Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Agro-morphological and Genotypic Diversity of some Local Egyptian Teosinte (Zea mexicana) Genotypes

Shereen M. El-Nahrawy — 2023-01-12

Assessment of genotypic and phenotypic diversity is one of the principal and essential steps in plant breeding programs to assess variability among available teosinte genotypes along with Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) marker analysis as tools for future improvement and use in future maize teosinte hybrids The present study was carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station in the summer 2019 and 2020 seasons. Four summer forage crops of teosinte genotypes namely, Teosinte Sakha, T. Gemmiza 4, T. Baladey and T.Early, were evaluated for fresh and dry forage yield and some traits. Three cuts were taken from four genotypes. Mean values of forage crops genotypes revealed highly significant differences. T. Early had the highest fresh and dry forage yields at the three cuts and total over the two seasons which had 41.50, 78.56, 52.50 and 172.56 kg/plot for fresh and 5.03, 9.79, 8.40 and 32.22 for dry yield, respectively followed by T. Gemmiza 4 and Teosinte Sakha. Also, the highest mean values for plant height cm was T. Early which had 110.13, 155.25 and 107.38 cm followed by T. Gemmiza 4 which had 102.88, 146.63 and 99.38 cm for first, second and third cut ,respectively. The same trend for stem diameter cm where, the highest mean values were T. Early and T. Gemmiza 4. Meanwhile, the highest means for crude protein% was T. Baladey which had 13.35%, 11.89% and10.88% followed by T. Sakha which had 12.84%,12.49 %and 11.08% for first ,second and third cut, respectively. While, the highest means for crude fiber % was T. Early which had 32.89%, 33.63% and 34.44% followed by T. Gemmiza which had 32.23%, 32.33% and 34.05% for first, second and third cut, respectively. Ten SRAP combination primers were used, highest polymorphism (80 %) was found by primer (me5+em3), and lowest polymorphism (33.3%) was found by primer me1+ em3. Polymorphic information content (PIC) values were evaluated to assess the genetic diversity of ten selected primers were ranged from 0.28 % related to primer combination me2+em6 to highest PIC was 0.39%, which was related to primer combination me1+em4 indicating that this primer is highly informative. The dendrogram of SRAP markers had clustered all available teosinte genotypes into two major clusters include the closest genotypes together. SRAP markers confirm that there were highly genetic information differences among all the four teosinte genotypes which are useful for their utilization in further breeding programs for maize teosinte hybrids.

In vitro Micropropagation of Vitis vinifera L. var. Cabernet Franc and Callus Production

Yanina S. García — 2023-04-15

The objective of this study was to produce in vitro-cultured mother plants of Cabernet Franc. Uninodal cuttings were taken from the plants, disinfected and sown in 50% Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with the addition of 0.01% indoleacetic acid (IAA). Explant establishment, rooting, and leaf number were recorded and statistically analyzed after eight weeks of growth. The ex-vitro behavior of the plants was analyzed after four weeks of acclimatization under appropriate conditions of humidity and temperature in a 1:1 mixture of perlite: sterile fertile soil. The result showed that it is an optimal variety for in vitro culture, with mean values of 88% of establishment and 79% of rooting, production of 5 leaves per cutting and 100% of ex vitro acclimatization. Genetic material with good yield, health and acclimatization was obtained from the in vitro production of mother plants of Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc explants formed callus after 15 days of exposure to 2,4-D. This indicates that it is an optimal material for genetic improvement.

Investigation of the Total Number of Aerobic Mesophilic and Lactic Acid Bacteria in Commercial Probiotic Products in Turkiye

Buse Dirik — 2023-05-13

In this study, it was aimed to determine the total aerobic mesophilic and lactic acid bacteria counts of the most common commercial probiotic products, which are preferred for various health benefits and offered for sale in the market in Türkiye, and to investigate the compliance of their declarations to Turkish Food Codex.

In the study, 30 commercially available probiotic products with different brands, lot numbers and content were, examined. By the microbial analyses the mean counts for, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total lactic acid bacteria were detected as 1,9x10⁷ cfu/ml and 4,6x10⁶ cfu/ml, respectively. According to the results of the analyses, the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total lactic acid bacteria of commercial probiotic dairy products and bars tested in this study were found in accordance with the Turkish Food Codex. However, the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total lactic acid bacteria in the probiotic tea products were detected lower than as stated in the Turkish Food Codex.

As a result, it has been determined that the main probiotic products, except the tea form, were comply with the Turkish Food Codex in terms of the lactic acid bacteria they contain, but these products do not contain enough live microorganisms according to the relevant legal regulations of different countries. It was concluded that although these results help to create a general impression on the compliance of the probiotic products to the legal regulations, further studies should be performed to identify the strains that declared on the label of the products and determine the contaminations with different types of microorganisms.

Analysis of Physio-biochemical Variables of Selected Tomato Genotypes at the Seedling Stage under Temperature Stress Conditions Using Principal Component Analysis

J. Sivakumar — 2023-06-17

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a temperature-sensitive vegetable crop. The present study was designed to analysis the 22 tomato genotypes under temperature stress. Germplasm was allowed to grow up to 28 days under optimal growth conditions and temperature stress was induced by incubating at 37° C for seven days in a plant growth chamber. The physio-biochemical parameters such as Chlorophyll content (CHL), total carotenoids contents (TC), relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL), total dissolved solids (TDS) and proline (Pro) were evaluated to analyze the temperature tolerance capability of germplasm using Principle Component Analysis (PCA). Temperature stress responses varied considerably among the studied genotypes. Among the studied physio-biochemical variables, the EL and RWC variables showed higher contribution to F1 axes of temperature-stress biplot and these variables plays crucial role to segregate the genotype as tolerant and sensitive. The CHL and TC variables contributed more to the F2 axes of the temperature-stress biplot. The factor score that contributed to F1 axes of the PCA biplot under temperature stress concluded that TG7, TG13, TG3 & TG1 genotypes are tolerant and TG14, TG17, TG2 & TG19 are as sensitive genotypes. The analysis of the present results provides a basis for the selection of temperature-tolerant and sensitive genotypes at early growth stages and can be utilized in breeding programs to develop hybrids that can withstand high temperatures in agricultural crops.

Psychrometric Analysis of an Open-Loop Batch-Type Heat Pump Drying Process

Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando — 2023-07-20

Psychrometric processes are vital in agriculture and food processing as they contribute to storage and preservation, drying and dehydration, quality control, cold chain management, process optimization, food safety, and the maintenance of sensory attributes. By effectively managing temperature and humidity, these processes ensure product quality, extend shelf life and enhance the safety of agricultural and food products. Further, the psychrometric equations can be applied to study the drying behavior of hot-air dryers. Therefore, this study aimed to develop models to analyze the psychrometric properties of batch-type, open-loop heat pump drying systems for coffee beans. Coffee beans (370 kg) at 70.01±1.26% (w.b.) moisture content were dried in an open-loop batch-type heat pump dryer. The weight reduction of coffee beans in the drying chamber and the amount of condensed moisture at the evaporator were measured. Two models for condensation and evaporation processes were developed and validated with experimental data. The models indicated that the humidity ratio is essential in developing models for condensation and evaporation processes in heat pump dryers.

Further, the model-validated results showed that the developed models could be used to analyze the air properties in an open-loop heat pump drying system, especially in the drying chamber and the evaporator. These models would support researchers and engineers in making informed decisions to optimize system design, improve energy efficiency, and implement measures that contribute to more effective and environmentally sustainable drying operations.

Mutagenesis Approaches in Plants and their Applications

M. Sridhar Reddy — 2023-03-11

Mutagenesis refers to the process of generation of mutations in DNA molecules, including chromosomal rearrangements and alterations in DNA sequence. The incidence of natural or spontaneous mutation frequency in nature is very low, and it is not sufficient for plant breeding programs to develop new varieties. Mutants were also used for gene function discovery which controls the particular phenotype. Genetic diversity was induced in plants on a good scale through induced mutagenesis programmes, and this helped to improve crops all over the world. Significant efforts have been made to develop induced mutagenized resources using physical (Fast-neutron, X-ray, and -irradiation), chemical (DEB, EMS, and MNU), and biological (T-DNA and Transposons) agents. However, mutants developed through biological agents or genetically modified organisms (GMO) face severe regulatory limitations imposed by national and international agencies to release as varieties. The most popular chemical and physical mutagenesis techniques used by breeders are EMS and gamma rays mutagens. Estimating the appropriate mutagen dose and mutagen exposure time are essential factors to develop mutagenized resources. The dosage and duration of a mutagenic treatment are determined by the species, physiological state of the species, and material handling prior to and after the mutagenic treatment. Neutrons and X-rays are powerful mutagens that cause significant chromosomal damage and have been used to create large chromosomal deletions.