Vol. 6 Issue 1
E.H. Ewaidah
Since aflatoxins are formed in all the feed ingredients (maize, barley, soybean) utilized in manufacturing poultry feeds, our objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence and the level of aflatoxins in the poultry feeds manufactured locally. The feed samples were collected from eighteen farms around the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. At least three or four different sample lots were collected from each farm. In a survey of 71 samples analyzed, the results obtained revealed aflatoxins in 55 samples (77%). Of these positive aflatoxin samples about 38% were above the present FDA guidelines of 20 ppb. The levels of total aflatoxins detected in poultry feeds ranged between 5.4- 121.2 ppb. Aflatoxins B1 and B2 were the only toxins detected in the feed samples and concentrations of these aflatoxins varied greatly among samples. In general, results showed a high incidence of aflatoxins contamination in chicken feed samples tested.
M.A. Mustafa, I.A. Ayed and O.A. Mahgoud
Zinc sorption was characterized for samples of twenty-two agriculturally important soils in Saudi Arabia. The soil samples had CaCo3 contents ranging from 0.6- 35.4%, and DTA-extractable Zn contents ranging from 0.19-2.42 ug/g. The latter correlated significantly (r=0.469) with the organic matter content of the samples.
Zinc sorption data, obtained by a batch equilibrium technique, conformed to both Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The adsorption maxima were very high and ranged from 1260- 22390 with a mean of 9910 ug/g. Apart from four samples lowest in CaCO3 percentage the adsorption maxima were in excess of the cation exchange capacities (CEC) of the samples. Zinc potentials indicated that, in most cases, Zn did not precipitate as hydroxide or carbonate.
Calcium carbonate percentage and DTPA- extractable Zn originally present in the soil samples accounted for 75% (τ0.001= 0.652) and 26% (τ0.05=0.423) of the variability of the adsorption maxima (Sm), respectively. Furthermore, the accountability of CaCO3% was improved to 87% if it and Sm were divided by CEC (i.e., Sm/CEC versus percentage CaCO3/CEC)
M.A. Abouheif, A.A. Alsobayel and Saad E. Mostafa
Thirty ram lambs representing equal numbers of Najdi and Naeimi sheep were slaughtered at 50 kg- body weight to determine the effect of breed on tissue distribution of the carcasses. At similar slaughter weights, there were no significant differences between Najdi and Naeimi ram lambs for either hot or cold carcass weight, dressing percentage or fat thickness at the 12th rib. On the other hand, Najdi carcasses had significantly (P<0.01) thicker body wall measurements, higher percentage internal fat, less percentage tail fat and smaller rib eye size than did the Naeimi carcasses. Results from carcass physical separation revealed that, there were negligible differences between Najdi and Naeimi carcasses in separable lean distribution within the various wholesale cuts, but this was not the case for separable fat and bone. In general, Najdi carcasses had a higher (P<0.01) percentage total separable fat than Naeimi carcasses. The study also indicated that Najdi ram lambs possessed wider and longer backs in comparison with Naeimi sheep of similar weight.
Hamid Elhag, Anna Whipkey and Jules Janick
Asexual embryogenesis occurred spontaneously in embryogenic-competent Callus of Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) obtained from certain clones of asexual embryos. The Coconut water (CW) promoted embryo initiation and development at 10% and 20% w/v respectively. Cultures previously rejuvenated with coconut water (CW) developed better than non-rejuvenated and the effect was greatest in liquid than in semi solid media. The effect of other growth factors was studied
A.A. Abohassan, I.E. Kherallah and S.A. Kandeel
The effect of sewage effluent water supply regimes on wood quality was investigated in Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC. The tree plantation was established for four years on a sandy loam soil in the Agricultural Experiments Station of King Saud University at Deirab near Riyadh. Felled trees were sampled for wood density, ring width, earlywood percent, fiber length, and chemical composition.
Trees grown on sites receiving irrigation at 70% of the available soil moisture (ASM) formed wider annual rings with higher earlywood percent, produced higher density wood and longer earlywood fibers than trees grown on 30% ASM site.
Average holocellulose, alpha-cellulose and pentosans contents were higher in wetter sites at 70% ASM than in drier sites (88.36% vs. 84.9%, 48.10% vs. 41.50%, and 20% vs. 17.5%, respectively). Alcohol-benzene solubles wood extractives were higher in the trees grown on dry sites than in those grown on wet sites (7.8% vs. 4.9%).
Results of this study should be of value in planning afforestation programs using Prosopis juliflora in similar regions.
A. Kabarity, S. Mazrooei and A. Elgindi
We offered c. tumours as a new experimental tool to find out if a substance has an anticarcinogenic effect or not. We find that camel urine inhibits the formation of c. tumours in A. cepa root tips that are formed after the treatment with colchicine, and we came to the conclusion that camel urine may inhibit the growth of cancel cells
Juliet O. Ewaze and Menhel M. Al-Naama
Phaeangium lefebvrei Pat. is one of several truffles found in Iraq and other Arabian countries. It is called "Hobbar" locally. A brief description and camera lucida illustrations of this species are provided in this paper.
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to determine the banding patterns of total soluble proteins at two developmental stages of sporocarps of this fungus. Tha patterns for total proteins of the sporocarp stages differed quantitatively, although there was close similarity with respect to the number of bands and position of the peaks. The immature stage showed a high protein content, indicating the high metabolic demands for formation of asci and ascospores.
The analyses showed that the tubers could be considered nutritionally as a good source of protein.
Zeinat Kamel, Mary S. Khalil and Ahmed M. Shalaby
Careful examination of the characteristics of both organisms revealed that we were dealing with Streptomyces violochromogenes and Streptomyces glaucescens. Calcium chloride decreased the permeability of both organism as indicated by the low total nitrogen content of their media compared to the controls. Small doses of calcium nitrate suppressed the permeability of S. violochromogenes and increased that of S. glaucescens, whereas the larger doses were stimulatory for both organisms.
Calcium chloride increased the accumulation of nitrogen in the biomass of both organisms. Calcium nitrate had similar effects on S. violochromogenes only without affecting S. glaucescens. The stimulatory effects of calcium gradually faded with increasing the concentration. Calcium chloride increased the proteolytic activity in S. glaucescens media only at the larger doses whereas calcium nitrate suppressed the proteolytic activity in S. glaucescens media. The cellulolytic activity of both organisms was suppressed by calcium but amylases were initiated in S. glaucescens media. Those of S. violochromogenes were arrested with the lower levels of calcium but the larger doses restored or stimulated their activity
M.J.I. Abussaud and F.A. Almomani
Jordanian isolates of Agrobacterium were separated into three biotypes on the basis of physiological and biochemical characteristics. Of 203 Agrobacterium isolates 52 proved to be pathogenic. 29 were isolated from gravines, 12 from soil and 6, 3, 2 from apples, peach and pear, respectively. None of the grapevine isolates was included in biotype 2. With 22 isolates biotype 1 was more common than the others. Tomato seedlings seem to be not a suitable host for testing the pathogenicity of grapevine isolates in Jordan. Peach isolates formed the largest gall on tomato, tobacco and kalanchoe.
H.A. Bokhary and Sarwat Parvez
Two hypogeous desert truffles, collected from the northern part of Saudi Arabia, are identified as Terfezia claveryi Chatin (Terfeziaceae) and Phaeangium lefebvrei Pat. (Pyronemataceae) belonging to order Pezizales. The morphology and taxonomy of these species are discussed. A revised modified key for the identification of recently and previously reported Saudi Arabian truffles is also presented.