Selective Inhibition of Wild Sunflower Reproduction with Mugwort Aqueous Extract, Tested on Cytosolic Ca2+ and Germination of the Pollen Grains

Wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an invasive species widely distributed in several regions of the world, where it shares a large area with domesticated sunflower. The imidazolinone-tolerant sunflower enables the control of problematic weeds (such as Xanthium spp., Brassica spp., wild sunflower) with imidazolinone herbicides (Clearfield® production system) in cultivated sunflower crops, but could facilitate the gene transfer of herbicide resistance, from cultivated sunflower to wild sunflower, generating hard-to-control weed biotypes or herbicide-resistant populations. The development of new practices that involve the selective inhibition of reproduction structures, such as pollen granules, could be an innovative strategy to minimize outcrossing and the origin of weed–crop hybrids in Clearfield® production systems. In this study, the effects of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) aqueous extract on cytosolic Ca2+ and the germination of pollen grains collected from conventional, wild and IMI-tolerant sunflower were tested. The results showed that mugwort deregulated Ca2+ homeostasis and markedly reduced the germination of conventional and wild sunflower pollen, but not IMI-tolerant pollen. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids belonging to the hydroxycinnamic and benzoic classes in the mugwort extract. Hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and ferulic) deregulated the cytosolic Ca2+ of conventional and wild sunflower pollen, but not those which were IMI-tolerant, similar to mugwort extract. Selective inhibition of wild sunflower pollen in the Clearfield® sunflower crop contributes to a possible new weed management strategy, reducing the wild sunflower reproduction by seed, minimizing the potential risks of outcrossing with the formation of weed–crop hybrids. The Ca2+ selective chelating activity of caffeic or ferulic acids provides elements to be investigated for their possible use as an alternative to mugwort extract.

Processing of Wild Sunflower with Different Moisture Contents into Solid Bio Fuel

Wild sunflower with moisture contents of 16%, 12% and 8% was densified without the addition of binding agent. The physical properties of the formed briquettes such as mass, dimensions, volume, density and shattering resistance were evaluated. Thermal properties like ignition time, burning time, ash content, and thermal fuel efficiency by means of boiling test were also evaluated. Wild Sunflower stems were gathered and shredded using locally fabricated biomass shredder available at the Research Office of Benguet State University, and were processed into the desired size and moisture contents. Right after the briquetting operation, the physical properties of the briquette were measured and then stored in a zip bag for 24 hours. After the storage, same measurement was conducted. Results show that the influence of moisture contents on the average mass, dimension, shattering resistance, volume and density was statistically insignificant. The wild sunflower with moisture content of 16% had the highest shattering resistance of 88.85%. Furthermore, the influence of moisture content on the thermal properties like ignition time, burning time and ash content are statistically insignificant. Among the moisture contents, the fastest ignition time of 43.75 sec with longest burning time was recorded under 12%. Ash content was also lowest at 12%.

Performance of laying birds fed diets containing forage meal of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl A. Gray) and antibiotics

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of the forage meal of Tithonia diversifolia with or without antibiotic on the laying performance and egg quality of birds for a period of eleven weeks. T. diversifolia is also known as wild sunflower leaf. Wild sunflower leaf meal (WSFLM) was incorporated in the diets at 75g/kg (basal diet). Streptomycin and penicillin were added to basal diet at 100 ppm each. Mixture of penicillin and streptomycin, each at 100 ppm added to the fourth diet. Control diet neither contained WSFLM nor antibiotic. The results of weekly performance at first week of the study, showed that there were significant (P<0.01) increases for egg production, hen day production and feed efficiency for birds fed diets containing WSFLM, while egg weight and feed intake were not affected. Haugh Unit (P <0.05) and egg breadth (P <0.01) 8th week, whereas food consumption at second (P <0.05), fourth and fifth weeks (P <0. 01) were all significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. Yellow pigmentation of egg yolks was significantly (P <0.01) enhanced by WSFLM throughout 77 days. The summary of the data at the end of the study indicated that WSFLM significantly (P <0.01) enhanced egg. Weight, egg production, Egg yolk and hen day production (P < 0.05). Control birds and those fed basal diets with antibiotic significantly (P <0.05) retained protein and ether extract than those fed basal diet. Supplementation of basal diet with either penicillin or streptomycin positively affected the egg production and egg weight at 77th day, whereas the mixture of the two antibiotics adversely affected the performance of the birds. It is therefore advisable that WSFLM at 75 g kg-1 in combination with either penicillin or streptomycin at 100ppm may be included in the diet of laying birds

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY WILD SUNFLOWER (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. A Gray) LEAF MEAL ON LAYERS PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY

The performance of layers on various dietary levels of Wild Sunflower leaf meal (SLM) was investigated. Seventy-two Nera Black with commercial layers in their fourth month of lay of were randomised into six dietary treatments comprising a commercial layer mash (CLM) 05, 10, 15 and 20% SLM. Results revealed that egg production was appreciably supported even for layers on 15 and 20% SLM diets. Feed consumption ranged from 96.27 gms in layers fed 20% SLM to 106.86 gm for birds on CLM. Feed conversion efficiency in terms of kg feed South-western Nigeria up to the Middle Belt per dozen eggs was highest for 15% SLM while CLM had the highest cost of feed consumed per dozen eggs. All diets supported a net positive There is scanty report on the feeding value body weight gain on the birds. Haugh unit, yolk index, shell thickness and egg weight were not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Yolk colour was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by SLM (at all levels) over rabbits. These preliminary findings suggest either the control or CLM. There was no mortality throughout the 12 weeks experiment lasted.

Air drying of wild sunflower leaf (Tithonia diversifolia ): Effect on its anti-nutritive components and haematology of West African dwarf goats

The study investigated the effect of air – drying treatment on the anti – nutritive components of wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia).Fresh leaves of wild sunflower were air – dried for 7 days and subjected to chemical analyses to determine their proximate and phytochemical components. In order to assess its effect on haematology of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats (n=20, aged 5 – 7months, 6.94 ± 0.37 kgweight), the air – dried wild sunflower was milled to form Wild Sunflower Leaf Meal (WSLM) and incorporated into their concentrate diets. ,. The goats were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments containing graded levels of WSLM (0, 10, 20 and 30%). Proximate composition of WSLM ranged from 18.06 – 21.14 % crude protein, 18.25 – 18.90% crude fibre, 3.49 – 4.00% ether extract, 14.10 – 14.14% total ash and 46.10 – 41.82% NFE. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of tannin, phytin, oxalate, saponin, alkaloid, phenols and flavonoids both in the fresh and dried leaves. Quantitative records revealed a significant lowering (P0.05) in all the haematological parameters measured, as the values obtained for the Red blood cells (RBC),White blood cells (WBC) and Packed cell volume (PCV) were all within the standard range. It can therefore be concluded that supplementing WAD goats' diet with WSLM with up to 30% did not have any deleterious effect on the goats.

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF BIOACTIVE CHEMICALS IN SUNFLOWER (Tithonia diversifolia) ROOTS

Plants are the most available sources of nutrients and phytochemicals; they have also played an important role in the development of drugs and treatment of various ailments in many countries. Therefore, this study was carried out to ascertain the preliminary phytochemical screening of bioactive chemicals in wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) root. The solvents used for extraction includes: petroleum ether, methanol and distilled water. Results revealed that tannins, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, glycosides, carbohydrates and protein were present in the aqueous extract; only saponins were not detected in the sample. Methanol and petroleum ether follow similar pattern as tannins, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, glycosides, saponins carbohydrates and protein were all present in the sample. It was concluded that the extract contained several bioactive chemicals which could confer it the ability to have therapeutic or pharmacological effects on human and animals.

Seed bank dynamics of an invasive alien species, Helianthus annuus L.

Aims The ability to form persistent seed banks is one of the best predictors of species’ potential to establish in new ranges. Wild sunflower is native to North America where the formation of persistent seed banks is promoted by disturbance and it plays a key role on the establishment and persistence of native populations. However, the role of the seed banks on the establishment and persistence of invasive populations has not been studied. Here, we evaluated the role of seed bank and disturbance on the establishment and fitness, and seed persistence in the soil in several sunflower biotypes collected in ruderal (wild Helianthus annuus) and agrestal (natural crop–wild hybrid) habitats of Argentina as well as volunteer populations (progeny of commercial cultivars). Methods In a seed-bank experiment, we evaluated emergence, survival to reproduction, survival of emerged seedlings, inflorescences per plant and per plot under disturbed and undisturbed conditions over 2 years; in a seed-burial experiment, we evaluated seed persistence in the soil over four springs (6, 18, 30 and 42 months). Important Findings Overall, seedling emergence was early in the growing season (during winter), and it was promoted by disturbance, especially in the first year. Despite this, the number of inflorescences per plot was similar under both conditions, especially in ruderals. In the second year, emergence from the seed bank was much lower, but the survival rate was higher. In the seed-burial experiment, genetic differences were observed but seeds of ruderals and agrestals persisted up to 42 months while seeds of the volunteer did not persist longer than 6 months. The agrestal biotype showed an intermediate behavior between ruderals and volunteers in both experiments. Our findings showed that wild and crop–wild sunflower can form persistent seed banks outside its native range and that disturbance may facilitate its establishment in new areas.