Correlation and Path Analysis between Seed Yield and some Weed and Quantitative Components in Two Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Varieties as influenced by Seed Rate and Nitrogen Fertilizer

Field experiment was conducted in the wet seasons of 2009 to 2011, at the Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru (Lat., 11o 11´ N, Long. 7o 38´ E, 686 m above sea level); to determine the contributions of some weed and quantitative characters to seed yield of two sesame varieties as affected by seed rate and nitrogen fertilizer The treatments consisted of four seed rates (2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha-1) and four levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha-1) and two sesame varieties ( NCRIBEN 01M and E8). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Seed and nitrogen rates were assigned to the main plot, while crop variety was assigned to the sub plot. Seed yield correlated positively and significantly with plant height, branches per plant, leaves per plant, capsules per plant, seeds per capsule and 1000 - seed weight;  and seeds per capsule contributed more to seed yield compared with other growth and yield characters measured. Path analysis revealed that greatest direct effect and individual factor contribution to seed yield was made by number of seeds per capsule. The highest indirect effect to seed yield was made by number of seeds per capsule through 1000 – seed weight; and highest combined contribution was by number of seeds per capsule through number of branches per plant. From this study it was observed that seeds per capsule made the most contribution to seed yield and should therefore be used as a selection index for sesame improvement. Keywords: correlation, path analysis, quantitative component, sesam

Epidemiology and clinicopathological manifestation of resurgent highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus in Nigeria, 2015

In January, 2015 the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria received some chicken carcasses from the Kano state Ministry of Agriculture. The carcasses were from a backyard-commercial poultry farm and a live bird market (LBM) in Kauna and Sabon gari, Kano state, northwestern Nigeria respectively. The farm kept  different types of chickens of various ages and stages and was experiencing high mortality of 350 birds daily with eventual 100% mortality observed in the older birds (54weeks). In a concurrent incidence, reports were received of unusual high mortality of birds brought from the northern part of the country at two LBMs in  Onipanu and Mushin, Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria. A total of 8 chicken  carcasses from the Kano suspicion were subjected to postmortem examination and testing. One broiler-chicken (4weeks old), 4 layer-chicken (22 weeks old) and 3 indigenous bred-chickens (from LBM) showed severe pathological lesions  consistent with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Moribund birds from the Lagos suspicion had cyanotic comb and wattles, torticollis and paralysis of the limbs. Parenchymatous organs, nasal and trachea swabs were collected from the dead and moribund birds respectively. The specimens were analyzed by RT-PCR and virus isolation in embryonating chicken eggs. All samples were found to be positive for HPAI (H5N1) subtype. This marks the re-introduction of HPAI (H5N1) subtype into Nigeria for a second time in the space of 9-years. So far, over 542 cases (January to December, 2015) have been confirmed positive for HPAI (H5N1) in 20 states of the country. Possible circumstances surrounding the resurgent and spread are discussed herein.Key words: Epidemiology, Resurgent HPAI H5N1, Pathology, Nigeria

Seletividade do atrazine à cultura do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) Atrazine selectivity in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

O milheto é uma espécie de destaque entre aquelas cultivadas em sucessão na região dos cerrados brasileiros. Embora o herbicida atrazine apresente potencial para ser utilizado nessa cultura, pouco tem sido feito para determinar a suscetibilidade dessa espécie em função do seu estádio de desenvolvimento no momento de aplicação. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a seletividade do herbicida atrazine à cultura do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum), determinando a dosagem máxima de aplicação e os estádios da cultura que apresentem menor sensibilidade. Foram realizados dois ensaios em casa de vegetação, onde se determinou primeiramente a seletividade do herbicida para os cultivares ADR-300, ADR-500 e ADR-7010. Posteriormente, o cultivar ADR-500 foi avaliado em condições de dose-resposta do atrazine, em função do estádio fenológico de desenvolvimento. Este experimento foi realizado no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 3, com quatro repetições, correspondendo a cinco doses de atrazine: 0; 0,5; 1,5; 2,5 e 4,0 kg de i.a. ha-1, aplicadas em três estádios de crescimento do milheto (duas, quatro e oito folhas expandidas). O cultivar ADR-500 apresentou a maior suscetibilidade entre os avaliados. Aplicações realizadas nos estádios mais precoces de crescimento do milheto promoveram os maiores níveis de intoxicação, redução do número de afílhos e do acúmulo de biomassa seca da parte aérea. Esses resultados intensificaram-se com o incremento da dose de atrazine. Com relação à massa da espiga, doses inferiores a 1,5 kg ha-1 não prejudicaram significativamente essa variável, independentemente do estádio de aplicação. É possível concluir que doses inferiores a 1,5 kg ha-1 de atrazine podem ser usadas de forma segura na cultura do milheto quando as plantas apresentarem quatro ou mais folhas no momento da aplicação.<br>Pearl millet is an important species cultivated in succession in the Brazilian savannah. Although the herbicide atrazine presents a potential use in this culture, little has been done to determine the susceptibility of this species according to its stage of development at the time of application. This study aimed to evaluate the selectivity of atrazine to millet (Pennisetum glaucum), determining the maximum dosage of implementation and the culture stages with lower sensitivity. Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, by first establishing the selectivity of the herbicide to cultivars ADR-300, ADR-500 and ADR-7010. Subsequently, cultivar ADR-500 was evaluated in terms of dose response of atrazine during the phenological stage of development. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme 5 x 3, with four replications, corresponding to five atrazine doses (0; 0.5; 1.5; 2.5 and 4.0 kg a.i. ha-1) applied at three millet growth stages (two, four and eight expanded leaves). ADR-500 cultivar showed the highest susceptibility among the cultivars evaluated. Applications made at the early stages of millet growth promoted the highest levels of phytotoxicity symptoms, reducing the number of shoots and dry biomass accumulation of the aerial part. These results were intensified by increasing the atrazine dose. With respect to ear mass, doses less than 1.5 kg ha-1 did not significantly affect this variable, regardless of the stage of application. It was concluded that atrazine doses below 1.5 kg ha-1 can be safely applied on growing millet, when the plants present four or more leaves at the time of application