The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of nine Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) varieties were investigated at first cutting, second cutting and third cutting. And the nutritive values of six varieties were evaluated at first cutting in this study. The organic matter content was high and crude protein and either extract content were low mostly in the order of first cutting, second cutting and third cutting. On the contrary, IVDMD of second and third cuttings were lower than those of first cutting general. Dry matter digestibility, energy digestibility, total digestible nutrient, digestible energy and metabolizable energy of Uzukiaoba were higher than those of other varieties. Nutrient yields of Miyukiaoba and Nagahahikari were higher than those of other varieties. Nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion in urine of Uzukiaoba, Waseaboba and Tachiwase were higher than those other varieties, and there were no apparent differences in nitrogen excretion in feces. There were no apparent differences in energy intake, energy excretion in urine, in methane and heat production. Energy excretion in feces of Uzukiaoba was lower than that of other varieties. From the above, it should be emphasized that nutritive value have to be taken into account when we select to use Italian ryegrass in company with dry matter yield,operation aptitude and cropping system

Growth performance and utilization of nutrients and energy in three high-oil corn varieties (5.4 to 9.7% ether extract) and regular corn (4.2% ether extract) were compared in three experiments using growing pigs. Twenty-four 25-kg crossbred barrows were used in Exp. 1 to evaluate nutrient and energy digestibility in the three high-oil corn varieties and regular corn. Four diets were formulated to contain 97% of one of four varieties of corn (Control, TCP, TCP, and X122 varieties) and 3% minerals and vitamins. Digestibilities of nitrogen and ether extract were similar (P > .05) for regular corn and all three varieties of high-oil corn. The digestible energy concentrations (kcal/g; as-fed basis) for control, TCP, TCP, and X122 corn varieties were 3.29, 3.57, 3.4, and 3.41, respectively, with control lower (P < .05) than TCP or X122 and TCP higher (P < .05) than TCP or X122. Metabolizable energy concentrations averaged 98.4% of digestible energy concentrations. In Exp. 2, four diets formulated to contain 79% of one of the four corn varieties, 18.25% 48% CP soybean meal, 2.45% vitamins and minerals, and .3% lysine.HCl were fed to 24 crossbred barrows (six pigs per diet) in a nutrient and energy balance study similar to the Exp. 1. Results were similar to those obtained in Exp. 1. The same four diets that were used in Exp. 2 were fed to 40 (10/diet) 20-kg crossbred pigs (20 barrows and 20 gilts) in a 28-d growth performance study (Exp. 3). Gain:feed ratios were .39, .43, .42, and .42 and growth rates (kg/d) were .68, .74, .70, and .72, for diets containing control, TCP, TCP, and X122 corn varieties, respectively. These translate to 8 to 10% improvement in feed efficiency and a numerical improvement in weight gain (3 to 9%) when high-oil corn was fed as compared with control corn. The results of nitrogen, ether extract, and energy balance and feeding experiments with growing pigs indicate efficient utilization of nutrients in diets containing high-oil corn.

A pre-production verification trial on summer season tomato was planted at four Outreach Research (OR) sites (650-1100m asl) to compare and verify the performance of tomato varieties (CH-154 and Pusa Ruby) with or without use of micro-nutrient. Irrespective of use of micro-nutrient, CH-154 was 4 days, 2 days and 7 days earlier than Pusa Ruby at Dhanubase, Khabara and Kudule respectively to produce marketable fruits. Varietal effect on marketable fruit yield was significant at two sites where, irrespective of micro-nutrient use CH-154 outyielded Pusa Ruby by 32 percent at Khabara, whereas, Pusa Ruby outyielded CH-154 by 77 percent at Hemja. The effect of micro-nutrients on marketable fruit yield was significant only at Khabara where irrespective of variety, use of micro-nutrient increased marketable fruit yield by 23 percent over no use of micro-nutrient. A farmers' field trial (FFT) on rainy season tomato was planted at four OR sites to identify the appropriate cultivar(s) of tomato for rainy season cultivation in low to mid hill areas. The overall treatment mean indicated that the varieties PT-4225 and BL-410 were the earliest varieties (57 days) which produced marketable fruit 4 days earlier than the latest variety BL-350 (61 days). Varietal effect on marketable fruit yield was significant at all four sites. The overall treatment mean across the locations indicated that BL-355 was the highest fruit producing variety which produced 24 percent, 25 percent, 42 percent and 77 percent more marketable fruits than ABL-410, PT-4225, BL-350 and CL-1131 respectively. However, this variety (BL-355) was not liked by farmers and traders. The variety BL-410 was found the most suitable variety in terms of good yield, attractive fruit shape and size and comparatively free from insect/pest and disease damage. Similarly, the variety PT-4225 was also found appropriate from fruit yield and post harvest shelf life point of view.

Growth performance and utilization of nutrients and energy in three high-oil corn varieties (5.4 to 9.7% ether extract) and regular corn (4.2% ether extract) were compared in three experiments using growing pigs. Twenty-four 25-kg crossbred barrows were used in Exp. 1 to evaluate nutrient and energy digestibility in the three high-oil corn varieties and regular corn. Four diets were formulated to contain 97% of one of four varieties of corn (Control, TCP, TCP, and X122 varieties) and 3% minerals and vitamins. Digestibilities of nitrogen and ether extract were similar (P > -.05) for regular corn and all three varieties of high-oil corn. The digestible energy concentrations (kcal/g; as-fed basis) for control, TCP, TCP, and X122 corn varieties were 3.29, 3.57, 3.4, and 3.41, respectively, with control lower (P < -.05) than TCP or X122 and TCP higher (P < -.05) than TCP or X122. Metabolizable energy concentrations averaged 98.4% of digestible energy concentrations. In Exp. 2, four diets formulated to contain 79% of one of the four corn varieties, 18.25% 48% CP soybean meal, 2.45% vitamins and minerals, and -.3% lysine.HCl were fed to 24 crossbred barrows (six pigs per diet) in a nutrient and energy balance study similar to the Exp. 1. Results were similar to those obtained in Exp. 1. The same four diets that were used in Exp. 2 were fed to 40 (10/diet) 20-kg crossbred pigs (20 barrows and 20 gilts) in a 28-d growth performance study (Exp. 3). Gain:feed ratios were -.39, -.43, -.42, and -.42 and growth rates (kg/d) were -.68, -.74, -.70, and -.72, for diets containing control, TCP, TCP, and X122 corn varieties, respectively. These translate to 8 to 10% improvement in feed efficiency and a numerical improvement in weight gain (3 to 9%) when high-oil corn was fed as compared with control corn. The results of nitrogen, ether extract, and energy balance and feeding experiments with growing pigs indicate efficient utilization of nutrients in diets containing high-oil corn.

The methods consist of growing plants from heavily germinating seeds and selection of resistant genotypes at the level of germs. It includes cutting a seed and planting its part with germ in vitro in nutrient media. Growth regulators as follows are added to nutrient media: gibberellic acid, benzylaminopurine, indolylacetic acid. Using the method proposed makes it possible to reduce labour use, to increase output of plants and number of genotypes studied when growing plants-seedlings from non-germinating seeds through growing germs and selecting genotypes at the level of germs in the course of their growing on nutrient media with the aim of breeding new varieties of plants

Hybrid maize varieties have not been widely adopted in the mid-altitude zones of western Kenya. Farmers consider their local varieties to be superior to hybrids under the production system practised. Performance of hybrids and local maize varieties were compared on-farm, with and without added fertilizer during the long and short rains seasons in 1994 and, on a nutrient depleted soil at the Kakamega Regional Research Center, during the long rains season 1995. The design was a split-plot with three replicates with fertilizer levels (60 kg N plus 60 kg P205/ha and no fertilizer) as the main plots and varieties as the sub-plots. Grain yield was consistently higher with the addition of fertilizer. There were no significant genotype by fertility level interactions. Without fertilizer, the unimproved varieties performed at par with the hybrids, while with fertilizer, the best hybrid had 2.9 t/ha higher grain yield than the best unimproved variety. Total above-ground dry matter accumulation was highest for H614 and lowest for Nyamula. These results suggest that without fertilizer, the unimproved local varieties are probably as productive as the hybrids. However, when fertilizer is used, hybrids are the most productive. Given the rapidly increasing prices of hybrid seed, farmers seem to be justified in selecting their own local seed for production under low input production conditions. Future maize improvement research should consider the development of open pollinated varieties for low input conditions.

The demand of groundnut is increasing due to the development of home industry and population growth. The superior high yielding varieties will able to increase farmers income. In general there are two kinds of groundnut planted namely lowland after rice and dryland. In dryland it can be monoculture or multiple cropping. The main problem for both area are leaf spot and rust diseases, while in dryland, water insufficient and weed as well. The competition of light intensity and nutrient would be happened in multiple cropping system. The field experiment of 10-20 breeding lines had been done in several locations (West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Lampung) with randomized block design and 3 replications, since 1986. The experiment resulted that 4 breeding lines was good for lowland after rice, 1 line was good for dryland, 2 varieties and 1 breeding line was good for multiple cropping. During the period of 1983-1993 the institute had been released 15 superior varieties of groundnut

We studied the western lowland gorilla diet as a possible model for human nutrient requirements with implications for colonic function. Gorillas in the Central African Republic were identified as consuming over 200 species and varieties of plants and 100 species and varieties of fruit. Thirty-one of the most commonly consumed foods were collected and dried locally before shipping for macronutrient and fiber analysis. The mean macronutrient concentrations were (mean +/- SD, g/100 g dry basis) fat 0.5 +/- 0.4, protein 11.8 +/- 8.2, available carbohydrate 7.7 +/- 6.3 and dietary fiber 74.0 +/- 12.9. Assuming that the macronutrient profile of these foods was reflective of the whole gorilla diet and that dietary fiber contributed 6.28 kJ/g (1.5 kcal/g), then the gorilla diet would provide 810 kJ (194 kcal) metabolizable energy per 100 g dry weight. The macronutrient profile of this diet would be as follows: 2.5% energy as fat, 24.3% protein, 15.8% available carbohydrate, with potentially 57.3% of metabolizable energy from short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) derived from colonic fermentation of fiber. Gorillas would therefore obtain considerable energy through fiber fermentation. We suggest that humans also evolved consuming similar high foliage, high fiber diets, which were low in fat and dietary cholesterol. The macronutrient and fiber profile of the gorilla diet is one in which the colon is likely to play a major role in overall nutrition. Both the nutrient and fiber components of such a diet and the functional capacity of the hominoid colon may have important dietary implications for contemporary human health.

Important constraints limiting maize production in Tanzania include both biotic to abiotic factors. The former, which covers pests and diseases, have received much attention The latter, which includes drought and low soil nitrogen status, has received little attention. In most of the maize growing areas of Tanzania the maize crop is subjected to frequent drought due to erratic rainfall. Crop losses due to drought can be lop to 50 Per cent in some seasons. The National Maize Research Program (NMRP) aims to overcome some of these effects of drought by providing an escape mechanism through development of early-maturing varieties and hybrids. Early maturing maize populations have been developed, targeted for the drought prone areas in the low and mid-altitude zones, and varieties with grain yields of up to 4 t/ha have been released. However, the early maturing varieties have been found to be very sensitive to early season stress, resulting in smaller cob and grain sizes, and hence lower yields. Nutrient deficiency, especially N, is a widespread problem in Tanzania because of low use of purchased fertilizers and lack of suitable crop rotations. Breeding for drought resistance and low-N utility is a feasible route towards increasing and stabilizing maize yields in moisture-stressed areas. NMRP plans to collaborate with CIMMYT, IITA and other national programs in the evaluation of resistant germplasm, and in agronomic work on soil fertility, soil enriching rotations and water conservation methods.