International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

132-139

Authors: Aasish Gautam, Sushil Neupane, Krishna Kaphle

Food safety and security are serious concerns to the world. The growing population, depleting resources demand that judicious production is key and ensuring that the product is safe from the farm is a collective responsibility. Pork is the source of most consumed animal protein on the planet. Concerns of various type from chemical residues, environment pollution and source of pandemic diseases have challenged the growth of the pork industry. There is strong correlation between contamination of pork by pathogens like, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Trichinella spiralis and human health hazard. The purpose of this study is to outline the possible risk factors, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, prevalence, possible reason behind high prevalence and developed resistance and possible control measures for Campylobacter spp. (C. coli and C. jejuni). The risk factor analysis-based research clearly indicated that possible contamination is due to unhygienic slaughtering, evisceration and processing practices. Prevalence is more in the retail meat of Nepal than other countries. The commonly used antibiotics in Nepal are not fully sensitive. The developed resistance might be due to overuse or misuse of antibiotics which may lead to post antibiotics era. Strict slaughtering procedure, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical point) and GMP (good manufacturing practices) during slaughtering are prerequisities for Campylobacter control in carcass. We need to focus through individual, policymaker, health professional level for enhancement of pig industry with strict biosecurity measures at farm level of Nepal.

146-153

Authors: Yosef Deneke, Rajib Deb

In the present study recombinant LigB protein is employed in latex agglutination test, which is a cross reacting lipoprotein able to detect acute infection caused by any pathogenic leptospiral serovars. It was employed for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. The 46KDa 6X His tagged LigB protein, obtained by IPTG induction of recombinant E. coli M15 cells containing the N-terminal region of LigB gee in PQE30 expression vector, was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and adsorbed on latex bead surface for performing latex agglutination test against Leptospirosis suspected field sea. Western blot confirmed that rLigB is an immunodominant protein against which antibodies are produced during active infection. A total of 453 field sera, including 432 bovine sera, 18 caprine sera and three sera samples of buffalo bull collected post-mortem following death the animal from Indian Veterinary Research institute (IVRI) were tested using rLigB based LAT. The result showed that 300 sera were tested positive by rLigB based LAT, which were reconfirmed using microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The results from LAT were in concordance with MAT. In conclusion, under laboratory and field conditions, rLigB based LAT is a rapid, pen site, reliable diagnostic tool of high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of Leptospirosis.

161-169

Authors: Padam Bahadur Poudel, Uttam Kumar Jaishi, Laxmi Poudel, Mukti Ram Poudel

A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Bhairahawa during winter season of 2019/2020 to find out the performance of wheat genotypes under timely sown (November 29, 2019) and late sown (December 25, 2019) conditions. The research was carried out in two environments (timely sown and late sown) following alpha lattice design with two replications. Each replication consists of five blocks with four plots in each block. The results revealed that all genotypes performance was decreased in late sowing environment. In late sown condition, there was significant difference among genotypes for all the traits under study and under timely sown condition, there was significant difference among genotype for all traits under study except weight of grains per spike and grain yield. The maximum yield was recorded in NL 1179 and Bhirkuti in timely and late sown conditions respectively. It was found that the mean grain yield in timely sown condition is 90.77 % higher than in late sown condition. The maximum grain yield was recorded in NL 1179 across combine environment.

179-186

Authors: Anup Sharma, Sulochana Thapa, Mohan Prasad Khatiwada

Kiwifruit is one of the leading agriculture commodities having tremendous potential of export to the international market. Nepal offers suitable topography, climate and soil for profitable production of kiwifruit having unique taste, precocity and high nutritive and medicinal values. This study attempts to analyze the production trend, export and import, current scenario and future prospects of kiwifruit in Nepal. Findings shows that the production of kiwifruit is in increasing trend with an average annual growth rate of 46.5% from fiscal year 2014/15 to 2016/17 in Nepal. The commercialization of Nepalese kiwifruit is still in the state of infancy. Even though possessing passable shot in local and the global market, country yet produces small-scale of kiwifruit. The main challenges include inadequate scientific research on kiwifruit, lack of adoption of improved technology, insufficient investment, and poor-quality planting material, unstable prices and profit margins along with inappropriate market channels. Thus, to fortify kiwifruit subsector, it is recommended to focus on strategy of improving kiwifruit productivity with conventional mechanization, improved technology adoption, price intervention, market recognition, establishment of storage and processing centers and diplomatic relations for convenient global marketing.

191-198

Authors: Shila Bashyal, Padam Bahadur Poudel, Jenny Budha Magar, Laxmi Dhakal, Suraj Chad, Binita Khadka, Sidda Lal Bohara

In Nepal, the productivity of maize is very low in comparison with developed countries. The use of hybrid varieties with proper nutrient management helps to unlock the high yielding potential of maize. So, the experiment was conducted at Fulbari, Dang, Nepal from June 30, 2019 to October 16, 2019 to find the yield performance of two maize varieties (Local and Hybrid) under different nutrient management. The study was conducted in factorial randomized complete block design with three replications and eight treatments. Treatments consist of different combinations of two maize varieties (Local and hybrid) and four different nutrient management practices. Significant effects of Nutrient management were observed on plant height, l eaf area index (LAI), kernels per row, kernels per cob maize, test weight, biological yield, economic yield and harvest index of maize. Similarly, significant effects of varieties was observed on plant height, leaf number, LAI, cob length, kernel rows per cob, kernels per kernel row, kernels per cob maize, test weight, biological yield, economic yield and harvest index of maize. Interaction effect of Nutrient management and varieties was found significant on LAI, kernel rows per cob, kernels per kernel row, kernels per cob maize, test weight, biological yield, economic yield and harvest index of maize. The overall performance of hybrid maize under Leaf color chart (LCC) based nutrient management was found better than other treatments. Therefore, production of Hybrid maize under LCC based nutrient management is suggested.

205-210

Authors: Pushpa Karna Mallick

Pollen morphology of fourteen species of angiosperms from Kathmandu valley was investigated using aceto-carmine and palynological characters such as pollen size, shape, aperture numbers and exine sculpture were evaluated. The results indicate that various types of pollen grains are in angiosperms. In this investigation Pollen grains of Linum usitatissimum L. from the family Linaceae, Lathyrus odoratus L. from Fabaceae, Magnolia grandiflora L. from Magnoliaceae, Malva alcea L. and Malva sida L. from Malvaceae, Murraya koenigii Spreng from Rutaceae, Nerium oleander L. from Apocynaceae studied. Likewise, Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Salvia coccinea Buchz ex Etl. Salvia splendens Sellow ex J.A. Schultes from Lamiaceae, Oenothera rosea L. from Onagraceae, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. from Rosaceae, Solanum nigrum L. from Solanaceae and Zinnia elegans L. from Asteraceae were studied in this investigation. Shape of the pollen grains found to be spheroidal, sub-spheroidal, elongate, oval, circular, ellipsoidal and triangular type. Ornamentation of exine wall found to be echinate, smooth, coarse, wrinkle and tected type. Aperture of the pollen grains found to be triporate to periporate. Sizes of the pollen grains encountered in this study were large, medium and small. The high diversity of exine ornamentation type in pollen grains of angiosperms has been associated to diversity in pollination systems. Echinate pollen grains train the bees to restrict to nectar collection and help the flowers to save more pollen grains for pollination. Smooth walled pollen grains are linked with wind or water pollination.

216-222

Authors: R.K. Verma, H.N.P. Singh, A.K. Thakur, S.J. Kohli

Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used since the time immortal in different parts on the world including India. Ayurveda provides a detailed insight of different medicinal plants and their use. Different regions of India have a array of different types of medicinal and aromatic herbs. Depending upon climate and soil they may have different degree of pharmacological importance. Lower Gangetic plane present at around eastern part of the Bihar has some sort of Medicinal and Aromatic plants common to Bhagalpur and nearby region. These plants were surveyed on non-agricultural fields of four different localities of Bhagalpur by using quardat method. Abundance, Counts, Cover, Frequency and relative importance were calculated as a whole. About 14 plants were recorded having either well known medicinal or aromatic properties in a total survey area of 1000m2.

231-234

Authors: T. Eswar Ganesh Babu, S.A. Mastan, M. Sai Sowjanya, G. Rajesh, K. Harshitha, A. Madhavi, U. Haritha, B. Sindhulekha, P. Sivanarendra Babu

Alfa- Feto- protein (AFP) is a protein produced by the baby in the womb. The protein is normally found in the blood stream of the mother, which tends to be elevated or lowered in the blood of the women carrying babies with certain abnormalities it is an Albumin like glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 70,000 D. Is a formed in the yolk sac. Non differential liver cells and the fetal gastro- intestinal tract. Elevated MSAFP levels have also been associated with Chromosome abnormalities, Omphalocele and gastroschisis and rarely congenital, additionally elevated MS AFP levels have associated with an increased risk for adverse perinatal out comes including preeclampsia, premature labor, low birth weight, placental abruption and stillbirth.

241-246

Authors: Sandesh Thapa, Anjal Nainabasti, Sashila Acharya, Neha Rai, Rakshya Bhandari

Rooftop gardening is one of the present needs for urban settlement for solving food security problems and promoting sustainable agriculture. To highlight the present status of rooftop gardening in Kathmandu a key informant survey was conducted where 52 respondents were selected where the majority of the rooftop garden maintainers were females (52.8%). All of the respondents have a positive response regarding rooftop gardening and was significant with a year of farming in roofs (χ²= 45, df= 9, P-value=0.000) and the area covered by rooftop farms range from 5-13%. There was a significant monetary value of the soft benefit from rooftop garden as food production ($3456.86), air quality ($11-19), stormwater retention ($20609), and carbon sequestration ($6-7) benefits. However, the traditional method was employed to maintain rooftop gardens with planting materials such as plastic bags, pots, and styrofoam carats. Since constraints were recorded in the study area regarding rooftop farming establishment and also is continuing, thus, there should be proper training for the individuals interested in rooftop gardening which enables them to manage and continue their farms more efficiently.