http://www.pressesagro.be/base/ Publisher: Les Presses agronomiques de Gembloux, ISSN 1370-6233, eISSN 1780-4507. fr-be http://www.pressesagro.be/picture/cover/issn/small/13706233.jpg http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/3.pdf By Sembène M., Kébé K., Delobel A. / Structuring effect of the host plant in the groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Twenty-six samples of the groundnut seed-beetle which were reared from pods of five different host plants (Arachis hypogaea L., Bauhinia rufescens Lam., Cassia sieberiana DC., Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst. and Tamarindus indica L.) in four localities of Senegal were compared using electrophoresis based on six loci of four enzymatic systems. The population structure of Caryedon serratus Olivier was analysed using Weir and Cockerham's estimator of Wright's F-statistics. θ value (0.235) and the dendrogram of Rogers'genetic distances revealed a high degree of genetic differentiation between host plants. Genetic analysis without C. sieberiana samples indicated that populations form host races which are partially isolated according to their host plants (θ = 0.035). Geographical distances between localities are not decisive for genetic structuration of C. serratus populations from a given host plant. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/13.pdf By Diop D., Mbaye M.S., Kane A., Sambou B., Noba K. / Chorology, ecology and ethnobotanical fig trees in Senegal. Ficus (Moraceae) is one of the most important genera of the tropical flora because of its high number of species. Among the ligneous plants, this genus is the most diversified within the Senegalese flora and accounts for more than 30 species. If the most known species are protected in various forms, the least known ones are frequently slashed to make place for cash crops. This study focused on distribution areas, ecology and uses of Ficus species in order to better valorise them. Interviews were carried out with local people and the results obtained were completed by literature research and information mentioned on herbarium sheets. The chorological and ecological study shows that all the species are African native plants and grow in various biotopes. In Senegal, they are mainly situated in the South with a Guinean and Soudano-Guinean climate. They are very frequent in the humid forests of the Casamance, the gallery forests and the humid valleys of Eastern Senegal. However, F. cordata, F. dicranostyla, F. glumosa, F. platyphylla and F. sycomorus are found in the hot and dry savanna of the Soudanean area, on rock, and lateritic sandy soils. This ethnobotanical study reports a wide range of uses for the Ficus species. Among the 19 native species used by the local populations, 7 type of use have been distinguished. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/25.pdf By Vandenberghe C., Palm R., Lambert R., Detoffoli M., Marcoen J.M. / Implementation of the Nitrates Directive. Analysis of the assessment's methodology for the control of the soil nitrate nitrogen residue in the farm's fields of Wallonia. Within the Walloon Action Programme, transposition of the Nitrates Directive, the Administration organizes each year a control of the soil nitrate nitrogen residues in about 900 parcels located in vulnerable zone in order to verify if the practices of nitrogen spreading by the farmers are in accordance with the Walloon Action Programme. The current method is to yearly spot "suspects" by a control in three parcels in about 300 farms and to follow "suspects" by an observation programme wich leads after maximum six years to a penalty or to the end of this programme. The present statistical study means to assess the public control's methodology: what is the probability to penalize a "good" farmer, to forget a "bad" farmer? This study is based on real data and on a theoretical approach. Both conclusions indicate that the official methodology is sufficiently appropriate. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/33.pdf By Ouédraogo M.M., Debouche C., Degré A. / Agricultural soil tilth and roughness impact on the exactness of ground control points elevation surveyed by GPS. Our goal in this study is to estimate through ranges of variation, the impact of agricultural parcels soil's tilth and roughness, due to cultivation techniques, on the exactness of ground control points elevation surveyed by RTK (Real Time Kinematic) GPS (Global Positioning System). So, 16 point's elevations which were located each 100 mm on a transect have been surveyed first by using a Total Station (TS), and then a RTK GPS in 2 parcels (3 transects per parcel). Cultivation techniques on those parcels were different. The parcel 1 was tilled, and the soil of parcel 2 was prepared for cereal cropping. Then, the analysis of variance has been applied on the differences of TS and RTK GPS elevations data to estimate the confidence interval of ground control points elevation due to soil tilth, whereas the times series statistical method has been applied on elevation data to estimate the confidence interval due to soil roughness. The confidence intervals of points elevation are estimated being [51 mm; 57 mm], [-4 mm; 4 mm] for parcel 1, and [97 mm; 113 mm], [-35 mm; 23 mm], for parcel 2. Results show that ground control point's elevations exactness is influenced by soil tilth and soil roughness. In conclusion, we can admit that soil tilth and soil roughness have significant impact on the exactness of ground control points located on agricultural parcels. This impact must be considered in Digital Elevation Model (DEM) errors evaluation of agricultural watershed. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/45.pdf By Jova M.C., Kosky R.G., Cuellar E.E. & Cuellar A.E. / Yam clone 'Belep' in temporary immersion system showed favorable results on microtubers formation. Plants cultivated in this type of culture system were the first ones to initiate microtubers formation and produced the highest microtubers number per plant than with CIS (Constant Immersion System) and SLS (Static Liquid Medium System). These microtubers showed the greatest fresh and dry weights, as well as their diameters. In temporary immersion system, we obtained the highest total microtubers number and competent microtubers as planting material. Microtubers achieved in this type of culture system were distinguished by their quality expressed in the higher dry matter content and starch concentration. In order to carry renewals of culture media and to maintain continuous culture growing for direct planting material, knowledges on preferences and ion depletion in culture medium during microtubers formation in yam cultivated in temporary immersion system were acquired. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/49.pdf By Gueye M.T., Seck D., Wathelet J.P., Lognay G. / Typology of maize storage and conservation systems in the East and the South of Senegal. A survey was conducted in Senegal in the Eastern departments of Tambacounda, Bakel and Kedougou and in Casamance mainland in the departments of Kolda, Sedhiou and Velingara encompassing 330 maize users in 185 villages. Six major types and two modes of storage were found. Differences are presented in relation to ethnic groups who do not adopt the same methods of storage. The impact of types and storage methods are reviewed with regard to loss levels, perception of the producers on the main storage determinants, specificities inherent to ethnic groups, localities as well as pesticides and natural products used in post-harvest treatment. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/59.pdf By Traoré M., Lompo F., Thio B., Ouattara B., Ouattara K., Sedogo M. / Influence of crop rotation, fertilization and tillage on populations of plant parasitic nematodes of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The soil nematodes of three long-term trials (1960, 1980 and 1990) representing the production of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) under different agricultural practices (rotation, tillage and fertilization) in the Center West of Burkina Faso, have been explored in the wake of the harvest during the agricultural season 2007/2008. The objective was to identify these nematodes and to study the influence of agricultural practices on this nematofauna. Nematodes were extracted by the method of Seinhorst elutriator. Plant-parasitic nematodes identified are Pratylenchus brachyurus, Tylenchorhynchus martini, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, Scutellonema Caveness, Criconemoides curvatum, Telotylenchus indicus and Xiphinema sp. The first three species represent approximately 98% of individuals surveyed. On the first site, the treatments involving mineral fertilizer and recycling of sorghum straw were favorable for the control of nematodes instead of treatments involving manure. As for rotations, monoculture of sorghum was more infested by nematodes than the rotations sorghum – cowpea and sorghum – cotton. On the second site, the nitrogen has increased of infestation by the two major nematodes in comparison to treatments without nitrogen, with the exception of treatment with anaerobic compost incorporation. On the third site, deep plowing has been unfavorable to the main nematode sorghum compared to shallow tillage. The nematofauna in fallow was more diversified than in cultivated sites and P. brachyurus, the main nematode related to sorghum has fallen sharply in fallow. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/67.pdf By Aguilar-Galvez A., Dubois-Dauphin R., Destain J., Campos D., Thonart P. / Enterococci: advantages and drawbacks in biotechnology, a review. Enterococci are lactic acid bacteria that have been used for centuries in food processing. These microorganisms play a vital role in conservation (extension of shelf life) and in the bacteriological quality of food while keeping their nutritional and organoleptic properties. However, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis are indicators of faecal contamination and are also implicated in nosocomial diseases. The genetic plasticity (transfer of genetic elements) of these bacteria allows them not only to adapt to various ecosystems, but also to be vehicles of antibiotic resistances and bacterial virulence, which is of public health concern. Thus, the use of enterococci in the food industry is becoming controversial. However, enterococci are also involved in the fermentation of many foods (milk, vegetables, meats or fish) and are able to produce various antimicrobial molecules (e.g. lactic acid, bacteriocins or hydrogen peroxide) that make them indispensable in the food industry. Their use as probiotic must therefore be carefully characterized in order to prove their safety. The wide range of bacteriocins (enterocins) found in these bacteria could also be valorized by developing purification methods to replace the bacterial strains themselves by their enterocins in foodstuffs, therefore eliminating the risk of direct use of bacteria. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/77.pdf By Bouché P., Lejeune P. & Vermeulen C. / The comparison of some elephants count methods – aerial sampling count, aerial total count and direct foot count – has been presented through surveys' study cases implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. We compare them in terms of effort and cost to survey an area (sampling efficiency), efficiency in data collection (detection efficiency) as well as accuracy and precision. Aerial sampling count returns low sampling and detection efficiency and very low precision and accuracy figures when counting elephants populations below 0.5 elephant·km-2. Precision can partly be improved by stratification. Direct foot count returns the best sampling and detection efficiency but insufficient data number to produce reliable estimates. Therefore some authors often produced no results for elephants. Aerial total count is a costly method in absolute value. It requires important logistic and no measure of error is possible. However it provides relatively good sampling and detection efficiency as well as relatively accurate figures appreciated by wildlife managers if technical requirements are respected. Aerial total count could be recommended to survey small population of West African elephants each 3 to 5 years to minimize yearly count costs. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/93.pdf By Janas S., Malumba P., Béra F. / Opportunity to take the grain internal transfers into account in the context of the modelization of the fixed bed drying of corn: a review. The fixed-bed drying is a preservation technique widely used in food industries. Its control and optimization require to know the distributions of temperature and water content in the bed depending on the operating conditions used. This information is obtained through modeling of the heat and mass transfers involved. Models of fixed bed drying have two components. The first one is the model at the product level. This model can predict how temperature and water content of the product change at each point of the bed according to local conditions of temperature and humidity. The second component is the model for the entire bed, which describes how heat and water are conveyed by the drying air through the bed. In this literature review, the main models of fixed bed drying are presented, with particular emphasis on the models used for corn drying. In this review, these two components are presented separately. The goal is to idendify the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and opportunities for future research in this field. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/103.pdf By Maréchal P.Y., Henriet F., Vancutsem F. & Bodson B. / Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (black-grass) has always been a major concern for cereal growers, and the development of herbicide resistance does not improve the situation. This review article summarizes the different traits involved in the dispersal pattern of herbicide resistant black-grass individuals within a susceptible field population. Therefore, the whole life cycle of black-grass is depicted from the seed to the seed. From the early vegetative development to the seed falling, every stage is described, taking into account how herbicide resistance can influence or exert a different impact compared to susceptible plants. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/115.pdf By Sainvitu P., Nott K., Richard G., Blecker C., Jérôme C., Wathelet J.P., Paquot M. & Deleu M. / Following a brief description of the structure and nomenclature of the lignan family, this review focuses on the flaxseed lignan secoisolariciresinol (SECO). The main properties, the analysis methods and two routes for the preparation of SECO, i.e. extraction from renewable raw material and (hemi)-synthesis, are reviewed. Green methods recently developed for the first route and chemical syntheses inspired from biosyntheses for the second one are the main subjects of this paper. http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v16n1/125.pdf By Zirbes L., Thonart P. & Haubruge E. / Microorganisms are well adapted to their soil microhabitat where they live together in consortia, interacting with other living members, including earthworms. This literature review consists of four sections that focus on microscale interactions between earthworms and microorganisms. The first part is devoted to nephridia symbiosis. Recent discoveries show that Verminephrobacter spp. is present as a symbiont in earthworm nephridia. The second section deals with earthworm food preference and focuses on the major hypotheses of foraging strategies. The third section presents evidence of gut symbionts and highlights the need for additional studies in this field. The last section of this review explains why microorganism activities are enhanced in burrows and casts of earthworms.