Crop Statistics
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Assessment of Microbiology Education in the Philippines
Asuncion K. Raymundo, Franco G. Teves, Edmerson B. Geronimo, and Windell L. Rivera
In 2014, only 8.7% or 202 out of 2313 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines were reported to offer a BS Biology degree. An analysis of the microbiology programs of 37 HEIs-respondents in 2016 using questionnaire, augmented by data from websites, and personal interviews revealed that only eight HEIs offer a BS Biology program with a major in microbiology. Only one HEI offers BS Microbiology in the whole country. Together with five others, it produces graduates that are automatically qualified to take the certification examination conducted by the Philippine Academy for Microbiology (PAM). In one HEI, its graduates were deemed unqualified to take the PAM examination as they lack Microbial Ecology, a required course. Two other HEIs can produce graduates that can qualify to take the PAM examination by designing a program that will allow students to take all the required courses from a li...
Genetic Diversity Analysis and DNA Fingerprinting of Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) using Microsatellite Markers
Carlo Miguel C. Sandoval, Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, and Roberta N. Garcia
Six microsatellite markers obtained from Canarium album and Carica papaya detected eight loci in the pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) accessions with two markers, CasC120 and SSR38, each amplifying two loci. A total of 43 alleles (5.38 alleles per locus) were detected in the 79 pili accessions assayed, while only 3.25 alleles per locus were obtained in Canarium luzonicum and in seven pili varieties registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC). Polymorphism information content (PIC) values of the markers were relatively high across accessions (0.57) and varieties (0.45), indicating the ability of the markers to detect genetic diversity in the population assayed. Gene diversity was relatively high in the pili varieties (0.50) and in the 79 pili accessions (0.62) analyzed in the study, indicating recombination by cross pollination. Cluster analysis grouped the pili accessions and the seven varieties int...
Prominent Traits of Some F1 Hybrid Papaya Lines in Thailand
Rapatsa Janthasri, Suphachai Janloon, and Valerie Suwanseree
This study identified and compared characteristics of 10 F1 hybrid papayas that were obtained by crossing five cultivars selected for high yield and tolerance to Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV). The hybrids were tested at the Papaya Research and Development Center, Maha Sarakham Province, from January to December 2013. The results showed that hybrids No. 1 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Red Krang’), No. 2 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Dam’), No. 3 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Florida’), No. 4 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’) and No. 5 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’) had good yield and fruit qualities but they were more susceptible to PRSV than hybrids No. 6 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Florida’), No. 7 (‘Red Krang’ × ‘Florida’), No. 8 (‘Red Krang’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’), No. 9 (‘Khaek Dam’ × ‘Florida’) and No. 10 (‘Florida’ × ‘Khaek Nuan’). Hybrid No. 2 (‘Yellow Krang’ × ‘Khaek Dam’) had the lowest tolerance to PRSV, with disease incidence of 3.56 on a scale of 0–4. Hybrids ...
Phylogeny and Evolutionary History of Brassica Species in China Based on Chalcone Synthase Gene (Chs) Sequence
Fa-Bo Chen, Shi-Ping Huo, Chang-Lei Cao, Hong-Fang Liu, Qi-Lun Yao, and Ping Fang
For many years, relationships within Chinese Brassica species and subspecies were the subject of much controversy. Sequences of the chalcone synthase gene (Chs) were used to analyze the evolutionary history of Brassica plants from China. Sequences from Brassica were separated into three well-supported groups in accordance with the A, B, and C genomes. SplitsTree analysis recognized three distinct Brassica groups, and median-joining network analysis recognized three distinct haplotypes of Chs. The estimates of Tajima’s D, Fu and Li’s D, and Fu and Li’s F statistics for the Chs gene between the A-diploid and C-diploid were not significant, while those between the A-polyploid and B-polyploid were significant. The results indicated that (1) Chinese Brassica could be divided into three sections – Pekinensis, Juncea, and Oleracea; (2) both tree and reticulate evolution existed in the evolution of Chinese Bra...
Flower Visitors and Potential Major Pollinator of Diospyros blancoi A. DC. in Taiwan
Sheng-Feng Hung, Tsu-Liang Chang, Hen-Biau King, and Iou-Zen Chen
At least eight arthropod species belonging to five taxa as flower visitors of Diospyros blancoi A. DC. were investigated in terms of their visiting frequency, activities on the flowers and pollen-bearing capacity. The main results of this study are as follows: First, thrips particularly Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and ants showed the highest visiting frequency. Second, the long pollination distance and the fruit-set on single female trees isolated by water barriers indicate that arboreal ants were not pollinators. Third, thrips species other than T. hawaiiensis were not observed in this study. Fourth, male flowers provided shelter (flower tube) and food (pollen) for T. hawaiiensis. Fifth, T. hawaiiensis visited both blooming and non-blooming female flowers. Finally, pollen was found only on thrips visiting either male or female flowers. Our results suggest that T. hawaiiensis is the major po...
Effects of Novel Synthetic Pyrazolopyrimidine Compounds against Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) Infecting Vegetable Crops and Human Pathogens
Essam K. F. Elbeshehy, Abdullah A. AL-Jaddawi, and Abdullah S. Al-Bogami
Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) was obtained from naturally infected pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Plants with mosaic, puckering and mottling yellow or light green symptoms on the upper developing leaves were collected from the Mecca regions, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Infected samples were carefully tested by direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with antiserum to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tobacco etch virus (TEV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Pepper mild mottle virus and confirmed by electron microscopy and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. On the other hand, we studied inhibitory effects of the novel synthetic chemical compounds from Pyrazolopyrimidine against PMMoV and important human pathogens. We found that the efficacy of the antiviral agent depends on the capability of the virus to replicate itself by sto...
Natural Occurrence and Host Range Studies of Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) Infecting Ornamental Species in the Rawalpindi- Islamabad Area of Pakistan
Muhammad Ashfaq, Anam Saleem, Muhammad Waqas, and Tariq Mukhtar
Surveys were conducted during the spring and autumn of 2012 and 2013 to determine the presence, prevalence and distribution of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on ornamental plants in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area of Pakistan. A total of 1,783 symptomatic leaf samples (1,733 from ornamentals and 50 from weeds) were collected from 79 ornamental plant species in propagation sites such as nurseries, private gardens and public areas including parks and street-grown ornamentals. All the samples were subjected to double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies for the detection of CMV. The disease incidence varied from season to season and nursery to nursery. The highest incidence of 46.47% and 35.01% of CMV was observed in public areas and propagation sites, respectively, during autumn 2012. On the other hand, the incidence was found to be 62.24% and 42.66%, respectively, in thes...
Effect of Various Plant Extracts and Organic Emulsifiers on Acaricidal Activity of Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)
Se Ji Jang, Young Beom Yun and Yong In Kuk
The objective of this research was to determine acaricidal activity (AA) on the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae; TSSM) in persimmon trees by (1) using plant extracts (PEs) and different extraction methods (water, boiling water, fermentation, and ethanol) from various plant parts (leaves, stems, fruits, and roots) in 46 species from 28 families, (2) using mixers of various PEs and organic emulsifiers (OEs), and (3) using selected PEs and OEs. Boiling water extracts of Chrysanthemum zawadskii and Mentha arvensis all parts above ground, and Rehmannia glutinosa and Coptis japonica roots among 46 plant species from 28 families were found to be more effective on AA of TSSM, and TSSM was 57–75% controlled by 10% of the PEs in a laboratory test. The order of AA on TSSM by OEs at 5% concentration was powder soap (100%; PS) > natural emulsifier-B (98%; NEB) > loess sulphur (89%; LS) > natural emulsifier-A (51%; NEA) > brown r...
Fungicidal Efficacy of Chemically-Produced Copper Nanoparticles against Penicillium digitatum and Fusarium solani on Citrus Fruit
Youssef Khamis, Ayat F. Hashim, Rubina Margarita, Mousa A. Alghuthaymi, and Kamel A. Abd-Elsalam
The environmental problems caused by fungicides cannot be ignored. New eco-friendly and effective nano-agrochemicals as alternative chemical fungicides need to be explored. The fungicidal activity of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) was tested against Penicillium digitatum (green mold) and Fusarium solani (Fusarium rot) in vitro and in vivo. Fungal growth inhibition was observed in the presence of different concentrations of CuNPs. In vitro, a complete growth inhibition was recorded at 20 and 60 µg mL-1 for P. digitatum and F. solani, respectively. In vivo, CuNPs at 20 and 40 µg mL-1 were tested as direct and indirect action against green mold and Fusarium rot, respectively. These two concentrations completely inhibited the decay caused by both pathogens when the pathogen and CuNPs were applied to the same wound (direct action). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified the p...
Evaluation of Forage Production Using Maize-Legume Intercropping and Biofertilizer under Low-Input Conditions
Abdollah Javanmard, Mitra Majdi, Nikoo Hamzepour, and Yousef Nasiri
Intercropping as a low-input cropping system has been associated with higher forage yield in comparison with sole crops. This study compared the forage yield of sole maize and intercrops of maize with legumes grown under biofertilizer application, and examined the different competition indices in these intercropping patterns. The field assay was conducted during the 2013 growing season at the University of Maragheh in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. The study was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 14 treatments and 3 replications. Experimental treatments included intercropping of maize (inoculation with nitroxin as biological fertilizer) with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), maize (no inoculation)-grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), maize (no inoculation)-sainfoin (Onobrychis vicifolia Scop.), maize (inoculated)-berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), maize (no inoculation)-vetch, m...