Landrace Research Articles

A survey of the commercial traits and antioxidant status of goat milk in Mediterranean pastoral farms

Aim of study: To enhance the viability of goat farms in Mediterranean mountain areas, studies have proposed strategies to improve the marketing of their animal products. The primary aim of this work was to provide an overview of the commercial traits and antioxidant composition of milk produced on Payoya farms. A second aim was to assess the relationships between the antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the hygiene-sanitary parameters in milk. Area of study: Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (Southern Spain). Material and methods: The commercial traits (total solids, fat, protein, lactose, bacterial and somatic cell counts) and TAC of milk were determined monthly throughout the year. Milk samples were collected from sixteen Payoya farms under grazing-based management systems classified into three clusters Material and methods: The commercial traits (total solids, fat, protein, lactose, bacterial and somatic cell counts) and TAC of milk were determined monthly throughout the year. Milk samples were collected from sixteen Payoya farms under grazing-based management systems classified into three clusters (Low-productivity grazing farms, More instensive grazing farms, High-productivity grazing farms). Main results: No significant differences were found between clusters in the milk quality. Principal changes were observed in the milk composition in different months due to the variation in the lactation stage and differences in feeding regimens. The negative correlation between the TAC and the somatic cell count contributes to the important role of antioxidants in maintaining optimal udder health. Vitamin A could be involved in this antioxidant mechanism due to the positive correlation between the TAC and retinol determined in a previous study. Research highlights: The information generated on the quality of goat milk would contribute to establishing the records of the traceability system to guarantee that the animal products obtained are of the Payoya native breed.

Effects of Elevated CO2 on Maize Physiological and Biochemical Processes

Maize (Zea mays) is a critical global crop, serving as a source of food, livestock feed, and industrial raw materials. Climate changes, driven by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, have substantial effects on maize physiology, growth, and nutrient content. This review investigates the impact of elevated CO2 on maize, with a particular focus on photosynthesis enhancement as it improves water use efficiency (WUE), which can lead to increased biomass production. Despite this, elevated CO2 results in a decreased concentration of essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and folate. The reduction in folate, which is vital for both plant development and human nutrition, poses challenges, especially for population heavily reliant on maize. Additionally, biofortification through traditional breeding and genetic engineering is proposed as a strategy to enhance folate level in maize to mitigate nutritional deficiencies. Elevated CO2 stimulates lignin production, improving stress resistance and carbon sequestration capacity. However, the increase in guaiacyl-rich lignin may negatively affect biomass degradability and efficiency in biofuel production. The findings emphasize the importance of balancing maize’s stress resilience, nutrient profile, and lignin composition to address future climate challenges. This balance is essential for optimizing maize cultivation for food security, biofuel production, and environmental sustainability.

Advancements in Crop Yield Improvement through Genetic Engineering

While the global population continues to grow, it has heightened demand for better agricultural output. Traditional breeding techniques have played a great role in the improvement of crop yields, but they are not very efficient and not very excellent because they take quite a period of time and are not quite based on scope. Genetic engineering is a more precise, powerful approach with more direct influence on a plant genome; hence, the genetic engineering approach provides an alternative means of increasing the productivity of crops through the manipulation of the plant genome. This review describes the state-of-the-art genetic engineering technologies, like CRISPR, RNAi, and transgenic crops, to explain their capacity to enhance crop yield. It also reviews the problems, environmental implications, and future directions in GE crop biotechnology.

Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic insights of lumpy skin disease in cattle from diverse agro-ecological regions of Punjab, Pakistan.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging, highly contagious transboundary disease of bovines caused by the Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), responsible for substantial economic losses to the dairy, meat, and leather industries in Pakistan as well as various countries around the world. Epidemiological information on LSD is scarce in Punjab, Pakistan. Therefore, a molecular epidemiological study was conducted in two agro-ecologically diverse districts (Bhakkar and Jhang) of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 800 blood samples were randomly collected from the jugular vein of clinically suspected cattle with nodular lesions using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The sampling unit was indigenous, crossbred, and exotic breeds of cattle. Four hundred samples were collected from each district. Ten union councils (UC) were selected from each district, and two villages were selected from each union council. From each village, twenty cattle were selected for sample collection. The PCR-based overall prevalence of LSDV in clinically suspected cattle using the P32 gene was 36.25% (36.25%; 290/800). The multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that animals who were not treated with acaricide (P = 0.014; OR = 1.459; C.I = 1.079-1.972), body condition score (emaciated animals; P = 0.019; OR = 1.573; CI = 1.076-2.301), and gender (female; (P = 0.016; OR = 1.435; CI = 1.072-1.969) were significantly at higher risk for LSDV infection in cattle. The phylogenetic insights revealed that our isolates were linked to Kenya, China, Russia, Egypt, India, Zimbabwe, Iraq, and Iran. It can be concluded that LSD is widely distributed in the study area, with evidence of genetic diversity. Further studies are required on genetic composition using variable genetic markers for effective control and eradication of LSDV in Pakistan.

Vechur cow milk yoghurt: response surface methodology-based process optimization and storage studies.

In this research article, response surface methodology (RSM) based optimization of three production parameters namely temperature, time and amount of starter culture of Vechur cow milk yoghurt (VCMY) on the basis of sensory evaluation responses comparing cross-bred cow milk yoghurt (CCMY) as the control is reported. The optimized values of production parameters were 2.15 per cent rate of inoculation, 42°C incubation temperature and 4 h incubation period. The optimized product exhibited significantly lower syneresis, a*, b* values and higher L* values than CCMY. Physico-chemical, microbiological, textural and sensory properties of both VCMY and CCMY during room temperature and refrigerated storage were assessed daily until the onset of spoilage (room temperature) or at five day intervals over a period of 15 d (refrigerated). Both room temperature stored products were graded undesirable by the sensory panel upon one day of storage. Significant reduction was observed in the fat, SNF, total solids, protein and pH content and all the tested colour parameters of the optimized product during refrigerated storage. Total viable counts as well as yeast and mould counts and lactic acid bacteria counts of both VCMY and CCMY progressively increased over the 15 d of storage. Significant reductions were observed in the flavour (P < 0.01), body and texture, colour and appearance and overall acceptability (P < 0.05) scores of both the samples over a period of 15 d. During storage, hardness and adhesiveness values showed an increasing trend whereas the cohesiveness showed a decreasing trend. Storage studies revealed significant differences in the acidity, pH, syneresis, tyrosine value, colour parameters and sensorial attributes of both the yoghurt samples. During the 15 d refrigerated storage period, the VCMY exhibited superior technological attributes to CCMY in terms of lower syneresis %, acidity, microbial population, firmer and less cohesive texture, better flavour, colour and appearance scores. Being the first comprehensive study on the utilization of Vechur cow milk for the preparation of yoghurt, the data generated in the current study would provide a solid base for the exploration of fermentation as a means of value addition of milk of this very rare indigenous cattle breed.

Enhancement of FK520 production in Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus ATCC 14891 by overexpressing the regulatory gene fkbR2.

Ascomycin (FK520) is a 23-membered macrolide antibiotic primarily produced by the Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus. Structurally similar to tacrolimus and rapamycin, it serves as an effective immunosuppressant widely used in the treatment of rejection reactions after organ transplantation and certain autoimmune diseases. Currently, FK520 is mainly produced through microbial fermentation, but its yield remains low. Since the gene fkbR2 is a regulatory gene within the FK520 biosynthesis gene cluster that has not been studied, this paper focuses on the overexpression of the gene fkbR2 in Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus ATCC 14891 (WT). By constructing a strain with overexpressed fkbR2 gene, we initially obtained a high-yield strain R2-17 through shake flask fermentation, with a 28% increase in yield compared to WT. In the process of further improving the stability of the high-yield strain, this paper defines two indices: high-yield index and stability index. After two consecutive rounds of natural breeding, strain R2-17 achieved a high-yield index of 100% and a stability index of 80%. Finally, the high-yield strain R2-17-3-10 was successfully screened, and the yield was increased by 34% compared with the strain WT, reaching 686.47mg/L. A comparative analysis between the high-yield strain R2-17-3-10 and the original strain WT revealed differences in fermentation process parameters such as FK520 synthesis rate, pH, bacterial growth, glycerol consumption rate, ammonia nitrogen level, and ammonium ion concentration. In addition, the transcription levels of genes involved in the synthesis of precursors 4,5-dihydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid (fkbO), ethylmalonyl-CoA (fkbE, fkbU, fkbS), and pipecolic acid (fkbL), as well as pathway-specific regulatory genes (fkbN, fkbR1), were significantly increased at different time points in the high-yield strain R2-17-3-10. EMSAs analysis showed that the FkbR2 protein could not bind to the promoter region of above genes. This suggests that the gene fkbR2 may enhance the supply of FK520 synthetic precursors by indirectly regulating the transcription levels of these genes, thereby promoting an increase in FK520 production. These results demonstrate that modifying genes within the biosynthetic gene clusters of natural products can be successfully applied to increase the yields of industrially and clinically important compounds. However, it is found that fkbR2 gene is a regulatory gene that has not been fully studied, and it is worth further studying its regulatory mechanism.

Taming the wild: Domesticating untapped northern fruit tree and shrub resources in the era of high-throughput technologies

Abstract New crops need to emerge to provide sustainable solutions to climate change and increasing abiotic and biotic constraints on agriculture. A large breadth of northern fruit trees and shrubs exhibit a high potential for domestication; however, obstacles to implementing traditional breeding methods have hampered or dissuaded efforts for improvement. This review article proposes a unique roadmap for de novo domestication of northern fruit crops, with a focus on biotechnological (e.g. genome editing, rapid cycle breeding, and in planta transformation) approaches that can boast rapid evolutionary gains. In addition, numerous biotechnological (e.g., virus-induced flowering and grafting-mediated flowering) and breeding strategies (e.g., adaptation of speed breeding to fruit trees) that can hasten the transition from juvenility to sexual maturity are described. A description of an accelerated genetic breeding strategy with insights for 16 underutilized species (e.g., shagbark hickory, running serviceberry, horse chestnut, and black walnut) is provided to support their enhancement. Deemed unrealistic only a decade ago, progress in the realm of bioengineering heralds a future for northern orphan crops through the implementation of fast-tracked crop improvement programs. As such, the roadmap presented in this article paves the way to integrating these novel biotechnological discoveries and propel the development of these forgotten crops in a sustainable and timely manner.

Enhancing crop yields to ensure food security by optimizing photosynthesis.

The crop yields achieved through traditional plant breeding techniques appear to be nearing a plateau. Therefore, it is essential to accelerate advancements in photosynthesis, the fundamental process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, to further enhance crop yields. Research focused on improving photosynthesis holds significant promise for increasing sustainable agricultural productivity and addressing challenges related to global food security. This review examines the latest advancements and strategies aimed at boosting crop yields by enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. There has been a linear increase in yield over the years in historically released germplasm selected through traditional breeding methods, and this increase is accompanied by improved photosynthesis. We explore various aspects of the light reactions designed to enhance crop yield, including light harvest efficiency through smart canopy systems, expanding the absorbed light spectrum to include far-red light, optimizing non-photochemical quenching, and accelerating electron transport flux. At the same time, we investigate carbon reactions that can enhance crop yield, such as manipulating Rubisco activity, improving the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle, introducing CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) in C3 plants, and optimizing carbon allocation. These strategies could significantly impact crop yield enhancement and help bridge the yield gap.

Wounding after cocultivation improves somatic embryogenesis response and agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Coffea canephora L.

Traditional breeding can take a long time and effort to provide better-adapted crop varieties. Biotechnological breeding can be used to generate desired agronomic traits much faster, but improvements in transformation efficiency and in vitro regeneration are needed in non-models crops. Cocultivation of Coffea canephora embryogenic leaf explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens led to 82 % transformation efficiency in the somatic embryos that developed on the wounded edges of the explants, but both the application of vacuum during agroinfiltration and the cocultivation process diminished the embryogenic response to 36 %, as compared with the non-transformed explants. Application of novel wounds to the already co-cultivated discs activated the embryogenic potential in the newly wounded edges of the former non-embryogenic areas, leading to 97 % of the former embryogenic response, with 98 % transformation efficiency, as evaluated by the GUS histochemical assay, PCR amplification of the uidA and nptII genes, and qPCR. Fully developed embryos at the cotyledonal stage were obtained 8 weeks after somatic embryogenesis was triggered by the addition of 5 µM benzyladenine. Rooting of the transformed cotyledonal embryos under Hygromycin selection, acclimatization of the rooted plantlets, and final greenhouse acclimatization to the soil conditions were accomplished within a 48-week period. The transformed plants were maintained in a biosafety greenhouse, and the wild plants were subsequently transplanted to soil. Application of new wounds to leaf explants of C. canephora after co-cultivation with A. tumefaciens recovers the original embryogenic capacity of the explants without affecting the extremely high transformation yields. The high efficiency and reproducibility, as well as the relative rapidity of this optimized protocol constitutes a valuable experimental model for analyzing gene function, studying cell differentiation, and improving the biotechnological breeding of coffee.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Myofiber Type Composition Traits in a Yellow-feather Broiler Population

Meat quality is a key factor determining the economic viability of the broiler industry, particularly in native broiler breeds. Skeletal muscles contain a mixture of muscle fibers, each possessing unique physicochemical properties; the composition of myofiber types within these muscles is closely linked to meat quality. However, comprehension of the regulatory mechanisms governing this trait remains limited. Therefore, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with a population of 400 yellow-feather broilers to explore genetic variations associated with myofiber-type composition at the genomic level. Whole-genome resequencing was employed to detect genetic variations and immunohistochemistry was used for muscle fiber typing in the sartorius muscle. We identified 1 and 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly and potentially associated with the proportion of slow muscle fibers, respectively, and 1 and 12 SNPs significantly and potentially associated with the area proportion of slow muscle fibers, respectively. We annotated several candidate genes, including DMD, KLF7, CREB1, EFCAB11, GADD45A, GSTT1, and GSTT1L, which are related to myofiber type composition. We also demonstrated that myofiber composition traits exhibit low-to-medium heritability, indicating potential for enhancement through genetic selection. These findings provide a crucial reference for further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of poultry meat quality and for advancing the breeding of superior-quality broiler chickens.

Obstacles to implementing indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in Africa.

In a climate change context, indigenous and local knowledge includes the use of traditional practices, crop varieties, and land management techniques that have evolved in response to local climatic conditions. This inter-generational transfer of knowledge is crucial for maintaining and adapting these practices to meet the challenges posed by climate change. Despite the many advantages of using indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in Africa, its implementation faces several obstacles. Understanding these obstacles is crucial for integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches to enhance climate resilience effectively. This paper offers an analysis of some of the most critical obstacles that hinder the use of indigenous and local knowledge in climate change adaptation in African countries.

Comparative analysis of the physical and phenotypic traits of native cattle (Bos indicus) in the Tarai region of North Bihar for conservation

Background and Aim: The evaluation of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of indigenous breeds may help to frame breeding policies and plans to implement breed conservation and improvement programs to increase the efficiency of the native breed of the Tarai region. This study aimed to determine the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of indigenous cattle of the Tarai region of North Bihar. Materials and Methods: A field study was undertaken in 32 villages belonging to 13 blocks of the East and West Champaran districts of Bihar. Animals (n = 562) of different age groups were studied to evaluate their phenotypic and morphological characteristics. Results: It revealed that cattle of the Tarai region are small breeds, and the heights at withers in the females and males were 104.2 ± 0.32 cm and 115 ± 0.27, respectively, with a significant (p = 0.000) difference between sexes. In addition, heart girth was significantly (p = 0.000) higher in males than females. Body length and chest girth were 101.6 ± 0.13 cm and 132.6 ± 0.25 in adult females and 114.8 ± 0.23 cm and 145.7 ± 0.15 cm in adult males, respectively. Body weight also differed significantly (p = 0.001), with 180.9 ± 1.12 and 208.7 ± 1.91 cm for females and males, respectively. Among the draught animals of India, the region cows were comparatively low milkers, with an average lactation yield of 680.2 ± 4.52 kg with a mean lactation length of 224.5 ± 2.06 days and a peak yield of 3.4 ± 0.06 kg/day. The age at first calving and calving interval of Tarai cattle was recorded 32.4 ± 0.22 months and 16.2 ± 0.12 months, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study could serve as a potential guide for the establishment and identification of new cattle breeds based on the phenotypic and morphometric characteristics of the cattle in Tarai region of North Bihar using baseline data. The data generated from this study can be useful for new Tarai breed identification and serve to establish long-term selective breeding programs for Tarai cattle in the region. Keywords: body weight, conservation, phenotypic traits, physical, Tarai cattle.

Genetic Improvement of Banana for Resistance to Xanthomonas Wilt in East Africa

ABSTRACTBanana (Musa spp.) is a staple food and income generation crop, feeding millions worldwide. However, the cultivation of bananas is challenging due to biotic and abiotic production constraints. Among these factors are pests and diseases, especially banana bacterial disease. Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pathovar musacearum (Xcm), has the most significant detrimental economic effect on East African banana production. The infection of BXW is rapid and severe; its impact increases over time and causes huge banana yield losses. The Xcm infects and causes disease in all types of bananas except the wild diploid type Musa balbisiana, which is resistant boosting plant immunity for controlling Xcm and other diseases in bananas. Resistant cultivars are the best promising management option for controlling Xcm and other diseases in bananas. All the cultivated bananas are sterile, and have a long generation cycle, which complicates their improvement through conventional breeding. Biotechnological approaches to banana improvement can complement conventional breeding by overcoming some of its challenges. Additionally, genetic engineering could speed up the process of crop improvement, especially for sterile seedless crops like bananas. It is also specific to the target gene and precise modification that avoids unwanted genes in the normal breeding process. Recent developments using genetic engineering and genome editing on bananas have been initiated to tackle these issues. This review article focuses on the challenges of traditional breeding and the progress of genetic engineering and genome editing approaches, aiming to enhance understanding of achieving an essential genetic gain of bananas against the BXW. This understanding is crucial for enhancing food security in East Africa and globally.

Testing the potential of zebularine to induce heritable changes in crop growth and development

Key messageZebularine-treated wheat uncovered a phenotype with characteristics of an epigenetically regulated trait, but major chromosomal aberrations, not DNA methylation changes, are the cause, making zebularine unsuitable for epigenetic breeding.Breeding to identify disease-resistant and climate-tolerant high-yielding wheats has led to yield increases over many years, but new hardy, higher yielding varieties are still needed to improve food security in the face of climate change. Traditional breeding to develop new cultivars of wheat is a lengthy process taking more than seven years from the initial cross to cultivar release. The speed of breeding can be enhanced by using modern technologies including high-throughput phenomics, genomic selection, and directed mutation via CRISPR. Here we test the concept of modifying gene regulation by transiently disrupting DNA methylation with the methyltransferase inhibitor, zebularine (Zeb), as a means to uncover novel phenotypes in an elite cultivar to facilitate breeding for epigenetically controlled traits. The development and architecture of the wheat inflorescence, including spikelet density, are an important component of yield, and both grain size and number have been extensively modified during domestication and breeding of wheat cultivars. We identified several Zeb-treated plants with a dominant mutation that increased spikelet density compared to the untreated controls. Our analysis showed that in addition to causing loss of DNA methylation, Zeb treatment resulted in major chromosomal abnormalities, including trisomy and the formation of a novel telocentric chromosome. We provide evidence that increased copy number of the domestication gene, Q, is the most likely cause of increased spikelet density in two Zeb-treated plants. Collateral damage to chromosomes in Zeb-treated plants suggests that this is not a viable approach to epigenetic breeding.

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF BMP-4 GENE IN BADDI GOAT BREED OF DISTRICT KHAIRPUR MIR'S SINDH PAKISTAN

Bone morphogentic protein 4 is a protein that found in goat, cattle, and human are encoded by BMP4 gene. the candidate gene is found on chromosome 10q in goats. BMP4 gene is the subfamily of the superfamily named as transforming growth factor beta. it is an evolutionary conserved member of BMPs family. BMP4 is a protein coding gene that concern with connective and soft tissues of the body structure . it play main role in goats, cattle, human and other animal's bodies for maintaining the body activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and migration. Present study was aimed to investigate the mutational variations found with same area of indigenous goat breed. The Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of Baddi goat breed. The samples were transported and stored at 4 degree for further processing of DNA extraction. The targeted region of BMP4 gene that was amplified by the specific set of primers. The amplified products were sequenced by the ABI Genetic Anayzer 3500 and sequencing data was analyzed by Bio Edit v 7.2 and blasting was performed on ensemble.org. Result revealed that about 4 missense mutations found the breed with help of PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. The missense mutation was identified by the replacement of genetic codon from original codon such as first missense mutation found in replacement of Serine by Threonine at 157Bp, second and third from Glycine to isolecucine at 159 Bp and 173 Bp respectively. while fourth mutational variation occured from Arginine to Serine at 177 Bp. However, the percentage of mutation in Baddi breed was greater than 1% it means there was polymorphism has been found with replacement of original amino acids with variate amino acids that play a significant role in improvement of goat characteristic such as body, muscles, milk and meat quantities. Obtained result revealed a great heterogeneity in genetic makeup of Baddi breed and hence could be used in genetic marker which assisted the selection of Baddi breed than other breeds.

The comparison of compositional quality of milk and physicochemical properties of milk fat of indigenous cattle breed of Sri Lanka with locally reared pure European cattle breeds

As an essential dietary ingredient, milk fat (MF) has a major impact on the nutritional value, economics, and physical and chemical characteristics of milk and dairy products. The purpose of this research study was to examine and contrast the compositional quality of milk and physicochemical characteristics of milk fat of the Sri Lankan indigenous cow breed with that of locally raised Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian pure European cattle breeds. Three random samples of milk from each breed of Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian were gathered from the Nuwara Eliya district, and indigenous cow’s milk samples were collected from the Jaffna district, Sri Lanka. For compositional analysis, the Bulgarian MCCW Lactoscan equipment was used. To analyze physicochemical properties, a cream separator was used to separate the fat. The standard AOCS procedures were used to analyze physiochemical properties: Free fatty acid value (FFA), acid value (AV), saponification value (SV), peroxide value (PV), Polenske value (P) and Reichert Meissl value (RMV). The AOAC method was used to analyze the Refractive Index (IR). The evaluated parameters showed significant differences (p&lt;0.05) according to Minitab one-way ANOVA. According to the study of the compositional quality of milk, locally bred pure European cow breeds had higher percentages of protein, fat, lactose, SNF, total solids and salts in milk than the native Sri Lankan bovine breed. The highest levels of PV (1.40 meqO2/kg), AV (0.67 mg KOH/g), and FFA (0.34) were found from milk fat of local indigenous cow breeds, whereas Holstein-Friesian milk fat had the lowest levels. The Ayrshire milk fat had the highest SV (236.50 mg KOH/g) and RMV (28.97), whereas the Indigenous cattle breed had the lowest. Holstein-Friesian milk fat had the greatest P (1.87), while Ayrshire milk fat had the lowest (1.57). In all the three breeds, IR (1.46) was nearly identical. This study revealed that, milk of locally raised pure European cattle breeds are better in quality than the local indigenous breed. Highest PV, AV and FFA observed in the local breed revealed that milk fat of local varieties are more susceptible to oxidation than that of locally raised European breeds.Keywords: Holstein-Friesian, Ayrshire, Indigenous cow breed, Milk composition, Physicochemical characteristics.

Genetic analysis in traditional rice landraces of southern india for puffing quality

The present investigation was carried out at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai during 2021 - 2022. The study comprising of 23 traditional rive varieties or landraces of Southern India were analyzed for 16 quality traits to study the extent of variability and character association. Norungan, Navarai, Chinnar and Thooyamalli are the landraces that had maximum value for amylose content, expansion volume, expansion ratio, bulk density and puffing yield. High PCV and GCV were observed for the traits bulk density, expansion of volume, expansion ratio and puffing yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean recorded for most of the traits except hulling percentage, milling percentage and head rice recovery. This proved that these traits are governed by additive gene effects and the process of selection would be effective to improve these traits. Character association studies revealed that the improvement of the traits viz., kernel length, hulling percentage, fat content, gelatinization temperature, gel consistency and bulk density are the key parameters to avail good puffing quality. Based on the overall performance, the genotypes Norungan, Navarai, Chinnar and Thooyamalli can be selected for future breeding programme to obtain new recombinant types for premium quality puffing. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(4): 981-990, 2024 (December)

Enhancing Bovine Reproduction: The Progress of Artificial Insemination in Ethiopia

ABSTRACTArtificial insemination (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in bovine reproduction, revolutionising the agricultural sector globally. In countries like Ethiopia, where livestock is a vital component of the economy and plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and supporting rural livelihoods, advancements in AI hold immense promise and potential. AI has been instrumental in improving the genetic quality of bovine populations, increasing milk and meat production, and facilitating the dissemination of superior genetic traits across diverse breeds. In Ethiopia, traditional breeding practices often face challenges related to limited access to superior breeding stock and inadequate breeding management. The adoption of AI techniques can address these constraints and pave the way for sustainable livestock development. The importance of bovine AI in Ethiopia is underscored by the country's large bovine population, which primarily consists of indigenous zebu cattle breeds known for their adaptability to local environmental conditions. However, challenges persist regarding its widespread adoption and implementation in Ethiopia. Key obstacles include limited access to quality semen from superior sires, inadequate infrastructure and facilities for AI services, insufficient training and capacity building among veterinary professionals and inseminators, and socioeconomic barriers faced by smallholder farmers in accessing AI services. This review aims to critically examine the progress made in bovine AI in Ethiopia, identify the obstacles and constraints hindering its full‐scale adoption, and explore prospects and strategies for overcoming these challenges. By delving into the latest research findings, policy frameworks and practical experiences in bovine AI, this review seeks to provide valuable insights and recommendations for leveraging AI technology to enhance livestock productivity, genetic diversity and sustainable agricultural development in Ethiopia.

A pea variety ‘Kazak’

Peas is one of the most common leguminous crops, the value of which is determined by a wide range of use. Traditional pea varieties often suffer from poor productivity and insufficient tolerance to adverse weather conditions such as drought, frost, and diseases. Modern plant breeding has made it possible to develop new leafless pea varieties with a determinate growth type (limited stem growth), which significantly simplifies mechanized harvesting. In this regard, the purpose of the current study was to develop a new highly productive pea variety with resistance to extreme environmental conditions and high feed and food qualities. During a long-term breeding work, including a various initial forms’ crossing, a selection of the best genotypes and a strict control of productivity and stability parameters, the variety ‘Kazak’ was studied in the Competitive Variety Testing under number G-1122 in 2020–2022. The yield structure elements have shown that pea seed productivity has increased due to all elements of seed productivity. Number of productive beans per plant of the variety ‘Kazak’ was 4.9 pcs., number of seeds per plant was 16.3 pcs., 1000-seed weight was 206.7 g, productivity of one plant was 3.4 g, and protein in seeds was 25%. Due to higher indicators of the yield structure elements, it was possible to form productivity from 2.40 to 4.41 t/ha, which is on average 0.50 t/ha higher than that of the standard (2.07–3.42 t/ha). Economic efficiency of the variety cultivation has shown an additional output of 10,110 rubles per hectare, and the profitability level was 70.6%. Further work is going to be aimed at the study of adaptive potential of the variety in various climatic areas and the features of varietal agricultural technology to achieve maximum productivity. Particular attention is going to be paid to the study of genetic potential of the variety ‘Kazak’ for breeding new, even more productive and resistant pea varieties.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR INCREASING INCIDENCE OF MALARIA IN Talata asher VILLAGE, TESSENEY DISTRICT, GASH BARKA, ERITREA 2023

Abstract Background: The expansion of new malaria vector knows to call An. stephensi in Sub-Saharan-Africa (SSA) is another challenge in malaria elimination .The use of long lasting insecticidal net(LLINs) ,indoor residual spraying (IRS) and environmental management targeted to eliminating mosquitoes breeding sites is the main malaria prevention strategies. This study aimed at assessing the factors for increasing incidence of malaria in talataasher village, teseney district gash barka region of Eritrea. Methods: The quantitative descriptive cross sectional &amp; qualitative study was conducted in Talata Asher village, Tesseney district, Gash barka, Eritrea which is found in gash barka, Eritrea in border with Sudan. A total of 102 households interviewed, 10 households for indoor breeding site assessment, 10 outdoor breeding habitat for outdoor breeding assessment and also twelve participants for focus group discussion. Data was collected using a standard structured questionnaire, standard entomological forms and analyzed using SPSS version 2025. Results: Of the 102 households assessed 92.2% of the households own at least one LLINs, 73.2% two or more LLINs. Only about 23% of all households had sufficient numbers of LLINs to meet the desired target in the household. Nearly 87.2 % of household members were used the net for sleeping under, but only 52.9% slept under LLINs during the previous night. The majority of the house holds 40.4 % were slept under LLINs after ten pm. Out of the total 60% of the households mentioned only one environmental management campaign performed through the whole year in the area. With regards to the total morphologically identified Anopheles from the artificial and natural breeding habitat, 34.3% and 27.9% were An.stephensi which is the new emerging malaria vector respectively. Conclusions: The low bed net utilization and practice of environmental management targeted to malaria prevention results the increasing malaria incidence in study site. In addition, to that the presence of new emerging malaria vector An. Stephensi in the study area also the cause increased incidence. Therefore there is a need to a special attention on the behavior of the new vector and a need to promote the whole population on the core malaria prevention methods.