International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

This study was specifically designed to evaluate anti-fungal properties of methanolic extracts of Rumex acetosa, M.scaber, Senna Occidentalis, Lawsonia inermis and Spermacoce found widely distributed in Nigeria. Three fungal organisms were tested: Candida albicans, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Methanolic extracts of the plant materials were prepared by polarity based-solvent extraction. The anti-fungal properties were examined by the disc dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the most potent extracts was ascertained by micro-broth dilution method The zones of inhibition pattern observed suggested that Rumex acetosa, M.scaber, Lawsonia inermis and Spermacoce were effective against Candida albicans with diameter (mm) of 29.50±0.29, 29.33±0.66, 29.60±0.27 and 30.49±1.66 respectively. A similar pattern was observed against Aspergillus, and Penicillium. However, Senna Occidentalis did not show any activity against all the tested organisms. The inhibitory pattern was further revealed by the MIC values. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, tannins and carotenoids.

Keywords: Rumex acetosa, Spermacoce, Aspergillus, Penicillium, anti-fungal.

Historically, the issue of Striga was associated with the cereal culture in Tigray, primarily with crops such as sorghum, maize and finger millet. This parasitic weed has recently extended its host range and is becoming increasingly common in other crops such as tef and many wild grass types. A survey was conducted in the main cropping season of 2016/17; to determine the distribution and significance of Striga hermonthica infestation in tef production areas and to record the degree and intensity of Striga hermonthica infestation on tef production. The survey was carried out along the main road, which is accessible for a vehicle; at an interval of about 5-10km. The average of Striga population density (number /m2) was taken at each sampling area of 2m x 2m sampling. As a result, the distribution and severity of Striga were highest in the Central followed by the Northwest and Eastern Zones. The overall Striga incidence in 32 tef field samples from districts with Striga was 90.6%. The highest density of Striga shoots per m2 was recorded at Tahtay Maychew (49) followed by Lailay Maychew (46), Tahtay Koraro (45) and Adwa (41), respectively. In addition to Striga infestation, Setaria pumila and Phalaris paradoxa were the most frequent and dominant weed species in the surveyed areas of tef. Therefore, to minimize and manage the spread of Striga hermonthica infestation on tef all stakeholders should collaborate through participatory approaches and adopt appropriate measures. All stakeholders should therefore collaborate through participatory approaches and take appropriate measures to minimize and manage the spread of Striga hermonthica infestation on tef.

Keywords: Distribution, Eragrostis tef, Striga hermonthica, Tef.

Combining ability is the ability of a genotype to transmit superior performance to its crosses. General combining ability is the average performance of genotype in a series of hybrid combinations and it measures additive gene action while specific combining ability is the performance of parents in specific crosses. Combining ability analysis helps in the identification of parents with high general combining ability (gca) effects and cross combinations with high specific combining effects (sca) for commercial exploitation of heterosis and isolation of pure lines among the progenies of the heterotic hybrids. Mating design refers to the procedure of producing the progenies in plant breeding. Plant breeders and geneticists use different form of mating designs and arrangements theoretically and practically for targeted purpose. Selection of good mating design is necessary for getting success in plant breeding. For production of different progenies and achievement of their objectives, plant breeders used different mating designs and arrangements. In all mating designs crossing is done in half sibs and full sib methods by taking individuals randomly. Selection of parental materials and good mating designs in conventional plant breeding are the keys to the successful plant breeding program. However, there are several factors affecting the choices of mating designs. Choice of mating designs depends upon several factors i.e. objective of study, time, space and other biological problems or limitations. In all mating designs, the individuals are taken randomly and crossed to produce progenies which are related to each other as half-sibs or full-sibs. A form of multivariate analysis or the analysis of variance can be adopted to estimate the components of variances. It provides easy and quick insight of the different form of mating designs and some statistical components for successful plant breeding. Generally, combining is playing a key role in estimation of genetic components and selection of suitable parents and hybrids in order to boost crop productivity. The knowledge of combining ability is very critical to determine the breeding procedure to improve the desirable traits. There is possibility to improve parents through selection, when the ratio of general combining ability to specific combining ability is greater than unity and if general combining ability to specific combining ability is less than unity, the breeding procedure is designed heterosis breeding to improve the desired traits.

Keywords: Combining ability, General combining ability, Specific combining ability, Mating design.

As beneficial as Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is to humans, large percentage of tomato fruits purchased in Nigeria are being lost to post harvest deterioration caused by microorganisms. The study was aimed to determine the microbial flora of post-harvested tomato and effect of sodium hypochlorite on the microbial load. Post harvested tomatoes were analysed for microbiological qualities and the effect of sodium hypochlorite on microbial load was also assessed. The microbiological quantities analysed were total aerobic count, coliform count and fungal count. A set of Intact and cracked tomatoes were treated with Sodium hypochlorite (1 w/v %) and another set was used as control (analyzed untreated). The total aerobic count, coliform count and fungal count of 47×104 cfu/ml, 40×104 cfu/ml, and 28×104 cfu/ml were obtained from the untreated samples respectively, while none was recorded for the treated samples. Five genera of bacteria namely; Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter and four genera of fungi namely; Aspergillus, Pencillium, Candida and Mucor were isolated from the tomatoes analysed. The absence of microorganisms in the treated tomatoes shows the effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite as a disinfectant in controlling/reducing the microbial load in food, which could subsequently lead to rapid spoilage.

Keywords: Tomatoes, Microbial Flora, Sodium hypochlorite.

A study on genetic diversity and genetic distances among pigs was carried out using a total of 51 genomic DNA randomly sampled from four pig breeds in Ogun and Ondo States of Nigeria. The gDNAs were amplified with six microsatellite markers, generating amplicons which were separated by Polyacrylamide solution. Bands on the gels were scored considering the six microsatellite markers used. Mean number of alleles (MNA), observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities, Polymorphism information content (PIC) and Genetic distances were calculated using GenAlex software.Exclusion probability (PEI) and combined exclusion probabilities (CPE) were also computed. The number of alleles observed ranged from 3 to 17, with the highest produced by SW71 and lowest by S0036 markers. MNA per breeds ranged from 5.333 in Landrace to 8.833 in Large White. The mean PIC across loci per breed ranged from 0.6863±0.047 in Landrace to 0.7924±0.040 in Large White. Mean observed and expected heterozygosities per breed ranged from 0.7305±0.019 in Duroc to 0.7916±0.020 in Large White, and from 0.7868±0.034 in Landrace to 0.8698±0.021 in Large White respectively. Genetic distances among the pig breeds ranged from 0.2570 (Large White Vs Landrace) to 0.6663 (DurocVs Large White). Mean value of inbreeding coefficient (FIS) was -0.0698. Exclusion probability of each microsatellite marker when genotype of both parents were known (PE1) ranged from 0.9591 in Landrace to 0.9925 in Large White, when genotype of only one parent known (PE2) ranged from 0.9657 in Landrace to 0.9953 in Large White pigs, and when the genotype of the two parents unknown (PE3) ranged from 0.9568 in Landrace to 0.9999 in Large White. The Combined exclusion probability (CPE) for all the markers used when genotype of both parent were known (PE1) was 0.9999. The study concluded that there was high genetic diversity among the pig breeds in Ogun and Ondo States, Nigeria, indicative of their potentials for genetic improvement via selection or crossbreeding. Furthermore, the six microsatellite markers used in this study may be recommended based on their PIC and CPE values for further analysis of genetic background and routine parentage verification of the Nigerian pig breeds.

Keywords: Pigs, Breeds, Genetic diversity, Microsatellite marker.

Barley is the fourth most important cereal crop in the world after wheat, maize, and rice, and is among the top ten crop plants in the world. Ethiopia being the second largest producer in Africa, next to Morocco, accounting for about 25% of the total barley production in the continent. This study assessed the determinants of adoption of barley varieties in Elfeta district, West Showa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional data collected from 150 randomly selected barley farmers from seven rural kebeles of the district were used. Binary logistic regression model was used to examine determinant factors that influence adoption of barley technology in the study area. The model results revealed that the adoption of improved barley variety was significantly influenced by age of sampled respondents, level of education, barley farming experience, participation on off-farm activities, membership of cooperative groups, distance from the nearest market and availability of credit service. The study recommends that needs to further promote agricultural new technologies by designing an approach based on farmer’s problem and need.

Keywords: Determinants, Adoption, Barley technology, Elfeta, West Showa.

Agricultural sector in Ethiopia is mainly characterized as traditional, subsistent and rainfed system which is highly susceptible to adverse effects of climate variabilities. Under such conditions, small-scale irrigation is recommended as the most effective way of improving agricultural production, productivity, income, food security and household wellbeing. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the impact of small-scale irrigation on household income using the primary data collected from 220 households of Walmara district. Descriptive and econometric data analyses were executed. Logistic regression and PSM methods were used to measure the impact. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) result revealed that participation in irrigation significantly affected household income, and irrigator households get more gross income of Birr 22,161 than non-irrigators, and this result is statistically significant. Finally, sensitivity analysis was done, and the ATT is insensitive to unobserved bias up to 200%. Therefore, policy interventions focusing on installation of new small-scale irrigation schemes and fully utilization of the existing schemes are recommended for their direct contributions in improving household income, and indirect contribution in improving food security and national GDP, especially in erratic rainfall and drought-prone areas.

Keywords: Impact, Small-scale irrigation, Income, PSM, Logit, Walmara.

The vast majority of animal production in Africa, Liberia inclusive is in the hands of traditional operators based in the rural or countryside, upon which there is a general dearth of genetic information, especially at the molecular level regarding their origins and characterization. The study sought to evaluate the molecular genetic diversity and trace the evolutionary origins of the Liberian country chickens using the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA as a profiling marker. The D-loop regions of the mtDNA of 34 Liberian country chickens sampled from four different locations were analysed following standard DNA isolation protocol (www.whatman.com) and polymerisation using AV1F2: 5′-AGGACTACGGCTTGAAAAGC-3′ and 5′-TGCTTAAGGTTAATTACTGCTG-3′ , as forward and reverse primers respectively. PCR amplicons were sequenced based on Sanger’s di-deoxy chain termination method at Stabvida genetic laboratories, Portugal and thereafter edited with BioEdit 7.0 and truncated to 490bp covering the hypervariable-1 segment, using MEGA 7. Genetic diversity indices and molecular variance were analysed using DnaSP V.5.10 and Arlequin 3.5.1.3 softwares respectively. The evolutionary relationships of the Liberian chickens with 268 global chicken mtDNA sequences from Mainland Asia, Pacific Asia, Mediterranean region and Africa extracted from Genbank depository (leading to a total sample size of 302), and their maternal origins were inferred following reconstruction of Neighbour-joining phylogenetic and Median-joining network analyses using MUSCLE software and NETWORK 4.6. Results from the study show no population structure (FST values not significant at P<0.05) and low genetic diversity (Haplotype diversity = 0.06±0.05, Nucleotide diversity = 0.002±0.006) among the Liberian chickens probably due to purifying selection and founder effect, possibly occasioned by genetic bottlenecks in the recent history of the country, like the prolonged civil war. One polymorphic site and two Liberian chicken haplotypes (LibE1 and LibE2) belonging to Clade E were detected. This evidence along with others overwhelmingly pointed to India as the ancestral root of the matriarch of the current populations of the Liberian country chickens. Findings from this study hold the potential for the genetic improvement of the Liberian country chickens and further understanding of the possible impact of human conflicts on animal genetic resources in Africa.

Keywords: Chicken, Liberia,Genetic diversity,Haplotypes, Mitochondrial DNA, D-Loop

Acquired antibiotic resistance, observed in multi-antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella in poultry, poses a risk to health consumer and a growing threat to public health. The objective of this work is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts of Mallotus oppositifolius (Geisel.) Müll.-Arg (Euphorbiaceae) on strains of Salmonella spp isolated from raw chicken gizzards (Salmonella Bargny and Kentucky) and viscera of quail (Salmonella) serogroup O: 21), (multi) resistant to antibiotics. The diffusion method in agar medium, on Muller-Hinton® agar (BioRad, France), and the search for antibacterial parameters (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (CMB)) made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of plant extracts on the strains studied. The results obtained show that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Mallotus oppositifolius (Geisel.) Müll.-Arg (Euphorbiaceae) have antibacterial activity on the 03 avian Salmonella strains studied, with diameters (mm) varying from 15±1b to 19±1a for the Aqueous extract and from 12±1c to 27±1a for the Ethanolique extracts. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the active extracts shows the presence of Terpenes and sterols, Cathechical tannins, Saponins, Anthraquinones and polyphenols. This work made that it possible to highlight the interest of a probable use of plant extracts from the Ivorian pharmacopoeia, to fight against salmonellosis of avian origin.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Mallotus oppositifolius, multidrug resistant Salmonella, Poultry, Ivorian pharmacopoeia.

Genotype-by-environment interaction is an important phenomenon in plant breeding for developing superior genotypes for respective environment. The presence of genotype × environment interaction in plant breeding is expressed either as inconsistent responses of some genotypes relative to others due to genotypic rank change or as changes in the absolute differences between genotypes without rank change. The success of a plant breeding program depends on its ability to provide farmers with genotypes with guaranteed superior performance in terms of yield and quality across a range of environmental conditions. Expression of a phenotype is a function of the genotype, the environment, and the differential sensitivity of certain genotypes to different environments which is known as genotype by environment interaction. Genotype by environment interaction refers to a statistical decomposition of variance and provides a measure of the relative performance of genotypes grown in different environments. Genotype-by-environment interaction can also be conceptualized as a measurement of the relative plasticity of genotypes in terms of the expression of specific phenotypes in the context of variable environmental influences. The environmental factors affecting crop yields can be classified into abiotic and biotic constraints. Actually, these factors are more intensified with global warming which leads to climate change. Abiotic stresses adversely affect growth, productivity and trigger a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants. The abiotic constraints include soil properties (soil components, pH, physicochemical and biological properties), and climatic stresses (drought, cold, flood, heat stress). On the other hand, biotic factors include beneficial organisms (pollinators, decomposers and natural enemies), pests (arthropods, pathogens, weeds, vertebrate pests) and anthropogenic evolution. The final state of a trait is the cumulative result of a number of causal interactions between the genetic make-up of the plant (the genotype) and the conditions in which that plant developed (the environment). Plants differ in the efficiency and adequacy with which they capture and convert environmental inputs and stimuli into the biomass and organs that constitute a final product. The capture and conversion abilities of a plant are determined by its particular ensemble of genes.

Keywords: Phenotype, Genotype, Genotype – environmental interaction, Stability, Biotic stress, Abiotic stress