Agriculture biotechnology

The study was performed to investigate the effect of milk replacer on growth of young kids during 2012 in Balochistan (District Quetta and Jaffarabad). Six goat kids were managed under two feeding systems. Out of six, three kids were fed on milk replacer (Group A), while remaining three kids were managed under whole milk (Group B). The comparative effect of milk replacer and whole milk was investigated on weekly body weight and final body weight after completion of 4 weeks. The results showed that the final body weight of after 4 weeks of kid No. 1 fed on milk replacer was 6 kg while the final weight of kid No. 1 managed on whole milk was 6.5 kg. Similarly, the final body weight after 4 weeks of kid No. 2 fed on milk replacer was 5.5 kg while the final weight of kid No. 2 managed on whole milk was 6.4 kg. Likewise, the final body weight after 4 weeks of kid No. 3 fed on milk replacer was 5.8 kg while the final weight of kid No. 3 managed on whole milk was 6.6 kg per kid. However, th...

There are various biofertilizer products in the market in Nigeria and imported globally which claimed to have beneficial microbes for sustainable agriculture. Biowaste recycled in anaerobic digested (26 days)  and inoculated with Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biocontrol microorganisms called OBD-Biofertilizer with field application and evaluation grown with selected crops in different agro-ecology in Nigeria certified by federal fertilizer department, federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, Abuja, Nigeria within  (2011-2015).  This study was conducted to identify and assess the microbial contents of various biofertilizer products available in the market known as imported biofertilizers (Thailand, China and Australia). A comparative analysis  of a total of 13 isolates of bacteria were identified from these biofertilizer products based on Tan et al, 2009 isolation of beneficial microbes from biofertilizer. Bacillus group was the most dominant strain found in these products imported biofertilizers and can be classified as Nitrogen fixing biofertilizers eg.  Rhizobium, Azospirillum  and  Azotobacter; Phosphorous solubilising biofertilizers (PSB) eg. Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Aspergillu ; PGPR) eg.  Pseudomonas and generally known as mono-biofertilizer (all bacteria only). OBD-Biofertilizer (broad spectrum biofertilizer) containing bacteria and fungi including Phosphate mobilizing biofertilizer eg. Mycorrhiza and Actinomycetes.  Imported Biofertilizer do not contain mycofungicides , biological control agents (BCA) while  OBD-Bioferilizer contain Aspergillus Niger. OBD-Biofertilizer contains Actinomycetes are also used as plant growth-promoting agents (help to produce plant growth hormone Indole-3-acetic acid), biocontrol tools, biopesticide agents, antifungal compounds, and biocorrosion and as a source of agroactive compounds. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in OBD-Biofertilizer are considered to be primary soil aggregators and aggregate stability in natural systems because it contain glomalin , a glycoprotein produced by AMF hyphae.  OBD-Biofertilizer contains genus Thiobacillus, sulphur oxidizers, which enhance the natural oxidation and speed up the production of sulphates; play important role in the formation of proteins, vitamins and enzymes in plant development, remediation and restoration ecology. Two field experiments were carried out at Badeggi, Niger state, Nigeria in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the response of lowland rice to a OBD-Biofertilizer. The experimental field was laid out in a strip-plot design with five treatments and three replications using the FARO 44 and FARO 52 rice varieties. The highest rice grain yield increase of 4.4 t/ha over the control in 2012 and was far more than Nigeria’s average of lowland rice grain yields of 1.5 t/ha.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eCAloMWG3g

Keywords:
Anaerobic digester,  Recycle  Bio-waste , OBD-Biofertilizer, isolation, beneficial microbes, biofertilizer products,  Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, Rice crop

Abstract
An in vitro micropropagation system has been developed for Terminalia arjuna Roxb., an important Indian medicinal plant and non mulberry primary food plant of tropical tasar silkworm (Antheria mylitta Drury). Nodal segments obtained from one year old aseptically grown seedlings were used as explants. MS medium containing 1.5 mg/L BAP was found most suitable for culture initiation. Although shoot multiplication was achieved on MS medium containing BAP and Kn, the maximum number of shoots was obtained with 1.5 mg/L BAP. Best rooting response was observed on MS medium salts, 0.6% agar and 0.1 mg/L IBA. Plantlets were hardened initially in culture room conditions and then transferred to misthouse.

In accordance with global trend, Nigeria and the rest of Africa are gradually embracing the genetically modified organisms. As well, Nigeria is coming to terms with the reality and ubiquity of applications of agro-biotechnology, including its prospects both for economic advancement and for diverse associated risks. Hitherto, majority of farmers in Nigeria were organic farmers by default, a status that is now undergoing rapid transition to conventional farming not only as a result of agro-biotechnology but also as a result of recent remarkable improvements over access to agro-chemical inputs. As Nigeria embraces agro-biotechnology and transitions into conventional agriculture, organic farming status will assume a new importance as a niche. To embrace the challenge and leverage on the opportunities of Nigeria's agricultural transition, organic farming stakeholders would need to actively penetrate the presently fluid legal regulatory space to secure organic-farming friendly policy in the country.

One of the major issues facing humankind is global food security. A changing climate, coupled with a heightened consumer awareness of how food is produced and legislative changes governing the usage of agrichemicals for improving plant health and yield, means that alternative, more integrated and sustainable approaches are needed for crop management practices. To this end, there is increasing recognition of the value of the role of microbial inoculants in agriculture. The focus of this review is to understand how plant-growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can play a part in improving crop yield by promoting the health status of the plant through the sequestration of various nutrients and in the control of plant diseases.

The present study was focused on the analysis, documentation and interpretation of traditional knowledge and ethno-medicinal phyto-wisdom in four districts (Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi) of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state of North-West Himalayas is a repository of aromatic and medicinal plants. A total of 47 plant species are reported as being used locally for various purposes. All of these plant species are collected from the wild, 7 of which are reported as rare locally. Four new ethnobotanical uses are reported in Clematis grata, Indigofera hamiltonii, Pinus wallichiana and Polygonum persicaria from different parts of the Himachal Pradesh for the first time. Our findings suggest that leaves are the major plant part used in most of the recipes. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly collected plant parts. Mostly a single species is used and are mainly taken orally. Unsustainable collection methods, poor post harvest methods, soil erosion and intense deforestation are the main causes of the depletion of local flora. Local people still depends on medicinal plants for majority of their ailments, so loss of these plant resources will be certain extent to a hamper the existing healthcare system in the studied area

We cordially announce the 21st Euro Biotechnology Congress to be held during October 11-12, 2018 Moscow, Russia. The attending delegates include Editorial Board Members of related international group journals. This is a fabulous open door for the representatives from universities and institutes to communicate with the world class scientists from all across the globe.

The action of synthetic low molecular weight compounds — pyrazole derivatives — on the growth and deve-lopment of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) of the Money Maker cultivar in vivo and in vitro is stu-died. It is found that the compound D-pyrazole-3 at a concentration of 10–8 М demonstrates the most pronounced action on the growth and development of tomato plants in vivo. The effect of these compounds on the morphogenetic potential of S. lycopersicum explants in vitro is studied for the first time, and it is found that compounds D-pyrazole-1, D-pyrazole-2 and D-pyrazole-3 effectively induce callusogenesis and rhizogenesis, as well as, depending on the concentration, direct plant regeneration in vitro. Under the action of all three compounds, both at a concentration of 10–9 М and 10–8 М, the most effective root formation occurs on shoot explants. For the direct plant regeneration from this type of explants, the most effective compounds are D-pyrazole-1 at a concentration of 10–9 М or D-pyrazole-2 at a concentration of 10–8 М, which can then be re-commended for the use in the biotechnological research of the genetic improvement of S. lycopersicum.
Кeywords: plants, Solanum lycopersicum L., plant growth regulators, pyrazole derivatives,  auxin, in vivo, in vitro.

Glaciers harbor a wide diversity of microorganisms, metabolically versatile, highly tolerant to multiple environmental stresses and potentially useful for biotechnological purposes. Among these, we hypothesized the presence of bacteria able to exhibit well-known plant growth promoting traits (PGP). These kinds of bacteria have been employed for the development of commercial biofertilizers; unfortunately, these biotechnological products have proven ineffective in colder climates, like the ones prevailing in mountainous ecosystems. In the present work, we prospected glacial ice collected from two small tropical glaciers, located above 4.900 m in the Venezuelan Andes, for cold-active PGP bacteria. The initial screening strategy allowed us to detect the best inorganic-P solubilizers at low temperatures, from a sub-sample of 50 bacterial isolates. Solubilization of tricalcium phosphate, aluminum- and iron-phosphate, occurred in liquid cultures at low temperatures and was dependent on medium acidification by gluconic acid production, when bacteria were supplied with an appropriate source of carbon. Besides, the isolates were psychrophilic and in some cases exhibited a broad range of growth-temperatures, from 4 °C to 30 °C. Additional PGP abilities, including phytohormone- and HCN production, siderophore excretion and inhibition of phytopathogens, were confirmed in vitro. Nucleotidic sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes allowed us to place the isolates within the Pseudomonas genus. Our results support the possible use of these strains to develop cold-active biofertilizers to be used in mountainous agriculture.

In the present research, thirteen different tested genotypes were selected according to their nutritional values. Five parents and eight DHLs, these DHLs were chosen for their highest and lowest mean values from each of the four crosses to validate these markers. Four SSR markers i.e. RM 590, RM 152, RM 153 and RM 295 were used and all of them generated polymorphic bands among the different genotypes. Two alleles were detected for each marker among thirteen genotypes for each nutritional value trait. The level of polymorphism generated was good to study the diversity between the selected genotypes and SSR markers which had a relationship with nutritional value traits (high concentrations of Mn, Zn and Fe). One QTL was detected for Mn content, it was located on chromosome 10 near marker (RM 590), while (RM 152 and RM 153) are associated with QTL for high Zink concentration in grain, one major effect of QTL for zinc content was detected near the simple sequence repeats marker RM152 on...

The present study was carried out to increase
the level of tolerance in  Gossypium hirsutum  L. against
cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD). Hybridization of a
transgenic line (anti-sense tRep gene) with three naturally
resistant (non-transgenic) varieties namely FH-1000,
MNH-786 and NIBGE-115 was performed. The parents and
their F1 Hybrids were evaluated for disease infectivity. Data
of some morphological traits (Plant Height, Monopodial
Branches per Plant, Sympodial Branches per Plant, Number
of Boll per Plant, Lint Percentage, Boll Weight, Staple
Length, Staple Strength, Fiber Fineness, Yield of Seed
Cotton  ) was evaluated satanically to check the influence of
disease on morphology of plant. The results  showed that
hybridization increased the  tolerance level against cotton
leaf curl virus.