seed cotton weight/boll, number of 100-seed weight, seeds/boll, canopy temperature, chlorophyll content, leaf area, and fibre quality properties (micronaire, length, strength, elongation, uniformity, short fibre index, reflectance, yellowness, and spinning consistency index [SCI] were non-significant. The highest values of seed cotton yield, fibre yield, ginning percentage, number of first fruiting branches, and NDVI were obtained in the no thinning and 5 cm plant spacing applications, while the highest boll number was obtained at 20 and 25 cm plant spacings. In this study, physiological parameters, such as canopy temperature, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and fibre technological traits, were not affected by plant spacing. The highest seed cotton yield, fibre yield, ginning percentage and NDVI were obtained from no thinning and 5 cm intra-row spacing, indicating their impact on examined characteristics. Therefore, a yield estimation can be made in the flowering period with the NDVI in different plant densities in cotton.

Keywords: cotton; plant spacing; yield; physiology; fibre quality.

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Comparison of Two Microwave Drying Techniques for Cereal Seeds and Determination of Their Physical Parameters

Dec 7, 2021 |

Petru Marian Cârlescu, Marius Băetu, Virginia Ciobanu, Ioan Țenu, Radu Roșca

ABSTRACT. The microwave drying of wheat and corn seeds by two technologies at different working powers is studied here. The main objective is to evaluate the effect of microwaves on variations in the moisture, colour and size of the seeds after microwave drying. The tests are performed in microwave ovens with and without inverter technology at three drying powers (260, 440 and 620 W). It has been observed that increasing drying power results in a ~50% reduction in drying time and a seed moisture level below 14%. The colour variation of the seeds is insignificant between microwave drying with and without the inverter. However, there is also an unacceptable decrease in size for both types of seeds with increasing drying power, which can lead to increased shrinkage of the seeds and the appearance of cracks, especially in the corn seeds.

Keywords: microwave, drying, cereal seeds.

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The Effect of Different Sowing Times on Fresh Ear Yield and Yield Components in Sweet Corn (Zea Mays L. Saccharata Sturt.) Varieties

Sep 17, 2021 |

Sevda Kilinç, Şehmus Atakul, Şerif Kahraman, Hüsnü Aktaş, İrfan Erdemci, Özlem Avşar, İsmail Gül

ABSTRACT. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different sowing times on duration of tasselling, plant height, first ear height, ear length, ear diameter, number of ears per plant, fresh ear yield with husk, fresh ear yield unhusked, and marketable number of ears of different sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt.) varieties in Diyarbakır between the years of 2010-2012. The trial was conducted as split plots in randomised complete blocks with three replications. The main plots were sowing times, and the sub-plots were varieties. The trials were carried out at eight different sowing times (1 April, 15 April, 1 May, 15 May, 1 June, 15 June, 1 July and 15 July) with ‘Merit’, ‘Jubilee’, ‘Lumina’, ‘Vega’ and ‘Sakarya’ composite sweet corn varieties. From the variance analysis of the three-year combined average, the duration of tasselling, plant height, first ear height, ear length, ear diameter, number of ears per plant, fresh husked ear yield, fresh unhusked ear yield and marketable ear number were statistically significant for sowing times and varieties. According to the sowing time × variety interaction, except ears per plant and first ear height values, all other traits were significant. The fresh husked and unhusked ear yields varied between 8541.7-19396.8 kg ha-1 and 5065.0-13485.7 kg ha-1, respectively. The highest fresh husked and fresh unhusked ear yields were obtained from the 15 April sowing time of ‘Vega’ variety. The results state that optimal sowing dates for different varieties of sweet corn could be from 1 April to 1 May, and the most suitable variety to be planted is ‘Vega’ in Diyarbakır conditions.

Keywords: sweet corn; sowing time; variety; yield and yield components.

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Assessing the Impacts of Climatic Factors on Cotton Yield And Its Economic Indicators

Aug 11, 2021 |

Assem A.A. Mohamed, Mona Maze, Mohamed M.M. Abdelaziz, Alaa A. Khalil

ABSTRACT. Cotton is one of the strategic crops in Egypt. This article investigates the impacts of climatic factors and their variations on the cotton yield and its economic benefits during the period from 1998 to 2019. We chose the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, where cotton is one of the major planted crops, was chosen for the analysis. The climatic factors utilized were the maximum, minimum and average temperatures; relative humidity; solar radiation and wind speed. Precipitation was excluded, as Egypt depends mainly on irrigation. The climatic factors utilized influenced yield during different growth stages: wind speed showed an influence only on the germination stage, whereas temperature had a major impact before and at the maturity stages. The latter correlation was positive in July and negative in August and September. Relative humidity and solar radiation impacted on yield at different growth stages, with an almost positive correlation with solar radiation and both a positive and a negative correlation with relative humidity. For the study of the economic indicators of cotton, cotton data were taken for the whole Egyptian Governorate during the period 2005-2019. The study showed a decrease in the net return during the period from 2005 to 2015 that reached a loss (minus value) of 195 Egyptian pounds (LE) in 2015, followed by an increase during the period from 2016 to 2019 due to the increase in farm gate prices.

Keywords: cotton crops, weather parameters, vegetative stages, economic indicators, Egypt.

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Nitrogen Status and Canopy Density Detection of Vegetation Using Multispectral Data

Jul 31, 2021 |

Oluwole John Pelemo, Sadioluwa O. Afolabi, Maureen O. Ogoliegbune, Monisola B. Awosusi, Mayowa J. Mephors, David O. Ayeni, Sadiat I. Adamu

ABSTRACT. The use of ground-based multispectral data for the evaluation of plant water stress and nitrogen status in Old Oyo national Park, Nigeria was conducted and classification was performed. The active area of nitrogen concentration in hectares was between 0.0 and 0.4. This active area was expressed in hectares (ha) and percentages (%) respectively. From the assessment, 53.52 ha (69%) and 24.29 ha (31%) were recorded at 0.2-0.4 and 0.0-0.2, respectively. Heat stress takes place when the regular temperature is above 30ºC, which could slow down plant growth and lead to the threat of deficiency. The heat stress reached a maximum of 40ºC in this analysis between February and May. The research concluded that the sustainability of crops and trees requires a certain quantity of 69 percent nitrogen and a certain level of wetness for their growth which is between 400 mm and 800 mm rainfall.

Keywords: heat stress, temperature, drought, land cover changes.

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Polyel – Compound with Antioxidant Properties

Jun 30, 2021 |

Anastasia Ștefîrță, Ion Bulhac, Eduard Coropceanu, Lilia Brînză

ABSTRACT. A new complex compound, Polyel, which contains thiourea, macro- and microelements in the form of salts and coordination complexes, as well as vitamins, was obtained and tested. Biological tests were performed in laboratory experiments and in the vegetation complex of the Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection. As subjects of investigations served the plants Glycine max (Merr) cultivars L. ‘Deia’, ‘Moldovița’, and ‘Enigma’ varieties, grown in the Mitcherlih vegetation pots with a volume of 40 kg soil and exposed to the drought stress at the phase “flowering – pods formation”. The beneficial effect of Polyel on antioxidant protection systems by reducing the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and intensifying the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes has been established. Polyel has been shown to be one of the new biologically active chemicals that can be used in agriculture to reduce the negative impact of oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The use of Polyel as a physiologically active substance (PAS) with antioxidant proprieties for pre-treatment of seeds and foliar apparatus is much more effective under moderate drought conditions.

Keywords: Polyel; antioxidant; malondialdehyde; antioxidant protection enzymes; drought; soybean.

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Effects of Salinity on Growth and Proline Content on Bean and Alfalfa

Jun 28, 2021 |

Sabah Razi, Fatima Zohra Khadhir

ABSTRACT. Soil salinity is a major agricultural constraint in many countries. Plants’ response to salinity depends on the species and the salt concentration in the soil. The objective of this study was to test the resistance of three leguminous plants – common bean (variety ‘El-Jadida’), broad bean (variety ‘Claro de Luna’), and alfalfa (variety ‘Diamon’) – to several salinity rates and to show which one was more resistant to salt stress. This study was carried out under controlled conditions, with six NaCl concentrations (0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg) added to a mixture of potting soil and sand. A completely randomised design was used, where the three legumes were cultivated with different salt concentrations to determine the effect of these doses on fresh biomass, dry mass, and physiological parameters (sodium and proline content). The results showed the negative effect of salinity on fresh biomass and dry mass of shoots and roots. Claro de Luna, the broad bean variety, was more adapted to salinity than alfalfa and common bean. The amount of sodium in the shoots and roots of the three species increased with increasing salinity. Alfalfa may play a role in soil desalination; at 53.33 mM NaCl, 100 mg alfalfa dry mass absorbed 4.5 mg Na per pot, which corresponded to the uptake of about 0.6 kg Na per hectare of soil. Proline content increased with increasing salt concentrations.

Keywords: salt stress; proline content; bean; alfalfa; phytoremediation.

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Cervical Oesophagotomy in a Cat for Foreign Body Removal – Case Report

Jun 23, 2021 |

Alexandra Neamțu, Liviu Burtan, Dan Gheorghe Drugociu

ABSTRACT. Oesophageal foreign bodies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in small animals, especially in carnivores. Due to the possibility of complications such as perforation or tracheal compression, the patient may present an upper airway obstruction, which might become a medical emergency. Here, we describe a rare case of a large cervical foreign object in a cat and review the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of this condition. A 4-year-old female cat was referred to our clinic with signs of dyspnoea, dysphagia and regurgitation. The history and clinical exam suggested an oesophageal foreign body, subsequently radiographically confirmed. Because its shape and position did not allow endoscopic extraction, the foreign body was removed via ventral cervical oesophagostomy. Due to its location and large size, it was necessary to fragment the foreign body into two pieces for complete extraction without injuring the oesophageal walls. The patient had no postoperative complications and was discharged 7 days after surgery. In this condition, an early diagnosis, followed by an immediate surgical repair and a rigorous postoperative care, correlates with patient recovery and survival, being crucial in reducing the high morbidity and mortality rates that are usually associated.

Keywords: foreign body; oesophagus; cat; dyspnoea; dysphagia.

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Effect of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Feed Supplementation on Haematology and Reproductive Parameters for Algerian Rabbits

Jun 22, 2021 |

Omar Besseboua, Abdelhanine Ayad

ABSTRACT. This study aims at investigating the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation on reproductive performance, haematological parameters and fertility of rabbits under Algerian conditions. The animals were divided into three groups and received the same feed ration during the experimental period. The control group received a basal diet without feed additives (Group#0) and the two yeast SC groups received 0.3 and 0.6 g/day per head (Group#1 and Group#2, respectively). Semen and blood samples were collected for determination of semen parameters and haematology. The weights of rabbits treated with SC 0.3 g/day were statistically significantly different (P< 0.05) from the control groups and group treated with SC 0.6 g/day. There were significant differences between the treatment groups for (RBCs), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) values, with higher values in rabbits supplemented with SC 0.3 g/day and 0.6 g/day, compared to those in the control group. The scrotal diameter did not differ between the dietary treatments. When compared with the control group, feeding rabbits graded levels of SC resulted in an increase in the average semen volume, mass motility and individual motility at day 51 of the experiment. On the other hand, the sperm concentration was significantly lower (P< 0.05) in rabbits supplemented with SC 0.3 g/day and 0.6 g/day during the two months compared to that in the control group. The spermatozoa mortality rate was lower for the rabbits supplemented with SC 0.3 g/day and 0.6 g/day (15.7% and 11.4%, respectively), compared to that in the control group (24%). In conclusion, this study has shown that inclusion of SC 0.3 g/day and 0.6 g/day in the diets of rabbit has positive effects on body weight and sperm analysis. Moreover, it increases the level (RBCs), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH).

Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; feed; haematological parameters; sperm; rabbits.

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Managing Yield and Yield Attributes of Triticale in a Deficit Irrigation System with Methanol Foliar Application

May 25, 2021 |

Mehdi Khoshkharam, Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian

ABSTRACT. Triticale is mainly grown for feed grain and biomass production for thatching straw and general human use. A combined analysis with a factorial layout in the two years of 2016 and 2017 with five replications was used to evaluate the yield and yield components of triticale under different methanol concentrations and irrigation managements in Isfahan, Iran. Irrigation treatments consisted of irrigation on the basis of 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% crop water requirements, and methanol treatments as foliar application on the basis of 15% methanol concentration, 30% methanol concentration and control treatment (0%). Methanol application influence on one hundred grain weight was significant. The maximum plant height, number of tillers, Leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), one hundred grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index and protein content were achieved in irrigation on the basis of 100% crop water requirement. The maximum plant height, number of tillers, LAI, LAD, one hundred grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index and protein were obtained in 2017. Foliar methanol application with 15% concentration obtained the maximum plant height, LAI, LAD, one hundred grain weight, biological yield, soil plant analytical development (SPAD) and protein percentage. The results of this experiment suggest that methanol can aid in alleviating the effects of drought stress on triticale in the climatic condition of Isfahan. It is concluded that triticale cultivars performed better in 2017, with 15% concentration of methanol application and irrigation on the basis of 100% crop water requirement.

Keywords: drought; agronomic traits; grain yield; LAI; LAD; SPAD.

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Determination of the Factors Limiting Cotton Fiber Quality in Turkey

May 24, 2021 |

Seyhan Yasar, Emine Karademir

ABSTRACT. This study aims to determine the variation of fiber quality in cotton varieties produced in the Southeastern Anatolia Region and Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakir provinces. 1090 fiber samples were obtained from six cotton varieties (Lima, Stoneville 468, Candia and Babylon for Sanliurfa, Lima, Stoneville 468, Lodos and Gloria for Diyarbakir) collected from ginning factories in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakir. Statistical analyzes were done with HVI device and obtained data were analyzed by using Excel and TOTEMSTAT programs. In the frequency distribution, cotton varieties of the region are in the medium and long fiber group in terms of fiber length. They were in the medium (only two samples), strong and very strong group in terms of fiber strength. They were generally in the medium and thick group in terms of fiber fineness (micronaire). In terms of fiber uniformity index, the majority of the fibers were in the middle group. In terms of short fiber index, most of the fibers were in the very low and low groups. The majority of the samples were in the high and medium group in terms of fiber elongation, in the mature and very mature group in terms of fiber maturity. In terms of spinning consistency index (SCI) 59,2% of the fibers were between 119,41 and 135,83; 31,3% of them were between 135,83 and 152,24, 58,2% of the material has a reflectance value of 74 and above. All materials were in white and light-yellow groups in terms of yellowness. It has been observed that the majority of the fibers (66%) are in the low group in terms of trash count. The results obtained from the study of cotton produce of Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey has shown that good fiber quality and to meet the demand of textile industry.

Keywords: analysis; cotton; fiber; quality; variation.

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Adapting the Treatment of Ovarian Cysts According to Their Type in Dairy Cattle

May 21, 2021 |

Silviu-Ionuț Borș, Alina Borș

ABSTRACT. Ovarian cysts, estimated as the most frequent ovarian disorder in dairy cattle, can impact the economic aspect and trigger serious loss by affecting the reproductive performance. However, treatment strategies for ovarian cysts in dairy cattle are disputed, as some researchers favour the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for all cysts, whereas others recommend this treatment only for follicular cysts, with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) for luteal cysts, but not all of the dairy cattle responded to these regimes. Other studies mention a spontaneous recovery for some of the dairy cattle that present this disorder. However, the Ovsynch protocol appears to be the most used for treating ovarian follicular cysts, despite low pregnancy rates. Thus, this study’s main purpose is to assess by analogy the reproductive efficiency of multiparous dairy cattle with follicular cysts after treatment with a recommended dose of GnRH or a further Ovsynch protocol, and of cattle with luteal cysts after PGF2α or a further 12-day Presynch protocol, by comparing the reproductive responses between treated and non-treated cattle. It is remarkable that ten of the dairy cattle diagnosed with ovarian cysts recovered spontaneously without any hormonal intervention, but the reproductive performance indicates that treatment should be started as soon as the condition is diagnosed. Compared with other studies, our approach improved the conception (82.4% and 64.3%, respectively) and pregnancy rates (53.8% and 50%, respectively) in both follicular and luteal cysts.

Keywords: anovulation; treatment; estrus; reproduction.

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Asymmetric Cellulose Acetate Membranes Used in Separation Applications

May 14, 2021 |

Gabriela Ciobanu, Lidia Favier, Maria Harja

ABSTRACT. This work focused on the use of cellulose acetate polymer for the preparation of porous asymmetric membranes using a phase inversion process. These membranes were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, a bubble-point method and sorption measurements. The preparation method used induced membrane anisotropy. The capacity of the membranes in the removal of electrolyte (NaCl) from aqueous solution was investigated. A good retention of 58.6% and a high flux rate of 8.9 × 10–4 m/s using NaCl solution of 200 mg/L concentration were obtained by cellulose acetate membranes prepared with water as non-solvent. The results showed that the membrane performance was affected by the membrane structure, which was determined by the conditions of membrane preparation.

Keywords: cellulose acetate polymer; porous membrane; asymmetric structure; salt rejection.

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Seed Dormancy Breaking of an Endangered Medicinal Tree Species (Taxus Baccata L.) Using Embryo Culture

Mar 31, 2021 |

Mohamed Bekhouche, Abdelkader Morsli, Majda Khelifi-Slaoui, Roukia Benyammi, Hayette Zaout, Lakhdar Khelifi

ABSTRACT. Natural regeneration of Taxus baccata L. is constrained due to the depth of seed dormancy requirements (often taking two or more years) and low seed germination. Further, the conventional method of vegetative propagation by cuttings is associated with difficulties in rooting. Hence, for the first time, this study describes an efficient and reproducible in vitro protocol for breaking the dormancy of seeds from the endangered forest tree T. baccata L. via zygotic embryo culture. Embryos isolated from 100% sterile seeds were cultured on DCR medium that contains sucrose (30 g/l), agar (8 g/l), and activated charcoal (5 g/l), fortified with different concentrations of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs), and held at a temperature of 25 ± 2ºC in a growth room. The results revealed that the in vitro embryo germination percentage was mostly affected by gibberellic acid (GA3) and thidiazuron (TDZ). Among the nine treatments, the treatments with 0.5 mg/l TDZ and 1 mg/l GA3 showed the highest germination (100%), while the other treatments all increased the germination percentages significantly, compared to the control (37.5%). The 1/2 DCR medium with the addition of 0.1 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) resulted in the highest rooting ratio (94%). However, the greatest root and hypocotyl elongation (59.37 ± 3.77 and 62.75 ± 4.43 mm, respectively) occurred when seedlings were cultured on 1/2 DCR medium containing 0.5 mg/l BA. Plantlets were transplanted into plastic pots containing an autoclaved garden soil, sand, and vermiculite mixture (1:1:1) and held at a temperature of 25 ± 2 ºC in a growth room for 4 weeks before being transplanted into the greenhouse. These results indicated that the protocol developed during the current study will be useful to overcome seed dormancy and for multiplication and conservation of the species T. baccata L.

Keywords: common yew; germination; seedlings; zygotic embryo culture.

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Morphological and Physicochemical Characterization of Date Palm Cultivars from Ghardaïa (Southeast Algeria)

Mar 31, 2021 |

Abdelkader Allam, Kaouthar Djafri, Meriem Bergouia, El-Haîfa Khemissat, Mohamed Tama, Brahim Taleb

ABSTRACT. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an economically important species vital for food security in Algeria, especially for the southern population. There are an estimated 18 million palm trees in Algeria with more than 1000 cultivars. This poorly known resource is unfortunately threatened with extinction. This work was carried out on 24 date palm cultivars, studying their morphological and physicochemical characteristics, such as the weight, length and diameter of the date and the seed, and the consistency, moisture, pH and sugar content of the dates. Ten homogeneous palm trees were selected for each cultivar. From each tree, we collected 40 fruits devoid of their calices (4-5 fruits per bunch), at different heights and orientations in each bunch. The results show that the morphological and physicochemical characteristics vary from one cultivar to another. The dates of most cultivars have a combination of good and bad characteristics. The cultivar Tmar-Bousbaa has very high values for the characteristics weight, length, and diameter of the date and seed (23.16 g, 4.90 cm, 2.85 cm, and 1.53 g, 2.74 cm, 0.94 cm, respectively). The cultivars Takarnait and Halwa have high acidity, varying between 1.08 and 1.92 g/kg of fresh material and a pH of less than 5.46. The cultivar Bouarous has a low sugar content: less than 63%. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the whole dataset, revealing high variability among the cultivars. Thus, out of 14 characteristics investigated, ten have been shown to be strong discriminating factors.

Keywords: characterization; cultivars; date palm; genetic diversity; oasis.

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Assessment of Variety Preference Among Tomato Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

Mar 31, 2021 |

Adebola Adegboye, Kemi Omotesho, Adeniyi Akinrinde

ABSTRACT. Despite the great potential for the production of tomatoes in south-west Nigeria, the region still depends largely on the north for the supply of tomatoes. This is in spite of the introduction of varieties that adapt well to different environmental conditions. The study examined the knowledge level on tomato varieties, assessed the importance and satisfaction attached to each varietal attribute and identified the most preferred cultivar. Purposive and random sampling techniques produced 205 respondents on whom an interview schedule was administered. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were used to analyze the data. The majority of the respondents were males with a formal education, according to the study’s findings. The mean age, years of farming experience, farm sizes and number of extension contacts were 47 years, 17 years, 3.24 acres and three times, respectively. The farmers’ most preferred tomato varieties were Plum (Roma VF) and Grape. The result also shows that attributes that increase the yield and income of the farmers were accorded higher priority. The result further revealed that, at p<0.05, the number of years spent in school, number of extension contacts, farm size, years of experience in tomato farming, years of membership in tomato farmers’ associations and annual income had significant relationships with the farmers’ variety preference. The study concluded that the most preferred tomato varieties in Oyo State, Nigeria, were Plum and Grape. It is therefore recommended that plant breeders and other researchers involved in tomato growing should work to enhance the least preferred varieties. Also, tomato breeders should take note of the varietal attributes that farmers considered most important for their production. Keywords: importance; cultivar; satisfaction; variety attribute.

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Fly Ash Magnetic Adsorbent for Cadmium Ion Removal from an Aqueous Solution

Mar 31, 2021 |

Gabriela Buema, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Dumitru Daniel Herea, Lidia Favier, Gabriela Ciobanu, Loredana Forminte (Litu), Maria Harja

ABSTRACT. The fly ash generated from a Romanian power plant was used as a starting material in this study. The aim of the study was to obtain a low cost material based on the treatment of fly ash with Fe3O4 for utilization as an adsorbent for cadmium ion removal. The adsorbent that was synthesized was characterized using different techniques. The adsorption process was investigated by the batch technique at room temperature. The quantity of cadmium ion adsorbed was measured spectrophotometrically. The experimental data showed that the material can remove cadmium ions at all three working concentrations. The adsorption capacity increased with an increase in concentration, respectively contact time. The results were analyzed through two kinetic models: pseudo first order and pseudo second order. The kinetics results of cadmium adsorption onto a magnetic material are in good agreement with a pseudo second order model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.03 mg/g, 6.73 mg/g, and 9.65 mg/g. Additionally, the pseudo second order model was linearized into its four types. The results indicated that the material obtained show the ability to remove cadmium ions from an aqueous solution.

Keywords: magnetic adsorbent; adsorption; cadmium ions; kinetic study.

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© by the authors; licensee Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment, Iasi, Romania. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)