16 research outputs found
Biodiversity loss in Ghana: The human factor
AbstractBiodiversity is the total variability observed in species of all living organisms in relation to their habitats. It deals with all microorganisms, plants and animals. Loss of biodiversity in Ghana is due to human activities and other environmental factors. The country loses a great proportion of its biodiversity, due mainly to unacceptable practices like slash and burn agriculture, surface mining, construction activities and bushfires. Various conservation measures practiced in Ghana have been discussed. These include forest reserves, botanical gardens, arboreta, gene banks, home gardens and wildlife protected areas. The educational and environmental significance of these conservation strategies have been discussed.Subject review article. Received 04 Feb 14; revised 03 Aug 15
Determination of some mineral components of wowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Using instrumental neutron activation analysis.
Some mineral elements in the seeds of the cowpea were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The cowpea cultivars were made up of improved varieties (Soronko, Gbeho, Ayiyi, Asontem, Asontem1, Bengpla, Asetenapa and Adom), farmers’ accessions (87/7, 87/1, 87/27, 87/147, 87/34, 87/49, 87/83, 87/157, 87/149, 87/30, 87/153, 96/046, 87/137, 96/129, BTB 96/091, OAA 96/30, BTB 96/054), and experimental materials (IT870-677-2, Caroni, Kaase Market, 1977 and 1239). A total of 14 elements (Al, Ca, Mg, V, Mn, Br, Cl, K, Na, Zn, Cu, Ta, Si andIn) were detected in the seeds of the 30 cowpea cultivars. Five of the elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca and Cl) identified are classified as major elements in the human body, while four (Mn, Zn, V, Si, Cu and I) are trace elements. The major elements K, Na, Ca, Mg and Cl were detected in high concentration in cultivars 96/129, 87/137, Ayiyi, 87/34 and 87/49, respectively. The trace elements Mn, Zn, V, Si, Cu and Al were detected in high concentration in cultivars 87/34, 87/27, 87/34, Bengpla, 87/34 and 87/34, respectively. From the results the following accessions could beselected and incorporated into a cowpea mineral nutritional improvement programme: 96/129, 87/137, Ayiyi, 87/34, 87/49 and 87/27. The presence of the five major elements and the trace elements indicates that cowpea has a rich source of mineral elements and, therefore, can be used to improve the diet of both humans and livestock
Variation in contents of crude protein and mineral elements in 32 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) accessions in Ghana
Thirty-two cowpea accessions were studied for variation in contents of protein and mineral nutrients (calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium). Cowpea flour from 40 wholesome dried seeds of each accession was used for the analysis. The wet oxidation method was used to determine the content of mineral nutrients. Nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl procedure. Protein content ranged from 16.35 to 27.27 per cent. Sodium content ranged from 90.53 to 91.30 ppm, and potassium content from 30.33 to 71.30 ppm. Similarly, values for magnesium and calcium ranged from 146.73 to 968.20 ppm and from 43.33 to 171.20 ppm, respectively. Percent crude protein correlated significantly positively with sodium and negatively with calcium. Magnesium was correlated significantly with potassium. Black seeds generally recorded the highest percent crude protein on the average, while cream seeds had the highest magnesium and calcium contents, respectively. Trente-deux accessions de dolique étaient étudiées pour la variation en teneurs de protéines et de nutriments minérales (le calcium). La farine de dolique de quarante graines saines séchés de chaque accession était utilisée pour l'analyse. La détermination de nutriments minérales était par la méthode d'oxydation humide. La teneur d'azote était déterminée par la procédure de Kjeldahl. Teneur de protéine variait entre 16.35 et 27.27 %. La teneur de sodium variait entre 90.53 et 91.30 ppm, la teneur de potassium variait entre 30.33 et 71.30 ppm. De la même façon les valeurs pour le magnésium et le calcium variaient respectivement entre 146.73 et 98.20 ppm et entre 43.33 et 171.20 ppm. Le pourcentage de protéine brute corrélait considérablement positivement avec sodium en négativement avec calcium. Le magnésium était corrélé considérablement avec le potassium. Les graines colorées noires enregistraient en général le plus élevé du pourcentage de protéine brute en moyenne, alors que les graines colorées crèmes avaient les teneurs de magnésium et de calcium les plus élevées respectivement. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 83-8
Causes of differences in seed quality among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) cultivars
Three cowpea cultivars differing in seed coat colour, IT83S-818 (white, black-eye), TVX 2724-01F (brown) and IT82D-32 (dark brown), were aged using the controlled deterioration method (20% seed moisture content and incubated at 40 oC) for 0, 1, 2 and 4 days. Time to 50 per cent germination (t50) and final germination percentage were determined to assess the vigour differences that exist among these cultivars. In unaged seeds, the white cultivar germinated quicker than the pigmented cultivars as a result of the characteristically higher rate of water uptake, which enhanced rapid hydration of the embryonic cells for quicker germination. When ageing progressed, however, the white cultivar germinated more slowly with a lower final germination percentage since the embryonic cells possibly became weaker and leaky leading to reduced vigour and eventually, loss of germinability. In contrast, the pigmented cultivars germinated more slowly before seeds were aged due to their slower rates of water uptake; germination became quicker as ageing progressed due to increasing softening of the seed coats. Thus, the pigmented cultivars showed decreases in the time to 50 per cent germination during ageing. They, however, retained high germination percentages throughout the ageing period, which is an indication of high vigour. These three cultivars, together with two other unpigmented cultivars, IT81D-1137 (white) and TVX 3236 (cream and brown) were subsequently examined for the incidence of disease pathogens. It was observed that the unpigmented cultivars had higher levels of the importasnt seed pathogens such as Fusarium species and Aspergillus flavus which cause reduction in germination. These seeds also showed susceptibility to mechanical damage caused by hand-beating of dry pods in sacs. These differences in behaviour between the two groups of cowpea cultivars, pigmented and unpigmented, were attributed to differences in tannin and lignin contents in their seed coats
Manure characteristics of small ruminants fed agro by-products in the guinea savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana
A 90 day study on evaluating quantity and quality of manure from small ruminants in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana was conducted. 36 goats and 36 sheep were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments - Basal diets of maize stover, cassava and yam peels as Treatment one (T1), T1 supplemented with cowpea residues as Treatment two (T2) and T1 supplemented with groundnut residues as Treatment three (T3) in a randomized complete block design. Feed composition and intake and manure characteristics were assessed and data analyzed statistically using Generalized Linear Model procedures of SAS at 5% significance level. The Chemical composition of feed resources ranged from 3.2-17.3% crude protein, 82-97.2% organic matter and 2.8-18% ash. Total feed intake ranged from 519.55-659.72 g/day and 331.84-420.17 g/day for sheep and goats respectively. Sheep manure weighed 319.17-423.33 g/day and contained 20.74-29.01% carbon, 1.87-2.32% nitrogen, 0.77-3.00 potassium, 9.52-26.50% ash, 0.44-0.77 pH and C:N ratio of 10.98-15.53. Goat manure weighed 178.67-216.17 g/day with 19.58-30.61%, 1.56-2.21% nitrogen, 0.82-2.33% potassium, 10.75-19.80% ash, 0.37-1.47 pH and C:N ratio of 9.49-19.92. Results indicated that manure from small ruminants could serve as alternative source of fertilizer in Ghana since its characteristics compare well with chemical fertilizers. Keywords: sheep; goats; feed resources; manure; fertilizer
Adoption of improved cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) technologies in Ghana
The Ghana Grains Development Project has developed and disseminated improved cowpea production technologies to farmers in Ghana since 1985. These technologies were improved varieties, row planting, and the use of pre- and post-flowering insecticides. To assess the extent of adoption of these technologies by farmers, eight cowpea production districts were surveyed across four agro-ecological zones in 1995 in Ghana. A random sample of 313 cowpea farmers participated in the survey. Results indicated that 70 per cent used recommended pre-flowering insecticides, and 26 per cent adopted post-flowering insecticides across the ecological zones. The highest adoption rate for improved varieties was observed in the Forest Zone (97 %). The adoption of row planting was highest in the Forest Zone (100 %), followed by the Guinea Savanna Zone (92 %), and lowest in the Coastal Savanna Zone (58 %). Most farmers agreed that by adopting improved production technologies, their yields and overall production increased, and they made more profit from cowpea cultivation.The whole family participates in various activities associated with cowpea production. However, men do strenuous work like land preparation, weeding and spraying of insecticides, while women and children participate in less strenuous work such as planting, harvesting and threshing.
Le Project de Développement des Grains du Ghana a developpé et disséminé les technologies de la production de dolique amélioré aux cultivateurs au Ghana depuis 1985. Ces technologies étaient les variétés améliorées, la culture en lignes et usage d'insecticides avant et après la floraison. Pour évaluer le degré d'adoption de ces technologies par les cultivateurs, un sondage a été entrepris en 1995 en 8 districts de production de dolique à travers quatre zones agro-écologique au Ghana. Un échantillon pris au hasard de 313 cultivateurs de dolique participaient au sondage. Les résultats indiquaient que 70% utilisaient les insecticides d'avant floraison recommandés et 26% adoptaient les insecticides d'après floraison à travers les zones écologiques. La proportion d'adoption la plus élevée pour les variétés améliorées était observée dans la zone forestière (97 %). L'adoption de la culture en lignes est la plus élevée dans la zone forestière (100 %) et suivi par la zone savane-guinéenne (92 %) et la plus faible dans la zone savane-littorale (58 %). La plupart de cultivateurs étaient du même avis que par l'adoption des technologies de production améliorée, leur rendements et la production globale augmentaient, et ils avaient tiré plus de bénéfice de la production de dolique. Toute la famille participent aux activités différentes liées à la production de dolique. Cependant le travail ardu tel que la préparation de terre, le désherbage et la pulvérisation d'insecticide sont faites par les hommes alors que les femmes et les enfants participent aux travaux moins ardus tels que la plantation, la moisson et la battage. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 25-3
COMBINING ABILITY AND GENETIC ANALYSIS OF FRUIT AND LEAF YIELD IN GBOMA EGGPLANT
Gboma eggplant ( Solanum macrocapon L.) of the family Solanaceae is
an important fruit and leafy indigenous vegetable in Africa. Despite
the numerous nutritional, medicinal and economic benefits derived from
the crop, little is known about the genetic parameters governing the
inheritance and combining ability of the yield components. Thus, a
study was conducted to investigate genetic information on the relevant
yield components of the crop. Results showed significant mean squares
for General Combining Ability, Specific Combining Ability effects for
number of leaves per plant, fruit width and plant height, indicating
the combining effect of additive, non-additive and maternal effects for
expression for those traits. Conversely, significant (P< 0.05) SCA
effects for number of branches per plant, leaf length, leaf width and
fresh leaf weight indicated the preponderance of non-additive gene
effect. GCA/SCA ratios for the various traits indicated that the
relative contribution of additive to non-additive effects varied widely
from trait to trait. Significant reciprocal effects for most of the
traits were an indication that cytoplasmic or maternal gene effects
played a major role in modifying the inheritance of the yield
parameters, and that the choice of the maternal parent is relevant in
breeding for these traits. Estimated GCA effect among the parents
revealed that CAGRIC 03 has a breeding value for number of branches,
plant height, fruit length, leaf length and fresh leaf weight, which
makes it a valuable material for development of improved varieties.
CAGRIC 01 was the promising combiner to increase fruit weight and
number of leaves per plant. Hybrid P1xP2 was the best specific combiner
to increase fruit width, leaf width and fruit width. High heritability
estimates for most of the traits indicate that genetic variation was
higher than the environmental variation in the study.Aubergine gboma ( Solanum macrocapon L.) de la famille des
solanac\ue9esest un fruit important et l\ue9gumes indig\ue8nes
feuillues en Afrique. Malgr\ue9 de nombreux avantages nutritionnels,
m\ue9dicinaux et \ue9conomiques d\ue9coulant de la culture, peu
est connu sur les param\ue8tres g\ue9n\ue9tiques r\ue9gissant
l\u2019h\ue9ritage et la capacit\ue9 de combinaison des composants
de rendement. Ainsi, une \ue9tude \ue9tait initi\ue9e pour
g\ue9n\ue9rer del\u2019information g\ue9n\ue9tique sur
d\u2019importants composants de rendementde la culture. Les
r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 des carr\ue9s moyens significatifs
pour \ue0 l\u2019aptitude generale de combinaison, les effets de la
capacit\ue9 sp\ue9cifique de combinaison pour le nombre de feuilles
par plante, la largeur des fruits et la hauteur de plant, ce qui
t\ue9moign edes effets additifs et non additif et maternels
combin\ue9s pour l\u2019expression de ces traits. Inversement, les
effets significatifs (P <0,05) de CCSsur le nombre de branches par
plant, la longueuret la largeur des feuilles ainsi que le poids de
feuilles fra\ueeches indiquent la pr\ue9pond\ue9rance de
l\u2019effet du g\ue8ne non-additif. Les rapports GCA/SCA pour les
diff\ue9rents traits indiquent que la contribution relative de
l\u2019additif aux effets non additifs variait largement d\u2019un
trait \ue0 l\u2019autre. Des effets r\ue9ciproques significatifs
pour la plupart des traits indiqueque les effets g\ue9n\ue9tiques
cytoplasmique sou maternels ont jou\ue9 un r\uf4le majeur dans la
modification de l\u2019h\ue9ritage des param\ue8tres de rendement
et que le choix du parent maternel est pertinent dans
l\u2019am\ue9lioration de ces traits. L\u2019effetestim\ue9 deGCA
chez les parents a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que CAGRIC 03 est d\u2019 une
valeur ameliorative pour le nombre de branches, la hauteur de la
plante, la longueur des fruits, la longueur des feuilles et le poids
des feuilles fra\ueeches, ce qui en fait un mat\ue9riel
pr\ue9cieux pour le d\ue9veloppement de vari\ue9t\ue9s
am\ue9lior\ue9es. CAGRIC 01 \ue9tait le combinateur prometteur
pour augmenter le poids de fruits et le nombre de feuilles par plant.
L\u2019hybride P1xP2 \ue9tait le meilleur combineur sp\ue9cifique
pour augmenter la largeur du fruit, la largeur des feuilles et la
largeur du fruit. Des valeurs \ue9lev\ue9es
d\u2019h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 pour la plupart des traits indiquent que
la variation g\ue9n\ue9tique \ue9tait plus \ue9lev\ue9e que
la variation environnementale dans l\u2019\ue9tude
A partial male sterlie mutant in cowpea
(African Crop Science Journal, 1998 6(1): 97-102
Improving bambara groundnut productivity using gamma irradiation and in vitro techniques
In recent times efforts are being made to improve the productivity of
bambara groundnut. Studies were initiated (i) to characterise and
evaluate landraces and to select superior ones for irradiation, (ii) to
induce genetic variation through gamma irradiation and (iii) to use
biotechnological approaches to shorten the generation cycle. The
results of the study indicated that gamma irradiation induced higher
genetic variation of up to four times within the varieties used in the
study compared to the unirradiated control. Bambara groundnut yield
could be increased through selection for number of pods per plant.
Using the in vitro plus in vivo system and embryo axis explants, over
four generations per year were obtained compared to 1 or 2 in the
field. All the plants were morphologically normal and fertile. The
shorter duration, high efficiency and genotype independency makes this
system well suited for wider biotechnological applications in bambara
groundnut. This novel approach is being applied to the variants/mutants
obtained from gamma irradiation
Gene Action of Shelf-Life and other Fruit Quality Traits in a Cross Between a Regular Cultivar and Alc Mutant of Tomato
Prolonged shelf-life and good quality fruit are crucial attributes for the marketing of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) and thus a major focus for breeding. This study was carried out to explore gene effects, heritability, heterosis and inbreeding depression for shelf-life, fruit quality and some quantitative traits of tomato using six generations derived from a cross between CSIR/CRI-P002 (P1) an adapted variety with good yield and short shelf-life, and Alc-LA3134 (P2), a ripening mutant tomato with long shelf-life but low yield. The P1 , P2 , F1 , F2 , BC1.1 , BC1.2 generations were subjected to generation mean analysis. Mean performance of the F was higher 1 than the mid-parent for all traits except total soluble solids (TSS). Additive and dominance variances were higher than environmental variance for all traits. Apart from shelf-life, the simple additive-dominance (three-parameter) model was inadequate for explaining the gene action for the traits. Using the six parameter model, additive, dominance and epistatic gene effects were found to be significant for most of the studied traits. Duplicate epistasis was detected for all the traits except shelf life. The fixable and non-fixable gene effects exhibited by the traits can be improved through pure line breeding and heterosis, respectively.
Keyword: Additive, Non-additive, Genetic variability, Heritability, Inbreeding depressio