Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora), whose flowers are consumed as steamed vegetables, is an important green manure crop in the Philippines. Understanding different processes leading to seed maturity can aid in determining S. grandiflora’s seed quality, preventing premature harvesting for seed increase, ensuring efficient propagation and production of seedlings, and breeding new varieties of this crop. Multiple flowers were tagged, and three to five pods were collected five days after anthesis (DAA) and at a five-day interval thereafter until 100% germination was achieved. Seed size, moisture content (MC), dry weight, germination percentage, and embryo development were observed and recorded. S...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maturation media and duration on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of Cỏ goat oocytes for the in vitro production of Cỏ goat embryos. In Experiment 1, the highest percentage of matured oocytes and blastocyst rates were observed in the IVM medium consisting of tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 + 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) + 50 ng/mL follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) + 100 µM cysteamine + 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor (EGF) + 100 units/mL penicillin G potassium + 0.1 mg/mL streptomycin sulphate (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, Cỏ goat oocytes were cultured in the same IVM medium for 20, 22, and 24 h, respectively. The matured oocyte and blastocyst ra...

Profit maximization is not the only production objective in farming. For smallholder farms worldwide, family sustenance often takes priority, with production being viewed more as savings-oriented than market-oriented. Furthermore, market pressures can lead to the mismanagement of indigenous livestock resources, increasing their risk of genetic erosion. To ensure the long-term conservation of the Philippine native pig, this study aimed to determine the various types of native pig farmers and define the intervention strategies for each type. A total of 432 native pig farmers representing seven provinces in the Philippines (Benguet, Kalinga, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Marinduque, and Ea...

Supplementation of probiotics in live feeds and rearing water may improve the growth, survival, and resistance of fish larvae. This study examined the beneficial effect of a commercial probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus casei on the growth, body composition, and stress resistance in early-stage silver therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus) larvae. Larvae at 12 d post-hatch (DPH) (9.76 ± 1.32 mm total length [TL] and 13.48 ± 4.80 mg body weight [BW]) were reared in triplicate groups of 15 larvae per tank from 12 – 40 DPH (Phase 1) and 41 – 96 DPH (Phase 2). From 12 – 40 DPH, larvae were fed (I) unenriched Artemia nauplii (no-PB or control group); (II) probiotic-enriched Artemia nauplii (PB); and...

Root plasticity, the capacity of a corn root system to modify its growth and development in response to varying environmental conditions, is a crucial adaptability trait for optimizing water and nutrient uptake, especially in challenging environments. Understanding root plasticity provides insights into the pattern basis of crop adaptation, contributing to the development of improved corn varieties and agricultural practices that optimize the production of both ear shoots and forage. This study assessed root traits and other morphological-physiological responses of three corn varieties (NK 8840, IPB Var 6, and Pearl Sweet) grown for food (ear shoots) and forage (baby corn fodder) to Ferti...