Aims:To determine the occurrence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in faecal samples from representative food-producing bovine animals in Trinidad and Tobago.Study Design: This was a prospective cross sectional observational laboratory based study.Place and Duration of Study: Bovine faecal samples were collected from selected food animal farms located in the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago and processed at the Microbiology laboratories at the Veterinary School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies Campus, from March to May 2014.Materials and Methods: 205 cattle faecal samples collected from 12 animal farms across Trinidad & Tobago were analyzed for E. coli bacteria.Using conventional and molecular microbiology laboratory techniques, 160 recovered E. coli isolates from these samples were then screened for possession of the intimin (eae), Shiga toxin 1 (stx 1 ) and Shiga toxin 2 (stx 2 ) genes.Results: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) genes were detected in 9.4% (15/160) of E. coli Original Research Articleisolates analyzed by molecular methods.Overall, 1.3% of the isolates were positive for the intimin (eae) gene; 6.6% for stx 1 and 7.3% for stx 2 toxins genes.All detected STEC positive isolates, however did not belong to any of the most known O serogroups associated with Shiga toxin genes; and were also all negative for Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE) genes (espA, tir and escN). Conclusion:There is low occurrence of E. coli producing stx 1 and stx 2 (STEC) genes in Trinidad and Tobago.STEC in the country is not associated with the seven most common serogroups or the LEE genes.This information has never been reported in Trinidad and Tobago before and therefore present a novel contribution to the epidemiology of STEC in the country and Caribbean region.
Vigna subterranea is a leguminous species which produces edible seeds (Bambara groundnut). Its seeds are included in the daily diet to compensate the lack of proteins in the food which occurs frequently in populations under the tropics. However information regarding the extent and pattern of variation in Bambara groundnut accessions in Cameroon is limited. The objective of this study was to estimate variation in seed physical traits of twelve Bambara accessions collected in different regions in Cameroon. Seeds of Twelve Bambara accessions were harvested in Janaury Original Research Article
The impact of climate change and global warming on food and feed crops production is reported in Jordan; a country where dry areas constitute about 90% of its land. The remaining arable areas (under rain fed or irrigated farming system) are decreasing due to urbanization, land fragmentation, drought, water scarcity, underground water over pumping and salinity. There is an urgent need for more tolerant crops that are capable to stand and cope with adverse climatic conditions and for diversification of crops in the farming systems. The purpose of this work was to introduce a new forage crop suitable for small holders suffering from soil and, or water salinity. Triticale (X Triticosecale Witt) lines were evaluated for salt (soil and Original Research Article
An experiment was conducted at the field laboratory of Department of Crop Botany and Tea Production Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University from May to October 2013 with a view to select the superior Okra cultivar (s).The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications.A total of 8 cultivars viz.BARI Dherosh-1 (control), Orka Onamika, Bankim, Durga, JO (Japanese Okra)-1, JO-2, JO-3 and JO-4 were evaluated in relation to morphological and yield attributes in acidic soil conditions.Significant variations were observed in almost all parameters.Results revealed that high yielding cultivar Bankim exhibited taller plant at final harvest, produced early flowers with maximum fruit setting (%) and fruit length.The cultivar JO-3 produced maximum number of branches and leaves at final harvest.Local check cultivar showed highest internodes number and length along with maximum number of flowers and 100 seed weight.The cultivars JO-1 and JO-4 showed highest individual fruit weight and maximum fruit Original Research Article diameter, respectively.The cultivars Bankim was proved to be promising cultivars in acid soil conditions of Sylhet considering overall performance of morphological and yield attributes.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of antibiotic and bio-fungicide for control of seed borne fungi of wheat during November to April. 2015-2016. In this study, two treatments viz. Control, Aureofungin (Antibiotic) with 100 ml water, and Allium sativum leaf extract with cow urine (Biofungicide) for control of seed borne fungi of wheat, In the pot experiment, The result was obtained as a control 63.20%, and disease incidence of 23.30% which were recorded from Allium sativum leaf extract with cow urine (Bio-fungicide) in the Treatment 3 whereas control 47.41% and disease incidence 33.33% were recorded from 4 gm. Aureofungin (Antibiotic) with 100 water in the Treatment 2. In the pots, the control was 68.75%, and as disease incidence 20% which were recorded from Allium sativum leaf extract with cow urine (Bio-fungicide) in the Treatment 3 whereas control was 52.09% and disease incidence was 30.66% which were recorded from 4 gm. Aureofungin with 100 ml water (Antibiotic) in the T 3. Bio-fungicide was found to be superior in controlling of seed borne fungi of wheat comparing with antibiotic. A bio-fungicide is composed of beneficial microorganisms, such as specialized fungi that attack and control plant pathogens and the diseases. Short Research Article Seth et al.; AJEA, 14(1): 1-5, 2016; Article no.AJEA.28988 2
Newcastle disease is of great economic importance causing devastating losses among both intensive, extensive and backyard poultries that provides lifeline to many poor people across the developing world. Despite the availability of ND vaccines, vaccination failure suffices in most poultry farms. This study evaluated antibody response following vaccination against Newcastle disease. A total of five hundred and thirty four sera were collected and one hundred and thirty three were negative. The sera were tested for NDV antibody using Haemagglutinationinhibition test in two Local Government Areas (LGAs): Badagry and Ojo of Lagos state, Nigeria. A total of two hundred and thirty seven sera were tested in Badagry, and seventy six were negative with mean Ab titre of 5.04 ± 3.26, mode of = 3log2 of 32.1 while one hundred and sixty one were positive with 4log2 of 38.4. Farm visited were mostly into layers production with provisions for brooding chicks and raising growers. Risk factors identified were rodent infestation, unmanned gate, lizard infestation and lack of PPE. Ojo had a total of two hundred and ninety seven sera tested with one hundred and fourteen were negative with mean Ab titre of 4.36 ± 3.36 mode of = 3log2 of 38.4% while one hundred and eighty three were positive with mode of = 4log2 of 61.9. The immunity in different age group varies within the 2 LGAs. The risk factors identified were rodent infestation, lizard infestation, lack of PPE and risky visitors. In conclusion more than thirty percent of chickens within Badagry and Ojo LGAs in Lagos State of Nigeria vaccinated against NDV were not protected from the disease.
Apomixis is seed and embryo formation without fertilization. A study was carried out from August, 2012 to May, 2014 in order to investigate the possibility of occurrence of apomixis in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.) using emasculation method. Five genotypes of fluted pumpkin were used. Ten plants from each genotype were planted out in a screened environment at the Original Research Article Fayeun et al.; AJEA, 10(1): 1-10, 2016; Article no.AJEA.15261 2 department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure. The crop being dioecious, all the male plants were emasculated (by total removal from the site) as soon as they were noticed, leaving only the female plants. Seeds obtained from the fruits of isolated female plants were later subjected to viability test. After several weeks of flowering, flowers and developing ovaries abortion, they eventually set fruits. All the genotypes produced fruits (one or two) though at different times. Both apomictic and parthenocarpic fruits were produced. The seeds obtained from the apomictic fruits of all the genotypes had high seedling emergence percentage and good seedling vigour. Apomictic fruits, seeds and seedlings were similar to those of sexually produced fruits. The observed facultative apomixis could be as a result of natural selection. This study confirms that apomictic form of reproduction occurs naturally in fluted pumpkin. Facultative apomixis in the fluted pumpkin is being reported for the first time and its implication in the genetic improvement of the crop is discussed.
This work aimed to improve the efficiency of continuous deficit irrigation (CDI) on plum tree through using symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Thus, an experiment was conducted in pots to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhization on the growth of young plum trees, in two cases of CDI (50% and 75% of full crop evapotranspiration ETc) compared to full irrigation (100% ETc). We used a mixture of two mycorrhizal fungi species, Rhizoglomus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae. The measurements concerned: 1) morphological parameters of the root system (total fresh weight, total dry weight, total volume and hairy root dry weight); 2) morphological parameters of aerial parts (primary shoot elongation, number of secondary shoots, trunk growth, leaf area, total fresh weight and total dry weight); and 3) nutritional status parameters (leaf phosphorus content and chlorophyll pigments content). Compared to full irrigation, the two CDI levels induced a significant decrease of hairy root percentage without significantly affecting Original Research Article Razouk et al.; AJEA, 13(1): 1-11, 2016; Article no.AJEA.26467 2 total root weight and volume. The use of AMF enabled to limit this depressive effect because it stimulates root ramification, but this is effective only under moderate water stress (75% of ETc). Under this CDI regime, hairy root percentage has been enhanced by 87% in mycorrhizal plants comparatively to non-mycorrhizal plants. Water stress effects on vegetative growth were partially alleviated using AMF even under severe decrease of irrigation (50% of ETc): shoot elongation was higher for mycorrrhizal plants exceeding non-mycorrhizal ones by an average of 13%. AMF induced also a significant increase of phosphorus, nitrogen and chlorophyll pigments concentration in mycorrhizal plants. Thus, AMF significantly improves CDI efficiency on young plum tree, even at level of 50% of ETc. The observed improvements due to AMF were considerable under 75% of ETc, suggesting the possibility to adopt this CDI level associated with AMF to optimize deficit irrigation on young plants of this rosaceous under low water availability conditions.
