Annals of Agricultural Science最新文献

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) contribute to the fermentation of non-dairy cereal products such as rice milk and produce economic products like yoghurt and cheese. These bacteria also have a cytotoxicity activity against cancer cells. The current study intends to use Lactobacillus strains to ferment broken rice milk and produce financial yoghurt products, as well as to assess the growth, physicochemical properties alteration, sensory characteristics, and cytotoxicity of final products. This study indicated that the fermentation of broken rice milk for 8 h by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 and milk yoghurt cultures were more favorable than by Lc. casei DSM 20011, and L. acidophilus ATCC20552, which gave high viability (8.9 Log CFU/mL), specific growth rate (0.181, and 0.203 h⁻¹) and doubling time (3.83 and 3.41 h), respectively. Also, they dropped in pH values into ranged from 4.2 to 4.4, and increased in total titratable acidity and the acetic and lactic acids contents (0.82 and1.26 mg/L, respectively). The highest acidification rate (V_max) was 0.006 and 0.007, and pH U/min, the maximum acidification time (T_max) was 4 h and the time to reach pH 4.6 (T_e) was 5 h and 4 h for sample fermented by Lpb. plantarum and milk yoghurt cultures, respectively. Under refrigerated storage at 5 °C, the rice yoghurt seems to get a shelf life of 12 days. The sensory qualities of LAB rice yoghurt were satisfactory, and it was not toxic (safe) on OEC normal cells (IC₅₀ = ranged between 445.9 and 537.9 μg/mL) and cytotoxic on CaCo-2 colon cancer cells (IC₅₀ = ranged between 107.8 and167.8 μg/mL). The yoghurt rice included a lot of vitamin B₆ and B₁, but not much vitamin B₂ or C. As a result, this product is high in nutritional value.

Chilling temperature stress is the largest factor affecting tomato performance. Under these conditions, tomato cultivations require protection from cold and frost waves. A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of three wheat sowing dates (November 1st; November 15th and December 1st), and three wheat seeding rates of 25, 37.5, and 50 % of the normal seeding rate (142.8 kg seeds/ha) on the following aspects: yield and yield components of both crops, land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER), and economic return. The results revealed that intercropping wheat with tomato in mid-November, coupled with a 50 % seeding rate, produced the highest values of fruit setting (%), yield components, and total fruit yield/ha of tomato during both seasons. The climatic conditions prevailing on November 15th favored the increase of grain, straw yield/ha, and yield components compared to the other sowing dates. The density of the wheat seeding rate at 50 % produced the highest grain and straw yield/ha. In addition, intercropping wheat with tomato at a 50 % seeding rate on November 15th led to the highest values of LER (1.77 and 1.80) and ATER (1.35 and 1.36) and increased the net return by 106.6 and 112.0 % compared to the sole tomato cultivation in 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. These results indicate that intercropping wheat with tomato on November 15th at a 50 % seeding rate can better protect tomato plants from chilling and frost waves.

Yam production along the West African yam belt is challenged with deteriorating soil fertility and unavailability of stakes, resulting in decreased yam productivity, and farmers' livelihood. This study evaluated resource use and yam productivity in pigeonpea-yam cropping systems in Ghana's forest and forest-savannah transition zones from 2017 through 2019 cropping seasons. Pigeonpea was established either in an alley or as a border during the 2017 cropping season, while yam was cultivated in 2018 and 2019. A split-plot design of cropping system (yam planted in alleys of pigeonpea—PA; yam planted with pigeonpea as a border—PB and sole yam) as main-plot treatments and chemical fertilizer (0–0–0; 23–23–30; 45–45–60 N-P₂O₅-K₂O kg ha⁻¹) as subplot treatments were used for the study. Productivity data on pigeonpea and yam were collected. The results revealed significantly higher leafy biomass and correspondent higher N content and N due to fixation in PA fields than PB fields in both locations and seasons. The presence of the pigeonpea and its biomass resulted in a significant suppression of ridge erosion and weeds, while soil moisture and nutrients improved, resulting in increased yam tuber productivity than in sole yam production. Further, planting yam with pigeonpea and half (23–23–30 N-P₂O₅-K₂O kg ha⁻¹) the recommended fertilizer rate significantly improved tuber yield and productivity than planting sole yam with full recommended fertilizer level in both locations and seasons. Promoting and adopting the pigeonpea-yam cropping system could sustain soil fertility, provide readily available stakes to address the constraint of deforestation and land degradation associated with yam production.

Feed additives are routinely used for improving poultry health and production worldwide. Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) is a relatively new feed additive that is a derivative of chitosan, a non-toxic linear polysaccharide with many biological functions. To investigate the efficacy of COS on gut morphology and serum biochemical profile (lipid, protein, glucose, creatinine and enzymes), a total of 180 day-old broiler chicks (n = 45) were allocated into allocated to 1 of 4 groups: control (T0) and treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) fed basal diet supplemented with increasing amounts of COS for 35 days. Our findings showed that dietary COS supplementation had positive effects on the body weight and body weight gain in the treatment groups. Villus height and width, ratio of villus height and crypts depth, and tunica mucosa thickness of duodenum increased (P > 0.05) in the treatment groups (T1 and T2), whereas crypts depth of duodenum and cecum were decreased in the treatment groups (T1 and T2) compared to the control group; treatment group 3 (T3), however, was almost similar to the control group. In the case of cecum, tunica mucosa thickness, length and width of mucosal folds showed similar results as duodenum. The population and size of intestinal glands and lymphocytic infiltration in the mucosa were increased considerably in the treatment groups (T1 and T2) than control group. Total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels were significantly lowered in the treatment group 2 (T2) than control group or other COS treated groups (P < 0.05), although HDL cholesterol level was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in all of the treatment groups, but substantially higher in the group treatment groups 1 and 3 (T1 and T3) compared to control group. Total serum protein, albumin, and globulin were gradually increased in all of the treatment groups along with the increasing dose rates. The liver and kidney functions (ALT, AST and creatinine) were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected due to COS supplementation. These results suggest that COS has a dose-dependent response to improve gut morphology and health physiology in broilers; low to medium doses are more favorable for safe poultry production as it enhances growth performance, increases villus surface area, reduces undesirable cholesterols and positively affects the blood glucose and protein levels. These results would be helpful in exploring the efficacy of COS as a potential feed additive for safe poultry meat production, which is a time-demanding issue for the poultry industry from the consumers' point of view.

The deficiency of vitamin A is associated with preventable childhood infections and blindness. Optimal nutrition from a dietary variety and a selection of nutrient-rich foods are needed to enrich the diet. Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is a source of provitamin A due to its bioavailability of carotenes in roots that can be influenced by variety, environmental and crop management conditions. The aim was to characterize six of sweet potato genotypes [yellow-fleshed sweet potato (YFSP) and OFSP] using high-throughput phenotyping approaches to determine the influence of multi-environmental evaluation on quality attributes. The sensory evaluation was included to recognize the consumer perception of biofortified varieties. Total carotenoids content (TCC) and all-trans-β-carotene (atβC) were determined via HPLC, and colorimetric measurements were used to evaluate the root flesh color. Sensory evaluation was done for two OFSP and the cream-fleshed (CFSP) traditional landrace. Results revealed that the nutritional richness of OFSP was exhibited in its high TCC and atβC. High temperature and low accumulated rainfall negatively affected the accumulation of dry matter (DM), ash, and crude fiber while enhancing soluble solids, TCC, and atβC content. The food composition table of Ambarina and Aurora varieties showed the enriched quality compared to that of CFSP traditional landrace. Colorimetric methods were successfully used to differentiate flesh colors that could be significantly related to nutritional quality, especially a* and b* values from colorimeter and red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixel values. High acceptance of OFSP varieties in sensory attributes suggested the potential of these biofortified varieties as nutrient-rich foods and prevented vitamin A malnutrition.

This trial was planned to study the impact of dietary 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D₃) and ultraviolet light on some economical characteristics of broiler chicks (e.g., body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, bone measurements, and behavioral aspects). A total of 360 one-day-old chicks were randomly divided into four treatments (6 pens/treatment with 15 birds/pen). The experiment was laid in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Two light sources; Light-emitting diode (LED) or ultraviolet light B (UVB) and two 25-OH-D₃ levels (0 level as control and 300 g/ton). The distribution of treatments was as follows: Treatment 1 (LED with 300 g/ton 25-OH-D₃); Treatment 2 (LED with control diet); Treatment 3 (UVB with 25-OH-D₃); Treatment 4 (UVB with control diet). The main results revealed that using UVB lamps had a positive effect on body weight at the marketing age compared to the LED group (1.985 vs 1.939). Regardless of the light source, adding 25-OH-D₃ to the ration had a positive effect on body weight, especially at 28 and 35 days of age. Regarding cumulative feed intake, both T2 and T3 groups respectively consumed more feed compared to others, the highly significant difference was observed among them. Apart from diet impact, LED birds consumed slightly more feed compared to UVB birds. Both T3 and T4 groups recorded the lowest and significant figures of H/L ratio compared to the rest groups. It is interested to note that UVB birds had a lower H/L ratio compared to LED ones. According to the current findings, broilers reared under UVB light had lower stress susceptibility and fear responses. In general, results obtained revealed that there was an added value and synergetic actions when using UVB light and vitamin 25-OH-D₃ in diets for most studied traits.

Fish protein concentrate (FPC) is prepared to recover valuable nutrients from fish flesh as an affordable, acceptable, and excellent protein source. This paper reviews the existing FPC preparation processes through solvent extraction. The influential operating parameters should be selected to obtain the highest FPC yield with superior functional properties. Furthermore, this paper also aims to review the functional properties and potential applications of the FPC for human consumption, i.e., food, beverage, cosmetics, and personal care. Clear FPC information summarized in this paper is expected to strengthen consumer understanding, motivate FPC manufacturers, and extend FPC utilization in any possible field.

The salinity of irrigation water is one of the major abiotic stresses that have a variable reaction to soil structure, which has detrimental impacts on seedling development and quality. The osmolytes can help lessen these adverse effects on the establishment of Moringa oleifera seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted in Egypt (30″53′30, 87″ N and 30″41′29, 77″ E) using polyethylene bags during May – July 2020 and 2021. Three factors in a factorial split –split plot experiment were arranged in randomized complete block design. The main plots were soil structure; sand:clay 2:1 (V/V) and sand 100 %, whereas the subplot treatments were salinity levels; tap water as a control 0.5, 1.5, 4, and 6 dS m⁻¹, and sub–subplot osmolytes; tap water as a control, and glycine betaine, mannitol, proline, and sorbitol all at 0.2 g L⁻¹ as a soil drench. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of osmolytes and soil structure on growth parameters and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene expression in Moringa seedlings. The study concluded that Moringa seedlings in sand:clay performed significantly (P ˂ 0.05) better than those in the sand. With increasing salinity levels, osmolytes enhanced all seedling growth parameters and PAL gene expression compared with the control in the two soil structures. The order of tolerance to salinity stress was sorbitol ˃ proline ˃ mannitol ˃ glycine betaine ˃ control. Moringa seedlings produced in sand:clay treated with 0.2 g L⁻¹ sorbitol and salinity at 4 or 6 dS m⁻¹ were superior in most growth parameters and PAL gene expression.

A low production of oil seed crops, paired with their increased demand, has become a challenge for the edible oil industry in India. Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. (niger seed plant) is an annual, dicotyledonous, multipurpose oil seed crop belonging to the family of Asteraceae. Although this plant produces abundant flowers, it fails to produce mature seeds with vigor due to poor vascularization. We investigated the effects of the plant growth-promoting hormone auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the cytokinin, 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) individually and together on the growth and oil quality of niger in lateritic soil. Pot experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 2014 and 2015 in subtropical eastern India. The plants were sprayed with 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L⁻¹ each of IAA and BAP, 50, 75, and 100 mg L⁻¹ of IAA + BAP, or water (control). When applied individually—IAA or BAP at 75 mg L⁻¹ (I₇₅B₀ or I₀B₇₅)—the biomass production was maximized. The combination of IAA (50 mg L⁻¹) and BAP (100 mg L⁻¹; I₅₀B₁₀₀) yielded significantly high biomass (38 and 40 g plant⁻¹) and seed yield (13.24 and 12.67 g plant⁻¹) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The most effective combinations for increasing niger seed oleic acid content were I₅₀B₁₀₀ and I₅₀B₇₅ as compared to other combinations of growth hormone. These results suggest that exogenous phytohormones can improve the seed yield and oil quality of niger seed plants in acid lateritic soil.

Plant production under climate changes requires unique treatments to overcome the detrimental effects of abiotic stress, such as water deficiency stress. Silicon (Si) has many beneficial effects, especially in plants subjected to different types of stress. Hence, Si foliar application was used to study its potential effects on boosting osmolytes content, activity of antioxidant enzymes, growth of vegetative and flowering organs, and yield of squash plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) under deficit irrigation. Two field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Three concentrations of Si at 0, 2000 and 4000 ppm in the form of monosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄) under two levels of water irrigation at 80% of water holding capacity (WHC) as control and 50% of WHC as drought treatment. Drought treatment significantly reduced the growth parameters: shoot height, shoot fresh and dry weights, leaves number/plant, average leaf area, fruit setting and yield traits, and the physiological attributes: leaf relative water content (LRWC), total chlorophylls (SPAD), total soluble proteins (TSP) and catalase (CAT) activity. Meanwhile, significant increases in the concentrations of stress indicators (total free amino acids and proline) were observed compared to the control plants (80% WHC). Both rates of Si achieved marked increases in the vegetative growth, flowering, chlorophylls, LRWC, TSP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, which in turn reflects on improving fruit setting %, total fruits, and yield of squash plants under well or deficit irrigation. Spraying the high level of Si (4000 ppm) was the most effective treatment that emended the adverse effects of drought.