Effects of growth media and hormones on the sprouting and rooting ability of Massularia acuminate (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyl

Massularia acuminata is both a medicinal and economic tree species. Despite its usefulness, adequate attention has not been given to its propagation and  cultivation. Therefore, this study investigated the  effect of growth media and hormonal concentration on the sprouting and rooting of M. acuminata stem  cuttings using Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), Naphathelene Acetic Acid (NAA) and Coconut water at four  levels (0, 500/25, 1000/50 and 1500/100ppm/% ). Six hundred and  forty eight (648) single node stem  cuttings were collected from Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. Using a 3 x 3 x 4 factorial experiment with three replicates, the cuttings were planted in three growth media (Sawdust, Riversand + Sawdust and Riversand) under a non mist propagator. Data on percentage sprouting,  callusing, number of leaves, rooting, number of root, length of root and shoot length were analysed using Analysis of variance  (ANOVA) and LSD at 5% probability level was used to compare significantly different means. The results showed that growth media and hormonal concentration significantly affect percentage  sprouting, shoot length, callusing, number of leaves, rooting, number of roots and length of root per cutting. Highest percentage sprouting (66.67%) and callusing (0.19) was recorded in riversand. Percentage sprouting  (71.30%) and callusing (0.23) was greatly affected by coconut water. Highest number of roots (2.67),   rooting (0.59cm), shoot length (1.11cm) and root length (0.59cm) were significantly affected by Level 2  (500ppm/25%). The untreated cuttings did better in terms of rooted cutting (0.71) and number of leaves (5.32). The highest number of roots (3.18) and root length (3.66cm) was recorded under NAA (1500ppm). IBA at  1000ppm had the highest shoot length (1.63cm). The findings confirm the possibility of vegetative propagation for mass production of this species in afforestation programmes.Key words: Massularia acuminata, growth media, hormonal concentration, single node stem cuttings

Effect of seed size variation and sowing media on the germination performance of Caesalpinia bonduc (l) Roxb

Varying seed size influences the seedling vigour as germination of seeds is affected by sowing media. Towards optimum roduction of C. bonduc, the study therefore investigated seed size variation and sowing media on the germination potential of the species. The treatments consisted of 3 sowing media (river sand, top soil and decomposed sawdust) and seed size small (≤1.5cm), medium (>1.5cm to≤ 2.0cm) and large (> 2.0cm)to form 9 treatments combination, laid out in Completely Randomized Design and replicated 4 times. Germination counts were taken on daily basis till there was no visible germination. Percentage germination, mean daily germination (MDG), peak value (PV) and germination value (GV) was calculated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance. Large seed size sown in forest top soil (T8) had the highest germination percentage and GV of 98.3% and 2.46 respectively while small seed size sown in decomposed sawdust (T3) had the least germination percentage (77.5%). There was no significant difference (P>0.5) in all the germination parameters except germination percentage studied on the seed sizes of C. bonduc. Both germination value and germination percentage varied significantly (P< 0.5) on the sowing media used on seeds of C. bonduc. The study showed that large and medium seed sizes responded better than small seed sizes which could be as a result of large food and energy reserves present in the seed. Keywords: seed size, emergence, sowing media, Caesalpinia bonduc, germinatio

Effect of inorganic fertilizer on the growth of Khaya senegalensis seedlings

This study investigated the effects of two different mineral fertilizers on the early growth and biomass accumulation of Khaya senegalensis seedlings. The research was carried out in the nursery of the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Uniformly growing seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots filled with 4kg topsoil and ten (10) grams each of NPK 15-15-15, Urea 46-0-0 and a combination of NPK15-15-15: Urea 46-0-0. Number of leaves, shoot height and collar diameter were assessed weekly for three months. Biomass, leaf area, leaf dry weight (LDW), stem dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW) and total dry weight (TDW) of randomly selected seedlings from each treatment were determined 12 weeks after fertilizer application. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA. LSD was used to separate significantly different means. There was a significant difference in height of seedlings treated with NPK-UREA and other seedlings at 0.05 probability level. The seedlings treated with NPK-UREA had the highest mean height, 26.3cm at the 12th week after fertilizer application. The highest mean collar diameter- 0.75cm, leaf area- 31.4cm2 and biomass- 5.7g, were recorded in the control. This study shows that 10g of NPK-UREA fertilizers was not sufficient to increase the rate of growth of Khaya senegalensis seedlings above the seedlings with no fertilizer application.Keywords: biomass accumulation, Fertilizer application, Indigenous trees, Khaya senegalensis

Sustainable management of the Nigerian forests for poverty alleviation

Nigerian forests have played very important roles in the economy of the nation. Forestry was a major contributor to the foreign exchange earnings of Nigeria which assisted in various developmental projects in the country. Nigeria has a land area of 99.3 million hectares of which about 10% are estimated as forest when compared with Ghana’s - 41%, Liberia’s 48%, Senegal’s 39% and Sierra Leone’s 26%. In Nigeria, conservation is well below the FAO’s recommendation of at least 20-25%. The major cause of poverty in Nigeria is poor management of resources. The Nigerian forest is made up of over 500 species of trees which attain a height of 12m and a girth of 60cm. The forest ecosystem contains many valuable plant species which are of considerable value in providing food, shelter, drugs and fibres. It has been suggested that there may be over 6000 Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) species in Nigeria. Forests are remarkable assets which if properly managed could perpetuate their usefulness. The people must be seen as important stakeholders and hence be involved in the decisions that affect the sustainable management of the forests. The success of all the efforts aimed at the sustainable management of the forest resources, especially the NTFP species, depend on the combined efforts of the stakeholders. This paper examines the resources of the Nigeria forests, the past and the present status of the resources and the roles these resources have played and continue to play in the lives of the people if managed sustainably.Key words: Nigeria, forest, sustainable management, poverty alleviatio

Tree species Diversity in the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Trees, which are important for the sustenance of life and the health of our planet, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Consequently, the need for actions to develop effective strategies to conserve them is receiving considerable attention worldwide. Forest genetic resources are fast becoming depleted in most natural forests due to the pressures of deforestation, urbanization, poor management and a regeneration programme that is virtually nonexistent. In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change will further aggravate the plight of many indigenous and exotic tree species as climatic variability may limit the ability of forest trees to quickly adapt to the changing climate. The huge presence of various indigenous and exotic tree species on the University of Ibadan campus and the fact that some of these trees are no longer found in most natural forests underscores the potentials of the campus as an important live gene bank. There is little or no information on the taxonomy, diversity and growth characteristics of many of the trees on campus. This information is very important for their conservation and sustainable management. There is therefore, an urgent need for their identification, conservation and management. An inventory of trees (>10cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) growing within the premises (~1.2ha) of the Department of Forest Resources Management (DFRM), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, was conducted as a case study of the species quality (richness and diversity) and quantity (volume) found on the University campus. The trees were identified to species level and the total height, merchantable height, canopy cover, diameters at the base, breast height and top of each tree was measured and volume calculated. The health status of trees was visually assessed based on the presence or absence of disease symptoms and pest attack. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 27 species from 15 families were identified with Eucalyptus torrelliana F.V. Muell. and Gmelina arborea Roxb. representing 19% and 18%, respectively. A mixture of 14 indigenous and 13 exotic tree species was found within the study area including some threatened indigenous species such as Milicia excelsa (Welw) C. Berg. and Khaya grandifolia Thompson. The mean total height, merchantable height, volume and dbh were 15.57 ± 0.73m, 9.11 ± 0.57m, 6.68 ± 1.10m3 and 44.58 ± 3.58cm, respectively. Eleven percent of the trees were in a ‘very good’ state of health (i.e. no signs or symptoms of pest and disease attacks) while 4% were in a ‘bad state’ (major leaf defoliation, leaf galls, growth of epiphytes and stem rot). It was also observed that only 16% of the trees had straight boles while others had crooked and epicormic branches. The study indicated high species variability within a small area of 1.2ha. There is a need for policy intervention to aid the identification, documentation and conservation of forest genetic resources in the University. Keywords: Species diversity, University of Ibadan campus, Climatic variability, Tree healt

Mixed connective tissue disease complicated by heart failure in Ile-Ife, Nigeria: management challenges in a resource-limited economy

Oladapo A Adewuya,1 Rasaaq A Adebayo,1 Adeola I Ajibade,2 Gbenga J Odunlami,2 Anthony O Akintomide,1 Suraj A Ogunyemi,1 Olufemi E Ajayi,1 Adebola O Adetiloye,3 Adeleye D Omisore,4 Oladipo A Olanipekun,1 Adeyinka O Owolabi,1 Ifeoluwa Amjo,1 Olumide A Akinyele,1 Abayomi O Bamgboje,1 Michael O Balogun1 1Department of Cardiology, 2Department of Rheumatology, 3Department of Pulmonology, 4Department of Radiology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria Background: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD; also known as Sharp’s syndrome) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by high titer of U1 ribonucleoprotein (U1RNP) antibody and clinical and serological overlap of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and polymyositis. The diagnosis is based on clinical and serological factors in criteria such as Alarcon-Segovia, Khan, Kusakawa, and Sharps. Cardiac disease can be a complication of connective tissue disease (CTD). There are few reports in Africa. Aims: To present MCTD as underlying cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and highlight challenges of investigations and treatment. Objectives: To highlight the first case in our center and discuss the cardiac, respiratory, and rheumatologic management. Patient and methods: We present a 52-year-old woman with 3 weeks history of productive cough with whitish sputum, severe dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, right sided abdominal pain, leg swellings, a one year history of recurrent fever, Raynaud’s phenomenon, small joint swellings and deformities with pain in both hands. Results: On examination there was microstomia, tethered forehead and lower eyelid skin, tender swelling of the interphalangeal joints and arthritis mutilans. Laboratory findings showed estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/kg/min/1.73 m2, U1RNP antibody levels were eight times upper limit of normal, elevated rheumatoid factor, speckled antinuclear antibody pattern, negative anticentromere antibody, anti Scl-70 and anticyclic citrullinated peptide. Chest X-ray/CT revealed pulmonary fibrosis. Echocardiography findings showed reduced ejection fraction of 40%, elevated pulmonary arterial pressure at rest of 60.16 mmHg. The patient showed improvement on antifailure drugs, but prednisolone was stopped for sudden reversal of previously controlled stage 2 hypertension (HTN), and the patient was discharged in a stable condition. Difficulties ensued in obtaining prompt definite results due to the unavailability of serologic tests in the hospital, and the tests were done outside the state and country. Conclusion: Identifying MCTD is critical, especially in patients requiring steroids that may worsen systemic HTN and heart failure. There is a need to have definitive investigative facilities for such patients in hospitals. Keywords: mixed connective tissue disorder, U1RNP, arthritis mutilans PAH, HFrEF, prednisolon