Five strains of Lactococcus, including L. garviae K2, L. piscium SU4, L. lactis subsp. cremoris E22, L. plantarum L7 and L. lactis subsp. hordinae E91 were screened for production of antimicrobial agents. The strains were also analysed for antimicrobial activities against spoilage and pathogenic organisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Result revealed that L. piscium SU4, L. plantarum L7 and L. lactis subsp. cremoris E22 had lactic acid production (g/107 colony forming units, CFU) of 7.23, 7.20 and 7.19. The value of 6.83 recorded as lactic acid produced by L. garviae K2 was significantly different from those obtained for others. The highest acetic acid production (3.55 g/107 CFU) was recorded for L. garviae K2 while L. piscium SU4 had the lowest (2.99 g/107 CFU). L. lactis subsp. hordinae E91 had diacetyl production of 71.99 (µg/107 CFU), which was higher than those recorded for other Lactococcus strains. Test for antimicrobial activities showed that Escherichia coli NCTC 86, Yersinia enterocolitica NCTC 10460, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIMB 10848, Bacillus cereus NCTC 21113 and Pseudomonas flourescens recorded higher susceptibilities to the antimicrobial action of the Lactococcus strains than others; zones of inhibition of 5 mm and above were recorded for the indicator organisms compared to lower values (

Se utilizaron cinco tratamientos: el testigo (T0) y cuatro concentraciones de lixiviados (T1= 100%, T2= 75%, T3= 50% y T4= 25%) aplicados 15, 30 y 60 días después del trasplante. La actividad microbiana se determinó con la metodología del CAB y la biomasa microbiana con el método de fumigación-extracción. En la actividad microbiana se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos, presentando la aplicación del lixiviado a la menor concentración (25%) la mayor actividad (56.76 mgCO2g suelo-1). La actividad fue mayor en floración en todos los tratamientos. Para biomasa microbiana no se presentaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos ni entre épocas. ABSTRACT The effect of leaching from rachis on soil microbial biomass and activity during tomato flowering and harvesting period. Field trail comprised five treatments of different leaching concentrations (T0= test, T1= 100%, T2= 75%, T3=50%, and T4=25%) sprinkled on soil 15, 30 and 60 days after tomato transplanting. Microbial activity was measured with CAB method and microbial biomass was recorded with fumigation - extraction method. The average microbial activity with sprinking of 25% of leaching was higher (56.76 mgCO2g suelo-1). No significant difference in order to treatments and periods in microbial biomass were observed. These observations showed leaching sprinkling in low concentration influence en microbial activity for the conditions of this experiment. Key words: Soil biology, biomass, leaching, Lycopersicum sculentun.

Dahi is a fermented milk product containing probiotic lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize lactic acid-producing bacteria from native Dahi and evaluate their viability in orange juice using natural prebiotics. Dahi samples were obtained from local shops in Chattogram and Bogura, Bangladesh. Lactic acid-producing bacteria were isolated using MRS (de Mann Rogosa and Sharpe) medium. The isolated bacteria were identified through colony morphology, biochemical tests, and probiotic characteristics. Molecular identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting conserved 16S rDNA regions. Isolates of the genus Lactobacillus and Lactococcus lactis sp. Lactis were confirmed and used to develop probiotic orange juice. Prebiotics (Asparagus falcatus and Zingiber officinale) were added to the juice to support probiotic growth. The inoculated cell’s viability and the juice’s physicochemical parameters were evaluated during fermentation (48 hours) and storage (28 days). All fruit juice samples showed a mean number of viable cells of at least 1×105 CFU/mL during the 48-hour fermentation and 28-day storage in the refrigerator. Using natural prebiotics positively affected the survival of lactic acid bacteria, as demonstrated by bacterial colony growth on Petri dishes. Developing probiotic fruit juice enriched with prebiotics could be an effective alternative for individuals allergic or intolerant to milk-based products. Incorporating lactic acid bacteria from native Dahi into orange juice, combined with natural prebiotics, resulted in viable probiotic cells throughout fermentation and storage.

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, is a multipurpose vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world for its immature seed pods and leaves. The crop seldom reaches its yield potential in most of these areas, primarily due to a decline in soil fertility. As a result, a field experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources Demonstration Farm, KNUST-Kumasi to assess the effect of NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser and Leucaena leucocephala leafy biomass application on the growth and yield of okra. The treatment combinations were laid out in a 3 × 3 factorial randomised complete block design with 9 treatments replicated 4 times for a total of 36 experimental units. Leucaena leafy biomass and NPK were evaluated solely and in combinations at a rate of 75 kg N/ha on a weight basis. The treatment combinations were applied as follows: T1 = Control; T2 = 0.14 kg NPK (15:15:15); T3 = 0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15); T4 = 0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass; T5 = 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass; T6 = T2 + T4; T7 = T3 + T5; T8 = T2 + T5; T9 = T3 + T4. The number of days from planting to the first anthesis of okra differed significantly (p ˂ 0.05). T3 showed the least number of days to the first anthesis observation (47 days), while T9 had the highest number of days to the first anthesis (49.3 days). On a weekly basis (starting with 5 weeks after planting, WAP), height was not significantly different among the various treatments. Stem diameter followed a sequence similar to plant height, starting from 5 to 10 WAP, where no significant differences occurred between treatment means. However, mean values revealed that okra plants varied significantly in height; T9 had the tallest plants (27.2 cm), while T2 and T8 had the shortest plants (21.2 and 21.2 cm, respectively). There was a significant difference between the treatment means and stem diameter. In the same advanced line, T9 had the highest stem diameter (9.9 mm), with T5 having the lowest stem diameter (6.9 mm). Fruit yield was also significantly different, with T4 having the most fruit (39,259 fruits per ha) and T8 having the least (19,259 fruits per ha). The fruit dry weight was significantly different, as the highest weight was recorded in T7 (12.5 tonnes/ha) and the lowest was recorded in T9 (5.3 tonnes/ha). The combination treatment T9 [0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser + 0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot] had a significantly improved height and diameter compared to the other treatments. The highest fruit yield of okra was recorded in T4 (0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot), and the highest dry weight of okra was registered in T7 (0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser + 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot). Therefore, it is recommended that sole L. leucocephala leafy biomass (T4) and its combination with NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser (T9) be adopted by smallholder farmers to cultivate okra in the tropics.