|
Volume 3 Numbers 1 & 2 2009 
Issue Information [PDF]
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Number 1
Brou Roger Konan, Jean Louis Konan, Rebecca Rachel Assa (Côte d’Ivoire), Mathias Oulé (Canada), Georges Amani (Côte d’Ivoire) The Physicochemical Characteristics of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Kernels in Germination (pp 1-7)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: This purpose of this study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of coconut kernels in germination. The germinated nuts of three cultivars (West African Tall ‘WAT’, Malaysian Yellow Dwarf ‘MYD’ and improved hybrid ‘PB121+’) were examined. Germinated ‘WAT’ and ‘PB121+’ had the greatest physical characteristics (kernel weight and thickness). As for the chemical parameters, the amount of oil in the germinated nuts fluctuated from 48.98 to 72.05%, while the amount of protein and ash varied from 24.16 to 25.82% and 3.94 to 7.17%, respectively. The amount of total sugar in the germinated nuts consisted primarily of non-reducing sugar (amounts varying between 0.02 and 2.99%). The fatty acids in the oil were mostly saturated, with a significant proportion of lauric acid (amounts varying between 40.88 and 52.24%). The germinated ‘WAT’ and ‘PB121+’ nuts, which are richer in lipids and lauric acid, are well suited to oil and soap production. The ‘MYD’ kernel from germinated nuts, which has the highest ash content, can be used as an additive in food for children suffering from mineral deficiencies.
Yemisi A. Adebowale (Nigeria), Thomas Henle, Uwe Schwarzenbolz (Germany) Evaluation of some Physicochemical and Functional Characteristics of Proteins from Mucuna pruriens Bean (pp 8-20)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Proteins isolated from Mucuna pruriens bean were characterized and the foaming properties of both the flour and protein isolates determined. The pH-dependent protein solubility profile of the flour and isolates indicated that the isoelectric point ranged between 4.0 and 5.0. At all concentrations, the foaming capacity of both the flour and protein isolates increased with concentration increase; increase in the ionic strength from 0.1 to 0.4 M and declined afterward as the ionic strength increase from 0.6 to 1.0 M. It reduced as the pH increased from 2 to 4 (or 5) after which it increased as pH increased to a maximum value at pH 10. The highest foam stability was observed at pH 4 or 5, following which it reduced as the pH increased. Incorporation of carbohydrates at a level of 0.25g/g of protein increased the foaming capacity and stability compared with the control sample. In the flours, the starch resulted in the highest improvement of the capacity and stability against protein isolates where lactose resulted in the highest increase. Two peaks were distinguished in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) thermograms: 7S-vicilin and 11S-legumins. In 7S-vicilin the stability of the proteins was highest in cochichinensis and least in rajada. The trend of stability of the 11S-legumins was highest in Veracruz mottle and least in rajada and deerigeana. Gel filtration chromatographic studies of the protein isolates show two major fractions with molecular masses of 40 and 15.3 kDa and minor components’ molecular weight 913.5, 35.8, 3.9 and 1.2 kDa. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a similar pattern of molecular weights. Finally, a major band consisting of a broad zone with molecular weights 36 ± 7 and 17 ± 3 kDa appeared in all the samples under both reducing and non-reducing conditions.
Naser Alemzadeh Ansari, Sedighe-Sadat Khaleghi (Iran) Germination and Emergence Response of Some Onion Cultivars of Southern Iran to Salinity Stress (pp 21-23)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Short Communication: The onion plant is sensitive to salinity, but the reaction of various onion cultivars to salinity is different. The effect of different salinity levels (0.01, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 ds/m) on the germination and emergence stages of six onion cultivars (‘Bardsiri’, ‘Hendijani’, ‘Texas Early Grano’, ‘Ramhormozi’, ‘Sarkareh’, and ‘Behbahani’) were evaluated. The effect of cultivar and salinity on all investigated attributes was significant (P<0.01). Also, the cultivar × salinity interaction on germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), and root length (LR) were significant, although it did not have any significant effect on shoot length (SL). With increasing salinity, GP, GR, RL, and SL decreased. ‘Ramhormozi’, ‘Bardsiri’, and ‘Behbahani’ were most tolerant (in this order) to salinity stress than other cultivars; ‘Sarkareh’, ‘Texas Early Grano’ and ‘Hendijani’ were most sensitive. Noteworthy is that the GP of ‘Ramhormozi’ did not change despite the increase in salinity levels.
Tamilmani Eevera, Karuppiah Vanangamudi (India), Silmar Teichert Peske (Brazil) Software-Aided Rice Seed Morphological Characterization for Cultivar Discrimination (pp 24-26)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Short Communication: The implementation of new methods for reliable and fast identification of seed lot purity and discrimination of one cultivar from another is of major technical and economical importance in the food grain production area of the agriculture industry. As in ocular inspection, the automatic discrimination and grouping of cultivars should be based on knowledge of seed size, shape, color and texture. In this work, we assess the discriminating power of these characteristics for the identification of seeds of 26 rice cultivars. Principal component analysis was complemented by hierarchical clustering with Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). In the cluster analysis two major clusters were formed: Aishwarya, ADTRH 1, IR50, CORH2, ADT43, CO43, IR20, ADT37, CO46, ADT38, ASD20 in one major cluster and the remaining cultivars in the other.
Tamilmani Eevera, Karuppiah Vanangamudi (India) Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of 26 Rice Cultivar Seed and Seedlings for Cultivar Discrimination (pp 27-34)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Seed morphological characters, SDS-PAGE of endosperm proteins and RAPD profile from different rice cultivars were studied to determine their genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship. Both seed and hulled seed characters of 26 cultivars of rice were examined and Cluster analysis was done by combining both the seed characters, which resulted in two major clusters. ‘TKM 9’ alone formed one cluster and the remaining 25 cultivars formed another cluster. Cluster analysis of the endosperm protein profile of the selected cultivars revealed two broad clusters. The cultivars viz., ‘ADT 38’, ‘CR 1009’ and ‘TKM 9’ formed one major cluster. The remaining cultivars formed another major cluster. The cultivars like ‘PY 1’ and ‘ADT 40’, ‘MDU 5’ and ‘IR 50’ showed a close relationship with short sub-cluster distance. ‘ADT 38’ and ‘CR 1009’ also formed one sub-cluster. The RAPD technique was used to differentiate 26 rice cultivars. Screening was done with 50 random primers. Consistent results were obtained with about 10 primers. The total number of scorable bands amplified using the 10 primers was approximately 58. Thus the average number of bands amplified per primer was six. The number of scorable bands generated per primer varied from nine to six. Of the 58 fragments amplified, 39 bands were polymorphic. The number of polymorphic bands generated per primer varied between two to eight. Of the 10 random primers, the percentage of polymorphism was more in OPH 19 (89%), followed by OPM 16 (75%). Least amount of polymorphism was observed in OPO 10 (33%).
Number 2
Behnam Kamkar, Shahrbanou Vakili, Aibibi Mirizadeh (Iran) Effects of Salinity and Temperature on Germination of Three Millet Varieties (pp 35-39)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of salinity and temperature on the germination responses of three of the more commonly cultivated millet varieties in South-East regions of Iran, including common millet (Panicum miliaceum), pearl millet (Pennisetum galucum) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Seeds were exposed to different salinity levels equal to six osmotic potentials of 0 to -1.25 with -0.25 MPa intervals and three constant temperature treatments (15, 25 and 35°C). Cumulative germination percentage and germination rate were analyzed under different exerted treatments. Germination rate was calculated as the reciprocal of time to 50% germination in each combination of treatments. Our results indicate that temperature is more important than salinity level to obtain more favorable germination. The highest values of germination percentage and germination rate were obtained for higher temperatures with lower salinities. Also, decreased temperature alleviated the detrimental effects of salinity on studied traits, which indicates a synergistic effect of higher temperatures on detrimental effects of salinity. The lowest values of studied characters also were associated with lower temperatures, independent of salinity level. Results indicate that germination of seeds at high temperatures with low salinity levels, and high temperatures and high salinity levels was better than when seeds were germinated at low temperatures (independent of the salinity conditions). Also, foxtail millet had the highest germination percentage and germination rate at all salinity levels and temperatures while the lowest values belonged to pearl millet.
Yanhai Zheng, Xianbin Xu, Zongfeng Li, Xiufeng Yang, Chao Zhang, Fengrui Li, Gaoming Jiang (China) Differential Responses of Grain Yield and Quality to Salinity between Contrasting Winter Wheat Cultivars (pp 40-43)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: An experiment was carried out to study the grain yields and quality criteria of contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, DK961 (salt-tolerant) and JN17 (salt-sensitive) in response to a series of salinity levels (0, 50, 100, 150 mM). Salinity led to a reduction in grain yields of both cvs, however, DK961 was less affected than JN17. For grain quality, the 1000-seed weight of JN17 was rapidly reduced in saline conditions compared to the control, while it declined slightly in DK961. Grain protein content of DK961 increased by 0.2, 0.7 and 3.5%, respectively in 50, 100, 150 mM NaCl treatments compared to control. Those figures of JN17 reached 1.5, 5.3 and 9.9%. Flour yield of DK961 declined by 2.6, 3.7 and 3.9%, respectively in the above-mentioned salt treatments than control. The extent of reduction in flour yield was larger in JN17 than in DK961. Salinity induced positive effects on ash content and sedimentation volumes. The pasta quality parameters, e.g. wet gluten content, water absorbance, dough development time and dough stability time of DK961 displayed non-significant (P >0.05) changes under 50 and 100 mM NaCl concentrations against the control, while they declined considerably in the 150 mM NaCl treatment. However, pasta quality of JN17 declined significantly along with a reduction in grain yield under all levels of salt concentration. Our results suggested that wheat grain quality was closely associated with its growth under salinity stresses. Therefore, to obtain high grain yield and better quality of wheat in saline farmlands, only salt-tolerant wheat cultivars should be considered.
Sondeep Singh, Bavita Asthir (India) Interactive Effects of High Temperature and Phytohormones on Carbohydrate Metabolism in Barley Seedlings (pp 44-47)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Germinating seedlings of two barley genotypes with a radicle length of 5 mm were subjected to a brief heat shock (HS) episode of 45°C followed by transfer to a normal temperature (25°C) for five days with and without phytohormones. HS treatment resulted in a decline in the activities of sucrose synthase (synthesis direction) and starch mobilizing enzyme and, thereby, seedling growth. In contrast, acid and neutral invertase activities increased under HS treatment. Exogenous GA3 (10 µM) partially alleviated the high temperature response by enhancing sucrose metabolizing enzymes while ABA showed antagonistic effects. Soluble sugars showed a synergistic increase under HS and GA3 treatment but decreased in response to ABA. The sugar supply from endosperm starch mobilization was not a limiting factor for germination but a poorer ‘metabolic conversion efficiency’ of carbon intermediates, possibly leads to decreased germination rate and hence reduction in crop yield potential.
Ahire Mahendra Laxman, Ghane Savaliram Goga, Nikam Tukaram Dayaram (India) Seed Viability and Influence of Presowing Treatments on Germination and Seedling Development of Uraria picta (Jacq.) DC. (pp 48-53)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Uraria picta (Jacq.) DC. (Pithvan), Fabaceae, is an important medicinal woody herb used in an Ayurvedic preparation “Dashmula”. The utilization of roots by uprooting the entire plants and the problems associated with the seed germination leads to shortage of root material for Ayurvedic preparation. The aim of the present study was to assess seed viability and the influence of presowing treatments on the seed germination and seedling development in U. picta. Application of 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride test showed that 100% of embryos were viable. The treatments applied singly and in combination include acid scarification (H2SO4), cold, hot and boiling water, rubbing with sand paper, presoaking in gibberellic acid (GA3) and application of cut to the seed coat followed by presoaking in distilled water. Significantly highest (100%) rate of seed germination and higher proportion of strong seedlings were observed in the seeds soaked in distilled water for 12 hr after application of cut to the seed coat. This was evident by the significantly higher emergence index, germination speed, germination value and vigor index when compared with the control and other treatments. The protocol developed for the seed germination and seedling development can be applied for raising a large number of plants of U. picta which will help in the conservation of plant and availability of root material for medicinal purposes.
Bhuban Mohan Panda, Sulekha Hazra (India) Seedling Culture of Semecarpus anacardium L. (pp 54-59)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Semecarpus anacardium (Anacardiaceae), a deciduous forest tree, is a potent source of medicinal compounds prescribed for a variety of ailments.Trees bear seeds in winter. Seasonal fruiting and poor viability limit the use of conventional propagation techniques. Use of in vitro techniques to overcome these limitations has not yet been reported. Microbe-free seedlings of S. anacardium could not be raised in vitro due to poor seed viability, acute seed-borne microbial contamination, and leaching of phenolics. Seed viability (30-35%) reduced with time and was completely lost in 6 months. Soaking seeds in concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) helped in eliminating the pigmented layer from the surface of the seeds thereby making way for the phenolics to become released from seeds in washings which followed the H2SO4 treatment. Thus leaching of phenolics by the seeds in culture medium was reduced by treating them with H2SO4 prior to surface sterilization with NaOCl. Changes in the seed surface following acid treatments for varying periods (10, 20, 30, 40 min) were studied microscopically. Concentrated H2SO4 treatment for 20 min helped to increase the seed coat permeability and excretion of phenolics from the seeds. It also acted as a surface sterilant to a limited extent. Frequency of germination was increased to 63% when seeds were treated with H2SO4 for 20 min while exposure for 10 min was ineffective in controlling contamination whereas longer exposures (30 and 40 min) injured the embryos. Elimination of sucrose in the medium improved germination from 50 to 63%. A gradual loss of seed viability from 33 to 4% following storage for 5 months was demonstrated in vitro.
Ali Shahi-Gharahlar, Rozbeh Farhoudi, Morteza Mosavi (Iran) Effect of Seed Pretreatment on Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo) Seed Germination and Seedling Characteristics under Salinity Condition (pp 60-63)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Salinity impairs seed germination and reduces crop yield. Salt and osmotic stresses are responsible for both inhibition or delayed seed germination and seedling establishment. Seed priming is one of the physiological methods that improve seed performance under salinity. This research was carried out in order to assess the effect of seed priming on seed germination of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo). Germination percentage was not influenced by salt stress and priming treatment. Salt stress increased mean germination time and decreased seedling fresh weight, root and shoot length in summer squash seedlings. Results show that seed priming with PEG solution decreased seedling fresh weight and shoot length under saline conditions (at -2 MPa). Under saline conditions, seed priming with KNO3 (-1.27 MPa at Ec = 7 ds/m) was better than other priming treatments because seedling fresh weight, root and shoot length increased.
Sakunkan Simla, Kamol Lertrat, Bhalang Suriharn (Thailand) Germination Behavior of Five Genotypic Different of Immature Vegetable Corn Seed and in Response to Hydro-Priming (pp 64-68)
Full Text [PDF]
ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: During the mission of corn germplasm collection, collectors, in some cases, inevitably collect immature seeds because frequent visits to the collection sites are not possible. Therefore, the objectives of this study were find out the possibility of collecting seed from fresh ear vegetable corns and find out the effect of hydro priming on their seed germination behaviors. Five vegetable corn inbred lines were harvested at soft dough stage (R4-R5) or 21 days after silking and air dried to 13% moisture. Measurements were made on kernel dry weight, endosperm dry weight, embryo dry weight, and endosperm and embryo ratio. Then seeds were primed in water for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 hours, followed by surface drying and immediate sowing. The treatments were laid out in 5 (inbred lines) × 7 (priming durations) factorial combinations in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that kernel dry weight of inbred lines with shrunken-2 (sh2) gene or brittle (bt) gene was significantly lower than that of inbred lines with sugary (su) or waxy (wx) genotype. The endosperm/embryo dry weight ratio was also low in the high-sugar lines due primarily to their small endosperm. Differences among inbred lines for seed germination were primarily due to kernel and endosperm size, and the interactions between inbred line and priming duration were also significant for all characters. The hydro-priming application in this study did not enhance seed germination and seed vigor, but it enhanced the time to germination, indicating that the early germination was archived when hydro-priming was applied. Therefore, there was the possibility of the collection the germplasm at soft dough stage (edible stage), and hydro-priming can be used to enhance the time of germination. |
