Pheno-morphological and agronomic diversity among Scorpiurus muricatus (Fabaceae) natural populations collected in Sicily

2009 ◽  
Vol 147 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. DI GIORGIO ◽  
D. GRAZIANO ◽  
P. RUISI ◽  
G. AMATO ◽  
D. GIAMBALVO
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Collection Site ◽  
Livestock Farming

SUMMARYPrickly scorpion's tail (Scorpiurus muricatus L.) is a self-reseeding annual legume widely distributed in natural pastures of the Mediterranean area and appreciated by farmers for its productivity, forage quality and palatability. Twenty-eight natural populations were collected throughout Sicily in 2005; two field experiments were carried out in 2005/06 in a hilly area of the Sicilian inland to assess the genetic variation based on pheno-morphological and agronomic characters. The pheno-morphological traits observed were analysed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The first four components of PCA (eigenvalues >1) explained 0·84 of the total variation. Similarities obtained by PCA were investigated by means of cluster analysis, which clearly identified five clusters.The pheno-morphological and agronomic traits were mainly affected by latitude of the collection site (0·69 of the correlations were significant), spring rainfall (0·63) and rain days per year (0·63). Altitude was not significantly correlated with any of the traits.A strong positive correlation was found between the days to the first flower and spring rainfall at the collection site. Populations originating from subhumid or dry-subhumid Mediterranean climate zones showed greater leaf dimensions when compared with those originating from semi-arid zones. Seed weight decreased with increasing number of rain days per year and spring rainfall. Populations from drier environments showed, on the whole, a more prostrate growth habit. Dry matter yield at spring cut exhibited a significant correlation with latitude (positive) and longitude (negative). Seed production was highly correlated with spring rainfall, number of rain days per year and latitude of collection site. The presence of a large diversity among populations appears to be valuable when searching for suitable S. muricatus material to exploit in pastures and crop–livestock farming systems of Mediterranean areas.

Variation in pheno-morphological and agronomic traits among burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) populations collected in Sicily, Italy

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Graziano ◽  
G. Di Giorgio ◽  
P. Ruisi ◽  
G. Amato ◽  
D. Giambalvo
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Medicago Polymorpha ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Burr Medic

The present study assessed the diversity of pheno-morphological and agronomic traits among 31 natural populations of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) from different environments throughout Sicily, and analysed the patterns of phenotypic diversity in relation to the environmental parameters of each collection site. Three commercial cultivars (Cavalier, Santiago, and Anglona) were also included in the study as check cultivars. Two field experiments were performed in 2005–06 in a hilly area of the Sicilian inland. Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed on the sites using geographic, climatic, and pedological data to assess the differences in types of collection sites. PCA was also performed on the accessions using pheno-morphological and agronomic data to establish the importance of different traits in explaining multivariate polymorphisms. Sicilian burr medic populations showed highly significant inter-population differences for all of the recorded pheno-morphological and agronomic traits, and several populations had agronomic attributes that were more pronounced than those of the check cultivars. PCA did not clearly differentiate the accessions according to their habitats of origin, but in some cases, accessions from the same habitat had a tendency to stay together. Populations from drier and warmer habitats flowered earlier and were less productive than those from wetter and colder ones. The large variability in both pheno-morphological and agronomic traits among Sicilian populations may be valuable when searching for suitable M. polymorpha material to exploit in pastures and crop–livestock farming systems in the Mediterranean region.

Progress in development of spotted medics (Medicago arabica L. Huds.) for Mediterranean farming systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramakrishnan M. Nair ◽  
Steve J. Hughes ◽  
David M. Peck ◽  
Graham Crocker ◽  
Simon Ellwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Recessive Gene ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Segregation Ratio ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
Days To Flowering

Spotted medics (Medicago arabica) have become naturalised in Australia, but the spiny nature of their pods has prevented commercial release of any cultivar. Fifty-eight accessions representing Medicago arabica in the Australian Medicago Genetic Resources Collection were grown as spaced plants at Turretfield, South Australia, and the variation for important agronomic traits was studied. There was large variation for traits including days to flowering, dry matter production, pod and seed yield, and pod spininess. Principal component and cluster analyses conducted for 13 traits revealed 5 clusters. One of the clusters identified comprised accessions originating from Greece and Cyprus, which were found to have high agronomic potential. The study has helped in identifying the relationship among traits, namely pod spininess, days to flowering, dry matter yield, and pod and seed yield, which would be useful to breeders for future breeding and selection programs. A sward trial at Moree, New South Wales, comprising a selected cohort of spotted medic accessions, enabled the identification of 2 early flowering and high dry matter yielding accessions; however, both exhibited spiny pods. These 2 accessions were crossed with a smooth-podded accession, and the F1 plants were confirmed using a microsatellite marker. Days to flowering showed a continuous pattern of variation in the F2, suggesting that the trait is quantitatively inherited, whereas segregation ratio revealed that a single recessive gene controlled the smooth pod trait. Early flowering, smooth-podded F2 plants were selected for cultivar development.

Genetic diversity among accessions of Solanum aethiopicum L. groups based on morpho-agronomic traits

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. T. Adeniji ◽  
P. M. Kusolwa ◽  
S. O. W. M. Reuben
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Leaf Length ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Discriminatory Ability ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Solanum Aethiopicum ◽  
Breeding Programmes

Solanum aethiopicum L. is indigenous to Africa and constitutes an important vegetable. Morpho-agronomic traits were used to study diversity among 44 accessions of S. aethiopicum groups to identify traits of high discriminatory ability and donor parents with specific or multiple traits for introgression and utilization in breeding programmes. Field experiments were conducted from 2008 to 2010. The principal component (PC) analysis of morpho-agronomic data indicated high discriminatory ability for fruit calyx length, fruit length and leaf length. On PC1, fruit length showed positive and significant correlation coefficients with leaf length, fruit calyx length and width. An independent association was recorded among fruit width, fruits per infructescence and seed yield (t/ha). Ordination (biplot) and grouping (dendrogram) revealed genetic variation and relatedness, phenotypic plasticity and geographical heterogeneity among the accessions within and among the clusters. Members of cluster 1 (group ‘c’) are a promising donor parent for multiple traits (earliness and fruit length), and members of group ‘b’ are superior for fruits per plant, fruits per infructescence and fruit infructescence per plant. Hybridization among distant clusters would provide an opportunity for bringing together gene constellations of diverse background. Earliness and fruit length were highly variable among the S. aethiopicum groups. The results are important for the breeding and selection of this crop.

scholarly journals Silvopasture policy promotion in European Mediterranean areas

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245846
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Rigueiro ◽  
José Javier Santiago-Freijanes ◽  
María Rosa Mosquera-Losada ◽  
Marina Castro ◽  
Pablo Silva-Losada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Forest Fire Prevention ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Policy Promotion

Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of a woody component with grazed pastures as understorey. It is one of the most extended agroforestry practices all over the world. Silvopasture use is key to increase the sustainability of livestock farming systems as silvopasture reduces the use of concentrates since the woody component provides feed for animals. However, it is not an extensively used practice in Europe. This paper aims at evaluating, from Eurostat, LUCAS database and the 118 rural development programs, the current situation of permanent grasslands in the Mediterranean area of Europe as well as the rural development programmes fostering silvopasture to better understand how sustainable land use systems are promoted and provide insights to foster silvopasture across Europe. The results of this study show that most of the policy measures related to silvopasture are adapted to the local necessity. The already existing agroforestry managed land (dehesas/montado) are related to measures supporting regeneration and maintenance while in those areas where agroforestry does not exist the measures are related to forest fire prevention.

scholarly journals Agroecological practices to support tropical livestock farming systems: a Caribbean and Latin American perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele Alexandre ◽  
Lylian Rodriguez ◽  
Javier Arece ◽  
José Delgadillo ◽  
Gary Wayne Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
American Perspective

Improved growth and yield of Faba beans (Vicia faba cv. Fiord) by inoculation with strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. viciae in acid soils in south west Victoria

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Carter ◽  
WK Gardner ◽  
AH Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Commercial Strain ◽  
South West ◽  
Faba Beans

The response of faba beans (Vicia faba L. cv. Fiord) to seed inoculation with eight strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. viciae was examined in field experiments at six sites on acid soils in south-west Victoria. At two of the sites, two additional strains were examined, and in 1988, 14 strains were examined at one site. Very low natural populations of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae were found at the experimental sites. Most strains resulted in improved early nodulation and increased grain yield at all sites, when compared to inoculation with the commercial strain of rhizobia (SU391). Plant dry matter production and nitrogen accumulation in the plant shoot tissue was also increased at one site during the flowering period by some strains. Large visual differences between plots inoculated with SU391 and other strains were evident at most sites. Most uninoculated treatments were not nodulated and yielded very poorly. Treatments inoculated with the strain SU391 performed similarly to the uninoculated treatments.

scholarly journals Nanotechnology and Reproductive Management of Farm Animals: Challenges and Advances

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1932
Author(s):  
Nesrein M. Hashem ◽  
Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Biological Molecules ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Reproductive Management ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Reproductive Disease ◽  
Nutritional Strategies

Reproductive efficiency of farm animals has central consequences on productivity and profitability of livestock farming systems. Optimal reproductive management is based on applying different strategies, including biological, hormonal, nutritional strategies, as well as reproductive disease control. These strategies should not only guarantee sufficient reproductive outcomes but should also comply with practical and ethical aspects. For example, the efficiency of the biological- and hormonal-based reproductive strategies is mainly related to several biological factors and physiological status of animals, and of nutritional strategies, additional factors, such as digestion and absorption, can contribute. In addition, the management of reproductive-related diseases is challenged by the concerns regarding the intensive use of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistant strains. The emergence of nanotechnology applications in livestock farming systems may present innovative and new solutions for overcoming reproductive management challenges. Many drugs (hormones and antibiotics), biological molecules, and nutrients can acquire novel physicochemical properties using nanotechnology; the main ones are improved bioavailability, higher cellular uptake, controlled sustained release, and lower toxicity compared with ordinary forms. In this review, we illustrate advances in the most common reproductive management strategies by applying nanotechnology, considering the current challenges of each strategy.

Options for the better use of less nitrogen on livestock farms

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (s1) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
J.-L. Peyraud ◽  
P. Cellier ◽  
P. Dupraz ◽  
F. Aarts ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Ammonia Emissions ◽  
Ecological State ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Northern European ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Nitrates Directive

The previous articles have shown that preoccupations concerning discharge of nitrate emissions are not recent, even if they have not yet resulted in expected reductions. The Water Framework Directive, which aims at a ‘good’ ecological state of all aquatic environments in 2015, enlarges the objectives of the Nitrates Directive. We are currently witnessing the broadening of objectives for reducing emissions of all forms of nitrogen from livestock farming systems to other compartments, in particular the atmosphere. The reduction of ammonia emissions, which was a little concerned by the French context until now, is a priority for animal systems in several northern European countries. It is a subject of intense efforts of international regulations.

scholarly journals Water quality and antifungal susceptibility of opportunistic yeast pathogens from rivers

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1319-1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Monapathi ◽  
C. C. Bezuidenhout ◽  
O. H. J. Rhode
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
26S Rrna

Yeasts from water sources have been associated with diseases ranging from superficial mucosal infections to life threatening diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the water quality as well as diversity and antifungal susceptibility of yeasts from two rivers. Yeast levels and physico-chemical parameter data were analyzed by principal component analysis to determine correlations between physico-chemical data and yeast levels. Yeast morphotypes were identified by biochemical tests and 26S rRNA gene sequencing. Disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility tests were conducted. Physico-chemical parameters of the water were within target water quality range (TWQR) for livestock farming. For irrigational use, total dissolved solids and nitrates were not within the TWQR. Yeast levels ranged between 27 ± 10 and 2,573 ± 306 cfu/L. Only non-pigmented, ascomycetous yeasts were isolated. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida glabrata were most frequently isolated. Several other opportunistic pathogens were also isolated. A large number of isolates were resistant to azoles, especially fluconazole, but also to other antifungal classes. Candida species were resistant to almost all the antifungal classes. These water sources are used for recreation and religious as well as for watering livestock and irrigation. Of particular concern is the direct contact of individuals with opportunistic yeast, especially the immune-compromised. Resistance of these yeast species to antifungal agents is a further health concern.

Implications of phenotypic plasticity for numerical taxonomy of Ornithogalum montanum (Liliaceae)

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pigliucci ◽  
M. G. Politi ◽  
D. Bellincampi
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Numerical Taxonomy ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Reaction Norm ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Numerical Taxonomic Study ◽  
High Degree

Implications of phenotypic plasticity in a subspecific numerical taxonomic study of Ornithogalum montanum Cyr. (Liliaceae) are discussed. Clones belonging to six natural populations were grown in a glasshouse, and their morphological response to three water dosages was analyzed by means of principal component analysis. PC-1 ranks the three groups of replicated populations, suggesting a high degree of phenotypic plasticity; on the other hand, PC-3 is almost environmentally independent. Proximities in the phenetic space are shown to be at least partially environmentally dependent, suggesting a reaction norm for the character correlation matrix. The results do not corroborate a previous recognition of six subspecies of O. montanum. Key words: phenotypic plasticity, numerical taxonomy, Ornithogalum, reaction norm, principal component analysis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document