Healthy Rice Research Articles

Conservation of Organic Agricultural Systems in Ethno-Agricultural Lexicons (Ethnolinguistic Study in Baduy Traditional Village)

This research is in the study of language and culture using ethnolinguistic theory. The study was conducted in the Indigenous Village of Baduy, Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Banten, precisely two different regions, namely Baduy Luar and Baduy Dalam. Conservation conducted by Baduy people can be seen from the organic farming system which is their main livelihood. It can be found from the lexicon used by them, one of which is in the agricultural system. The problems examined in this study include how the classification and description of organic farming systems in the ethno-agricultural lexicon of the Baduy community; (2) how the local wisdom values of the organic farming system in the ethno-agricultural lexicon of Baduy people; (3) how the conservation of organic agriculture to food of Baduy people. To answer this problem, this research uses ethnographic qualitative methods. In collecting data, the listening and note-taking methods are used. The results of this study indicate that the Baduy has succeeded in creating good, healthy and quality food self-sufficiency. This is because they still use simple tools. In addition, pare (rice) is stored in leuit (rice granary). Leuit is a symbol of wealth owned by the Baduy community. Conservation carried out by the Baduy to date can produce high quality pare (rice) because it does not use the chemical fertilizers and uses modern equipment. Through the ethno-agricultural lexicon, the community is able to create food self-sufficiency that can increase good, healthy and quality rice production by not using chemical fertilizers and modern tools that can damage the soil.

A Microinjection Method for Infecting the Planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) with the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus.

The southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) causes significant economic damage to rice crops. This virus is transmitted to rice plants by the planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) in a persistent, circular, and propagative manner. Researchers currently lack suitable methods for assaying the activity of SRBSDV in vitro and preserving the virus all year. We used a microinjection method to directly inject SRBSDV extracts into the hemocoel of S. furcifera nymphs. SRBSDV was subsequently detected by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction in more than 56.7% of the insects after 5 d and 60% of healthy rice plants fed by these insects also became SRBSDV infected. Moreover, injecting planthopper with an extract of SRBSDV-infected rice plant that had been frozen at -80°C for 220 d caused 63.3% to become viruliferous. These results indicate that SRBSDV can be successfully transmitted to S. furcifera by microinjection, and that extracts of SRBSDV-infected rice plants frozen at -80°C for 220 d still contain sufficient active SRBSDV to infect S. furcifera. We provide a novel way to preserve SRBSDV all year by injecting S. furcifera with the SRBSDV extract.

Development of a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic strip for rapid detection of Rice stripe virus.

Rice stripe virus (RSV) causes dramatic losses in rice production worldwide. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 16E6 and 11C1 against RSV and a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic strip were developed for specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of RSV in rice plant and planthopper samples. The MAb 16E6 was conjugated with colloidal gold and the MAb 11C1 was coated on the test line of the nitrocellulose membrane of the test strip. The specificity of the test strip was confirmed by a positive reaction to RSV-infected rice plants and small brown planthopper (SBPH), and negative reactions to five other rice viruses, healthy rice plants, four other vectors of five rice viruses, and non-viruliferous SBPH. Sensitivity analyses showed that the test strip could detect the virus in RSV-infected rice plant tissue crude extracts diluted to 1:20 480 (w/v, g/mL), and in individual viruliferous SBPH homogenate diluted to 1:2560 (individual SPBH/μL). The validity of the developed strip was further confirmed by tests using field-collected rice and SBPH samples. This newly developed test strip is a low-cost, fast, and easy-to-use tool for on-site detection of RSV infection during field epidemiological studies and paddy field surveys, and thus can benefit decision-making for RSV management in the field.

PEMBERDAYAAN KWT DESA KRANGGAN DALAM BUDIDAYA PADI DENGAN METODE S.R.I. UNTUK PERTANIAN SEHAT

The main problem of rice production in Kranggan village is mainly due to the lack of water, low soil fertility, high cost of seeds and fertiliser, which resulted in small output despite the overuse of synthetic fertilisers. In this activity, we described the accompaniment and application of SRI method for rice cultivation, particularly for the women farmer’s group. This community service aimed to improve the knowledge, insight, and skill in rice cultivation by employing SRI method to save the water, reduce the cost of seeds and fertiliser, and increasing time efficiency in rice production. It was anticipated that such an approach would result in the environmentally friendly production of healthy rice. The activity of community service was based on a survey to analyse the agricultural status of Kranggan village, extension activity on the application SRI method for rice cultivation, practical training and demonstration of rice cultivation plot using SRI method, and healthy rice packaging by the members of Women Farmer’s Group. The activities were then followed by pre-test and post-test to confirm the improvement of knowledge and skill. The results of the community service demonstrated that the use PowerPoint method for knowledge delivery increased the understanding of SRI system by 89%, while direct training in organic NPK fertiliser production and seagrass POC increased the skill by 85%. Besides, the accompaniment of the Women Farmer’s Group up to the post-harvest period empowered the group members as the rice production was environmentally friendly, lowered the cost, reduced the use of water and labour cost, resulted in the production of healthy rice, and increased selling price by 50%. Keywords: System of Rice Intensification, the Women Farmer’s Group Kranggan

Healthy Rice Bran Oil is Suitable Media for Frying Process

The changes occurring in low acidity rice bran oil and its blend with palm olein during repeated frying cycles at 180˚C±5˚C for 4 hours a day up to five days of potato chips were determined. The parameters assessed were: acidity, color, smoke point, peroxide value, polar content, polymer content, oxidative stability by Rancimat method, tocopherol content, oryzanol content and fatty acid composition of rice bran oil, palm olein and binary oil mixtures were evaluated. Results indicated that, rice bran oil better stability than the palm olein in deep frying of potato chips. In general, this finding provides useful information to food processors and consumers who stable and healthy for frying process.

The Effectiveness of the Production of Healthy Rice in Comparison with other Rice Varieties in the Upper Northern Region of Thailand

The objective of this study is to examine the efficiency of the production of healthy rice and that of other varieties grown in the upper northern region, by using Meta-Frontier approach in analyzing the rice production efficiency. This study focuses on rice production of farmers by comparing between healthy rice growers and farmers of other rice varieties about 300 and 900 sampling respectively, in the areas of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phayao. In analyzing the efficiency used one variable of the output, the quantity of rice products and five input variables namely quantity of seeds, cost of soil nourishment fertilizer, cost of weeding, cost of labor in production, and cost of labor for harvesting. The study found that there were more variables for analyzing the efficiency of other rice varieties of rice than those of the healthy rice. Plus, general rice growers had higher production efficiency than healthy rice farmers (0.9439> 0.8604). However, it seems that they should reduce more production factors, particularly labor in production and that in harvesting. Meanwhile, the overall economy of scale had increased while that of each group appeared to be unchanged.

Optimization of pumpkin and feed moisture content to produce healthy pumpkin-germinated brown rice extruded snacks

The effects of three levels of pumpkin flour (PF; 10, 20 and 30%) and three levels of feed moisture content (FM; 13, 16 and 19%) on the physical properties, antioxidant activity and sensory properties of pumpkin-germinated brown rice extrudates were investigated. The increase in the PF increased the bulk density, hardness, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity, but decreased the expansion ratio of the extruded snack. Decreasing the FM caused an increase in the TPC and antioxidant activity of the snack product. The predicted optimum formulation of extrudates using response surface methodology was 10–13% PF and 13–14% FM under extrusion conditions at 140 °C (zone 6) and 350 rpm screw speed. These conditions produced extruded snacks with TPC values of 20–28 mg GAE/100 g sample on a dry basis and appearance and hardness liking scores of more than 6.5 (on a 9-point hedonic scale). Therefore, the results of this study supported the utilization of PF and germinated brown rice flour to develop healthy snack products.

TRFLP analysis for revealing the diversity of rice phyllosphere bacteria

Wiraswati SM, Wahyudi AT, Rusmana I, Nawangsih AA. 2018. TRFLP analysis for revealing the diversity of rice phyllosphere bacteria. Biodiversitas 19: 1743-1749. Phyllosphere environment of rice plant is usually inhabited by diverse bacteria which mostly contribute beneficial effects to the plant fitness. TRFLP method is a rapid and straightforward method to determine the bacterial diversity of many environments, including rice phyllosphere environment. This study aimed to analyze rice phyllosphere bacterial diversity of healthy rice plant cultivar Ciherang obtained from Sukabumi, Jasinga, and Situgede. The bacterial genomes were amplified and digested with two restriction enzymes, i.e., MspI and BstUI. The bacterial diversity (H’ index) and evenness (E index) were calculated from the peak value. From TRFs analysis, Betaproteobacteria and Pseudomonadales were dominantly found in nearly all samples with different relative abundance. In addition, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were also dominant in the several samples. The unique bacteria groups were inhabited in the sample from specific regions with certain growth phase. This finding informs us that the geographical factors might be more influent than the growth phase factor. Furthermore, the bacterial diversity and evenness of the metagenomic approach are higher than cultivation-dependent approach.

Rice dwarf virus infection alters green rice leafhopper host preference and feeding behavior.

Host plants, pathogens and their herbivore vectors systems have complex relationships via direct and indirect interactions. Although there are substantial gaps in understanding these systems, the dynamics of the relationships may influence the processes of virus transmission and plant disease epidemics. Rice dwarf virus (RDV) is mainly vectored by green rice leafhoppers (GRLHs), Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in a persistently circulative manner. In this study, host plant selection preferences of non-viruliferous and viruliferous (carrying RDV) GRLHs between RDV-free and RDV-infected plants were tested. Non-viruliferous GRLHs preferred RDV-infected rice plants over RDV-free rice plants, and viruliferous GRLHs preferred RDV-free rice plants over RDV-infected rice plants. In odor selection preference bioassay using a four-field olfactometer, non-viruliferous GRLHs preferred odors of RDV-infected rice plants over healthy rice and viruliferous GRLHs preferred odors of RDV-free rice plants over RDV-infected ones. In 6 h plant penetration behavior bioassay using electrical penetration graphs, non-viruliferous GRLHs spent shorter time in non-penetration and much longer time in xylem feeding on RDV-infected, compared to RDV-free rice plants. Viruliferous GRLHs exhibited more salivation and stylet movement on RDV-free rice plants than on RDV-infected rice plants. We infer from these findings that RDV influences these vector behaviors by altering host plant physiology to promote viral transmission.

Organic Farming System for Producing Healthy Rice Oleh

Introduction of organic rice-based rice cultivation technology package through demplot is done in Subak Sungi 1 using ciherang variety. The number of farmers participating in demonstration plots in organic cultivation of paddy-based rice cultivation were 5 people, with age of farmers aged greater than 55 years occupying the highest percentage (45.45%), with elementary education level (72.75%), followed by high school education (18.25%), and junior high (9%). The average farmland area is 34.63 acres, with self-owned status (55,94%), status as penyakap 41,18% and rent status 2,88%. The farmers' response to the organic rice-based rice planting assessment is quite high, as evidenced by the evaluation that 100% of farmers participating in demonstration plots know and understand about organic rice system cultivation, and they agree to develop this cultivation system in the future. Demplot research results can increase the yield components and weight of dry grain harvest per hectare. Organic rice-based rice cultivation technology EVAGRO able to increase production of dry grain harvest significantly with a value of 6.8 tons / ha. There is a tendency of dry weight value of ciherang varieties of 6.8 tons / ha giving highest but not significantly different with PGPR organic based technology.

Bt rice could provide ecological resistance against nontarget planthoppers.

SummaryGenetically engineered (GE) rice lines expressing Lepidoptera‐active insecticidal cry genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been developed in China. Field surveys indicated that Bt rice harbours fewer rice planthoppers than non‐Bt rice although planthoppers are not sensitive to the produced Bt Cry proteins. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unknown. Here, we show that the low numbers of planthoppers on Bt rice are associated with reduced caterpillar damage. In laboratory and field‐cage experiments, the rice planthopper Nilapavata lugens had no feeding preference for undamaged Bt or non‐Bt plants but exhibited a strong preference for caterpillar‐damaged plants whether Bt or non‐Bt. Under open‐field conditions, rice planthoppers were more abundant on caterpillar‐damaged non‐Bt rice than on neighbouring healthy Bt rice. GC–MS analyses showed that caterpillar damage induced the release of rice plant volatiles known to be attractive to planthoppers, and metabolome analyses revealed increased amino acid contents and reduced sterol contents known to benefit planthopper development. That Lepidoptera‐resistant Bt rice is less attractive to this important nontarget pest in the field is therefore a first example of ecological resistance of Bt plants to nontarget pests. Our findings suggest that non‐Bt rice refuges established for delaying the development of Bt resistance may also act as a trap crop for N. lugens and possibly other planthoppers.

Utilizing Bacillus to inhibit the growth and infection by sheath blight pathogen, Rhizoctoniasolani in rice

Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is a common pathogen of rice. The pathogen causes sheath blight of rice. The pathogen can cause loss in the production of rice up to 45%. So far, the disease however is still poorly taken care of by the farmers and researchers, so the control measures is nearly never practiced by the farmers in the fields. It due to the unavailability of effective control method of the disease. Therefore, development to control the disease is important. Bacillus is one of popular bacteria which is effective as biological control agent of a lot of pathogens in plants, but it has not been used for control sheath blight in rice yet. The current researches were aimed to study the potential of Bacillus collected from healthy rice as candidates of biological control agent of the disease. The results showed that some isolates showed indications to inhibit significantly the growth and infection of the pathogen. We obtained at least five isolates of Bacillus collected from leaves, sheath, and stem of healthy rice fields. All of the isolates could effectively inhibit the growth of R. solani in vitro on potato dextrose medium at range 30.33-58.00%, whereas in vivo B05 isolate was the most effective in inhibiting the infection of pathogen at 30.43%. It was not significantly different (P≥0.05) to application of hexaconazol with dosage of 2 ml L-1.

Production and characterization of the healthy brown rice milk with sodium alginate addition from brown algae Sargassum binderi as emulsifier

Brown rice milk, a plant milk, is potential to cure beriberi disease. Alginate was used as an emulsifier and increased the nutrition of brown rice milk. Alginate from Sargassum binderi was extracted by nonacidic treatment. The yield of alginate was 6.25 %. The moisture and water content of alginate were 18.27 % and 12.2 %, respectively. The density and viscosity of 0.1 % alginates in aqueous solution were 1.007 g·mL-1 and 7.651 × 10-3 kg·m-1s-1, respectively. The characteristics peaks of alginate appeared at 3,477; 1,633 and 1,419 cm-1, corresponding to hydroxyl (OH), carbonyl (C=O) and carboxyl (COOH), respectively. The best composition of alginate addition in brown rice milk was 0.2 %. The viscosity of the 0.2 % alginate in brown rice milk was 1.206 × 10-2 kg·m-1s-1 and showed a texture of small particle with closer spaces between the particles. The addition of alginate in brown rice milk also inhibited the process of sedimentation of milk which showed in the first order. The nutrition composition of the best brown rice milk was 40.21 mg·mL-1 carbohydrate; 1.3 mg·mL-1 protein; 0.158 mg·mL-1 fat and 13.1 mg·mL-1 total dietary fiber.

First Report of Sclerotium hydrophilum Causing Stem Rot of Rice in Northeast China

In August 2016, rice plants with brown to black lesions with irregular shape and water-soaked margins in leaf sheaths were observed in Baoqing county in Heilongjiang province, Northeast China. To isolate the causal pathogen, pieces of symptomatic leaf sheaths were treated with 1% NaClO for 1 min, rinsed with sterile distilled water for 2 min, and then transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium for incubation at 28°C. The cultivated mycelium was transferred to new PDA medium. Colonies of pure cultures on new PDA medium were initially white and turned brown about 3 weeks later. The hyphal width was measured with a range of 4.5 to 6.2 μm. Large numbers of small and globose sclerotia were observed on surface of the colonies at 3 days after subculturing. The sclerotia were white at first and then turned black over time. The diameters of sclerotia ranged from 0.31 to 0.54 mm with an average of 0.41 mm (n = 50). DNA of a representative isolate named Hbq001 was extracted, and the 18S rDNA region was amplified by PCR with universal primer pair NS1/NS6 (White et al. 1990). The 18S rDNA sequence of isolate Hbq001 (GenBank accession no. KY995575) shared 99.7% nucleotide identities with those of Sclerotium hydrophilum (GenBank accession no. KC354147). Therefore, based on these cultural characteristics and rDNA sequence, isolate Hbq001 was identified as S. hydrophilum (Demirci et al. 2009). To complete Koch’s postulates, 4 mm diameter PDA disks containing mycelium and sclerotia of S. hydrophilum isolate Hbq001 were placed on the stem of 4-week-old healthy rice seedlings and wrapped with Parafilm. Sterile PDA disks were used as controls. After 4 days at 28°C, symptoms similar to those in the field were observed on the inoculated seedlings but not on control plants. Finally, the fungus S. hydrophilum, which showed the same cultural characteristics as described above, was reisolated from the inoculated seedlings. In China, S. hydrophilum was first identified in Yunnan province and was found to be distributed in southern China (Hu et al. 2008; Ruan and Chen 2002; Wang et al. 2013). Northeast China is a major rice-producing region. Differing from the rice-producing areas of southern China, this region has specific climatic conditions with cold temperature and abounds in high-quality japonica rice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. hydrophilum in the cold northern region of China.

Environmental interventions based on the Health Belief Model and the Ecological-social model in the continuation of consumption of rice, free from toxic metals.

Background and aimContinuation of healthy nutritional behaviors is one of the important factors in effectiveness of educational intervention programs. The aim of this research is to compare the Health Belief Model and the Ecological-social model in reducing consumption of rice contaminated with toxic metals after completion of environmental intervention and continuation of consumption of healthy rice.MethodsThis research was the implementation of a six-month randomized controlled trial interventional program in two groups’ interventions along with a control group, with 80 people for each group totally, amounting to 240 women, between 18 and 50 years of age in Ilam, Iran in 2014. The questionnaires of the three groups consisted of demographic information, knowledge, the constructs of the models, performance of rice consumption. Friedman test and repeated measures used for data analysis with SPSS (version 20), and confidence interval of 95% were considered.ResultsThe results of the Friedman test indicated a significant increase in the number of women consuming healthy rice over six months after intervention in both intervention groups (p<0.001). Women in the ECO group consumed healthy rice 27.5% more than the HBM group (p<0.001). The results of repeated measures analysis of variance suggested greater improvement in the consumption of healthy rice in the ECO group in comparison with the HBM group over six months after intervention (p<0.05).ConclusionsBoth educational environmental intervention methods caused the altered diet of people regarding consumption of healthy rice over six months after the intervention. Increased social support also probably had a more effective role in continuation of healthy diet among the people.

Presence of B. thailandensis and B. thailandensis expressing B. pseudomallei-like capsular polysaccharide in Thailand, and their associations with serological response to B. pseudomallei.

BackgroundBurkholderia pseudomallei is an environmental Gram-negative bacillus and the cause of melioidosis. B. thailandensis, some strains of which express a B. pseudomallei-like capsular polysaccharide (BTCV), is also commonly found in the environment in Southeast Asia but is considered non-pathogenic. The aim of the study was to determine the distribution of B. thailandensis and its capsular variant in Thailand and investigate whether its presence is associated with a serological response to B. pseudomallei.Methodology/principal findingsWe evaluated the presence of B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis in 61 rice fields in Northeast (n = 21), East (n = 19) and Central (n = 21) Thailand. We found BTCV in rice fields in East and Central but not Northeast Thailand. Fourteen fields were culture positive for B. pseudomallei alone, 8 for B. thailandensis alone, 11 for both B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis, 6 for both B. thailandensis and BTCV, and 5 for B. pseudomallei, B. thailandensis and BTCV. Serological testing using the indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) of 96 farmers who worked in the study fields demonstrated that farmers who worked in B. pseudomallei-positive fields had higher IHA titers than those who worked in B. pseudomallei-negative fields (median 1:40 [range: <1:10–1:640] vs. <1:10 [range: <1:10–1:320], p = 0.002). In a multivariable ordered logistic regression model, IHA titers were significantly associated with the presence of B. pseudomallei (aOR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.8–7.8, p = 0.001) but were not associated with presence of B. thailandensis (p = 0.32) or BTCV (p = 0.32). One sequence type (696) was identified for the 27 BTCV isolates tested.Conclusions/significanceThis is the first report of BTCV in Thailand. The presence of B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis in the same field was not uncommon. Our findings suggest that IHA positivity of healthy rice farmers in Thailand is associated with the presence of B. pseudomallei in rice fields rather than B. thailandensis or BTCV.

Comparative analysis of microbial diversity and bacterial seedling disease‐suppressive activity in organic‐farmed and standardized commercial conventional soils for rice nursery cultivation

AbstractThe outbreak of rice plant diseases can be effectively suppressed in organic farming systems. However, the mechanisms of disease suppression by organic farming systems are not well understood. When Burkholderia‐infected rice seeds were sown and cultivated on nine organic‐farmed soils which were supplied by nine independent organic rice farmers or standardized commercial conventional soils, the emergence of bacterial seedling diseases was suppressed to equivalent degrees in nine organic‐farmed soils, whereas the diseases occurred in two commercial conventional soils. In any organic or commercial conventional soil sown with healthy rice seeds as a control, the diseases did not appear. Upon physicochemical analysis of the nine organic‐farmed soils, component common to these organic‐farmed soils seemed to not be directly associated with disease‐suppressive activity. However, microbiome analyses indicated that the bacterial population in these nine organic‐farmed soils was more diverse than those in commercial conventional soils. Intriguingly, the diverse bacterial population structures of organic‐farmed soils were preserved after irrigating and sowing rice seeds, but that of commercial conventional soils was clearly changed by them. Thus, organic‐farmed soils seem to maintain robust bacterial populations despite the irrigation and seedling growth. Indeed, pathogenic Burkholderia in infected rice seeds also did not proliferate in the seedling grown on organic‐farmed soils. Taken together, the common feature of organic‐farmed soils might be the correlation between bacterial seedling disease‐suppressive activity and higher robustness of the diversified microbiome.

APLIKASI PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR DAN BIOPESTISIDA PADA PERTANIAN PADI ORGANIK DI SUBAK REJASA KECAMATAN PENEBEL KABUPATEN TABANAN

One of the goals of science and technology for the Region of Jegu and RejasaVilages in Penebel District,Tabanan Regency is a healthy increase rice productivity by application of liquid organic fertilizer andartificial biopesticides farmers themselves. The method adopted to achieve these goals is through education,training, simulation science and technology, mentoring, and design appropriate technology applied.All suchactivities are realized in the form of a field school that was attended by 25 members of SubakRejasa bymaking healthy rice demonstration plot 25 acres.POC and biopesticide made from animal waste, sugar cane,Gamal, yam tubers and other local materials, applied at a dose of 450 ml / 25 L of water every week. Liquidorganic fertilizer and biopesticide made by members of SubakRejasa have done laboratory analysis with thefollowing results: the content of C-org (1,540%): N (0.160%); P (85.120 ppm); K (95.400 ppm); pH (7.78)and DHL (32,200 mS). The results of the application of POC and biopesticideson the rice varieties "Inpari30", quite good, vegetative growth performance lush, green leaves, stronger stems no pests anddiseases,number of tillers 20 -24, .and the generative phase, pithy grain, grain number between 185-255 /stalkand grain yield at harvest 5.8 tonnes / ha. The processing of livestock wastes into POC and biopesticides provides a new source of additional income for farmers in addition to economic efficiency in the use offertilizers and the slow return of biodiversity.

The effect of educational intervention based on an Ecological-social model on consuming fruit and vegetables in women in Ilam.

BackgroundThe effect of instructional models on the changing behavior of consuming fruit and vegetables in the prevention of diseases caused by consumption of foods including rice, contaminated with toxic metals, has not been investigated in Iran yet.ObjectiveTo compare an Ecological-social model (ECO) group and Control group in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.MethodsThis research involved implementation of a six-month randomized controlled educational interventionist program into a group of Ecological-social framework along with a control group, totally summing up to 160 women between 18 and 50 years of age in Ilam, Iran in 2014. The questionnaire included knowledge, social support construct (immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors.) and fruit and vegetable intake in both groups before and after the intervention was examined. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using the signed ranks test, and repeated measures analysis of variance analysis, and confidence interval of 95% were employed.ResultsThe results of the signed ranks test showed a significant increase in social support in the intervention group (p<0.001). This test showed a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a significant increase in the number of women using healthy rice (p<0.001), and a significant reduction in the number of women consuming unhealthy rice in the intervention group (p<0.001), that determines dietary intake improvement after the intervention compared with before the intervention (p<0.01). However, this improvement was not observed in the control group.ConclusionsThe results showed that ECO plays an effective role in improving fruit and vegetable consumption in women. Therefore, this model was implemented as a health protocol through health-care centers to conduct the prevention of complications resulting from the use of food contaminated with toxic metals.

Crop-Specific Growth Promoting Effect of Native &lt;I&gt;Trichoderma&lt;/I&gt; Species

The present study was conducted to explore the occurrence of crop specificity in the growth promoting effect of rhizosphere and rhizoplane resident Trichoderma spp. The isolates from rhizosphere and rhizoplane of healthy wheat, rice and chickpea plants collected from the diseased fields were evaluated for their growth promoting potential in vitro and in glasshouse. The isolates were tested by inoculation in their native crops and by cross-inoculation in other two crops as well. Results revealed that Trichoderma isolates, namely, TRS-R8 (rice), TRP-W8 (wheat) and TRP-C4 (chickpea), exhibited growth promoting effect in all the crops used in the study but performed significantly better in their native crops, measured as seedling vigour index (SVI) and plant vigour index (PVI) as compared to other isolates, standard check (PBAT-1, i.e. strain Th-14) and control. The SVI and PVI for the above isolates were 4115 and 6204, 3865 and 9919, and 5303 and 5212, respectively as compared to 3342 to 4402 and 4863 to 8770 for the standard check. The finally selected promising isolates (TRS-R8, TRPW8 and TRP-C4) were identified as Trichoderma asperellum (= T. viride ) by using BiOLOG microstation system.