JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (JAST)
Year:2017 | Volume:19 | Issue:3|Papers Count:20

The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-economic and intellectual factors affecting the imported meat preferences of consumers and to reveal the personal prioritized preferences of buyers consuming domestic meat and imported meat. The study was carried out in Izmir, the third city of Turkey, where face-to-face interviews were conducted in 300householdswhose occupants shop at hypermarkets where domestic and imported meat is sold. 28.7% of those participating in the study prefer imported meat. As a result of logistic regression, the approach related to the share of cattle meat in the total meat spend, the age factor and the belief that the price of imported cattle meat is low positively affect the probability of consuming imported meat. The consumption of chicken and lamb and marital status has negative effects. The religious belief factor and the perception of taste in those consuming imported meat take priority in the personal preferences of domestic meat consumers. Long-term policies that will ensure stability in the market as a whole are needed in the livestock sector in Turkey. Improvement of meat quality, classification and the rising awareness of consumers regarding quality and farming according to nutritional requirements and the development of certification also have significant importance.

Iran is one of the most energy-rich countries subsidizing energy carriers, especially in the agricultural sector, to the extent that the resulting growth is at the expense of the environment. This study tries to investigate the potential impacts of energy price reform on the agro-environment, based on the Marginal Abatement Costs (MACs) of emissions. Firstly, the energy demand function of the agricultural sector and the probable reaction of inputs and outputs to the reform were estimated. Then, using an Input Distance Function (IDF), the country and provincial-wide MAC were simulated through counterfactual reform scenarios. The results indicated that energy price reform would increase the MAC of emissions and socio-environmental benefits. However, the reform adversely affected the income of farmers. Also, the results provided detailed information both at a nationwide and provincial scale. Finally, it was recommended to implement complementary policies alongside reforms to compensate for the reduction in farmers’ income.

This study investigates issues on efficiency and elasticity of broiler production in Peninsular Malaysia. Data from 296 broiler farms were subjected to SFA, DEA and bootstrap methods for technical efficiency; Translog and Tobit regression analyses to estimate elasticity of production and determinants of efficiency respectively in broiler production. We found that farmers produce mean efficiency of 94, 95 and 97% with robust for small, medium and large scale farms respectively. Apart from inefficiency, we also found evidence that minimal bias/noise exists in broiler production. Relative to output elasticity, we observed an inelastic relationship in feeds but an elastic relationship in DOC, medications and utilities. Most of the socio-economic attributes (experience, age, education, business status and number of farms) show highly significant statistical relationship with efficiency and with appropriate signs. To ensure production at higher marginal returns and lower marginal costs, farms operating under increasing returns to scale should scale-up production while those producing at decreasing returns to scale need to scale-down production. The study also advocates to farmers to embrace adequate training/better education, contract farming and ownership of fewer number of farms in order to enhance efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the broiler industry.

As an assessment method of the water resources, Water Poverty Index (WPI) has become an available tool in water resources management. In particular, Agricultural Water Poverty Index (AWPI) is an assessment tool for agricultural water in rural areas. During the past decades, Mahidasht Basin in Kermanshah Province has been declared by water policy makers as "forbidden" basin in terms of water exploitation. Therefore, effective water resource management in the basin is deemed important. AWPI provides an appropriate tool in managing water resources more effectively. AWPI is an extension of Water Poverty Index (WPI) with five components including resources, access, use, capacity, and environment. This study sought to investigate the Agricultural Water Poverty Index in Mahidasht Basin in Kermanshah Province. Results revealed that Mahidasht Basin is faced with severe Agricultural Water Poverty (AWP=49.06). Moreover, although farmers had limited water resources (R=27.4) but these limited resources were highly accessible (A=74.9). The result of this study has practical implications for water policy makers in Kermanshah Province. For example, agricultural policymakers can use the result of this study to devise better policies to alleviate agricultural water poverty in Mahidasht Basin where it is faced with water crisis.

The effect of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus Labill; EGEO) and Angelica (Heracleum Persicum Desf. ex Fischer; HPEO) Essential Oils was assessed at the levels of 0, 3, 30, 300 or 3000 (ml 30 ml-1) on in vitro fermentation of buffered rumen fluid from3 castrated male sheep. The fermentation kinetics were estimated after 54 hours incubation. The fermentation kinetic values, In Vitro Gas Production (IVGP), Methane Production (MP), ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentration, Organic Matter Degradability (IVOMDe), Partitioning Factor (PF), Microbial Mass (MM), Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) concentrations and protozoa population were evaluated. The results showed that EGEO supplementation at 300ml increased the insoluble fraction (b) (P=0.027). Cumulative IVGP at 54 hours was the lowest for EGEO (P=0.014) and HPEO (P=0.001) at 3, 000 ml. The HPEO supplementation at 30 and 3, 000 ml decreased (P=0.036) the constant rate (c) of gas production during incubation 54 hours. The EGEO inclusion improved GP in 24 hours at 3 ml, but inhibited fermentation at 3, 000 ml (P=0.004), whereas addition of HPEO inhibited fermentation at 3, 000 ml (P=0.000) only. The addition of EGEO and HPEO (P=000) inhibited MP at all levels. HPEO treatments reduced (P=0.005) the NH3-N concentration at 3 and 3, 000 ml levels. The IVOMDe was increased at dose rates of 3, 30 or 300 ml EGEO, but decreased at 3000 ml of HPEO. At the inclusion of 3, 000 ml of EGEO and HPEO, PF, MM and Efficiency of Microbial Mass (EMM) were enhanced (P=0.001). Apart from the inclusion level of 300 ml, total VFA concentrations were decreased by EGEO (P=0.002) and HPEO (P=0.001). The EGEOand HPEO treatments showed antiprotozoal activity. It is suggested that EGEO and HPEO could be added at the level of 300 ml 30 ml-1 to improve ruminal fermentation (i.e. increasing EMM and decreasing MP and protozoa population), which may lead to better nutrient utilization and animal growth.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of corn substitution with triticale in grower diets (zero, 50 and 100%) with/without exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance, digestive organs relative weight, jejunal morphology and blood lipids of quail chicks. Two hundred and forty one-day-old unsexed Japanese quail chicks were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design experiment with six treatments, four replicates/treatment and 10 chicks/replicate.Substituted triticale for corn in quail grower diets didn’t have significant effect on finaly weight and daily body weight gain. In the quail chicks that fed triticale based diet, feed intake and feed conversion ratio significantly reduced compared those fed corn based diet. Inclusion triticale in the quail grower diets at different levels significantly decreased the crop relative weight, blood serum concentration of triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein and significantly increased large intestine relative weight. The villus height, crypt depth, villus surface area and villus height to crypt deep rate in the quail chicks that fed triticale-soy meal diet were significantly more than those fed corn-soy meal diet.Supplemented exogenous enzyme to the experimental diets didn’t have significant effect on whole studied traits, except significantly reduced duodenum relative weight. In conclusion, triticale is a good alternative for corn in quail grower diet, it can completely substitute for corn and have a decreasing effect for blood triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein.

In this study, the effects of Culban seed (Vicia peregrine L.) on live body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk fatty acid profiles and yolk cholesterol content in laying hens were investigated. The experiment consists of seven treatment groups with ten replications containing one laying hen in each and for 32 weeks old seventy laying hen were used in the study. The hens were fed the experimental diets containing 10 and 20% Culban seed meal in raw and autoclaved form.In addition, the autoclaved form was supplemented with enzyme (Bacozymex). There was also a control group which was fed a Culban meal free-diet. The lighting regime was 16.5 hours light and 7.5 hours darkness. The experiment lasted sixty three days. The supplementation with Culban seed had significant effects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, albumen index, egg weight, eggshell weight, shell strength, haugh unit, yolk lipid, yolk cholesterol ratio and yolk total poly unsaturated fatty acids. The presence of culban seed in feed has negative effects on the overall performance of laying hens, mortality, internal and external quality of eggs. Therefore, in alternative protein sources Culban seed. Therefore Culban seed could be recommended as a protein source (up to 20%) for laying hen diets.

The archaeological evidence suggests that Iran has been one of the first origins of sheep domestication in the world. This study aims to investigate the genetic diversity of indigenous Iranian sheep breeds using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and to explore the evolutionary history of sheep domestication in Iran. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers in the control region of mtDNA were used to genotype the unrelated sheep samples of Zel and Lori-Bakhtiari breeds which were collected from or near the center of the sheep domestication, using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial SNPs classified all animals into either of two haplogroups A and B. The population differentiation (FST) and gene flow (Nm) statistics were 0.054 and 4.715 respectively, indicating a low mitochondrial genetic differentiation and high gene flow between two sheep breeds. The Analysis of Variation (AMOVA) showed that around 97% of the total genetic diversity is distributed within the two breeds. Further analysis using SNP haplotyping identified nine different haplotypes within the animals; eight haplotypes were present in the Zel, while only four were seen in the Lori-Bakhtiari breed.Two haplotypes, designated H1 and H3, were present at higher frequencies in both breeds.Haplotyes H5, H6, H7, H8 and H9 were found as population-specific in the Zel, and haplotype H2 only occurred in Lori-Bakhtiari breed. The existence of two common Haplotypes (H1 and H3) in the animals suggest that the two Iranian breeds from strikingly different geographical regions, may share a common ancestry, and these haplotypes could be the origin haplotypes while the population specific haplotypes developed later.

This experiment was conducted to determine the potential synergistic relationship betweenEnterococcus faecium and fructans with different average Degree of Polymerization (DPav) including OligoFructose (OF, DPav 4), Standard-inulin (ST-inulin, DPav 10), Synergy1-Inulin (SYN1-inulin, DPav 15) and High-Polymer inulin (HP-inulin, DPav 25). A sterilized minimal MRS broth media was prepared by omission of glucose.The media pH was adjusted to a constant initial value of 5.8±0.1 and the temperature was maintained at 41°C. Sterilized fructans were added (1% wt⁄vol) to the broths, as experimental treatments with 3 replications each, and the medium with no added prebiotic was considered as the control. The same starting density of 108 E. faecium cells per ml was introduced to all media. The media pH, viable cells count, as well as growth of the latter were determined during 24 hours of incubation. The lowest pH and best growth rates were observed in the media enriched with OF and ST-inulin. Unlike aerobic, the anaerobic conditions produced no significant differences in growth of the bacteria among SYN1-inulin and HP-inulin treatments compared to the control. The viable cells count in the media containing OF was significantly higher than in the control and other treatments. The significant differences were also found among the control and treatments supplemented with ST-inulin and SYN1-inulin. In conclusion, the fructans with lower DP were preferentially metabolized byE. faecium, and hence it follows that a synbiotic blend ofE. faecium and OF has the potential to be used in poultry nutrition.

Microwave assisted fluidized bed drying is a novel drying technique which reduces drying time and yields higher quality products. In this study the effect of this method on color changes of whole and cut hazelnut kernels was investigated. The parameters of color and resulting total color change, chroma, Hue angle and browning index were also calculated during drying in three temperatures (40, 50 and 60oC) and microwave power levels (0, 450 and 900W). Comparison was made to investigate the effect of drying condition on browning of hazelnut surface and internal cavity. The zero and first order kinetic models were also fitted to whole and cut kernel color parameters. The results showed similar behavior in color parameters of whole and cut kernels. L value and Hue angle decreased with increasing drying time, drying air temperature and microwave power but a, b, DE, chroma and browning index increased. L and b values of whole kernels were higher than cut kernels but the a value was lower. Zero-order model was selected as the best model for predicting a, b and DE while first order model best described the kinetics of color changes of L, chroma, Hue angle and browning index.

The objective of the research was to test the effect of iron and aluminium coagulants commonly used for lake re-cultivation, on the pike sperm motility and fertilisation. The coagulants caused changes in the analyzed hydrochemical parameters of the water such as: Fe, Mg2+, TSS, SO4 2-and Cl-. Selected parameters of sperm motility: MOT, VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN were estimated using CASA. The sperm motility at the moment of activation was the highest in the control sample. With increasing the time of exposure the proportion of sperm motility in the analyzed semen decreased. In the samples with coagulants the values of MOT, VCL and VSL were smaller than in the control sample (statistically significant differences between the control and the samples with PIX and PAX were recorded in the 25th-30th second after activation). The percentage of fertilised eggs was the greatest in the control sample and in the PAX®18 sample (73.11 and 70.42%, respectively), whereas in the PIX®113 it was less than that (54.88%). The shortest larvae were those in the sample with coagulant PIX®113. In the samples with PIX®113 and PAX®18 the survivorship of embryos compared to the control sample was the smallest (43.10 and 51.61%, respectively and control 67.60%) and the proportion of malformed larvae was the highest (34.82 and 24.52%, respectively and control 15.17%).

B-biotype Bemisia tabaci is a severe insect pest worldwide in many ornamental, agricultural, and horticultural crops. Control of this insect is obstructed by resistance to many AcetylCholinEsterase (AChE) -inhibiting insecticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates. In the present work, we evaluated the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of six monoterpenoids namely a -pinene, terpineol, linalool, b-myrcene, nerol and geraniolin vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of AChE of B. tabaci was measured by colorimetric method. The results showed that all of the monoterpenoids produced AChE inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.96 to 26.85 mM. Alpha-pinene showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50=0.96 mM). Kinetic analysis showed reversible noncompetitive type inhibition, revealing that these components might bind both the enzyme alone and the enzyme-substrate. Results demonstrate the AChE inhibitory activity as mode of action of these monoterpenoids at relatively high concentrations. Thus, this could be useful for investigation of new ecofriendly natural insecticidal compounds.

The aim of the present work was to purify cysteine protease inhibitors from rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), with potential activity on digestive protease of Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Ammonium sulfate precipitated proteinaceous fractions; 30, 50, 70, and 100% showed 39.07, 57.03, 51.47, and 22.44% inhibition on the fourth instar larval gut general protease activity, respectively. Fraction 50% showed the highest inhibitory effect on digestive general protease activity of all developmental stages.Gel assays approved the inhibition of the enzyme activity. Fraction 50% was purified by using various chromatography techniques; ion-exchange using DEAE, gel filtration and affinity using SiO2-CPB larval gut homogenate. Three peaks of protein were eluted from ion exchange chromatography using NaCl step gradient, also from gel filtration chromatography. When Z-Ala-Arg-Arg-4mbNA was used as cysteine protease substrate, the purification fold of second fraction of ion exchange chromatography was obtained 24.80, also the yield was 59.09%, the third fraction of gel permeation resulted in a 25.60 fold purification with 28.53% of recovery, and the fraction of affinity chromatography obtained a 22.72 fold purification and yielded 36.35%. In the SDS-PAGE, apparent molecular mass of purified proteins were 34 and 32 kDa by ion-exchange and 24 and 22 kDa by affinity. However, gel filtration was not an appropriate method in this study, because the purified protein band (s) were not observed on the gel. Consequently, these chromatography methods were appropriate methods to purification of inhibitor cystatins, specially affinity which was prepared by using CPB gut enzyme as ligand and obtained specific inhibitor proteins of CPB gut protease activity.

Pomegranate fruit maturity status is commonly assessed based on external (skin) colour, juice colour and acidity of juice. Some researchers have studied the correlation between the parameters of the skin colour and acidity, total soluble solids, citric acid and anthocyanins. This study describes the relationship existing between solar radiation and a colorimetric maturity index in the pomegranate varietal group “Mollar de Elche”. We propose a fuzzy methodology. The aim of this kind of study is to obtain on estimation a range of possible values that reflects reality. Using this methodology four phases were obtained, in which there is no relationship between radiation and the colorimetric Maturity Index (MIc) in phases 1 and 4, but there is such a relationship in phases 2 and 3.Fuzzy math demonstrates the positive relationship between radiation andMIc, confirming that fuzzy regression is appropriate for making estimations that reflect reality among variables showing a weak relationship. There is a high degree of uncertainty in the relationship between the colorimetric maturity index and the incident radiation. The individual values of radiation do not correspond to one sole value ofMIc, but to a wide range of the same, due to several factors, such as fruit orientation, luminosity, etc. Fuzzy math reveals the positive relationship between net radiation and MIc in phases 2 and 3.All this shows that the fuzzy regression may be appropriate for making estimations reflect reality when the variables show a weak relationship.

In this research Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. leaf extract was used for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). At first we compared antioxidant activity of different extracts ofK. odoratissima. Then solution containing silver nitrate was treated with the extract which showed high antioxidant activity. Synthesized AgNPs were evaluated by analyzing the excitation of surface plasmon resonance. TEM analysis was also used for nanoparticle characterization. Antibacterial activity of the solution containing AgNPs was measured by microdilution test. Common food contaminant bacteria such as gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli O157: H7, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were used for the evaluation. The aqueous extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and the solution was used for the green synthesis of AgNPs.The particle diameters were calculated to be 20-40nm with -17 to -19.9 mV zeta potential.The TEM micrographs showed that the AgNPs are nearly spherical in shape and highly monodispersed. MIC of the AgNPs against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was between 0.012-0.025 and 0.006-0.012 mg/ml respectively.

This study assessed the optimum water need of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. California Wonder) and the critical irrigation level to be applied in order to achieve a reasonable economic yield in water shortage conditions. In a controlled field experiment involving five different treatments, seasonal evapotranspiration for pepper fluctuated from 89 mm in the severe stress treatment (I0.00) to 1, 018 mm in the excess water application (I1.25). The highest yield was obtained in the full treatment where water in the root zone was refilled up to field capacity. In cases of water shortage, applying water of 690 mm ensures an economical yield. Maximum leaf area index was recorded in the full treatment (I1.00), which enabled the pepper to receive more benefit from total incoming solar radiation (average, 2, 387 MJ m-2). An average of 555.45 MJ m-2 was held by the pepper canopy throughout the whole growing season. Radiation use efficiency values on a dry yield basis were 0.69 g MJ-1 in 2011 and reached 1.07 g MJ-1 in 2012, since the leaf area index increased from 1.46 to 2.44. Therefore, averaged over two years, the peppers in the full treatment converted irrigation water of 888 mm and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation into the highest yield of 75.5 t ha-1, which was more efficient than the excess and deficit water application treatments.

Linseed is an important oilseed and fibre crop predominantly grown in India. The aim of the present research was to evaluate genetic diversity and patterns of relationships among the 58 genotypes through 10 morphological traits and 12 polymorphic microsatellite (SSR) markers. Euclidean analysis of agro-morphological traits grouped the 58 genotypes into four clusters of which cluster I was the largest with 20 accessions while clusters II and IV were most genetically diverse due to maximum inter-cluster distance. Principal component analysis revealed three traits accounted for more than 86% of the total variation. A total of 41 alleles were amplified with 12 SSRs having an average of 5.71 alleles per primer locus. The Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) varied between 0.18 to 0.78. Based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient, the genetic distance varied from 0.07 to 0.89 with an average of 0.54±0.10. The genotypes RKY-14, KL-213, LC-185 and Kartika were found to be the most divergent among all the genotypes studied on the basis of genetic distance. The most diverse genotypes identified in this study can be used in breeding programs to broaden the genetic base of the linseed germplasm.

Transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is an important stage in plant’s life.Flowering pathways including photoperiod, vernalization, gibberellins, and autonomous pathway are regulated by different genes. Identification of flowering genes is essential for the development of bolting-resistant sugar beet cultivars. In this study, a set of 118 Arabidopsis thalianagenes involved in flowering time control were used as a reference to identify homologous counterparts in Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) and Transcriptome Shotgun Assembly (TSA) sequence of sugar beet. Based on obtained ESTs, primers were designed for Suppressor of Frigida 4 (SUF4), Curly Leaf (CLF), Constitutive Photomorphogenesis1 (COP1), and Cycling Dof Factor (CDF) genes.SUF4 and CLF are components of vernalization pathway andCOP1 and CDF are in photoperiod pathway.The sequence regions of these genes were amplified using cDNA PCR technique, and compared with other identified sequences in Gene Bank. Four genes namelyCLF, COP1, CDFand SUF4 were deposited in Gene Bank. Results showed that most of the flowering pathway genes inArabidopsis are detectable in sugar beet which can be contributed to the understanding of the genetic control of bolting resistance.

Expansion of apple growing to dry areas requires reliable approaches to select genotypes tolerant to water stress. We have simulated apple tree transpiration (Ec) from different commercial orchards and compared it with actual transpiration (Ea) derived from sap flow measurements. The modelling approach lies in rearranging a parameterized P–M Equation and incorporating in it a stomatal conductance model derived from meteorological variations. The model uses diurnal courses of variables instead of commonly used daily means. We then wrote a complex P–M Equation which already includes the canopy conductance as the function of radiation and vapour pressure deficit. For model calibration, an extensive experimental dataset of tree transpiration was collected from 2011 to 2013 in various sites of Albania and Kosovo, ranging from very warm to temperate. The daily pattern of canopy conductance for water vapour at canopy level provided by the model offers an unprecedented insight into rapid response to humidity of different cultivars as well as their light saturation levels. The satisfactory performance of this functional model should improve the precision of current empirical approaches followed to compute fruit tree water requirements and can be a promising tool for early and quick evaluation of water stress tolerance in apple genotypes.

In the current study, molecular typing of 50Erwinia amylovora strains related to different regions in Iran was evaluated using multi-locus sequence analysis and variable number of tandem repeats. In the first assay, phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of recombinase A, sigma factor S and a heat shock protein GroEL showed significant identity in studied gene sequences. A single nucleotide variation ingro EL was determined in IrGh59 strain related toC rataegus spp. from Ghazvin Province. In VNTR analysis, the same fingerprinting profile similar toE. amylovora reference strain ATCC49946 was yielded for tested strains except NBQ1 and MQ1 which may reflect a unique contaminating source for this disease in Iran. In addition, the honey-bee movements with respect to blossom season probably have a considerable role in fire blight unique dispersal in our area. The NBQ1 and MQ1 strains generated different VNTR profiles, isolated from cultivars Neishabour and Esfehan ofCydonia oblonga plant, respectively. No definite assessment can be expressed in this case. However, possible entry of other infection mass from neighboring countries should be determined. Overall, VNTR profile analyses are recommended as a tool to evaluate genetic differences inE. amylovora populations. In addition, employing more strains from different known sourcescould be assistance to achieve more accurate results aboutE. amylovora genetic variation and also fire blight distribution patterns.