The productivity of tomato in Nepal is very low due to lack of high yielding, disease and pests resistant varieties. An experiment was carried out to evaluate horticultural traits of 50 genotypes obtained from World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg), Taiwan and SAARC region, and local collections during March to August 2020 in open field conditions at National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar, Lalitpur. The objectives were to identify promising open-pollinated tomato cultivars for high yield, appropriate fruit size, and disease resistant. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed significant differences in yield and yield attributing characters including virus infection. The highest yield (39.6 mt ha-1) was produced by HRA43 and it was followed by HRA33 (26.4 mt ha-1). Among the WorldVeg OP lines, AVTO1429 produced the highest yield (16.21 mt ha-1) and it was followed by AVTO1717 (12.95 mt ha-1), AVTO0922 (11.83 mt ha-1) and AVTO1219 (11.7 mt ha-1) respectively. Most of the WorldVeg lines performed better than the check variety ‘Pusa Ruby’. Genotype HRA43, Red Local and Sindhupalchock Local were not affected by virus while Yellow Local showed 3.3% infection. Among the WorldVeg lines, AVTO1712 (20%), AVTO1717 (20%) and AVTO1718 (13%) and AVTO1219 (15%) showed less than 20% virus infection in the open field conditions. Cluster analysis using the unweighted paired group method with arithmetic mean showed that cluster-1 was the largest cluster comprised of 40 genotypes followed by cluster-2 and cluster-4. Genotypes from cluster-4 showed the higher fruit yield (25.1 mt ha-1) and resistant to the virus and the highest number of fruits per plot (1978 in 4.5 m2 area). The yield was low in cluster-1 which could be due to the heavy rainfall during the vegetative and reproductive stages. Genotypes Red Local and Sindhupalchock Local could be used in future tomato breeding program due to their resistant to TYLCV, higher potential yield and highest plant vigour in open field conditions at the mid-hill of Nepal. Considering the overall performance, genotype HRA43, HRA33 and AVTO1429 were promising lines with performance for yield and other horticultural traits.

This paper attempts to review the major sorghum production constraints, the progress and perspective on sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum) resistance breeding. The importance of anthracnose in sorghum production and breeding for resistance status and progress were also primly discovered. Sorghum is an ancient environment resilient crop and believed to be a future crop due to its important merits like tolerant to stresses, wide adaptability and low input requirement. Insects and disease are major biotic impediments to realizing the yield potential of the crop. Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum is the most important disease that severely affecting the crop in all sorghum producing regions of the world. Research results revealed that anthracnose resulted in 30-50% or greater yield losses. Several management strategies such as, cultural, chemical and using resistance varieties have been developed. Employing host-plant resistance is the most economical and environmentally friendly approach which can successfully control the disease. Breeding assisted with molecular markers plays a great role in resistance breeding programme as it makes easy to screen large number of genotypes at once. Recent advancement of molecular breeding and bio-informatics tools are playing a significant role in efficiencies and precisions of resistance breeding. QTLs or genomic area for resistance were identified using traditional molecular markers and recent research results revealed discoveries of specific gene and locus using high throughput markers like SNPs using GWAS approach. The discovery of genes/QTL associated with the resistance trait, using the high through put molecular markers like SNPs, facilitates the easiest way for gene pyramiding from different individual genotypes to a single variety, introgression into adapted elite cultivar through marker assisted and editing genes for elite landraces to develop durable resistance varieties. Transgenic approach is now a day becoming a powerful tool to utilize novel alien genes for crop improvement including anthracnose resistance breeding in sorghum.

Tarım sahalarının çevresinde, sulama amaçlı yapılan göllerin rezervuar alanlarında biriken ağır metallerin kökeninin belirlenmesi ve toksik etkisinin anlaşılmasında, veri analizinin yapılması önemlidir. Çalışmanın amacı, Akkaya Gölü rezervuar sahasındaki toprakların kimyasal içeriklerinde çok değişkenli istatistik analizler kullanılarak Akkaya Gölü rezervuar sahasında tespit edilen ağır metallerin kendi arasındaki davranışlarını bunlar arasındaki ilişkilerinin belirlenmesi ve bu metallerin olası kökeninin açıklanması şeklindedir. Kimyasal analiz içeriklerinin bollukları Mg > Al > Fe > S > Ti > Zn > V > As > Cu > Ni > Pb > Co > Mo > Sn > Cd > Hg olarak sıralanmıştır. Fe ile Mg, Si, K, Co, V, Cu, As, Ni, Zn ve Pb arasında yüksek pozitif korelasyon bulunur. Faktör analizine göre toplam varyans 72.080 (% kümülatif) olup, 3 (üç) faktöre ayrılmıştır. Hiyerarşik kümeleme analizine göre 3 grup ve elementlerin kümeleme analizine göre 4 grup oluşmuştur. Bu grupların kendi aralarında benzer özellik sundukları anlaşılmıştır. Çok değişkenli istatistik analizleri bu çalışma için başarılı olmuştur.

In this study, beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotic residues were investigated in cattle liver, kidney and muscle samples. For this purpose, a total of 75 bovine tissue samples (each of 25 from liver, kidney, muscle) taken from 25 cattle slaughtered in a local slaughterhouse in Sivas were used as materials. ELISA method was applied in the analysis and it was studied with commercial test kits. According to the results of the analysis; beta-lactam and tetracycline residues were detected in all bovine tissue samples. Beta-lactam level was determined between 0.75-1.07 ppb (mean 0.94 ± 0.01) in liver samples, 0.67-1.05 ppb (mean 0.81 ± 0.01) in kidney samples and 0.70-2.57 ppb (mean 0.97 ± 0.07) in muscle samples. Tetracycline level was detected in the range of 4.48-8.50 ppb (mean 6.14 ± 0.17) in liver samples, 1.73-6.39 ppb (mean 4.90 ± 0.24) in kidney samples and 3.31-7.45 ppb (mean 5.67 ± 0.25) in muscle samples. The residue levels determined in the examples complied with the legal limits reported in the European Commission and the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué.

Talinum triangulare is an herbaceous succulent plant eaten as a vegetable throughout the tropics including many countries in West and Central Africa and are an essential ingredient in traditional dishes. Experiments were made on the plant to examine the influence of foraging behavior of flowering insect on pollination and yields of this plant species in 2018 and 2019 at Bafut. Observations were made on 1615 to 4055 flowers per treatment. The treatments included unlimited floral access by visitors and bagged flowers to deny all visits. The study focused on the foraging behavior of flowering insects and their pollination activity (fruiting rate). The results show that 14 insect species visited waterleaf flowers and Camponotus flavomarginatus was the most frequent (33.20%). Insects foraged throughout the day light period. Their activity was highest between 10 am and 12 pm. Insect species foraged the flowers for pollen and nectar. The fructification rate of unrestricted floral access was significantly high than that of protected flowers to deny all visits. The maintenance of insect nest close to T. triangulare field is recommended to improve it fruits production.

Picralima nitida (Stapf) T.Durand & H.Durand and Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) T.Durand & Schinz are West and Central African plant species belonging to the Apocynaceae family. These two plants are used in traditional Ivorian medicine to treat hypertension, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, gonorrhea, malaria and diabetes. Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of P. nitida fruit and H. floribunda leaf extracts of each of these two species have already been performed. In the present study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant activity of fruit (P. nitida) and leaf (H. floribunda) decoctions was carried out. The decoctions of P. nitida fruits and H. floribunda leaves were rich in secondary metabolites, especially polyphenols which have good antioxidant activity. Quantification of total phenols and flavonoids gave respective values of QP = 15235.632 ± 622 µg GAE / g dry matter and FP = 2.387 ± 0.387% for P. nitida and QH = 68597.701 ± 3171 µg GAE / g dry matter and FH = 17.581 ± 0.379% for H. floribunda. P. nitida showed antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 104.30 ± 3.17 μg / mL) and ferric ion Fe3 + (261.4 ± 36. 87 μmoL Eq Trolox / g extract). H. floribunda showed antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 41.73 ± 0.29 μg / mL) and ferric ion Fe3 + (365 ± 20.36 μmol Eq Trolox / g ExS).

In this study, testicular and ovarian structures of economically important edible Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) were histologically examined before and after reproduction in male and female individuals. Fourty eight (24 ♀, 24 ♂) adult frogs were collected from Gölbaşı Lake in Hatay. The average weight and length values of female frogs collected from nature were found to be 56.61±19.59 g and 79.54±7.07 mm; while, the average weight and length values of male frogs were 36.63±12.84 g and 69.29±9.15 mm, respectively. Frogs were brought to the frog farm established in Aydıncık and placed in breeding ponds with a width of 1m2. Frogs in the ponds were brought to the laboratory of Iskenderun Technical University in different periods, before breeding (March) and after breeding (June). Then, histological samples were taken from ovary and testis. The female frogs were determined ready for reproduction. Moreover, a large number of mature oocytes in the before breeding ovaries in vitellogenic stage, while after reproduction oocytes in primary structure and oocytes which have atresia status observed. Also, increase in the thickness of the theca layer was determined. In the male frog seminiferous tubules containing a large number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and a small number of spermatozoons including sperm bundles and leydig cells were found before reproduction. After the reproduciton, the density of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatids were decreased; while, the density of spermatozoon and sperm bundle were increased in the seminiferous tubules. This study will contribute to the determination of mating and spawning in frog breeding by revealing the histological status of the gonad structure of P. ridibundus in the breeding process.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of equi-protein replacement of soybean meal with groundnut cake on immune status, haematology and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of One hundred and twenty (120) Cobb’s day old chicks were randomly allocated to five (5) dietary treatments of three (3) replicates and eight (8) chicks per replicate in a completely randomized design. The Diet I was the control diet with 100% SBM as the major plant protein source while in other diets, SBM was replaced with 25, 50, 75 and 100% GNC in equi-protein basis and designated as Diets II, III, IV and V respectively. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum throughout the experimental period of 56 days. Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines were administered following a stipulated regime. At the end of the experiment two birds were randomly selected from each replicate and slaughtered. Blood and serum was collected for haematological analysis, serum bioassay and HA/HI tests to determine antibody titres against ND vaccines. All data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance using SPSS software package. Results showed that haematological parameters were significantly influenced by the dietary treatments in which birds fed 50% equi-protein replacement of SBM with GNC had better PCV, basophil, MCH and MCHC values compared to that of birds in the other dietary treatments. The antibody titres of experimental birds were not significantly different among treatment groups. The diet with 50% equi-protein replacement of SBM with GNC elicited the highest antibody titres of Log28 and Log210 after the 1st and 2nd ND vaccinations when compared to the other diets. The serum total protein, globulin, albumin, and glucose were significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. The present result indicate that 50% equi-protein replacement of SBM with GNC in diets is not detrimental to health status of broiler chickens.

In honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), aggression and aggressive behavior occur due to many reasons and the most important one is the genotype. However, regardless of genotype, a bee colony can have different levels of aggression at different times. If the bee’s aggression is not due to racial characteristics, this may indicate some problems in the colony. One of the most important reasons is the absence of queen bees in the colony, and the other is that the amount of nutrients in the hive has decreased to a critical level. Some other environmental effects are effective on bees’ aggression and aggressive behavior. In this study, the determination of the relationships between the aggression of four different honey bee genotypes (Carniolan, Caucasian, Black Sea and Muğla) in Samsun province in two different months (July, August) at different times of the day (09:00-13:00-17:00) was intended. For this purpose, a Log-linear model analysis was made. According to the findings, genotype, month and time, which are the main effects, and genotype × month interaction among the second-order interactions were found to be statistically significant, while genotype * hour and month × hour interactions were not significant. In Samsun province, it was determined that the Carniolan genotype was 7.846 times less, the Caucasian genotype 3.991 times and the Black Sea genotype 3.888 times less aggressive than the Muğla genotype. In addition, it was determined that the aggression in July was 1.185 times less than in August, and they were less aggressive in the daytime than in the evening and morning hours. It was determined that the Carniolan genotype was 2.04 times less aggressive than the Muğla genotype in July. Before and after the nectar flow seasons, studies to determine the aggression for all genotypes suitable for the regions will be a good source of information for beekeepers and researchers.

This research was planned to study the contribution of fishing and fishery-related activities, and identify its threats. Primary data were collected from the Kano locality around the Alwero reservoir through a questionnaire survey, field observation, and Focus Group Discussions. Both purposive and simple random sampling procedures were adopted in this study. The result revealed that fisheries and fish-related activities are benefiting the society as a source of employment opportunities, income, provision of food that is rich in nutrients (protein), reliable household income (average annual household income contributed by fishing and fish-related activities being 611.8 USD and 69.3 USD, respectively). Besides, the result also indicated that fishing is being performed by less experienced people, who are using traditional fishing gear and preservation methods, and there is also a serious problem of overexploitation. The regression result indicated that fish price and preservation techniques have affected the average annual household income significantly. The study provided more information on the importance of fishing and its related activities to a household in the Kano locality at Abobo district. It identified overfishing as the major anthropogenic activity threatening the fish abundance and diversity in the reservoir.