Study on toxigenic mycoflora and potential mitigation effect of Christmas Melon (Laganaria Breviflorus) extract in unpolished rice sold in Abeokuta Ogun state of Nigeria was carried out. Unpolished rice gotten from markets in Abeokuta were aseptically transported to the laboratory, serial dilution to reduce the fungal load was carried out and were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Methyl Red Dessicated Coconut Agar (MRDCA) respectively. Microscopy, macroscopy, toxigenicity test and inhibition studies with the peeled and unpeeled fruit of Laganaria breviflorus fermented for seven days was carried out. Results reveal the predominance of Aspergillus as the major genera, specifically, A. niger, A.flavus, A. parasiticus, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, A. nidulans. Other fungi genera isolated include Penicillium, F`usarium, Mucor, Alternaria and Rhizopus . Of the 11 fungi genera isolated, 9 were toxigenic of which the zones of inhibition of unpeeled whole fruit extract of Laganaria breviflorus range from (3 - 28mm) where A. nidulans shows the highest susceptibility to the whole fruit extract of Laganaria breviflorus while the zone of inhibition of peeled fruit extract of Laganaria breviflorus ranges from (3 - 22mm) where A. parasiticus, Fusarium specie and P.chrysogenum showed the highest susceptibility . As the day progresses the zone of inhibition becomes wider. Unpeeled LB extract exhibited more zones of inhibition than the peeled LB extract. Laganaria breviflorus fruit extracts in the study demonstrates a potential in reducing toxigenic fungi, consequently a means to reducing mycotoxins in staple foods in Nigeria.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie techniki wyboru metody porządkowania liniowego obiektów ze względu na poziom zjawiska złożonego jakim jest stan gospodarki odpadami w województwach Polski. Do realizacji tego celu wyselekcjonowano cechy diagnostyczne opisujące badane zjawisko oraz wytypowano metody porządkowania liniowego. Następnie wykorzystując procedurę wyboru metody porządkowania dokonano wytypowania sposobu konstrukcji cechy syntetycznej, który pozwolił zbudować ranking województw ze względu na poziom analizowanego zjawiska. W dalszej kolejności dokonano podziału województw na cztery grupy: bardzo wysokiego, wysokiego, przeciętnego i niskiego poziomu rozwoju omawianego zjawiska. Badania pokazały, że wybór procedury konstrukcji cechy syntetycznej wpływa na ranking badanych obiektów. Otrzymany ranking pozwala sformułować wniosek, iż gospodarka odpadami w Polsce jest regionalnie zróżnicowana. | The aim of the article is to present the technique of selection of the method of the linear ordering of objects due to the level of a complex phenomenon, which is the status of waste management in voivodeships in Poland. For this purpose there were selected diagnostic variables describing the analyzed phenomenon and linear ordering methods were selected. Then, using the selection procedure for ordering methods, it was chosen the method of construction of a synthetic variable, that allowed to build ranking of voivodeships due to the level of the analyzed phenomenon. Then the voivodeships were divided into four groups: very high, high, average and low level of the discussed phenomenon. The research showed that the selection of procedure for the construction of synthetic variable affects the ranking of tested objects. The obtained ranking allows to conclude that waste management in Poland is regionally differentiated. | metoda porządkowania liniowego, cecha syntetyczna, odpady komunalne | linear ordering method, synthetic variable, municipal waste | 13 | 183-192 | 2

The aim of the article is to present the technique of selection of the method of the linear ordering of objects due to the level of a complex phenomenon, which is the status of waste management in voivodeships in Poland. For this purpose there were selected diagnostic variables describing the analyzed phenomenon and linear ordering methods were selected. Then, using the selection procedure for ordering methods, it was chosen the method of construction of a synthetic variable, that allowed to build ranking of voivodeships due to the level of the analyzed phenomenon. Then the voivodeships were divided into four groups: very high, high, average and low level of the discussed phenomenon. The research showed that the selection of procedure for the construction of synthetic variable affects the ranking of tested objects. The obtained ranking allows to conclude that waste management in Poland is regionally differentiated. / Synopsis. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie techniki wyboru metody porządkowania liniowego obiektów ze względu na poziom zjawiska złożonego jakim jest stan gospodarki odpadami w województwach Polski. Do realizacji tego celu wyselekcjonowano cechy diagnostyczne opisujące badane zjawisko oraz wytypowano metody porządkowania liniowego. Następnie wykorzystując procedurę wyboru metody porządkowania dokonano wytypowania sposobu konstrukcji cechy syntetycznej, który pozwolił zbudować ranking województw ze względu na poziom analizowanego zjawiska. W dalszej kolejności dokonano podziału województw na cztery grupy: bardzo wysokiego, wysokiego, przeciętnego i niskiego poziomu rozwoju omawianego zjawiska. Badania pokazały, że wybór procedury konstrukcji cechy syntetycznej wpływa na ranking badanych obiektów. Otrzymany ranking pozwala sformułować wniosek, iż gospodarka odpadami w Polsce jest regionalnie zróżnicowana.

Global climate is estimated to change drastically over the next century and the ecosystems will be affected in this changing environment. Plant-associated beneficial microorganisms can stimulate plant growth and increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Nowadays, the effects of climate change factors such as increased carbon dioxide (CO2), drought and warming on plant-beneficial microorganism interactions are increasingly being investigated in the scope of plant growth and health. Recent studies have shown that high CO2 level has a positive effect on the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi, whereas the effects on plant growth promoting bacteria and endophytic fungi are more variable. Elevated CO2 conditions lead to increased colonization of beneficial fungi. Additionally, the results of increasing CO2 levels, warming and drought, depend upon the plant and the microbial genotype. Also, plant growth promoting microorganisms, especially bacteria, positively affect plants exposed to drought stress. Altered communities of beneficial microorganisms depending on climate changes, might have to compete with different microbial communities and, therefore microbial activities may also get affected. This work presents that climate change is an important factor affecting microorganism and plant interactions, needs to take into consideration the adaptation processes in plants and microorganisms and might require the selection of adapted plant cultivars.

Soft commodities, often referred to as tropics, constitute a significant element of international trade and are also important to the Polish economy. Moreover, Polish investors may invest in foreign markets of soft commodities through commodity-linked ETFs, offered by some brokerage houses. Obviously, each investment decision should be preceded by an analysis of asset performance. This paper provides results of statistical analysis of soft commodities returns over the period January 2007 to December 2016. They reveal the existence of weak positive correlation between the returns, non-normal distributions, negative trends, and serial autocorrelation.

Bu araştırmada, Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, Yozgat Avcılık ve Yaban Hayatı Şube Müdürlüğü Üretim İstasyonunda 1240 metre rakımda yetiştirilen 42 haftalık yaşta olan Beç Tavuklarına (Numidae meleagris) ait 200 adet yumurta kullanılmıştır. Bireysel yumurta ağırlıkları ile birlikte, 5184×3456 piksel boyutunda 72 piksel/inç çözünürlükte görüntüleme yapılmıştır. Elde edilen görüntüler üzerinden ortalama Objektif Alan (16,07 cm2), Çevre (15,82 cm), Dairesellik (0,81), Yükseklik (5,17 cm), Genişlik (4,04 cm), Gri Değeri (82,82), Taban Yarıçapı (2,02 cm), Uzun yarı yüksekliği (2,96 cm), Kısa yarı yükseklik (2,20 cm) değerleri sayısal görüntü analizleri yapılarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen veriler üzerinden ortalama Elongasyon (1,28), Şekil İndeksi (78,27) hesaplanmıştır. Bireysel yumurta ağırlıkları kullanılarak ortalama yüzey alanı (55,43 cm2), boy (5,16 cm), en (3,77 cm), elongasyon (1,37), şekil indeksi (73,01), hacim (40,14 cm3), yüzey/hacim oranı (1,38), kabuk ağırlığı (3,17 g), kabuk kalınlığı (0,28 mm), gözenek sayıları (6666,25; 5132,39; 5011,12 adet), gözenek yoğunlukları (120,32; 92,56; 90,31), sarı oranı (14,85), sarı ağırlık (5,95 g), ak ağırlığı (30,75 g), ak oranı (77,21) gibi parametreler hesaplanmıştır. Gri değeri bakımından yumurtalar 90, Şekil indeksi bakımından yumurtalar 79 ve ağırlık bakımından 43 olacak şekilde 3 gruba ayrılmış, her grubun diğer özellikler üzerine etkisi araştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak elde edilen verilerin bilimsel çalışmalarda kullanılabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Los impactos ambientales de los metales pesados en los suelos están relacionados con su carácter tóxico cuando se acumulan o interactúan con algunas propiedades específicas, se movilizan a través del perfil a la cadena trófica mediante los cuerpos de agua o los cultivos y pueden llegar a afectar la salud humana. En países desarrollados el establecimiento de valores de referencia de estos metales ha permitido el mejoramiento de la planeación y la gestión ambiental del recurso suelo, y se ha convertido en un instrumento de control para las entidades ambientales que ha permitido evaluar el impacto en diferentes actividades agrícolas. En este artículo se analizan diversos conceptos relacionados con los niveles de metales pesados en suelos agrícolas y la incidencia de las características edafológicas en su concentración. Se revisan, igualmente, algunas metodologías para derivar valores de referencia específicos aplicables a suelos agrícolas colombianos, y se plantean algunas perspectivas orientadas a la protección y recuperación de suelos en el país. En Colombia en la actualidad no se cuenta con criterios y estándares de calidad para medir la contaminación por metales pesados en suelos agrícolas; por esto se hace necesario gestionar el apoyo de entidades gubernamentales con el fin de iniciar y desarrollar investigaciones en diferentes sectores agrícolas primarios, contribuyendo de esta forma a garantizar una producción más limpia y la sostenibilidad ambiental del recurso suelo. | From an environmental perspective, the importance of heavy metals in soils is related to their toxicity either due to accumulation or to any interaction among them and some of their specific properties. In each case, heavy metals can move through the soil profile and transfer into the trofic chain by using through water bodies or crops affecting de human health. In developed countries, the establishment of baseline values has permitted improvements in the environmental management plans of soils. Baseline values are transforming in a control tool for environmental agencies to test the impact of heavy metals in a variety of agricultural activities. This article analyses different concepts related to heavy metals levels in agricultural soils and the incidents of the soil characteristics on their concentration, at the same time some methodologies to obtain specific baseline values from identification of the natural concentration are reviewed. Also included are some prospects for Colombia related to soil protection and remediation. Currently, in Colombia there are no studies related to obtain baseline values of heavy metals in agricultural soils. For this reason it is necessary to get support from government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment, housing and territorial development and Ministry of agriculture, in order to start and develop research in some primary agricultural sectors to guarantee the production and the environmental sustainability of soils.

In this study, it was investigated the total amounts of phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activities in different solvent extracts of Lonicera iberica M. Bieb. wild fruit. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were determined as equivalent to gallic acid using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and total flavonoid contents as equivalent to quercetin by aluminium nitrate method. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and reducing power (FRAP) methods. The amount of total phenolic substance of L. iberica fruits in hexane and methanol extracts was calculated as 30.96 ± 0.67 mg of GAE / g and 23.70 ± 1.56 mg of GAE / g, respectively. In addition, the amount of total flavonoid substance was calculated as 46.50 ± 8.54 mg of QE / g and 42.09 ± 2.58 mg of QE / g, respectively. It was determined that DPPH radical scavenging activity correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid amount of substance, and L. iberica had a strong antioxidant effect. It is predicted that our study will shed light on new researches, since it is the first study done with L. Iberica fruits in this field.

La masiva cantidad de datos biológicos provenientes de las disciplinas "ómicas" y su aprovechamiento en el mejoramiento genético vegetal requiere de nuevos abordajes teóricos y estadísticos que describan de forma satisfactoria principios generales en los genomas. El total de secuencias de los genes de los genomas vegetales de Arabidopsis thaliana y Oriza sativa y del genoma animal Mus musculus fueron extraídas y depuradas de la base de datos pública del Genebank mediante el diseño de algoritmos en lenguaje de programación Python. Se analizaron las distribuciones de las variables frecuencia de uso y tamaño de los genes, exones e intrones por cromosoma y entre genomas. Los resultados señalaron que las variables presentan patrones de comportamiento no lineales en forma de ley de potencia que difieren estadísticamente entre los genomas pero no entre los cromosomas de un mismo genoma. Además, el análisis aportó evidencias respecto al tamaño promedio constante de las secuencias de exones y de los genes simples por cromosoma y entre genomas. Los hallazgos sugieren: primero, que el genoma se auto-organiza de la misma manera en los cromosomas independientemente del tamaño o número de genes que estos contengan, y, segundo, que tanto los cromosomas como sus elementos constituyentes: genes, exones e intrones han evolucionado conjuntamente. El estudio señala que las leyes de potencia cumplen un papel amortiguador en las leyes de variación biológica y proporcionan medidas cuantitativas de la organización de las secuencias de ADN que definen la identidad de un genoma. La regularidad estadística de estas medidas genéticas tiene potenciales aplicaciones en el incremento del valor predictivo de los actuales modelos de mejoramiento genético vegetal. | The huge quantity of biological data arising from the omics disciplines and their benefit in plant breeding require of new theoretical and statistical approaches in order to get a satisfactory description of the genomes general principles. The total number of sequences in the genes of A. thaliana and O. sativa plant genomes and in M. musculus animal genome was obtained from the public data base of the Genebank through algoritms designed in Python programming language. The variables distribution use frequency and gene size, exons and intrones per chromosome and among genomes were analyzed. The results indicated that variable distribution show non lineal patterns of behavior in a power law form, which are statistically different among genomes but no among the chromosomes of the same genome. In the same manner the analysis gave evidences about the constant mean size of the exons sequences and the single genes per chromosome and among genomes. These findings suggest that, first, the genome is self-organized in the same way in the chromosomes independently of the size or the number of genes being contained; second, so the chromosomes as their constituent elements: genes, exones and intrones, have evolved all together. The study points out that the power laws have a buffer roll in the biological variation laws and provide DNA sequences organization quantitative measurements which are defining the identity of the genome. The statistical regularity of these genetic measurements has potential applications in the predicted value increase of the actual models of genetic plant breeding.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the influence of tillage techniques on depth, furrow slice and water retention in Maugo Smallholder Rice Scheme in Kenya. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Four tillage treatments were used. The first one was conventional ox plough practiced by farmers where they first flood the field with water before ploughing. The other three treatments were ox plough, hand hoe and tractor ploughing all with no flooding before ploughing. Data collected included depth of ploughing and harrowing during land preparation. Furrow slices during ploughing and harrowing as well as water retention were recorded. Tractor ploughing had the highest mean depth of ploughing of 42.00 ± 0.81 cm followed by conventional ox ploughing with 17.75 ± 0.75 cm, ox ploughing15.75 ± 0.62 cm and hand hoe ploughing had the lowest mean depth 15.50 ± 0.28 cm. Tractor ploughing had the largest mean furrow size of 62.00 ± 0.91cm followed by conventional ox ploughing 32.25 ± 0.85 cm, ox ploughing 30.25 ± 0.85 cm while hand hoe ploughing had the smallest mean furrow slice of 16.5 ± 0.50 cm. Highest mean of retained water was recorded in week 4 in paddy rice fields prepared using conventional ox ploughing (10.5 cm), ox ploughing (10 cm), hand hoe ploughing (11.5 cm) and tractor ploughing (11.5 cm) while the lowest was recorded in week 15 for conventional plots. There were significant differences in mean depths during both ploughing and harrowing. Tractor ploughing mean depths were significantly different from the other treatments. The weekly mean water depths retained in the plots were more than 6 cm for the entire growing period of rice.

Celem pracy jest ocena poziomu świadomości rolniczej młodzieży akademickiej z woj. małopolskiego oraz określenie wybranych czynników determinujących ten poziom. Ich znajomość może stanowić podstawę działań różnych podmiotów, które przyczynią się do wzrostu świadomości rolniczej młodego pokolenia. Zasadniczym źródłem danych wykorzystanych do analizy i wnioskowania były informacje pierwotne uzyskane z badań własnych, przeprowadzonych metodą PAPI na grupie 436 studentów. Do pomiaru i oceny świadomości młodzieży na temat rolnictwa wykorzystano indeks świadomości rolniczej. Jak wynika z przeprowadzonych badań, większość respondentów nie rozumie roli rolnictwa, którą odgrywa ono w gospodarce, społeczeństwie i środowisku. Determinantami poziomu świadomości rolniczej w grupie studentów były płeć oraz miejsce zamieszkania. | The aim of the work is to assess the level of agricultural awareness of academic youth and to pinpoint selected factors determining this the level. Being familiar with these determinants might serve as the basis for taking some actions by various entities which contribute to the increase in the agricultural awareness of the young generation. The main source of the data used for the analyses and applications was the primary information obtained from personal research. The research was done by using PAPI method on the group of 436 students. In order to measure and evaluate the youth awareness on agriculture the index of agricultural awareness was used. The findings of the studies indicate that the level of agricultural awareness of academic youth on the role in economy, society and environment is low. The determinants of agricultural awareness among students were gender and abode. | świadomość rolnicza, młodzież akademicka, województwo małopolskie | agricultural awareness, academic youth, Voivodship of Lesser Poland | 13 | 195-205 | 1

The aim of the work is to assess the level of agricultural awareness of academic youth and to pinpoint selected factors determining this the level. Being familiar with these determinants might serve as the basis for taking some actions by various entities which contribute to the increase in the agricultural awareness of the young generation. The main source of the data used for the analyses and applications was the primary information obtained from personal research. The research was done by using PAPI method on the group of 436 students. In order to measure and evaluate the youth awareness on agriculture the index of agricultural awareness was used. The findings of the studies indicate that the level of agricultural awareness of academic youth on the role in economy, society and environment is low. The determinants of agricultural awareness among students were gender and abode. Synopsis. Celem pracy jest ocena poziomu świadomości rolniczej młodzieży akademickiej z woj. małopolskiego oraz określenie wybranych czynników determinujących ten poziom. Ich znajomość może stanowić podstawę działań różnych podmiotów, które przyczynią się do wzrostu świadomości rolniczej młodego pokolenia. Zasadniczym źródłem danych wykorzystanych do analizy i wnioskowania były informacje pierwotne uzyskane z badań własnych, przeprowadzonych metodą PAPI na grupie 436 studentów. Do pomiaru i oceny świadomości młodzieży na temat rolnictwa wykorzystano indeks świadomości rolniczej. Jak wynika z przeprowadzonych badań, większość respondentów nie rozumie roli rolnictwa, którą odgrywa ono w gospodarce, społeczeństwie i środowisku. Determinantami poziomu świadomości rolniczej w grupie studentów były płeć oraz miejsce zamieszkania.

There are similarities between standard trade model and Marshall-Lerner condition. However, in order to see whether the condition can work both ways (with decrease and increase of the currency exchange rate), and the properties of this model could be thoroughly utilized, the revaluation case is being considered. The J-curve effect is also being examined. Looking at further research ideas, the Marshall–Lerner condition could be a complimentary tool in explaining the standard model.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, the bacterial agent for tomato speck disease, can cause serious epidemics with high leaf moisture, mild temperatures, and cultural practices allowing bacterial dissemination among host plants. Boron is an essential micro-nutrient for plant growth and health in agricultural production. In this study, the effectiveness of 14 different Boron compounds at 5 different doses (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mM) against P. s. pv. tomato at a concentration of 108 CFU ml-1 in vitro was evaluated and the most successful 4 different Boron compounds (Ammonium tetrafluoroborate, Sodium tetrafluoroborate, Zinc borate and Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) were coated with 5 mM doses infected cv. H2274 tomato seeds to determine bacterial populations and seed emergence rates in the seeds. Among the 14 different Boron compounds used in the experiments, Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate was the most successful active ingredient 92% ratio in inhibiting P. s. pv. tomato populations in tomato seeds, while 39% success was achieved with sodium tetrafluoroborate applications. According to the results of the research, it is thought that some Boron compounds can be an economical, effective and environmentally friendly chemical in reducing P. s. pv. tomato in tomato seeds within the scope of good agricultural practices.

Se evaluó una población de medios hermanos (B1PD280) proveniente del cruzamiento del parental resistente al deterioro fisiológico poscosecha (DFP) CW429-1 (Manihot esculenta x M. walkerae), y ocho genotipos élite utilizados como padres recurrentes susceptibles. Se evaluaron cinco raíces por genotipo, 7 y 14 días después de la cosecha (d.d.c.) mediante una escala (0 - 100%). Los resultados mostraron reducción significativa de DFP (entre 10% y 46% en relación con los parentales recurrentes). Cincuenta y un genotipos tuvieron alto y medio nivel de resistencia (0 - 35%), 22% y 20% de ellos correspondieron a individuos sin síntomas 7 o 14 d.d.c., respectivamente. Se estableció una posible correlación entre DFP (14 d.d.c.) y escopoletina (0.523, P < 0.001) y materia seca (0.288, P < 0.001). | The accelerated Physiological Postharvest Deterioration (PPD) process limits the potential of cassava crop, diminishing its palatability and commercial value within 24-72 hours after harvest. A source of genes for drastic delay of PPD was identified in an inter-specific hybrid (CW429-1) between Manihot esculenta (cultivated cassava) and Manihot walkerae. The aim in this study was to evaluate the introgression of the resistance to PPD from the donor parent CW429-1 in cassava. A half-sib (BIPD280) population from resistant parental CW429-1 and 8 elite CIAT genotypes, used as susceptible recurrent parents, was developed and evaluated. The method proposed by Wheatley et al. (1985), with some modifications was used to quantify PPD. Five roots per genotype were evaluated 7 and 14 days after harvest (DAH), following a scale (0 - 100%), other relevant traits were evaluated. Results showed significant reduction of PPD (between 10-46% of PPD in relation to the recurrent parents). About 51% of genotypes were found to have high to medium level of resistance (0-35% PPD) of which 22 and 20% genotypes correspond to individuals without PPD after 7 and 14 DAH, respectively. A positive correlation was found between PPD (14 DAH) and scopoletin (0.523, p<0.001), and with dry matter (0.288, p<0.001). These preliminary results indicated that the scheme for introgressing PPD resistance was successful, that confirm the potential of the wild cassava in the scheme of cassava breeding.