Growth evaluation of in-vitro propagated seeds and shoot tips of Mansonia altissima (A Chev.) A Chev

This research work aimed at developing protocol for in-vitro propagation of Mansonia altissima. Cultureinitiation experiment involved four treatments (Control (distilled water), 25 %, 50 % and 100 % Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium) with ten replications. The shoot regeneration involved 2 x 3 x 2 factorial treatments with five replications. Factors were two MS media strengths (Half and Full), three Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) levels (0, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L) and two explant types (shoot tips and lower stem). Root induction experiment consisted four treatments (0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/L Naphthalene Acetic Acid) with five replications in MS medium. All treatments were laid out in completely randomised design. The results showed that 100 % seed germination was obtained in distilled water only and 100 % MS basal medium at 2 weeks after inoculation (WAI). However, 25 % MS medium gave highest support for shoot growth of the seed plantlets in terms of shoot length (6.22 cm) and adventitious roots (33.5) at 3 WAI. The explants were best regenerated using full strength MS medium, 1.0 mg BAP/L and shoot tips with highest average number of leaves (3.2) at 8 WAI. None of the rooting treatments induced any root on the plantlets at 12 WAI. It could be inferred that culture of M. altissima could be initiated in-vitro using seeds on sterile distilled water or 25 % MS basal medium while its shoot-tips could be best regenerated when sub-cultured on 100 % MS basal medium supplemented with 0.1 BAP mg/L.Keywords: Culture-initiation, Protocol, Root induction and Shoot regeneratio

Comparative yield and biological efficiency of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) cultivated on sawdust of some selected tree species

The performance of mushrooms in cultivation to a large extent depends on the substrates employed. Wood species were used as substrates. The study aimed to ascertain the potentials of producing edible macro fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivated using different substrates. The substrate treatments were Triplochiton scleroxylon, Ceiba pentandra and Cordia milleni, replicated five times and the samples were inoculated with mushroom seed (spawn) of Pleurotus ostreatus. The mycelia growth (%), lengths of stipe (cm), diameters of pileus (cm) and heights of flushes (cm) were recorded. Data recorded were subjected to Analysis of Variance and descriptive statistics. The analysis of variance carried out on yield and biological efficiency showed significant difference (P≤0.05). From the study, the result of biological efficiency shows that, T. scleroxylon gave a significantly higher mean of (72.64%) when compared with what was obtained using C. pentandra (49.84%) and C. millenii (57.34%) as substrate. Keywords: Agricultural wastes, biological efficiency, comparative, P. ostreatus, yiel

Growth Evaluation of In-Vitro Propagated Embryo of Morinda Citrifolia L. Seeds

The dormant nature of Morinda citrifolia seeds is a limitation to its efficient in-vitro plantlet multiplication. Hence, the use of embryo culture for successful in-vitro culture initiation. Matured embryo of freshly collected noni seeds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with kinetin (Kn) and Benzyl amino purine (BAP) in the range of A: control (no addition); B: 0.5 mg/l Kn+1.0 mg/l BAP; C: 1.0 mg/l Kn+2.0 mg/l Bap; D: 1.5 mg/l Kn+3.0 mg/l BAP and E: 2.0 mg/l Kn+4.0 mg/l BAP. The results at 4 weeks after inoculation (WAI) showed that germination was faster from medium A without hormone whereas highest percentage germination was obtained from both medium D and E with 80 %. Medium B and C had 65 % each while medium A gave the least (40%). The development of the plantlets showed that longest shoot (3.9 cm) from medium A was closely related to 3.58 cm from Medium B while root lengths (2.28 cm) and number of adventitious roots (26) from medium A were significantly higher than other media at 12 WAI. Highest number of nodes (2.25) obtained from medium D was comparable to Media C and B while medium A had the least at 12 WAI. Number of leaves obtained was similar between the media at 12 WAI. These results indicated that using embryo is reliable for fast in-vitro propagation and shoot development of noni plant with optimum cytokinins (0.5/1.0 mg/l Kn/BAP) application. Keywords: Culture initiation, Cytokinins, Embryo culture, Plantlet, Shoot developmen

Impacts of agriculture and forestry in the control of climate change: The role of extension services

Climate change is recognized as an important issue at the center of world discussion. The importance of agriculture and forestry in the control or mitigation of climate is an important issue that has gained a lot of attention recently. Climate smart agricultural and forestry practices a situation where practices that will promote mitigation and reduce emission towards a better food security and environmental friendly weather are considered in this review paper. Also the role played by extension workers was also discussed. Climate smart agricultural and forestry practices such as planting of drought resistant crops, changes in cropping pattern, irrigation efficiency improvement, afforestation and agro-forestry were elucidated. It was concluded that an extensive extension service that will adequately educate and reach out to stakeholders at all levels will improve capacity to control the impact of climate change