M.Sc. / A taxonomic revision of the genus Rafnia Thunb. (= Oedmannia Thunb., Vascoa DC., Pelecynthis E. Mey), a relatively poorly known papilionoid legume genus, is presented. Rafnia (family Fabaceae, tribe Crotalarieae) is subendemic to the fynbos region of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, with one species having a distribution area reaching into KwaZulu-Natal. The species delimitation has been unsatisfactory, and the relationships among the taxa uncertain. Rafnia is divided into two sections and 19 species are recognized, compared with the 22 species previously distinguished by Harvey (1862). There are five new species and four species are subdivided into subspecies, eight of which are described for the first time. There are eight changes of status and one new combination is made. Rafnia constitutes a total of 31 taxa. Morphological data used to investigate relationships among the species of Rafnia are analyzed phenetically and cladistically and keys to the sections, species and subspecies, complete nomenclature, typification, descriptions as well as the geographical distribution for each of the taxa are presented. Proposals are made to resolve troublesome uncertainties regarding the nomenclature and typification of some species. The scope of this study did not permit detailed investigation into chemical or molecular evidence, although preliminary studies showed that such data would improve the understanding of the infrageneric relationships within the genus. Characters and character states show much variation, but an hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationships amongst the taxa is nevertheless presented. An in-depth study of morphological characters in particular has resulted in a better understanding of taxonomic relationships at the generic and infrageneric levels in Rafnia.

M.Sc. (Botany) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Ph.D. / Relationships within the Crotalarieae are explored using DNA sequences (ITS and rbcL) and morphological data and the monophyly of the various genera is assessed. A literature review of chemical characters (mainly alkaloids) was needed in order to evaluate the congruence between molecular, morphological and chemical data and how these patterns should be interpreted within the context of new generic and suprageneric concepts. The DNA study was also aimed at confirming the suspected polyphyly of Lebeckia and Lotononis (as currently circumscribed) and at improving generic circumscriptions. The aim was to propose and formalize new generic concepts for Lebeckia s.l. and Lotononis s.l. in order to ensure that all of the resultant genera are monophyletic.

Burkea africana Hook. (wild syringa) is an average sized leguminous tree, 10-12 m in height occasionally reaching over 20m. This monotypic genus is dominant and codominant in Zambia, and is present throughout Africa as far north as Ethopia and west to Nigeria, and south to South Africa especially Limpopo, North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. It inhabits dry, non–calcareous sandy soils in savanna and woodlands up to 1500 m altitude or gentle slope of 1080 m elevation. Burkea africana produces a relatively large number of seeds, which is unusual for a resprouting species. Several studies conducted on B. africana trees paid more attention to the medicinal attributes, however little or nothing is known regarding the factors and dynamics that contribute to the growth and existence of these trees, particularly because these trees grow naturally in nutrient-poor savanna soils. Although B. africana trees have been in existence for a very long period of time, propagating it through thinning and transplanting of seedlings for regeneration and/ or re-establishment of seedlings to survive until sexual maturity still remains a mystery. It is hypothesized that factors controlling establishment and development of B. africana trees are related to microbial activities in the soil, very complex and species specific but poorly understood. This study aimed to identify, if there is a symbiotic relationship between the soil and mycorhizal fungi, and rhizobium bacteria or other growth stimulating activities, in the Burkea soils, which will accelerate and assist effective growth of B. africana trees to reach reproductive stage and produce pods without dying. The chemical composition of Burkea soil and non-Burkea soils was analysed using HCl extraction method.). The results indicated the similar values (p>0.05) were observed for all micro and macro minerals as well as total nitrogen, pH and organic matter. However, total ions nitrate and ammonium concentration levels of Burkea soils were higher (p<0.05) than those found in non-Burkea soils. The use of advanced metabolomics tool using1H-NMR was used to determine and identify soil metabolites which may be responsible for successful growth and establishment of the Burkea africana trees. The findings of this study indicated that metabolomic analysis showed different metabolites in the respective soils. Growth-promoting metabolites (GPM) such as trehalose and betaine were found to be in higher concentrations in the Burkea soils. Conversely, acetate, lactate and formate, were found in higher concentrations in the non-Burkea soils. Furthermore, LC-MS was used to determine the soil components present in Burkea soil as compared to non-Burkea soil using. The results indicated that a total of 22 compounds consisted of essential amino acids such as phenylalamine, threonine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine and lysine; conditional essential amino acids such as arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, proline and tyrosine; non-essential amino acids such as citruline, alinine, aspartic acids, asparagine, glutamic acid and serine; nucleobased amino acids such as guanosine, adenine, adenosine, cytindine; dicarboxylic acid such as fumaric acid as well as common non-proteinogenic amino acids such as 4-hydroxyproline compounds were found in both Burkea and nonBurkea soils. The study investigated the microbial communities in the soil where Burkea africana trees grows successfully (Burkea soils) and how it varies from the soils where they do not grow (non-Burkea soils). DNA was extracted from the soil and a high throughput sequence bask local assignment search tool (BLAST) was used to analyze the microbial diversity (bacterial and fungal) and composition found in both soils, for a comprehensive understanding of the soil microflora. The results revealed that Penicillum sp is prevalent in Burkea soils and was the main discriminant between the two soils. On the contrary, non-cultured fungi, which could not be identified, dominated the non-Burkea soils. The variances in soil composition suggests that species supremacy play a role in the growth of B. africana trees. Lastly, the current study investigated and also identified what attracts caterpillars known as Cirina forda to invade and feed on B. africana trees. In addition, to determining if there is a symbiotic relationship between the plant-growth metabolites; growth-promoting fungi (Penicilium sp) and the caterpillars. The results of the study, revealed that the fungus Pleurostomophora richardsiae was predominant in the leaves of B. africana trees as well as in the caterpillars. It is proposed that Pl. richardsiae is a volatile compound which attracts caterpillars and makes B. africana trees susceptible to caterpillars’ outbreaks. The second largest percentage of fungi found in the caterpillars was Aspergillus nomius. / School of Agriculture and Life Sciences / Ph. D. (Agriculture)

Silage is fermented forage plants. It is a succulent and nutritious feed, which can be used especially when green forage is not available. The methods by which it is made were first developed from a nineteenth century German process for making sour hay. / Master of Science

No description available.

Master of Science

Master of Science

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Biological Sciences Department, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. Agricultural Management (Crop Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) is a drought tolerant leguminous crop usually grown for its seed which has a special gum (galactomannan) used in the food and the mining industries. The study aimed at evaluation of yield potential and agronomic management of 14 determinate and indeterminate guar accession lines sourced from the Australian Tropical Crops and Forages collection grown under dry-land conditions of Limpopo province and assessing their response to phosphorus and inoculation. Two different experiments, one on variety evaluation and the other on response to P fertilizer and inoculation were conducted during 2006/7 and 2007/8 growing seasons at Syferkuil and Tompi Seleka in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. There were significant differences amongst the 14 guar accession lines at Syferkuil during 2006/7 and 2007/8 and Tompi Seleka during 2007/8 growing seasons. Tompi Seleka showed higher potential for guar bean production over Syferkuil on the basis of grain yield. Seed yield from the two locations during the two seasons ranged from 326 kg ha-1 by variety Stonewall to 2340 kg ha-1 by variety Durgapurasaffed. At Syferkuil in 2006/7 Brooks variety recorded the highest seed yield of 1103 kg ha-1 while Hall achieved lowest seed yield of 353 kg ha-1. During 2007/8 at Syferkuil, TRCF 95203 recorded the highest seed yield of 701 kg ha-1 and Stonewall recorded lowest of 326 kg ha-1. At Tompi Seleka in the same season, the highest yield was recorded with Durgpurasaffed variety that recorded 2340 kg ha-1 and lowest Stonewall with 720 kg ha-1. The varieties which consistently performed well and were within the top five performing lines at the two locations were Durgapurasaffed, TRCF CSIRO and Brooks. The accession lines at Tompi Seleka experiment gave higher dry matter and seed yields than at Syferkuil, suggesting their preference for hot environments. In the second experiment, the response of two guar bean varieties to phosphorus level and inoculation was evaluated. Variety did not influence seed yield. Application of phosphorus (P) at 60 kg ha-1 plus inoculation significantly increased seed yield. At Tompi Seleka 2007/8 season, 60 kg ha-1 of P application achieved seed yield 37% higher than the control treatment. In the same season at Syferkuil the highest seed yield was also recorded at 60 kg ha-1 P application and was 57% xiii more than lowest seed yield from the control treatment. Grain yield significantly increased during 2006/7 as influenced by P application rate of 30 kg ha-1 compared to zero P fertilizer while there was no significant different between P rates during 2007/8 season at this site. The results from the study showed good response P application in the range of 30 to 60 kg ha-1. Inoculation significantly increased seed and dry matter yield at all sites. Variety X P levels and variety X inoculation interactions significantly influenced seed yield and dry matter at all sites. Both varieties achieved the highest seed yield at 60 kg ha-1 and the lowest was with the control at Syferkuil for both varieties. At Tompi Seleka, the control and application 30 kg ha-1 of fertilizer gave similar seed yield for both varieties. At Syferkuil in 2006/7 and Tompi Seleka in 2007/8 both Stonewall and Cedric were higher with inoculation but in 2007/8 Cedric had lower seed yield with inoculation at Syferkuil. The Phosphorus X inoculation interaction was significant with combination of 60 kg P ha-1 and inoculation giving significantly higher seed yield than the 0 kg P ha-1 and no inoculation. Future experiments should consider inclusion test in these guar accession under dryland conditions, levels of P higher than 60 kg P ha-1, include nodulation data, quality evaluation of guar seed and conducting basic growth margin analysis on P and inoculation of guar. / ACIAR Project