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Author(s):
Nwaigwe G.O., Nwankwo I.I.M., Aguwa U.C.
Page No : 1-8
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Seed Germination and Evaluation of the Roots of Open Pollinated Exotic Sweetpotato Seedlings for Variations in Root Flesh Colour
Abstract
Botanical seeds (from a polycross) of 21 families was raised in the screen house and then transplanted to a well-prepared ridge at the experimental field of National Roots Crops Research Institute Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria in an unreplicated block. This study was undertaken with the aim to determine the number of seeds germinated among the families, period of germination, percentage field survivability of the seedlings and variability in root flesh colour from various families. The seedlings root flesh colour were evaluated in the field on a single plant basis with a planting space of 1.0 x 1.0m per plant. Data rating were on number of germinated seeds, number of field survivability, number of flesh colour variability while the root fleshed characteristics were graded using Sweetpotato colour chart. Results obtained indicated that from the 21 sweetpotato families, 1,292 seedligs which accounted for 52.4% survived in the screen house. However, the family of Moza 1-3/v8 had the highest survivability percentage of 95.8% indicating its ability to survive the local environmental conditions. The highest germination rate of 47.0% was obtained two weeks after planting while the least percentage of 1.0% was at six weeks after planting which showed that within six weeks after planting, all viable seeds might had germinated. The 772 sweetpotato plants harvested produced nine different root fleshed colours. The 231 sweetpotato seedlings produced deep orange fleshed colour, 84 seedlings produced light orange fleshed colour, 114 seedlings had yellow root fleshed colour, 13 seedlings produced white fleshed root colour while 54 seedlings produced cream fleshed root colour. This indicated that there are many varieties of sweetpotatoes which could be put to various uses.
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Author(s):
Ime Okon Udo.
Page No : 9-14
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Complimentary Effect of Zingiber Officinale and Piper Guineense Powders Against Sitophilus Zeamais on Stored Maize
Abstract
A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the effect of powders of Zingiber officinale and Piper guineense as direct admixtures at different ratios (Z100:P0, Z0:P100, Z25:P75, Z75:P25, Z50:P50) against maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais to determine insect mortality and grain damage as well as progeny production on treated and untreated grains. The experiment was fitted into complete randomized design and replicated four times while significant means were compared using least significant difference at 5% probability. Results obtained showed significant insect mortality between treatment ratios and exposure time. P. guineense alone and in combination in a ratio of P75:Z25 gave significant mortality with a reduction in grain damage and reduced progeny production. The incorporation of botanicals into traditional grain storage system is hereby advocated.
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Author(s):
Associate Professor Ibrahim Isah Laken, Musah Monday, Dagaci M.Z., Mohammed S.H., Baba H. F., Umar M.T., Usman R.L.
Page No : 15-27
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Phytochemical Screening, Mineral Determination and Antimicrobial Screening of the Leaves Extracts of Piliostigma Thonnongii (Matured and Young) Leaves
Abstract
This paper dwelled on a plant Piliostigma thonningii with reference voucher FNS/0013/ibbu/ 018. The young and matured leaves of Piliostigma thonningii were used in ethno-medicine for the treatment of wounds, ulcers, and gingivitis by some communities in Agaie, Lapai and Bida LGA of Niger State, Nigeria separately. There is no reported scientific register that implicate the equivocal chemical constituent of the leaves. Against this backdrop the young and matured leaves were investigated for chemical constituents, antimicrobial activity and mineral composition. The leaves of the plant were subjected to solvent extraction for ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Both extracts were then subjected to preliminary Phytochemical screening and it was found that the young and matured leaves of the plant both contained alkaloids, flavonoids, Saponins, tannins, Terpenoids, Steroidal nucleus and cardiac glycoside and the absence of Anthraquinone. The matured leave was richer in chemical content than the young leaves. The antimicrobial activity of ethanol and aqueous extracts were studied using isolates of three pathogenic microorganisms and the extracts exhibited activities against two of the three microorganisms with zone of inhibition ranging from 11- 40mm. Estimation of Na, Ca, P, and K were carried out by flame photometer and the mineral assessment result revealed that Na, Ca, P, and K were present in the concentration 240, 82, 39, 11 and 30, 78, 10, 18ppm for matured and young leaves respectively. This clearly indicated that the matured leaves are richer in mineral content than the young leaves except for the potassium (K) content as against the assertion by the local traditional healers.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Associate Professor Ibrahim Isah Lakan, Musah M., Dagaci M.Z., Muhammed S.H., Paiko Y.B., Baba H.F, Mohammed S.Y., Daniel A.K.
Page No : 28-40
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Comparative Proximate Evaluation of Pearl Millet (Pennisetumtyphoides), Maize (Zea Mays), Garlic (Allium Sativum), Ginger (Zingeberofficinale) and Great Millet (Sorghum Bicolor)
Abstract
The study covers the comparative proximate assessment of maize, millet, ginger, garlic and sorghum bicolor. The nutritive parameters investigated; Ash, Fat, Fiber, Moisture, Protein and carbohydrate contents. The result of moisture content ranged between sorghum having lowest with 3.00 ± 12 to Ginger having highest with 74.72 ± 1.32, Ash content with Alliums sativum having lowest 1.44 ± 0.01 to sorghum having highest with 3.99 ± 0.91, Fat content Alliums sativum; having lowest 0.76 ± 0.08 to maize having heist 7.00 ± 0.10, fiber content with Alliums sativum lowest 0.69 ± 016 to Ginger having highest 6.07 ± 0.64 protein content with sorghum having highest 13.09 ± 1.23 to maize having lowest 7.05 ± 0.01, carbohydrate content indicated sorghum having highest 72.02 ± 0.05 to Ginger with lowest value; 3.80 ± 0.34. Comparatively, the sorghum bicolor could be recommended against Pennisetum typhoides, Zea mays, Alliums sativum, Zingeber officinale for newly put bed women bodies to be replenish after delivery as best food supplement out of the food samples investigated.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Emmanuel Kutiote J.O., Patricia Tarlue J.V., Nasir Umar A., Prudence Chanda, Aisha-Lul A.N., Patricia Nalumansi, Pius Mbuya Nina.
Page No : 41-53
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Deforestation of Igwe Forest and its Effects on Livelihood Patterns of Peripheral Communities in Bugiri District, Uganda
Abstract
Forests have since ancient times played an important role of food provisioning to indigenous people and regulatory functions in the environment in general. In spite of their immeasurable benefits to life sustenance, the sustainable management of forest and forest resources in Uganda is oppressed with numerous challenges such as the conflicting roles of the various stakeholders involved in forest management. Descriptive analysis was done for mean frequencies and chi square using SPSS version 21 for Windows XP. The results showed that, the farmers in the study area are largely engaged in the cultivation of food crops which are mainly subsistence in nature. It was realized that the farmers practice mixed cropping with slash and burn as the predominant land preparation method. The study showed that deforestation has affected crop production in the areas of delayed planting seasons, pest and diseases infestation, level and quality of crop yields, reduction in the income levels of farmers and reduction in various tree species. The study recommended among other things, the continuous education and sensitization of farmers, strengthening of the public institution stakeholders and promotion of active research that will ensure a decline in deforestation.
