The Journal of Agriculture and Development

●The Journal of Agriculture and Development (JAD) is a peer reviewed journal publishing novel and significant research in a wide range of topics such as Agribusiness and Economics, Agricultural Mechanics, Agronomy and Forestry Sciences, Animal Sciences, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology, Environmental and Natural Resources, Food Science and Technology, and Veterinary Medicine. The JAD is an open access journal that includes primary research, review articles, short communications, and special invited papers. We also publish special issues which focus on the current emerging topics in agricultural sciences.

●The JAD (the formerly named Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology) is published in 6 issues per year (4 issues in Vietnamese with English abstracts and 2 issues in English). The journal has published over 19 volumes since 2002. From 06/2018, the Journal started to publish online issues in two languages (English and Vietnamese).

●Period of publication: Issue 1 (FEB), Issue 2 (APR), Issue 3 (JUN, English), Issue 4 (AUG), Issue 5 (OCT), Issue 6 (DEC, English)

●The Journal's number of articles per issue ranges from 6 to 12.

●Publisher: Nong Lam University, HCMC (NLU)

Identification of sanchi samples based on DNA barcodes

Dong T. Pham, & Phong V. Nguyen
Electronic version: 21 Jun 2024 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.3.01.2024
Abstract | PDF (517K)

Abstract

For centuries, sanchi has been used in traditional medicine in East Asian countries to promote health and fitness. To identify and distinguish sanchi from adulterants, this study was conducted to determine the sequence of four DNA barcodes. The PCR products of the four barcodes were 330 bp (rbcL), 822 bp (matK), 484 bp (trnH-psbA), and 438 bp (ITS1). Genetic relationship analysis showed that the four DNA barcode regions had high similarity with other Panax species. Three barcodes, matK, trnH-psbA, and ITS1, confirmed that the studied samples belonged to Panax notoginseng, distinguished from Panax pseudoginseng, and can be used to identify Panax notoginseng.

Bacterial species causing subclinical mastitis in dairy cows: rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Son H. Ly, Tuan T. Pham, Han M. N. On, Bao D. Truong, & Thuong T. Nguyen
Electronic version: 21 Jun 2024 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.3.05.2024
Abstract | PDF (518.8K)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine subclinical mastitis (SCM) caused by bacterial species, using chromogenic culture media and to assess the antimicrobial resistance rate in the isolated bacteria. From March to December 2023, 143 milk samples were collected from 71 Holstein Friesian cows with SCM across seven dairy farms in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province. Milk samples were incubated in triplicate chromogenic culture media to identify SCM caused by microorganisms. Our study revealed that 39.2% (56/143) of the samples had the growth of a single morphology, 26.6% (38/143) exhibited growth of two distinct morphologies, 9.0% (13/143) were found to be contaminated, and 25.2% (36/143) showed no growth. The isolated Streptococcus species were Strep. agalactiae 34.3% (49/143), Strep. uberis 22.4% (32/143), and Enterococcus spp. 1.4% (2/143). Besides, S. epidermidis 20.3% (29/143), S. saprophyticus 14.7% (21/143), and S. aureus 4.2% (6/143) were frequently isolated among Staphylococcus species. For gram-negative bacteria causing SCM, E. coli 2.8% (4/143), Klebsiella spp. 1.4% (2/143), and Pseudomonas spp. 4.2% (6/143) were the most isolated. Regarding antimicrobial susceptibility testing, the resistance rate of each bacterial species to each antibiotic tested differed for Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was not resistant to gentamycin, florfenicol, and marbofloxacin. The resistance rate of S. epidermidis to gentamycin, florfenicol, trimethoprim sulfadiazine, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid varied from 10.3% to 17.2%. Marbofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine were excellent choices in treating SCM caused by S. saprophyticus because of their low resistance rate (10.3 - 13.3%). Streptococcus uberis was sensitive to the combined antibiotic amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The resistance rate of Strep. agalactiae to this combined antibiotic (amoxicillin-clavuclanic acid) was the lowest (10%). Pseudomonas spp. was resistant to the tested antibiotics. Our study suggests that identifying bacterial species and conducting antimicrobial susceptibility tests play a crucial role in improving the treatment effectiveness for bovine SCM.

Snail composition and its cercariae in rice field of Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Thien C. Pham, & Quyen T. Duong
Electronic version: 21 Jun 2024 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.3.03.2024
Abstract | PDF (137.8K)

Abstract

The research on snail composition and their cercariae by morphological analysis method in Xuan Thoi Thuong rice field of Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was carried out in the wet season of August 2022 and the dry season of February 2023. A total of 993 snails were collected and 11 snail species belonging to 9 genera and 5 families were classified. There were 9 snail species collected in the wet season and 7 snail species found in the dry season. Lymnaea viridis and Bithynia siamensis were infected with trematode (cercariae stage) with the combined prevalence of 14.3% and 4.1%, respectively. The other nine snail species had cercariae free. Two cercariae morphotypes were discovered from snails including Xiphidio cercariae and Echinostome cercariae. More research on snails and their cercariae in other waterbodies should be done in Hoc Mon district and other places to identify the snail diversity and sources of trematodes affecting fish culture and human health.

Inventorying and proposing solutions for street tree management in Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City

Tien T. M. Duong, Thuy T. Vuong, The T. M. Ngo, & Thanh T. Nguyen
Electronic version: 21 Jun 2024 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.3.06.2024
Abstract | PDF (730.8K)

Abstract

Tree inventory plays an essential role in the urban landscape master plan. It serves as the foundation for data acquisition that supports the planning strategy and decisions relating to the community’s interests, particularly in recently established cities like Thu Duc city. This research was carried out from October 2021 to December 2022 in this city and aimed to inventory to gather qualified information for managing the city’s street trees. The study used an inventory form of street trees including criteria such as name, family, diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, and indicators of vitality and distance from trees to infrastructure. By this form, 287 streets were surveyed. The total number of investigated trees was 31.023 trees belonging to 65 species and 24 flora families, of which the species with a high percentage (from 10% or more) were Dipterocarpus alatus, Hopea odorata, Peltophorum pterocarpum, and Lagerstroemia speciosa. The most numerous plant family was Fabaceae. These trees typically had a height of less than 10 m, with a DBH of less than 20 cm. Many streets did not guarantee the distance between trees and infrastructure, particularly the distance to the electrical systems. The survey also showed that the majority of trees were healthy and grow healthily. From the current situation of Thu Duc city street trees, three solutions must be prioritized in order to improve street trees in this city.

Comparison of the physicochemical properties and biological compounds of acerola fruit varieties grown in Vietnam through the various maturation stages

Diep T. N. Duong, Nhi X. Ngo, & Binh Q. Hoang
Electronic version: 21 Jun 2024 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.3.07.2024
Abstract | PDF (365.3K)

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to find the changes in physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of acerola fruits under different cultivars (i.e., Brazilian acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C) and sour acerola (Malpighia glabra L.)) and maturation stages (unripe, half-ripe, and ripe). For any species, the study found an increase in total soluble solid and a* value, whereas there was a decrease in the content of bioactive compounds (i.e., polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C), total acidity, and antioxidant activity, which followed the maturation development of fruits. Briefly, the unripe acerola fruits (Brazillan cultivar) were an excellent source of vitamin C (32.97 mg/g) and phenolic content (25.62 mg GAE/g).
Most Read
  • The use of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) in domestic wastewater treatment
    Electronic version: 28 Jun 2018 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.7.03.2018
    Abstract | PDF (260.1K)

    Abstract

    The main objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and capacity of using hydroponic systems in municipal  pollutant removal at household scale. Three pilot scaled hydroponic systems [dimensionfor each system: 4.5 m (L) x Φ 114 mm] were installed to investigate the optimal age of vegetable, planting density and retention time for household wastewater treatment, respectively. Water spinach (Ipomoeaaquatica) planted in 27 plastic cups throughout 4.5-m-length and 114- mm-diameter uPVC pipes filled with wastewater was employed as the treating agent of pollutants. The averaged influent contained proximately 32.5 mg/L suspended solids (SS), 76.0 mg/L biological oxygen demand (BOD5), 220.5 mg/L chemical oxygen demand (COD), 26mg/L NH4+, 5.0 mg/L NO3−, and 8.5 mg/L PO43− at pH 7.3. Results showed that a designed system consisting of 10 plants of 15-day-old water spinach pre-planted in baked clay in each cup was capable oftreating 30 L of domestic wastewater meeting the current municipal wastewater discharge standards in Vietnam (column A standards of QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT) after 4 days of wastewater retention time. Ifoperated under conditions of the above parameters, the pilot-plant hydroponic system can achieve the removal of 65% SS, 82% BOD5, 74% COD, 90% NH4+, 30% NO3− and 86% PO43−. The result of this studyhas provided an applicable domestic wastewater treatment system ecofriendly and suitable for small and medium household areas.
  • Case report of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in brachycephalic dogs from Veterinary Specialist Service Hospital, Australia
    Electronic version: 30 Jun 2020 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.5.03.2020
    Abstract | PDF (260.1K)

    Abstract

    This report aimed to study symptoms and causes of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in brachycephalic dogs and to determine appropriate surgical procedures for these symptoms by reviewing literatures and examining four case studies conducted at Veterinary Specialist Service Hospital, Underwood, Queensland, Australia. The cases included a 6-year 3-month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier (case 1), a 1-year 5-month old French Bulldog (case 2), an 8-month old French Bulldog (case 3), and an 8-year 8-month Pug (case 4). Those dogs went to the Veterinary Specialist Service in a worsen state of respiratory problems, including the upper respiratory noise (case 1, 2, 3), decrease in exercise tolerance, respiratory struggling (case 1, 3), regurgitation (case 1), coughing, sleeping difficulty, respiratory stridor (case 2), nasal discharge, dyspnea, bloating, and tachypnea (case 4). Examinations revealed the causes including the elongated soft palate (case 1, 2, 3, 4), stenotic nostrils (case 2, 3, 4), tonsils inflammation (case 3) and everted laryngeal saccules (case 4). After surgery, the dogs were recovered in intensive care unit within 2 days, and then discharged. Scheduled re-examination one week later showed improvement in the respiratory health in all cases. Overall, major complications occur in 10\% of cases; however, this surgery is vital and can be totally applied in Vietnam where brachycephalic dogs have become a popular companion.
  • Price risk perceptions and management strategies in Vietnamese pangasius production
    Electronic version: 28 Jun 2018 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.1.03.2018
    Abstract | PDF (260.1K)

    Abstract

    Vietnamese pangasius prices have become more volatile over the past decade exposing the business to risk and uncertainty. This study explored Vietnamese pangasius farmers’ perceptions about the sources of price risk and the effectiveness of price risk management strategies through Likert scales. The relationships between farm and farmer socioeconomic characteristics and their perceptions were also examined by using Chi-square analysis. Data were obtained through a structured survey with 110 farmers in three provinces of An Giang, Can Tho, and Dong Thap. Results suggested that pangasius farmers mostly concerned the instability of input prices, the volume of input supply, the instability of output prices, and the legislation of sales contracts between farmers and processors. We further found that price risk management strategies were not perceived as less effective measures to mitigate the price risk. Gender, farmers’ experience, farm size, crop period, farm types, and access to credit are positively related to the farmers’ perceptions. Findings on the price risk perceptions and management strategies are useful to support public and private of price risk management decision towards increasing the sustainability of pangasius production.
  • Optimization of aqueous extraction conditions for bioactive compounds from fresh Pouzolzia zeylanica plant using response surface methodology
    Electronic version: 30 Jun 2020 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.10.03.2020
    Abstract | PDF (260.1K)

    Abstract

    Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the extraction of phenolic compounds from fresh Pouzolzia zeylanica plant using hot water as a solvent. A central composite design (CCD) in form (23+star) was used to investigate the effects of two independent variables, namely, extraction temperature (70 to 90oC) and extraction time (20 to 40 min). The dependent variables were the content of anthocyanin, flavonoid, polyphenol, tannin and total soluble solids of extracted solution. A second-order polynomial model was used for predicting the response. The results showed that the optimal extraction process was obtained at 84.4oC for 31.7 min. The experimental values agreed with predicted within a 95% confidence interval. Consequently, the contents of anthocyanin, flavonoid, polyphenol and tannin were 38.66 mgCE/100 g, 3.01 mgQE/g, 5.17 mgGAE/g, 4.07 mgTAE/g fresh weight, and total soluble solids content was 0.73%, respectively.
  • Fish composition in Dong Nai biosphere reserve in Vietnam
    Electronic version: 27 Dec 2019 | DOI: 10.52997/jad.5.06.2019
    Abstract | PDF (317.1K)

    Abstract

    Dong Nai biosphere reserve (DNBR) is well known for its high level of biodiversity and of global meaningful ecosystem. The fauna includes 84 species of mammals belonging to 28 families, 10 orders; 407 bird species; 141 reptile and amphibian species; 175 fish species; 2,017 insect species. The fish fauna of DNBR maintains many rare and endangered fish species recorded in the Vietnam red book and international union for conservation of nature red list (IUCN's red list) such as Scleropages formosus and many other rare fish species, such as Morulius chrysophekadion, Chitala ornata, Probarbus jullieni, Cyclocheilichthys enoplos... This study was aimed to identify fish composition distributed in DNBR. After the sampling period (01/2019 to 08/2019), a total of 114 fish species belonging to 11 orders and 28 families were recorded in DNBR. There were 09 species of fish on the list of rare and endangered fish species of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, 3 species (Chitala ornata, Cosmochilus harmandi and Hemibagus filamentus) on the Vietnam red list book; 01 species (Ompok bimaculatus) on the IUCN's red list, 11 exotic species, 78 commercial species and 13 species having potential as aquarium fish. In addition, the study also found the first presence of a species of phallostethid, Phenacostethus smithi in DNBR.