Randomized Complete Block Design Research Articles

Comparison of additive main effect–multiplicative interaction model and factor analytic model for genotypes ordination from multi‐environment trials

AbstractAn additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model is used to explore the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) in complete multi‐environmental trials. This model orders genotypes (G) according to their performance across environments (E) on a vectorial plane generated by the first two axes of a principal component analysis (AMMI‐biplot). Alternatively, interaction terms can be regarded as random effects, which can be predicted from linear mixed models using a factor analytic (FA) covariance structure for the GEI terms. Here, an FA‐biplot was obtained by plotting the G and E scores derived from the FA mixed model with complete and incomplete data. The aim of this work was to compare AMMI‐biplot with FA‐biplot for balanced data and then show the impact of the imbalance on the FA‐biplot. The G ordinations were assessed in four scenarios generated using datasets of 3 consecutive years obtained from comparative wheat trials conducted under a complete random block design in different environments across the Argentine network of cultivar assessment. For each scenario, G with the lowest performance in the third year were deleted, one by one, from all sites to generate a scenario with missing G. Although we used different statistical procedures to obtain AMMI‐biplot and FA‐biplot, they showed the same interaction pattern in the case of up to 50% of G dropped from all E in the last year of the multiyear trials. We conclude that the FA‐biplot yields a robust G ordination even when with incomplete datasets.

Yield Performance Study of Bina Developed Sesame Varieties under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

An investigation was done during the Kharif-I (Summer) season 2022 at Sadar Upazilla of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh to explore the yield and factors affecting the yield of four sesame varieties developed by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). Three replications of a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were used, where Binatil-1, Binatil-2, Binatil-3, and Binatil-4 were the varieties. The experiment's findings showed that Binatil-1 contained the tallest plant (107.00 cm), whereas Binatil-3 contained the shortest plant (79.55 cm). It was noted that Binatil-2 had the greatest number of plant-1 branches (4.95), whereas Binatil-1 had the least amount (2.14). Additionally, Binatil-3 displayed the highest number of plant-1 pods (95.65), whereas Binatil-1 provided the lowest amount (51.27). Binatil-1 had the largest pod (3.56 cm), whereas Binatil-4 had the smallest (2.57 cm). It was noted that Binatil-1 displayed the greatest count of seeds in pod-1 (78.15), while Binatil-4 displayed the least amount (61.12). The highest 1000 seed weight was obtained from Binatil-2 (3.15 g), whereas the lowest 1000 seed weight was recorded in Binatil-1 (2.95 g). The established genotype Binatil-2 had the maximum seed yield (1.42 t ha-1), whereas Binatil-1 had the least (1.27 t ha-1). Among the cultivars, Binatil-3 matured in the fewest days (87), whereas Binatil-2 required the most days (95). At Binatil-2, significant yield performance was found from the Kharif-I (summer) season experiment. A simple correlation was done where branches per plant per thousand seed weight had a significant positive correlation and pod breadth had a negative impact on seed yield for all genotypes. This experiment will be helpful for oil crop breeders and the farming community to choose promising sesame genotypes with high yield potential and future breeding stock. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 125–132, 2023 (December)

Dissecting wheat above-ground architecture for enhanced water use efficiency and grain yield in the subtropics

BackgroundGrowing wheat under climate change scenarios challenges, scientists to develop drought and heat-tolerant genotypes. The adaptive traits should therefore be explored and engineered for this purpose. Thus, this study aimed to dissect surface traits and optimizing the leaf architecture to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield. Twenty-six wheat genotypes were assessed for five novel leaf traits (NLTs: leaf prickle hairs, groove type, rolling, angle and wettability) under normal, drought and heat conditions following triplicated factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD). The data for NLTs, physiological traits (stomatal conductance, WUE, transpiration, and photosynthesis), and standard morphological and yield traits were recorded. Leaves were sampled at the stem elongation stage (Zadoks 34) to measure the leaf water content (%), contact angle, and to obtain pictures through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The air moisture harvesting efficiency was evaluated for five selected genotypes. The ideotype concept was applied to evaluate the best-performing genotypes.ResultsThe correlation analysis indicated that long leaf prickle hairs (> 100 μm), short stomatal aperture and density (40–60 mm− 2), inward to spiral leaf rolling, medium leaf indentation, low contact angle hysteresis (< 10°), and cuticular wax were positively associated with WUE. This, in turn, was significantly correlated to grain yield. Thus, the genotypes (E-1) with these traits and alternate leaf wettability had maximum grain yield (502 g m− 2) and WUE supported with high photosynthesis rate, and relative water content (94 and 75% under normal and stress conditions, respectively). However, the genotype (1-hooded) with dense leaf hairs on edges but droopy leaves, spiral leaf rolling, and lighter groove, also performed better in terms of grain yield (450 g m− 2) under heat stress conditions by maintaining high photosynthesis and WUE with low stomatal conductance and transpiration rate.ConclusionThe SEM analysis verified that the density of hairs on the leaf surface and epicuticular wax contributes towards alternate wettability patterns thereby increasing the water-use efficiency and yield of the wheat plant. This study paves a way towards screening and and developing heat and drought-tolerant cultivars that are water-saving and climate-resilient.

Morphological characterization of indigenous potato (Solanum tuberosum) genotypes

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important non-grained food and vegetable crop lauded for its nutritional and health benefits. Identifying any new potato genotype primarily depends on its morphological traits, including vegetative, floral and tuber parameters. The present study was carried out during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at the research farm of ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, regional station, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh and at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Kufri-Fagu unit, Himachal Pradesh (for floral traits) to evaluate the potato genotypes for vegetative and tuber traits. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Total of 64 indigenous potato genotypes were characterized for 51 morphological traits for distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test guidelines. For all traits, there was a high degree of variability between genotypes. Early maturing varieties are preferred owing to their suitability to fit into the potato-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)- paddy (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system. Most genotypes were either early or medium maturing based on foliage senescence. High variability was observed for tuber shape, i.e. genotypes bearing flattened, round, ovoid, oblong, long-oblong and reniform-shaped tubers were available. Tuber skin and flesh colour determining consumer preference depicted variability from whitish cream to dark purple-black skinned tubers. Novel genotypes bearing variegated tuber flesh with a niche market of specific consumer segments were noticed in genotypes Red flesh, Bareilly red, DRR Blue, Badami aloo and Kala aloo. Moreover, the results obtained from the present investigation indicated that the description of 64 indigenous potato genotypes based on notes can be used as a reference for the protection of new varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act (PPV&amp;FRA) rules as well as a comparison against new candidate varieties.

Effect of different doses of nitrogen and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense on the productive characteristics of maize

This study assessed the effects of different nitrogen doses on maize crops, with and without the inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense. The experiment was carried out during the 2020/2021 harvest season in the administrative department of Concepción, district of Horqueta, Paraguay, at the coordinates of 23°14'31.7" S and 56°53'05.9" W. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged in a factorial design (4 X 2). Factor A included nitrogen doses (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1), while factor B corresponded to the bacterial inoculation (with and without A. brasilense). The experiment was performed in three replications; each experimental unit (EU) was 22.5 m2. The study evaluated the following characteristics: plant height, cob insertion height, cob length and diameter, weight of 1000 kernels, and kernel yield. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the averages were compared using Tukey's test at a 5% probability of error. Regression analysis was also carried out during the study. The experiment results demonstrated that increased nitrogen levels positively affected the measured characteristics, fitting a quadratic model, except for cob insertion height. Inoculation with A. brasilense significantly increased corn growth and productivity. The interaction of both factors produced a significant increase in cob length. Based on the experiment results, applying 104.30 kg ha-1 of N in combination with A. brasilense inoculation is recommended for improved maize production.

Variation in survival, growth and stem straightness in Eucalyptus urophylla provenances in the Southern Highlands region of Tanzania

Lack of quality planting materials has significantly limited productivity and quality of commercial forestry plantations in Tanzania. A provenance/progeny trial of Eucalyptus urophylla was established to test performance in order to select the best planting materials for future plantation activities. A complete randomised block design was used whereby 30 families from 8 provenances within 6 replications were tested. At 13 years tree survival, growth (diameter at breast height and height) and stem straightness were assessed. The results indicate that there were highly significant differences (p < 0.05) among provenances and families in survival, height, breast height diameter (DBH) and stem straightness. The overall survival ranged from 79.0% to 96.2%; height ranged between 24.9 and 32.5 m; and DBH ranged from 18.7 to 24.5 cm. Overall, results from this study show that provenances Alassannaru, Elun kirpas, Nesunhuhun and Nakana ulam have better growth performance and stem form than others. These results provide valuable information on the growth performance of different provenances and families of E. urophylla. The provenances and families selected with best performance can be used in developing improved seeds for plantation establishment and/or selection of plus trees for vegetative propagation as candidate clones for a clonal testing programme in Tanzania.

Characterization of Bacillus velezensis DCJ 2 isolated from the rhizosphere soil of aglaonema ‘Maria’ and investigation of its plant growth-promoting effects

Aglaonema ‘Maria’ is one of the key foliage plants that has gained high demand in foreign destinations in the last few years. This study was conducted to characterize Bacillus velezensis DCJ 2, assess its plant growth promotion effect and investigate the effectiveness of different delivery methods of the bacterial inoculum for the growth promotion of Aglaonema ‘Maria’. In this context, DCJ 2, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of A. Maria was screened to investigate its potential as a plant growth-promoting bacterium. The pure culture of DCJ 2 maintained on nutrient agar was utilized for morphological, biochemical and physiological examinations. The molecular characterization of the strain was performed with different primer pairs targeting 16SrRNA, gyrA, pgsB and sugar kinase genes of DCJ 2. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the plant growth promotion effect. It was conducted in the greenhouse as per the complete randomized block design with eight treatments and five replicates. . Healthy plants of A. ‘Maria’ established in field soil and solarized soil were treated with 100 ml of the suspension of the DCJ 2 at the rate of 10 8 CFU/ml either as a soil drench or foliar spray. The partial 16SrRNA, gyrA, pgsB and sugar kinase gene sequences of DCJ 2, BLAST searched in the NCBI database revealed that it has a high similarity to Bacillus velezensis. The pot experiment showed that the application of strain DCJ 2 as a soil drench to solarized soil (Treatment 6) yielded a significant increase in growth parameters at p=0.05. Based on molecular analysis, morphological, biochemical, and physiological reactions, DCJ 2 was identified as Bacillus velezensis. This study revealed that B. velezensis DCJ 2 has the potential to boost the growth of A. Maria and hence serve as a base for developing a biofertilizer.

Growth, yield, and yield-related response of mid-season cauliflower varieties due to different B levels in Chitwan, Nepal

Boron (B) is a vital micronutrient that many crops, including vegetables, require in small amounts. However, brassica vegetables need B in higher doses. Although Chitwan has the highest area under cauliflower production, the productivity is low as a result of inadequate B fertilization. Cauliflower is a B-sensitive crop, and low B in soil results in poor growth, yield, and yield-related parameters. So, to study the growth, yield, and yield-related response of cauliflower varieties due to different B levels, a field experiment was conducted at the horticulture farm of Agriculture and Forestry University of Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) having (B levels: 0.55 kg ha−1, 1.1 kg ha−1, 1.65 kg ha−1, and 2.2 kg ha−1) and (cauliflower varieties; Kathmandu Local, White Top, and Snow Crown), which were replicated thrice. The maximum values of growth parameters like the plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, plant canopy diameter, and the number of leaves were obtained from B 2.2 kg ha−1. Similarly, the White Top variety produced the tallest plant, the longest leaf, and the highest number of leaves, while the broadest leaf and canopy cover were observed in Snow Crown. The shortest days required for first, 50 % and 100 % curd initiation were observed in B 2.2 kg ha−1, and in the case of varieties, White Top took the least time for first, 50 %, and 100 % curd initiation. Similarly, the highest curd weight, curd diameter, and curd yield were obtained when B was applied at 2.2 kg ha−1. White Top produced the curd with the highest weight, diameter, and yield. A strong positive correlation was observed between curd diameter and leaf length (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) and curd diameter and leaf breadth (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). Curd yield and diameter were also positively correlated with r = 0.78 at p < 0.01. Thus, according to the current findings, it can be recommended that in the mid-season condition at Chitwan, Nepal, application of B at the rate of 2.2 kg ha−1 and the use of the White Top variety should be made for better growth and yield of cauliflower.

Spacing, Fertilizer and PGPR on Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa) and Chemical Properties of Soil

A field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of spacing, fertilizer levels and PGPR on yield and primary nutrients accumulation in different parts of industrial hemp and on chemical properties of soil. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, spacing and fertilizers levels with or without PGPR were the factors. The results revealed, plants spaced at 15cm × 10cm registered significant yield of leaves, stems and roots (7.84, 9.80 and 4.20 t ha-1 respectively). The uptake of nitrogen and potassium (450.32 and 159.13 kg ha-1 respectively) was highest in this spacing, while, the phosphorous uptake (75.74 kg ha-1) was maximum in 10cm × 5cm spacing. Among nutrition, 125 percent RDF plus PGPR recorded a significant yield of stem and seed, also, this treatment resulted in maximum uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus (440.33 and 72.58 kg ha-1 respectively) by the plants. It can be inferred that spacing of 15cm × 10cm and application of 10 tonnes FYM with 250:125:250 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 (125% RDF) plus PGPR consortia (Azospirillum brasilense, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus megaterium @ 5kg each) was found to be optimum to produce higher yields.

The potential of in ovo-fed amino acids to alleviate the effects of heat stress on broiler chickens: effect on performance, body temperature, and oxidative status during the finisher phase

The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of in ovo-fed amino acids (AA) to reduce the effects of heat stress on finishing broiler chickens. To achieve this, a total of 1,400 fertile hatching eggs were randomly distributed into 5 groups (n = 280/group) and injected with one of the following in ovo treatments on embryonic day 18: 52 µL of sterile diluent/egg (CTRL), CTRL + 1.0 mg of L-Leucine (T1), CTRL + 0.45 mg of leucine + 1.15 mg of methionine (T2), CTRL + 3.0 mg of methionine + 2.0 mg of cysteine (T3), and CTRL + 0.40 mg of leucine + 1.60 mg of methionine + 1.60 mg of cysteine (T4). After hatch, chicks were allocated according to a complete randomized block design comprising 2 thermal conditions: thermoneutral (24°C, 45% RH) and heat stress (34°C, 55-60% RH) with 5 pens/group/condition. The cyclical heat stress regimen (10 h/d) was then applied from d 29 to d 34. Compared to the CTRL group, T3 and T4 exhibited a higher BW during the starter phase (P < 0.001). T4 also had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than CTRL during this same phase (P = 0.03). During the grower phase, males of all treatment groups consistently exhibited higher BW compared to the CTRL group, which was not observed among female birds (PSex × TRT = 0.005). During the finisher phase, the in ovo treatment effect on performance was not significant. However, heat-stressed birds from treatment group T3 and T4 exhibited lower facial temperatures (Pday × TRT < 0.001) as well as lower plasma (Pcondition x TRT = 0.039) and liver (Pcondition x TRT < 0.001) malonaldehyde concentrations compared to the CTRL group. In conclusion, in ovo-fed AA have the potential to modulate the effects of heat stress on finishing broiler chickens by limiting its detrimental consequences, including increased body temperature and oxidative damage.

Yield, Yield Attributes and Weed Biomass of Rice (Oryza sativa L) as Influenced by Weed Control Treatments

The present investigation was conducted during the Kharif of 2019 at Research cum Instructional Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and ten weed management treatments viz. Pretilachlor (PE )750 g ha-1 , BispyribacNa (PoE ) 25 g ha-1 , Fenoxaprop-p-ethy (PoE) l 56.25 g ha-1 , Cyhalofop-buty (PoE ) l 80 g ha-1 ,Penoxsulam+ Cyhalofop butyl (PoE ) 135 g ha-1, Penoxsulam(PoE ) 22.5 g ha-1 , Metsulfuronmethy ( early PoE ) l 4 g ha-1 , 2,4-D Ethyl Ester (PoE ) 750 g ha-1 ), weed free (HW) , at 20, 40 and 60 days after sowing and weedy check . Result was found that among the weed management treatments, the weed free treatment registered significantly highest value and was at par the application of Penoxsulam+ Cyhalofop butyl 135 g ha-1 , yield attributing characters, grain and straw yield and dry matter of Alternanthera sessilis it was found the lowest value in the application of Penoxsulam+ Cyhalofop butyl 135 g ha-1 (T5).

Evaluation of the Digestibility of Diets Containing Soy Okara in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fries Raised in a Controlled Environment in Benin

Aims: To evaluate the digestibility of diets containing soy okara in Clarias gariepinus fries. Study Design: Random complete block design. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Hydrology and Wetland Research, Faculty of Sciences and technics, University of Abomey-calavi, between June 2019 and July 2019. Methodology: Four diets containing different levels of soy okara (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) respectively noted T0, T1, T2 and T3 were tested. Twelve 40L tanks were randomly distributed into 04 batches with 03 repetitions for each of the 04 diets. The fries with an initial average weight of 10.47 +/- 2g were fed ad libitum three times a day (8 A.M., 12 P.M., 4 P.M.) for 30 days. Survival rate, cannibalism rate, average daily gain, specific growth rate, weight-length relationship, condition factor, consumption index, ingested protein, protein efficiency coefficient and digestive utilization coefficients were measured. Results: The specific growth rates (SGR) ranged between 2.25 +/- 0.165 and 2.58 +/- 0.115 with the best rate for the treatment containing 0% soy okara. The consumption index varied from 1.18 +/- 0.009 to 1.41 +/- 0.132 with the best index for the T3 treatment. Furthermore, the mortality rates were 0% for treatments containing 20% and 30% soy okara. The results indicate that it is possible to incorporate up to 30% soybean okara into the diet of Clarias gariepinus fry without hindering their zootechnical performance. The digestive protein utilization coefficients of the diets were calculated and are 95.12; 88.47; 92.21 and 90.37 for diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% soy okara respectively. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that among the different diets tested, treatment T2, containing 20% soy okara, proved to be the most favorable in terms of zootechnical performance. These results suggest that T2 treatment can be considered as a promising option for feeding Clarias gariepinus fries.

Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen on Growth, Yield and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum estivum L.) Cv. Koshan-02

The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels (0, 50, 70, 90 &amp; 110 kg N ha-1) of Nitrogen (N) on growth, yield and yield related parameters of wheat (cv. Koshan-02) in Kabul agro-climate condition at the Agricultural Research Farm of Kabul University, during spring 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, each replication consisted of five treatments. Total treatments were (15). The size of each plot was (2mx3m=6m2). The result of our study revealed that the plots treated with highest level (110 kg N ha-1) of N fertilizers produced the highest plant height (85.97cm). maximum number of grains spike-1 (35.74), the highest dry matter (3.937t ha-1), The highest number of tillers m-2 (152.76 m-2), 1000-grain weight (48.94g), grain yield (2891.1kg/ha) large spike length (10.52), number of grains spikelet-1 (2.98), Spikelet number spike-1 (11.54), followed by T4, T3 and T2. It was concluded that all treatments have ranked regarding their efficient effects as ((T5 (110 kg N ha-1&gt; T4 (90 kg N ha-1&gt; T3 (70 kg N ha-1&gt; T2 (50 kg N ha_1&gt; TControl) for all growth, yield and yield helping attributes such as plant height, number of grains spike-1, dry matter (kg ha-1), number of tillers plant-1, 1000-grain weight(g), grain yield (kg ha-1), spike length (cm), number of grains spikelet-1, number of spikelet spike-1, spike number m-2 and number of leaves plant_1. So, for obtaining aimed and desirable yield the application of (110 kg N ha-1) is recommended under research area conditions (Agro-Climatic Condition).

Efficacy of Plant Extracts for the Control of Pepper Insect Pest (Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae L.)

Aphids pose significant threats to crop productivity, necessitating effective and sustainable pest management strategies. This study investigated the repellent properties of neem and papaya leaf extracts on green peach aphids and the impact of the extracts on plant growth in pepper (Capsicum spp.). The experiment involved 7 treatments and 3 treatment replications with varying concentrations of neem and papaya extracts (6.5 v:v, 7.5 v:v, and 8.5 v:v) compared to a control group (Distilled water). The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used as an experimental design. The study site was Cuttington University’s College of Agriculture Research site. The distances between plots and blocks were 0.6 m and 1 m, correspondingly. In the laboratory bioassay, results uncovered distinct trends, with the control treatment exhibiting the highest mean aphid count (41.0), while neem 8.5 v:v (6.0) and papaya 8.5 v:v (8.1) treatments established substantial effectiveness in reducing aphid populations. The highest mean aphid counts following biopesticidal application were 48.0 and 76.7 after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively and were recorded in the untreated control plots, while the lowest mean aphid counts were 21.3 and 6.0 after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, neem 8.5 v:v treatment consistently showed the highest mean values across plant height (16.2 cm), leaf length (8.2 cm), leaf width (5.2 cm), and repellency index (3.0), indicating potential positive impacts on plant growth and repellency. Untreated control measured the lowest values for plant height (13.8 cm), leaf length (6.0 cm) and repellency index (1.0). The study demonstrated the potential of both extracts to suppress aphid populations and enhance plant growth. Applying these natural extracts as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy can be beneficial for controlling aphid infestations in pepper crops. Their use as repellents can reduce aphid populations, minimizing potential crop damage and yield losses.

291 An evaluation of soybean meal inclusion rate in pigs fed from wean to market

Abstract Soybean meal (SBM) supply may result in decreased relative costs of SBM compared with other ingredients. Net energy of SBM closer to the NE of corn has been reported which may increase its relative value in formulations (Boyd and Gaines, 2023). To evaluate the effect of SBM level in two common diet formulation strategies, Corn-DDGS-SBM (DDGS) or Corn-SBM (SBM) in wean-to-market pigs (WTM). A total of 540 pigs (PIC X Duroc, 18 d of age, 5.3 kg) were weaned and blocked by body weight (BW) and sex for allocation. Six dietary treatments were assigned to 90 pens to give 15 replications per treatment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Individual BW for average daily gain (ADG) and pen feed disappearance (ADF) were collected every 2 wk for 18 wk and carcass data were collected at average market weight of 129 kg (18 to 20 wk after placement). The mash diets were formulated to a SID lysine:NE target in 7 phases using current NE estimates for SBM, 2087 Kcal/kg, and to meet or exceed NRC requirements (2012). The NE level used for DDGS was 2,343 Kcal/kg. The treatments consisted of Low (LO), Medium (MED), and High (HI) SBM levels by providing 0.5%, 0.25% and no added lysine (AA) in SBM- or DDGS (30%)-based diets. Data were analyzed using pen as the experimental unit for performance data and the pig as the experimental unit for carcass data. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) and P &amp;lt; 0.05 was considered significant and 0.05 ≤ P &amp;lt; 0.10 considered a tendency. The ADF tended to be less from wk 0 to 18 for pigs fed SBM than DDGS diets. SBM diets increased wk 6 BW and ADG compared with DDGS (P &amp;lt; 0.05). HI and MED SBM additions increased wk 6 BW and wk 0 to 6 ADG vs LO SBM (P &amp;lt; 0.05). SBM diets increased wk 14 and 18 BW, gain to feed ratio (G:F) and ADG compared with DDGS (P &amp;lt; 0.05) except for MED in DDGS diets, which was not different. HI and MED SBM additions increased wk 14 and 18 BW and 0 to 18 wk ADG vs LO SBM (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Carcass data indicated SBM diets increased hot carcass weight by 2 kg, loin depth, back fat and calculated lean weight, compared with DDGS (P &amp;lt; 0.05). LO SBM resulted in more back fat, less loin depth and lean weight compared with the use of HI or MED SBM (P &amp;lt; 0.05). SBM improved growth, feed and caloric conversion, and increased carcass value in high-performance WTM pigs compared with the use of DDGS. MED and HI SBM level tended to improve ADG and carcass characteristics.

133 The effect of sire lines and endpoint cooking temperature on consumer eating experience and visual appeal in pork loin chops

Abstract Prior research and public perception of pork suggest breed influence visual characteristics like color and size and palatability traits like tenderness and flavor of pork chops. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess consumer perception of visual appeal and palatability of pork loin chops from three sire lines cooked to two different degrees of doneness (DOD). Boneless pork loins from three sire lines (Duroc, Berkshire, and Synthetic) were aged to 14 d post-mortem. Loin quality was then measured, and 2.54-cm chops were frozen from each loin. Chops from each sire line were overwrap-packaged in sets of two and displayed in a retail case with two representative packages per sire line. Panelists rated each package for color, marbling, and size on a just about right (JAR) scale and then indicated their overall liking of each package. Chops from each sire line were cooked to either 63°C or 71°C, cut into 1-cm cubes and two samples from each chop were served to each consumer. Panelists rated 6 samples, each sire line and DOD, for tenderness, flavor, and juiciness on a JAR scale and then rated overall liking. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in SAS 9.4 with panelist age range serving as an influence effect for all panel data. Berkshire chops did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.08) in redness from other chops, but required 0.13 kg less force to shear, and had a 16.23 cm2 smaller LEA compared with Synthetic and Duroc chops (P &amp;lt; 0.02). Duroc chops had the greatest marbling (P &amp;lt; 0.04) but did not differ in visual color score from other treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.10). There were no differences in consumer visual evaluations (P &amp;gt; 0.45), with traits from all sire lines averaging between 43 and 57 (JAR = 50). Sire line also did not alter visual liking (P = 0.94). There were tendencies for interactions (P &amp;gt; 0.09) between DOD and sire line for consumer sensory evaluation. In general, consumers rated Berkshire chops cooked to 63°C more favorably than other sire line and DOD combinations. Consumers rated chops with different DOD similarly for tenderness and flavor, but tended to score juiciness of chops cooked to 63°C closer to JAR (P = 0.07). Duroc chops were the least tender and least acceptable (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Berkshire chops were juicer than Duroc and Synthetic chops (P &amp;lt; 0.02). Overall, consumers scored all chops between 3.1 and 12.3 units below the JAR line (100-unit scale) regardless of sire line or DOD for tenderness, juiciness, and flavor with overall acceptability within 10 units of neither like nor dislike, which may be indicative of consumers general negative perceptions of pork loin chops.

PSV-16 Effect of precision feeding and functional amino acids on immune response and protein metabolism of growing pigs raised in poor sanitary conditions

Abstract The activation of the immune system reduces the nutrient availability for growth and increases the variability among pigs. Functional amino acids (AA) supplementation can reduce the negative effects of immune activation. Additionally, providing daily tailored diets using individual precision feeding (IPF) was shown to account for individual variability. Therefore, we hypothesized that the association of IPF and functional AA supplementation could reduce the negative effect of immune-challenged pigs fed with daily tailored diets. The aim of this study was to assess performance and blood parameters variation of growing pigs under poor sanitary conditions while being fed functional AA 120% above the estimated INRA AA ratios within IPF, compared with a conventional group-phase (GP) feeding system. The sanitary condition was characterized by oral inoculation of 2 × 109 cfu of Salmonella typhimurium and manure spreading on the pen floor on d 0. Sixty gilts (23 ± 2.8 kg body weight; BW) were distributed in a complete randomized block design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement composed of 2 diets: CN with 100% INRA AA ratio or AA+ with 120% of the ratio for Met, Thr and Trp; and 2 feeding systems: GP or IPF. GP pigs received a single diet matching the SID Lys requirement of the 80th-percentile pig at the beginning of the trial whereas IPF pigs received a diet tailored daily to each pig requirement. All pigs were group-housed and fed ad libitum for 28 d by automatic feeders. Body weight was measured at d 0 and 28 and feed intake was recorded daily. Blood samples were collected at d 0, 7 and 28. Data were analyzed with diet and feeding systems and their interactions as fixed effects and BW blocks as random effect. Blood parameters were analyzed as repeated measurements over time. The pig was considered the experimental unit. No diet effect or interactions were observed for any variable (P &amp;gt; 0.05), suggesting that only supplementing Met, Trp, and Thr is not enough to support growth during a sanitary challenge (Table 1). Haptoglobin and IgG increased linearly whereas IgA, urea, and creatinine had a quadratic increase over time (P &amp;lt; 0.05; Table 2). The IPF decreased growth performance and increased serum IgA and creatinine (P &amp;lt; 0.05), mostly due to the fact that IPF reduces AA provision compared with GP system. The IPF model, as most mathematical models, does not account for the AA and energy costs related to the immune challenge. Therefore, IPF might have underestimated the requirements of the pigs, and limited the amount of nutrients provided. In conclusion, the combined effect of IPF and functional AA supplementation was not able to reduce the negative effect of the sanitary challenge.

Spacing and Tomatotone Influence on Yield of Rain Fed Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Spacing and Tomatotone Influence on Yield of Rain Fed Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

PSV-21 Pediococcus acidilactici survives an in vitro simulated digestion

Abstract In the swine industry, probiotics are recognized for optimizing growth performance and production efficiency by modulating host physiology, and the response across studies is not consistent. One area of focus is probiotic mitigation of post-weaning diarrhea, and further mechanistic understanding of probiotic and host physiology could help with consistent performance outcomes. An essential attribute of a probiotic is the ability to survive the harsh environments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The aim of this study was to determine if Pediococcus Acidilactici PECh3A (PA) that has been previously genome sequenced for determining gut physiology mechanisms can survive an in vitro simulated digestion. In the in vitro digestion PA concentrations that were investigated included 108, 109, and 1010 colony forming units (CFU)/mL. The in vitro digestion (n = 4/concentration) consisted of 5 phases with incubation times simulating the GIT; initial inoculation (0 h), gastric (2 h), upper intestinal (4 h), lower intestinal (9 h) and extended lower intestinal phase (9 h). For the initial inoculation concentrations of PA were added into 25 mL of sterile milk replacer representing dietary requirements of a suckling pig. In the gastric phase pepsin was added and pH was adjusted to 2.5. In the upper intestinal phase bile and pancreatin were added, along with a pH adjustment to 6.8. In the lower intestinal phase, the multi-enzyme complex consisting of carbohydrase enzymes was added and pH adjusted to 4.8. There was no addition during the extended lower intestinal phase. At each sample collection at the end of a phase 1 mL was collected from each flask. For each sample, 100 µL were serially diluted, plated on deMan, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) plates, and incubated at 37°C for 24h. Survivability was determined by counting CFUs and comparing the concentration with the initial CFU/mL at 0 h and reported as percent survival (%S). Data for the in vitro digestion were analyzed according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split plot using the Repeated Measures Glimmix Procedure of SAS. Additional orthogonal contrasts were analyzed across PA concentrations. Data showed survival for 108,109, and 1010CFU/mL at all sample phases (108 - 44.24, 60.14, 58.36, 55.69%S; 109 - 40.56, 55.60, 49.35, 50.7%S; 1010 - 32.98, 52.55, 46.72, 43.71%S ± 2.98 respectively; phase P &amp;lt; 0.01 and concentration P &amp;lt; 0.01). There is evidence of a phase and concentration effect on survivability, but no interaction. A linear concentration response was observed across concentrations (54.61, 49.05, 43.99%S ± 1.23; P &amp;lt; 0.05) indicating that as concentration increases the survivability decreases. These findings indicate that PA PECh3A can survive a simulated GIT and potentially impact swine intestinal physiology.

Genetic characterization and diversity analysis of indigenous aromatic rice

Gangetic old alluvial zone in India has conserved many locally adapted aromatic rice landraces. In order to determine the extent of genetic divergence of ten morphological characters, the study was conducted to examine forty-eight aromatic rice genotypes for six Kharif seasons (2016–2021) at the Instructional Farm of Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone), Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Majhian, West Bengal, India. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. A considerable degree of variation was noted for all the traits being investigated. It was found that the total number of tillers per plant, panicle numbers per plant, number of grains per panicle, fertility percentage, test weight, and grain length/breadth ratio had significantly positive correlated with seed yield per plant. Based on D2 analysis values, all the genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster III (Tulaipanji, Patnai, Basmati 1121, Jugal, and Bahurupi) and Cluster VI (Kanakchur), containing genotypes were found most divergent with maximum inter-cluster distance (6941.51). According to the cluster means, Cluster II had the largest intra-cluster distance (1937.52), and important attributes including test weight, number of grains per panicle, seed yield per plant, and fertility percentage made remarkably significant contributions to this cluster. In terms of principal component analysis, maximum variability was found in PC1 (23.88 %), with high positive loading values for tillers per plant (0.459), panicle number per plant (0.441), seed yield per plant (0.408), fertility percentage (0.364), test weight (0.264), and grain length/breadth (L/B) ratio (0.263). On the basis of biplot analysis, four genotypes, namely Shakbhati, Sugandhi, Bahurupi and Kanakchur, were identified as the most divergent types for the yield-attributing traits of aromatic rice. The diverse genotypes could be used as potential donors in future breeding programmes.