Supply of affordable high quality potato seed for potato production in the Red River Delta of Vietnam

Poor quality seed is the major constraint limiting both the productivity of potato crops and the expansion of the potato industry in Vietnam. Despite numerous attempts to establish a certified seed system, the most practical solution is to import clean foundation seed of the desired variety and physiological age. With imports from Europe and North America proving to be immature and too expensive, Western Australia (WA) has emerged as a potential source of high quality seed. While seed imports from WA are unique in that the varieties imported have been selected by researchers in Vietnam as being suited to the agro-ecological environment in the Red River Delta (RRD), no assessment of the economic benefits to smallholder potato farmers from the use of WA potato seed has been undertaken. In 2006/08, the yield and profitability of three potato varieties Eben, KT3 and Atlantic in two locations were compared where the crops had been derived from new seed imported from WA (VN0), seed derived from crops cultivated in the RRD after one generation (VN1) and two generations (VN2). There was a significant difference in the yield produced between the three different seed sources but not between the locations. For all varieties, and in both years, the yield decreased with the number of multiplications in Vietnam. Furthermore, the marketable yield declined significantly from the first crop (VN0) to the third crop (VN2). The decline in yield and tuber quality with each successive generation was associated with an increase in PVY and PVX infection. Not unexpectedly, differences in yield and marketable yield between the seed generations had a significant impact on the gross income for each variety.VN0 seed of all varieties produced the highest gross income (VND 2.4 to 4.1 M/sao) compared to VN1 (VND 1.9 to 3.1 M/sao) which was significantly higher than VN2 (VND 1.4 to 2.4 M/sao). However, while high quality seed is more productive, it is also more expensive. As a result, significant differences were observed between the seed costs. VN0 seed was almost two times more expensive (VND 10,500 – 11,000 per kg) than VN1 and VN2 seed (VND 6,000 – 6,500 per kg). Despite the higher costs, VN0 seed provided the highest net incomes compared to VN1 which was significantly higher than VN2. Farmers who retained seed received a higher net income (VND 0.13 – 0.6 M/sao) than those who did not retain seed. Ways to improve the accessibility of affordable, high quality potato seed to farmers in the RRD are discussed

Investigation of herbicide resistance in oriental mustard (Sisymbrium orientale L.) in Australia

Oriental mustard (Sisymbrium orientale L.), called Indian hedge mustard in Australia, is an important broadleaf weed of southern Australia. It has become more difficult to control in field crops due to the evolution of herbicide resistance. This study investigated the extent of resistance to four different herbicide modes of action, used to control oriental mustard in Australia. Herbicide resistance status was determined in 75 populations collected in southern Australia from 2010 to 2016 with resistance confirmed to herbicides inhibiting acetolactate synthase, photosystem II, phytoene desaturase (PDS) and auxinic herbicides. Populations resistant to PS-II, PDS-inhibitors and auxinic herbicides and two known susceptible populations (S1 and S2) were used to investigate the level of resistance, its mechanism, inheritance and fitness cost associated with resistance. Populations P17 and P18 were 311 and 315-fold, respectively, more resistant to atrazine than the susceptible populations as determined by the comparisons of their LD50 values. However, there was no resistance detected in these populations to diuron. Sequencing of the chloroplastic psbA gene identified a missense mutation of serine 264 to glycine in both herbicide-resistant populations, known to confer high-level of atrazine resistance in other species. P2 and P13 populations were 81 and 67-fold more resistant to 2,4-D at the LD50 level compared to the susceptible populations, respectively. No predicted amino acid modification was detected in sequences of potential target-site genes [Auxin binding protein (ABP), Transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR 1) and Auxin F-box protein 5 (AFB5)]. Further studies showed resistant populations had reduced 2,4-D translocation compared to the susceptible populations. At 72 h after herbicide treatment, 77% of [14C]2,4-D was retained in the treated leaf in the resistant population compared to 32% of [14C]2,4-D retention in the susceptible populations. Studies on inheritance of resistance to PDS-inhibitors confirmed that resistance to diflufenican in P3 population is inherited as a single dominant gene trait. Likewise, resistance to diflufenican and picolinafen in population P40 is also due to a single dominant gene. Resistance to 2,4-D in populations P2 and P13 is inherited as a single partially dominant gene. Populations P3 and P40 were 140 and 237-fold more resistant to the PDS inhibitor diflufenican, respectively, than the susceptible populations. Both populations contained a Leu498-Val substitution in the PDS gene. An additional mutation, Glu-425-Asp, was only detected in P40, where cross-resistance to picolinafen was identified. These results suggest that Leu498 mutation alone can confer a high level of resistance to diflufenican; however, the presence of both Leu498 and Glu425 mutations increased the level of resistance to diflufenican and also conferred resistance to picolinafen. Fitness studies conducted under competition with wheat in the absence of herbicides in pots revealed that the mutant PDS genes in populations P3 and P40 did not impose any fitness costs. This means once a resistant trait occurs in the field, it will persist in the absence of herbicides.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 201

A Study on the Impact of the Usage of Cost Information on Business Performance of Enterprises in Vietnam

Purpose: The primary objective of the research was to investigate the correlation between the utilization of cost information and business performance of enterprises in Vietnam, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.   Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted, involving a sample of 380 participants consisting of CEOs, CFOs, managers, board of directors, and individuals in charge of accounting and finance departments. The study employed a structure equation model to analyze the relationship between the use of cost information and business performance.   Findings: The study revealed a significant and positive impact of cost information utilization on business performance among the surveyed enterprises in Vietnam. Additionally, the study provided recommendations for enterprises in Vietnam on how to make use of cost information for various purposes, including planning, evaluating, decision-making, and cost control, to optimize their business performance.   Research, Practical & Social implication: The study's results suggest that utilizing cost information effectively can lead to improved business performance and may provide valuable insights for Vietnamese enterprises on how to navigate the challenging and competitive post-Covid-19 economic environment.   Originality/value: The research employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, and a test for univariate normality demonstrated an outstanding critical skewness ratio value. Furthermore, the kurtosis indicated that the data followed a normal distribution, making it suitable for analysis. Since SEM employs rigorous criteria to evaluate model fit, it can be inferred that the measurement model exhibited a high level of fit. The findings affirm the beneficial impact of utilizing cost information on business performance and offer significant recommendations for Vietnamese businesses in the current post-COVID era

Financial Performance and Corporate Governance in Microfinance: Evidence from Vietnam

Good corporate governance is considered a building block of success for microfinance institutions (MFIs) as it is presumed to help them in achieving their social and financial goals. This study analyzes the corporate governance and financial performance relationship for MFIs in Vietnam. We construct a corporate governance index based on seven measures pertaining to board size and composition, CEO characteristics, and ownership type. We then estimate the two-way relationship between this index and each of five different financial performance indicators. To address the likely simultaneity between corporate governance and financial performance, we adopt a two-stage least squares estimation approach with instrumental variables. The results confirm the endogenous nature of corporate governance and financial performance. We conclude that profitability and sustainability of MFIs improve with good governance practices and conversely that more profitable and sustainable MFIs have better governance systems. Keywords: Corporate governance, financial performance, microfinance. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-3-12 Publication date: January 31st 2020

Determining the Price of Software Products in Software Manufacturing Firms in Vietnam

From the early 2000s to the present, Vietnam has made efforts to facilitate the development of information technology industry and to promote the growth of it market in general and software in particular. Many policies and measures to encourage the development of software firms have been issued by the government. However, despite enjoying favorable conditions from the State's support policy, software firms still face many difficulties in product consumption. In addition to illegally copying software and copyrighted software that have been severely damaged, causing great harm to manufacturers, there are also situations where products are not sold with the right value. Currently, in Vietnam there is not yet a method of calculation, as well as a complete unified accounting for the determination of software product price, each firm follows its experience. Based on data collected, both primary and secondary, we synthesize, evaluate, compare and analyze the research topic. The results show that the determination of software product price at software manufacturing firms is not very reasonable; the recognition and allocation of core software value has not been proper. So based on the findings, some recommendations are given for improving the determination of product prices at software manufacturing firms in the context of developing countries like Vietnam. Keywords: Software, core software, intangible fixed asset, license. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-14-12 Publication date:May 31st 201

Optimization of Total Flavonoid Extraction From the Helicteres hirsuta Lour. Roots by Bath Ultrasound Assisted method and cytotoxic activities of these Flavonoids

This study was carried out to optimize the various approaches to analyze the effects of various variables on the total flavonoid content extraction from the roots of Helicteres hirsuta L. The existence of various compounds in the methanol fraction was accessed by using LC-MS/MS analysis. The results of the study identified the ideal parameters such as times (30 minutes); methanol solvent concentration (50%); ultrasonic frequency (12 Hz); and material/solvent ratio [1:30 (w/v)] for extracting the highest total flavonoids from the roots of H. Hirsuta. The study's results suggested that the total flavonoid value was 3.52684 (mg Catechin/g extract). The verified experiment obtained an actual value of 5.205 (mg Catechin/g extract). Further, the results of the study suggested the presence of 20 compounds of a flavonoid nature (66.667%) appearing in the purified methanol fractional extract. These compounds can inhibit DPPH free radicals at 50%, with an IC50 value of 536.760 g/mL, and they also have inhibitory activity on the growth of cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 115.81 and 219.17g/mL. The human leukemia cell line (HL-60) exhibits the most significant cytotoxic response to a methanol extract from H. hirsuta root with an IC50 value of 115.81 g/mL