Sorghum seeds suffer from a low germination ratio, so a factorial experiment was carried out in the Seed Technology Laboratory, Department of Field Crops, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad during 2022 according to a Completely Randomized Design with four replications to study the effect of stimulating seeds with aqueous extract of banana peels with a concentration of (0, 15, 25 and 35%) and citric acid at concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L-1) on viability and vigour of seed properties. Seeds that soaked with banana peel extract at a concentration of 25% outperformed in first count (79.8%), final count (85.0%), radicle length (13.2 cm), plumule length (11.6 cm), and seedling vigour index (2109), noting that they didn't differ significantly with a concentration of 35%. Concentration of 35% outperformed in seedling dry weight (0.015 mg), cold test (46.2%) and accelerated aging (65.0%). Citric acid at a concentration of 200 mg L-1 was superior at the first count (84.3%), final count (87.5%), radicle length (13.9 cm), plumule length (11.5 cm), seedling dry weight (0.014 mg), and seedling vigour index (2227). Concentration of 35% + 100 mg L-1 of banana peel extract and citric acid was significantly superior at final count (94.0%), radicle length (15.8 cm), plumule length (13.6 cm), seedling dry weight (0.017 mg), seedling vigour index (2761), accelerated ageing (75.0%), It can be concluded that banana peel extract is rich with nutrients and mineral elements that stimulate germination and seedling growth, and that citric acid provides an appropriate pH that increases the activity of the enzymes responsible for germination process, so it can be recommended that using a concentration of 35% + 100 mg L-1 of the aqueous extract of banana peels and citric acid together to enhance germination in sorghum.
Medicinal plants contain bioactive substances that are highly bioavailable in extracts or pure molecules, making them promising for therapeutic applications and precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis. Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw) is widely recognized as one of the most potent therapeutic herbs. This study aimed to extract seeds from H. procumbens using two types of solvents and to assess both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the extracts. The two extracts were evaluated for antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities using agar well diffusion assays against four bacterial isolates and two yeast isolates. Qualitative analysis identified the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpen
... Show MoreThe present study was conducted to determine the optimum conditions required for lipase enzyme activity extracted from germinated sunflower seeds, including temperature, pH, agitation, time of incubation, enzyme concentration, substrate type, and concentrations of mineral salts and EDTA. Optimum pH, temperature and time of incubation required for lipase stability were also determined. The results showede optimum lipase activity (3.251U/ml) wasund at 30 ÌŠC and pH 7 after 20 minutes of incubation when using 1 ml lipase enzyme with 0.02 ml of CaCl2 (10 mM) at 100 rpm of agitation and in the presence of olive oil as the substrate for enzyme reaction. EDTA appeared to have inhibitory effects, while Ca+2 and Mg+2 have stimulatory effec
... Show MoreMechanical and thermal properties of composites, consisted of unsaturated polyester resin, reinforced by different kinds of natural materials (Orange peels and Date seeds) and industrial materials (carbon and silica) with particle size 98 µm were studied. Various weight ratios, 5, 10, and 15 wt. % of natural and industrial materials have been infused into polyester. Tensile, three-point bending and thermal conductivity tests were conducted for the unfilled polyester, natural and industrial composite to identify the weight ratio effect on the properties of materials. The results indicated that when the weight ratio for polyester with date seeds increased from 10% to 15%, the maximum Young’s modulus decreased by 54%. When the weight rat
... Show MoreThe field experiment was conducted in garden of Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences (Ibn- Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad during the season of growth (2014-2015). The experiment aimed to study the effect of citric acid with two concentration 10, 20 mg. L-1 and glutamic acid with two concentration 50, 100 mg. L-1 on growth and yield of broad bean (Vicia faba). The results were showed an increased in plant height, leaves number. Plant dry weight, chlorophyll content flowers number, absolute growth rate, crop growth rate, legume length and dry weight, legumes number, seed dry weight compared with control plants.
A laboratory experiment was conducted in the labs of Seeds Testing and Certification Department, Ministry of Agriculture in 2017 to improve germination and seedling growth in primed sorghum seeds by different concentrations and soaking durations of acids of gibberellic (GA3)(distilled water, 75, 150 and 300 mg l-1), salicylic (SA)(distilled water, 40, 70 and 100 mg l-1) and soaking duration (SD)(12 and 24 h). Factorial experiment in completely randomized design was applied with four r replications. The results showed the superiority of the two soaking treatments with GA3 (300 mg l-1) and SA (70 mg l-1) at germination ratio, radicle and plumule lengths, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index (81.3%, 2.7 cm, 8.9 cm, 0.081 mg and 984) a
... Show MoreBackground: Pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of high-quality protein and can be utilized as functional food ingredients due to their properties, such as solubility, foam formation, and stability. This study aims to produce protein isolate and its enzymatic hydrolysates from local pumpkin seeds to study their properties. Methodology: Preparing defatted pumpkin seeds for protein extraction, followed by the enzymes’ hydrolysis using Trypsin and Pepsin enzymes separately and together in two methods. The determination of amino acids and the degree of hydrolysis was conducted; moreover, protein properties were studied, including solubility, emulsifying activity, stability index, foaming capacity, and stability. Results: A protein sample was
... Show Morestract The experiment aimed to study the effect of different concentrations (10 and 20)% of Nerium oleander L. leaves extract and proline (20 and 30) ppm on growth and yield of Cicer aeitium L. The field experiment was conducted during the growth season of 2012-2013. The results showed that the best concentration of N. oleander extract leaves was 10% that showed significant increasing in plant height, branches and leaves number and dry weight during first and second periods measurement as well as the chlorophyll containing in leaves , crop growth ratio (CGR), number of pods, weight of 100 seeds, percentage of seed carbohydrates. The results revealed that two concentrations of proline (20 and 30) ppm showed a significant increase in the c
... Show MoreAn isolate of Leishmania major was grown on the semisolid medium and incubated at 26ºC. The isolate was irradiated by He: Ne laser (632.8 nm, 10 mW) at exposure times (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30) minutes in their respective order. The unirradiated groups represent control group. Growth rate and percentage of viability were examined during six days after irradiation. The change in these two parameters reflects the effect of irradiation on the parasite. The results refers that the general growth effected by irradiation in comparison with un irradiation group, The growth rate of parasite decrease with increasing the exposure time in comparison with control group. Parasite viability decrease with irradiation and the percentage of living cell dec
... Show MoreObjective: To evaluate two kinds of extraction (aqueous and ethanolic) for coriander using seeds, leaves and stems and
studying their antibacterial activity against nine different microorganisms.
Methodology: Coriander was selected to carry out this study. Seeds, leaves and stems were collected from local markets in
Baghdad then dried in shade for at least 10 days and grinded to fine powder. Aqueous hot extracts for 1hr. at (50
c) and
cold extracts for 24 hrs at (4
c) were performed by using seeds, leaves and stems then studied antibacterial effect against
nine different microorganisms by using well diffusion technique. Cold aqueous extracts of coriander seeds for 48 hrs. and
72 hrs and ethanolic extraction