Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Hendrika Fourie
North-West University, South Africa
Keynote: Nematodes that limit South African grain production, with focus on future perspectives and challenges to manage such pests
Biography:
Hendrika Fourie is a Researcher and Lecturer at the North-West University, South Africa. She has published more than 40 scientifi c articles in accredited, peerreviewed journals and serves as an Editorial Board Member. Her research is interdisciplinary, such as plant and animal biodiversity, botany, molecular biology and zoology are integrated in projects.
Abstract:
Nematode problems experienced by local grain producers escalated during the past decade. Reducing nematode-pest populations, particularly in maize-based cropping systems, is becoming increasingly diffi cult and pose a serious challenge. Despite the application of highly eff ective, registered nematicides, extremely high population densities of particularly rootknot nematodes have been recorded from roots/other below-ground plant parts of crops. No single nematode management strategy, not even application of the most eff ective chemical nematicide, is in many cases successful in reducing extremely high root-knot nematode population densities. Alternative and supplementary strategies have to be exploited and their application carefully planned to complement the responsible use of nematicides. Th is will assist producers to minimize quality and yield crop losses, and conserve soils. One such strategy that should be relied on in particular is the use of root-knot nematode resistant or poor-host cultivars, while the practice of traditional crop rotation has to be revisited. Removal of weeds also has to receive priority since many weed species maintain root-knot nematodes, particularly during warmer winters. Th ese and other practices are discussed for use in combination with the limited number of nematicides registered on grain crops in South Africa. Producers and related industries have to accept that nematode pests represent a defi nite production constraint and that these pests hamper the sustainable production of crops, and most importantly adversely aff ecting food security.
Keynote Forum
Iqbal Munir
The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
Keynote: Low viscosity biodiesel production through targeted modulation of Brassica seed triglycerides pathway
Biography:
Iqbal Munir is working as the Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan and runs several projects on biofuel production using transgenic technology. He has expertise in enzymology and plant biotechnology. He has established the Biochemical and Molecular Division at the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
Abstract:
Energy crises along with environmental concerns are driving researchers to develop viable alternative fuels from renewable resources. Th e use of Brassica juncea oil as an alternative fuel suff ers from problems such as high viscosity, low volatility and poor cold temperature properties. Th e seed of Euonymus alatus produces low viscosity oil having unusual Triacylglycerol (TAGs) called acetyl Triacylglycerol (acTAGs) where the sn-3 position is esterifi ed with acetate instead of a long chain fatty acid. The enzyme Euonymous alatus diacyl glycerol acetyl transfrase (EaDacT) present in these plants is an acetyl transferase that catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to Diacylglycerol (DAG) to produce acTAG. In order to reduce the viscosity of Brassica juncea oil by synthesizing acTAG, we have developed an effi cient and simple agrobacterium mediated floral dip transformation method to generate transgenic Brassica juncea plants. A binary vector containing the EaDacT gene under the transcriptional control of a glycinin promoter and with a basta selection marker was transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV-3101 through electroporation. Basta is a herbicide which is used as a selection marker to allow us to conveniently screen very young transgenic plants from a large number of untransformed plants. Th e basta resistant putative transgenic plants were further confi rmed by PCR. Biochemical analyses of the transgenic B. juncea seed revealed modifi edfatty acids profi le having no acetyl TAGs. Alternative strategy is in process to silence genes encoding enzymes DGAT/PDAT along with overexpression of EaDAcT, that will hopefully produce acetyl TAGs.
- Scientific Sessions: Agricultural Biotechnology | Physiology & Molecural Biology | Agricultural Crop and Soil Science | Agricultural Risk Management
Location: Hall
Chair
Yusuf Leonard Henuk
University of North Sumatra, Indonesia
Session Introduction
Samodimo Ngwako
Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) Gaborone Botswana
Title: Characterisation of Jatropha curcas l germplasm within Botswana using morphological and molecular markers (SSR)
Biography:
Samodimo Ngwako completed PhD at the University of Birmingham in 2003. He is the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Botswana. He is an Associate Professor in Plant Breeding and was the Head of Department of Crop Science and Production
from 2011 to 2017. He has puplished more than 20 papers in reputed journals and has served as an editor for a number of jounals.
Abstract:
Jatropha curcas L is an undomesticated plant species that has recently received great attention for its utilization in biofuel production in many countries including Botswana. Th e experiment investigated 30 Jatropha curcas accessions, and the results revealed high signifi cant diff erences (P<0.01) in the thirty accessions for peduncle length, number of seed per fruit, length of fruit stalk, fruit length, fruit width, seed length and width, seed weight, leaf length and width, petiole length, total fl ower per cluster, female and male fl ower per cluster and number of fruit per. Th e qualitative characters revealed substantial amount of variability among the accessions except in fruit shape, stem color and fl ower color. Multivariate cluster analysis based on morphological characters grouped the accessions into four clusters at dissimilarity coeffi cient of approximately 1.37 indicating a wider variation. Molecular characterization revealed four distinct clusters at 0.85 genetic similarity coeffi cients and this
indicates narrow genetic diversity. Correlation between morphological and molecular markers showed negative, positive and no correlation relationships. Eight morphological characters and six molecular markers correlated positively with r values ranging from 0.557 to 0.662. Th e morphological and molecular markers were both clearly able to cluster the Ghana accession away from the other accessions. Th e morphological characters that separated the Ghana accession from others were seed weight and infl orescence compactness.
Darwin A Basquial
Benguet State University, Philippines
Title: Protected cultivation improves growth of ‘Lollo Rossa’ lettuce grown in chilling conditions in Benguet, Philippines
Biography:
Darwin A Basquial has completed his PhD in Horticulture, specialization in Crop Physiology from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and the Director of Horticulture Research and Training Institute, Benguet State University, Philippines.
Abstract:
A study was conducted in two sites (Paoay, Atok and Balili, La Trinidad) in Benguet Province, Philippines to investigate the growth and development of lettuce variety ‘Lollo Rosso' through vegetative, biomass and yield, physiological and phytochemical parameters using low tunnel and mulch [black Polyethylene Plastic (PEP), alnus leaves and white PEP) as mitigation strategies against cold stress. Th e average temperature in Atok and La Trinidad was 15 and 21 ºC, respectively. In Atok, andap or frost was experienced on February 15 and 16, 2017 with air temperature of 1.8 and 1.5 ºC, respectively. Another andap occurred on March 8 and 19, 2017 having an ambient temperature of 3.3 and 3.9 ºC, respectively. Performance of lettuce
was better with the use of low tunnel compared to those grown without. Shoot length, root and shoot fresh weight, yield, shoot dry weight and total phenolic content of lettuce was increased with the use of plastic mulch. However, the use of alnus mulch against chilling stress was ineff ective. In general, white PEP was advantageous when used in Atok, while black PEP was more beneficial when used in La Trinidad. In terms of combination eff ect, shoot fresh weight, yield, and root dry weight was highest in lettuce grown in Atok under white PEP and low tunnel. Lettuce grown in La Trinidad had the highest root and shoots dry weight and yield under black PEP and low tunnel.
Nandish M S
University of Agriculture and Horticulture Science, India
Title: Thrust and challenging areas of microbiology for human sustenance
Biography:
Nandish M S has completed his PhD in Agricultural Microbiology from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology, College of Agriculture, UAHS, Shimoga. He has published more than 25 research papers in reputed journals and more than 75 abstracts publications and handling 11 research projects in the field of agricultural microbiology as Principal Investigator and Co - Principal Investigator.
Abstract:
Microbiology is a fascinating branch of biology with applications in several fi elds’ right from past, present and in future also. Th e microbes include a great diversity of living forms; the only standard feature among them being their microscopic in size. Th ese microbes are ubiquitous and are all-pervading on our planet; they are present in high abundance in the soil where they find moisture, nutrients, and temperature for their growth. Microbes make up most of the biodiversity on Earth and several of the processes which microorganisms perform are of critical importance for the cycling of nutrients, the degradation of various compounds, and the global climate. Knowledge of microbes in the environment helps mankind to develop ecosystem services and to fi nd strategies to utilize our agricultural natural resources in a long-term sustainable
manner. Th e seeds of knowledge on microbes were sown much earlier while dealing with the history of any science it is possible to recount the achievements of only a few outstanding philosophers ignoring the ever so many who have toiled to build the science brick by brick. Th e microbes have existed on this planet even before man and from time immemorial man has felt the influence of microbes especially as the caused diseases to him and on his crops and livestock. Th ere are references to plant disease in the Vedas (1500 BC), Bible (1000 BC) and in the writings of Th eophrastus (370 BC). As microbes are not seen with the unaided eye, the knowledge about them had to necessarily await the development of microscope and microbiology began when people learned to grind lenses from pieces of glass and to combine them to produce magnifi ed images. Th e extensive work on microbes have started in latter half of the nineteenth century where many of the olden civilization people were using the microbial-mediated foods like wine, curds, etc., for their consumption without knowing, later in the fi rst half of the 20th century interest on microbes has gained momentum with the application of microbes in production of antibiotics and several other industrial products like enzymes etc., Th ere are several fi elds where the microbes can be applied are biotechnology, food industry, medicine, agriculture etc.,
Biography:
Akhona Mbatyoti has completed his PhD in Environmental Sciences (Nematology) in June 2018 from North-West University (South Africa). He is currently a postdoctoral Fellow at North-West University and Agricultural Research Council – Tropical and sub-Tropical Crops.
Abstract:
The abundance and identity of plant-parasitic and terrestrial non-parasitic nematodes in rhizosphere soil and root samples of commercial Glyphosate-Tolerant (GM) and conventional (CS; non-glyphosate tolerant), soybean cultivars from cultivated fields were obtained for two consecutive growing seasons in South Africa. In addition, the same were done for adjacent natural veld areas. 13 plant-parasitic nematode genera and 31 species associated with both GM and conventional soybean cultivars and with natural veld areas were established. In general, root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and root-lesion (Pratylenchusspp.) nematodes dominated in the roots of both types of soybean cultivars. In rhizosphere soil, either Helicotylenchus or Scutellonema were the predominant genera. Conventional soybean cultivars hosted the highest nematode diversity (11 genera and 22 species), followed by natural veld (nine genera and 22 species) with those in GM cultivars being the least diverse (10 genera and 17 species). Six species, viz. Pratylenchus fl akkensis, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus vulnus, Rotylenchus brevicaudatus, Telotylenchus avaricus and Quinisulcius capitatus, are fi rst reports for soybean in South Africa. 32 non-parasitic nematode genera occurred in rhizosphere soils of the two soybean ecosystems 23 in CS and 21 in GM soybean) with 28 genera occurring in natural veld areas. Bacterivorous were most diverse in soils of the two soybean ecosystems during both seasons, while fungivores tended to be more abundant in GM soybean fi elds especially during the second season. Novel information has been generated with this study, representing the fi rst for GM soybean crops in South Africa.
Suman Pal Singh Sirohi
Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India
Title: Stability analysis for yield and it’s contributing characters in green gram
Biography:
Suman Pal Singh Sirohi has completed his MPhil and PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India. He is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Kisan PG College Hapur, India and has published more than 50 national and international research papers and journals.
Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to understand the role of genotype and environmental interactions in the expression of various characters and stability of Mung bean genotypes in four environments. The signifi cance of environmental component for all the characters in pooled analysis indicated existence of substantial diff erences among the four environments. Significant mean squares due to Genotype×Environment (G×E) interaction for all the characters except number of seed pods and 100 seed weight suggested that the genotypes showed considerable diff erential interaction with diff erent environments. The pooled deviation was highly signifi cant for all the characters except number of seed per pod 100 seed weight indicating that the response of genotypes taken for this study was not predictable and non-liner component played an important role in the development of the characters. Th e overall results of the stability across environment indicating their adaptation to rainfed as well as irrigated conditions. Thus, role of environment and G×E interactions must be taken into account while devising implementing selection or breeding programs in Mung bean.
Mohammad Akil
Indonesian Cereals Research Institute (ICERI), Indonesia
Title: Effect of different potassium levels and varitites on the yield of hybrid maize under field condition at South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Biography:
Akil is working as a senior Researcher in the Division of Ecology and Physiology, Indonesian.Cereals Research Institute (ICERI), Maros, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. He is soil and agronomist scientist. He obtained Ph.D (Crop Science – Agronomy) from Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on November 1999. He worked as researcher in the Maros Research Institute for Food Crops (MORIF), now Indonesian Cereals Research Institute (ICERI).
Abstract:
In order to investigate the eff ect of diff erent potassium levels and hybrid maize varieties on the yield and yield components of maize, an experiment was carried out at the Bajeng Experimental Station, Indonesian Cereals Research Institute, Gowa, South Sulawesi, from May to September 2017. Th e level of K on site of the experiment is 0.26 mg kg-1. Th e potential grain yield of three hybrid maize varieties has diff erent. Nasa-29 has potential grain yield (13.5 t ha-1), Bima-20 (12.8 t ha-1) and Bima-4 (11.7 t ha-1). Th e experiment was laid out in randomized split plot design with three replications having a plot size of 9 m×6 m with planting density 75×25 cm. Th e main plot was 6 levels of potassium (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100) kg K2O ha-1. Th e sub plot was 3 hybrid maize varieties (Nasa-29, Bima-20 and Bima-4). Results indicated that the interaction of diff erent levels of potassium and hybrid maize varieties signifi cantly infl uenced maize plant height, cob diameter, weight of 1000 grains, and grain yield. Th e application of potassium at the rate of 60 kg K2O ha-1 and Nasa-29 variety resulted in the highest grain yield (11.33 t ha-1) under field condition the agro-ecological of Gowa, South Sulawesi.
C J Sridhara
University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, India
Title: Influence of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield of aerobic Rice (Oryza sativa L)
Biography:
C J Sridhara has completed his Masters and PhD in Agronomy from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He is specialized in water management and irrigation aspects by involving himself in teaching, research and extension activities related to water management. He is currently working as a Professor and Controller of Examination at University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, Karnataka, India. He has published about 25 international, 20 national level research papers in various journals, published a book on aerobic rice cultivation and participated in various conferences. He served as a
Reviewer for various national and international journals and serving as academic Council Member at UAHS, Shimoga.
Abstract:
A field investigation carried out at agricultural and horticultural research station, Bhavikere, UAHS, Shivamogga during Kharif 2017, to study the infl uence of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield of aerobic rice. The texture of soil was sandy loam having acidic pH with organic carbon of 0.40 g kg-1, available nitrogen 220.80 kg ha-1, phosphorous 33.90 kg ha-1 and potassium 163.60 kg ha-1. Th e variety used was MAS 946-1 (Sharada). Th e experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with ten treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of 100% RDF and 75% RDF with diff erent levels of FYM and vermin compost. Among diff erent treatment combinations application of 100% RDF+100% vermin compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR recorded signifi cantly higher growth parameters like number of tillers (34.2), leaf area (1396.9 cm2), dry matter production (89.04 g), yield attributes like number of productive tillers per hill (16.32), panicle length (23.52 cm), panicle weight (2.68 g), number of fi lled grains (87.0), grain yield (3868.0 kg ha-1) straw yield (4225.72 kg ha-1) and total nutrient uptake of nitrogen (93.13 kg ha-1), phosphorus (25.05 kg ha-1) and potassium (92.63 kg ha- 1). Th e yield increment was 27% over the control. Higher gross returns and net returns were registered with 100% RDF+100% vermi compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR (Rs. 81,228, Rs. 45,175) whereas, higher benefi t cost ratio (2.87) was obtained with application of 75% RDF+25% vermin compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR.