Microsatellite association with seed protein content and flowering time in Nigerian cowpea cultivars

Cowpea microsatellites were evaluated for their potential to be used as markers associated with seed protein content and plant flowering time. Seeds with high and low protein content as well as plants with early and late flowering time were selected from 104 Nigerian cowpea accessions. Fifteen (15) microsatellite primer pairs were tested for amplification of microsatellite sequences using PCR and seven pairs amplified a single-locus. Sequence analysis showed a high level of diversity between the analysed genotypes. Although, none of the microsatellites allowed clustering for protein content, one primer pair, VM68, detected a (AG)12-repeat microsatellite allele, which was present only in plants with late flowering. This microsatellite might possibly be useful as a marker associated with late-flowering time.http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBRnf201

Comparative evaluation of the proximate and amino acid composition of dried fruit pulps of mango (Mangifera indica Linn) accessions in E

Ebonyi State is a major production area for mango in Nigeria and postharvest losses is one big challenge to optimal utilization of this important food resource, especially as the fruits only bloom within a very short period of the year. The nutritional qualities of dried fruit pulps of mango accessions available in the area were evaluated and compared by proximate and amino acid profiling. Twenty-one mango accessions were collected from different locations of the state and used in the study. The proximate components were determined using the Official Methods of the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC) while amino acids were quantified using the Technicon Sequential Multi-Sample Amino Acid Analyzer (TSM). The result revealed significant variations among the mango accessions for the chemical nutrient components and amino acid contents (P<0.05) but no particular accession was found to be richer in all the components measured. Glutamic acid was found to be the most abundant amino acid followed by alanine, aspartic acid and lysine, while the sulphur amino acids (cysteine and methionine) were the most limiting. Lysine followed by leucine were the predominant essential amino acids. Compared to literature reports on the contents of these parameters in the undried juice, the pulp drying significantly concentrated the chemical nutrients with protein content ranging from 1.90-5.08%, crude fat (2.10-3.56%), ash (2.07-6.83%), crude fibre (4.81-7.48%) and carbohydrates (77.75-83.47%), whereas total amino acids and total essential amino acid (EAA) respectively varied from 68.71 – 91.28% and 26.04 - 37.17mg/100g of the pulp protein. We therefore recommend adoption of mango fruit drying as a cheap approach to reducing postharvest losses and increase availability of the food outside its harvest season

Human water contact activities and associated urogenital schistosomiasis in Nkalagu Community, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

There is much evidence that peoples’ behaviour affects agents, host, and the environment and that behaviour can also either increase or decrease the risk of a disease. This study was conducted in a schistosomiasis-endemic area of Nkalagu in order to observe the different water-contact activities capable of promoting urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in the area. The study was conducted between August 2014 to January 2015. Two different sites were mapped out for study (Abashi and Edenvu Rivers) in Imoha and Ishiagu villages respectively. Observations were made on daily basis between 7 am and 5 pm in two shifts, 7-12 noon and 1-5 pm. A recording booklet was used to record the different type of water contact made by each individual at the time of entry and exit out of the water. Other variables such as sex and age were also recorded.Keywords: Water contact; activities; behaviour; schistosomiasis; Rivers; Nkalag

Lead, Zinc and Nitrite Levels of Staple Crop Cultivars in Ameka and Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The levels of Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) were quantitatively determined in staple crop cultivars in Ameka using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The survey was conducted to establish a base line pollution index for lead and zinc in Ameka environment and also to evaluate the role of foods as an exogenous source of these metals among the inhabitants. Crops harvested from the area were classified as cereals, tubers, leafy-vegetables, and fruits and analyzed. The recorded metallic mean values were Pb:0.03±0.01mg/g; 0.05±0.01mg/g; 0.17±0.03mg/g; 0.27±0.04mg/g and Zn: 0.38±0.05mg/g; 0.54±0.11mg/g; 0.80±0.21mg/g; 0.58±0.14mg/g respectively. Similarly, nitrite levels in vegetables and corn (maize) were determined spectrophotometrically in Abakaliki . The vegetables analyzed were spinach, garden egg leaf, bitter leaf, pumpkin and flutedpumpkin leaf, while corn (maize) included yellow-corn, white-corn and pop-corn. Nitrite levels showed a decline from bitter leaf &gt; pumpkin &gt; garden egg leaf &gt; spinach &gt;flutedpumpkin (P&lt;0.05) with the highest and lowest concentrations of 4.92mg/g and 2.82mg/g found in bitter leaf and fluted-pumpkin, respectively. Yellow-corn and white-corn gave nitrite mean concentration of 3.52±0.30ppm and 2.80±1.50ppm, while 1.17±0.90ppm was obtained in pop-corn. Exceedingly low level of these metals characterized the staple crops. The concentration of lead in fruits and leafy-vegetables were below the 1ppm tolerable limit in plants.Key words: Lead, Zinc, Nitrite, Crop Cultivars, Cereals, Tubers, Leafy vegetables and Fruit

Cooking Eggs with Chemicals Lowers its Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Proteins, Fats and Cholesterol Contents

The effects of cooking eggs with chemicals on its nutrient contents were studied in eggs from four bird species (Gallus gallus): quail (Corturnix delegorgei), guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), local chicken (Gallus varius) and high-breed chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). A total of 60 eggs, consisting of 15 eggs from each bird specie were studied. Eggs from each bird species were divided into groups A, B, C, D and E, of three eggs per group. Eggs in groups A, B, C and D were boiled with omo, klin, table salt and alum, respectively while group E eggs were boiled with water only and served as the control. Vitamins were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, AKAPTA), while protein, fat and cholesterol were determined using standard methods. Our results showed that quail egg was superior in fat-soluble vitamins content in comparison to the other eggs species. While the chemicals prevented cracking of the shell during boiling and enhanced peeling of the shell after cooking, significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower concentrations of vitamins, proteins, fat and cholesterol were observed in eggs cooked with these chemicals in comparison to the control, with the detergents having more devastating effects than table salt and alum. Keywords: Chemical additives, nutrient composition, food processing, denaturation, biomolecule