Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences最新文献

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., is one of the world's most serious diseases because it reduces yield and seed quality. Nowadays, biological control is an environment-friendly option for controlling plant diseases. The goals of this study were to (i) test eight endophytic Trichoderma spp. strains as biocontrol agents against M. phaseolina and (ii) further investigate two selected strains showing good behaviour against the pathogen. Pathogen-antagonist interactions were studied in dual culture, and the morphological alterations of M. phaseolina mycelia in the interaction zone were examined by light microscopy. Trichoderma strains were applied to soya bean seeds by a seed coating technique. Their bioprotective effects were assessed by in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate radicle length, the germination percentage and the presence of typical charcoal rot symptoms in seedlings. Two Trichoderma strains were selected and they were molecularly identified as T. harzianum species complex. Their antagonistic ability against M. phaseolina was evaluated under different water availability conditions. The mechanisms used by these two endophytic strains against the pathogen were evaluated by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that all eight Trichoderma strains successfully performed biocontrol activity against M. phaseolina by reducing colony growth and causing morphological alterations in the mycelia of M. phaseolina. All endophytes improved seed germination and radicle length, and reduced typical symptoms and disease progression on seedlings. Water availability in the medium impacted on fungal growth. At 0.995 ɑ_w, all the fungi grew more and faster. At 0.95 ɑ_w M. phaseolina grew more than the Trichoderma strains, while the pathogen grew slightly more at 0.98 ɑ_w than the Trichoderma strains. However, both selected Trichoderma strains grew larger and faster than the pathogen at 0.995 ɑ_w. The mechanisms involved in pathogen control revealed by the light and cryo-scanning microscopy studies included competition for nutrients or space and direct mycoparasitism. All the endophytic Trichoderma strains were antagonistic against M. phaseolina, however our study allowed us to select two Trichoderma strains with good potential to be included for charcoal rot management.

Matcha gained popularity due to its health benefit as the awareness of the consumers' well-being increased. The product contains antioxidants, mainly catechin, and a unique taste. Matcha is commonly produced from Camelia sinensis var sinensis, whereas in other Asian regions with shading practices, C. sinensis var assamica is primarily cultivated. Both varieties have different flavors of teas due to genetic differences and cultivation techniques. In tea cultivation, shading is one of the important practices to increase the quality of matcha. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the effect of cultivation technique, namely shading intensity (0%, 50%, 70%, 90%) on C. sinensis var assamica on the physical, chemical, and sensory profile of matcha produced. This study exhibited that the resultant matcha cultivated with the higher intensity of shading tends to have a darker color in terms of lightness (from 61.43 to 53.64), lower moisture content (from 9.26% to 8.64%), and solubility index (from 17.10% to 15.37%) in 0% and 90% shading respectively. At the same time, the protein content of the plant tends to fluctuate in several shading intensities. In corresponding to the decreasing phenolic (from 50.78 to 46.09 mgGAE/g) and flavonoid content (from 41.89 to 15.15 mgQE/g) of the matcha in higher shading (from 0% and 90% shading, respectively), the catechin and antioxidant activity (52.3 to 68.85 of IC₅₀) also decreased in 0% and 90% shading intensity. Meanwhile, the sensory evaluation of the resultant matcha from the higher intensity (from 0% and 90% shading) exhibited higher acceptance (from 3.02 to 3.42 of overall acceptance in 7-scale hedonic response). Overall, it should be considered that as the shading intensity gets higher (from 0% to 90%), which might result in better consumer acceptance, the bioactive compounds, namely phenolics, flavonoids, and catechins, might have a lower amount in the shaded plants.

It is vital to research mayonnaise egg yolk alternatives due to the greater fat and cholesterol content in egg yolks. The use of soy protein isolate and nano soy isolate as fat substitutes in mayonnaise was investigated. Two formulas were prepared, including a control (market and lab), low-fat with 0.5, 1, and 1.5% soy protein isolate (SPI) and nano soy protein isolate (NSPI), and low-fat with 0.5, 1, and 1.5% glycinin (GLY) and nano glycinin (NGLY). Rheology, microstructure, color, and sensory properties of formulas were analyzed. In comparison to the commercial and control samples, the oil droplets became smaller and more compact in the 0.5% and 1% NSPI and NGLY formulas. NSPI and NGLY bind more water and oil in the matrix of mayonnaise samples, which in turn increases the viscosity of the fluid. Furthermore, increasing the protein level to 1.5% reduced the lightness value of NSPI's low-fat mayonnaise. Mayonnaise prepared with the addition of 1% and 1.5% NSPI particles showed a higher whitening index value than other samples. Also, the samples with the highest scores for sensory attributes were the 0.5% NSPI and GLY mayonnaise samples, which did not significantly change after the end of the storage period compared to other samples. Therefore, nano soy protein and nano glycinin have potential as fat substitutes and improve the quality characteristics of low-fat mayonnaise.

This paper aims to provide insights into the local value chain (LVC), and present marketing strategies to increase yields and incomes. Though many studies are available on the development and efficiency of the coffee sector, this research is among the few studies, focusing on the effect of value-based strategies within the marketing scope on improving coffee quality and farmer’s income for one of the finest coffees in the Middle East. In fact, Jazan region is known for its khawlani coffee with hundreds of years old trees and a unique art of preparing and serving coffee which is deeply embedded within the Saudi national identity and traditions. This coffee represents a typical cultural consumption in the Arabian Peninsula. For data collection, In-depth interviews were conducted with randomly selected coffee farmers, distributed over the six mountainous regions of Jazan (Al Dayer, Faifa, Al Edabi, Harub, Al Aridha, and AL Reith), followed by a content analysis approach to visualize LVC components, patterns, and issues. Results reveal a common pattern among coffee farmers regarding coffee commercialization, cultivation techniques, and management behaviors. The imminent issues faced by the khawlani sector and the lack of awareness about the government initiatives were also highlighted. However, one of the main limitations of this study is that it is exploratory in nature and focuses on a single case. Nevertheless, the proposed marketing strategies were developed to offer guidelines for stakeholders, encouraging strategic investments along the value chain.

Global warming have become a stress condition due to the generation of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation with the industrial revolution. Climate change induces biotic and abiotic stress conditions which badly disturb the yield of crops with leading to the biochemical and physiological damages to plants. Therefore; this study investigated the capability of Morus alba L. wood biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria PG1 (Pseudomonas sp.) and PG2 (Staphylococcus haemolyticus) to alleviate the drought condition in Brassica napus L. plant. In the current research work, the combined application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and biochar triggered an enhancement in physicochemical properties of soil including %field capacity, water use efficiency, germination parameters including Timson germination index, final emergence percentage, mean germination time, final germination percentage, germination energy, mean emergence time, germination rate index and vegetative parameters including seed vigor indexes (SVI-I & SVI-II) and plant height stress index. Inoculation and co-inoculation of PGPRs and biochar positively promote the canola plant growth even under induce drought stress condition. A positive increase in B. napus biomass including leaf area, plant height and root growth and its dry and fresh mass at p < 0.05 level, which support the effectiveness of this approach. Results also showed that Staphylococcus haemolyticus individually and in combination with biochar even under stress condition promote canola plant growth more than Pseudomonas sp. We concluded that under stressors, co-application of PGPRs and biochar could be an operative approach for enhancing plant productivity and its development.

The present research aimed to develop gluten-free biscuits from corn-based flour which was partially substituted with 5, 10, 15, or 20 % of either crushed, shell-less walnuts (WN), peanuts (PN), or their combination (1:1). Proximate analysis, physical and organoleptic properties of the biscuits developed were evaluated. Biscuit quality criteria were significantly improved by increasing the concentrations of WN, PN, or their combination. The content of fat, protein, crude fiber and ash increased as the levels of walnut, peanut, or their combination increased. The fat content of the gluten-free biscuits increased by 237.3, 148.1, and 188.9% when 20 % of the corn meal was replaced with WN, PN or their combination, respectively. Likewise, increases in protein were 129.1, 186.2 and 159.7 %, respectively. Furthermore, biscuit energy content was increased with all nut formulations, but increases were more obvious in those with WN, particularly at 15 and 20 %. A distinctly nutty flavor appeared in gluten-free biscuits supplemented with WN, PN, and their combination, and this desirable flavor was enhanced by increasing the nut content. Biscuits prepared from WN, PN, and a combination of both at 15 to 20 % were the most preferred formulation in terms of nutritional value and sensory criteria. Taking into account the cost of WN and PN, biscuits prepared with corn flour substituted with 15% nuts are recommended for celiac patients.

Proanthocyanidin is a phenolic compound in red sorghum grains that is popular as an antioxidant agent for food, supplement, and nutraceuticals. The development of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of proanthocyanidins (PA) from the grains is needed to maximize its potency. The performance of MAE was evaluated to accelerate the extraction by applying different MAE’s power ratings and citric acid (CA) concentrations in aquadest as a safe solvent. This research analyzed the MAE performance in various powers and CA concentrations using Peleg's and Newton’s law as the model approaches. The increase of PA content during MAE was evaluated as the effect of microwave power (640 W, 720 W, and 800 W) and the CA concentration (0%, 1%, and 2%). Using Peleg’s model, the initial extraction rates were stretched between 2.3 × 10^-3 to 10.6 × 10^-3 mg/ml.minute. The maximum capacity of each extraction ranged from 0.92 to 1.80 ml/mg. The increase of MAE power and CA concentration affected the increase of the initial extraction rate and the maximum extraction capacity. Peleg’s model illustrated a more complete and precise description of the effect of MAE power and CA concentration on the extraction rate and the maximum capacity of extraction than Newton’s model. Peleg’s model was also more accurate than Newton’s model in predicting the PA concentration during MAE, although both of them gave a good match in describing the MAE’s performance.

A detailed study was conducted on micropropagation of two elite date palm cvs. Samany and Bertamoda using immature spikelet explants. Initially the callus cultures were established using spikelet explants of immature spathes (avg. 15 cm). Initiation medium containing 0.5 mg L^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3.0 mg L^-1 2-isopentenyl adenine (2iP) induced significantly highest callus in cv. Samany (95%) followed by cv. Bertamoda (81%). Medium containing micro and macronutrients of MS, vitamins of MS, 30 g L^-1 sucrose, 100 mg L^-1 myo-inositol, 200 mg L^-1 L-Glutamine_, 0.05 mg L^-1 2,4-D, 3.0 mg L^-1 2iP, 3 g L^-1 Activated Charcoal (AC) induced white friable embryogenic callus in cv. Samany (84%) and in cv. Bertamoda (69%). Significantly highest multiplication of somatic embryos was obtained in cv. Samany (85%) and in cv. Bertamoda (76%) on the medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 0.1 mg L^-1 Kinetin (Kin) under light. Leaf number, leaf length, root number and root length as significantly highest values were obtained on the medium containing 0.1 mg L^-1 BA, 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA. Root trimming of primary single root resulted in production of multiple roots in each plantlet. The in vitro hardening supported to select healthy plantlets to be able to grow vigorously in greenhouse. Soil mixture based on peatmoss, river sand, hill sand (4:1:1 v/v) resulted in significantly highest survival (91%) of plantlets in greenhouse during acclimatization. Micropropagated plants (45 cm in height) with 3-4 compound leaves grown in the greenhouse were transferred in the open field for tree and fruit evaluation. Results showed that cvs. Samany and Bertamoda produced true-to-type fruits after three years of plantations in open field. Fruits of cv. Samany were harvested at late khalal stage and utilized to make Chhuhara (boiled/ dried dates) which showed excellent quality. Micropropagation of elite date cultivars is need of the time which will boost varietal structure in the area.

One of the main challenges that hinder wheat cultivation is weeds through its competitiveness to obtain the essential requirements of growth as most growers claimed that no efficient method can be applied to increase the nutritional value of wheat grains. Therefore, current study aims to increase the nutritional content of wheat using different methods during the development of growth stages. A field experiment was conducted in Zulele village, Babylon province during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 season to achieve the object above. Treatments and combinations of the experiment (manual weeds removal, herbicides, seeding rate and nano-nutrients) were arranged using randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with four replicates. Results showed that there were significant differences between treatments and combinations as Navigator + IQ combi and Weed free + IQ combi combinations with 180 kg.h⁻¹ seeding rate were exceeded and gave the highest average of the percentage of carbohydrates, protein, gluten, total amino acids and tryptophan, also gave the lowest percentage of ash compare to control combination with 140 kg.h⁻¹ seeding rate. The use of Navigator or Surage (Herbicides) or Weed free together with foliar nano-nutrients was improved the nutritional content of wheat grains.

Bio-based fungicides with nanotechnology delivery systems employing bacterial products, such as antifungal compounds, could be an alternative substitution for synthetic fungicides. Antifungal activity of extract from B. subtilis strain CR.9 and its nanoemulsion formula using medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and Tween-80 was evaluated in vitro and in planta effectiveness against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. glycines associated with soybean plants. For this purpose, the antifungal compounds from bacterial culture were recovered using ethyl acetate as an organic solvent. The fungitoxic activity of antifungal compounds strains CR.9 demonstrated fungal growth inhibition at 394.12 µg/mL (IC₅₀), 250 µg/mL (MIC_EE), and 100 µg/mL (MIC_nanoemulsion), respectively. The EtOAc extract (EE)-nanoemulsion formula developed with a ratio of 2:1 (MCT: Tween-80) showed homogenous size and stability for 25 days without creaming, sedimentation, or separate layers. Moreover, seedlings treatment and soil amendment of EE-nanoemulsion performed high efficacy in suppressing wilt and in agreement with commercial fungicide, Dithane M−45. Overall, the antifungal properties of strain CR.9 may have potency as a bio-based fungicide in plant diseases biocontrol strategy.