Search

This case study examines the nutritional differences between agroecological, conventional, and commercial products in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Using a participatory methodology with local farmers, eggs, chicken, and plantain were selected for analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents were compared across the three production systems. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and MANOVA. Results indicate that agroecological products from the studied farms tended to have lower moisture content. Agroecological eggs showed higher fat content (11.09 g/100 g vs 9.32 g/100 g conventional and 8.45 g/100 g commercial). Agroecological chicken presented higher protein content (22.37 g/100 g vs 20.73 g/100 g conventional and 18.1 g/100 g commercial) and potassium (281 mg/100 g vs 298 mg/100 g conventional and 213 mg/100 g commercial). Agroecological plantain had higher ash content (0.85 g/100 g vs 0.77 g/100 g conventional and 0.79 g/100 g commercial) and calcium (8 mg/100 g vs 5 mg/100 g conventional and 6 mg/100 g commercial). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). While these findings suggest potential nutritional benefits of agroecological production in this region, further studies with a larger number of replicates are needed to confirm these trends on a broader scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) increases herbage dry matter (DM) production and quality during warm and dry conditions due to its deep roots and drought tolerance and reduces nitrogen losses in grazing systems compared to traditional pastures. However, plantain density usually declines after the third growing season, mainly due to defoliation management. The effects of defoliation frequency and intensity on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves and below-ground plant responses need further research to optimize grazing strategies for improved productivity and sustainability of grazing systems. Our study investigated the effects of defoliation frequencies (15, 25, and 35 cm of extended leaf length, ELL) and intensities (5 and 8 cm of residual heights) on morphological traits and WSC concentrations in plantain biomass under controlled environmental conditions. Defoliation frequency significantly influenced morphological and chemical characteristics and biomass distribution more than residual height. Less frequent defoliations promoted above-ground herbage DM production, reproductive stems, and root biomass. Root architecture showed adaptations in response to defoliation frequency, optimizing resource acquisition efficiency. Frequent defoliation reduced high molecular weight WSC concentrations in leaves, affecting regrowth capacity and DM mass. A defoliation frequency of 25 cm ELL (~15 days) balances herbage production and root development, promoting long-term pasture sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their review: An examination of the ability of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) to mitigate nitrogen leaching from pasture systems, Eady et al. (2024) dispute both the historic estimates of typical urine patch nitrogen (N) load and leaching and the evidence for the N leaching reduction mechanisms of plantain; and question the recommended levels of plantain required to achieve N leaching reduction. We reject the suggestion that the urine patch has little influence on N leaching, and that average annual N leaching from dairy farms is 6 kg N/ha. We agree that the low dry matter content of plantain is the dominant and best documented effect of plantain on urine N dilution. We reject that there is no evidence for the effect of plantain on nitrogen partitioning to urine, and on potential nitrification rate in the urine patch. We point to empirical evidence of statistically significant reductions in nitrate leaching from plantain at paddock scale, at levels as low as 21% plantain of dry matter eaten. Current research will improve understanding of the mechanisms and magnitude of the effect of plantain on N loss, paving the way for recognition of other forage-based N loss reduction options, and ongoing development of mechanistic models that are adaptable to other forages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflorescence architecture underpins sexual reproduction in wild Musa species and productivity in edible banana cultivars. In a functional analysis, we identified the apical inflorescence and lateral 'cushion' meristems and the change in flower type as the three primary components that generate inflorescence architecture. Five genotypes of two clone sets of edible plantains (Musa AAB) were grown for four generations along an elevation gradient (1100–2200 m, 16°C–24°C) straddling the equator in the humid highlands of East Africa. The data consisted of reproductive peduncle length at harvest (Pr), fruit per hand (Fh) and hands per bunch (Hb). The activity of the apical inflorescence meristem drives peduncle length and generates lateral 'cushion' meristems which determine Fh. However, Hb is determined by a change in flower type—from fruit forming to non‐fruit forming. Site temperature affected Hb more than Fh, while the development of the genet (rhizome) changed the allocation of resources between Hb and Fh, independently of the effect of site temperature. Clone sets differed in their response to genet development. Cooler temperatures reduced the number of fruit‐forming flowers in an inflorescence and changed the balance away from female towards male flowers. In banana breeding schemes, manipulating inflorescence components independently raises options for producing genotypes better suited to markets, environments and cultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of pests and diseases is one of the main challenges of sustainable agriculture. Plantains, with an annual production of nearly 12 million tons, are a significant staple food crop in West and Central Africa, as well as in Central America. Cosmopolites sordidus is the major pests for plantains and is present in all production areas. This study assessed how the traits and associated agricultural practices of 12 crops, usually associated with plantains in Cameroun, affected the arthropods trophic network and C. sordidus abundance. The abundance and the diversity of arthropods in experimental plots associating plantains with each of the 12 tested crops were measured. Each associated crop was described by a unique profile of traits and agricultural practices. This 'trait' approach allowed linking the plant characteristics to the abundance of arthropods from different trophic groups. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the interactions between associated crops traits, their associated agricultural practices and the abundance of main trophic groups. The highest abundance of C. sordidus was observed in plots with Ananas comosus and Xanthosoma sagittifolium as associated crops. These plots also had the lowest abundance of omnivores and predators. In contrast, plots with the lowest abundance of C. sordidus were those with weeds and Vigna unguiculata, where more omnivores and predators were observed. Grouping associated crops by their traits and agricultural practices allowed for drawing conclusions on a wider range than the set of plants tested. For instance, this study showed that plants from the higher strata tend to decrease ground‐dwelling predators. The ideal crop traits and agricultural practices to maximize the regulation of C. sordidus should not be obtained by a single species of crop but rather by a community of associated crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) has broad distribution in grasslands throughout the temperate world and can improve feed quality and quantity of pastures, especially in late summer and autumn. Additionally, its extended growth season, deep root system and drought tolerance make plantain a promising pioneer plant for quarry rehabilitation based on the use of native species. Unfortunately, very little information is still available regarding seasonal variations in the bromatological composition of plantain grown in Mediterranean environment. Our research conducted in Sardinia (Italy), aimed at evaluating the effects of different seasons and environmental conditions (cultivation in open field vs. quarry recovery) on the leaf bromatological composition of a plantain Mediterranean population as well as the relationship between bromatological and phenolic composition based on a chemometric approach. Crude protein values ranged from 3 to 15% at Field in summer, neutral detergent fiber values ranged from 33% (spring) to 53% (summer) at Quarry 1 and Field. Variations in relative forage value suggested that plantain may potentially supply a quality forage during the whole year. Our findings substantially indicate that the studied plantain accessions have the potential to supply fodder all year long. This suggests that it can be grown as an interesting alternative for providing quality forage in rainfed Mediterranean areas and can satisfactorily complement other fodder sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing plantain (Plantago lanceolata) within pastures reduces nitrate leaching following grazing. Plantain is usually grown with grass and clover species, making selective weed control challenging. One strategy to selectively remove tall weeds in pastures with mixed species is to apply herbicides using weed wipers. However, for many months of the year, plantain has upright leafless flower stems that will intercept herbicide applied using wipers. To determine if this means plantain might be damaged by wipers used in such swards, two glasshouse experiments tested the tolerance of mature plantain plants to the application of herbicides suitable for use in weed wipers (glyphosate, clopyralid, aminopyralid, dicamba, metsulfuron, picloram and triclopyr) to the flower stems. Aminopyralid (0.075% ai solution) and a low rate of glyphosate (1.8% ai) caused the least decrease in plantain biomass and should be safe for weed wiping within swards containing plantain. A higher rate of glyphosate (7.2% ai) and a glyphosate/metsulfuron mix (0.9% + 0.01% ai, respectively) caused the most damage to plantain, particularly following simulated rainfall after application. Thus, applying some herbicides using wipers should be possible for selective weed control within plantain swards even if rain falls soon afterwards, though field trials are required to fine-tune recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectinex XXL, a commercially prepared pectinase, was investigated for its potential application in the fruit juice industry. Polygalacturonic acid was used as the substrate for determining the enzymatic properties of Pectinex XXL using the DNS method. According to the results, the optimal pH for Pectinex XXL activity was 4.5, and the enzyme was stable in the pH range of 3.0~4.5. The optimal pH and pH stability range are consistent with those of some tropical and subtropical fruits. The optimal temperature for Pectinex XXL activity was 60 °C, and the enzyme remained stable after one hour in a water bath set at 40 C . Additionally, the enzymatic activity was not inhibited in the presence of 1 mmol/L of Na+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and Fe2+, whereas it was slightly inhibited in the presence of 2 mmol/L of K+ and Fe2+ and partially inhibited in the presence of 1 and 2 mmol/L of Ca2+ and Mn2+, demonstrating its good stability in acids and excellent thermal catalytic performance. Based on the above experimental results, depectinization experiments were performed on plantain and cherry tomato juices using different amounts of Pectinex XXL. After one hour reaction with 16 U/mL of the enzyme, the yields of the plantain and cherry tomato juices were substantially increased by 119.03% and 15.97%, respectively, while their light transmittance was remarkably enhanced by 37.65% and 12.35%, respectively. Furthermore, the enzyme reduced the viscosity of the plantain and cherry tomato juices by 88.29% and 29.50%, respectively. The juice production experiments confirmed that this enzyme can significantly improve the yield and light transmittance of plantain juice, while effectively reducing its viscosity. These findings indicate the potential of Pectinex XXL in the industrial production of plantain juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With climate change continuously threatening global food production, smallholder farmers are increasingly struggling to adapt to changing climatic conditions, decreasing productivity, and limited access to finance. To examine these challenges, this study used cross-sectional data collected through a multi-stage approach across three plantain-producing states in southwest Nigeria, with 100 farmers randomly selected in 5 local government areas per state to give a total of 300 farmers. A two-step Stochastic Frontier model is used to examine the relationship between climate adaptation strategies and plantain productivity while the Harold-Dorma growth equation and Multivariate Probit regression are used to assess the financing gap and its effect on adaptive capacity. Finally, the Foster Geer-Thorbecke (FGT) equation is used to measure the vulnerability of farmers to climate change. Findings show that as the financing gap of the farmers decreases, their ability to adopt climate adaptation strategies to enhance their productivity increases. However, 80% of the farmers are financially vulnerable to climate change, with 37% facing severe financial constraints. The vulnerability depth for the farmers is 56%, indicating that with $106.55 (56% of the vulnerability line of $190.26), many farmers' adaptive capacity could be enhanced to reduce their vulnerability below the vulnerability line. This study's approach provides a comprehensive approach for assessing smallholder farmers' ability to adopt adaptation strategies that increase productivity and enhance resilience. While other policy measures to enhance smallholder farmers' ability to address the challenges of climate change are important, it is crucial to prioritise actions that improve the financial status of smallholders.

AbstractThe paper estimates the degree of integration of plantain prices in three selected markets to assess the efficiency of the plantain marketing system in mid Ghana. The selected markets are Techiman in Bono East Region, Kenyasi and Duayaw Nkwanta markets both in Ahafo Region of Ghana. The spatial market integration analysis was done using the error correction model on monthly wholesale real prices in Ghana cedis (GH¢) per 9–11 kg bunch of plantain from 2006 to 2015. The findings of the analysis indicate that the plantain markets are weakly integrated spatially with an overall degree of integration of 17 percent which suggests weak market efficiency. Therefore, strengthening the implementation of government policy on market information, especially in producing areas, will be useful in improving plantain market efficiency.

Chicken nuggets were prepared with 5%, 10%, and 15% steam cooked unripe plantain without peel, and their qualities were evaluated. Linear and significantly (P < 0.01) increased values were observed for emulsion stability, cooking yield, moisture retention, fat retention, moisture, and total ash contents. Conversely significantly (P<0.01) reverse trends were observed for emulsion pH, product pH, protein and fat contents. Fiber content values were significantly increased from0.46 ± 0.03 to 5.71 ± 0.08%. Sensory evaluation done using nine point hedonic scale indicated that 10% cooked unripe plantain without peel resulted in higher scores for appearance, colour, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, texture and overall acceptability among the three treatments. Thus, it can be concluded that, 10% cooked unripe plantain without peel can be successfully used for preparation of fiber enriched functional chicken nuggets of acceptable quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed production systems play a vital role in the economic sustainability and ecological balance of agroecosystems. Cocoa and plantain are key crops in Ecuador but face phytosanitary challenges, like witches' broom and black sigatoka diseases, especially when cultivated under monocropping systems. Combining habitat manipulation with adaptive pathogen management (APM) strategies can mitigate these challenges, but their efficacy in mixed cropping systems remains unclear. This study investigates disease and pest incidence in mixed cocoa–plantain systems during the establishment phase, focusing on the impact of spatial arrangements. Mixed agroecosystems showed a lower witches' broom incidence in cocoa than monocultures. Whereas, in plantain, there was a consistent black sigatoka incidence across spatial arrangements but a lower infection rate per leaf within mixed systems. We found varied nematode populations with monocultures hosting the highest root damage due to phytoparasitic nematodes. Weevil populations were also influenced by spatial arrangements with monocultures among the highest. Overall, mixed agroecosystems influence disease and pest incidence, potentially hindering pathogen spread. Plantain–cocoa associations reduce disease incidence in cocoa but may not affect the overall incidence of black sigatoka in plantain, at least during the establishment phase. Continued monitoring is crucial for understanding the long-term impacts and microclimatic effects on pest populations that could offer sustainable pest management strategies, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production declines as dairy cows enter late lactation, resulting in reduced milk quality and negatively impacting milk processability, such as rennet coagulation time (RCT), milk pH and ethanol stability (ES), leading to seasonality issues for milk processors. Multispecies forages, containing grass, legume and herb species, require lower N inputs and are of interest to dairy farmers. However, little is known about the effect of grazing multispecies forages on milk processability characteristics in late lactation dairy cows. Forty-five autumn-calving dairy cows in late lactation were allocated to 1 of 3 grazing forages; perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne), perennial ryegrass and white clover (Trifolium pratense) (PRGWC), and a 6 – species multispecies forage (MULTI) containing perennial ryegrass, timothy (Phleum pratense), white clover, red clover (Trifolium repens), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Cows were allocated 12 kg DM grazed forage and supplemented with a grass – silage TMR and concentrate. Forage DMI was significantly lower for cows grazing PRG. Milk yield increased when cows grazed PRGWC (18.07 kg/d) and MULTI (17.84 kg/d) compared to PRG (16.08 kg/d). Milk RCT (mins) and ES (%) were unaffected by treatment. However, offering cows PRGWC and MULTI increased the concentration of C18:2 cis – 9, 12 and C18:3 cis – 9, 12, 15 in milk compared to PRG. Compared to PRG, grazing forages containing clover and herb species improved milk yield and beneficially altered milk fatty acid profile in late lactation dairy cows without negatively impacting milk processability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aimed to assess the effects of dried plantain herb, lemongrass, and their combination on milk yield, immunological, liver enzymatic, serum, and milk mineral status in dairy cows. Materials and Methods: Twenty cows were arbitrarily assigned to 4 diets. Cows were given a basal ration considered as control diet (CL-D) having 14.93% crude protein (CP)and 10.96 MJ ME per kg dry matter (DM). Each cow was given 100 gm plantain, 100 gm lemongrass, and 50 gm plantain + 50 gm lemongrass with CL-D and taken as plantain diet (PT-D), lemongrass diet (LG-D), and plantain-lemongrass diet (PL-D), daily for 63 days, respectively. Blood and milk samples were taken four times at an interval of 14 days. Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Better DM consumption and milk yield were observed in the PT-D and LG-D compared to the CL-D (p ≤ 0.05). LG-D improved the milk's total solids, protein, and fat compared to CL-D (p < 0.05). Substantially, herbal groups improved serum albumin and reduced globulin concentrations compared to CL-D. LG-D had the highest serum immunoglobulin G, while herbal groups effectively reduced the liver enzymes compared to CL-D. Herbal groups did not affect serum and milk's calcium and phosphorus concentrations, while LG-D and PL-D substantially improved serum and milk zinc concentrations. Conclusions: Both plantain and lemongrass improved dairy cows' DM consumption and milk yield. Plantain and/or lemongrass enhanced the immune system and liver health, but not serum and milk calcium and phosphorus level. Lemongrass and a combination of plantain and lemongrass increased the serum and milk zinc concentrations. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(1.000): 185-193]

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) increases herbage dry matter (DM) production and quality during warm and dry conditions due to its deep roots and drought tolerance and reduces nitrogen losses in grazing systems compared to traditional pastures. However, plantain density usually declines after the third growing season, mainly due to defoliation management. The effects of defoliation frequency and intensity on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves and below-ground plant responses need further research to optimize grazing strategies for improved productivity and sustainability of grazing systems. Our study investigated the effects of defoliation frequencies (15, 25, and 35 cm of extended leaf length, ELL) and intensities (5 and 8 cm of residual heights) on morphological traits and WSC concentrations in plantain biomass under controlled environmental conditions. Defoliation frequency significantly influenced morphological and chemical characteristics and biomass distribution more than residual height. Less frequent defoliations promoted above-ground herbage DM production, reproductive stems, and root biomass. Root architecture showed adaptations in response to defoliation frequency, optimizing resource acquisition efficiency. Frequent defoliation reduced high molecular weight WSC concentrations in leaves, affecting regrowth capacity and DM mass. A defoliation frequency of 25 cm ELL (~15 days) balances herbage production and root development, promoting long-term pasture sustainability.

Background This study focused on evaluating the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna in eight banana farms in the western zone of Nicaragua. Methods The sampling design was random and descriptive, it was divided into two phases, the first was the collection of the sample, and the second was the classification, coding, and storage of the extracted macrofauna populations. The sampling method employed included the extraction of soil and litter samples. Soil samples were collected using a wooden frame (monolith), with each sample weighing approximately 1 kilogram and taken from a depth of 0.20 cm. Litter samples were collected from the soil surface. A total of 80 samples were collected, with 40 soil samples and 50 litter samples obtained across the 8 plantain farms. Results The results showed that the relative abundance of biodiversity was higher in the 0–20 cm soil depth stratum than in the branch and leaf biomass strata. The values of the diversity indices of Simpson's Dominance, Shanon, Margalef, and Equity were in the normal range, with a tendency towards low diversity. Likewise, in the richness of species, the Dominance or most abundant genus were earthworms (Oligochaeta) and Hymenoptera ( Solenopsis, Leptothorax, Camponotus, Pheidole), indicating the directly proportional relationship, that is to say, that the greater the number of earthworms the production increases and the greater the number of Hymenoptera it decreases, confirmed with the Pearson correlation coefficient with a reliability of 95%. Conclusions It was concluded that based on the estimates of the diversity indicators, two detritivore genus (earthworms and Hymenoptera) were the ones with the more dominance, being important in the production of the banana agrosystem due to the decomposition of organic matter and its nutritional contribution to the plant. We observed a direct correlation with earthworms and an indirect relationship with Hymenoptera.

Plantago sinaica is a rare perennial shrub near-endemic to Egypt and found in Saint Katherine Protectorate in Sinai. The first successful in vitro propagation protocol was conducted to protect the plant outside its natural reserves. Shoot tip, stem node section, cotyledonary node, and root explants separated from in vitro germinated seedlings were cultured in vitro on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium enriched with different concentrations and types of cytokinins. It was found that 6-benzyl adenine (BA) is the most efficient cytokinin. MS medium containing 3.33 µM BA and 0.54 µM α-naphthalene acetic acids (NAA) produced 10.25 and 11.30 shoots/explant using shoot tip and stem node section, respectively. Conversely, MS medium + 2.22 µM BA + 0.54 µM NAA produced 13.25 shoots from root explants. Surprisingly, the cotyledonary node explants favored MS medium free from plant growth regulators (PGRs), which produced only 4.25 shoots/explant. The multiplied shoots were rooted successfully with a 100% rooting percentage on half MS medium containing 1.23 or 2.46 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In vitro, rooted plantlets were efficiently transferred to the greenhouse with a 90% survivability. Finally, the plant was identified using three DNA barcodes; 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (rbcL), plastid photosystem II protein D1 intergenic spacer region (psbA–trnH), and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) barcodes. Additionally, psbA–trnH and ITS were novel and submitted to the GenBank databases for the first time for Plantago sinaica. Our study supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 15, which is to preserve, restore and reinstate sustainable usage of terrestrial ecosystems and to stop biodiversity loss.Key message: This is the first report in in vitro propagation of the rare Plantago sinaica (Barnéoud) and molecular identification of the plant by three DNA barcodes with two newly published barcodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aimed to assess the effects of dried plantain herb, lemongrass, and their combination on milk yield, immunological, liver enzymatic, serum, and milk mineral status in dairy cows. Materials and Methods: Twenty cows were arbitrarily assigned to 4 diets. Cows were given a basal ration considered as control diet (CL-D) having 14.93% crude protein (CP)and 10.96 MJ ME per kg dry matter (DM). Each cow was given 100 gm plantain, 100 gm lemongrass, and 50 gm plantain + 50 gm lemongrass with CL-D and taken as plantain diet (PT-D), lemongrass diet (LG-D), and plantain-lemongrass diet (PL-D), daily for 63 days, respectively. Blood and milk samples were taken four times at an interval of 14 days. Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Better DM consumption and milk yield were observed in the PT-D and LG-D compared to the CL-D (p = 0.05). LG-D improved the milk's total solids, protein, and fat compared to CL-D (p < 0.05). Substantially, herbal groups improved serum albumin and reduced globulin concentrations compared to CL-D. LG-D had the highest serum immunoglobulin G, while herbal groups effectively reduced the liver enzymes compared to CL-D. Herbal groups did not affect serum and milk's calcium and phosphorus concentrations, while LG-D and PL-D substantially improved serum and milk zinc concentrations. Conclusions: Both plantain and lemongrass improved dairy cows' DM consumption and milk yield. Plantain and/or lemongrass enhanced the immune system and liver health, but not serum and milk calcium and phosphorus level. Lemongrass and a combination of plantain and lemongrass increased the serum and milk zinc concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista ION is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bananas are major agricultural commodities in Cuba. One of the main constraints of banana production worldwide is Fusarium wilt of banana. Recent outbreaks in Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela have raised widespread concern in Latin America due to the potential devastating impact on the sustainability of banana production, food security, and livelihoods of millions of people in the region. Here, we phenotyped 18 important Cuban banana and plantain varieties with two Fusarium strains--Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and Race 1--under greenhouse conditions. These varieties represent 72.8% of the national banana acreage in Cuba and are also widely distributed in Latin America and the Caribbean region. A broad range of disease responses from resistant to very susceptible was observed against Race 1. On the contrary, not a single banana variety was resistant to TR4. These results underscore that TR4 potentially threatens nearly 56% of the contemporary Cuban banana production area, which is planted with susceptible and very susceptible varieties, and call for a preemptive evaluation of new varieties obtained in the national breeding program and the strengthening of quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of TR4 into the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional breeding involves considerable genetic recombination. To maximize breeding efforts, it is necessary to increase seed yield. This study proposes to improve seed yield by using tetraploid bananas as part of a genetic improvement programme for cooking varieties. To this end, the female fertility (seeding rate and embryo sac maturity) of tetraploid banana plants was characterised. The pollen potential of tetraploids was then assessed at anthesis and at the end of meiosis, as well as during crosses with seminiferous diploids, leading to a phenotypic characterisation of the value of an offspring. This study highlighted the low seed production rate of tetraploid genitors. At best, 7% of seeds are produced per fruit, but 57% of the ovules per fruit have mature embryo sacs. The use of tetraploids as male parents, free from any source of sterility associated with the domestication process, did not generally improve the seed rate, except in the case of FHIA 21 (2930 seeds). Its pollen potential was used in a cross with Banksii 0623 (♀). This resulted in progeny with interesting vigour and phenotypic characteristics. This latter combination has the potential to transfer its "cooking" genetic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musa paradisiaca commonly called plantain is a major part of human diet especially in West Africa. It is used as the main source of energy food for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of Musa paradisiaca stem juice to boost pancreatic cell proliferation in Wistar rats. Twenty-four adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six animals each. The first group (control) was administered normal saline, while groups 2 - 4 were administered 10, 20, and 30 mL/kg orally of plantain stem juice, respectively once daily for 21 days. The effect of plantain stem juice on body weight and haematological indices were evaluated. The cell proliferative and/or cytotoxic potential of the juice was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. The effect on interleukin-4 was also evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Administration of plantain juice resulted in a significant increase in the body weight of the rats. There was no significant effect on the haematological parameters except for an increase in white blood cell count. Plantain stem juice tends to increase pancreatic cell proliferation and improves the histomorphology of the pancreas after 21 days of administration. Therefore, Musa paradisiaca stem juice may serve as a protective agent against pancreatic cell damage or dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study focused on evaluating the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna in eight banana farms in the western zone of Nicaragua. Methods The sampling design was random and descriptive, it was divided into two phases, the first was the collection of the sample, and the second was the classification, coding, and storage of the extracted macrofauna populations. The sampling method employed included the extraction of soil and litter samples. Soil samples were collected using a wooden frame (monolith), with each sample weighing approximately 1 kilogram and taken from a depth of 0.20 cm. Litter samples were collected from the soil surface. A total of 80 samples were collected, with 40 soil samples and 50 litter samples obtained across the 8 plantain farms. Results The results showed that the relative abundance of biodiversity was higher in the 0–20 cm soil depth stratum than in the branch and leaf biomass strata. The values of the diversity indices of Simpson's Dominance, Shanon, Margalef, and Equity were in the normal range, with a tendency towards low diversity. Likewise, in the richness of species, the Dominance or most abundant genus were earthworms (Oligochaeta) and Hymenoptera (Solenopsis, Leptothorax, Camponotus, Pheidole), indicating the directly proportional relationship, that is to say, that the greater the number of earthworms the production increases and the greater the number of Hymenoptera it decreases, confirmed with the Pearson correlation coefficient with a reliability of 95%. Conclusions It was concluded that based on the estimates of the diversity indicators, two detritivore genus (earthworms and Hymenoptera) were the ones with the more dominance, being important in the production of the banana agrosystem due to the decomposition of organic matter and its nutritional contribution to the plant. We observed a direct correlation with earthworms and an indirect relationship with Hymenoptera.

ABSTRACT Protein deficiency, especially among children, is prevalent in most developing countries. One sustainable strategy proposed to tackle this deficiency is by incorporating locally available but underutilised staple foods that are rich in proteins such as Bambara groundnut into pre‐existing and popular diets such as porridge prepared from roasted maize flour. This strategy can also be used to tackle vitamin A deficiency which is common among children and pregnant women through the incorporation of ripe plantain—a vitamin A rich staple. In this study, the quality of composite flours prepared from roasted maize, Bambara groundnut and ripe plantain and the acceptability of porridge made thereof was investigated. Increasing the levels of Bambara groundnut and ripe plantain increased the protein and β‐carotene levels, respectively, without affecting the physicochemical quality. Increasing the content of ripe plantain increased the iron content; however, higher levels of the Bambara groundnut increased the tannin content. Flash profiling showed that flour composition influenced the attributes of the porridges; however, hedonic sensory scores showed no differences in acceptability with respect to the aroma, appearance, texture and taste.

Background and Objectives: Plantago is a diverse genus of the Plantaginaceae family. Plantago lanceolata L. (P. lanceolata) and Plantago major L. (P. major) are used commercially worldwide as a traditional treatment for many diseases. A sensitive, simple, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to simultaneously quantify the three active ingredients: apigenin, catalpol, and gallic acid in P. lanceolata and P. major. Methods: HPLC analysis was carried out using C8 and C18 columns. The mobile phase comprised acetonitrile, orthophosphoric acid, or formic acid (different ratio V/V) with flow rates of 0.4, 0.8, and 1 mL/min. The eluted peaks were detected at 204, 210, 256, and 330 nm. The crude extracts were separated using the liquid-liquid extraction method. Results: HPLC analysis was performed using the C8 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–orthophosphoric acid (1:1%) at a 1 mL/min flow rate. The detection of the eluted peaks was observed at 204 nm. Using this protocol, the detection and quantification limits for apigenin, catalpol, and gallic acid were 0.007 and 0.022 μg/mL, 0.04 and 0.14 μg/mL, 0.02 and 0.073 μg/mL, respectively. The calibration curve’s correlation coefficient indicated good linearity (r>0.9996, 0.9991, and 0.9978), with average recoveries for the three compounds between 100.02, 95.98, and 108.30%, respectively. Meanwhile, the intra-day and inter-day accuracy averages ranged from 100.07 to 99.95%, respectively. The results showed that using dichloromethane extracts of Plantago species leaves produced the highest yield of apigenin (1.08 and 0.58 μg/mg). At the same time, gallic acid was more abundant in methanolic, butanol, and aqueous extracts of P. lanceolata (3.33 μg/mg) and P. major (3.95, 4.34, and 4.72 μg/mg). The aqueous extract of P. lanceolata leaf and P. major root also showed more catalpol content (9.339 and 2.451 μg/mg). Conclusion: The developed method indicated reliable results with reproducibility, high accuracy in an analytical run, repeatability, acceptable intermediate precision, reproducibility, and stability of these working solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report for the simple, simultaneous quantification of three compounds in Plantago spp. using HPLC.

Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), caused by the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV, genus Babuvirus), is the most destructive viral disease of banana and plantain (Musa spp.). The virus is transmitted persistently by the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae). While research efforts have focused on screening Musa genotypes for BBTD resistance, comparatively little work has been carried out to identify resistance to banana aphids. This study assessed 44 Musa germplasm of different A and B genome composition for the performance of banana aphids under semicontrolled environmental screenhouse conditions and in a field trial established in a BBTD endemic location. In the screenhouse, the AA diploid Calcutta 4 had the lowest apterous aphid density per plant (9.7 ± 4.6) compared with AAB triploid Waema, which had the highest aphid densities (395.6 ± 20.8). In the field, the highest apterous aphid density per plant (29.2 ± 6.7) occurred on the AAB triploid Batard and the lowest (0.4 ± 0.2) on the AA diploid Pisang Tongat. The AA diploid Tapo was highly susceptible to BBTD (100% infection) compared with the genotypes Balonkawe (ABB), PITA 21 (AAB), Calcutta 4 (AA), and Balbisiana Los Banos (BB), which remained uninfected. The Musa genotypes with apparent resistance to BBTD and least susceptibility to aphid population growth provide options for considering aphid and BBTD resistance in banana and plantain breeding programs.

Background This study focused on evaluating the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna in eight banana farms in the western zone of Nicaragua. Methods The sampling design was random and descriptive, it was divided into two phases, the first was the collection of the sample, and the second was the classification, coding, and storage of the extracted macrofauna populations. Subsequently, the indices of diversity and species richness, relative abundance, by functional groups were estimated. Results The results showed that the relative abundance of biodiversity was higher in the 0–20 cm soil depth stratum than in the branch and leaf biomass strata. The values of the diversity indices of Dominion, Simpson, Shanon, Margalef, and Equity were in the normal range, with a tendency towards low diversity. Likewise, in the richness of species, the Dominant or most abundant genus were earthworms (Oligochaeta) and Hymenoptera ( Solenopsis, Leptothorax, Camponotus, Pheidole), indicating the directly proportional relationship, that is to say, that the greater the number of earthworms the production increases and the greater the number of Hymenoptera it decreases, confirmed with the Pearson correlation coefficient with a reliability of 95%. Conclusions It was concluded that based on the estimates of the diversity indicators, two detritivore genus (earthworms and Hymenoptera) were the ones with the greatest presence, being important in the production of the banana agrosystem due to the decomposition of organic matter and its nutritional contribution to the plant. We observed a direct correlation with earthworms and an indirect relationship with Hymenoptera.

Heavy metal contamination is of great concern due to its effect as being carcinogenic in nature. Heavy metal concentration was determined in bitter leaf, plantain leaf, cassava leaf, cassava tuber, pepper leaf, pepper fruit, pawpaw leaf, pawpaw fruit, water leaf around gas flaring sites in Umuebulu Etche LGA and Agbada II in Obio/Akpor LGA Rivers State. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used for the determination of heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium) concentration in the samples. These samples were subjected to standard laboratory analysis for the determination of heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium) concentration. The concentrations of lead arsenic in crop samples from Agbada II and Umuebulu are below FAO/WHO permissible limit. The concentration of Chromium ranged from 0.000 to 0.410mg/kg in all the samples in Umuebulu and Agbada community. The concentration of chromium in bitter leaf, plantain leaf, pepper leaf, pepper fruit, cassava leaf, were above FAO/WHO permissible limit for both communities. The concentration of chromium in cassava tuber, pawpaw leaf, pawpaw fruit, water Leaf were below FAO/WHO permissible limit for Umuebulu and Agbada communities. The concentration of cadmium ranged from 0.000 to 1.4 mg/kg in all the samples in Umuebulu and Agbada community. Cadmium concentration in Bitter Leaf, Plantain Leaf, Pepper Leaf, Pepper Fruit were below FAO/WHO permissible limit except cassava leaf, cassava tuber cadmium concentration which are above FAO/WHO permissible limit for both communities. The study had shown that the crops harvested from the study area were polluted and can pose serious health problem to the humans and animals if consumed. Government and regulatory bodies should enforce the use of any of the flare gas recovery system (FGRS) to minimize the amount of gas being flared into the Environment.

Musa spp. (banana and plantain) is the most widely consumed and exported fruit globally, and it plays a crucial role in the diets of billions of people worldwide. Over the years, many diseases have threatened this crop, including the recent emergence of Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum race 4. Puerto Rico is home to numerous economically significant variants of Musa spp. Due to the crop's importance in the island's economy and nutrition, research on maintaining existing varieties and developing new ones has been initiated. Although Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 has not been detected in Puerto Rico, it has been detected in the Caribbean region. Therefore, it is essential to know both the plant and the pathogen to prevent and fight this disease. This review summarizes information about Musa spp, including its plant description, morphology, and genetic characteristics. Furthermore, it covers information about Fusarium sp., its pathogenicity, detection methods, and prevention of its spread. We also reviewed the few articles published for the island of Puerto Rico about Musa and Fusarium, and the guidelines suggested regarding the threat of the Fusarium wilt race 4 for the island. Finally, we underline Puerto Rico's opportunities to develop disease-resistant Musa cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to investigate the biological effects of a common-plantain (Plantago major L.) extract, encapsulated in alginate, on dermal human fibroblast cultures in vitro, in view of its potential use as a wound healing adjuvant therapy. Common-plantain extracts were obtained by infusion and ultrasound extraction, and their total polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity were determined by spectrophotometry. The best extract, which was obtained by infusion, was further encapsulated in sodium alginate in two different formulations. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to demonstrate the existing interactions in the obtained common-plantain extract in the alginate formulations. The encapsulation efficiency was evaluated based on the total polyphenol content. These alginate gel formulations were further used in vitro to determine their biocompatibility and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by spectrophotometry and ELISA, as well as their ability to stimulate fibroblast migration (scratch test assay) at different time points. In addition, the collagen 1 and 3 levels were determined by Western blot analysis. The data showed that the microencapsulated plantain extract formulations induced an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effect, enhanced collagen production and increased wound closure in the first 8 h of their application. These results are encouraging for the use of this alginate plantain extract formulation as an adjuvant for skin wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested prescribed management practices to reduce nitrogen (N) leaching by 20% while maintaining or improving profitability relative to an existing farm management baseline (Control). N leaching and profitability were estimated for a South Canterbury case study dairy farm using Overseer® Nutrient Budgets and FARMAX Dairy. Three practices were used: (1) reducing N in cows’ diets through low-N feed (fodder beet), (2) recapturing N from soils through catch crops (oats) and (3) diluting urinary N by including plantain in cows’ diet. While most treatments reduced N leaching, significant management inputs were required to achieve a 20% reduction from the Control. Plantain was identified as the key forage for reducing N leaching from the milking platform. Fodder beet and oats had little impact, due to the small area cropped on the milking platform and low dietary substitution. However, they increased profitability relative to the Control. Only one scenario, employing all three forages with biannual direct drilling of plantain, achieved the target, reducing N leaching by 27% and increasing profitability by 2% compared with the Control. The implications of this modelling study for real-life application are that a combination of measures will be needed to achieve large environmental and economic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed production systems play a vital role in the economic sustainability and ecological balance of agroecosystems. Cocoa and plantain are key crops in Ecuador but face phytosanitary challenges, like witches’ broom and black sigatoka diseases, especially when cultivated under monocropping systems. Combining habitat manipulation with adaptive pathogen management (APM) strategies can mitigate these challenges, but their efficacy in mixed cropping systems remains unclear. This study investigates disease and pest incidence in mixed cocoa–plantain systems during the establishment phase, focusing on the impact of spatial arrangements. Mixed agroecosystems showed a lower witches’ broom incidence in cocoa than monocultures. Whereas, in plantain, there was a consistent black sigatoka incidence across spatial arrangements but a lower infection rate per leaf within mixed systems. We found varied nematode populations with monocultures hosting the highest root damage due to phytoparasitic nematodes. Weevil populations were also influenced by spatial arrangements with monocultures among the highest. Overall, mixed agroecosystems influence disease and pest incidence, potentially hindering pathogen spread. Plantain–cocoa associations reduce disease incidence in cocoa but may not affect the overall incidence of black sigatoka in plantain, at least during the establishment phase. Continued monitoring is crucial for understanding the long-term impacts and microclimatic effects on pest populations that could offer sustainable pest management strategies, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides.

This study assessed the nutritional qualities of bread developed from wheat, mature green plantain and amaranth grain flours. The raw material flours were processed into breads using the following proportion: WB: 100 % wheat; WPB: Wheat:Plantain (80:20)%; WAB: Wheat:Amaranth (80:20)%; and WPAB: Wheat:Plantain:Amaranth (60:20:20)%. The loaf weight (572.00–611.17 g), loaf volume (146.21–162.11 cm3), and loaf shape (0.26–0.27 cm3/g) increase with inclusion of plantain and amaranth flour. Macronutrient - crude protein (10.10–21.58 g/100 g), crude fibre (0.27–2.73 g/100 g) and energy value (243.74–269.35 kcal/100 g) was increased in WPAB. Micronutrient - potassium (75.99–94.11 mg/100 g) was the predominant mineral. Furthermore, WPAB antinutrients content was below critical values and exhibited higher free radical scavenging activities against DPPH*, ABTS*, FRAP* and Fe2+chelation; high α-amylase-glucosidase inhibitory activities (>60 %), and low glycemic index (

African mistletoe (Loranthus bengwensis) is a hemi-parasitic plant which grows in all parts of Nigeria. It is used in the form of tisane (decoction), as a traditional herbal treatment for various forms of ailments especially as an anti-diabetic. The present study evaluated the host-plant effect on the anti-diabetic activity of the African mistletoe growing in the Northern part of Nigeria. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wister rats were orally administered with decoction (0.01 g/cm³) of African mistletoe, parasiting on lemon (Citrus limon), guava (Psidium guajava) and jathropha (Jathropha curcas) trees respectively for 28 days (ad libitum) as the only source of fluid. The decoction from African mistletoe parasiting on lemon and guava trees were found to cause a significant reduction in the blood glucose level (40%) of the diabetic rats while the decoction prepared from the jathropha tree caused a significant elevation of blood glucose (60%) in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. The results obtained indicated that Africa mistletoe possesses significant anti-diabetic activity and this anti-diabetic activity may be influenced by the hostplant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assessed the population, morphological and biochemical characterization of microorganism in plantain root across different farmlands in Toru-Orua Metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria using standard methods. Data obtained show that microbial population count ranged from 1 × 107 - 9 × 107 (cfu/g) in the study area, while fungi isolated include Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. These are the largest of all microorganisms in the soil. Others were Rhizobium, Nitrobacter, Winogradkyl, Azomona argillis and Psydormonads aeruginosa. Practices that would enhance nutrition of the plants and the proliferation of bacteria and fungi around the roots of plantain are recommended such as organic matter accumulation in form of green manuring, zero tillage and non-use of chemicals and burning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the potential of plantain-based diet in modulating testicular toxicities in rats exposed to atrazine. Methods: The plantain-based diet at 50%, 25% and 12.5% were prepared from the basal diet by substituting the corn starch with plantain fruit pulp flour at different percentages. Wistar rats were fed plantain-based diet in varying concentrations ranging from 12.5% to 50% of the basal diet for 21 days before or after atrazine treatment in a two-phase experiment: preventive and therapeutic phases. The therapeutic model (n=35) had seven groups with 5 rats each, including the control, atrazine, atrazine recovery, atrazine plus plantain-based diet 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and atrazine plus quercetin groups. The preventive model (n=30) had six groups of 5 rats, consisting of the control, atrazine, 50%, 25%, 12.5% plantain-based diet plus atrazine, and quercetin plus atrazine groups. Gonadal hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), sperm parameters (sperm motility, viability, morphology and concentration), and testicular function indices (protein, cholesterol, glycogen, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase) were measured. Results: The gonadal hormones, sperm characteristics, and testicular function indices of the rat testis decreased significantly in the atrazine group alongside degeneration of the histoarchitecture. However, plantain-based diet restored the gonadal hormone concentrations, semen parameters, and testicular function indices in both the preventive and therapeutic models. Conclusions: Treatment with plantain-based diet protects against rat testicular toxicity caused by atrazine via the modulation of gonadal hormones, sperm quality, testicular function index as well as histoarchitecture of rat testes.

It is insufficient for policymakers to focus solely on resolving production issues without considering their marketing issues in order to secure food security. This study, therefore, analyzed plantain marketing in the Ilorin metropolis of Kwara state, Nigeria. The study specifically looked at the socioeconomic characteristics of plantain marketers in the study area, assessed the market margin and marketing efficiency of plantain marketers, identified the local plantain market structure, and looked at factors influencing price as well as those restricting the marketing of plantains in the area. Purposive and random sampling methods were combined to gather information from 100 respondents. The analysis used descriptive statistics, market margin, marketing efficiency analysis, Herfindahl index, and Likert-type scale. According to the result of this study, women made up the vast majority (98%) of plantain marketers. It was determined that the market margin and marketing efficiency were 6,111.21 NGN per week and 34.88%, respectively. The Herfindahl index for the plantain market was 0.0121, indicating a tendency toward perfect competition. While poor roads, bulkiness, high perishability, a lack of storage facilities, and a short supply were the main issues restricting the marketing of plantains in the area, high transportation costs, size, and quantity were the significant factors determining plantain prices in the area. Therefore, it is advised that the government increase its spending on building and repairing roads. To support efficient marketing activity, storage and processing facilities should also be made available to marketers.

Purpose This study investigated the potentials of crop residues to improve the growth and yield of plantain as well as its proximate compositions.Method Biochar, Cocoa pod husk and Rice bran were applied at the rates 4, 6, 8, and 10 tons/hectare after three weeks of sucker establishment on experimental plots. The experiments were carried out in two different locations; FUTA and Ejigbo, and were laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The following growth parameters including leaf number, plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and sucker number were monitored for six consecutive months commencing from 90 days after sucker establishment while the yield parameters including bunch weight, finger number, finger girth, bunch length, and yield per hectare were determined during harvesting. These parameters were determined for both parents and ratoon. Also, the proximate composition of the plantain was determined.Results There was no statistically significant difference for all the growth parameters determined in both FUTA and Ejigbo locations for both the parent and ratoon crops except the leaf area which increased significantly in amended soils compared to the control. All amendments produced higher bunch weight, finger number, and yield per hectare compared to the control. The different soil amendments did not alter the proximate compositions of the plantain significantly for the two locations.Conclusion It is therefore concluded that crop residues especially cocoa pod husk at the rate of 10 tons/hectare be used as alternative to mineral fertilizers to enhance soil health and productivity.

Pratylenchus is one of the most limiting nematodes of Musaceae production in the world. Knowledge of the nematode species is one of the requirements for its management in the field. This study aimed to identify up to the species level Pratylenchus populations associated with plantain and banana crops in the states of Caldas, Quindío, and Valle del Cauca in Colombia. In these regions, Pratylenchus has been reported to affect these crops in the past, but with records of the nematode only up to the genus level. For this purpose, five populations of Pratylenchus extracted from samples composed of roots and rhizospheric soil, four from plantain and one from banana, were identified through morphological, morphometric, and molecular analysis (sequencing of the D2–D3 of rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I of mtDNA). All populations were identified as P. araucensis, a species reported previously in eastern Colombia, and one that the present study found in the center and southwest of the country, indicating that this species of nematode is widely distributed in the Musaceae-producing areas of Colombia. The present study reports the first COI mtDNA sequences for this species of nematode.

Background: This study focused on evaluating the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna in eight banana farms in the western zone of Nicaragua. Methods: The sampling design was random and descriptive, it was divided into two phases, the first was the collection of the sample, and the second was the classification, coding, and storage of the extracted macrofauna populations. Subsequently, the indices of diversity and species richness, relative abundance, by functional groups were estimated. Results: The results showed that the relative abundance of biodiversity was higher in the 0–20 cm soil depth stratum than in the branch and leaf biomass strata. The values ​​of the diversity indices of Dominion, Simpson, Shanon, Margalef, and Equity were in the normal range, with a tendency towards low diversity. Likewise, in the richness of species, the Dominant or most abundant genus were earthworms (Oligochaeta) and Hymenoptera ( Solenopsis, Leptothorax, Camponotus, Pheidole), indicating the directly proportional relationship, that is to say, that the greater the number of earthworms the production increases and the greater the number of Hymenoptera it decreases, confirmed with the Pearson correlation coefficient with a reliability of 95%. Conclusions: It was concluded that based on the estimates of the diversity indicators, two detritivore genus (earthworms and Hymenoptera) were the ones with the greatest presence, being important in the production of the banana agrosystem due to the decomposition of organic matter and its nutritional contribution to the plant. We observed a direct correlation with earthworms and an indirect relationship with Hymenoptera.

Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is recognised for its ability to improve summer feed productivity as well as mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from grazed pastoral soils. This study aims to determine the proportion of plantain required in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), or RWC, mixed swards to maintain yield stability and to quantify N2O emission reductions. The botanical composition was monitored when plantain was sown at different rates of 0%, 30%, 50% and 70% in RWC pastures under grazing by dairy cows over 2 grazing years. Urine from cows grazing RWC (6.15 g N L−1), 30% (5.40 g N L−1) and 50% (4.40 g N L−1) plantain mixed pastures was used to measure N2O emissions (n = 5) from the pastures of their origin and to assess the impact of the plantain rhizosphere on N2O emissions by applying the RWC urine to the 50% plantain mixed pasture, and vice versa, in late summer–autumn using the static chambers technique. After declining in spring, the plantain content recovered in early autumn and reached a peak of 40% in the 30% plantain mixed pasture and around 50% in the 50% and 70% plantain mixed pastures in winter. A lower N content in urine, and therefore a lower urine N-loading rate from cows grazing in the 50% plantain mixed pasture, resulted in 39% lower total N2O emissions compared to RWC urine treatment. In conclusion, 30% to 50% plantain in mixed pastures was stable throughout the 2 years, and it not only reduced the urinary N concentration in grazing cattle but also contributed to reduced N2O EFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a commonly used antineoplastic agent despite its adverse effects. Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is one of the most common side effects of CP. Although Mesna is commonly used to prevent HC, it suffers from few side effects. Therefore, search for better alternate substance still continues. In this study, we studied the effects of ursolic acid (UA), one of the active ingredients of Plantago major, commonly called plantain or white man's foot, in CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats. Forty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats in seven equal groups viz. control (C); cyclophosphamide (CP); cyclophosphamide+Mesna (CPMesna); cyclophosphamide+ursolic acid [100 (CPUA100) and 200 mg (CPUA200)], and cyclophosphamide+ mesna+ ursolic acid (100, (CPMesnaUA100) and (200 mg (CPMesnaUA200) were investigated for inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOs), total antioxidant status (TAS), total antioxidant status (TOS), TNF-a, interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels from blood samples. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS and both Kruskall Wallis and Dunn tests were performed. Value of P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Our results have revealed that the UA applied groups better preserve compared to CP group. However, it was observed that this protection is comparatively weaker than the Mesna and UA-Mesna combinations. Hence, it is suggested that the urosilic acid could prevent cyclophosphamide induced hemorrhagic cystitis, and also extends support to Mesna applications. Overall, it has been observed that ursolic acid has limited protective effects against CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis, and can serve as a supportive agent in inhibiting hemorrhagic cystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coffee bean weevil (Araecerus fasciculatus DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) infestation is a major challenge affecting processed, dried, and stored foods globally. However, the growth performance of this insect pest in processed and stored cassava, plantain, yam, and cocoyam is poorly understood. Resolving this will guide future biotechnological efforts on these food products. In the study, the susceptibility rate of the processed and stored product of cassava, yam, cocoyam, and plantain to the growth performance of the coffee bean weevil at laboratory conditions (20 ± 5 °C and 70 ± 5% R.H.) was investigated. The anti-nutritional (phytate, alkaloids, saponin, tannin, and oxalate) contents of this stored food were used to characterize the survival rate of A. fasciculatus. The study was carried out for 6 months between December 2012 and May 2013. Results: Results show that the adult longevity, growth, and feeding of the adult A. fasciculatus decrease in order from Cassava, Plantain, Yam to Cocoyam. Cocoyam has the highest tannin, alkaloid, and phytate values, which are possible factors that inhibited the growth of the larvae, pupae, and adults' A. fasciculatus. The highest weight loss occurred in cassava followed by plantain. The anti-nutritional factors determine the hatchability of the A. fasciculatus eggs and throughout its development stages. This study revealed that processed and stored products (e.g., cocoyam) with high anti-nutritional factors can survive A. fasciculatus under prolonged storage. Conclusions: From this study, it is observed that high anti-nutritional compounds in the stored food products inhibit the growth of Araecerus fasciculatus, especially in cocoyam. The result is important in food security and management in developing countries where food insecurity has become a major challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana group can be divided into two groups based on their method of its utilization. Banana group that can be eaten immediately after ripening is called "dessert banana", e.g., Raja, while the group that needs particular processing before consumption is called "plantain banana", e.g., Kepok. This study aimed to compare the growth of Raja banana with Kepok plantain through experiments at three stages of the in vitro culture media: the shoot initiation, shoot multiplication, and plantlet acclimatization, also to compare the growth of Raja bananas with Kepok plantains in response to cytokinins BAP and TDZ at shoot multiplication stage. Planting material was in the form of rhizomes that was prepared with the same size. The experiment was performed using a completely randomized design. Results showed that Kepok plantain could adapt faster to the media condition than Raja banana; the phenomenon was evident in the growing speed of Kepok during shoot initiation stage. The proportion of the B genome did not show a direct effect on shoot induction at the multiplication stage or enlargement and organ formation at the acclimatization stage. Shoot induction at the multiplication stage depended more on the composition of the media used. The combination of BAP 3 mg L-1 and TDZ 0.01 mg L-1 in MS media produced the best shoot induction rate, and TDZ 0.01 mg L-1 in MS media had the highest shoot elongation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assessed the population, morphological and biochemical characterization of microorganism in plantain root across different farmlands in Toru-Orua Metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria using standard methods. Data obtained show that microbial population count ranged from 1 × 107 - 9 × 107 (cfu/g) in the study area, while fungi isolated include Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. These are the largest of all microorganisms in the soil. Others were Rhizobium, Nitrobacter, Winogradkyl, Azomona argillis and Psydormonads aeruginosa. Practices that would enhance nutrition of the plants and the proliferation of bacteria and fungi around the roots of plantain are recommended such as organic matter accumulation in form of green manuring, zero tillage and non-use of chemicals and burning.

This work focuses on the study of the physicochemical changes that take place during the first stage of ripening of plantain, with particular attention to the changes in the orthorhombic and hexagonal nanocrystals present in this starch, and its relation shift with resistance starch. Significant changes were observed in the proximal analysis of plantain flour. A gradual increase in moisture content was attributed to the high content of crystalline structures and molecules that can be removed by drying. Water activity increased with ripening, which was attributed to the hygroscopic nature of the flours. The protein content increased, and the carbohydrate content decreased, indicating the progress of biochemical reactions. The changes in the fat content are consistent with the hydrolysis and resynthesis of lipids during the ripening process. The obtained results indicate a significant influence of the ripening stage on the physicochemical properties of flour and starch of plantain, which is associated with the occurrence of a climacteric peak on the 4th day of ripening.The hydration properties of plantain flour decreased significantly during the ripening days, consistent with the occurrence of a climacteric peak. Water holding capacity (WHC) and water binding capacity (WBC) were affected by the degree of digestion of native starch granules and protein denaturation during fruit ripening. Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) showed that during ripening the surface of the isolated starches do not suffer any significative damage. X-ray diffraction patterns were used to identify crystalline structures and to study the changes in the crystalline structures. These results showed that the starch contains orthorhombic and hexagonal nanocrystals, which play and important role and which show small structural damage during ripening reflected in a decrease in their relative crystallinity. This is the first time that these nanocrystals have been studied and considered in the ripening process. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the thermal transition in isolated starch. The results indicated that the gelatinization of starch corresponds to the solvation of orthorhombic and hexagonal nanocrystals, and that during ripening there is a decrease in the enthalpy reflecting some crystal structural damage. Pasting properties were studied using a Starch cell for flours and isolated starches, indicating that the pasting profile is governed by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The resistant starch does not show significant changes at this stage of maturation. This starch is the one with the highest resistant starch content reported in the literature (38%). It was hypothesized that the resistant starch is directly related to the amount of whole starch granules, and more importantly, directly related to the number concentration of orthorhombic and hexagonal nanocrystals. Therefore, knowledge of the physicochemical and nutritional properties of plantain and flour at each stage of ripening allows better selection according to industrial applications.