Seed Formation Stage Research Articles

Morphological and phenological characteristic, oil yield, quality and economics of Lemon bee balm (Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex-Lag) at diverse environment condition, India

Lemon bee balm (Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex-Lag) is a noble industrial medicinal and aromatic plant species, which is used as digestive, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and menstrual irregularity remedies in traditional medicine. It is a common source of thymol and other active constituents with recognized antimicrobial properties. A multilocation field trial was performed to evaluate essential oil (EO) yield stability, secondary metabolites and economic returns in eight diverse geographical environment conditions (GEC) in India. The secondary metabolites viz., essential oil content and oil yield were found to be highest in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The essential oil content was found to be higher in inflorescence part at all the experimental sites and found to be highest (0.85±0.21%) at BR-JALAUN. The highest EO yield (130.25±3.25 kg ha−1), net return (Rs. 1,22,125.00±245.21 ha−1) and benefit cost (B:C) ratio (2.67±0.17) was recorded at FFDC-KANNAUJ. The thymol content percentage was found to be highest on physiological maturity (>95% flowering) [PM] and on 75% flowering [FS-II] and it began to decline on seed formation stage at all the experimental sites. The significantly highest thymol content percentage was found on PM (86.65±3.91%) and on FS-II (84.21±3.78%) at TBR-JHANSI. On the basis of the gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry analysis, twenty constituents were isolated. The inflorescence EO contains more thymol than the EO from leaves with stem which in turn was characterized by a higher content of p-cymene, γ-terpinene, carvacrol, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, citral and β-caryophyllene.

Phosphorus fertilisation differentially affects morpho-physiological traits and yield in soybean exposed to water stress

Abstract Background and aims Soybean plants frequently encounter challenges such as phosphorus (P) deficiency and water stress in many regions. However, the mechanisms governing low P and water stress tolerance in soybeans at different growth stages remain unclear. This study investigates the effect of P availability and water stress on soybean growth, morpho-physiological traits, and seed yield. Methods We conducted experiments using the soybean genotype (PI 561271) grown under two P levels (10 or 60 mg P kg−1 dry soil) with three watering conditions: well-watered (WW), early water stress (EWS) and terminal water stress (TWS). Plant assessments occurred at the vegetative, flowering, seed formation, and maturity stages. Results Water stress decreased leaf area, shoot and root dry weights, root length, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, total carboxylates, water use, water use efficiency, shoot, root and seed P contents, seed nitrogen contents, and seed yield compared to WW at the corresponding P level and growth stage. P60 significantly increased all parameters except P use efficiency (PUE) under all water treatments. EWS plants supplemented with P60 exhibited the highest root dry weight, root length and total carboxylates. Notably, flowering and seed formation stages had the highest carboxylate proportions (oxalic, malic, malonic and citric acids) under WW and EWS at P60. P10 had significantly higher PUE than P60, irrespective of water treatments during flowering and seed formation, while the opposite trend occurred at the maturity stage. Seed protein content significantly varied between P treatments regardless of the water stress. Conclusions Our findings underscore the adverse impacts of combined low P and water stress on soybean growth, morpho-physiological traits, seed yield and protein content. Moreover, increased P availability alleviated the adverse effects of water stress, highlighting the importance of adequate P fertilisation for soybean resilience to water stress.

Post-pollination barriers contribute to coexistence of partially pollinator-sharing Arisaema species (Araceae).

Reproductive isolation plays an important role in maintaining the species integrity of sympatric close relatives. For sympatric Arisaema species, interspecific gene flow is expected to be effectively prevented by pre-pollination barriers, particularly strong pollinator isolation mediated by fungus gnats. However, due to the lack of quantitative studies combining multiple pre- and post-pollination barriers, it is not known whether pre-pollination isolation is complete, and whether post-pollination barriers also contribute to reproductive isolation among some Arisaema species. In this study, we quantified the individual strengths and absolute contributions of four pre- and post-pollination barriers (phenological isolation, pollinator isolation, hybrid fruit formation, and hybrid seed formation) among three sympatric Arisaema species (A. bockii, A. lobatum, and A. erubescens). Although phenological isolation and pollinator isolation reduced the frequencies of interspecific pollen transfer among these species, the partial overlap of flowering times and pollinator assemblages resulted in incomplete pre-pollination isolation. Post-pollination barriers also contributed to reproductive isolation at the hybrid fruit and seed formation stages. We propose that, although pre-pollination barriers are expected to contribute more to total isolation than post-pollination barriers in Arisaema, pre-pollination barriers may not completely prevent interspecific pollen transfer among some Arisaema species. Post-pollination barriers, which are generally ignored, may also have contributed significantly to reproductive isolation in Arisaema.

Seasonal changes of mineral nutrients absorption and allocation in fruit of Zanthoxylum bungeanum ‘Hanyuan’ during the development

Learn about the dynamic changes of mineral nutrients in fruit is important to make effective fertilization measures during the fruit development. The content and accumulation of mineral nutrients (included N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in fruit (included pericarp, seed and whole fruit) of Zanthoxylum bungeanum 'Hanyuan' were measured during the development to explore nutrient requirements and allocation. The changes of nutrient contents and accumulation in fruit of Z. bungeanum ‘Hanyuan’ showed a similar trend. A temporary increase was observed in the content of N, P, Mg, Mn and Cu after blooming (AF). Subsequently, all nutrient contents declined rapidly during the fruit enlargement stage and a slight decrease during the seed formation stage, while the nutrient contents remained relatively stable in the other stages. The nutrient accumulation increased the most rapidly during the fruit enlargement and seed development stages, and there was a highly significant linear correlation between the fruit nutrient accumulation and dry weight (P < 0.05). Except for N and Mn, the content and accumulation of other nutrients were higher in the seed than that in the pericarp. Furthermore, the nutrient accumulation in fruit at maturity (115 d AF) ranked as Ca > K > N > Mg > P > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. Both the fruit enlargement (15–39 d AF) and seed development (57–86 d AF) stages are crucial periods for nutrient requirements. The nutrient absorption by the seed was increased, and nutrient accumulation in the pericarp tended to slow down or remained relatively stable during the seed development stage.

Facile Preparation of Monodisperse Silver Nanorods with Tunable Plasmon Resonances in the Near-Infrared Region: Implications for SERS-Based Sensing

The facile synthesis of silver nanorods with uniform size and tunable localized surface plasmon resonances is of great significance for plasmon resonance-related applications, such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based sensing, biomedical diagnostics, and photothermal therapy. However, improving reproducibility is difficult for nonexpert researchers since general synthesis methods involve multiple steps. Addressing this issue, this work develops a facile, effective synthetic strategy for monodisperse silver nanorods with tunable plasmon resonance in the near-infrared region assisted by in situ monitoring via an optical microfiber in the seed formation stage and surfactant-assisted purification of the final product. The optical microfiber monitoring ensures the formation of monodisperse bipyramid templates, guaranteeing the synthesis of the final product. The surfactant-assisted purification of the final product ensures the monodispersity of the final Ag nanorods. This study provides a flexible and alternative approach for nonexpert researchers and may present an opportunity for solving the reproducibility problem faced by nanomaterial synthesis.

Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Response of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) during Seed Formation Stage under Tempera-ture Stress Conditions

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Identification of the generative phases of Amorphophallus gigas in the Sabungan Village and Langga Payung Village, Sungai Kanan District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Amorphophallus gigas is one of Sumatra's endemic Amorphophallus species that is protected in Indonesia. Amorphophallus gigas is one type of Amorphophallus with the highest flowers in the world. The conversion of land to other uses is one of the causes of the reduced population of Amorphophallus gigas. One of the natural habitats of Amorphophallus gigas was found in the Sabungan Village and Langga Payung Village, North Sumatra. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of the generative phase of Amorphophallus gigas in the Sabungan Village and Langga Payung Village, to determine the types of plants found around the place of growth and to determine the morphology of the generative phase of Amorphophallus. The method used in this research is the roaming method and then records the coordinates of the generative phase of Amorphophallus, records the types of pollinating insects around it and observes the morphology of Amorphophallus gigas. The results showed that there were 11 individuals in the generative phase of Amorphophallus gigas in the Sabungan Village and Langga Payung Village, where 10 individuals grew on rubber land cover and 1 individual grew on oil palm land cover. A total of 2 individuals were found in bud condition, 1 individual was in bloom, 2 individuals were wilted and 6 individuals were found at the seed formation stage. There are 12 types of insects found around the generative phase of the Amorphophallus.

Identification of Rich Oil-Protein and Disease Resistance Genotypes in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill

A study was undertaken on oil-protein content and their relation with yield and evaluation of resistance for aerial blight and frog eye leaf spot diseases in soybean during kharif (July−December, 2019) at J.N.K.V.V., Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The experiment was laid out using augmented block design with 154 genotypes of soybean including four check varieties namely JS 20-34, JS 20-98, JS 335 and NRC 86. Per cent disease severity was measured at peak of disease during seed formation stage (R5-R6). Yield and 100 seed weight were recorded at time of harvesting. Oil and protein content from harvested yield was estimated by using standard methods of association of official analytical chemists (AOAC). The results revealed that oil content varied from 16.8−20.2% and protein content from 36.1−41.2% in all 154 genotypes. Per plant average seed yield (3.9-15.1 g) and hundred seed weight (6.7−14.7 g) were also varied from genotypes to genotypes. The correlation between oil and protein was highly negative (r=-0.620**, p=0.01). This investigation identified ten genotypes with high oil (&gt;20%) and fourteen genotypes with high protein (&gt;40%) content. Among which JS 20-104, Cat 473B and RKS 24 were higher in protein, and Cat 48, Cat 330 and JS 20−69 were higher in oil content. In disease evaluation, eleven genotypes namely Cat 473B, Cat 60, Cat 642, JS 20−76, JSM 122, JSM 126A, JSM 126B, JSM 203, JSM 287, RKS 66 and SQL 89 exhibited dual resistance for aerial blight as well as frog eye leaf spot were screened out. The result showed that variation in oil-protein content and disease resistance depends on the genotype.

HPTLC-based metabolomics for the investigation of metabolic changes during plant development: The case study of Artemisia annua

The application of high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC)-based non-targeted metabolomics as a holistic approach to compare fingerprints of metabolite changes during Artemisia annua development is described. Images of HPTLC chromatograms obtained after derivatization with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent were used as a dataset for multivariate analysis. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis confirmed the differentiation of samples belonging to vegetative phase, flowering stage, and seed formation stage of the plant development. The obtained results showed that the HPTLC-based metabolomics approach can be a very reliable technique for the investigation of metabolic changes during plant development, complementary to gas chromatography?mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics.

A threshold heating rate for single‐stage heat treatments in glass‐ceramics containing seed formers

AbstractThe development of glass‐ceramic materials is often achieved using an elementary microstructural strategy that splits the tasks of seed formation and functionality between two types of crystals. This strategy requires customized time‐temperature ceramization protocols, which have been so far implemented using empirical parameters. Here, a more fundamental approach is proposed: the extent of overlap Oe between seed formation and volume crystallization is evaluated by calorimetric and dilatometric measurements, targeting the computation of a threshold heating rate qt for effective single‐stage heat treatments. The applicability of this novel parameter is tested in TiO2‐doped lithium magnesium aluminosilicate glass‐ceramics, whose seed formation stage is thoroughly characterized by Raman spectroscopy and STEM. High‐temperature X‐ray diffraction demonstrates that insufficient seeding results in potentially weaker performances of the final products, due to large sizes and silica deficiency of the functional quartz solid solution crystals.

Frost management in mustard under climate change scenario in semi arid ecosystem of Rajasthan

Among various factors, in recent years climate change becomes a major challenge for the food security of the country. Extreme events such as frost, heat stress, moisture stress, new diseases, pests & weeds become a major hindrance in successful crop production. Frost (Pala, Tusar or daha in Hindi) is a localized phenomenon, which is fairly common in northern India. Due to Climate change frost becomes a regular phenomenon in recent years in semi arid regions of Rajasthan. The predominantly grown mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is highly susceptible to frost injury. Mustard crop suffers badly due to the attack of frost in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013& 2014 in Rajasthan. An experiment was conducted during Rabi seasons (2011-12 to 2013-14) at Research form RARI Durgapura on sandy loam soil. Application of thiourea @ 500 ppm, wettable sulphur @ 0.2%), thiosalicylic acid @100 ppm, salicylic acid @100 ppm and H2SO4@0.1% being at par significantly increased seed and stover yield of mustard and recorded the lowest yield losses. The maximum net returns (Rs 38019/ha) along with the highest B:C ratio (2.61) was accrued due to application of thiourea followed by thiosalicylic acid and wettable sulphur. The Spray of thiourea (500 ppm), wettable sulphur (0.2%) or thio-salicylic acid (100 ppm) or salicylic acid (100 ppm) at pre flowering and seed formation stage was found to be effective in mitigating the adverse impact of frost in mustard. This study may help to understand and select suitable treatments to reduce frost impact on growing mustard in environmental conditions under semi-arid zone of India.

Effect of sulphur, zinc and boron on the growth and yield enhancement of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Oilseed crops grown in different types of soil experience nutrient deficiency, especially sulphur, zinc and boron, which affect crop productivity. To tackle it, nutrient management practices must be streamlined to avoid improper fertilizations and deterioration of soil health. With this background, experimental trials were conducted to study the effect of sulphur, zinc and boron application on the growth, yield components and yield of hybrid sunflower at AyanAthur village, Ariyalur district (TN) during the summer seasons of 2016 and 2017. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The growth components of sunflower (plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production, leaf area duration (LAD) and growth analysis parameters such as crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate(RGR), net assimilation rate(NAR) and chlorophyll content, yield components and seed yield were significantly (level of significance P&gt;0.05) influenced by foliar application of 0.5% Zn on bud initiation stage and seed formation stage and B @ 0.3% on bud initiation stage and ray floret formation stage along with S(sulphur) @ 40 kg ha-1 and RDF(recommended dose of fertilizers) as a soil application. Growth and yield parameters responded very little with the RDF alone. From both experimental results, we found that foliar application of Zn @ 0.5%and B @ 0.3% along with S @ 40 kg ha-1 and RDF recorded the highest percentage of dry matter production (44.4%), number of filled seeds (30.1%) and yield (32.4%) of hybrid sunflower.

The soybean (Glycine max L.) cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase multigene family; Identification of natural variations for altered cytokinin content and seed yield.

Cytokinins (CKs) play a fundamental role in regulating dynamics of organ source/sink relationships during plant development, including flowering and seed formation stages. As a result, CKs are key drivers of seed yield. The cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) is one of the critical enzymes responsible for regulating plant CK levels by causing their irreversible degradation. Variation of CKX activity is significantly correlated with seed yield in many crop species while in soybean (Glycine max L.), the possible associations between CKX gene family members (GFMs) and yield parameters have not yet been assessed. In this study, 17 GmCKX GFMs were identified, and natural variations among GmCKX genes were probed among soybean cultivars with varying yield characteristics. The key CKX genes responsible for regulating CK content during seed filling stages of reproductive development were highlighted using comparative phylogenetics, gene expression analysis and CK metabolite profiling. Five of the seventeen identified GmCKX GFMs, showed natural variations in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The gene GmCKX7‐1, with high expression during critical seed filling stages, was found to have a non‐synonymous mutation (H105Q), on one of the active site residues, Histidine 105, previously reported to be essential for co‐factor binding to maintain structural integrity of the enzyme. Soybean lines with this mutation had higher CK content and desired yield characteristics. The potential for marker‐assisted selection based on the identified natural variation within GmCKX7‐1, is discussed in the context of hormonal control that can result in higher soybean yield.

Genomic Regions Governing the Biosynthesis of Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Recombinant Inbred Lines of Soybean Raised across Multiple Growing Years

AbstractThe ratio of oleic acid to the combined value of linoleic and α‐linolenic acids determines the oxidative stability, and the ratio of linoleic acid to α‐linolenic acid is the key to the nutritional value of soybean oil. The present study was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with oleic, linoleic, and α‐linolenic acids in recombinant inbred lines (RIL), developed from LSb1 × NRC7, across 5 cropping years. These RIL were genotyped using 105 polymorphic SSR markers across soybean genome and analyzed for fatty acid composition. SSR markers, namely, Satt245 (LGp M), Satt556 (LGpB2), Sat_042 (LGp C1), Staga002 (LGp D1b), Satt684 (LGp A1), and AI856415 (LGpD1b) showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) association with oleic acid for all the 5 years, though this association was weak in the years when the growing temperature during active seed formation stage was high. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to Satt684 (LGp A1), Satt556 (LGp B2), Sat_042 (LGp C1), and AI856415 (LGp D1b) showed pleiotropic influence on the levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Complementation of favorable QTL from LSb1 and NRC7 generated 60% oleic acid and less than 4% α‐linolenic acid RIL, stable across 5 cropping years. New SSR markers, namely, Satt245, AI856415, and Staga002 identified to be associated with different unsaturated fatty acids may be useful in improving the efficiency of marker‐assisted breeding for enhancing the monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio of soybean oil.

Soybean seed physiology, quality, and chemical composition under soil moisture stress.

Soybean seed quality is often determined by its constituents which are important to sustain overall nutritional aspects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of soil moisture stress during reproductive stage on seed quality and composition. Plants were subjected to five levels of soil moisture stresses at flowering, and yield and quality traits were examined at maturity. Seed protein, palmitic and linoleic acids, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, N, P, K, and Ca significantly decreased whereas oil, stearic, oleic and linolenic acids, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, and B increased in response to soil moisture deficiency. The relationship between seed protein and oil was negatively correlated. The changes in seed constituents could be due to changes in nutrient accumulation and partitioning in soybean seeds under water stress. This information suggests the requirement of adequate soil moisture during flowering and seed formation stages to obtain the higher nutritional value of soybean seeds.

The Effect of Weather Factors on the Population Density of &lt;i&gt;Oxycarenus &lt;/i&gt;spp. (Hemiptera: Lygaidae) on Roselle and Kenaf

Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus are two important fibre crops in most parts of Africa. Insect pests are one of the major constraints in the production of these crops. The cotton seed bug Oxycarenus spp. attacks Roselle and Kenaf during the seed formation stage and cause reduction in seed viability. This study examined the effect of weather factors namely, relative humidity, temperature, sunshine and soil evaporation on the population density of Oxycarenus spp. on Roselle and Kenaf during the planting seasons 2012 and 2013. The treatments consisted of two types of Roselle (Green-calyxed and Redcalyxed) and Kenaf. The experiment was laid out in the field using Randomized Complete Block Design and the treatments were replicated four times. The results showed that the population of Oxycarenus spp. was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher on green-calyxed H. sabdariffa and red-calyxed H. sabdariffa than on Kenaf in 2012 and 2013. The differences in the density of the bug per fruit on green-calyxed H. sabdariffa and redcalyxed H. sabdariffa were significant in the two planting seasons. Relative humidity in the morning and maximum temperature correlated positively and negatively, respectively with the density of Oxycarenus spp. during the two planting seasons. Sunshine hours per day correlated positively, while soil temperature and soil evaporation had a negative correlation with the bug density. This information on the seasonal variation in the bug density and its relationship with weather factors could be used in pest forecasting for these fibre crops which is an important tool in formulating a successful pest management programme.Keywords: Malvaceae, Fibre crops, weather factors, Oxycarenus spp., pest management, planting seasons, pest density.

Differences in fennel seed responses to drought stress at the seed formation stage in sensitive and tolerant genotypes

To understand the effects of drought on fennel seed production and determine the underlying molecular processes, various fennel genotypes were exposed to drought stress. The yield and quality, including aromatic oil content, of fennel seeds were reduced by drought during seed development. To explore drought-induced biological processes in fennel, a label-free/gel-free proteomic analysis was performed. In Gaziantep and Tatmaj cultivars, which are sensitive and tolerant fennel genotypes, respectively, 106 and 92 drought-responsive proteins were identified. Comparison of protein-functional profiles indicated that proteins classified in stress, cell, and protein synthesis/degradation categories consisted important responsive mechanisms against drought stress. Pathway analysis visualized that the tricarboxylic acid cycle is important for both cultivars. In Tatmaj, moderate activation of proteins related to oxidative pentose phosphate pathway was detected along with an increase in photosynthesis-related proteins. Furthermore, cluster analysis of drought-responsive proteins using protein abundance at milky, dough, and mature stages identified protein homeostasis as a mechanism of drought tolerance in fennel. These results suggest that coordinated energy consumption and supply might be a drought-tolerance mechanism in fennel plants.

Effects of Paclobutrazol on Dry Matter Accumulation and Grain Filling of Castor Bean

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) as a bioenergy crop, received more and more attention in recent years. However, the yield of castor bean seeds is affected by adverse environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of exogenous application of Paclobutrazol (PBZ) on castor bean growth, yield and physiology as well as on its response to environmental stress during grain filling. In the present field study, three PBZ concentrations [0 g•ha-1 (control), 75 g•ha-1 and 150 g•ha-1] were applied twice, once at grain filling of main panicle and once at grain filling of branched panicle. The growth and physiological responses of castor bean were measured four times throughout flowering and seed formation stages [1-early initiation stage of main inflorescence (E), 2- anthesis of main inflorescence (A), 3-maturity of main panicle (M) and 4-maturity of branched panicle (B)]. Plant growth was not affected by the application of PBZ, but leaves remained later on the plant when 75 g•ha-1 of PBZ was applied. With the application of PBZ, the concentration of starch was higher in panicles than in leaves and stems. Also, PBZ application increased the number of seeds per plant without affecting seed size and weight. These results suggest that exogenous application of PBZ can enhance sink strength of panicles and improve seed yield and that application of PBZ at flower initiation can alter photosynthetic partitioning in favor to seed production. On the other hand, PBZ had no effect on antioxidant enzyme activity in the seeds in response to stress.

Impact of Climate Change on Runoff using SWAT for Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh in Central India

The selected area, Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh is plagued with groundwater overexploitation and experiences prolonged dry spells during cropping season which coincides with the seed formation stage of soybean and maize. This region has high runoff potential and hence its harvesting and utilization for supplemental irrigation can improve the crop yield considerably. In this study, the runoff was estimated with SWAT model due to limited number of gauging stations available at Malwa. The model was calibrated (R2=0.9) and validated (R2=0.96) for the study area. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency during calibration and validation were determined as 0.89 and 0.93 respectively and the model performed satisfactorily. The mean annual rainfall ranged from 474 to 1302 mm over the years and runoff varied from 10.7 to 27.0% with a mean of 18.3% of rainfall. The annual rainfall varied spatially from 585 to 1187 mm and the runoff from majority of the area varied spatially from 7.6 to 25.6% of rainfall. The rainfall during normal years varied spatially from 658 to 939 mm and the runoff varied from 12.1 to 27.0% of rainfall. It is predicted that the mean maximum and minimum temperature under medium emission scenario may increase by 2.3 and 2.6°C and runoff is predicted to increase by 0.8 to 1.8% of rainfall by 2080’s. The runoff potential available under the current scenario itself is quite sufficient for rainwater harvesting. In addition to this, the increase in rainfall and runoff predicted for this area under changing climatic scenarios showed more potential for rainwater harvesting and supplemental irrigation in near future also.

Effects of the Stage of Maturity of Merremia emarginata on Initiating Formation of Phytobezoars in Sheep in North Kordofan, Sudan

Thirty castrated rams of Sudanese Desert sheep breed, Hammari ecotype at 1.5-2 years were divided into five groups each with six animals. The animals were weighed prior commencement of the trial (30+ 0.500 kg) and once every week for ninety days. They were vaccinated against diseases endemic to the study area, drenched with a broad spectrum anthelementic and ear-tagged to facilitate identification during treatments. The rams were individually penned provided with drinking and feeding troughs. Rumen liquor was taken for in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. During the trial period, animals were diagnosed by palpation for phytobezoars. At the end of the experiment rams were slaughtered, the site of formation of ball-shaped bodies determined, size and weight were also determined. Data was analyzed via analysis of variance. The results indicated increased feed intake for the group that was on a ration free of Merremia emarginata and those consumed rations with the plant biomass at vegetative growth and at flowering stages. At early and late maturity stages, feed intake decreased and phytobezoars were formed. The bezoars differed in weight and size, where larger and heavier ones were retained from the rumen, medium irregular ones from omasum and small bezoars from the reticulum. It was concluded that M emarginata biomass could initiate phytobezoars' formation at seed formation stage or when it reached late maturity stage. Palpation showed presence of bezoars after continuous ingestion of feed containing the plant biomass. It was recommended that more studies be conducted to determine the minimal amount of the biomass under study to initiate phytobezoars' formation.