Factors Contributing to Contamination of Street Foods in Bamako, Mali

The World Health Organization states that foodborne diseases are a worldwide public health issue. Although street foods can provide nutritious and affordable ready-to-eat meals for city dwellers, their health risks can outweigh the benefits. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bamako district, focusing on street food vendors near schools, universities, extensive markets, administrative centers, and major roads. We aimed to sample fifty (50) sellers per municipality, making 300 sellers for the Bamako district. We developed a survey sheet to collect data, and six teams rotated between the municipalities each month. Before starting the collection, the teams were provided administrative papers approved by the municipal authority. The survey revealed three types of sales sites: fixed (65%), semi-fixed (30%), and mobile (4.40%). The proportion of sellers was 26.8%, 23.2%, 19.7%, and 4.2% in municipalities III, IV, and I. In municipalities I, II, III, IV, and VI, respectively, 92%, 95.70%, 93%, 87.2%, and 100% of the sellers were female. The age distribution of sellers was 65.63%, 46.81%, 40.82%, 38.30%, 36.17%, 36%, and 32% in the 25-34 and 35 - 44 age groups. Illiteracy rates were 59.20%, 61.70%, 55.30%, 75%, and 56% in municipalities I, II, III, IV, and VI, respectively. The study identified two categories of sellers: 48.3% in type 1 and 51.7% in type 2. The first category comprised 154 sellers, and the second 165 sellers. The survey found that 66.00%, 56.00%, 48.90%, 44.90%, 38.30%, and 34.40% of municipal V, VI, III, I, II, and IV sales sites were open-air. In municipality I, 63.30% of the sites were under hangars, while in municipalities II and IV, the corresponding percentages were 51.10% and 59.40%, respectively. Moreover, 46.00%, 31.90%, 31.30%, 30.60%, and 27.70% of the sites in municipalities VI, II, IV, I, and III were located next to gutters. In conclusion, this study identified several factors that could compromise the quality of street foods sold in the six municipalities of Bamako.

Application of Zinc, Iron and Boron Enhances Productivity and Grain Biofortification of Mungbean

Deficiencies of essential vitamins,iron(Fe),and zinc(Zn)affect over one-half of the world’s population.A significant progress has been made to control micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation,but new approaches are needed,especially to reach the rural poor.Agronomic biofortification of pulses with Zn,Fe,and boron(B)offers a pragmatic solution to combat hidden hunger instead of food fortification and supplementation.Moreover,it also has positive effects on crop production as well.Therefore,we conducted three separate field experiments for two consecutive years to evaluate the impact of soil and foliar application of the aforementioned nutrients on the yield and seed biofortification of mungbean.Soil application of Zn at 0,4.125,8.25,Fe at 0,2.5,5.0 and B at 0,0.55,1.1 kg ha−1 was done in the first,second and third experiment,respectively.Foliar application in these experiments was done at 0.3%Zn,0.2%Fe and 0.1%B respectively one week after flowering initiation.Data revealed that soil-applied Zn,Fe and B at 8.25,5.0 and 1.1 kg ha−1,respectively,enhanced the grain yield of mungbean;however,this increase in yield was statistically similar to that recorded with Zn,Fe and B at 4.125,2.5 and 0.55 kg ha−1,respectively.Foliar application of these nutrients at flower initiation significantly enhanced the Zn contents by 28%and 31%,Fe contents by 80%and 78%,while B contents by 98%and 116%over control during 2019 and 2020,respectively.It was concluded from the results that soil application of Zn,Fe,and B enhanced the yield performance of mungbean;while significant improvements in seed Zn,Fe,and B contents were recorded with foliar application of these nutrients.

Improving Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through Nitrogen Application under Semiarid Conditions

Nitrogen(N),the building block of plant proteins and enzymes,is an essential macronutrient for plant functions.A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of different N application rates(28,57,85,114,142,171,and 200 kg ha^(−1))on the performance of spring wheat(cv.Ujala-2016)during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 growing seasons.A control without N application was kept for comparison.Two years mean data showed optimum seed yield(5,461.3 kg ha^(−1))for N-application at 142 kg ha^(−1) whereas application of lower and higher rates of N did not result in significant and economically higher seed yield.A higher seed yield was obtained in the 2017–2018(5,595 kg ha^(−1))than in the 2018–2019(5,328 kg ha^(−1))growing seasons under an N application of 142 kg ha^(−1).It was attributed to the greater number of growing degree days in the first(1,942.35°C days)than in the second year(1,813.75°C).Higher rates of N(171 and 200 kg ha^(−1))than 142 kg ha^(−1) produced more number of tillers(i.e.,948,300 and 666,650 ha^(−1),respectively).However,this increase did not contribute in achieving higher yields.Application of 142,171,and 200 kg ha^(−1) resulted in 14.15%,15.0%and 15.35%grain protein concentrations in comparison to 13.15%with the application of 114 kg ha^(−1).It is concluded that the application of N at 142 kg ha^(−1) could be beneficial for attaining higher grain yields and protein concentrations of wheat cultivar Ujala-2016.

Response of Contrasting Rice Genotypes to Zinc Sources under Saline Condition

Abiotic stresses are among the major limiting factors for plant growth and crop productivity.Among these,salinity is one of the major risk factors for plant growth and development in arid to semi-arid regions.Cultivation of salt tolerant crop genotypes is one of the imperative approaches to meet the food demand for increasing population.The current experiment was carried out to access the performance of different rice genotypes under salinity stress and Zinc(Zn)sources.Four rice genotypes were grown in a pot experiment and were exposed to salinity stress(7 dS m^(−1)),and Zn(15 mg kg^(-1)soil)was applied from two sources,ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA.A control of both salinity and Zn was kept for comparison.Results showed that based on the biomass accumulation and K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio,KSK-133 and BAS-198 emerged as salt tolerant and salt sensitive,respectively.Similarly,based on the Zn concentration,BAS-2000 was reported as Zn-in-efficient while IR-6 was a Zn-efficient genotype.Our results also revealed that plant growth,relative water content(RWC),physiological attributes including chlorophyll contents,ionic concentrations in straw and grains of all rice genotypes were decreased under salinity stress.However,salt tolerant and Zn-in-efficient rice genotypes showed significantly higher shoot K^(+)and Zn concentrations under saline conditions.Zinc application significantly alleviates the harmful effects of salinity by improving morpho-physiological attributes and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities,and the uptake of K and Zn.The beneficial effect of Zn was more pronounced in salt-tolerant and Zn in-efficient rice genotypes as compared with salt-sensitive and Zn-efficient genotypes.In sum,our results confirmed that Zn application increased overall plant’s performance under saline conditions,particularly in Zn in-efficient and tolerant genotypes as compared with salt-sensitive and Zn efficient rice genotypes.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Moroccan Cultivated Almond(Prunus dulcis Mill.DA Webb)in Its Area of Extreme Diffusion,Using Nuclear Microsatellites

Assessment of genetic diversity of Moroccan cultivated almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) grown from seed and cultivated at four eco-geographical regions was performed using 16 nuclear SSRs. 238 alleles were detected with an average of 14.88 alleles per locus, ranging from 4 (locus BPPCT027) to 24 (locus CPSCT018). The size of alleles ranged from 84 bp (locus UDP96-003) to 253 bp (locus UDP96-018). A high genetic diversity of the local almonds is apparent and structured into three major clusters (Oasis cluster, High and Anti Atlas cluster, and Middle Atlas cluster). Compared to the Mediterranean genetic pools, from the East to West, the genetic diversity tends to be limited in Morocco which is the area of its extreme diffusion.

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Sorghum bicolor Growth at Different Phosphate Levels: A Greenhouse Study

In sub-Saharan Africa, Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important cereal for both human being and animals. Unfortunately, its production is confronted to soils with deficiency of phosphorus. Traditional use of mineral phosphate on this culture fertilization is expensive and may cause contamination. It is thus necessary to seek more efficient and economic reasonable techniques to improve sorghum growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) constitute a reference for phosphorus improvement and plant nutrition. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AMF strains (Rhizophagus irregulare, Glomus aggregatum, G. mosseae) on growth of sorghum cultivated in greenhouse on Sangalkam soil (Senegal) sterilized with or without Tilemsi natural phosphate (PNT). The phosphorus can represent until 0.2% of the dry weight of the plant. Two fertilizers were used separately and together to doses of 20 g by strain, 100 mg and 200 mg of PNT. The experiment lasted for 120 d. Results showed that mycorrhizal colonization intensity varied between 40% and 80% for all treatments. AMF inoculation increased sorghum plant height and biomass, regardless of PNT amendment. The inoculation permits to bring strain of AMF that intervene efficiently in the transportation and the availability of phosphorus for the plant.