Abstract: Background and Objective: Aflatoxin is a harmful compound released by fungi that contaminates food and animal products and causes various health complications. Aflatoxin, as a secondary metabolite produced by many Aspergillus strains, infects about five billion people around the world, through many stored foods, including peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, nuts, rice, etc. This paper demonstrated the anti-aflatoxigenic effect of oleic acid as a natural compound inhibitor on mycotoxin production in toxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Azad University of Lahijan and investigated the effect of oleic acid as a natural safe compound with different biological activities on Aflatoxin production in indigenous toxigenic Aspergillus species. Concentrations of oleic acid were added to the growth medium of toxigenic Aspergillus isolates at different levels. Then, incubated and aflatoxin production was measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: Aflatoxin production was reduced by adding oleic acid to Sabouraud dextrose broth (SDB) medium at 40°C. Current finding showed that oleic acid has more aflatoxin inhibitory properties in higher temperatures. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the use of oleic acid as a natural compound inhibits toxin production. The results indicated that this natural safe compound can be used as an effective aflatoxin-production inhibitor in food and feed. It can be considered a new perspective in the application of harmless nutrients in inhibiting the production of aflatoxin in food and animal feed. PubDate: 26 June, 2023
Abstract: Background and Objective: The growth and productivity of banana plants can be disrupted due to water stress. The response of banana plants could be different at the molecular level based on the severity of water stress. This study aimed to profile gene expression in the glycolysis pathway affected by different water stress levels in banana plantlets. Materials and Methods: A transcriptome dataset from four cDNA libraries was used to profile the expression of genes related to cellular respiration. The cDNA libraries were generated from Musa acuminata (genome AAA, cv. Barangan Merah) plantlets treated at different levels of water stress, i.e., low (2.5% PEG), moderate (7.5% PEG) and high (10% PEG). The transcriptome data were analyzed using DAVID, KEGG and DeSeq2 software. Results: Based on DAVID there were 13 genes in glycolysis affected by water stress which were grouped in 6 family proteins. Predominantly, all genes identified in the glycolysis pathway were upregulated in high-stress levels. The 4 family proteins contribute to pyruvate metabolism, while 2 family proteins contribute to fermentative metabolism. It could be indicated that water stress led to hypoxia, so the energy must be produced using anaerobic metabolism. The MaFBA6, MaFBA8 and MaPDCB genes were selected and used to validate mRNa-seq and transcriptome analysis. Conclusion: Banana plantlets respond to water stress by increasing the expression of glycolysis-related genes. With transcriptomic analysis, respiration-related genes can be identified to add to regarding banana plants’ response to water stress. PubDate: 18 July, 2023
Abstract: Background and Objective: Schleichera oleosa, a pest and feeder of the kusum plant, Leptocoris augur is a brilliant red polyphagous sap-sucking beetle. The salivary composition may change depending on the bug’s life cycle. For instance, salivary amylase activity rose with instar in the herbivorous beetle (L. augur). Hence, in this study, the food intake of L. augur was measured and the corresponding salivary activity of enzymes was determined. Materials and Methods: The host bug, L. augur, were collected from the field HRI (Hydraulics Research Institute) Training Centre, Saharanpur in polythene bags. The specimens were brought to the laboratory at atmospheric temperature (28±2°C) and necessary relative humidity (70%) and restored in hurricane glass lantern chimneys. Results: Physiological examination of the salivary glands of this bug has revealed a pH of 6.7 and presence of enzymes- amylase, proteinase, polygalacturonase, phosphatase, invertase, lipase, esterase and polyphenol oxidase. Diet (fatty seeds of S. oleosa) influences the occurrence of these enzymes in saliva. Conclusion: Thus, the components and activity of the salivary enzyme in L. augur are interconnected with its damage to host plants in a complicated way and the damage of L. augur to a plant’s seed is the comprehensive outcome of its saliva enzyme. PubDate: 16 September, 2023
Abstract: Background and Objective: The germination and growth rate of maize is a key factor that regulates cultivated crop productivity. The study examined the germination and seedling growth rate of maize on four different media. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Biological Science, at Federal University, Gashua, Nigeria. For each block, 12 polythene bags were used, block A had 2:1:1 mixtures of topsoil, sharp sand and sawdust, subjected to sterilization. Block B had 2:1:1 mixtures of topsoil, sharp sand and cow dung, subjected to sterilization. Block C had 2:1:1 of topsoil, sharp sand and NPK, subjected to sterilization. Block D, contain sow dust which was not subjected to sterilization. The shoot height, shoot width, leaf length and leaf width were measured daily using a ruler for 4 weeks. The biomass was determined using the biomass index. Results: Block A had the highest rate of germination at 40%, Block C had the lowest percentage of 26.67% while there was no germination on Block D. There was a significant difference at p PubDate: 11 August, 2023
Abstract: Background and Objective: Tropical soil has been reported to be low in essential nutrients required by plants. Inorganic fertilizers are expensive and scarce and this has necessitated shifting to the use of organic fertilizers such as animal manure since they have the potential to supply required nutrients to plants and are readily available and cost-effective. Materials and Methods: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of manure rates and age at harvest on the growth, dry matter yield and nutritive quality of Megathyrsus maximus. The study was laid out in a 4×2 factorial design with four manure rates (Control (0), 60, 120 and 240 kg N/ha) and 2 ages at harvest (6 and 8 weeks after planting) (WAP). Results: Significant increase was recorded in the height of the grass with an increase in manure rate application up to 120 kg N/ha as well as with the increase in the age of the grass except for grass with the application of 240 kg N/ha. The number of leaves of grass increased with increased manure rates and age of growth. Dry matter yield increased with advancing age as well as an increase in the rates of poultry manure applied. At both ages of harvest, fertilized grass had higher CP content than the unfertilized grass with an increase in the rate of manure. Conclusion: Megathyrsus maximus with an application rate of up to 240 kg N/ha poultry manure and at 8 WAP is, therefore, recommended to be used in place of expensive inorganic fertilizer by the resource-poor farmers in the humid zone of Nigeria. PubDate: 02 July, 2023
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