National and provincial officials’ knowledge on phytosanitary matters for food security in South Africa

The goal of this study was to investigate and identify the existing knowledge gaps on plant health systems of the national and provincial officials responsible for biosecurity issues and plant health matters at the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in South Africa. In this study, stratified random sampling was used and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 60 participants (30 each from national and provincial) from DAFF (scientists and inspectors), Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) (biodiversity officers) and Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDAs) (extension officers or agricultural advisors). The data was analysed statistically using the one-way frequency and Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficients. The study revealed that 76.7% of the respondents at the national level have knowledge and understanding on plant health systems and only 36.7% of the PDAs respondents have such a level of knowledge. In terms of the relevant training on plant health matters, the majority of the respondents at the PDAs (80%) revealed that they were not receiving basic training on quarantine pests (pest identification and control), while only 20% of the respondents at the national authority indicated a lack of regular trainings. Thus, intensifying awareness and basic training on plant health matters, specifically for the extension officers and/or agricultural advisors, was found to be an effective tool to enhance knowledge capacity.Keywords: Extension officers, legislation, knowledge, pest, plant health syste

Physiological And Phytochemical Responses Of Baby Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.) Cultivars To Combined Npks Nutrition And Bacillus Subtilis BD233 Inoculation Using LC-MS

ArticleBaby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is grown for its nutritional benefits, edible leaves and medicinal purpose. The use of crop amendments such as inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) together with fertilizers for crop cultivation is more sustainable as it reduces the excessive use of fertilizers and increases crop yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and phytochemical response of baby spinach cultivars to different levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur (NPKS) nutrition, amended with Bacillus subtilis strain BD233 inoculation. A factorial field experiment with treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was carried out. The results showed that NPKS fertilization significantly affected the total biomass of baby spinach but not B. subtilis (BD233) inoculation and cultivar or their interaction. The level of chlorophyll varied between cultivars ranging from 19.96±1.62b mg/m2 and 24.79±1.98a mg/m2, however, no significant differences occurred in stomatal conductance among the three cultivars. However, significant difference was observed on compounds among cultivars with NPKS fertilizer application in most identified compounds such as patuletin-3-glucosyl-(1-6)[apiosyl(1-2)]-glucoside, spinacetin-3-glucosyl-(1-6)[apiosyl(1-2)]-glucoside, (S)-Malate and N-Acetyl-D-tryptophan. Therefore, the study recommends that fertilizer at 22N:22P:30K:5S kg/ha and 33N:33P:45K:7S kg/ha amended with B. subtilis inoculation be considered when cultivating baby spinach

Rind texture and juice acid content of Citrus spp. as affected by foliar sprays of mono-potassium phosphate (MKP), urea ammonium phosphate (UAP) and mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP)

Rind coarseness of fruit of Citrus spp. is a general problem in the Citrusdal region of South Africa (Western Cape Province), often limiting the percentage of exportable fruit. Acid content of the juice of Citrus fruit is an important determinant of juice quality, and fruit with too high juice content are not preferred by consumers. The effects of foliar sprays of 1%, 3% and 5% mono-potassium phosphate (MKP), 2% urea ammonium phosphate (UAP) and 1% mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) applied 4 or 6 weeks after full bloom (WAFB) on rind texture and juice acid content of selected Citrus spp. on rough lemon rootstock were evaluated from the 1998/99 to 2000/01 seasons. Foliar sprays of MKP and MAP reduced TA of 'Thoro Temple' tangor when applied 6 WAFB, and MKP, UAP and MAP improved rind texture of the tangors ('Nouvelle' and 'Thoro Temple') and oranges ('Shamouti' and 'Valencia Late') without affecting juice and SS content.Articl

Effect of timing and method of nitrogen application on rind colour, fruit size, internal fruit quality and yield of 'Mihowase Satsuma' mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.)

Early rind colour development is a major problem in the production of early-maturing 'Mihowase Satsuma' mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) in the Western Cape, South Africa. The effect of different combinations of soil-applied limestone ammonium nitrate and foliar-applied low-biuret urea on rind colour, fruit size, internal fruit quality and yield of 'Mihowase Satsuma' mandarin on 'Troyer' citrange [C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf] rootstock was evaluated. This study was carried out over four consecutive seasons in Stellenbosch, South Africa (33°56'S, 18°51'E; 119 m.a.s.l.; Mediterranean-type climate). Despite a wide range in annual N application rate from 88 to 180 kg N•ha-1 p.a., leaf N concentration never exceeded 2.2%, with no consistent differences in leaf N levels, rind colour, fruit size, internal fruit quality and yield among treatments. The current leaf N norms for 'Satsuma' mandarin may be too high, and an optimal leaf N content of 1.9 to 2.1% is suggested.Articl

Insights on the anticancer potential of plant-food bioactives: A key focus to prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is an international health problem and represents one of the most encountered malignancies among men. In this complex and heterogeneous disease, androgens and their receptors play a crucial role in both progression and development. Although the search for its effective treatment is still ongoing, among other priorities it requires developing better anticancer agents with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. In this regard, herbal medicines, which have been used in cancer treatment, represent a large source of new and bioactive chemical entities for the development of chemotherapeutic agents, many of them exhibiting favorable side effect and toxicity profiles compared to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In fact, more than 50 of the current anticancer drugs originate from natural sources. Thus, the present review aims to provide an overview of the past and recent trends in the research, the role of secondary metabolites in urogenital disorders, and phytochemical assays in prostate cancer management. Copyright: © 2020 by the C.M.B. Association. All rights reserved