Most poultry farmers in Nigeria feed their laying birds twice a day with one bag of 25 kg to 200 layers which translate to 125g/bird/day, while very few feed once or thrice a day and there has been little or no documentation on how many times laying hens should be fed in a day to optimize profit. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the performance and egg qualities of Isa-Brown layers fed different quantities of feed at varying feeding frequencies. Three hundred and sixty (360) 16-weeks in-lay Isa-Brown layers were used in this trial. The treatment consisted of 95g, 105g, 115g, and 125g of feed per day at varying frequencies of once, twice and thrice per day. The birds were housed in California type cages, 3 birds per cage unit, 5 cage units per replicate, and 6 replicates per treatment. A completely randomized experimental design with a 4x3 factorial was adopted. Results at the end of the trial showed that bird fed 115g of feed twice per day had the highest percentage hen-day production (85.24%), highest egg mass (56.69g) and best feed conversion ratio (1.96) while lowest percentage hen-day production (62.02%) and lowest egg mass (39.22g) were observed in hen fed 95g of feed thrice per day and worst feed conversion ratio (2.50) was recorded in bird fed 125g of feed thrice per day. The bird fed 115g twice per day had the highest net profit (N637.63) while the lowest net profit (N199.33) was recorded in bird fed 125g thrice per day. It could be concluded that for optimum laying performance and to save time and labour expended in feeding birds thrice per day, feeding laying Isa-Brown birds the required feed quantity (115g) twice per day would be most economical.

Se revisó el uso e importancia, ventajas, desventajas y características de la técnica Microsatélites Amplificados al Azar (RAM) en uchuva Physalis peruviana, mora Rubus spp, guayaba Psidium guajava y heliconias Heliconia spp. En mora se diferenciaron las especies R. glaucus, R. robustus y R. urticifolius, se detectaron duplicados y se encontró alta variabilidad genética en R. glaucus, la especie más importante. En uchuva se encontró alta diversidad y dos accesiones de fruto rojo que se diferenciaron genéticamente de las amarillas y una región geográfica con alta variabilidad. En guayaba los cebadores fueron altamente polimórficos y se encontró alta variabilidad en el Valle del Cauca. En heliconias y especies relacionadas se diferenciaron las familias del orden Zingiberales, algunos subgéneros y variaciones en la especie. La técnica es de bajo costo, utiliza un cebador, no requiere información previa, es altamente polimórfica y diferencia especies en los taxones evaluados. | The use and importance, advantages, disadvantages and features of the Random Amplified Microsatellites RAMs technique, were reviewed in Cape gooseberry Physalis peruviana, blackberry Rubus spp, guava Psidium guajava and heliconias Heliconia spp. In blackberry, we differentiated the species R. glaucus, R. robustus y R. urticifolius, detected duplicated accessions and found high genetic diversity in R. glaucus, the most important specie. In cape gooseberry we found high diversity and two red fruit accessions genetically differentiated from the yellow fruit ones and a geographical region with high variability. In guava, primers were highly polymorphic and found high variability in Valle del Cauca region. In Heliconia and related species we differentiated families belonging to Zingiberal order, between some sub genera and variation among specie. The technique has low cost of implementation, use a single primer, do not require previous information, is highly polymorphic and can differentiate species is taxa were technique was evaluated.

This study was aimed at identification and prevalence of potato soft rot and black leg disease agent in the potato production areas of Tokat province. In March-August 2018, 67 field surveys were carried out in Central, Turhal, Zile, Pazar, Erbaa, Niksar, Artova and Basciftlik districts of Tokat. The disease incidences were 0.25%, 0.33%, 0.31%, 0.5%, 1%, and 8% in Central, Erbaa, Niksar, Pazar, Turhal, and Zile district, respectively. In Artova and Basciftlik districts, no disease was encountered. The following tests, pectolytic activity on potato, gram reaction, catalase, oxidase, growth at 37°C and 39°C, salt tolerance, hypersensitivity reaction were applied to isolates obtained from diseased plant and tuber samples. In the PCR assay, 19 isolates were produced 434 bp product with Y1/Y2 primers specific to Pectobacterium spp., and 3 isolates were produced 420 bp product with ADE1/ADE2 primers specific to Dickeya spp. The isolates resulted positive with Y1/Y2 primers weren’t produced PCR product with ECA1/ECA2 primers specific to Pectobacterium atrosepticum. According to this, 19 isolates were identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum. With this study, the causal agent of potato blackleg and soft rot disease have been identified in the potato production areas of Tokat. Further studies will be conducted to determine the species and subspecies level of the pathogens using specific primers.

Economic literature pays a great deal of attention to economic and financial efficiency, expressed in terms of competition, concentration, productivity and profitability. This paper provides an all-embracing framework for the various existing theories in this area and illustrates these theories with practical applications. Currently, changing the size of the production potential in agricultural units in the Republic of Moldova depends to a great extent on the influence of different trends in the modification of production resources: the reduction of labor resources and agricultural land, quantitative and qualitative changes in fixed assets, and in current assets, etc. The notion of resource potential means the totality of the volume of all resources (natural, labor, material, intellectual, information, etc.) on specific enterprises, territories, branches, regions. Evaluating a broad field of research, the paper describes profit maximizing food products and demonstrates how several widely-used products can be fit into this framework. The authors also present an overview of the current major trends in the food sector and relate them to the assumptions for food products, thereby displaying their relevance and timeliness. The results include a set of recommendations for future research on this topic. The design, methodology and approach of this research is to explain why efficiency can help obtain a profit surplus, and to measure this efficiency. For quality of methodology we apply a range of statistical methods, as well as the strategic capability of organisations – made up of resources and competences. One way to approach the stategic capability of an organisation is to consider its strengths and weaknesses (for example, where it has a competitive advantage, profit, efficiency or disadvantage). Based on our research and results, we sought to understand the concepts of financial effciency and to apply these concepts to practical situations. At the start of each analysis entrepreneurship plays an important role. Most organisations have to innovate constantly to obtain profit and efficiency for food products. They need to be first into a market, or simply a follower of customers in developing new products and services. Original studies in Moldova and Poland regarding farm concentration in terms of Gini Coefficient, Gini Index and Concentration Index of the utilized agricultural area. Original calculus formula to determine the Concentration Index of the UAA for the top 10% largest farms in Moldova and UK. | agro-sector, European Union, correlation and regression, financial efficiency, food product, financial economy, productivity & profitability, resource efficiency | 20 | 103-112 | 4

Economic literature pays a great deal of attention to economic and financial efficiency, expressed in terms of competition, concentration, productivity and profitability. This paper provides an all-embracing framework for the various existing theories in this area and illustrates these theories with practical applications. Currently, changing the size of the production potential in agricultural units in the Republic of Moldova depends to a great extent on the influence of different trends in the modification of production resources: the reduction of labor resources and agricultural land, quantitative and qualitative changes in fixed assets, and in current assets, etc. The notion of resource potential means the totality of the volume of all resources (natural, labor, material, intellectual, information, etc.) on specific enterprises, territories, branches, regions. Evaluating a broad field of research, the paper describes profit maximizing food products and demonstrates how several widely-used products can be fit into this framework. The authors also present an overview of the current major trends in the food sector and relate them to the assumptions for food products, thereby displaying their relevance and timeliness. The results include a set of recommendations for future research on this topic. The design, methodology and approach of this research is to explain why efficiency can help obtain a profit surplus, and to measure this efficiency. For quality of methodology we apply a range of statistical methods, as well as the strategic capability of organisations – made up of resources and competences. One way to approach the stategic capability of an organisation is to consider its strengths and weaknesses (for example, where it has a competitive advantage, profit, efficiency or disadvantage). Based on our research and results, we sought to understand the concepts of financial effciency and to apply these concepts to practical situations. At the start of each analysis entrepreneurship plays an important role. Most organisations have to innovate constantly to obtain profit and efficiency for food products. They need to be first into a market, or simply a follower of customers in developing new products and services. Original studies in Moldova and Poland regarding farm concentration in terms of Gini Coefficient, Gini Index and Concentration Index of the utilized agricultural area. Original calculus formula to determine the Concentration Index of the UAA for the top 10% largest farms in Moldova and UK.

Bu çalışma, Konya Ovası Projesi (KOP) Bölgesi’nin 2009-2018 yılları arasındaki tarım alet ve makina varlığı ile tarımsal mekanizasyon özelliklerindeki değişimin saptanması amacıyla ele alınmıştır. Çalışmanın materyalini KOP Bölgesi’ndeki illerin 2009-2018 yılları arasındaki tarım alet ve makinaları istatistiksel verileri oluşturmuştur. 2009-2018 yıllarına ait traktör sayısı, traktör güç dağılımı ve tarım alanı değerlerinden yararlanılarak tarımsal mekanizasyon özellikleri ile bu özellikler arası ilişkiler belirlenmiş ve karşılaştırmalar yapılmıştır. Karşılaştırmalarda; ortalama traktör gücü (kW), birim alana düşen traktör gücü (kW/ha), 1000 hektar tarım alanına düşen traktör sayısı (adet/1000 ha) ve bir traktöre düşen tarım alanı (ha/traktör) kriterleri esas alınmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, KOP Bölgesi’nin 2009 ve 2018 yılları verileri sırasıyla, ortalama traktör gücü 38,21 kW ve 38,91 kW, birim alana düşen traktör gücü 1,21 kW/ha ve 1,56 kW/ha, 1000 hektar alana düşen traktör sayısı 31,75 adet/1000 ha ve 40,09 adet/1000 ha ve bir traktöre düşen tarım alanı 31,50 ha/traktör ve 24,94 ha/traktör olarak belirlenmiştir.

En el Ecoparque Cerro de la Bandera, zona dedicada muchos años a la explotación carbonífera, se evaluó el efecto de dicha práctica sobre propiedades fisicoquímicas y flora microbiana de sus suelos. En tres zonas, bosque nativo (BP); zona intervenida en proceso de regeneración (BS); Zona erosionada (SE) se realizaron muestreos en octubre del 98 y enero del 99. Se presentaron diferencias altamente significativas entre los suelos intervenidos para las variables bacterias simbióticas y asimbióticas fijadoras de N 2 , mineralización del nitrógeno hongos formadores de micorriza (HMA) y biomasa microbiana. La actividad minera afectó condiciones físicas, químicas y biológicas de los suelos en BS y SE, situación que se reflejó en aumentos de densidades, detrimentos de materia orgánica, nitrógeno y fósforo, poblaciones microbianas y su actividad. A pesar del deterioro de los suelos BS y SE conservan una reserva de vida representada por su componente vegetal y microbiológico, los que se constituyen en elementos claves para posteriores actividades de regeneración de la zona.

En el Ecoparque Cerro de la Bandera, zona dedicada muchos años a la explotación carbonífera, se evaluó el efecto de dicha práctica sobre propiedades fisicoquímicas y flora microbiana de sus suelos. En tres zonas, bosque nativo (BP); zona intervenida en proceso de regeneración (BS); Zona erosionada (SE) se realizaron muestreos en octubre del 98 y enero del 99. Se presentaron diferencias altamente significativas entre los suelos intervenidos para las variables bacterias simbióticas y asimbióticas fijadoras de N2, mineralización del nitrógeno hongos formadores de micorriza (HMA) y biomasa microbiana. La actividad minera afectó condiciones físicas, químicas y biológicas de los suelos en BS y SE, situación que se reflejó en aumentos de densidades, detrimentos de materia orgánica, nitrógeno y fósforo, poblaciones microbianas y su actividad. A pesar del deterioro de los suelos BS y SE conservan una reserva de vida representada por su componente vegetal y microbiológico, los que se constituyen en elementos claves para posteriores actividades de regeneración de la zona.

CF Zapata, Marina Sánchez de Prager, NM Azakawa, 'Indicadores de actividad biológica en suelos con diferentes grados de intervención en el Ecoparque Cerro de la Bandera', Acta Agronómica, 2014 | En el Ecoparque Cerro de la Bandera, zona dedicada muchos años a la explotación carbonífera, se evaluó el efecto de dicha práctica sobre propiedades fisicoquímicas y flora microbiana de sus suelos. En tres zonas, bosque nativo (BP); zona intervenida en proceso de regeneración (BS); Zona erosionada (SE) se realizaron muestreos en octubre del 98 y enero del 99. Se presentaron diferencias altamente significativas entre los suelos intervenidos para las variables bacterias simbióticas y asimbióticas fijadoras de N 2 , mineralización del nitrógeno hongos formadores de micorriza (HMA) y biomasa microbiana. La actividad minera afectó condiciones físicas, químicas y biológicas de los suelos en BS y SE, situación que se reflejó en aumentos de densidades, detrimentos de materia orgánica, nitrógeno y fósforo, poblaciones microbianas y su actividad. A pesar del deterioro de los suelos BS y SE conservan una reserva de vida representada por su componente vegetal y microbiológico, los que se constituyen en elementos claves para posteriores actividades de regeneración de la zona

In this study, the Brown Layer Pure Line that housing as individual cage system at the Poultry Research Institute in Ankara was used. Eggs obtained from 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks old eggs were collected 3 times a day in the morning (10:00), noon (12:00) and evening (15:00). On a total of 427 eggs; Shape Index (SI), Egg weight (YA, g), Albumen height (AY, mm), Roche scale (RS), Haugh unit (HB), Egg Quality Classes (YKS), Shell strength (KM, N) and Shell thickness (KK, Micron) features are emphasized and colour parameters (L*, a*, b*, Hue, Ch and ΔE) of egg shell were determined. The effect of oviposition time was found significant on the Shape index, Egg weight (g), Haugh unit and Shell thickness (micron) values. However, Albumen height (mm), Egg Quality, Roche scale and Shell strength (N) were not affected by oviposition time. Among the egg shell colour parameters, a*, b*, Hue and Chrome values were affected by the oviposition time, and the calculated difference was found to be statistically significant.

The development of early-weaned calves (three months old) in Andropogon gayanus, A. gayanus, Centrosema acutifolium and A. gayanus + Pueraria phaseoloides was investigated. Ten animals were used per treatment; the experiment beginning at the start of the rainy season. In this year 100 % and 45 % more rain fell in may and june respectively than the yearly average for these months. Several subjective comparison were made between the calves in the improved and group maintaned with their mothers in the native savannah until traditional early weaning occurs. The abnormally high rain-fall adverselty affected pasture recovery to the extent that it was impossible to make comparisons between the three pasture treatments. In general, however, all early-weaned calves did not perform as well as those remaining with their mothers. Results from the group in the pure stand of A. gayanus were the worst overall (live weight gains, protein and minerals in serum red blood cell), with three animals dying during the course of the trial. Early-weaning reduced anestrum pospartum and improved weight recovery of the cows. | Se midió el desarrollo corporal de terneros destetados a los tres meses de edad en pasturas de Andropogon gayanus, A. gayanus + Centrosema acutifolium y A. gayanus + Pueraria phaseoloides. Se utilizaron 10 terneros/tratamiento (70.3 ± 1.73 kg). El ensayo empezó en plena temporada de lluvias, que en este año fueron excesivas y afectaron negativamente la recuperación de las praderas. El desarrollo de los animales se redujo seriamente por la falta de forraje. Se hicieron algunas comparaciones subjetivas con un grupo de terneros que permaneció con sus madres en sabana nativa, hasta los nueve meses de edad, en la cual se realiza el destete tradicional. La cantidad de lluvia no permitió hacer comparaciones entre las pasturas. Los terneros destetados precozmente mostraron un desempeño muy pobre con respecto a los que permanecieron con sus madres; sin embargo, el grupo que pastoreó A. gayanus presentó los peores resultados en ganancia de peso vivo, porcentaje de proteína y minerales en suero, hematocrito, etc., muriendo tres animales por efecto del tratamiento. El destete precoz redujo el anestro posparto de las vacas y mejoró la recuperación de peso de las mismas.

This experiment was conducted in Antsokia Gemza district, Ethiopia in 2017/18 to evaluate the effect of intra-row spacing on bulb quality and storability of onion varieties. A 4×4 factorial experiment with four different varieties (Adama Red, Bombay Red, Melkam and Shendi) and four levels of intra-row spacing (5.00, 7.50, 10.00 and 12.50 cm) was laid on randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on bulb quality attributes and storability and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using statistical analysis system (SAS) computer software 9.1. The mean separation test was done by list significant difference (LSD) test at 5% probability level. Simple linear correlation analyses between and among the different parameters were made using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Accordingly, most of the parameters were significantly affected by intra-row spacing and variety. Variety Melkam exhibited the highest bulb diameter, bulb length, bulb dry matter content and bulb fresh weight. Melkam and Adama Red were with the lowest weight loss in storage while Bombay Red and Shendi scored the highest weight loss in storage. Most of the bulb quality parameters were significantly highest at the widest intra-row spacing of 10.00 and 12.50 cm. However, there was no significant variation between 7.50 and 10.00 cm intra-row spacing on average bulb weight which is considered as the most important bulb quality parameter for the producers from the market point of view. Weight loss was higher at the widest intra-row spacing for all varieties. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the bulb quality and storability of onion in Antsokia Gemza district can be optimized through cultivating variety Melkam at intra-row spacing of 7.5 cm.

Regulation of starch biosynthesis in higher land plants: new avenues for modifying starch. This article reviews current knowledge of starch metabolism in higher plants, and especially the control and regulation of the biosynthetic and degradative pathways. The possibility of designing starches for industrial uses by genetic manipulation requires understanding of the biochemical mechanism of starch granule formation and the control of enzymes and protein complexes. The regulation by hormones, sugars and circadian rhythms is discussed as well as the genetic of key enzymes of this pathway. In particular, the review focuses on the methods for biochemical and physiochemical starch and production of modified starches. | En este artículo se revisa el estado del conocimiento sobre el metabolismo del almidón en las plantas superiores y específicamente los mecanis­mos de control y regulación de las rutas de síntesis y degradación. Se considera que para obtener almidones, mediante manipulación genética, es necesario conocer los mecanismos bioquímicos que intervienen en la formación del gránulo de almidón y las enzimas participantes. Se discuten los mecanismos de la regulación hormonal y circadiana de los azúcares y la genética individual de las principales enzimas implicadas. Se revisan en particular los métodos empleados en la caracterización bioquímica y fisico química y el estado del conocimiento actual de la producción de almidones modificados.