Category Archives: b_original_articles

Muhammad Imran*, Tayyaba Naseem, Arshad Iqbal, Khalid Mahmood, Umer Ayyaz Aslam Sheikh

Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJ&K, Pakistan

Abstract

Declining population of honeybee day by day is the major threat, and this decline is due to variety of stressors. As honeybees are considered most important pollinators of our managed and wild corps, we investigated the effect of neonicotinoids; acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and clothianidin on honeybees by ingestion and contact method. Finding of this study showed that among these neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and thiacloprid were most toxic insecticides with 100% mortality at realistic field doses by ingestion method with sugar solution as a substitute of nectar after the exposure of 3hrs. Honeybee’s workers exposed with insecticides mixed pollen grains showed that imidacloprid and clothianidin were most toxic as compared to other insecticides at recommended field dose with 100% mortality and minimum mortality with 60% was observed at thiacloprid field dose after 3hrs exposure. The results of contact toxicity showed that all four insecticides were most toxic with wet filter paper with 100% mortality at recommend field dose after the exposure of 3hr, and with dry filter paper imidacloprid and thiacloprid showed 100% mortality and acetamiprid and clothianidin with 53.3% mortality after the exposure of 3hrs at field dose. Overall conclusion from the present study indicates that from these four insecticides imidacloprid was the most toxic as compared to all others on both ingestion and contact method at recommended field dose.

Keywords: Neonicotinoids, Insecticides, Sensitivity level, Honeybee, Apis mellifera

Chima Njoku

Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the physical and chemical properties of soil as affected by flood and erosion in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria. Sites selected for the study were: Control (arable land), fallowed floodplain, cultivated floodplain and erosion site. Five auger and core replicate soil samples were collected from each site at the depth of 0 – 30 cm and analysed for particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity, moisture content, dispersion ratio, modified clay ratio, erosion ratio, erodibility factor, soil loss, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^–), sulphate (SO₄^2-) and organic matter. Results from the study showed that the experimental sites were sandy loams which are easily vulnerable to erosion as a result of its properties. Physical properties indicated that the order of susceptibility to erosion was arable land < fallowed floodplain < cultivated floodplain < erosion site. The results of chemical properties showed that cations such as NH₄⁺ were higher in floodplains than arable land whereas anions such as NO₃^– and SO₄^2- were higher in arable land than floodplains. This phenomenon might be attributed to the fact that unlike NH₄⁺ which binds strongly to clay micelle, NO₃^– and SO₄^2- are anions and can be easily leached beneath root zone (0-30 cm) because of their negative charges. Moreover, the erosion site had the poorest fertility and productive status when compared to other sites.  The results also, showed that the floodplains have inherent capacity to boost crop productivity and the nutrients leached during flooding can be recovered through fallowing the floodplains for some periods before using them for crop production.

Keywords: Erosion, Deposition, Floodplain, Leaching and transportation

A A Prihanto^1,2,3*, H Nursyam^1,3

¹Department of Fishery Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia

² Halal Thoyib Research Center, Brawijaya University, Jl. MT Haryono, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia

³Bio-seafood Research Unit, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

The objective of this research was to isolate and identify gelatinase-producing bacteria from several mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia. Soil samples were collected from seven coastal locations of mangrove ecosystem in 2017. The gelatinase-producing bacteria were screened by using screening and confirmation methods. The gelatinase-producing bacteria were further analyzed by using the 16s rDNA molecular method. Ten isolates were diagnosed to be gelatinase-producing bacteria, which belonged to three genera: Lysinibacilus sp, Enterobacter sp. and Proteus sp. The isolated bacteria can further be investigated for the possibility of gelatinase production.

Keywords: Coastal, Gelatinase, Hydrolisate gelatin, Marine, Phylogenetic analysis

Gulab Sher¹, Fazli Rabbi², Umar Hayat^2*

¹Department of Economics, University of Malakand, Dir (L), Pakistan

²Department of Economics and Development Studies, University of Swat, Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the determinants of households’ food security in District Dir (Lower) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Primary data were gathered through a pre-structured questionnaire. The screening questions approach was adopted to solicit the information from a total of 200 households. The binary logistic regression was used for data analysis. Our results show that farm households with an employed head, and having improved access to farm and non-farm income, are more likely to be food secure. While larger sized farm households located away from the main stream markets, are more likely to be food insecure. We conclude that households’ access to a secure source of income and markets have a significant influence to ameliorate the food security in rural areas. The policy is informed to improve households’ access to farm and non-farm income vis-à-vis accessibility to the main stream markets. We recommend that interventions are needed to enhance off-farm employment opportunities, make the agriculture technology more accessible to farmers, and develop the physical infrastructure in rural areas. The findings of the study have significant policy implications in the context of food security in other developing countries.

Keywords: Food security, Binary logistic regression, Households’ assets, Income

Hoang Van Thang¹, Dang Thinh Trieu², Hoang Van Thanh², Phung Dinh Trung², Cao Van Lang¹, Nguyen Trong Dien³, Tran Van Do^2,4*

¹Science and Planning Management Department, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam

²Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam

³Forest Science Centre of North-Eastern Vietnam, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Ngoc Thanh, Phuc Yen Town, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam

⁴Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, Japan

Abstract

Forest enrichment and/or supplement planting is a silvicultural technique to improve number of valuable trees in natural poor forests. In this study, two native species including Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch and Cinnamomum obtusifolium (Roxb.) Nees were planted in fallow stands by two experiments as planting in clear band of 6 m wide (band planting) and in canopy gaps of >200 m² (cluster planting). The results indicated that planted trees of both species in both planting experiments had high survival rates (>89%) after planting three years, and more than 75% survival trees had good quality as straight boles without diseases. The difference of stump diameter and stem height between experiments and species was statistically significant. C. obtusifolium in band planting had biggest stump diameter (2.86 cm), while C. album in band planting had tallest stem height (2.69 m) after planting three years. C. obtusifolium had significantly larger crown diameter in band planting (1.09 m) than that in cluster planting (0.92 m). While it was conversely found in C. album as significantly larger crown diameter was found in cluster planting (1.12 m) compared to smaller one in band planting (0.96 m). It is concluded that silvicultural techniques are required to promote growth of planted trees after planting three years, especially for C. album as it requires more sunlight at this age. The techniques must focus on opening forest canopy for sunlight reaching crown of planted trees and on removing bad-growth trees surrounding planted trees to minimize competitions.   

Keywords: Fallow land, Forest gap, Growing space, Sustainable management, Timber species

Ayesha Aihetasham, Aysha Anayat, Muhammad Xaaceph

Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Termites are one of the most troublesome pest of plants, trees, wooden infrastructure and agricultural crops. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the population of some plant oils using Eugenia caryophyllata, Elettaria cardamomum and Citrus sinensis against Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann) at Punjab University, New Campus Lahore, Pakistan. All plants were effectively toxic against C. heimi as 100 % mortality was observed at 62.5, 125 and 250 µl/ml doses within three to four days of exposure. All plant oils extracts proved to be highly repellent to the termites even in the low concentrations. These plant oils can be used for effective termite control being less expensive and biodegradable, hence environmentally suitable.

Keywords: Termites, Plant extracts, Repellency

Boon Ling – Tchin, Wei Seng – Ho*, Shek Ling – Pang

Forest Genomics and Informatics Laboratory (fGiL), Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

Applied Forest Science and Industry Development (AFSID), Sarawak Forestry Corporation, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 Abstract

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is one of the enzymes involved at the starting point of the phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis pathway. It involves in the hydroxylation of cinnamate to 4-coumarate. In this paper, we isolated and in silico characterized the complete sequence of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) gene from Neolamarckia cadamba in Malaysia. The C4H singletons obtained from the NcdbEST were used to predict the hypothetical full-length of NcC4H through the contig mapping approach. RT-PCR was used to amplify the full-length C4H cDNA clone and subsequently the PCR amplicons were sequenced and analysed. The NcC4H cDNA was 1,651 bp long with a 505 amino acid sequence, a 18 bp 5’-UTR and a 115 bp 3’-UTR. The predicted NcC4H protein contains P450-featured motifs. These include the heme-binding domain, a threonine-containing binding pocket motif and the proline-rich region. Peptide sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses revealed that NcC4H was clustered with class I C4H instead of class II C4H, which is preferentially involved in phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis pathway. This full-length NcC4H cDNA can be used for developing genetic marker to identify economic trait loci (ETL) for wood quality traits via genomics-assisted selection (GAS) or candidate gene mapping approach.

Keywords: Neolamarckia cadamba, RT-PCR, Lignin biosynthesis, Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), Expressed sequence tags (ESTs), Genomics-assisted selection

Fahad J. Alatawi¹, Syed Zain ul Abidin¹, Jawwad H. Mirza¹, Muhammad Kamran¹

¹Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, KSA

 Abstract

The study of functional response characteristics of natural enemies is one of the most important approaches to assess their efficiency in regulating the pest population as they are key aspects in the dynamics of predator-prey interactions. In the present study, the functional response type and parameters, and maximum feeding capacity of the predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)  deutonymph and adult female were assessed at different densities of movable stages of the date palm mite (DPM) Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) and two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). The experiments were carried out at 30 ± 2°C and relatively low humidity of 35 ± 5 % RH under controlled conditions, for the first time. The logistic regression model was used to determine the type of functional response exhibited by C. negevi. Both the stages of predator showed Type II functional response when fed the DPM and TSSM individuals at different stages. Roger’s random-predator equation was used to define the handling time (Th) and attack rate (a) coefficients of type II functional response by fitting the equation into the non-linear least square regression model. The longest Th was shown by deutonymph and adult females of C. negevi when they fed on the DPM and TSSM females, and TSSM females, respectively. Furthermore, no significant differences were recorded for most of the a values of the deutonymph and adult female of C. negevi among different stages of DPM and TSSM. The maximum feeding capacity of  C. negevi adult female was significantly higher for DPM female when compared with that of TSSM. According to previous and current studies, C. negevi could be a potential predator at a wide range of humidity. 

Keywords: Biological control, Prey, Density, Feeding capacity, Handling time, Attack rate

Tamoor Hussain¹*, Muhammad Azeem Tariq¹, Ramzan Ansar¹, Muhammad Tariq¹, Ahmad Sher²

¹Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan

²Department of Agronomy, BZU, Bahadar Sub Campus, Layyah, Pakistan

 Abstract

Shattering causes huge losses to Brassica even if harvesting is done mechanically. To study the shattering tolerance in different rapeseeds lines, a study was conducted in split plot design at experimental area of Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Chakwal, Pakistan during two winter season 2014-15 & 2015-16 under the rainfed conditions. The experimental material comprised of 10 advanced lines including one local variety of rapeseed viz: 8CBN001, 8CBN002, 10CBN003, 10CBN005, 11CBN001, 11CBN003, 11CBN009, 11CBN011, 12CBN003 and Chakwal Sarsoon The main experimental plot was harvested at four different harvesting dates (HD) including:  HD₁ = Harvesting of each advanced line at crop maturity, HD2= 10 days after the first harvesting (DAFH), HD₃= 20 DAFH, HD₄= 30 DAFH. The comparison of difference between the grain yield of each advanced line at various harvesting dates with its seed yield at first harvesting date (HD₁-HD_i) were calculated as indices of pods shattering. Combined analysis of variance depicted that all the genotypes were significantly different for HD, harvesting date and advanced lines interaction effect, year and its interaction effects to each factors. The significant difference of genotypes into harvesting dates demonstrated various level of pods shattering of all advanced lines at different harvesting dates. The amount of grain yield due to shattering losses was increased at third and fourth harvesting dates. On the basis of shattering tolerance indices, advanced line 10CBN005 was more tolerant to shattering losses and 8CBN002 was more susceptible to shattering as compared to others promising genotypes.

Keywords: Shattering tolerance, Rapeseed, Harvesting date

Laila Nazirah^{1, 2*}, Edison Purba³, Chairani Hanum³, Abdul Rauf³

¹Doctoral Program of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Padang Bulan, Medan 20155, Indonesia.

²Lecture Faculty of Agriculture, Malikussaleh University, Indonesia.

³Lecture Program Study of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Padang Bulan, Medan 20155 Indonesia.

 Abstract

Dry land management technology for food crop agriculture with soil conservation, organic matter management, and water management. This study aims to determine the effect of soil treatment and mycorrhiza on growth and yield of upland rice in drought stress conditions. This experiment uses the Split Split Plot design consists of 3 factors: The first factor as the main plot of mycorrhizas consisting of no mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal administration. The second factor as a plot is the soil cultivation consisting of no soil preparation) and treatment. The third factor as Multiplication Children is Varieties consisting of three groups of varieties namely Toleran group (Ciapus Varieties, Inpago Varieties 4 and Varieties inpago 8) moderate varieties group include (Inpago Varieties 5, Varietas situ bagendit, Inpago Varieties 7 and Varietas towuti) and the susceptible varieties are (In jari 6 varieties, Inpari 33 varieties and synthetic varieties). Treatment without tillage and without mycorrhiza decreased leaf area, root canopy ratio, leaf proline content, degree of root infection and dry grain production. Soil sampling and mycorrhizal fertilization of Inpago 4 tolerant varieties showed a mechanism of avoidance against drought stress by increasing leaf area, root canopy ratio, leaf proline content and root infection. The highest dry grain production was found in the tolerant (Inpago 4) varieties group of 7.5 tons per ha and can be planted in drought stress conditions at rainfall ± 3.2 mm / day. 

Keywords: Upland, Rice, Land Preparation, Mycorrhiza, Soil treatment