Comparative Proteome Analysis of the Penultimate Internodes of Barley Genotypes Differing in Stem Reserve Remobilization Under Drought Stress

Barley yield relies more on stem reserves under stress conditions at the grain filling stage. At terminal drought stresses, the remobilization of reserved assimilates from stem to seed contributes a major role in yield. To understand the molecular mechanism of stem reserve utilization during drought stress, a comparative proteome and physiological analyses were performed on the penultimate internodes of three genotypes of barley Yousef (tolerant), Morocco (susceptible), and PBYT17 (semi-tolerant) under drought stress at 21 and 28 days after anthesis (DAA). Under water stress and well-watered conditions Yousef showed significantly higher RWC, grain yield, and stem reserve remobilization capacity than susceptible and semi-tolerant genotypes. The proteome analysis led to the identification of 1580 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs), of which 759 and 821 proteins were differentially expressed at 21 and 28 DAA, respectively. Tolerant genotype in response to drought stress increased the abundance of several plant cell wall polysaccharide degradation proteins and protein kinases associated with posttranslational-associated, which might accelerate remobilization process for seed biomass formation compared to susceptible one under drought stress. However, the susceptible genotype increased the abundance of proteins involved in RNA metabolism and transcriptional changes to save energy sources for the growth and survival during drought stress. These findings suggest that barley might response to water stress by efficiently remobilize assimilates from stem to grain through specific remobilization processes.

Influence of Poultry Droppings on the Production and Mineral Profile of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in Kombé (Brazzaville, Congo)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is one of the most important seed legumes in the tropics and subtropics. It is an important staple in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the arid savannahs of West Africa. The present study conducted in the Kombé area (Brazzaville) aims to assess the impact of poultry droppings on the yield and mineral profile of cowpea. Seeds of three cowpea cultivars (C1, C2, C3) were sown in a completely randomised system in two plots. Prior to sowing, a treatment of one dose of poultry droppings was applied in one of the two plots, which was named fertilised plot containing treatments C1D1, C2D1 and C3D1. The plot without droppings was the control plot with treatments C1D0, C2D0 and C3D0. The biomass of leaves, pods and seeds was assessed by the harvesting method followed by drying and weighing. Chemical data of leaves and soils were obtained after laboratory analysis. The results show that leaf biomass, pod biomass and seed biomass ranged from 1.8 t DM/ha to 3.4 t DM/ha, 960.2 kg/ha to 1706 kg DM/ha and 563.4 kg DM/ha to 1263.7 kg DM/ha respectively. Treatments C1D1 and C3D1 were respectively the most productive in leaf biomass and pod and seed biomass. The nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the leaves do not seem to be influenced by the addition of poultry droppings. However, these contents are improved in the soil after the application of poultry droppings. Poultry droppings have a beneficial effect on yield in terms of leaf, pod and seed biomass. Poultry droppings may be useful as an organic fertilizer for cowpea cultivation.

Mutation breeding for heat and drought tolerance in tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray)

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is more heat and drought tolerant than common bean (P. vulgaris L.). Four hundred mutant lines of two tepary accessions (G40068 and G40159) were generated by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) treatment. In preliminary studies of the M5 mutant lines under abiotic stress, three mutant lines (CMT 38, CMT 109, CMT 187) were selected from six mutated lines based on morpho-physiological traits and superior yield and advanced to the M6 generation. The M6 mutant lines were uniform and genetically stable. These mutant lines and their original (M0) parents were evaluated for heat and drought tolerance under greenhouse conditions. Their performance was evaluated for morpho-physiological attributes, seed yield and yield components. Under high temperature and drought conditions, the CMT 38 mutant (M6 line) and its original tepary (M0) accession (G40068) showed greater values of pod biomass, pod number and 100-seed biomass than the other lines tested. The CMT 109 and CMT 187 mutant lines and their G40159 original accession (M0) also showed the highest value of seed number under high temperature and drought conditions. This suggests that the previous screening performed during the population advancement of these mutant lines, based on morphological traits like growth habit, was not detrimental to the yield variables evaluated here. Under combined heat and drought conditions, different parameters could be incorporated into tepary breeding programmes, as selection criteria to screen genotypes for tolerance to heat and drought stress. These parameters included: chlorophyll (SPAD) readings, seed biomass, 100-seed biomass and seed number because they explain the observed variance in the principal component analysis. Two additional traits (root biomass and stem diameter) were also identified as useful attributes, based on univariate analysis. The mutant lines evaluated here offer potential for further improvement of tepary bean to high temperature and drought

GREEN MUSSEL (Perna viridis) AND SILKWORM (Tubifex sp.) FEEDING TRIAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE FEED FOR CRAYFISH SEEDS (Cherax quadricarinatus)

The high cost of shrimp or lobster feed is also a problem in the sustainability of aquaculture, even though freshwater crayfish, including eaters, require proper and relatively cheap feed selection. One source of feed that can be used as an alternative is green clams and silk worms. This study aims to determine which feed is better and more affordable for freshwater lobster seeds, so that the sustainability of cultivation can be well maintained in terms of economy, quality and quantity. The method used was descriptive comparing between the two feeds given a dose of each treatment, namely 10% of the lobster seed biomass, then analyzed using a 95% confidence level t-test. The results showed a significant effect (P <0.05), on the absolute length growth and absolute weight of freshwater lobster seeds. The absolute length of the seeds given green shellfish feed is 0.94 ± 0.38 cm and silkworm feed is 0.66 ± 0.27 cm, for the absolute weight of green shellfish feed is 5.11 ± 0.38 gr and silk worm feed 2.68 ± 0.18 gr. The best results from the two feeding treatments for freshwater lobster seeds were using green shellfish feed with an absolute weight value of 5.11 ± 0.38 gr and the absolute length is 0.94 ± 0.38 cm. So that green shellfish feed can be used as a better alternative feed for the cultivation of freshwater lobster seed enlargement.

Multifunctional rubber seed biomass usage in polymer technology and engineering: A short review

Hevea brasiliensis is the most relevant source of natural rubber-based products in the world, and it is mostly found in Southeast Asia. This species is highly functional because its seeds can be utilized as a starting material for many essential applications related to polymer engineering and technology. The main practical compositions are its shell and kernel. The importance of each composition is varied based on the content of each structure. The kernel is predominantly composed of oil, where the oil can be utilized for the production of biofuel and to impart flexibility in many polymer-based composites. Furthermore, the carbon and lignocellulosic contents are heavily represented in the shell of the rubber seed, making the shell useful as a natural resource for carbon-derived applications.

Nonlinear Kinetic and Equilibrium Adsorption Isotherm Study of Cadmium (II) Sorption by Dacryodes edulis Biomass

The kinetics and equilibrium adsorption isotherm of cadmium (II) adsorption onto Dacryodes edulis (native peer seed) biomass was studied using a nonlinear approach, which is unpopular but proven in some literature to be more reliable and easier. In optimizing the process, about 98% removal of the cadmium ion was achieved within five minutes at pH 7 by contacting just 30 mg of the Dacryodes edulis seed biomass with the adsorbate solution of a concentration of 100 mg/L. Non-linear investigation of the kinetics and adsorption isotherms of the process was done using the R console statistical and computing software. The results indicated that the Elovich mechanism and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm most suitably described the kinetics and adsorption isotherm, respectively, of the process as provided by their least values of the sum of squared residuals (SSR). This outcome implied a chemical adsorption (chemisorption) mechanism and a multi-layer coverage by the cadmium ions on heterogeneous active sites of the biomass surface with a Freundlich constant or capacity factor, Kf of 27.83 mg g-1, heterogeneity factor, 1/n of 0.2614 and Elovich constants, α and β of 7.0 mg g−1 s−1 and 1.0 g mg-1, respectively. These findings indicate that Dacryodes edulis seed biomass has a good potential for cadmium (II) adsorption. Keywords: Dacryodes edulis, Elovich kinetic model, Freundlich isotherm, Langmuir isotherm, Nonlinear