Effects of poultry manure and carbofuran soil amendments on soil nematode population and yield of pineapple

Two field experiments were conducted at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to assess the efficacy of poultry manure and carbofuran in suppressing nematode populations and promoting pineapple yield. Three rates of poultry manure (0, 20 and 25 tonnes per hectare) and carbofuran (0, 3.0 kg a.i/ha and 3.4 kg a.i/ha) were applied to pineapple plants in a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times in each of the two locations. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of plants at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after planting to monitor soil nematode populations. Plant growth data were obtained by measuring the length and breadth of ‘D’ leaves for five randomly selected plants per plot. Flowering was induced at the 18th month by spraying with 0.5 kg ethephon in 2000L of water/ha. Results showed that Poultry manure and carbofuran treatments significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed plant-parasitic nematode populations in both locations. At harvest, significantly bigger fruit sizes, higher fruiting percentage and number of fruits were recorded on both poultry manure- and carbofuran-treated plots. It was concluded that appropriate management of plant-parasitic nematodes will promote higher fruit yields in pineapple farms in Nigeria

Studies on the Occurrence and Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Some Pineapple-Producing States in Nigeria

Nematode pests of pineapple have not been widely studied in Nigeria compared to other countries. This study investigated the geographical distribution of nematodes associated with pineapple in three pineapple-producing states in Nigeria. A total of 78 farms were sampled from Oyo, Ogun and Osun States using the Agricultural Development Project in each state as a pilot to locate representative farmlands in the States. The modified Baermann Extraction Tray method of Whitehead and Hemming was used for the extraction of vermiform nematodes from soil. Eighteen species of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) were found associated with pineapple from the fields surveyed as follows: Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Pratylenchus brachyurus, Tylenchus sp., Helicotylenchus dihystera, Scutellonema brachyurum, Hoplolaimus pararobustus, Criconemoides limitaneum, Paratylenchus minutus, Gracilaria sp., Hemicriconemoides sp., Hemicycliophora sp., Aphelenchus sp., Aphelenchoides sp., Tylenchorhynchus sp., Paratrophurus sp., Dolichoderus sp. and Xiphinema nigeriense. The most prominent plant-parasitic nematodes found in association with pineapple on all the fields were P. brachyurus, H. dihystera, S. brachyurum, R. reniformis and M. incognita occurring at frequency ratings of 88, 80, 71, 56 and 44%, respectively. The study indicated a widespread distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes of pineapple in Southwestern Nigeria

In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

The in vitro activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms was investigated. The aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was subjected to phytochemical screening. In addition, its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus was determined at 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, 12.50, 25.00 and 50.00 mg/ml body weight in albino rats. Phytochemical screening revealed amongst others the presence of cardenolides (0.33%), cardiac glycosides (0.51%), flavonoids (0.16%), saponins (1.21%), tannins (0.68%), phenolics (0.55%) and terpenoids (0.08%). Antibacterial study revealed that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was bacteriostatic for about 15 hours on all the tested organisms except Proteus mirabilis which showed growth at all the concentrations used. Consequently, the data in the present study indicates that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves possessed antibacterial properties, being most effective at 50.00 mg/kg body weight

Nematicidal Effects of Carbofuran and GC-MS Analysis of its Residue in Pineapple Fruits

Concerns over the safety of food items from fields treated with nematicides had risen in recent times. In this study, two field experiments arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design were conducted to assess the efficacy of poultry manure and carbofuran in suppressing nematode population and determine the residual presence of the nematicide in pineapple fruits. Three poultry manure rates (0, 20 and 25 metric tonnes per hectare) and carbofuran treatments (0, 3.0 kg a.i/ha and 3.4 kg a.i/ha) were applied to two naturally infested pineapple fields. Twenty core soil samples per plot were collected from plants rhizosphere at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after planting. Fifty grams each of chopped pineapple samples from the carbofuran-treated and untreated plots was extracted with 20ml of ethyl acetate solution for fruit analysis to determine the residual presence of carbofuran using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The study indicated that poultry manure and carbofuran significantly (P� 0.05) suppressed nematode population in both locations and promoted crop yield. The GC-MS test showed that carbofuran and its metabolites were not detected in the pineapple fruits, suggesting that carbofuran is not likely to constitute dietary risks to consumers of fruits from treated plots. © 2015 Friends Science Publisher

Chemical and biological significance of naturally occurring additives on African black soap and its performance

The potassium ester (C11H23COO-K+) commonly known as African black soap was prepared by the action of palm kernel oil on cocoa pods. This was divided into four portions. Sample A contained the African Black soap without any modification, sample B was black soap modified with honey, sample C and sample D were modified with shear butter and coconut oil respectively. The pH, FTIR and phytochemical analyses of the samples were carried out. They were also screened for in-vitro antibacterial activities against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). The pH determinations showed that all the samples were alkaline in nature with sample A having the lowest pH of 8.90, while sample B had the highest pH of 9.58. FTIR analyses of sample A revealed strong bands assigned to the υ (C=O) frequency of a keto group at 1668 and 1560 cm-1 and a strong band at 1379 cm-1 assigned to the υ (C-O) frequency of the ester oxygen. The spectra of samples B, C and D showed no complexation through these oxygen donor atoms, but rather some interactions with other present molecules. Phytochemical analyses showed that samples A and D were rich in saponin, all the samples were rich in both flavonoids and terpenoids, while tannins and steroids were absent in all the samples. Antimicrobial studies showed that only sample B was active against Staphylococcus aureus, while samples A, C and D were inactive against all tested microorganisms.Keywords: Additives, African Black Soap, Phytochemical and Antimicrobia

Population Behaviour of Pineapple Nematodes in Fields Amended with Carbofuran and Poultry Manure

Soil nematodes are bio-indicators of ecosystem conditions and soil health. Studies to determine the influence of seasonal variation on the population behaviour of plant-parasitic nematodes in pineapple fields amended with carbofuran (0, 3.0, and 3.4 kg a.i/ha) and poultry manure (0, 20, 25 metric tonnes per hectare) was conducted at National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The investigation was conducted in 2009 and 2010. Initial nematode composition of soil in the experimental sites was determined prior to planting, twenty core soil samples per plot were also collected from the rhizosphere of pineapple plants at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 Months After Planting (MAP) to determine the soil nematode density for each month. The prominent plant-parasitic nematodes found in association with pineapple in the two fields include; Rotylenchulus reniformis, Pratylenchus brachyurus, Helicotylenchus dihystera and Scutellonema brachyurum. Initial low populations of R. reniform is and P. brachyurus were recorded in the first year of pineapple establishment but the soil nematode density increased significantly in the second year of cultivation. Although low population of the soil nematodes were recorded during the dry seasons, the soil nematode density increased progressively as the rain became more established, with the peak densities coinciding with rainfall peaks. Soil amendment with 3.4kg a.i/ha carbofuran gave higher nematode suppression in the two locations. Apart from improving the soil nutrient status, soil amendment with poultry manure also suppressed nematode population in the two pineapple fields. The study indicates that amendment with poultry manure is an environmentally safe alternative to chemical nematicides in the bid to promote sustainable agriculture

In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

ABSTRACT The in vitro activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms was investigated. The aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was subjected to phytochemical screening. In addition, its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus was determined at 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, 12.50, 25.00 and 50.00 mg/ml body weight in albino rats. Phytochemical screening revealed amongst others the presence of cardenolides (0.33%), cardiac glycosides (0.51%), flavonoids (0.16%), saponins (1.21%), tannins (0.68%), phenolics (0.55%) and terpenoids (0.08%). Antibacterial study revealed that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was bacteriostatic for about 15 hours on all the tested organisms except Proteus mirabilis which showed growth at all the concentrations used. Consequently, the data in the present study indicates that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves possessed antibacterial properties, being most effective at 50.00 mg/kg body weight. Citation: Bamisaye FA, Oloyede OB and Yakubu MT (2015). In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

Natural Convection Heat Transfer and Entropy Generation Analysis in Saltbox Roof under Summer Conditions

This study investigates numerically the 2D laminar natural convection in a Saltbox roof type geometry under summer climate conditions as obtained in Africa, particularly Nigeria using ANSYS FLUENT to model the boundary conditions. The effects of Rayleigh number (Ra) within the range of 103-107 and pitch angles (top and base) on heat transfer, the flow structure, temperature distribution and entropy generation within the geometry were analysed. Results show that the flow is nearly symmetric at lower Ra, while for higher Ra, the flow becomes asymmetric. The Nusselt number (Nu) has a proportional relationship with the top pitch angle and an inverse relationship with the base pitch angle when the Rayleigh number is fixed. The effect of the Ra on the Nu is insignificant at lower Ra, but becomes noticeable at higher Ra. The total entropy generation increases with an increase in top pitch angle and a decrease in base pitch angles, at fixed Rayleigh numbers. The physical implication is that, for a Saltbox roof type geometry, at fixed Ra, the best convective heat transfer process is achieved by lowering the base pitch angle and increasing the top pitch angle

Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid on dyslipidemia in organs of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the heterogeneous metabolic disorders associated with dyslipidemia, a major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease. This metabolic abnormality affects virtually all organs. Over the years, antidiabetic drugs which majorly aim at the hyperglycemic aspect of the disease have been used. Therefore, to address this dyslipidemia, omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplement was employed. Its effects on lipid metabolism in the organs (heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen and brain) of alloxan-induced (150mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) diabetic male rats were investigated. O3FA (0.4g/kg b.wt/day) was administered as pre- and posttreatment for 2 weeks. The lipid levels were significantly increased (p<0.05) in diabetic rats. O3FA administration significantly reduced (p<0.05) the levels of cholesterol, phospholipids, triacylglycerol by varying extents, in the examined organs without affecting hyperglycemia in the diabetic rats. The ratio of HMG CoA/mevalonate decreased in the liver of the diabetic rats by 28% indicating increased activity of HMG-CoA reductase. This diabetes-induced dyslipidemia was accompanied by a 28% increase in the activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase. Administration of O3FA to the diabetic rats however resulted in 10% and 17% decrease in the activity of this enzyme in the pre- and post-treated groups respectively. Also, lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced (p<0.05) by O3FA suggesting that it has protective effect against oxidative damage. This study reveals that O3FAsupplement has beneficial effects in attenuating dyslipidemia observed in diabetes mellitus and could be beneficial as an adjunct in the management of diabetes mellitus

Characterization of Vigna vexillata (L.) Richard from Six African Countries

Vigna vexillata (L.) Richard is a wild relative of cowpea characterized by heavy pubescence of the leaves, stems and pods which could be utilized for genetic improvement of cowpea V unguiculata (L.) Walp. Twenty-six (26) accessions collected from six African countries; Cameroun, Zaire, Ghana, Swaziland, Congo and Nigeria were obtained from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (liT A), Ibadan, Nigeria for morphological and cytological characterizations. Twenty-four morphological characters involving eighteen quantitative and six qualitative characters were used for intra-specific variabilities among the accessions. Young bud flowers were collected at the flowering stage for meiotic and mitotic chromosome behaviour of the accessions. The results showed significant differences among vegetative and floral characters (p::::: 0.000) while pod and seed characters do not show much variability. The high significant correlation among characters such as calyx lobe length, standard petal length and width, peduncle length, days to 50% flowering, days to pod maturity, pod length and width, number of locules per pod, number of seeds per pod, and 1 00-seed weight indicates their suitability for breeding and genetic improvement purposes. The cluster analysis using the UPGMA method segregated the 26 accessions into three main clusters; cluster I (super group of 16 accessions), cluster II (9 accessions) and cluster III (1 isolated accession). All the accessions analysed for cytological relationship presented 2n = 22 chromosomes as previously reported for the genus Vigna. Chromosomes paired as bivalents and regula