bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Attributes of Physicochemical Quality in Blackberry ‘Tupy’ Fruits Grown in Chihuahua, Mexico
Authors: MORENO-ROBLES Nydia E. , JACOBO-CUELLAR Juan L. , PÉREZ-LEAL Ramona , RODRÍGUEZ-ROQUE María J. , PARRA-QUEZADA Rafael Á. , ORDUÑO-CRUZ Nuvia , CRUZ-ALVAREZ Oscar
Published: December 2019

The aim of this research was to evaluate the vegetative growth, flowering and some attributes of physicochemical quality in blackberry ‘Tupy’ fruits cultivated in Chihuahua, Mexico. The study was carried out in San Juanito and La Finca with twenty-five replications per site. The length and number of sprouts, flowering, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), pH, colour, ascorbic acid (AA), total anthocyanins (TA), total phenols (TP) and antioxidant capacity (AC) were evaluated. San Juanito presented the blackberry plants with the longest sprout length (169.71 cm), but their number was similar to La Finca, which also showed statistical significance with respect to the minimum temperature range (-2.9 and -1.2 °C), which manifested itself in less accumulation of cold units (658) and degree days (886). The flowering event started at 108 Julian days (April 19) for San Juanito completely evading the occurrence of late frosts, while La Finca maintained a 10% risk. The fruits harvested in the Finca showed the highest content of TA (75.7 mg cyanid-3-glucosid 100 g-1), maintaining the fruit quality without changes for both sites. The results indicate that the environmental temperature conditions of San Juanito are suitable for vegetative growth and floral development, by completely avoiding the occurrence of late frosts and obtaining fruits with quality similar to that harvested in orchards with commercial production.
Seed Treatment Techniques to Improve Germination of Wild Asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.), a Potential New Crop
Authors: KATSENIOS Nikolaos , ROUSSIS Ioannis E. , EFTHIMIADOU Aspasia , KAKABOUKI Ioanna , BILALIS Dimitrios
Published: December 2019

Pre-sowing seed treatment techniques of stratification and scarification were used in order to find the most appropriate method to overcome dormancy of wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.) seeds. An indoor and an outdoor experiment were carried out at the Agricultural University of Athens. For the indoor experiment, the pre-sowing treatments of stratification (fresh and stratified seeds) and scarification (non-scarified, mechanical scarification and chemical scarification with sulfuric acid) were used as the main treatments, and three different temperatures (15, 20 and 25 °C) as sub-treatments. For the outdoor experiment, there were only the treatments of stratification and scarification. The stratification of asparagus seeds was found to have a positive effect on germination and vigor indices compared to non-stratified (fresh) seeds. The highest germination percentage, vigor index I and II were recorded with the stratified seeds that had been mechanically scarified in both indoor and outdoor conditions. The results indicate that just the scarification cannot improve germination of fresh collected seeds of wild asparagus. Stratification increased the germination percentage from 2.7-6.6% to 45.1-75.3%. The mechanical and the chemical scarification had a positive effect on the root length compared to the non-scarified seeds that have been stratified. These pre-sowing treatments can increase the germination percentage and produce vigorous seedlings that can be used to establish plantations of this potential new crop.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Sand Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) ‘Nakai’ Varieties Using SSR and AFLP Markers
Authors: CAO Jie , ZHOU Zhongcheng , TU Junfan , CHENG Shuiyuan , YAO Jinglei , XU Feng , WANG Guiyuan , ZHANG Jian , YE Jiabao , LIAO Yongling , ZHANG Weiwei , CHEN Zexiong
Published: December 2019

In this study, the technologies of simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 30 sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) ‘Nakai’ varieties. Ten pairs of SSR polymorphic primers were selected to amplify P. pyrifolia ‘Nakai’ varieties. A total of 90 alleles were detected. The polymorphism information content index was between 0.5578 and 0.8423, with an average of 0.7585. The selected 10 pairs of AFLP primer combinations were used to amplify the analyzed pear varieties, and 1,046 polymorphic loci were detected. The average amplification results of each primer combination detected 105 bands with an average polymorphism percentage of 86.46%. The combined data of SSR and AFLP analysis showed that the analyzed P. pyrifolia ‘Nakai’ varieties were characterized by extremely rich genetic diversity and were highly representative. According to the results of SSR, AFLP, and SSR+AFLP cluster analysis, the analyzed P. pyrifolia ‘Nakai’ varieties can be categorized into three clusters. The results of genetic structure showed that the hybridization between these P. pyrifolia ‘Nakai’ varieties resulted in the heterozygosity of genotypes. In addition, we found that ‘Nijisseik’, ‘Ejima’, and ‘Fuli’ are good parent resources among the pear varieties through observing the genetic background of the analyzed pear varieties. This study reveals the genetic diversity levels of P. pyrifolia ‘Nakai’ varieties at the molecular level, which was important in molecular identification and protection of pear germplasm resources, as well as pear variety breeding and genetic improvement.
Induction of Lateral Branching of Sweet Cherry and Plum in Fruit Nursery
Authors: WOLF Jan , KISS Tomáš , ONDRÁŠEK Ivo , NEČAS Tomáš
Published: December 2019

Modern high quality nursery trees pruning as knipboom grow and crop significantly better during the first years after planting in the orchard. High quality nursery trees perform better in the first years after plantation in the orchard than average or low quality nursery trees. Nurserymen are focused on production of such trees in the shortest time (one year). However, fruit tree species and varieties differ in their abilities to produce these trees. The goal of this work was to increase the quality and branching of one-year-old nursery trees at two plum and two sweet cherry varieties by the treatments of 12 different preparations of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Before lifting, branching and trunk parameters were recorded. Data showed that Ethephone+Putrescine+GA4+7 and Ethephone+Putrescine+6-BAP significantly increased almost all parameters at both plum varieties. Both sweet cherry varieties were sufficiently branching with Globaryl+epibrassinolide treatment, however the lateral shoots of ‘Celeste’ sweet cherry variety were of low quality. The same was observed after treatment with Progerbalin+4-CPPU+Putrescine. Sweet cherry ‘Kordia’ branched very well after Globaryl and TIBA+PBZ treatments too, however, the lateral shoots after treatment with the latter preparation were of low quality. ‘Kordia’ trees after Globaryl treatment were branched in 94% of cases with more than four lateral shoots.
Introduction pages
Authors: SESTRAS Radu E.
Published: December 2019

Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca (NBHA), Issue 3, Volume 47, 2019: The papers published in this issue Vol 47 No 3 (2019) represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about the ecology, cultivation and utilization of the aromatic Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare L.); phytochemical and antioxidant properties of fresh fruits and some traditional products of wild grown raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.); biochemical characterisation and sensory evaluation of differently coloured and shaped tomato cultivars; tyrosinase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of wild Prunus spinosa L. fruit extracts as natural source of bioactive compounds; cross compatibility analysis to identify suitable parents of Tagetes erecta and T. patula for heterotic hybrid breeding; genetic diversity and population structure analysis of sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) ‘Nakai’ varieties using SSR and AFLP markers. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca journal has moved to online-only publication at the start of 2017; beginning in 2019, the journal appears quarterly. At the same time, we maintain our standard publication, as printed form, with ‘classic’ style - volume, issue, pagination.
Determination of Blooming, Pollen and Fruit Set Characteristics in Punica granatum
Authors: AKSOY Deniz , DALKILIC Zeynel
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate flowering, pollen, and fruit set characteristics of locally registered pomegranate cultivars between two consecutive years. ‘Dr. Ercan 35’, ‘Efenar 35’, ‘Kamilbey 35’, and ‘Tezeren 35’ cultivars have been developed by cross-breeding programs. Open-, cross-, and self-pollination studies were performed with these cultivars using three trees in each replicate in the field. Number of anthers per flower, number of pollen grains per anther, viability, and germination tests were conducted in the laboratory. Fruit set ratio of self-pollinated combinations were lower than open-pollination. The fruit set ratio from self-pollination was obtained from ‘Dr. Ercan’ (60.3%), ‘Efenar 35’ (62.4%), ‘Kamilbey 35’ (50.5%), and ‘Tezeren 35’ (25.2%). The highest fruit set ratio (49.7%) was obtained from ‘Kamilbey 35’ × ‘Dr. Ercan 35’ combination. The highest number of characteristics was as follows: ‘Tezeren 35’ (402 anthers/hermaphrodite flowers), ‘Kamilbey 35’ (8550 pollen/anther, male flowers in the beginning of flowering), ‘Efenar 35’ (84.7% pollen viability, hermaphrodite flowers), ‘Kamilbey 35’ (71.2%, pollen germination, hermaphrodite flowers). In conclusion, at least one, two or more, pollinator cultivars are necessary for commercial plantations using with these recently released pomegranate cultivars.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Screening for Salt and Water Stress Tolerance in Fir (Abies alba) Populations
Authors: TODEA (MORAR) Irina M. , GONZÁLEZ-ORENGA Sara , PLAZAS Mariola , SESTRAS Adriana F. , PROHENS Jaime , VICENTE Oscar , SESTRAS Radu E. , BOSCAIU Monica
Published: December 2019

Drought periods are becoming more frequent and intense, due to the effects of climate change, threatening natural habitats worldwide, including European forests. Forest trees can also be affected by high soil salinity, because of the common practice of de-icing of mountain roads with NaCl in winter. We have evaluated the responses to salt and water stress of silver fir (Abies alba), an important forest species for which very limited information is available. One-year-old fir seedlings, with origin in seven different locations in Romania, were subjected to salt (watering with NaCl solutions of increasing concentrations) and water deficit (complete withholding of irrigation) treatments in the greenhouse. After one month, plant material was harvested and different morphological parameters were determined in the stressed and control plants. Both stress treatments inhibited growth of fir seedlings from all seven provenances, although quantitative differences in the responses to stress were observed between populations. Growth inhibition was established by the relative reduction – as compared to the non-stressed controls - in several parameters, such as stem elongation, root length, number of needles, or fresh weight and water content of roots and needles. Statistical multivariate analysis of the results suggested that seedlings from Valea Morii (population 6) were the most tolerant to both, water deficit and high (300 mM NaCl) salt concentrations. These results support the possibility to screen a large number of individuals from different populations, at the seedling stage, to select Abies alba genotypes with enhanced drought and/or salinity tolerance.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Phenolic Profiles, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Properties of Both Micropropagated and Naturally Growing Plantlets of Calamintha sylvatica subsp. sylvatica Bromf.
Authors: CÜCE Mustafa , BEKİRCAN Tuba , LAGHARI Abdul Hafeez , SÖKMEN Münevver , SÖKMEN Atalay , ÖNAY UÇAR Evren , KILIÇ Ali Osman
Published: December 2019

A rapid micropropagation protocol was designed to produce Calamintha sylvatica plantlets by using nodal segments as explants for the shoot formation. 6-BA favored the highest shoot formation and biomass yield, whilst kinetin was found superior for the highest shoot length (38.97 ± 2.85 mm) and node numbers (2.89 ± 0.63). Rosmarinic acid was detected as major phenolic acid, ranging from 7.59 mg/100 g to 81.44 mg/100 g. Hexane extracts from natural and in vitro propagated plantlets showed activity only against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC values at 6.25 and 3.33 m/mL, respectively while in the latter case, extracts from natural plantlets exerted higher cytotoxic activity than those of micropropagated ones (IC50 values were 83 µg/mL and 98 µg/mL on HeLa cells, respectively). C. sylvatica showed high micropropagation performance and produced remarkable amount of rosmarinic acid in vitro as well as antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Physiological Responses of Paneer-Booti (Withania coagulans Dunal) to NaCl Stress Under Tissue Culture Conditions
Authors: GHAHREMANI Aysan , GANJI MOGHADAM Ebrahim , TATARI Maryam , KHOSROYAR Susan
Published: December 2019

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses, which affects physiological traits and reduces plant productivity. Paneer-booti (Withania coagulans Dunal) is a medicinal and aromatic plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, which is an endemic plant in the Middle East. In this study, the effect of different salt concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM NaCl) on antioxidant enzymes activity such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), proline, phenols, and flavonoids contents, relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage, Na+ and K+ concentrations, and chlorophyll fluorescence of Paneer-booti were studied. Results indicated that the effect of NaCl stress was significant on all traits. By increasing NaCl, to 250 mM levels, enhance activity of CAT (76.75%), POD (56.49%), and APX (44.77%), proline (79.56%), phenols (56.15%), electrolyte leakage (76.74%), Na+ (54.70%), and minimum fluorescence (Fo) (44.94%) was observed while decreased RWC (11.33%), K+ concentration (50.8%), K+/Na+ ratio (77.77%), and Fv/Fm ratio (67.5%) compared to the control treatment was noted. By increasing electrolyte leakage enhance in the rate of antioxidant enzymes activity (CAT, POD, and APX), proline, phenols, and flavonoids contents, and Na+ concentration was observed. The rate of K+/Na+ ratio is very important under salinity condition, so, the trait had a negative correlation with antioxidant enzyme activities, proline, phenols, and flavonoids contents. Our results revealed that Paneer-booti plantlet had a high tolerant to the NaCl stress due to the fact high level of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities under higher levels of salinity.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Alleviation of Salinity Stress in Maize Using Silicon Nutrition
Authors: RAZA Muhammad Mohsin , ULLAH Sami , AZIZ Tariq , ABBAS Tanveer , YOUSAF Malik Muhammad , ALTAY Volkan , OZTURK Munir
Published: December 2019

Improving salinity tolerance through mineral nutrition in plants is emerging strategy for sustainable agriculture under limited resources. Silicon (Si) is considered as silver bullet to mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses. Present study was conducted to understand the new mechanisms of Si nutrition against salinity stress in two different maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (‘Syngenta-8441’ and ‘Pearl’). Three different levels of NaCl (0.67, 8 and 13 dSm-1) were used with and without addition of silicic acid (2 mM). Distilled water was used for irrigation purposes and crop was harvested after 40 days of post germination. Results indicated that plant biomass reduced under saline condition while Si application increased growth parameters. Data regarding chemical analysis showed that Si nutrition reduced Na+ concentration and enhanced K+ levels in root, shoot, new and old leaves of ‘Sygenta 8441’ compared to ‘Pearl’ maize variety. Si application improved both chlorophyll a and b in both maize cultivars compared to NaCl-treated plants. The current findings indicate that Si nutrition can alleviate salinity stress in maize without decreasing growth attributes of crop and ‘Sygenta 8441’ is a salt resistant variety whereas ‘Pearl’ is a salt sensitive variety.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Adaptive Strategies of Structures that Enhance Invasion in Sicyos angulatus
Authors: ZHAO Fengxi , YAN Shihui , LI Meihui , LIU Xinyu , ZHANG Xinwan , CAO Yong , ZHAO Hong
Published: December 2019

Sicyos angulatus may become an extremely dangerous invasive plant depending on its ability to naturalize and outcompete other species. To further understand the adaptive strategies of structures that could enhance its competitiveness, field surveys and experimental studies were conducted in plant communities where invasion may occur. The results showed that multistage branches of tendrils ensured that the plants could climb higher to strive for better photosynthetic opportunities. The single fleshy fruit of the infructescence was carpeted with slender white spines on which dense barbs were arranged, which could defend fruits against herbivores and contributed to long-distance dispersal. There would be beaklike lignified thorn forming to continue spreading when most of the barbed spines fell off during the fruit season. Rootstock was found in this herbaceous vine, which could accumulate various storage substances during development and helped the plants spread in harsh conditions. Moreover, the discovery of ants as new pollinators enriched the pollination system of S. angulatus, which greatly enhanced pollination efficiency. Above all, we conclude that this species has diverse adaptive strategies and a strong invasive capacity. It is urgent to find some way to slow or even stop its invasion effectively.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Evaluation of the Allelopathic Potential of Leaf Extracts from Dischidia imbricata (Blume) Steud. on the Seedling Growth of Six Test Plants
Authors: KRUMSRI Ramida , BOONMEE Sutjaritpan , KATO-NOGUCHI Hisashi
Published: December 2019

Dischidia imbricata (Blume) Steud. is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This plant has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties, however, there has been no report related to its allelopathic properties. Therefore, the aqueous methanol extracts of D. imbricata were examined for possible allelopathic activity against the seedling growth of dicotyledonous plants; lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and monocotyledonous plants; barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and timothy (Phleum pratense L.). D. imbricata extracts exhibited a significant inhibition on the seedling growth of all the test plant species at the concentration ≥ 0.01 g dry weight equivalent extract mL-1. The seedling growth of lettuce showed the highest inhibition with D. imbricata extracts followed by alfalfa and cress, whereas the least inhibition was found on the seedling growth of timothy. Concentrations required for 50% inhibition (I50 values) of all the test plant species were in the range of 0.003 to 0.067 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for shoot growth, and 0.018 to 0.026 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for root growth. In addition considering the I50 values, the root growth of the test plant species was more sensitive to D. imbricata extracts than their shoot growth, except cress seedling. These results indicated that D. imbricata may possess allelopathic activity and may contain allelopathic substances.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Roles of Some Plant Growth Regulators on Natural and Dark-Induced Senescence in Wheat Leaf Segments
Authors: GÖREN-SAĞLAM Nihal , ÇEKIÇ Fazilet Özlem
Published: December 2019

Senescence is an important developmental process in the life span of a plant. It is affected by several endogenous and exogenous factors such as hormones, darkness, and drought. Hormones are major endogenous factors that affect senescence intensively. In this study, our aim was to investigate the effects of different plant growth regulators; benzyl adenin (BA), spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) on both natural and dark-induced senescence and on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in wheat leaf segments. Following the incubation, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents; peroxidase activity, soluble protein, GABA and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and cell death amount were determined. Our results demonstrate that Spm and Spd accelerated senescence under light and delayed it under dark conditions. BA has delayed leaf senescence under both conditions. Cell death and MDA content showed a correlation with the senescence process. GABA content was enhanced considerably by BA, Spm and Spd applications under light conditions. According to our results we can conclude that Spm and Spd could promote senescence on wheat segments under light conditions, whereas inhibit senescence under dark conditions. In addition, BA could retard the deleterious effects on senescence under both light and dark conditions.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Total Phenol, Antioxidant and Allelopathy Assay, and Meiosis Study of Lampranthus spectabilis and Aptenia cordifolia
Authors: HASHEMLOIAN Babak Delnavaz , AZIMI Azra Ataei , REZAKANLOU Reza
Published: December 2019

Lamperanthus spectabilis and Aptenia cordifolia (Aiozaceae) are two ornamental plants. A little information is available about their active compounds and meiosis’ process.  In this study, the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, allelopathy effects and meiosis’ process of pollen mother cells of L. spectabilis and A. cordifolia were studied. The alcohol extract was used for phenol, antioxidant and allelopathy assay along with young buds for meiosis study. The stamens and petals of both plants possessed the highest phenol and antioxidant effects. All extracts of L. spectabilis and A. cordifolia had small inhibitory effects on mungbeen seed germination and seedlings growth. The allelopathy effect of both plants on barley seed germination and seedlings growth was significant especially for A. cordifolia. The count of chromosomes in meiosis revealed that the chromosome number of A. cordifolia was 2n=12 and 2n=18 for L. spetabilis.  The meiosis in both plants was normal and the chromosomes were very small. Our results revealed that the extracts of all organs of both plants; specially stamens and petals, have a lot antioxidant activity. They had not allelopathic effects on seed germination’ and seedlings growth’ mungbeen and barley. Chromosome number of two plants was different but meiosis process and chromosomes size was similar.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Drought Avoidance and Phenotypic Flexibility of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) Under Water Scarcity Conditions
Authors: GOUVEIA Carla , GANANÇA José F. T. , De NÓBREGA Humberto G. M. , De FREITAS José G. R. , LEBOT Vincent , CARVALHO Miguel Â. A. Pinheiro de
Published: December 2019

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is an important staple food in several regions of the world. Water scarcity is the most devastating abiotic stress, with a great impact on crop productivity, food security, and subsistence. Drought restricts the nutrient intake and transport into the plant. Tolerant crops have morphological mechanisms of drought avoidance and/or phenotypic flexibility, showing also good water and nutrient efficiency. However, that information is scarce for sweet potato, which is usually based on physiological traits of plant productivity. Here, we show the physiological responses of eight sweet potato accessions subjected to a 3 months’ drought period, by recording their differences for nutrient and leaf chlorophyll content, biomass and stress level. Our results showed that the differences in water use efficiency (WUE, +68.1%), chlorophyll content index (CCI, -5.3%), total plant biomass (TPB, -55.4%), nutrient efficiency (NER, +38.1%) and nutrient harvest index (NHI, +2.9%) where significantly correlated with the water regime. The water shortage led to a drought avoidance response, with TPB loss in all accessions. Distinct phenotypic flexibility responses were also recorded and explained by the root:shoot ratio (R:S) and stress index (SI) variation of the storage root and shoot growth. This information could be relevant for the development of sweet potato breeding programs, adapting this crop to climate change.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Effects of Shading on Carbohydrates of Syzygium samarangense
Authors: JIAN Ying , WU Guolin , ZHOU Donghui , HU Zhiqun , QUAN Zhenxuan , ZHOU Biyan
Published: December 2019

Wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is an important tropical fruit tree cultivated in Southeast Asian. It produces red pear-like shape fruits. The fruit flesh is considered high in antioxidants, phenolics, and flavonoids that have a potential to contribute to the human healthy diet, and was proved to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial characteristics. To allow year-round marketing of high quality wax apple fruit, growers always perform shading to inhibit new flushes so as to repress vegetative growth and promote reproductive growth. To investigate the effect of shading on carbohydrates, wax apple trees were shaded with sun shade nets under field conditions. The effects of shading on shoot growth were studied and leaf carbohydrate levels of the trees were determined. The results showed that shading inhibit the the growth of the terminal shoots and promoted bud dormancy. Shading also reduced total soluble sugar, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and starch levels of leaves. The results suggested that shading reduced carbohydrate accumulation and repressed vegetative growth.

 

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In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.

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Growth Performance Indices of New Zealand White Rabbits Administered Panax ginseng Extracts
Authors: IWUJI Tobechukwu Chijioke , HERBERT Udo , OGUIKE Mary Anthony
Published: December 2019

Treatment with Panax ginseng has been reported to elicit various biological effects in both animal and human models. Among the reported effects on animal are protein synthesis and growth promoting ability. For a better understanding, the current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral administration of P. ginseng extracts (PGEs) on growth performance parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 48 NZW male and female rabbits, with the average age of two months were used for the experiment, conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The rabbits were organized into 3 groups of 16 rabbits each (8 males and 8 females), on weight equalization basis and randomly assigned to 3 treatments: T1, T2 and T3, containing PGEs at 0.0, 200.0 and 400.0 mg/ml, respectively. Final body weight and total body weight gain of the male rabbits on T2 and T3 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of male rabbits on T1, while feed conversion ratio for the male rabbits recorded a higher (p < 0.05) value in T1 than in T2 and T3, which were similar (p < 0.05). Trunk length and breast girth of the male rabbits were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in T3 than in T1 and T2. Feed intake pattern was similar among the male rabbits, but different between males and females. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were not observed in all parameters measured among female rabbits, but all experimental rabbits followed the same pattern of body weight gain. Oral administration of Panax ginseng extracts at 200 and 400 mg/ml levels enhanced feed conversion ratio in male NZW rabbits, thereby increasing body weight gain, trunk length and breast girth, while feed intake patterns slightly differed between the male and female growing rabbits.
Impact of Media on Air-layering in the Propagation of Dennettia tripetala (Annonaceae), and Its Micro-morphological Characteristics
Authors: YAKUBU Fred Bayo , CHUKWUMA Emmanuel Chukwudi , AWOSAN Elizabeth Adetutu
Published: December 2019

A systematic study was carried out on Dennettia tripetala to establish an alternative method of propagation and further provide complementary characters for the identification of the species especially in sterile conditions. All methods followed those of previous authors of related studies. Findings from the silvicultural aspect revealed that it is very possible to successfully propagate the species via air-layering, using good quality materials. Top soil performed better than saw dust substrate. The roots appeared and developed much faster than those of the saw dust, before it was harvested and potted.  Micro-morphological examination of the foliar epidermises also showed that the species is hypostomatic, while epidermal cells are predominantly polygonal, measuring 37.1 x 22.0 µm and 30.4 x 15.4 µm in size on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces respectively, and with straight to sinose anticlinal walls. Stomata is anomocytic, up to 32.2 x 17.6 µm in size. Wood is vesseless with tyloses present and gums totally absent. Ray multiserate. Pollen grains are predominantly spheroidal with scabrate surface and thin exine. Further studies on other aspects may reveal more useful information about D. tripetala.
The Effects of Using Synthetic and Natural Color Foods on Lipid Profile and Liver Function in Rats
Authors: ABDEL-RAHIM Emam , EL-BELTAGI Hossam S. , ALI Rehab F.M. , AMER Abeer A. , MOUSA Somia M.
Published: December 2019

Today synthetic food dyes are being used most commonly as food colorant in confectionaries for children. Present study was designed to evaluate effect of tartrazine and chocolate brown as a synthetic color and turmeric, cocoa as a natural color on Swiss albino mice. The rats have been fed on color biscuits and after the acclimation period, rats were divided into 7 groups (5 rats each one). Rats treated with dose level 7.5 mg/kg /day (ADI) in tartrazine and turmeric and 0.15 mg/kg /day (ADI) in chocolate brown and cocoa. The study revealed a highly noticeable decrease in the body weight gain, food intake and feed efficiency in synthetic color of mice compared to the control group, the mixture improvement this effects and non-significant with natural color. A significant increase in the average weight of the major organs liver, spleen, heart, pancreas and kidney of the mice has been increased significantly in synthetic color treated groups with tartrazine and chocolate brown. Total cholesterol level, T-lipid, LDL and vLDL were no significant change in all mice administration color foods, but significant increase in T.G with tartrazine and chocolate brown and has significant decrease in HDL-C with tartrazine and chocolate brown. There was a significant increase in the level of ALT, AST and ALP with tartrazine and chocolate brown while compared to control group. The mixture synthetic and natural color improved the results. Bilirubin levels were significantly increased with tartrazine and chocolate brown.
The Clinicopathological Evaluations of the Efficacy of Incorporation of Amantadine Hydrochloride in the Treatment of West African Dwarf Goats Experimentally Infected with Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus
Authors: UGOCHUKWU Iniobong C.I. , IDOKO Sunday I. , OMEKE Jacinta N. , ANEKE Chioma I. , SANI Nuhu A. , EMEJUO Nnenna T. , IKEM Chioma F. , UGOCHUKWU Emmanuel I.
Published: December 2019

Peste des petits ruminants poses a major threat to the development of small ruminant production. The objective of this study was to determine the comparative efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride (HCl), oxytetracycline long acting (LA) and levamisole in West African dwarf (WAD) goats experimentally infected with PPR. In addition to the presence of the characteristic clinical signs, complement ELISA and haem agglutination inhibition (HI) tests were used to confirm PPR infection in the West African dwarf goats, then treatment was instituted in the different groups namely, group 1 which was treated with amantadine HCl orally, oxytetracycline LA intramuscularly (IM) and levamisole per os. Group 2 was treated with oxytetracycline LA IM and levamisole. Group 3 was treated with levamisole while group 4 served as untreated control. The physiological parameters namely rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rates of the different groups were recorded. The mortality rates in the different treatment groups were also recorded. The respiratory rates of the WAD goats increased as the infection progressed, but the increase was not significant (P>0.05). The treatment helped reduce the respiratory rates in the treated WAD. The rectal temperatures of all the animals in the different treatment groups increased only slightly as the infection progressed and was not significant (P>0.05). The percentage mortalities were 0% in Group 1, 25% in the Group 2, 50% in the treated group 3 and highest (75%) in the untreated group respectively. In conclusion, incorporation of specific antiviral agents like amantadine hydrochloride in the treatment regimen with oxytetracycline and levamisole particularly during the early stages of the infection can reduce morbidity and mortality of the disease to the barest minimum.
Curcumin Alleviates Potassium Bromate-Induced Hepatic Damage by Repressing CRP Induction through TNF-α and IL-1β and by Suppressing Oxidative Stress
Authors: ADEWALE Omowumi O. , AKOMOLAFE Seun F. , ASOGWA Nnaemeka T.
Published: December 2019

This study evaluated the prospective molecular and biochemical mechanisms behind the hepatoprotective effects of curcumin in Wistar rats exposed to KBrO3. Techniques for assessment of hepatic oxidative injury and histological biomarkers were used. The concentrations of proteins connected with inflammation (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins 1β (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Results showed that, curcumin administered orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 28 days significantly suppressed the activities of serum transaminases and alkaline induced by KBrO3 administration (20 mg/kg, twice weekly) and protected the integrity of the liver tissue. Also, curcumin at the tested dose abridged the KBrO3-induced increase in hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and reversed KBrO3 mediated reduction in activities of hepatic antioxidant molecules including reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol (TSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, curcumin significantly assuaged inflammatory response in KBrO3-lesioned liver as revealed by the decrease in inflammatory biomarkers. This study suggests that curcumin exhibits a protective effect via induction of hepatic detoxification proteins and inhibition of inflammatory proteins in addition to its antioxidative ability in KBrO3- induced hepatic injury in rats.
Characterization of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Linn.) Morpho-types Using RAPD Markers
Authors: OPOOLA James T. , OZIEGBE Matthew
Published: December 2019

Ocimum tenuiﬂorum Linn. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant with a lot of potential medicinally, industrially and domestically. There are different morpho-types of O. tenuiflorum, with different shades of purple pigment on their leaves. Very few studies have been done to study the genetic variation among O. tenuiflorum morpho-types. Thus, in the present study, four O. tenuiflorum morpho-types that varied in pigmentation were characterised using RAPD marker as a molecular tool. Eight different primers collectively amplified 64 bands in the four morpho-types analysed. The RAPD technique revealed that the varied amount of purple pigment in O. tenuiflorum morpho-types is not due to environmental factor alone. The UPGMA clustering algorithm based on RAPD data grouped the four morpho-types into two major groups, with O. tenuiflorum (T2) with very light purple leaves and stem morpho-type, more related to O. tenuiflorum (T3) that have deep purple leaves and stem. The result was able to show the phylogenetic relationships within the species. The low level of genetic diversity observed in O. tenuiflorum can be attributed to the mode of reproduction and the reproductive biology of the species, due to the fact that they are likely to be natural hybrids produced through cross pollination.
Anticancer Activity of Water and Methanol Extracts of Hypericum scabrum L. on Different Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: GUCLU Gulsen , TAS Ayca , TULIMAT Manhal , ERUYGUR Nuraniye , SILIG Yavuz
Published: December 2019

Hypericum scabrum L. is an endemic medicinal plant with antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory, antiviral effect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of water and methanol extracts on different cancer cell lines such as osteosarcoma cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. The data showed that the methanol extract had a highly effective cytotoxic effect on all three cell lines. Although water extract caused less cell loss than methanol extract, it was found that the cells were inhibited in all three cell lines. DU-145, which is the prostate cell line, was more effective in both extracts. As a result, the water and methanol extract of Hypericum scabrum L. have an anticancer effect on Saos-2, HeLa and DU-145 cells. There is a need for further and comprehensive studies by isolating the main active ingredient of this plant which is a candidate for drug of cancer in the future. Our study is expected to lead the studies in this direction.
Approximating Weighted and Priced Bribery in Scoring Rules
Authors: Keller Orgad , Hassidim Avinatan , Hazon Noam
Published: December 2019

The classic Bribery problem is to find a minimal subset of voters who need to change their vote to make some preferred candidate win. Its important generalizations consider voters who are weighted and also have different prices. We provide an approximate solution for these problems for a broad family of scoring rules (which includes Borda and t-approval), in the following sense: for constant weights and prices, if there exists a strategy which costs k, we efficiently find a strategy which costs at most k+\widetilde{O}(sqrt(k)). An extension for non-constant weights and prices is also given.

Our algorithm is based on a randomized reduction from these Bribery generalizations to weighted coalitional manipulation (WCM). To solve this WCM instance, we apply the Birkhoff-von Neumann (BvN) decomposition to a fractional manipulation matrix. This allows us to limit the size of the possible ballot search space reducing it from exponential to polynomial, while still obtaining good approximation guarantees.  Finding a solution in the truncated search space yields a new algorithm for WCM, which is of independent interest.
Chemical transformations at carbothermal reduction of barium and boron from oxides
Authors: Akberdin A. A. , Karbaev M. M.
Published: December 2019

Alloys of boron and barium are applied to improve the quality of cast iron, steel, aluminum and other metals. The first industry produces mainly in the form of ferroboron, containing 6 – 17 % of boron depending on the brand. It is produced by an expensive aluminothermic method due to the use of boric anhydride and aluminum powder. At the same time, presence of aluminum in the metal is inevitable, it degrades the technological properties of cast iron and forms line alumina inclusions in steel. Extra-furnace removal of Al leads to oxidation of boron and its loss with slags. Therefore, the authors have proposed new methods for smelting boron-containing ferroalloys. Recent developments include the production technology of boron-containing ferrosilicon, which has been tested in industrial conditions. But its use may be limited in smelting of low-silicon steel grades. Barium is an eﬀective modifier. Due to its low solubility in iron, it is produced in the form of alloys with silicon or aluminum. In the first case, silicides (BaSi, BaSi2 ) are formed and therefore such alloys are called silicon barium or ferrosilicon with barium. In present work, there has been studied the possibility of producing modifier with boron and barium ferroalloy. It was believed that the simultaneous presence of barium and boron in it can be demand for industry. At the first stage, chemistry of transformations in BaO– B2O3 – C ironless system was considered using the carbothermic method. A complete thermodynamic analysis of chemical interactions in this system was performed in the temperature range of 1400 – 3000 K. Possibility of the formation of a condensed metal phase due to boron carbides (B4C) and barium (BaC2 ), as well as barium hexaboride (BaB6 ) is shown. The obtained data can serve as the basis for creation of a new ferroalloy simultaneously containing boron and barium.
Influence of boron modification and cooling conditions during solidification on structural and phase state of heat- and wear-resistant white cast iron
Authors: Kolokol’tsev V. M. , Petrochenko E. V. , Molochkova O. S.
Published: December 2019

The paper is devoted to examination of the eﬀect of boron modification and temperature conditions for metal cooling in a mold on phase composition, morphology and chemical composition of structural components of heatand wear-resistant white cast iron of Fe – C– Cr– Mn – Ni – Ti–Al – Nb system. The phase composition of the metallic base changed from the dualphase (α- and γ-phases) to the completely single-phase (γ-phase). Boron modification influenced on the type of secondary carbides, while secondary hardening in a mold occurs through extraction of dispersed niobium carbides (without boron, but with chromium carbides). The structure of modified cast iron is presented by the primary complex carbides (Ti, Nb, Cr, Fe)C, as well as by solid solution dendrites, eutectics and secondary carbides MeC. Boron addition changes the chemical composition of primary carbides with decrease of niobium content from 44 to 2 % and increase of titanium content from 24 to 65 %; content of eutectic carbides rises as well. As for hypereutectic carbides, they are characterized by increase of ferrum content and lowering of chrome content. Parameters of the primary phases (MeC carbides and solid solution dendrites) were investigated using the methods of quantitative metallography. The special technique of Thixomet PRO image analyzer was used for evaluation of the F form factor which is the criterion of compatibility of the primary phases. The following parameters were used in this work as the parameters of dendrite structure: dispersity of the dendrite structure (δ), volumetric part of dendrites (V), distance between the axes of second order dendrites (λ2 ), form factor (F), average dimensions of dendrites – square (S), length (l) and width (β). All the suggested characteristics (parameters) allowed not only to provide quantitative evaluation of the dendrite structure, but also to determine modification degree as relative variation (in %) of each criterion in modified cast iron in comparison with non-modified iron. Quantitative relation between modification degree and crystallization conditions were established as well.