University of Kordofan Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

Genetic Effects of IGF-I and LYZ Genes on Growth and Egg Production

Q. R. Hou, J. Y. Wang, Prof. — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Growth and egg productive traits of chicken are controlled by a series of major genes and /or quantitative trait loci (QTL).The involvement of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and lysozyme on regulation of growth and egg production in chicken was previously suggested. In the present study, the potential physiological function of chicken IGF-I gene and lysozyme gene (LYZ) was studied using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A total of 168 fourth generation female Jinghai Yellow chickens were genotyped / sequenced in this experiment. To determine gene mutations, DNA analysis of IGF-I and LYZ, including Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP), and direct DNA sequencing, was performed. Chicken body weight (BW) at 0 to 16 week (wk), age at first egg, egg production, egg weight, BW at 300-days and egg production at 66-wk were analyzed using the GLM option of SAS. DNA sequencing studied identified a G528A transition in exon 3 of IGF-I, and a G111A transition in exon 1 of LYZ. Statistical analysis indicated that there were significant associations between the IGF-I gene and BW at 12 wk (P<0.05), between the LYZ gene and the BW at 4 and 16 wk, age at first egg, and egg production at 300-day (P<0.05). Analysis of the synergy effects of IGF-I and LYZ found no interaction. Results suggested that there is a possibility to use the IGF-I gene and LYZ gene SNPs as genetic markers for growth and egg productivity, respectively, in Jinghai Yellow chicken.

A Fuzzy Analysis Method for Measuring Impact of Some Climatic and Non-climatic Variables on Sorghum Production in Sudan

Moayad B. Zaied, Ahmed M. El Naim, Ibrahim S. Mohammed, Elrasheed I. Elkhidir — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The present study was conducted using the fuzzy Analysis Method to analyze the effect of total area under sorghum, GHG (Green House Gases) emissions, annual mean temperature, and annual mean rainfall on sorghum production discrepancies in Sudan for the period from 1991-2010. In the analysis, the production quantities of sorghum were designated as mother factor, while the total area under the crop (non-climatic variable) and climatic variables namely GHG emissions, mean annual temperature, and mean annual rainfall were designated as sub-factors. The relative differences between mother factor and sub-factors were calculated using the average data. The correlation degree coefficients of sub-factors to mother factor were computed as percentages using as a distinguishing parameter and the values were then ranked discerningly. The results of the analysis showed that the discrepancy in sorghum production was highly affected by area (66%), GHG emissions (55.1%), annual mean temperature (54.2%) and annual mean rainfall (53.8%). The differences between degrees of impact of different variables on production discrepancies found to be significant at p ≤ 0.001. More work considering extra production inputs, climatic variables such as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and solar radiation intensity as well as sorghum prices should be conducted using fuzzy analysis method.

Assessment of rangelands biomass using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) in Kordofan, Sudan

A. A. Khatir, J. B. Jadalla — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

This study was carried out in North and South Kordofan States, Sudan, during the period 2005-2009 with objective of assessing rangelands biomass with the aid of remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The States are within four agro-ecological zones (AEZs). These are “low rainfall savanna, Semi-desert”, “Arid” and “Semi-arid. using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and data obtained via land transect method. Results indicated that more than 30% of the forage produced is not consumed, thus decayed and lost. Average biomass production by different range types during the study period were estimated at 12.0 million tons/year. The analysis indicated that traditional methods used in biomass assessment tend to under-estimate forage production, while applying remote sensing and data collected from the field results in estimates closer to real forage production “The study recommended that biomass assessment be based on regressing NDVI values with biomass samples from the field, because these techniques are easy, cost-effective and more accurate. The study also recommended development of appropriate techniques for assessment of trees/shrubs browses and crop residues.

Guidelines for authors

Guidelines — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Guidelines for authors

Chemical Composition, Falling Number and Gluten Quality of Three Commercial Wheat Brands

A. A. ALtayeb, A. A. Abdalla, A. A. Briema — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, three brands of commercial wheat grains and their respective flours (80% extraction rate) were used (Sudanese, Ukrainian and Australian) in order to characterize the nutritional quality of their grain and flour as well as flour gluten quantity and quality. The three samples of wheat grains showed similar fat, ash and fibre contents. The protein content of wheat from Sudan (12.22%) and Australia (12.88%) was significantly (p≤0.05) higher compared to that for the Ukrainian wheat sample (11.50%). The Sudanese and Australian flour showed the same protein content (11.80%), which was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than that for the Ukrainian sample (10.60%). Carbohydrate content of wheat samples from Sudan and Ukraine (75.75 and 74.37%, respectively) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than that of the Australian sample (71.89%). The moisture content of the Sudanese wheat flour was 13.45%, while that of Ukrainian flour was 13.68%. The Australian wheat flour showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower moisture content of 14.78%. The Sudanese and Australian wheat flours showed the same protein content (11.80%), which was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher compared to that of the Ukrainian sample (10.60%). No significant differences were observed among the three samples with respect to their fat (0.95-0.93%) and ash (1.49-1.55%) content. Fiber content of the Australian and Ukrainian flour samples (0.68 and 0.67%, respectively) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than that of the Sudanese sample (0.63%). Carbohydrate content of the Ukrainian and Sudanese wheat flour (72.97 and 72.17%, respectively) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher compared to that of the Australian sample (71.27%). The three samples showed similar falling number in the range of 530.31 - 531.35. Both Sudanese and Australian samples showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher wet (28.6%) and dry gluten (11.0%) as well as gluten index (82.50%) compared to that for the Ukrainian sample (26.50, 9.82 and 80.50%, respectively).

Keywords: wheat flour, gluten quality, falling number, chemical composition, nutritive value.

Patterns of Woody Plant Species Composition and Diversity in Dinder National Park, Sudan

H. M. Sulieman, M. H. Mohammed — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Dinder National Park (DNP), Sudan, established in 1935, is one of the oldest parks in Africa. The park supports a diverse array of fauna and flora which may not be found elsewhere in the region. This study was conducted in 2009 to assess the composition and diversity of woody species in five different habitats in the DNP. These habitats are Acacia seyal-Balantines aegyptiaca; Combretum-Balanites-Acacia seyal-Acacia sibirana; Acacia seyal-Balanites-Acacia complycantha; Hyphaenesp-Ficus sp and Acacia seyal-Acacia complycantha-Acacia senegal. Twenty sample plots (20x20 m) were randomly allocated in each habitat. Number of stems for woody species was inventoried in each plot. A total of 22 woody species were identified, belonging to 11 families. Families with the highest number of species include Mimosaceae (6 species) and Combretaceae (4 species). Five species with the highest overall occurrence percentages were Acacia seyal var. Seyal (73%), Combretum glutinosum (58%), Piliostigma thonningii (33%), Ziziphus spina- christi (27%) and Combretum hartmanianum (21%). The highest diversity index (1.025) was obtained in Hyphaene sp- Ficus sp habitat which at the same time had the lowest dominance value (0.111). There were distinguished patterns of species distributions and abundance among the five habitats. This documentation on the patterns of species assemblages across habitats is important aim for conservation and monitoring vegetation changes in DNP. The findings of this study will be useful in formulating scientifically sound management and conservation strategies for the forest ecosystem of DNP.

The Study of Above Ground Biomass in Dry Forest of Kupang

A. A. Almulqu — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The forest ecosystem is an important carbon sink and source as it contains majority of the above ground terrestrial organic carbon. The condition of East Nusa Tenggara forest is declining due to fire or logging activities. Sustainable management strategies are necessary to make this forest as carbon sink rather than source. To assess the forest’s carbon source potential, dry forest biomass is quantified 50 % of it is carbon. This study aims to estimate the above-ground biomass of the entire study area. The results show that total biomass per plot of research ranged between 47,543 and 100,266 ton/ha according to forest stand, where its contributed by understorey, litter, tree, standing dead tree, fallen woody debris and stump. The dry forest biomass was highest for the virgin forest (100, 266 ton/ha) followed by plantation forest (75,954 ton/ha) and savanna (47,543 ton/ha).

Editorial

Guidelines — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

EDITORIAL

It is pleasing that: the first issue of the University of Kordofan Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UKJNRES) is now available as hard version and as online one as well. It is also a pleasurable that many authors opt to publish their papers in this Journal. I am grateful to the members of the editorial board for the effort exerted to accomplish their assignment and for the reviewers who gave their time and attention to guarantee that, the quality of the work published in UKJNRES is of the uppermost standard. However, special mentioned are M. H. Mohammed, Managing Editor, and D. M. Mekki and A. M. El Naim, members of editorial board for their un-failing efforts in executive tasks that paved the way for the realization of this issue.

The stream of papers to this journal obliges the editorial board to screen, within the journal scope, for the topics and authors diversity. Therefore, we postponed publishing, in the current issue, some of the accepted papers which may definitely be the seed for the forthcoming versions. This issue compiles assortment of papers that cover all the spectrum of the journal themes of natural resources and environmental studies.

Eventually, may I invite scientists and professionals in the realm of natural resources and environmental studies to have read papers of their choice, from this journal, which document some of the important materials in the thematic area of UKJNRES that may unequivocally narrowing knowledge gap. Invitation is kindly extended to scientists and professionals to submit their manuscripts and/or joining UKJNRES as reviewers/ editors.

Abdalla M. ABDALLA

Editor in Chief, UKJNRES

Some Physical and Functional Properties of Grain and Products of Pearl Millet

A. A. ABDALLA, G. I. MUSTAFA — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

In this study one popular variety of pearl millet grain was processed to various traditional Sudanese products, namely Aseda (stiff porridge), Damirga (fine sour white flour) and Ageen (fermented dough), also it was subjected to dehulling, popping and extrusion cooking. The grains as well as the respective products were examined for their physical and functional properties. Abrasive polishing of pearl millet grain gave 0.7% glumes, 7% bran 2.5% grits, 89.5% dehulled grain. Furthermore, polishing increased absolute density and reduced seed hardness from 3.63 to 1.92 kg/grain. Strands of the extruded product made from Damirga flour acquired higher breaking strength (2672 g) compared to that made from the refined flour (1981 g). Popping, fermentation, Damirga preparation and dehulling improved the color (whiteness) of pearl millet flour by 6 – 74%. Processing, except for Damirga, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the water absorption capacity compared to native one. Processed products, except dehulled and Damirga, showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher fat absorption capacity compared to the native one. Aseda and dehulled products showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher emulsion capacity compared to other products. All pearl millet products showed poor foaming capacity.

Efficacy of root extracts from Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) against the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål 1775) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abdalla M. A., M. Lecoq, M. H. Luong-Skovmand, S. El-Bashir — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Trials were conducted in the laboratories of CIRAD- Prifas in Montpellier, France, during the years 2000 -2003 to evaluate the bio-activity of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) against the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Roots of M. pruriens were collected from the vicinity of Zalingai town, Central Darfur State, Sudan. The collected materials were then processed, extracted and screened for their efficacy as contact insecticide against the desert locust. Knockdown and mortality were considered as yardsticks for efficacy. Extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernels and Deltametherin were used as standard botanical and synthetic insecticides respectively. M. pruriens extracts mixed with Deltametherin in a series of dilutions with water which were then tested for their additive effect as locusticide. The test materials were evaluated through series of bioassays by direct spraying on the insect. The obtained data were analyzed using M-stat-c software statistical package. M. pruriens extracts recorded knockdown of 88.00±1.94% and mortality of 77.00±1.69%, while Neem extracts recorded knockdown of 15±1.22% and mortality of 90±1.78%. Deltametherin as standard gave 100% efficacy in term of knockdown and mortality. Additive effect was noticed in knockdown and mortality when M. pruriens/ Deltametherin mixtures were applied. The study concluded that Mucuna being a cheap natural product, which can easily be obtained and processed in a simple way, may be of practical importance in future locust control activities.