Research paper
Dennis Maina Gatahi; Felix Nyoro
Abstract
Fresh Moringa oleifera leaves are very rich in phytonutrients, however the leaves are also highly perishable and require processing for increased shelf-life. The method of processing, specifically drying affects the nutritional value of the product. The present study therefore, analyzed the nutraceutical ...
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Fresh Moringa oleifera leaves are very rich in phytonutrients, however the leaves are also highly perishable and require processing for increased shelf-life. The method of processing, specifically drying affects the nutritional value of the product. The present study therefore, analyzed the nutraceutical value and growth of toxic microbes when the leaves were dried under different conditions i.e. room temperature, greenhouse, 50% shade net, and in the oven at 60 oC for 4 h. The experiments were carried out at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The treatments were applied in triplicate and arranged on a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on nutritional value of dried Moringa leaves was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parameterization and means separated using protected LSD0.05. The study showed that drying Moringa leaves under shade, room and greenhouse conditions significantly (P<0.05) affects the nutritional value of the product. The results showed highest levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, polyphenols and terpenoids when the leaves were dried under 50% shade net and room temperature conditions. In contrast, the glucosinolate content was significantly (P<0.05) higher when the leaves were dried instantly in the oven (9.1%/wt), followed by drying under greenhouse conditions (8.7%/wt) before oven drying. However, drying of Moringa leaves under shade before oven drying resulted in growth of toxic microbial organisms such as staphylococcus, yeast, E. coli and molds that can potentially affect the safety of the product. Finally, the drying conditions also significantly (P<0.05) affected the moisture content of the powder obtained. The results of this study form an important reference for small-holder Moringa growers and processors in the development of an optimal processing regime for high value Moringa powder.
Research paper
Namrata Ghimire; Arvind Srivastava; Deepak Poudel; Kamal Raj Gaire
Abstract
To determine the suitability of different mulching materials for improving the yield of potato,a field experiment was conducted from January 2020 to May 2020 at Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments including: T1: silver ...
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To determine the suitability of different mulching materials for improving the yield of potato,a field experiment was conducted from January 2020 to May 2020 at Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments including: T1: silver plastic mulch, T2: black plastic mulch, T3: perforated black plastic mulch, T4: straw mulch, and T5: Control, with four replications. The experiment revealed that the highest tuber yield was obtained in silver plastic mulch (42.29tonne/ha) followed by perforated black plastic (41.04tonne/ha), black plastic (39.17tonne/ha), and straw (28.54tonne/ha) mulches, and the lowest yield was obtained in the Control treatment (21.46tonne/ha). Soil temperature was found to be influenced by the use of mulching materials with the highest soil temperature recorded under black plastic mulch, whereas the lowest soil temperature was detected under the Control treatment. The economic analysis of using different mulching materials showed the highest benefit/cost ratio by silver plastic mulch (3.63); followed by perforated black plastic mulch (3.53) and the lowest benefit/cost ratio was calculated for the Control (2.60). The present study, therefore, depicted silver plastic mulch followed by perforated black plastic mulch as the most effective mulching material for improving production of potato.
Research paper
Chrispo Makheti Mutebi; Davine Atieno Ondede
Abstract
Leaf spot (Cercospora moricola, Cooke) is a disease that negatively influences the yield of mulberry (Morus alba L.) plants. To determine the effect of nitrogen levels on the incidence and severity of leaf spot an experiment was carried out on mulberry plants. The nitrogen levels included 0, 100, 200 ...
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Leaf spot (Cercospora moricola, Cooke) is a disease that negatively influences the yield of mulberry (Morus alba L.) plants. To determine the effect of nitrogen levels on the incidence and severity of leaf spot an experiment was carried out on mulberry plants. The nitrogen levels included 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1, which were applied in two splits coinciding with the two rainy seasons. The study design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Determination of disease intensity involved scoring for disease intensity on a 1-5 Manandhar scale and calculation of the disease incidence were performed by expressing the number of infected leaves as a percentage of the total number of leaves. The values were translated to area under disease progress stairs (AUDPS). The means for AUDPS were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using PRO GLM in SAS and Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) used to partition the means at p≤0.05. The results showed that as the rate of nitrogen application was increased, there was a corresponding decrease in AUDPS for disease incidence and a decrease in AUDPS for disease severity. From the obtained results it can be concluded that nitrogen at an application rate of 200 kg ha-1 is an effective approach to suppress Cercospora leaf spot of mulberry and can be recommended to the farmers, where this disease is a problem for cultivation of mulberry.
Research paper
Elaheh Hashemidehkordi; Seyed Najmmaddin Mortazavi; Pejman Azadi
Abstract
Zantedeschia spp is an important flower in the ornamental plants market. Due to the high demand for this plant in the horticultural industry, it is indispensable to introduce an in vitro protocol for its mass propagation. For this aim, the tubers of calla lily were disinfected in a hot water bath with ...
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Zantedeschia spp is an important flower in the ornamental plants market. Due to the high demand for this plant in the horticultural industry, it is indispensable to introduce an in vitro protocol for its mass propagation. For this aim, the tubers of calla lily were disinfected in a hot water bath with different temperatures (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 oC) and duration (30 or 35 min). Then explants were cultured on MS medium with different combinations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kin). Based on the obtained results, the highest disinfection percentage (more than 90%) was obtained at 45 oC for 35 min. Also, the highest proliferation rate (with an average of 15.33 and 14.32 in cv. Orania and cv. Sunclub, respectively) was observed in 2.5 mg L-1 BAP + 1.5 mg L-1 Kin. The highest rooting percentage (100% in both cultivars) and root number per explant (with an average of 4.00 and 3.03 in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was obtained in 0.5 mg L-1 Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) + 0.1 mg L-1 Kin, but the highest root length (with an average of 120.0 and 106.6 mm in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was observed in 1.0 mg L-1 IAA + 0.1 mg L-1 Kin. In MS medium + 2.0 mg L-1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + 4% Sucrose, the highest number of tubers (with an average of 6.66 and 5.21 in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was formed. The highest fresh and dry weights (with an average of 948.33 and 851.33 mg in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) of tuber were obtained in 2.0 mg L-1 IBA + 6% sucrose. The rooted and tuberous plants were adapted in the greenhouse successfully.
Research paper
Lavin Babaei; Mohammad Mehdi Sharifani; Reza Darvishzadeh; Naser Abbaspour; Mashhid Henareh
Abstract
To investigate photosynthetic response of some pear (Pyrus spp.) species to drought stress, a pot experiment was conducted using as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replication under greenhouse condition. The factors included five pear species including: P. ...
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To investigate photosynthetic response of some pear (Pyrus spp.) species to drought stress, a pot experiment was conducted using as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replication under greenhouse condition. The factors included five pear species including: P. biossieriana, P. communis, P. glabra, P. salicifolia and P. syriaca and three levels of drought stress [(100%, 60% and 30% of field capacity (FC)]. According to the obtained results, different levels of drought stress significantly restricted morphological and physiological responses in all studied species. Increasing drought stress intensity reduced leaf relative water content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration when compared to their values in control plants. However, root/shoot dry weight ratio, specific leaf weight and stomatal density per unit of area were increased. In P. glabra exposed to severe stress (30% of FC), the values of root/shoot dry weigh ratio (0.85 g), specific leaf weight (23 mg cm-2), stomata density per unit of area, relative water content (73%) and net photosynthetic rate (3.9 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) were significantly higher than the other species. P. syriaca, P. salicifolia, P. biossieriana and P. communis were placed in the next ranks, respectively based on their response to drought. In conclusion, P. glabra is reported as a more effective species in mitigating the adverse effects of drought by boosting its protective mechanisms than the other pear species.
Research paper
Houshang Yadegari; Isa Khammari; Baratali Fakheri; Abdorahim Nouri; Taghi Ebadi
Abstract
The fertilization method and plant genotype are two important factors affecting the active ingredients of medicinal plants. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is one of the most widely distributed medicinal plants worldwide that its seeds have been used widely for treatment of toxic liver damage. In ...
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The fertilization method and plant genotype are two important factors affecting the active ingredients of medicinal plants. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is one of the most widely distributed medicinal plants worldwide that its seeds have been used widely for treatment of toxic liver damage. In this research, effects of genotype and fertilization type on the quality of milk thistle seeds were investigated. Seeds of two genotypes of milk thistle (Hungarian (A1) and Iranian (A2) genotypes) were cultured and eight fertilization treatments (F1= control treatment (no fertilizer), F2= cow manure, F3= NPK fertilizer, F4= mycorrhizal (Glomus mosseae) inoculation, F5= combination of nitroxin, bio-sulfur and bio-superphosphate, F6= combination of NPK fertilizer and cow manure, F7= combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and cow manure, F8= nano-iron chelate) were used. Traits such as seed yield, oil content and the amount of flavonolignans in the seeds were measured. The results showed that the maximum seed yield was obtained in A2*F4 treatment (1376.54 kg h-1) and the lowest was related to A1*F1 (508.99 kg h-1). The average oil content of the samples was about 2.4 mg g-1 and no significant difference was observed. The results of HPLC analysis showed that the mycorrhizal inoculation (F4) in both genotypes led to the achievement of the maximum amount of most important flavonolignans such as silymarin, taxifolin, silydianin, isosilybin B (18.79, 2.80, 5.02 and 4.73 mg g-1, respectively) and an acceptable amount of isosilybin A (2.72 mg g-1), but A1*F4 treatment yielded the best results. In conclusion, use of mycorrhizal inoculation is an effective practice for production of milk thistle seeds with high quality.
Research paper
Ali Akbarpour; Bijan Kavoosi; Mehdi Hosseinifarahi; Sirous Tahmasebi; Sedigheh Gholipour
Abstract
Due to the development of garlic cultivation, quantitative and qualitative evaluations of garlic ecotypes in different regions are important for breeding purposes. In this study, some vegetative and phytochemical traits of eight Iranian garlic ecotypes were assayed in a RCBD with three replications at ...
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Due to the development of garlic cultivation, quantitative and qualitative evaluations of garlic ecotypes in different regions are important for breeding purposes. In this study, some vegetative and phytochemical traits of eight Iranian garlic ecotypes were assayed in a RCBD with three replications at Darab Agricultural Research Station, Iran during 2017-2018 growing season. The results showed that there is a significant difference among garlic ecotypes in terms of studied traits (P <0.01). In general, Tarom and Tafresh ecotypes showed the highest plant height, number of leaves, length of garlic leaves, leaf width, fresh weight, dry weight and the highest bulb diameter. Highest dry weight of garlic bulb (g) per plant was obtained in Darab (79.0 g), Tarom (75.5 g), and Talesh (75.0 g) ecotypes, with no significant difference among them (P ≥ 0.01). Hamedan and Kerman ecotypes contained higher allicin content, alliin content, TPC, TFC, and TAC than the other ecotypes. Cluster analysis divided ecotypes into three distinct groups. Talesh and Hamedan ecotypes had the lowest similarity (0.34) and Darab and Tafresh ecotypes had the highest similarity (0.97). It can be concluded that Tarom, Tafresh, Hamedan, and Kerman can be recommended for cultivation depending on the quantitative (Tarom and Tafresh) and qualitative (Hamedan and Kerman) goals of cultivation
Research paper
Hassan Sarikhani; Mohammad-Sadegh Safariyan-Nejad
Abstract
One of the most important problems of strawberry cultivation in temperate regions is winter cold injuries. Current study investigated impacts of foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM concentrations on the cold hardiness of strawberry. The plants were divided into two groups: ...
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One of the most important problems of strawberry cultivation in temperate regions is winter cold injuries. Current study investigated impacts of foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM concentrations on the cold hardiness of strawberry. The plants were divided into two groups: one group for evaluation of cold hardiness at temperatures of -6, -9, -12, -15 and -18 °C; and the other for study of some biochemical characteristics. Results showed that GB treatment increased soluble carbohydrate and proline concentrations in both leaf and crown tissues, total protein concentration in leaf, and relative water content in leaf as compared to those in control. Based on LT50 calculated from electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining test, the GB application increased cold hardiness in strawberry plant based on its concentration. The highest cold hardiness was found in the 2 mM GB concentration based on electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining tests at -13.3 and -15.3 °C. Meanwhile, the lowest values of cold hardiness were observed in the control treatments based on electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining tests at -10.2 and -11.0 °C. Significant correlations were found between soluble carbohydrate and proline concentrations in leaf and crown, and total protein concentration with LT50 calculated from electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining test. We conclude that application of 2 mM GBhas the capacity to increase the freezing tolerance of strawberry and could be used as a prophylactic tool to reduce winter cold injury.
Research paper
Parvaneh Mohammadi-Benaruiyeh; Gholam Reza Sharifi-Sirchi
Abstract
Concerning highly restricted application of chemicals in postharvest technology of horticultural crops, it is necessary to introduce the safe methods for preserving food or methods of food preservation. This study aimed to improve quality and prolong storage life of strawberry fruit by application of ...
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Concerning highly restricted application of chemicals in postharvest technology of horticultural crops, it is necessary to introduce the safe methods for preserving food or methods of food preservation. This study aimed to improve quality and prolong storage life of strawberry fruit by application of grape seed and fruit skin extracts and to compare them with calcium chloride as a chemical. In this study, strawberry fruit was individually immersed in the 1% and 2% CaCl2 solutions, seed and skin extracts (1 and 2 mg L-1) and then placed in polyethylene packaging for 24 d at 5±1 °C. Measurements of firmness, titrable acid, pH, weight loss, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic, anthocyanin, vitamin C, enzymes' activity including catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase and decay were carried out at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 d of storage. All applied treatments caused a significant effect on measured parameters including weight loss, titratable acidity, decay percentage and firmness, maintenance of anthocyanin and vitamin C contents, total phenolic, and antioxidant capacity. However, grape skin extract and grape seed extract showed the best results. Therefore, it can be concluded that Shiraz dark grape seed and skin extracts have the potential to control the decay incidence, prolong the storage life and preserve of postharvest valuable attributes of strawberry.
