Fiber Yield Research Articles

HairNet2: deep learning to quantify cotton leaf hairiness, a complex genetic and environmental trait

BackgroundCotton accounts for 80% of the global natural fibre production. Its leaf hairiness affects insect resistance, fibre yield, and economic value. However, this phenotype is still qualitatively assessed by visually attributing a Genotype Hairiness Score (GHS) to a leaf/plant, or by using the HairNet deep-learning model which also outputs a GHS. Here, we introduce HairNet2, a quantitative deep-learning model which detects leaf hairs (trichomes) from images and outputs a segmentation mask and a Leaf Trichome Score (LTS).ResultsTrichomes of 1250 images were annotated (AnnCoT) and a combination of six Feature Extractor modules and five Segmentation modules were tested alongside a range of loss functions and data augmentation techniques. HairNet2 was further validated on the dataset used to build HairNet (CotLeaf-1), a similar dataset collected in two subsequent seasons (CotLeaf-2), and a dataset collected on two genetically diverse populations (CotLeaf-X). The main findings of this study are that (1) leaf number, environment and image position did not significantly affect results, (2) although GHS and LTS mostly correlated for individual GHS classes, results at the genotype level revealed a strong LTS heterogeneity within a given GHS class, (3) LTS correlated strongly with expert scoring of individual images.ConclusionsHairNet2 is the first quantitative and scalable deep-learning model able to measure leaf hairiness. Results obtained with HairNet2 concur with the qualitative values used by breeders at both extremes of the scale (GHS 1-2, and 5-5+), but interestingly suggest a reordering of genotypes with intermediate values (GHS 3-4+). Finely ranking mild phenotypes is a difficult task for humans. In addition to providing assistance with this task, HairNet2 opens the door to selecting plants with specific leaf hairiness characteristics which may be associated with other beneficial traits to deliver better varieties.

Improving cotton yield and fiber quality in different tropical soils with boron fertilization

AbstractCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is responsive to boron (B) fertilization when there is low soil availability, but the best source and rate to be used and whether this response is dependent on soil texture are still unknown. This study aimed to adjust boron fertilization for cotton as a function of the production environment and B source used. Two field experiments were conducted in the 2020/2021 season in Chapadão do Sul, MS (clayey soil—adequate B content) and Dracena, SP (sandy soil—low B content), Brazil. Treatments consisted of B sources (ulexite [low solubility], borax pentahydrate [BP] [intermediate solubility], and boric acid [BA] [high solubility]), and B rates (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 kg ha−1) applied to the soil at 25 days after plant emergence. In sandy soil with low B content, application of 2 (high and medium solubility sources) and 4 kg B ha−1 (low solubility source) improved fiber yield between 10% (210 kg ha−1 fiber) and 28% (555 kg ha−1), respectively, as well as micronaire index, strength, elongation, uniformity, and short fibers. Application of B greater than 4 kg ha−1 via soluble sources reduced (between 9% (175 kg ha−1)—BP and 14% (257 kg ha−1)—BA) fiber yield only in sandy soil. When B content in the soil is adequate, B fertilization did not improve yield, but increased fiber strength (4%—1.1 g tex−1) and reduced the short fiber index (16%) by applying 1 kg B ha−1, regardless of the source used. The highest fiber yields were obtained with leaf B contents between 12 and 17 mg kg−1 (sandy soil) and 25 and 27 mg kg−1 (clayey soil). We recommend applying 2 kg B ha−1 (solubility sources) and 4 kg B ha−1 (low solubility source) in sandy soils with low B content to improve yield and fiber quality, and 1 kg B ha−1 in clayey soil with adequate B content to improve fiber quality and replace B amounts removed through harvesting.

Investigation and application of different extraction techniques for the production of finer bamboo fibres

Bamboos are an important source of fibres. Natural bamboo fibres possess have characteristics that make them of potential use in textiles. However, they have not received the attention they deserve due to the difficulty of extracting finer fibres. Full utilization of the potential of bamboo requires the extraction of the fibres using advanced techniques. In this study, three different extraction methods were developed, utilizing a newly created composite enzyme and alkalis in combination to extract finer natural bamboo fibres. The new enzyme was applied in both a solid form and a liquid state. Mechanical processes were also employed in preparing the bamboo culms and extracting the fibres. Three commonly grown bamboo species, Bambusa emeiensis (Neosinocalamus affinis), Phyllostachys edulis (Phyllostachys heterocycla), and Phyllostachys reticulata (Phyllostachys bambusoides), were used in the study to extract natural bamboo fibres. The bamboo samples were treated with 3–6% alkali and 24–36% composite enzyme, based on their weight. The composite enzyme was a recently developed enzyme that was used in both a liquid form and a solid form without the need for water as a solvent (non-aqueous treatment). The physical properties such as moisture content, length and fineness, and mechanical (tensile) properties such as breaking tenacity, breaking load and breaking extension of the resulting fibres were assessed with their minimum, maximum and average values. Structural analyses were performed using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analyzer (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The yield percentages of bamboo fibres were also determined. The bamboo fibres had a moisture content of 7.32–7.71%, an average length of 5.48–6.01 cm, a linear density of 9.71–11.43 tex, a breaking load of 138.96–147.67 cN, a breaking tenacity of 12.16–15.21 cN/tex, and a breaking elongation of 2.60–2.75%. SEM, TGA and FTIR tests indicated that the fibres were not single cellulosic fibres but rather fibre bundles in which single fibres were bonded by lignin and hemicellulose. The TGA results showed that the fibres were sufficiently thermally stable to withstand high temperature textile processes. The XRD results indicated the improvement of the crystallinity of the natural bamboo fibres owing to the partial removal of the non-crystalline lignin and other components. The measured properties of the fibres showed standard deviation values of 0.36–2.52, indicating a high level of uniformity within each sample. The experimental results demonstrated that the fibres obtained in this study have the potential to be used in textiles. The fibre yield percentages (approximately 52.7–55.2%) confirmed that all three bamboo species have the potential to provide usable fibres.

Evapotranspiration, fiber yield and quality, and water productivity of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under different irrigation technologies in a semiarid climate

Evapotranspiration, fiber yield and quality, and water productivity of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under different irrigation technologies in a semiarid climate

Influence of Weather Conditions in the Northwestern Russian Federation on Flax Fiber Characters According to the Results of a 30-Year Study.

Weather has significant impact on plant growth and development. It is important to analyze the influence of changing climate conditions on the expression of plant agronomic characters. Two flax varieties were grown from 1987 to 2018 in the Northwest of Russia. Weather conditions and their influence on flax agronomic characters were analyzed using the variance and correlations analyses. Significant influence of conditions of a particular year on the manifestation of all evaluated characters was revealed. Starting from June, high temperatures accelerate plant development at all stages. Prolongation of the germination-flowering period is most important for improving fiber productivity, while fast ripening in hot weather after flowering is preferable for the formation of high-quality fiber. Such data give a possibility to predict the yield amount and quality. The use of weather conditions data also makes possible a comparison of the results obtained in different years. The suggested method of classifying meteorological conditions of a year can be used in other genebanks for systematizing and analyzing the results of crop evaluation in the field. The correlation analysis revealed 3 correlated pleiades, namely (1) of productivity, (2) of fiber quality and yield, and (3) of the growing season phase durations, the sums of active temperatures and precipitation during each period. The great influence of growing conditions on the economically valuable traits indicates the necessity of searching for genotypes with stable character manifestations for breeding new varieties with stable yields and good fiber quality.

Reinforcement Fiber Production from Wheat Straw for Wastepaper-Based Packaging Using Steam Refining with Sodium Carbonate

Locally sourced agricultural residues are a promising feedstock for the production of reinforcement fibers for wastepaper-based packaging papers. An eco-friendly high yield process to generate fibers from wheat straw using high pressure steam and sodium carbonate is presented. The wheat straw was impregnated with up to 16% of sodium carbonate and steam treated for 10 min at temperatures from 148 °C to 203 °C. The pulps were characterized concerning their chemical composition and test sheets with 100% straw fibers and with 15% and 30% straw fibers blended with recycled pulp were prepared. Fiber yields ranged from 70% to 45%, wherein more severe treatment conditions contributed to increased paper strength but lower yields. At comparable fiber yields, treatments featuring a higher chemical input, coupled with lower treatment temperatures, resulted in improved paper strength. By blending recycled pulp with up to 30% of straw fibers with a beating degree of roughly 45 °SR, the burst, compression and tensile strength was enhanced by up to 66%, 74% and 59%, respectively. As the enhancement effect decreases with a high steam treatment intensity and a high proportion of wheat straw, a moderate treatment and limited use of wheat straw may be the best choice.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Hemp Production, Logistics and Processing in the U.S

Industrial hemp is a versatile crop, and its products have important applications in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, textile, paper and composite industries. Since its legalization in the U.S. in 2018, interest in growing and using hemp has been increasing. This study evaluated the techno-economics of hemp grain and fiber production, harvest and post-harvest logistics, the drying and storage of hemp grain, and the decortication of fiber stalks. The analysis was performed using a process modeling approach with data obtained from the literature considering a farm size of 162 ha (average U.S. farm size). The input parameters were used as distributed functions and the results obtained are reported as interquartile ranges after 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations. The total cost of producing and processing hemp grain and fiber was estimated to be in the interquartile range of USD 2911–3566 Mg−1 and USD 1155–1505 Mg−1, respectively. The costs of seed and fertilizer along with grain and fiber yields were found to be the major factors influencing field production costs, while costs associated with facilities and labor were the main costs in fiber processing. Despite the high resource requirements and processing costs, high-value applications of hemp grain and fiber show great potential to produce net incomes of USD 426–3701 Mg−1 and USD 1570–2016 Mg−1, respectively.

ПРИДАТНІСТЬ СОЛОМИ ЛЬОНУ ОЛІЙНОГО ДЛЯ ПЕРЕРОБКИ НА ВОЛОКНО

Flax belongs to the few industrial crops, from which two types of products can be obtained simultaneously - seeds and fiber. Industrial processing of straw aimed at obtaining fiber can solve issues related to providing enterprises with domestic natural raw materials. The wide range of use of fibers from linseed stalks has contributed to a number of studies on the processing of linseed stalks. However, linseed oil straw has some disadvantages that limit its use and the development of new technologies for the primary processing of flax fiber. In order to obtain more profit from flax straw, producers need to know the quality of the straw, so the factors that affect its suitability for processing and processing methods that will increase the value for processors and producers need to be researched. The factors that affect the suitability of flax straw for processing are established: trash, weeds, plant height, fiber content, straw length and orientation, and transportation cost. It has been proven that it is necessary to choose varieties of linseed with a high fiber content and to focus on varieties with high stems and during mowing to use methods that will increase the height of flax straw in order to avoid the loss of the harvest of the technical part of the stem; increase sowing rates to increase fiber yield; control the density of crops and the height of the plant to manage the ratio of seeds and straw in accordance with production tasks; check crops for clogging and the presence of weeds. It is advisable to use devices to quickly obtain data on the fiber content in order to determine the suitability of straw for processing, so it is promising to conduct further research in this direction.

Genetic Diversity of Ramie (Boehmeria Nivea L. Gaudich.) Originating from Wonosobo and Malang Based on Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Molecular Markers

Ramie has been widely used as a fiber crop for over 4000 years. The fibers are durable, white in color, and smooth in texture. Information on genetic diversity is important for selecting good breeding materials to produce superior offspring. This study aimed at determining the genetic diversity of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. from Wonosobo and Malang using SSR as molecular markers. Nineteen accessions of ramie were analyzed for genetic diversity using 9 SSRs located adjacent to the gene associated with fiber yield traits. This study included the DNA extraction, amplification, and visualization of amplification. Data analysis included the allele number, frequency, PIC value, heterozygosity, Shannon information index, and AMOVA analysis. The results showed 229 alleles, with an average polymorphic percentage of 68.67%, the average allele frequency ranging from 0.07 to 0.11, an average PIC value of 0.84, and Jaccard's similarity score of 0-0.18. The He and Ho values in both populations were 0.719 and 0.278, respectively. AMOVA analysis revealed that 88% of the observed molecular variance was due to genetic differences within the population, whereas 12% of genetic variation was partitioned between populations. The present study showed high genetic diversity between Wonosobo and Malang ramie. This finding might support further programs for the fiber and biomaterial industry.

Enhancing the Methane Yield of Salicornia spp. via Organosolv Fractionation as Part of a Halophyte Biorefinery Concept

The present research investigated the effect of organosolv pretreatment on two species of salt-tolerant Salicornia spp. biomass, Salicornia dolichostachya and Salicornia ramosissima, for increasing biomethane production through anaerobic digestion. The final biomethane yield of de-juiced green fibers of Salicornia spp. from wet fractionation increased by 23–28% after organosolv treatment. The highest methane yield of about 300 mL-CH4/gVS was found after organosolv treatment with 60% v/v ethanol solution at 200 °C for 30 min, or at 180 °C for 30 or 60 min treatment time. Furthermore, the methane production rate increased significantly, reducing the time until 95% of the final methane yield was reached from 20 days to 6–10 days for the organosolv-treated biomass. This research shows that the process of anaerobic digestion of halophyte biomass benefits from cascade processing of Salicornia fibers in a biorefinery framework by sequential wet and organosolv fractionation for full utilization of halophytic biomass.

Comparative proteomic analysis of seed germination between allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense

Seed germination, a key initial event in the plant life cycle, directly affects cotton yield and quality. Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum gradually evolved through polyploidization, resulting in different characteristics, and this interspecific variation lacks genetic and molecular explanation. This work aimed to compare the proteomes between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum during seed germination. Here, we identified 2740 proteins for G. barbadense and 3758 for G. hirsutum. In the initial state, proteins in two cotton involved similar bioprocess, such as sugar metabolism, DNA repairing, and ABA signaling pathway. However, in the post-germination stage, G. hirsutum expressed more protein related to redox homeostasis, peroxidase activity, and pathogen interactions. Analyzing the different expression patterns of 915 single-copy orthogroups between the two kinds of cotton indicated that most of the differentially expressed proteins in G. barbadense were related to carbon metabolism. In contrast, most proteins in G. hirsutum were associated with stress response. Besides that, by proteogenomic analysis, we found 349 putative non-canonical peptides, which may be involved in plant development. These results will help to understand the different characteristics of these two kinds of cotton, such as fiber quality, yield, and adaptability. Significance statementCotton is the predominant natural fiber crop worldwide; Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum have evolved through polyploidization to produce differing traits. However, given their specific features, the divergence of mechanisms underlying seed germination between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense has not been discussed. Here, we explore what protein contributes to interspecific differences between G. barbadense and G. hirsutum during the seed germination period. This study helps to elucidate the evolution and domestication history of cotton polyploids and may allow breeders to understand their domestication history better and improve fiber quality and adaptability.

Antioxidant Activity and Seasonal Variations in the Composition of Insoluble Fiber from the Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller: Development of New Extraction Procedures to Improve Fiber Yield.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller is a plant belonging to the Cactaceae family adapted to live in environments characterized by long periods of drought and arid or desert climates. This plant is characterized by an aerial part composed of structures transformed by branches, called "cladodes", which are essential to reduce excessive perspiration of water and appear covered with thorns. The composition of the cladodes includes water, polysaccharides, fiber, proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, sterols, polyphenols, and minerals. The main purposes of this scientific work are (a) to compare the insoluble fiber (IF) extracted from the cladodes of O. ficus-indica belonging to the same plant but collected in different seasonal periods (winter and summer) and develop new extraction protocols that are able to improve the yield obtained and (b) evaluate the antioxidant potential of the fiber and study possible variations as a result of the extraction protocol chosen. The first objective was achieved (1) by measuring the amount of IF extracted from cladodes harvested in winter and summer (CW and CS, respectively) and (2) by modifying three variables involved in the fiber extraction protocol. To achieve the second objective, the following experiments were carried out: (1) measurement of the antioxidant potential of IF in CW and CS; (2) measurement of cellular reactive oxygen species; (3) measurement of the activity of some antioxidant enzymes; and (4) comparison of the polyphenol content in CW and CS. In conclusion, the results obtained showed that the IF extraction process can be improved, achieving a uniform yield regardless of seasonality; the antioxidant effect may vary depending on the extraction protocol.

Gibberellic acid promotes single-celled fiber elongation through the activation of two signaling cascades in cotton

The agricultural green revolution spectacularly enhanced crop yield through modification of gibberellin (GA) signaling. However, in cotton, the GA signaling cascades remain elusive, limiting our potential to cultivate new cotton varieties and improve yield and quality. Here, we identified that GA prominently stimulated fiber elongation through the degradation of DELLA protein GhSLR1, thereby disabling GhSLR1's physical interaction with two transcription factors, GhZFP8 and GhBLH1. Subsequently, the resultant free GhBLH1 binds to GhKCS12 promoter and activates its expression to enhance VLCFAs biosynthesis. With a similar mechanism, the free GhZFP8 binds to GhSDCP1 promoter and activates its expression. As a result, GhSDCP1 upregulates the expression of GhPIF3 gene associated with plant cell elongation. Ultimately, the two parallel signaling cascades synergistically promote cotton fiber elongation. Our findings outline the mechanistic framework that translates the GA signal into fiber cell elongation, thereby offering a roadmap to improve cotton fiber quality and yield.

Map-based cloning of qLPA01.1, a favorable allele from the Gossypium tomentosum chromosome segment line

Cotton is an important natural fiber crop worldwide which plays a vital role in our daily life. High yield is a constant goal of cotton breeding, and lint percentage (LP) is one of the important components of cotton fiber yield. A stable QTL controlling LP, qLPA01.1, was identified on chromosome A01 from Gossypium hirsutum introgressed lines with G. tomentosum chromosome segments in a previous study. To fine-map qLPA01.1, an F2 population with 986 individuals was established by crossing G. hirsutum cultivar CCRI35 with the chromosome segment substitution line HT_390. A high-resolution genetic map including 47 loci and spanning 56.98 cM was constructed in the QTL region, and qLPA01.1 was ultimately mapped into an interval corresponding to an ~80 kb genome region of chromosome A01 in the reference genome, which contained six annotated genes. Transcriptome data and sequence analysis revealed that S-acyltransferase protein 24 (GoPAT24) might be the target gene of qLPA01.1. This result provides the basis for cotton fiber yield improvement via marker-assisted selection (MAS) and further studies on the mechanism of cotton fiber development.

Genetic Analysis of Cotton Fiber Traits in Gossypium Hybrid Lines.

Cotton plays a crucial role in the progress of the textile industry and the betterment of human life by providing natural fibers. In our study, we explored the genetic determinants of cotton architecture and fiber yield and quality by crossbreeding Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense, creating a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. Utilizing SNP markers, we constructed an extensive genetic map encompassing 7,730 markers over 2,784.2 cM. We appraised two architectural and seven fiber traits within six environments, identifying 58 QTLs, of which 49 demonstrated stability across these environments. These encompassed QTLs for traits such as lint percentage (LP), boll weight (BW), fiber strength (STRENGTH), seed index (SI), and micronaire (MIC), primarily located on chromosomes chr-A07, chr-D06, and chr-D07. Notably, chr-D07 houses a QTL region affecting SI, corroborated by multiple studies. Within this region, the genes BZIP043 and SEP2 were identified as pivotal, with SEP2 particularly showing augmented expression in developing ovules. These discoveries contribute significantly to marker-assisted selection, potentially elevating both the yield and quality of cotton fiber production. These findings provide valuable insights into marker-assisted breeding strategies, offering crucial information to enhance fiber yield and quality in cotton production.

Cumulative expression of heterologous XlnR regulatory modules and AraRA731V in Penicillium oxalicum enhances saccharification efficiency of corn stover and corn fiber

Penicillium oxalicum engineered strain DB2 and its mutant strains with multiple regulatory modules were constructed. Mutant strain RE-4-2 with two regulatory modules showed a significant increase in the reducing sugar released from corn stover and corn fiber as well as in the conversion of cellulose than DB2. RE-5-2 with three regulatory modules showed a further increase in reducing sugar released from corn stover and the conversion of cellulose on the basis of RE-4-2. RE-4-2-AraRA731V constructed by overexpressing AraRA731V in RE-4-2 showed an increase of 7.2 times and 1.2 times in arabinofuranosidase and xylosidase activities, respectively. Reducing sugar yield and cellulose conversion of corn stover and corn fiber by RE-4-2-AraRA731V were further increased.

Stability analysis and genotype X environment interaction of cotton seed and fiber yield of some cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes in multi-environment in Mali

Cotton is a strategically important crop for Mali. Mainly used for export, it represents 50–60 % of the value of the country's exports. Genotype by environment interaction study was carried out to identify the most stable cotton genotype(s) and the most desirable for seed cotton yield and lint yield in 35 villages across six different environments(High Valley of the Niger, New Cotton Growing Zone, North Sudan-Sahel, Old Basin, Southern Extension Zone and Zone Sikasso-Bougouni) in a dispersed block design. Where each village represented a block, giving a total of 35 blocks or replications. A combined analysis of variance showed that yields of seed cotton and fiber were significantly affected by environments (p<0.05), but did not reveal any significant difference between genotypes or genotype-environment interactions. The result of GGE biplot analysis method showed that the polygonal view identified three mega-environments (ME1, ME2 and ME3) with three winning genotypes: BRS 293, NTA B149 and NTA L66, respectively, for seed cotton yield. For fiber yield, the winning genotypes were CG1, NTA L65 and BRS 293, respectively. Given that all the varieties tested have a mean fiber yield within the recommended norms, the two promising varieties NTA B149 and NTA L66 with good seed cotton yields and the standard check BRS 293 can be recommended for extension in the environments to which they have been assigned.

Selection of Cotton Varieties in a Competitive Nursery in the South of Kazakhstan

The Turkestan region is a cotton-growing zone in the south of Kazakhstan, which is the northernmost cotton-growing zone in the world. 115-125 thousand hectares of medium-staple cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) are cultivated here annually, of which 80-85 thousand hectares are sown in the Maktaaral and Zhetysay districts. This region is highly susceptible to salinity, drought, invasion of dangerous pests (cotton budworm, beet borer, spider mites, aphids), and diseases (fusarium blight (wilt), gummosis). Considering the high salt content in the arable soil horizon, the aridity of the climate of the Turkestan region are the main limiting factor of the region, and selection and genetic methods is the most effective and economical way to reduce their negative impacts on cultivated vegetation, then research work on the study and creation of new resistant cotton varieties in these soil and climatic conditions are relevant. Considering all the above problems, scientists of the Agricultural Experimental Station of Cotton and Melon Growing LLP have set themselves the goal of creating heat- and drought-resistant, precocious cotton varieties with high productivity, resistance to salinization, diseases, pests, possessing high technological qualities as the yield and quality of fiber of types III-IV, based on previously obtained ones during hybridization of intraspecific and interspecific lines of families. For 30 years, scientist-breeders of Kazakhstan have created 13 varieties of medium-fiber cotton, of which 8 are approved for use in the Turkestan region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The research method is based on hybridization, multiple selection, and testing of offspring by the half method, according to the full diallel scheme (first Griffing model for F1). The created seven varieties PA-3031, PA-3044, M-4005, M-4007, M-4011, Bereke-07, Myrzashol-80, and M-4017 are zoned for more than 92% of the acreage in cotton-growing farms in the south of Kazakhstan, for the variety M-5027, which is resistant to pests, the patent has been issued 2021 and in 2022 it is planned to enter it into the register of approved varieties.

Hydrothermal extraction of dietary fiber from pearl millet bran: optimization, physico-chemical, structural and functional characterization.

Pearl millet bran is rich source of dietary fiber and several other bioactive compounds and is an unexploited by-product of millet processing industries. The utilization of pearl millet bran for extraction of dietary fiber can be an effective method for its valorization. Hydrothermal extraction of dietary fiber from pearl millet bran is a simple eco-friendly technique in terms of minimal consumption of toxic solvents, increased extraction yield, high purity and considered as an economically viable technique. In the present investigation, extraction and optimization of dietary fiber from pearl millet bran was performed using hydrothermal technique. The highest yield of dietary fiber (74.5%, w/w) was obtained under optimized conditions of water to solid ratio (20:1), temperature (90°C) and time (15min). The extracted dietary fiber from pearl millet bran was further assessed for its physico-chemical, functional and structural properties. The studies of functional and physico-chemical properties presented the water holding capacity (6.50g/g and 3.99g/g), swelling power (2.0g/g and 2.05g/g), oil holding capacity (4.91g/g and 2.42g/g), solubility (70%), total phenolic content of 4.24mg GAE/g and 4.32mg GAE/g, DPPH reduction of 86.6% and 83.9%, respectively. The results indicated that pearl millet bran can act as rich source of dietary fiber with health enhancing properties and can be utilized as potential food component in preparation of functional food products.

Management of speargrass [<i>Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel</i>] in of southern agro-ecologies of Nigeria

Speargrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel] infestation limits crop growth and yield. The effects of tillage methods, kenaf genotypes, and plant spacing patterns were studied for speargrass suppression at Eruwa (Derived Savanna) and Kishi (Southern Guinea Savanna) in 2015 and 2016. These were randomized in a Split-split plot design with three replicates. Agronomic data collected were analyzed, and the means were separated at P ≤ 0.05. Results showed that tillage enhanced weed control efficiency (10%), improved I. cylindrica suppression, and kenaf performance, relative to plant sown in no-till plots at both locations. The bast-fibre yield was higher in Ifeken DI 400 than in Ifeken 400 at Eruwa, but genotypes had similar bast-fibre yield at Kishi. Also, both genotypes had comparable I. cylindrica biomass and weed control efficiency at Kishi, while Ifeken 400 had higher weed control efficiency than Ifeken DI 400 at Eruwa, due to better suppression of I. cylindrica. The agronomic traits measured and weed control efficiency (WCE %) had a substantial inverse relationship with I. cylindrical growth at both locations. Tillage improved bast fibre yield (26 – 32%), core fibre yield (20 – 28%), and seed yield (26 – 59 %) relative to no-tilled plots. Ifeken 400 showed superior weed-suppressive traits and optimum fibre yield to Ifeken DI 400 at both locations. Tilling speargrass-infested land, with kenaf plant spacing of 50 cm × 10 cm and 50 cm × 15 cm with early canopy formation and better weed suppression are considered for an integratedspeargrass management scheme.