Research paper
Jacinta W Muiruri; Agnes M Kavoo; Mwashasha Rashid Mwajita; Fredah K. Wanzala; Tofick Wekesa
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with plant roots and exhibit beneficial impacts such as stress tolerance and nutrient and water absorption. These functions opened the door to studying other fungi associated with AMF on the root’s rhizosphere. This study aimed to characterize fungal ...
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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with plant roots and exhibit beneficial impacts such as stress tolerance and nutrient and water absorption. These functions opened the door to studying other fungi associated with AMF on the root’s rhizosphere. This study aimed to characterize fungal isolates associated with rhizospheric indigenous AMF from different plant species (banana, grass and papaya) and agroecologies (Mwea, Mitunguu and Juja) in Central Kenya. A total of 30 fungal isolates were isolated from the soil samples through the pour plate technique. The isolates had diverse microscopic morphological characteristics ranging from form, margin, color, size, and surface. Physiochemical characteristics showed varied growth at different pH, temperature, and salinity with optimum growth was recorded at pH 7.0, 30oC-35℃ temperature, and salinity of 0-0.5M NaCl. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and AMF subunits sequences showed diversity similar to Aspergillus spp. Ajellomyces spp., Fusarium spp., Trichoderma spp., Penicillium spp., Glomus spp. and Diversispora spp. In conclusion, there is a symbiotic relationship between AMF and other fungal.
Research paper
Malek Ghasemi; Mohammad Ali Shiri
Abstract
Different four methods of supplementary pollination included as open pollination, hand pollination from male flowers of cv. Tomori, spray pollination with pure pollen and spray pollination with impure pollen (collected from the entrance of bees' nests at the time of opening kiwifruit male flowers) was ...
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Different four methods of supplementary pollination included as open pollination, hand pollination from male flowers of cv. Tomori, spray pollination with pure pollen and spray pollination with impure pollen (collected from the entrance of bees' nests at the time of opening kiwifruit male flowers) was conducted in three replications in 2021. When the fruit reached the maturity stage (6.2 °Brix), it was harvested and stored for 90 days at 0 °C. The results showed that kiwifruit decay (1.70%), weight loss (3.14%), total soluble solids (TSS) (149.62%) and TSS to titratable acidity (TA) ratio (TSS/TA) (333.04%) significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased during 90 days of cold storage, whereas, fruit firmness (38.24%), TA (42.10%), total chlorophyll (53.72%), carotenoid (18.65%), vitamin C (10.34%), flavonoid (12.87%) and antioxidant activity (13.29%) significantly decreased through storage time. Furthermore, total phenolic content (TPC) significantly increased at the 30 days of cold storage and then significantly reduced. Generally, fruits produced from vine sprayed with impure pollen had higher firmness, bioactive compounds, and sensory attributes, as well as lower decay and weight loss after 90 days of cold storage. Overall, spraying kiwifruit vines with impure pollen could be recommended as a practical supplementary pollination in kiwifruit cv. Hayward regarding maintaining postharvest quality.