Irish C. Lobitaña¹, Rizza Mae E. Virtudazo¹, Ann Marie P. Delfin¹, Jhon Niño B. Apura¹, Jay P. Picardal², Jake Joshua C. Garces^1,2*

¹Research Institute of Tropical Biology and Pharmacological Biotechnology, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, Philippines

²Biology Department, School of Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, Philippines

Abstract

Tamarind is an economically important fruit, widely used in traditional medicine due to its therapeutic properties. However, its bioactive compounds raise an increased precaution on its toxicity. This study investigated the potential embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of Tamarindus indica pulp extracts (2 500 mg/L, 1 250 mg/L, 625 mg/L and 312.5 mg/L) on the eggs and larvae of zebrafish following a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) in equal replications.  Morphological assessment of fish larvae was based on total body length (TBL) and trunk tail angle (TTA) at 72h post fertilization and were subjected to ANOVA (p<0.05) and Linear Regression Analysis. Results on the growth parameters (TBL and TTA) showed significant difference among the four treatments in a concentration-dependent manner. At 72hpf, 2,500mg/L suggests the potential of T. indica pulp extract to induce malformations to exposed larvae. This study presents the inverse relationship of T. indica pulp extract’s embryotoxicity and teratogenicity where larvae mortality occurs in high levels of concentration while malformations form at lower concentrations of T. indica pulp extract.

Keywords: Embryotoxic, Teratogenic, Tamarindus indica, Zebrafish embryo

Muhammad Naeem Khan¹, Muhammad Shoaib^2*, Muhammad Saeed Ashraf¹, Rafi Qamar³, Asrar Mahboob², Sobia Ijaz¹

¹Agronomic Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

²Maize and Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala, Sahiwal, Pakistan

³Department of Agronomy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the option of intercropping mungbean (MB) in late season cotton to enhance productivity of the system. Mungbean was intercropped with cotton under two planting techniques practiced in Punjab for cotton sowing. Treatments consist of mungbean broadcast in 75 cm spaced drilled cotton rows (IS₁), alternative rows of cotton and mungbean (IS₂), two rows of mungbean between cotton rows (IS₃) while in fourth treatment (IS₄) two mungbean rows were sown on top of 105 cm wide double ridge-furrow (beds hereafter). Results showed that mungbean presence adversely affected the number of opened, total bolls plant^-1, opened boll percentage and seed cotton yield in all intercropping systems. However in bed intercropping, cotton produced 21.84 % higher seed cotton yield than sole cotton. Alike, number of pods plant^-1 and number of grains pod^-1 of mungbean decreased in intercropping treatments compared to sole mungbean. On average, mungbean yield was 21.1 % less in intercropping treatments than sole mungbean. Yield advantage indicated by LER and ATER values was observed in all intercropping treatments except in IT₃ where ATER suggested disadvantage. Highest LER (1.92) and ATER (1.58) were recorded in IS₄. Aggressivity value indicates that bed structure favoured the cotton growth compared to mungbean. All intercropping systems showed positive values of system productivity index and monitory advantage index. This study concludes that productivity of late season cotton could be better enhanced by sowing two rows of mungbean on top of the 105 cm wide cotton beds.

Keywords: Intercropping systems, LER, Seed cotton yield, System productivity index

Sorapong Benchasri^1* Sakunkan Simla², Bhornchai Harakotr³

¹Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Technology and Community Development, Thaksin University, Phatthalung 93210, Thailand

²Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, 44150 Thailand

³Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, 12120 Thailand

Abstract

This study was conducted on twenty of okra lines (treatments) at the Thaksin University in two farming systems (conventional and organic cultivations). The experiments of conventional and organic cultivations were carried out in a Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications to evaluate the yield, yield components and genetic variations. The results showed significant variability (p≤0.05) in the okra lines for fresh important traits of yield; marketable fruits.plant^-1, fruit yields.plant^-1, seeds.fruit^-1, 100 seed weight, 1000 seed weight and harvest index. The number of marketable fruits.plant^-1 of KN-OYV-02 line showed the number of marketable fruits yield approximately 60.85 and 51.91 fruits.plant^-1 under the conventional and organic farming systems, respectively. The lowest of marketable fruits.plant^-1 were investigated in the OP (Open Pollination) line (30.58 and 26.74 fruits.plant^-1 under the conventional and organic farming systems, respectively). KN-OYV-02 line produced the highest yield of two farming system (1,168.37 g.plant^-1). The OP line produced the lowest yield under the organic farming system (505.16 g.plant^-1). There were significant interactions between the cropping system and lines for the two system plantations. So, the results indicated that the KN-OYV-02 line showed the highest potential for okra breeding and production in both systems.

Keywords: Gene interactions, Line, Okra, Yield components

Nazir Ahmad^1*, Raziuddin², Fazli Ahad², Touheed Iqbal³, Nabeel Khan², Muhammad Nauman², Fazli Hameed⁴

¹Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops-Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute (Wuhan), The Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, P.R. China

²Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

³Directorate General Agriculture Research-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Pakistan

⁴College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University-210098, Nanjing-P.R. China

Abstract

The appropriate information on the biochemical characteristics of the plant is important for its usefulness in human health. The genetic basis for different brassica genotypes in terms of biochemical characteristics is important for the planning of effective breeding strategies. The present research was conducted to determine heritability, genetic advance and coefficient of correlation for biochemical traits in rapeseed. Breeding material comprising 10 parental lines and their 21 F₃ populations was evaluated in the 2013-2014 at The University of Agriculture of Peshawar-Pakistan in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. For all studied traits, substantial differences were found among genotypes, parents, and F₃ populations. Similarly, significant differences for all the studied traits with the exception of protein and glucosinolates have been recorded for parent vs. F₃ populations. In most F₃ populations, the heritability estimates associated with the maximum genetic advance for oil content, protein content, linolenic acid, erucic acid, and oleic acid were low or moderate. In comparison, moderate to high heritability coupled with maximum genetic advance, have been observed for glucosinolates for most F₃ cross combinations. These findings show that selection in the early generation may be helpful in improving these characters. Oil content showed a negative and highly significant correlation with glucosinolate (r_p=-0.50) and linolenic acid (r_p=-0.57), so priority should be given to these traits to improve oil content. CA2 x DH5, DH7, and CA2 x DH7 performed better for oil content, protein content, and oleic acid, respectively, while DH2, DH5, and CA2 x DH8 showed better results for glucosinolates, linolenic acid, and erucic acid, respectively. These genotypes could be further utilized in rapeseed breeding programs.

Keywords: Brassica, Genetic variability, Genetic advance, Heritability, Oil content

Van Huy Nguyen^1*, Thanh Loan Pham¹, Quang Trung Nguyen²

¹Institute of Applied Research and Development, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho, Vietnam

²Faculty of Agriculture, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho, Vietnam

Abstract

Celastrus hindsii Benth. is an evergreen twining shrub that has been used for generations in Northern Vietnam for diseased treatment relating to ulcers, tumors, and inflammation due to its bioactive compounds. The narrow leaf and broad leaf phenotypes have raised concerns about their comparatively biochemical quality, which is the determinant of their uses for medicinal purposes. The study aimed to investigate the concentration of important anti-oxidative metabolites between narrow leaf and broad leaf phenotypes using spectrophotometric method. The results showed that BL had a significantly higher level of a-tocopherol, flavonoid, phospholipid, and possibly glutathione (based on an air-dry weight and protein basis). Stress biomarkers such as proline and malondialdehyde were elevated in NL, indicating their roles in response to stress. In contrast, the enzyme and metabolite increase in NL may be associated with tissue degradation. BL of C. hindsii, which contains more diverse and superior concentrations of essential phytochemicals and pharmaceutically related proteins, should be positioned as an important commercial source for natural drug development.

Keywords: Secondary metabolite, Antioxidant, a-tocopherol, Flavonoid, Morphological variation

Mbappe Tanga¹, Francis Bayo Lewu^2*, Adebola Omowunmi Oyedeji³,

Opeoluwa Oyehan Oyedeji⁴

¹Department of Environment and Occupational studies, Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa

²Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Wellington, South Africa

³Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University of Science and Technology, South Africa

⁴Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa

Abstract

Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) is a medicinal plant, highly rich in phytochemicals which contribute towards its antioxidant properties and treatment of chronic diseases. It is also consumed as a vegetable in some regions of the world because of its high nutritive value. Currently, the plant material is imported for its medicinal purposes by herbal practitioners and pharmaceutical industries in the different countries of the world, including South Africa. However, the cultivation of this plant is lacking in South Africa and Africa as a whole. In order to achieve consistent supply of quality products and eliminate batch-to-batch variability of plant materials, a factorial experiment was conducted on Takinogawa long cultivar with eight treatments (T₁=N₄₂₃P₂₁₀K₃₁₅, T₂=N₄₂₃P₂₈₀k₃₁₅, T₃=N₆₃₅P₂₁₀K₃₁₅, T₄=N₆₃₅P₂₈₀K₃₁₅, T₅=N₈₄₆P₂₁₀K₃₁₅, T₆=N₈₄₆P₂₈₀K₃₁₅, T₇=N₁₀₅₈P₂₁₀K₃₁₅ andT₈=N₁₀₅₈P₂₈₀K₃₁₅ Kg/ha) and five collection time of data laid out in a completely randomized design replicated five times under 40% shade net. Fertilizer treatments were split into two equal doses at seedling transplant and four weeks after transplant. Data on morphological characteristics and yield were collected and analyzed using SAS software. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference across fertilizer treatments on morphological characteristics as well as the interactions between treatments and time of data collection. Significant differences (P<0.05) were also recorded on the yield parameters. Two treatments (N₆₃₅P₂₁₀ K₃₁₅ and N₆₃₅P₂₈₀K₃₁₅Kg/ha) significantly outperformed the other treatments.However, more research needs to be done on the enhancement of secondary metabolites of interest for the sustainable supply of quality plant materials for herbal practitioners and pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords: Arctium lappa L., Medicinal plant, Phytochemicals, Morphological characteristics, Fertilizer treatments