This study was conducted under Laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid in Sudan, during March-June 2015 to assess the effect o...This study was conducted under Laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid in Sudan, during March-June 2015 to assess the effect of six treatments on germination of cowpea seeds infested by Callosobruchus chinensis Linn., a serious Coleoptera pest which damages cowpea seeds. The agents used were groundnut oil, wood ash, sand, neem leaves powder, Rabal leaves powder and hot pepper powder. In the lab bioassay, the results obtained due to the infestation by C. chinensis showed that there were highly significant differences （P 〉 0.01） in the number of holes per 100 cowpea seeds between the different treatments at intervals of one month, and up to the end of the storage period, the numbers of holes per 100 cowpea seeds were 44, 740, 859, 856, 841 and 892 holes in the treatments, respectively. The germination of seeds treated with groundnut oil was 60%, while it was zero for the other treatments. It was concluded that the groundnut oil made creamy coat on the seeds and prevented the development of eowpea beetle infestation. Hence, it can be used by farmers at local levels to protect seeds for cultivation.展开更多
In nature, plant extracts play a crucial role in defending plants against biotic and abiotic stressors. Moreover, the use of plant-based products, such as plant extracts, represents a promising alternative to syntheti...In nature, plant extracts play a crucial role in defending plants against biotic and abiotic stressors. Moreover, the use of plant-based products, such as plant extracts, represents a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides, which pose potential health risks to consumers. In this study, the antifungal activity of the essential oils (EOs) of Lippia multiflora, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum was evaluated against two strains of Aspergillus flavus via the agar dilution method. These two Aspergillus flavus fungi was isolated from Bamabra groundnut seeds. Lippia multiflora essential oil (EO) showed the best results compared with the other oils, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9000 μg∙mL−1. The MIC for Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum EOs was 10,800 μg∙mL−1. In view of their antifungal properties, these EOs could be used to develop a new, safe antifungal agent for food preservation.展开更多
In line with global efforts towards sustainable agriculture, the use of starch modified with alginate in the preparation of slow release formulations of the herbicide trifluralin was investigated. Trifluralin was enca...In line with global efforts towards sustainable agriculture, the use of starch modified with alginate in the preparation of slow release formulations of the herbicide trifluralin was investigated. Trifluralin was encapsulated in starch-alginate beads, and the resulting slow release formulations (SRFs) characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Herbicide release from the SRFs was studied in water and compared to release of technical grade trifluralin. Three sets of formulations were made by extrusion into 0.25 M calcium chloride solution: starch/alginate (SSTRF), amylose starch/alginate (ASSTRF) and amylose starch/alginate/groundnut oil (ASTRGNO) beads, and the fourth was from gelatinized starch at 75?C (SSTRF2). The results showed highly porous spherical beads, the amylose/alginate beads bigger and less porous than the starch/alginate beads with diameters of 2.79 ± 0.01 and 2.37 ± 0.01 mm;porosity of 54.67 ± 0.2 and 60.59% ± 0.2% and swelling of 54.09 ± 0.2 and 61.22% ± 0.2%, respectively. All sets of beads exhibited reduced crystallinity of trifluralin. FTIR revealed a shift to lower wavelength of the carbonyl stretching vibrations from 1750 to 1725 cm–1 and a reduction in intensity of the carboxylate peaks of alginate, suggesting interactions between the formulation components that make for good slow release. 96% of technical grade trifluralin (TGTRF) was released into a 50:50 pH 6.5 Buffer/ Methanol aqueous medium in 24 hrs. However, for the starch/TRF formulation, SSTRF, only 9.33% herbicide was released after 24 hrs and 34.94% after 672 hrs (28 days). The amylose starch/TRF formulation released 13.61% herbicide in 24 hrs and 46.95% in 672 hrs, a 12% increase in release of TRF over the starch formulation. Encapsulation in starch produced 65% slow release of TRF and gelatinization achieved 84% retardation. Use of amylose starch as matrix caused 53.15% delay and addition of groundnut oil resulted in 80.87% retardation of TRF release. Encapsulation of TRF in starch/alginate beads is a veritable way of reducing negative environmental effects.展开更多
Recently, mixture of different oils at various proportions have been used as feedstock for biodiesel production. The primary aim is to improve fuel properties which are strongly influenced by the fatty acid compositio...Recently, mixture of different oils at various proportions have been used as feedstock for biodiesel production. The primary aim is to improve fuel properties which are strongly influenced by the fatty acid composition of the individual oil that makes up the feedstock mix. The tropics are renowned for abundant oil-bearing crops of which palm kernel oil （PKO） from palm seed and groundnut oil （GNO） are prominent. This present paper investigated biodiesel production from hybrid oil （HO） of PKO （medium carbon chain and highly saturated oil） and GNO （long carbon chain and highly unsaturated oil） at 50/ 50 （v/v） blending. The principal fatty acids （FAs） in the HO are oleic （35.62%） and lauric acids （24.23%） with 47.80% of saturated FA and 52.26% of unsaturated FA contents. The chemical conversion of the oil to methyl ester （ME） gave 86.56% yield. Fuel properties of hybrid oil methyl ester （the HOME） were determined in accordance with standard test methods and were found to comply with both ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. The oxidative stability, cetane number and kinematic viscosity （KV） of HOME were observed to be improved when compared with those of GNO methyl ester from single parent oil, which could be accredited to the improved FA composition of the HO. The KV （3.69 minE/s） of HOME obtained in this paper was remarkably low compared with those reported in literature for most biodiesels. This value suggests better flow, atomization, spray and combustion of this fuel. Conclusively, the binary blend of oils can be a viable option to improve the fuel properties ofbiodiesel feedstock coupled with reduced cost.展开更多
文摘This study was conducted under Laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid in Sudan, during March-June 2015 to assess the effect of six treatments on germination of cowpea seeds infested by Callosobruchus chinensis Linn., a serious Coleoptera pest which damages cowpea seeds. The agents used were groundnut oil, wood ash, sand, neem leaves powder, Rabal leaves powder and hot pepper powder. In the lab bioassay, the results obtained due to the infestation by C. chinensis showed that there were highly significant differences （P 〉 0.01） in the number of holes per 100 cowpea seeds between the different treatments at intervals of one month, and up to the end of the storage period, the numbers of holes per 100 cowpea seeds were 44, 740, 859, 856, 841 and 892 holes in the treatments, respectively. The germination of seeds treated with groundnut oil was 60%, while it was zero for the other treatments. It was concluded that the groundnut oil made creamy coat on the seeds and prevented the development of eowpea beetle infestation. Hence, it can be used by farmers at local levels to protect seeds for cultivation.
文摘In nature, plant extracts play a crucial role in defending plants against biotic and abiotic stressors. Moreover, the use of plant-based products, such as plant extracts, represents a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides, which pose potential health risks to consumers. In this study, the antifungal activity of the essential oils (EOs) of Lippia multiflora, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum was evaluated against two strains of Aspergillus flavus via the agar dilution method. These two Aspergillus flavus fungi was isolated from Bamabra groundnut seeds. Lippia multiflora essential oil (EO) showed the best results compared with the other oils, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9000 μg∙mL−1. The MIC for Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum EOs was 10,800 μg∙mL−1. In view of their antifungal properties, these EOs could be used to develop a new, safe antifungal agent for food preservation.
文摘In line with global efforts towards sustainable agriculture, the use of starch modified with alginate in the preparation of slow release formulations of the herbicide trifluralin was investigated. Trifluralin was encapsulated in starch-alginate beads, and the resulting slow release formulations (SRFs) characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Herbicide release from the SRFs was studied in water and compared to release of technical grade trifluralin. Three sets of formulations were made by extrusion into 0.25 M calcium chloride solution: starch/alginate (SSTRF), amylose starch/alginate (ASSTRF) and amylose starch/alginate/groundnut oil (ASTRGNO) beads, and the fourth was from gelatinized starch at 75?C (SSTRF2). The results showed highly porous spherical beads, the amylose/alginate beads bigger and less porous than the starch/alginate beads with diameters of 2.79 ± 0.01 and 2.37 ± 0.01 mm;porosity of 54.67 ± 0.2 and 60.59% ± 0.2% and swelling of 54.09 ± 0.2 and 61.22% ± 0.2%, respectively. All sets of beads exhibited reduced crystallinity of trifluralin. FTIR revealed a shift to lower wavelength of the carbonyl stretching vibrations from 1750 to 1725 cm–1 and a reduction in intensity of the carboxylate peaks of alginate, suggesting interactions between the formulation components that make for good slow release. 96% of technical grade trifluralin (TGTRF) was released into a 50:50 pH 6.5 Buffer/ Methanol aqueous medium in 24 hrs. However, for the starch/TRF formulation, SSTRF, only 9.33% herbicide was released after 24 hrs and 34.94% after 672 hrs (28 days). The amylose starch/TRF formulation released 13.61% herbicide in 24 hrs and 46.95% in 672 hrs, a 12% increase in release of TRF over the starch formulation. Encapsulation in starch produced 65% slow release of TRF and gelatinization achieved 84% retardation. Use of amylose starch as matrix caused 53.15% delay and addition of groundnut oil resulted in 80.87% retardation of TRF release. Encapsulation of TRF in starch/alginate beads is a veritable way of reducing negative environmental effects.
文摘Recently, mixture of different oils at various proportions have been used as feedstock for biodiesel production. The primary aim is to improve fuel properties which are strongly influenced by the fatty acid composition of the individual oil that makes up the feedstock mix. The tropics are renowned for abundant oil-bearing crops of which palm kernel oil （PKO） from palm seed and groundnut oil （GNO） are prominent. This present paper investigated biodiesel production from hybrid oil （HO） of PKO （medium carbon chain and highly saturated oil） and GNO （long carbon chain and highly unsaturated oil） at 50/ 50 （v/v） blending. The principal fatty acids （FAs） in the HO are oleic （35.62%） and lauric acids （24.23%） with 47.80% of saturated FA and 52.26% of unsaturated FA contents. The chemical conversion of the oil to methyl ester （ME） gave 86.56% yield. Fuel properties of hybrid oil methyl ester （the HOME） were determined in accordance with standard test methods and were found to comply with both ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. The oxidative stability, cetane number and kinematic viscosity （KV） of HOME were observed to be improved when compared with those of GNO methyl ester from single parent oil, which could be accredited to the improved FA composition of the HO. The KV （3.69 minE/s） of HOME obtained in this paper was remarkably low compared with those reported in literature for most biodiesels. This value suggests better flow, atomization, spray and combustion of this fuel. Conclusively, the binary blend of oils can be a viable option to improve the fuel properties ofbiodiesel feedstock coupled with reduced cost.
