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Induction of Direct Somatic Embryogenesis from Mature Female Inflorescences of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Hayani cv. In Vitro

Rasha N. Arafa

Central Laboratory of Date Palm Researches and Development, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

E-mail: rashanagyarafa@gmail.com

Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the induction of direct somatic embryos from mature female inflorescence explants of date palm cv. Hayani. This technique is simple and much faster than the conventional method of using shoot tip explants. To stimulate direct somatic embryos, mature inflorescence explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l NAA combined with different concentrations of BA and 2ip (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/l), the highest number of direct embryos (9 and 33 embryo/explant) resulted after 8 and 24 weeks in culture, respectively was observed on a ¾ MS medium containing 2.0 BA, 1.0 2ip and 0.5 NAA (mg/l). The formed direct embryos were divided into small clusters and cultured in ¾ MS medium containing two different combinations of plant growth regulators, it is evident from the results that medium supplemented with 3.0 BA, 1.0 2ip and 0.5 NAA (mg/l) was found to be the best in the somatic embryos multiplication (39.0 embryo/explant) with length 0.85 cm. Also, MS basal medium supplemented with 2.0 BA, 0.5 2ip and 0.5 NOA (mg/l) was the most effective combination for maximum embryos proliferation which recorded the highest significant number of embryos (42.0 embryo/explant) with the longest length of embryos (0.88 cm). The success of regeneration pathway depends on the optimum combination between BA and TDZ. MS medium supplemented with 3.0 BA and 0.5 TDZ (mg/l) possessed the best results for both of shoots number (32.0 shoot/explant) and shoots length (6.3 cm). GA₃ added to the medium promoted shoot elongation, shoots elongation were achieved on ¾ MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA, 1.0 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l GA₃. Well-developed shoots were cultured for rooting in ½ MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l NAA. Plantlets with well-developed roots were successfully hardened in the greenhouse. Total soluble sugars, total indoles and phenols were determined. Finally, the inflorescence explants proved to be a promising alternative explant source for micro propagation of date palm Hayani cv.

[Rasha N. Arafa. Induction of Direct Somatic Embryogenesis from Mature Female Inflorescences of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Hayani cv. In Vitro. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):1-22]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 1. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.01.

Key words: In vitro, date palm, mature female inflorescence, direct organogenesis and somatic embryos.

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Analysis of Farmers’ Cashew Nuts Marketing Channels and Information Frequency: Implications for Cashew Sustainability in Nigeria

Agbongiarhuoyi A. E.¹, Uwagboe E. O.¹, Agbeniyi S. O.¹, Famuyiwa B. S.¹, Shittu T. R.¹

¹Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) P.M.B. 5244 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Correspondence: toniagbons@gmail.com

Abstract: Cashew marketing system in Nigeria is deregulated and influenced by middlemen who determines sales price for rural farmers. They are constraint to sell their produce at cheaper prices. This situation affects producers’ livelihood and discourages production. The study assessed the channels of marketing raw cashew nuts (RCNs) by farmers in Oyo and Kwara States. A multi stage sampling procedure was used in selecting farmers and data were obtained using interview schedule. The result shows that male farmers (82%) dominated cashew production. Farmers sold 80kg bag of cashew to buyers for an average price of N4,231 ($10.2) during the 2016 season. This was relatively low compared to cost of production. The most frequent channel farmers used in selling cashew nuts was village buying traders (71.7%). Most (70%) of the farmers had no idea of market information before selling their produce. The major constraints encountered by farmers were low price (95%), dishonesty of middlemen (87.5%) and lack of government regulation on cashew price (86.7%). Significant relationship existed between how often farmers get cashew market information and their marketing channels; r= -0.194, p= 0.033. Multiple marketing channels did not translate to higher frequency of sourcing information about cashew nuts. This was due to farmers’ inability to get market information before sales. In conclusion, most farmers obtained low prices from the sale of raw cashew nuts to local buyers. This does not ensure sustainable development of cashew sub-sector because of poor remuneration and information gap.

[Agbongiarhuoyi A. E., Uwagboe E. O., Agbeniyi S. O., Famuyiwa B. S., Shittu T. R. Analysis of Farmers’ Cashew Nuts Marketing Channels and Information Frequency: Implications for Cashew Sustainability in Nigeria. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):23-30]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 2. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.02.

Keywords: Cashew nuts marketing, Buyers, Raw cashew nuts price, Farmers

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3

Popularizing Early Warning Systems for Effective Ecosystem-based Adaptation among Flood-Vulnerable Communities in Bangladesh

Md Ashik Sarder

Sr. Disaster Management Officer,

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Bangladesh Country Office

ashiksarder15@gmail.com

Abstract: Climate change has made different communities of Bangladesh vulnerable to frequent disasters like floods by threatening ecosystem. The tendency of floods has increased among the river-adjacent communities of northern parts of Bangladesh in last few years as natural and anthropogenic climate change had introduced in Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) regions. So, the vulnerable community people need effective ecosystem based adaptation to cope with climate change and reduce the impacts of floods. The study was conducted at two flood-prone communities located in northern Bangladesh to assess the effectiveness of the community-based flood early warning system to reduce the economic loss and to measure the system as exemplary, replicable and popular at the other flood-prone areas. Both qualitative and quantitative approach from anthropological points of view was applied in the study. The study revealed that community-based flood early warning system helped the community people to reduce their economic loss during flood. The community people were able to preserve, manage and restore their natural resources by very short time before, during and after flood. The study revealed that in 2017, the average economic loss of each household of the two communities was 38,627 BDT (Bangladeshi Taka). After initiating the flood warning system, the loss of flood 2019 reduced to 17,859 BDT (Bangladeshi Taka). The study suggested that the community based flood early warning system should be popular among other communities and regions of HKH as effective ecosystem-based adaptation technique to reduce flood loss.

[Md Ashik Sarder. Popularizing Early Warning Systems for Effective Ecosystem-based Adaptation among Flood-Vulnerable Communities in Bangladesh. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):31-36]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 3. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.03.

Keywords: Climate Change, Ecosystem, Adaptation, Flood, Early Warning.

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4

Abundance and Diversity of Zooplankton within the Itu Bridge –End Area of the Cross River System in Southern Nigeria

Bassey Etim Job¹, Peter Oru Bette²

¹Department of Biological Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanography, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

²Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

bejob_u@yahoo.com, job.etim@unical.edu.ng

Abstract: The zooplankton community in relation to abundance and diversity within the Itu Birdge – End Area of the Cross River system in Southern Nigeria was studied for nine months (February – October, 2018). Zooplankton samples were collected by filtration method using a – 100 litre bucket and a standard plankton net of 55µm mesh. 20L of surface water was filtered and concentrated to 10mls and preserved in 4% buffered formaldehyde solution in properly labeled sample bottles. Samples were stored in plastic boxes and transported to the Biological Oceanography Laboratory, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria for analysis using standard texts and atlases. The zooplankton community consisted of 25 species spread into five taxonomic groups. These were Cladocera with 7 species, copepoda with 6 species, Protista with 5 species, Rotifera with 4 species and Protozoa with 3 species. Total of 123 (18.36%) Copepoda were recorded, with 376 (56.12%) of Cladocera, 57 (8.51%) of Protista, 67(10.0%) Rotifera and 47 (7.01%) Protzoa giving an abundance pattern of: Cladocera > Copepoda > Rotifera > Protista > Protozoa. Monthly zooplankton abundance ranged between 51 (7.45%) in July – 99 (14.45%) in February. Margalef’s index ranged between 0.74 – 2.01 for the Copepoda, with a range of 1.07 – 1.43 for the Cladocera, 0.62 – 1.86 for Protista, 0.51 – 1.24 for Rotifer and between 0.12 – 0.91 for the Protozoans, Shannon- Wiener index ranged between 0.69 – 1.08 for the Copepoda, 1.34 – 1.73 for the Cladocera, 0.21 – 0.72 for the Protista, 0.28 – 0.96 for the Rotifera and 0.0 – 0.75 for the Protozoans. Significant relationship (p<0.05) existed between months of sampling and Zooplankton abundance and diversity within the area.

[Bassey Etim Job, Peter Oru Bette. Abundance and Diversity of Zooplankton within the Itu Bridge –End Area of the Cross River System in Southern Nigeria. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):37-44]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 4. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.04.

Key words: Abundance, Diversity, Zooplankton community, Itu Bridge – End Area, Cross River System, Southern Nigeria

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5

Induction of Direct Somatic Embryogenesis from Mature Female Inflorescences of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Hayani cv. In Vitro

Rasha N. Arafa

Central Laboratory of Date Palm Researches and Development, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

E-mail: rashanagyarafa@gmail.com

Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the induction of direct somatic embryos from mature female inflorescence explants of date palm cv. Hayani. This technique is simple and much faster than the conventional method of using shoot tip explants. To stimulate direct somatic embryos, mature inflorescence explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l NAA combined with different concentrations of BA and 2ip (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/l), the highest number of direct embryos (9 and 33 embryo/explant) resulted after 8 and 24 weeks in culture, respectively was observed on a ¾ MS medium containing 2.0 BA, 1.0 2ip and 0.5 NAA (mg/l). The formed direct embryos were divided into small clusters and cultured in ¾ MS medium containing two different combinations of plant growth regulators, it is evident from the results that medium supplemented with 3.0 BA, 1.0 2ip and 0.5 NAA (mg/l) was found to be the best in the somatic embryos multiplication (39.0 embryo/explant) with length 0.85 cm. Also, MS basal medium supplemented with 2.0 BA, 0.5 2ip and 0.5 NOA (mg/l) was the most effective combination for maximum embryos proliferation which recorded the highest significant number of embryos (42.0 embryo/explant) with the longest length of embryos (0.88 cm). The success of regeneration pathway depends on the optimum combination between BA and TDZ. MS medium supplemented with 3.0 BA and 0.5 TDZ (mg/l) possessed the best results for both of shoots number (32.0 shoot/explant) and shoots length (6.3 cm). GA₃ added to the medium promoted shoot elongation, shoots elongation were achieved on ¾ MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA, 1.0 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l GA₃. Well-developed shoots were cultured for rooting in ½ MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l NAA. Plantlets with well-developed roots were successfully hardened in the greenhouse. Total soluble sugars, total indoles and phenols were determined. Finally, the inflorescence explants proved to be a promising alternative explant source for micro propagation of date palm Hayani cv.

[Rasha N. Arafa. Induction of Direct Somatic Embryogenesis from Mature Female Inflorescences of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Hayani cv. In Vitro. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):45-66]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 5. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.05.

Key words: In vitro, date palm, mature female inflorescence, direct organogenesis and somatic embryos.

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Commercial Intensive Poultry Production in Tropical Environments with Particular Reference to Nigerian Poultry Industry

A.V. Ifeduba, C.C Achonwa, C.P. Ukwu, I.P. Ogbuewu, E.B. Etuk and I.C. Okoli

Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Corresponding author: I.C. Okoli; E-mail: drokolicharles@gmail.com

Abstract: This paper discusses the different production environment factors that influence commercial intensive poultry production at tropical locations such as Nigeria. The intensive production system in the tropics is made up of medium to large-scale commercial enterprises, and characterized by full confinement of birds either in houses or cages. Feed is the most important variable cost component and accounts for 65 to 70% of production costs. The environmental conditions that affect the performance of chicken include ambient temperature, relative humidity, light, sunshine prevailing at a given time, housing system and ventilation. Most producers follow established vaccination schedules and bio-security measures added to strict hygienic practices such as disinfection of equipment and segregation sick birds to control endemic diseases. Urban dwellers seem to consume larger amounts of poultry products due to their relatively higher income levels and greater access to fresh or frozen poultry products sold in markets and fast food outlets. Maximal productivity decisions under the intensive production system could be made by combining all aspects and knowledge of production such as factors related to diet, animal and environment that affect the growth rate of poultry within a computer growth model. Specifically, empirical and mechanistic models that predict broiler responses of growth rate, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and breast meat yield, to dietary balanced protein levels have been used to stimulate the growth of broiler chickens.

[A.V. Ifeduba, C.C Achonwa, C.P. Ukwu, I.P. Ogbuewu, E.B. Etuk and I.C. Okoli. Commercial Intensive Poultry Production in Tropical Environments with Particular Reference to Nigerian Poultry Industry. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):67-84]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 6. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.06.

Keywords: Poultry, chicken, feed, meat, egg, broiler

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Impact of Prosopis juliflora on Pastoral Communities of Bale Zone Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Mengist Belay¹, Alene Goshu²

¹ Debre Markos University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Natural Resource Management, mengistbelay@gmail.com

² Debre Markos University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Natural Resource Management, alenegoshu@gmail.com

Abstract: Prosopis juliflora, an evergreen shrub, is one of the most invasive alien species causing economic and environmental harm in arid and semi-arid areas. It is spreading rapidly in the rangelands, croplands and forests and in particular is threatening pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods. Prosopis has invaded parts of wildlife reserves and National Parks threatening biodiversity. There are several factors favoring its rapid distribution in the environment. Its ability to adapt wide range of climatic condition, effective dispersal mechanism, its allelopathic effect, prolific nature, having large seed bank in the soil environment, fast growing and vigorous coppicing ability are among the principal factors. Prosopis has the capacity to decrease the composition and diversity of plant species and it has adverse effects on crop yield, as well as animal and human health. Despite its negative effects, the tree has potential uses such as fuel, charcoal, fodder, food, bio-char, bio- control, windbreaks, shade, construction and furniture materials, and soil stabilization. It can be also be used against different disease and ameliorated environmental conditions through carbon sequestration. On the other hand, manual, mechanical, chemical and biological control methods as well as control by utilization have been pointed out as an effective control ways and management of this weed. There is urgent need to develop management strategies that are environmentally friendly and economically viable to bring them under control. Therefore, objective of this is explore the distribution, impacts, benefits and as well as the possible management approaches against Prosopis.

[Mengist Belay, Alene Goshu. Impact of Prosopis juliflora on Pastoral Communities of Bale Zone Oromia Region, Ethiopia. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):85-94]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 7. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.07.

Key words: Allelopathy; beneficial effects; distribution; impact; Prosopis juliflora.

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A Review Paper on the Role of Terrestrial carbon stocks for Climate Change Mitigation Mechanisms:

Yitayal Tebeje

Department of Natural Resource Management, Debre Markos University P.O Box. 269, Ethiopia

Abstract: Global warming is among the greatest terrible horrors of the modern times. The global carbon cycle is taking place in three main reservoirs (the oceans, the atmosphere, and terrestrial systems), which store carbon in different forms and varying amounts. The forest ecosystems have large potential to act as a temporary and long-term carbon (C) pool. Global forest vegetation stores 283 Gt of carbon in its biomass, 38 Gt in dead wood and 317 Gt in soils (top 30 cm) and litter. Globally, the litter C pool accounts for an estimated 5% (43 Pg) of all forest ecosystem C stocks. Agroforestry practices can reduce or remove significant amounts of GHGs through increased carbon storage in biomass above-ground and below-ground and in soil organic carbon. Roots are an important part of the C balance, because they transfer large amounts of C into the soil. Grasslands, including rangelands, shrublands, pastureland, and cropland sown with pasture and fodder crops, covered approximately 3.5 billion ha in 2000, representing 26 percent of the world land area and 70 percent of the world agricultural area, and containing about 20 percent of the world’s soil carbon stocks. Soils are the largest carbon reservoirs of the terrestrial carbon cycle 1500–1550 Gt of organic soil carbon and soil inorganic C approximate 750 Gt both to 1 m depth. On a global scale, carbon loss from soils is mainly associated with soil degradation, including accelerated erosion and mineralization, and land use change, and has amounted to 78+/- 12 Gt since 1850. The idea of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) was conceived by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the main carbon emission reduction mechanism by developing countries. The implementation of improved land management practices to build up carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems is a proven technology for reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere – offsetting emissions from other sources and drawing down atmospheric CO₂.

[Yitayal Tebeje. A Review Paper on the Role of Terrestrial carbon stocks for Climate Change Mitigation Mechanisms:. World Rural Observ 2020;12(3):95-114]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 8. doi:10.7537/marswro120320.08.

Key words: Carbon sequestration, Terrestrial carbon, Global warming and Carbon stocks

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