African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Table of Content: 31 January 2011; 10(5)

January 2011

Karyotype analyses of the species of the genus Jurinea Cass. (Compositae) in Turkey

  In this study, karyotype analyses of 13 species belonging to the genus JurineaCass. (Compositae) and grown naturally in Turkey were conducted. These taxa include Jurinea alpigena C. Koch, Jurinea ancyrensis Bornm., Jurinea aucheranaDC., Jurinea cadmea Boiss., Jurinea cataonica Boiss. and Hausskn., Jurinea consanguinea DC., Jurinea...

Author(s): Bekir Dogan, Ahmet Duran, Esra Martin and Erdogan E. Hakki

January 2011

The gene expressions of DNA methylation/demethylation enzymes and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 in skeletal muscle of thyroidectomized rats

  A decrease in mRNA levels for cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunits wasobserved in skeletal muscle of hypothyroid rats. However, the precise expression mechanisms of the related genes in hypothyroid state still remain unclear. This study investigated gene expressions of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), DNA demethylases...

Author(s): Shuhong Peng, Ningying Xu, Liping Huang, Xiaoheng Gao, Weifeng Zhu,Riyue Yu and Hongning Liu

January 2011

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers from flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

  Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is the third largest natural fiber crop and one of the five major oil crops in the world. Flax can be used as model plant for the bast fiber plants because of its small size and self pollination characters. Development of highly polymorphic co-dominant markers will be important for the molecular and genomic research in flax. Two microsatellite-enriched flax genomic libraries...

Author(s): Xin Deng, SongHua Long, DongFeng He, Xiang Li, YuFu Wang, DongMei Hao, CaiSheng Qiu and XinBo Chen,

January 2011

Development of in planta transformation protocol for wheat

  Presently, genetic modification of wheat is carried out through gene gun andAgrobacterium mediated transformation that involves callus phase and is restricted to the tissue culture responses of genotypes. Therefore, a protocol for genetic transformation of wheat without involving tissue culture procedures was established. Imbibed seeds of wheat were sterilized, incised through apical meristem, wounded...

Author(s):   Abdul Razzaq, Ishfaq Ahmad Hafiz, Imran Mahmood and Azhar Hussain  

January 2011

Some biochemical properties of guaiacol peroxidases as modified by salt stress in leaves of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.cv.) cultivars

  The kinetics properties of guaiacol peroxidase (GP) and its isozymic pattern, and lipid peroxidation product were comparatively analyzed in two varieties of safflower (cv. M-CC-190 as salt-tolerant and cv. IL-111 as salt-sensitive cultivars) under normal and different concentrations of NaCl. The pH profile of GP activity in leaves extract of two cultivars in control and salt stressed plants...

Author(s): H. Tayefi-Nasrabadi, G. Dehghan, B. Daeihassani, A. Movafegi and A. Samadi

January 2011

An investigation of artificial pasture establishment under dryland conditions

  This study was conducted to determine the suitable mixtures of perennial forage species for the establishment of artificial pasture under dry conditions in Karapinar-Konya between 2004 and 2006. In this study, complex mixtures of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner), tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.), intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron...

Author(s):   Ramazan Acar, Mevlüt Demiryürek, Mustafa Okur and Salih Bitgi  

January 2011

Effect of four herbicides on microbial population, soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity

  The effect of four herbicides (atrazine, primeextra, paraquat and glyphosate) on soil microbial population, soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity was assessed over a period of six weeks. Soil samples from cassava farms were treated with herbicides at company recommended rates. Soil dehydrogenase activity was measured at four-day sampling intervals up to the 20th day. Bacterial, fungal and...

Author(s): A. Sebiomo, V. W. Ogundero and S. A. Bankole

January 2011

Development of a mutant strain of Bacillus subtilis showing enhanced production of acetoin

  This paper described the screening process of a mutant strain of Bacillus subtilisTH-49 showing specific characteristic and enhanced production of acetoin. The mutant was obtained by treating B. subtilis N-12 with ultraviolet ray (ultraviolet ray (UV)) or nitrosoguanidine (NTG) or compound mutation and subjecting it to a shake flask fermentation selection procedure. The acetoin production rate...

Author(s): Hui Xu, Shiru Jia  and Jianjun Liu 

January 2011

Alkaline thermostable and halophilic endoglucanase from Bacillus licheniformis C108

  An endoglucanase was purified from halophilic alkaline Bacillus licheniformisisolated from soils of Lake Van in Turkey. The optimal pH and temperature of the endoglucanase produced by B. licheniformis C108 were 10.0 and 30°C, respectively. The enzyme was highly stable up to 100°C at pH 10.0 and the enzyme retained its complete activity for 6 h in 7 to10% of NaCl. The...

Author(s): Ashabil Aygan, Lutfiye Karcioglu and Burhan Arikan

January 2011

Malt quality of 4 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain varieties grown under low severity of net blotch at Holetta, west Shewa, Ethiopia

  Four malt barley varieties (Beka, HB 120, HB 52 and Holker) and 3 fungicide (propiconazole) spray intervals (7, 14, 21 day) and no spray control were arranged in a RCBD in 4 replications to assess net blotch (Pyrenophora teres) effect on malt quality. The varieties were grown at Holetta agricultural research center in 2005, on 12 m2 plot. Grain flour starch pasting and malt qualities were analyzed. Mash...

Author(s): Teshome Galano, Geremew Bultosa and Chemeda Fininsa

January 2011

Combined effects of 1-methyl cyclopropene (1-MCP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on different ripening stages of persimmon fruit during storage

  The aim of this study is to evaluate the combined effects of 1-methyl cyclopropene (1-MCP) applications and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to improve the storability of two different harvest maturity stages of ‘Harbiye’ persimmon fruitsduring 90 days storage at 1°C. For this purpose, 1-MCP, an ethylene action blocker was applied before MAP storage....

Author(s): Ayse Tulin Oz

January 2011

Effects of some medicinal plants on consumer sensory characteristics of village chicken meat

  The objective of the current study was to determine the correlations between the sensory characteristics of village chickens that were treated with medicinal plants. A total of 42 mature village chickens were kept at Fort Cox College of Forestry and Agriculture for 14 days until slaughter. The chickens were randomly allocated to five groups: Group 1 was for the negative control (treated with distilled water...

Author(s): Amanda Y. Chulayo, Voster Muchenje, Marizvikuru Mwale and  Patrick J. Masika

January 2011

Volatile compounds of vegetarian soybean kapi, a fermented Thai food condiment

  Kapi is a traditional shrimp paste used as a food condiment in Thailand. Several vegetarian soybean kapi, S1-S5, were fermented from various bacterial starter cultures isolated from commercial shrimp paste. The volatile compounds of S1-S5 were analyzed using SPME coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and compared to three samples of commercial vegetarian kapi (J1-J3) and commercial shrimp pastes...

Author(s): Suttida Wittanalai, Nuansri Rakariyatham  and Richard L. Deming

January 2011

Antioxidant activities of solvent extracts from endemic Cyclamen mirabile Hildebr. tubers and leaves

  In this study, solvent extracts were prepared from different parts of Cyclamen mirabile (CM) and their antioxidant activities were evaluated. Other antioxidant properties of all extracts of CM tubers and leaves, including free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and total phenolic compound content, were also determined. Leaves extracts of CM exhibited higher antioxidant activity than tuber...

Author(s): Cengiz Sarikurkcu

January 2011

Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells under different induction systems in hepatitis B patients with liver failure

  This study aimed to investigate and compare induced differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from hepatitis B (HB) patients with liver failure into hepatocytes-like cells with different induction systems in vitro. The differentiation of MSCs from HB patients with liver failure was induced in vitro into hepatocytes-like cells by three cell culture media (serum-free medium (group 1), auto...

Author(s): Liang Peng, Hai-peng Zhu, Yu-bao Zheng, Chan Xie, Yu-tian Chong and Zhi-liang Gao

January 2011

Molecular detection of Edwardsiella tarda with gyrB gene isolated from pirarucu, Arapaima gigas which is exhibited in an indoor private commercial aquarium

  The pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, which was displayed in commercial aquarium was found dead and was submitted for diagnostic examination. Bacteria from different organs of the fish were characterized using Vitek System®2 and showed 98% probability to Edwardsiella tarda. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result showed positive for E. tarda gyrB gene. The 16S rRNA gene was identical...

Author(s): Casiano H. Choresca Jr., Dennis K. Gomez, Sang Phil Shin, Ji Hyung Kim, Jee Eun Han, Jin Woo Jun and Se Chang Park

January 2011

Physiological responses to swimming fatigue of juvenile white-leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei exposed to different current velocities, temperatures and salinities

  Swimming performance is one of the crucial factors determining the lifestyle andsurvival of Penaeid shrimps. This study examined under controlled laboratory conditions, the physiological responses to swimming fatigue of juvenile white-leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (8.85 ± 0.05 cm TL) exposed to different currentvelocities, temperatures and salinities factors which have been...

Author(s): P. D. Zhang, X. M. Zhang and J. Li

January 2011

Isolation of OmpA gene from Salmonella typhimurium and transformation into alfalfa in order to develop an edible plant based vaccine

  The outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Salmonella typhimurium may contribute to immunity and virulence in livestock animals. Introduction of this gene in forage crops like alfalfa may be an alternative and effective way to produce animal edible vaccine. In the present study, the OmpA gene was obtained after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing. We successfully identified the...

Author(s):   Mehdi Dadmehr, Behnaz Korouzhdehi, Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh and Issa Piri  

January 2011

Anti-herpes simplex virus activity of extracts from the culinary herbs Ocimum sanctum L., Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum americanum L.

  This study demonstrates anti-herpes simplex virus activity of dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Ocimum sanctum L., Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimumamericanum L. Green monkey kidney cells were protected from HSV-2 infection by the dichloromethane extract of O. americanum L. and the methanol extract of O. sanctum, with therapeutic indexes (TI) of 1.865...

Author(s): Raenu Yucharoen, Songyot Anuchapreeda and Yingmanee Tragoolpua

January 2011

Effect of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) culture duration on in vitro maturation and parthenogenetic development of pig oocyte

  We investigated and optimized the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) culture duration for pig oocyte in vitro maturation and produced a number of high-quality metaphase-II (M-II) oocytes for generation of parthenotes. The present study graded the COCs into levels A, B and C according to layers of cumulus cells, which were cultured in vitro for 24, 32, 38, 44, 48 and 54 h, respectively....

Author(s):   Zai-Dong Hua, Xin-Min Zheng, Qing-Xin Wei, Hou-Qiang Xu, Ya-Gang Wang, Xi-Mei Liu, Li Li , Hong-Wei Xiao and Xian-Feng Qiao