Local Cultivars Research Articles

Assessment of Variability in Morphological and Genetic Traits Among Nine Local Cultivars and One Wild Accession of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Using SSR Markars in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Variability is necessary in any crop breeding program. Morphological and genetic variability among ten local cultivars of Solanum lycopersicum (Linn.) in Adamawa State Nigeria was studied. The study was aimed at assessing the morphological and genetic variability and smilarities and elucidating on phylogenetic relationship of these local tomato cultivars. Two morphological traits, fruit size and fruit weight were utilized followed by ten SSR marker analysis to investigate their genetic diversity. Eight out of the ten primers representing (90 %) were polymorphic representing loci. The most variable mean across the morphological traits was obtained for fruit weight with a mean square value of 7122.88, while the least variable mean was recorded for fruit size with a mean square value of 321.66. There was significant positive correlation between fruit size and fruit weight per cultivar and fruit size positively correlated with fruit weight per plant and across the ten cultivars (r = 0.92). Total of (31) alleles were recorded and the mean number of alleles per locus was 0.2580. The lowest number of bands across genotype was three and the highest number of bands across genotypes was seven. The PIC value of SSR markers obtained ranged from 0.35 to 0.77 with the average number of polymorphic bands per primer being 23.72. While clustering among local cultivars of Adamawa tomato using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean analysis (UPGMA), the clustering was not related to the geographical locations where seeds were collected. It can therefore be inferred that tomato accession (Tt001) with large number of fruits per truss having small sized fruits and tomato cultivars (Tt009 and Tt010) which on the other hand recorded high figures with regards to morphological traits, and clustered closely based on molecular analysis may hybridize into a better cultivar.

Pre-Extension Demonstration of Improved Durum Wheat Varieties in Growing Areas of Amhara and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia Durum wheat has been traditionally grown on heavy black clay (vertisols) on the residual moisture and recently being grown on light soils under rainfed conditions and it is consumed as leavened bread, common bread, macaroni, spaghetti, biscuits, and pastries. The national average yield is low because of the use of unimproved local cultivars, abiotic and biotic stresses. This research activity was conducted to create demand and awareness on the availability of the newly released varieties and evaluate the performance of the variety under farmers’ condition for further wider scaling up of the technology. The study went further to evaluate the preference of farmers concerning the demonstrated technology. Totally, fifty target farmers were selected for the research from ten kebeles of selected Districts. Training was provided for farmers, development agent and District experts. The newly released durum wheat varieties were planted on plots of 10 meter by 10 meter at Farmers’ Training Center and on 0.125 hectare of land on farmers’ field according to the recommended rate of fertilizer 100 kilo gram per hectare NPS and 150 kilo gram Urea with seed rate of 100 kilo gram per hectare. The results indicated that the highest average yield 3.5 tons per hectare was obtained from Utuba variety at Gelan Arabsa District of Sheger City. Utuba variety was preferred because of its higher yield, big grain seed size, heavy spike, market preference, good tillering capacity and palatable straw for animal feed while Tesfaye variety was preferred first by its disease resistance. Based on the findings, it is recommended that promotion of improved durum wheat varieties can contribute to durum wheat production and productivity improvement.

Effects of drought stress on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters of two Ethiopian red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) cultivars

Drought is the most predominant abiotic factor that affects plant growth and development. The present research examined at how drought stress affected the growth, physiological, and biochemical responses of Local and Markofana red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) cultivars. Five-week-old cultivars were exposed to well-watered, low, moderate, and severe drought conditions, kept at 100, 80, 60 and 40% of field capacity, respectively. Nine-week-old cultivars were sampled to analyze the effects of the stress on different parameters of both cultivars. Compared with the control group, drought stress caused a reduction in growth, physiological and biochemical parameters; nevertheless, adverse effects of the stress were more noticeable in the Local cultivar. Severe drought stress significantly reduced shoot length in Markofana (53.71 %) compared to the control group. Significant variation was observed in relative water content in the Local cultivar (20.26 %) exposed to drought. In the Local cultivar, the total chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence declined significantly by 77.28 and 3.33 %, respectively. Therefore, the cultivar Markofana was relatively less affected by drought stress. In general, these differences in cultivar responses to drought stress may aid in developing drought tolerance genotypes that can withstand drought stress conditions with minimal yield losses.

Genetic diversity analysis of guava (Psidium guajava L) genotypes in West Bengal, India

A total 28 traits enabled an assessment of the genetic variability of twenty-four guava genotypes. Many of these traits are significantly important and used for improvement programmes regarding fruit quality and yield. The TSS of fruit ranged from 8.57 0B (China genotype) to12.19 0B (Arka Kiran) and seed number/fruit 109.58 (Taiwan) to 303.67 (China genotype). Correlation studies revealed a strong positive correlation among quantitative traits related to fruit yield and quality while negative correlation between qualitative traits. Principal component analysis showed that the first three components with Eigen values could explain more than 76.99% of the total variation. PC1, PC2 and PC3 accounted for 41.15, 24.74 and 11.10%, respectively. Cluster analysis distinguished all the genotypes into three clusters/groups. The PCA and clustering analysis indicated a higher level of diversity in guava genotypes. Local cultivars such as Baruipur Local, Khaja, and Mohammad Khaja genotypes, as well as improved cultivars such as Arka Kiran, Philippines genotypes, were identified as having desirable fruit quality traits that could be used for commercialization and crop improvement.

Seasonal evaluation of yield and yield component traits of thirteen okra genotypes in a derived savannah

Ten improved okra genotypes obtained from National Institute for Horticultural Research and Training, Okigwe, Nigeria and three local cultivars were evaluated under early and late planting seasons of 2014 and 2015. The aim of this study is to estimate the relationship and magnitude of direct effects among the traits as well as determine the degree of heritability and variability among the genotypes. Genotypic stability analysis was also performed on the yield and the two traits most related to yield. ‘Ele Uhie’ genotype had the highest values for most of the parameters measured for both early and late planting seasons. Among the improved genotypes, ‘TAE 38’ had relatively appreciable yield. In both seasons, all the traits studied showed positive and significant (p < 0.01) correlation with total fruit yield, although number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity had the strongest relationship. The yield stability estimates showed that the genotypes independently expressed their traits in the four different stability groups. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity had higher positive and higher magnitude of direct effect than the direct effects of the associated parameters studied for both planting seasons. Thus, selecting ‘Ele Uhie’, ‘Ele Ogwu’, ‘Ele Ndu’ and ‘TAE 38’ genotypes with relatively stable and high number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity would have greater impact in sustaining high yields in okra.

Farmers' preferences for East African highland cooking banana 'Matooke' hybrids and local cultivars

BackgroundAn understanding of farmers' preferences of new banana cultivars and their characteristics is critical for developing and selecting cultivars that meet consumer needs. Therefore, phenotypic selection in a genetically variable population remains an important aspect of plant breeding.MethodsThe participatory varietal selection approach for preference ranking was used on 31 'Matooke' secondary and primary triploid hybrids and local banana cultivars evaluated between 2016 and 2019 in Uganda and Tanzania to investigate how farmers' preference attributes could help breeders identify superior cultivars. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The qualitative data from farmers' focus group discussions (FGDs) were described using content analysis. The Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to confirm the difference in farmers' preferences between groups.ResultsFarmers' approaches for defining characteristics were multivariate, and their preferences varied by site and country. Large fruit, a large bunch, market acceptability of the banana bunch, a sturdy stem, and an attractive appearance of the banana plant were the characteristics most preferred by farmers in Tanzania and Uganda. Tanzanian farmers preferred large bunches over other characteristics like bunch marketability and robust stem. Large fruit, drought tolerance, a strong stem, and phenotypic similarity to local cultivars were prioritized by Ugandan farmers. Both men and women farmers were more concerned with production-related characteristics, but the former valued marketing-related characteristics more, while the latter preferred use-related characteristics. Their preferences did not differ statistically, but the relative importance assigned by each group to the selected attributes was different.ConclusionFarmers' varietal preferences are frequently based on some assumed requirements, resulting in cultivar rejection or non-adoption. Therefore, determining the value attributed to each characteristic by various farmer groups is crucial in developing 'Matooke' banana cultivars with desired attributes that will boost the rate of adoption on-farms. Breeding initiatives that establish a system of integrated approaches and rely on thorough diagnosis of both production and consumption characteristics will best serve farmers' diverse preferences. To accomplish this, planning for varietal improvement initiatives at various levels—including internationally, regionally, nationally, and locally—would require a strong participatory structure that is gender inclusive.

Local rice cultivar diversity and household food security in northern Iran

Local rice cultivar diversity and household food security in northern Iran

Autochthonous Apple Cultivars from the Campania Region (Southern Italy): Bio-Agronomic and Qualitative Traits

Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is an important fruit crop widely spread in the cold and mild climates of temperate regions in the world, with more than 93 million tons harvested worldwide in 2021. The object of this work was to analyze thirty-one local apple cultivars of the Campania region (Southern Italy) using agronomic, morphological (UPOV descriptors) and physicochemical (solid soluble content, texture, pH and titratable acidity, skin color, Young's modulus and browning index) traits. UPOV descriptors highlighted similarities and differences among apple cultivars with a depth phenotypic characterization. Apple cultivars showed significant differences in fruit weight (31.3-236.02 g) and physicochemical trait ranging from 8.0 to 14.64° Brix for solid soluble content, 2.34-10.38 g malic acid L-1 for titratable acidity, and 15-40% for browning index. Furthermore, different percentages in apple shape and skin color have been detected. Similarities among the cultivars based on their bio-agronomic and qualitative traits have been evaluated by cluster analyses and principal component analyses. This apple germplasm collection represents an irreplaceable genetic resource with considerable morphological and pomological variabilities among several cultivars. Nowadays, some local cultivars, widespread only in restricted geographical areas, could be reintroduced in cultivation contribution to improving the diversity of our diets and contemporary to preserve knowledge on traditional agricultural systems.

Investigation of mutation load and rate in androgenic mutant lines of rapeseed in early generations evaluated by high-density SNP genotyping

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is an important oil crop distributed worldwide with a broad adaptation to different climate zones. The cultivation of rapeseed is one of the most commercially viable areas in crop production. Altogether 269,093 ha of rapeseed are cultivated in Kazakhstan. However, all rapeseed cultivars and lines cultivated in Kazakhstan on an industrial scale predominantly belong to the foreign breeding system. Therefore, the formation of a diverse genetic pool for breeding new, highly productive cultivars adopted to the environmental conditions of Kazakhstan is the most important goal in country selection programs. In this work, we have developed ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) doubled haploid mutant lines from plant material of cultivars ‘Galant’ and ‘Kris’ to broad diversity of rapeseed in Kazakhstan. The development of mutant lines was performed via embryo callusogenesis or embryo secondary callusogenesis. Mutants were investigated by Brassica90k SNP array, and we were able to locate 24,657 SNPs from 26,256 SNPs filtered by quality control on the genome assembly (Bra_napus_v2.0). Only 18,831 SNPs were assigned to the available annotated genomic features. The most frequent combination of mutations according to reference controls was adenine with guanine (70%), followed by adenine with cytosine (28.8%), and only minor fractions were cytosine with guanine (0.54%) and adenine with thymine (0.59%). We revealed 5606.27 markers for ‘Kris’ and 4893.01 markers for ‘Galant’ by mutation occurrence. Most mutation occurrences were occupied by double mutations where progenitors and offspring were homozygous by different alleles, enabling the selection of appropriate genotypes in a short period of time. Regarding the biological impact of mutations, 861 variants were reported as having a low predicted impact, with 1042 as moderate and 121 as high; all others were reported as belonging to non-coding sequences, intergenic regions, and other features with the effect of modifiers. Protein encoding genes, such as wall-associated receptor kinase-like protein 5, TAO1-like disease resistance protein, receptor-like protein 12, and At5g42460-like F-box protein, contained more than two variable positions, with an impact on their biological activities. Nevertheless, the obtained mutant lines were able to survive and reproduce. Mutant lines, which include moderate and high impact mutations in encoding genes, are a perfect pool not only for MAS but also for the investigation of the fundamental basis of protein functions. For the first time, a collection of mutant lines was developed in our country to improve the selection of local rapeseed cultivars.

Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties for agronomic and yield performance in two locations of Northern Guinea Savanna agro-ecology of Nigeria

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal in the world and the second in Nigeria after rice in terms of cultivation and utilization. Five varieties (TZESR-W, SUWAN-1-SR, DMR-ESR-W, Mega maize and Local cultivar) were evaluated during the 2018 cropping season with the aim of assessing the agronomic and yield potentials in two locations (Jalingo and Yola) of the northern guinea savanna agro-ecology of the country. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Seeds were sown on a plot size of 5 m x 5 m at a spacing of 75 cm x25 cm. Data collected on vegetative and yield parameters were analyzed using GENSTAT software and means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% level of probability. Results from the study showed high variability among the varieties across locations in most traits studied. However, SUWAN-1-SR and DMR-ESR-W performed better in both locations with an average number of grains per cob of 443 and 483 in Jalingo and Yola, respectively and are recommended for cultivation by farmers. Mega maize was the lowest in most traits suggesting that it is not suitable for Jalingo and Yola locations. The local variety, used as a check performed better than mega maize and TZESR-W, comparing well to SUWAN-1-SR and DMR-ESR-W, the leading varieties in most parameters. The significant differences among the varieties can be harnessed for selective breeding.

English

High-yielding and disease-resistant hybrid plant cultivars recently developed by breeders need evaluation for end-use. This study evaluated the influence of processing methods on the sensory acceptability of products (plantain chips, fried ripe plantains called “dodo” in Nigeria, boiled unripe and ripe plantains, and "amala," a dough, as it is called in Nigeria when unripe and ripe plantain flour is reconstituted in hot water) from selected hybrid plantain cultivars. Pita 26, Pita 27, Mbi egome, and Agbagba landrace cultivars were studied. Plantain pulps were subjected to frying (170°C for 2 min), boiling (100°C for 15 min), and drying (65°C for 48 h) at unripe and ripe stages before analyses. These food items were subjected to sensory evaluation. The panel of 20 people evaluated samples for texture, taste, flavor, appearance, color, stretchability, moldability, mouthfeel, and overall preference on a 9-point hedonic scale. The sensory studies showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between products and processing methods significantly affected the cultivars' sensory parameters and essential minerals and vitamins. Products from the Mbi egome cultivar were adjudged acceptable in terms of overall quality, followed by the Agbagba local landrace cultivar. The data in this study have shown that hybrid plantains have the potential to be used industrially.   Key words: Consumers acceptability, value added products, hybrid plantain, organoleptic. 

Eco-Physiological Behavior of Five Tunisian Olive Tree Cultivars under Drought Stress

Tunisia is known to be a country with poor water resources, and water scarcity is evident in certain regions. In the long term, this situation could worsen, given the increased risk of drought. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is one of the plants best adapted to this climate, and numerous studies have been carried out to assess the effects of water stress. The aim of this work was to study and compare the ecophysiological behavior of a main Tunisian olive cultivar (Chetoui) and four rare Tunisian olive cultivars (Chemchali, Besbessi, Sayali and Jarboui) under drought stress and to identify the main parameters while comparing the tolerance of the cultivars studied to this abiotic stress. One-year-old olive trees grown in pots in a greenhouse were subjected to four drought treatments (i.e., 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of drought stress) in comparison with control trees. The evaluation of the response of the olives to this induced stress was based on five parameters: relative water content (RWC), stomatal resistance (SR), photosystem PSII, maximal photochemical efficiency (FV/FM), performance index on absorption basis (PI), measured by the handy PEA, and chlorophyll index, measured by SPAD. The relative water content (RWC) of the five cultivars decreased with increasing drought stress. Jarboui showed lower RWC values than Chemchali, especially under severe drought stress. This result was confirmed by changes in fluorescence characteristics. FV/FM, PI and SPAD index decreased during the development of drought stress. These observations are discussed in relation to the strategies developed by the cultivars to grow under drought stress. The Principal Component Analysis allowed the parameter with the strongest loading factor, which is FV/FM, to be highlighted and the cultivars most tolerant to drought stress to be distinguished. These cultivars, Besbessi and Sayali in the north of Tunisia and Chemchali in the south, can present a possible alternative to replace the local or foreign cultivars most cultivated in the country, which are characterized by high water needs.

Identification of Vitis vinifera L. Local Cultivars Recovered in Andalusia (Spain) by Using Microsatellite Markers

In Andalusia (Spain), there are different wine regions that have a great recognized tradition. In these regions, the cultivation of the vine is ancient and there are still vineyards planted with local varieties of Vitis vinifera L. that have not yet been identified. The aim of this research study was to identify 49 accessions of grapevine collected in the districts of four provinces in Andalusia (Spain). All samples were genotyped with 20 microsatellite markers in order to ascertain the identity and analyze the genetic diversity of the collected material. In total, 30 different genotypes were obtained, 22 of them which were identified with named, known varieties by comparison to the Spanish or European microsatellite databases, and eight which are referred to as new genotypes. All loci were polymorphic, and a total of 159 alleles were detected, ranging from 4 to 12 alleles per locus, with an average allele number of 7.95. The overall observed heterozygosity was 0.763 and was slightly higher than expected (0.715), while the gene diversity per locus varied between 0.167 (VVIN73) and 0.967 (VVMD5). A dendrogram representing the genetic similarities among cultivars was depicted using the UPGMA method to investigate their relationships. The eight new genotypes identified in this research work could represent ancient local varieties in danger of extinction. These new cultivars may be used to determine original wines.

Agronomic evaluation sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam.) genotypes in two agro-ecological zones of Côte d’Ivoire

The sweetpotato is the seventh most important crop in the world after wheat, rice, maize, potato, barley and cassava. It is produced annually in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire. Sweetpotato plays a role in food security and income generation for rural populations. However, the crop is facing the challenges of climate change leading to a decline in yields of local cultivars. This phenomenon leads to unproductive soils and the abandonment of many crops, including sweetpotato. To address this problem, 15 sweetpotato genotypes from the CNRA and from farmers were evaluated in two agro-ecological zones on the basis of agronomic parameters. Descriptive analysis of the data showed a variation in the agronomic performance of the genotypes from one zone to another. Thus, in Kounontonvogo, yields varied from 3.81 to 30.41 t/ha. The genotypes Irene, CIP-199062-1, TIB-440060 and Fatoni 2 had the best agronomic performance. On the other hand, at CNRA Station, the cultivar Sanfo figui 1 showed a better yield. While at Attrokro, the Irene genotype had the highest yield with lower susceptibility to weevils. Local genotypes such as Aleda ouffouet, Sanfo figui 1 and Sanfo figui 2 had the highest DM content.

Agroecology-specific varietal matching to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production in Ethiopia

Agroecology-specific variety selection helps to account site and plot level biophysical conditions, farmers' wisdom and local environmental aspects, which in turn enhances crop productivity. This study demonstrated the importance of an agroecology-specific improved wheat variety in achieving national wheat self-sufficiency. The study involved randomly selected 235 farming households in Central Highlands of Ethiopia who grew four improved varieties (Hidase, Danda'a, Kakaba, Kubsa) along with local cultivars. Descriptive, trend, inequality and regression analyses were used to analyze the data and a scenario analysis was employed to forecast the nation's wheat self-sufficiency. The results showed that nearly 72% of farmers adopted either of the improved wheat varieties, and the majority of households (34.04%) adopted Hidase variety. The adoption of agroecology-specific improved wheat variety (Hidase) enabled farmers to obtain an average yield of 4.29 t/ha and this yield surpassed Danda'a, Kakaba, Kubsa and the local cultivar with a yield advantage of 19.4%, 130.6%, 138.3%, and 167.5%, respectively. It also excelled the national wheat yield (2.77 t/ha) by 54.4%. Because of increased productivity, the marketed portion from Hidase variety approached to 57.9%, and this is significant and by far large as compared to the national marketed average of 21.9%. Yield inequality among adopters also narrowed as compared to the local variety growers. Thus, agroecology-specific improved variety is a worthy strategy to consider to address productivity, marketed volume and yield inequality concerns concomitantly. If Ethiopia promotes agroecology-specific improved wheat varietal recommendation, the country could produce a maximum of 8.13 million tons per year and a minimum of 7.05 million tons of wheat, with an average scenario of 7.47 million tons, which in all cases are above the annual consumption demand of the country (6.4 million tons in 2018/19), and thus enabling the country to be self-sufficient in wheat production.

DETERMINING THE RIGHT DOSAGE OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS TO INCREASE GROWTH AND RESULTS THREE LOCAL UPLAND RICE CULTIVARS

Fertilization is one of the important factor to increase production. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate dosage of inorganic fertilizers to increase the growth and yield of three cultivars of upland rice. This research was conducted at the Center for Research and Development of Gogo Rice, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Kalama, Tamarenja Village at an altitude of 180 to 250 above sea level with a latitude of 00o 26'51.5” South Latitude and 119o49'50.6” East Latitude, Sindue District, Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. The time of the research started from March to August 2020. This research was compiled and carried out using the factorial 2 factors Randomized Block Design (RBD) method. The first factor used three local upland rice cultivars, namely: Pae Bohe, Buncaili, and Uva Buya, while the second factor used six doses of inorganic fertilizers, namely: No fertilization, NPK fertilization 100 kg/ha, 200 kg/ha, 300 kg/ha, 400 kg/ha, and 500 kg/ha. There were 18 combinations, where each treatment was repeated three times so that there were 54 research units. Parameters observed included plant height, number of productive tillers, age of panicle appear, harvest age, number of panicle grains, percentage of empty grain, 1000 grain weight and production. The results showed that the Pae bohe cultivar with fertilization dose of 500 kg/ha produced the highest number of productive tillers (6.69 per clump), the lower percentage of grain pests (5.34%), and the highest production (3.82 tons/ha).

Determination of the quality and phytochemical content of F1 strawberry genotypes selected in Bilecik province ecological conditions

The production of strawberry cultivation in wide ecological regions, its aroma, rich mineral content and taste affect the preference of consumers positively. The high amount of aroma of local cultivars enables them to be used as parents in breeding studies. In this study, it was aimed to determine the morphological and pomological characteristics and phytochemical contents of the superior F1 strawberry genotypes selected after hybridization with the local Osmanli strawberry under the ecological conditions of Bilecik province. Morphological and pomological analyzes were made and the best ten genotypes were selected according to the weighted grading method. According to this, the titratable acidity amount of the selected genotypes was determined between 0.28–0.51, the total soluble solid amount was determined between 5–10.5%, and the pH amount was determined between 3.3–3.78. By looking at the average fruit weight, fruit width and fruit length values, genotypes that can compete with commercial cultivars were selected and these were determined as table genotypes. While the total phenolic content of the ten genotypes selected by phytochemical analyzes was found between 2675.56–3983.89 μg GAE/g TA, the total amount of anthocyanin was determined between 156.19–39.12 μg Plg-3-glu/gta. The antioxidant amount was 18.95 μmol TE/ g ta-7.54 μmol TE/ g in the FRAP method.

The history of olive cultivation in the southern Levant.

The olive tree (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea var. europaea) is one of the most important crops across the Mediterranean, particularly the southern Levant. Its regional economic importance dates at least to the Early Bronze Age (~3600 BCE) and its cultivation contributed significantly to the culture and heritage of ancient civilizations in the region. In the southern Levant, pollen, pits and wood remains of wild olives (O. europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris) has been found in Middle Pleistocene sediments dating to approximately 780 kya, and are present in numerous palynological sequences throughout the Pleistocene and into the Holocene. Archeological evidence indicates the olive oil production from at least the Pottery Neolithic to Chalcolithic transition (~7600-7000 BP), and clear evidence for cultivation by, 7000 BP. It is hypothesized that olive cultivation began through the selection of local genotypes of the wild var. sylvestris. Local populations of naturally growing trees today have thus been considered wild relatives of the olive. However, millennia of cultivation raises questions about whether genuine populations of var. sylvestris remain in the region. Ancient olive landraces might thus represent an ancient genetic stock closer to the ancestor gene pool. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the theory that olives were first cultivated in the southern Levant and reviews our genetic work characterizing local ancient cultivars. The significance and importance of old cultivars and wild populations are discussed, given the immediate need to adapt agricultural practices and crops to environmental degradation and global climate change.

Effect of Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Local Aman Rice Cultivar

Aims: Transplant (T) aman is occupying a major portion of rice based cropping system in Sylhet region, Bangladesh. Still majority of farmers are circled to cultivate local T. aman rice cultivars, but the overall yield is very low. Agronomic management can be a good option to boost up the yield potential of these local cultivars. This study was conducted to observe the influence of planting geometry on the yield of local aman cultivars.
 Study Design: Randomized complete block design.
 Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted to find out optimum plant density of local cultivars of T. aman rice during the period from August 2017 to December 2017 at farmer’s field located at Jointapur, Sylhet.
 Methodology: The study were replicated thrice in randomized complete block design considering four rice cultivars viz. Beruin (V1), Moinasail (V2), Nagrasail (V3) and, BRRI dhan49 (Control, check variety) (V4) and four plant spacings viz. (15 × 15) cm (S1), (20 × 15) cm (S2), (20 × 20) cm (S3) and (20×25) cm (S4).
 Results: The results indicated that the highest grain yield were recorded in (2.65 t ha-1) in the variety V4, which was statistically similar with V3 (2.60 t ha-1). The highest grain yield (2.87 t ha-1) was obtained (V4 × S4) while the lowest (1.58 t ha-1) from (V1 × S1). Among the local varieties highest grain yield (2.64 t ha-1) recorded in (V3 × S4) which was statistically similar (V4 × S4).
 Conclusion: Outcomes of the study revealed that Nagrasail (V3) with (20 × 25) cm plant spacing is a promising option, and isthe best one for local T. aman cultivar cultivation in Sylhet region.

Evaluation the Effect of Fungicides, Micronutrients and Botanicals on Purple Blotch Complex of Onion in Bangladesh

Field research was conducted in the central research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), during the period from October 2020 to March 2021. The experiment was a layout with RCBD design to evaluate the effect of selected fungicides (Indofil, Mancer, and Ridomil Gold), micronutrients (Zinc, Boron, and Magnesium), and botanicals (neem and eucalyptus leave extract) on purple blotch complex of onion. Data were collected on percent disease incidence and percent disease index, the number of leaves per plant, leaf length, bulb diameter, bulb weight (fresh and dry), and yield. The local cultivar Faridpuri was used as a tested variety. Among the selected fungicides, Ridomil Gold gave a better result than other fungicides in controlling the percent disease incidence (52.67%) and percent disease index (49.00%) with the highest number of yield qualities per plant. In addition to this, the highest bulb diameter (18.23 cm), single bulb weight (47.98 g), fresh weight (3.16 Kg/plot), and dry weight (2.88Kg/plot) were also obtained in Ridomil Gold treated plots. This treatment also gave better yield performance (9.60 t ha-1) followed by Indofil (8.20 t ha-1) and Mancer (7.90 t ha-1), and increased yield by 54.34% over the control treatment. From the study, it was also found that among the micronutrients, boron gave more satisfactory results than botanicals.