In-vitro development of Nauclea diderrichii (de Willd. & Th. Dur) Merrin liquid-M Smedia supplemented with benzyl amino purine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)

The growth of plantlets in Temporary Immersion Bioreactor system (TIBs) relies on initial successful liquid phase transition process. The response of N. diderrichii explants was assessed in liquid-M Smedia with a view to mass produce its seedlings using TIBs. Seven treatments consisting (A) 0.0/0.0, (B) 0.0/0.1, (C) 0.1/0.0, (D) 0.2/0.1, (E) 0.3/0.2, (F) 0.4/0.3 and (G) 0.5/0.4mg/lBAP/NAA combinations were studied. Each group consist of seven replicates and group A without Growth Regulators (GR) serves as control. The results at 4 Weeks after Inoculation (WAI) showed that effects of the growth regulators were significant on shoot length and number of adventitious shoots while number of roots and leaves were closely related. Treatment E produced highest number of adventitious shoots (3.6) which was higher than 0.9 shoots from treatment G and closely related to others. Maximum number of leaves (16.6) was produced by treatment F followed by E (15.7) while the least (12) was obtained in treatment A. The highest number of roots (4.9) was obtained from treatments B, followed by E (4.3) with the lowest being recorded in C (2.43). Liquid MS medium supplemented with 0.3/0.2mg/lBAP/NAA shows some promise for plantlets generation for the purpose of multiple shoot production of N. diderrichii in TIBs

Effects of different media strengths and hormone concentrations on in-vitro regeneration of Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn

The importance of Vitellaria paradoxa has necessitated its inclusion in the ongoing afforestation project which requires mass production of its seedlings. The shea-butter tree produces oil-rich seeds that are important to cosmetic and food and nutrition industries. It is a deciduous tree which could survive in the dry-savannah and help withstand desert encroachment. However, overexploitation of its timber for firewood and charcoal production made it vulnerable. In-vitro propagation of this species could be a viable means towards its mass propagation. Two plant-hormones: Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) were used to grow the plant in different combinations making up six treatments (A-F) with 6 replicates in each group. The combinations include 1.5/0, 1.5/1.0, 1.5/1.5, 2.0/0, 2.0/1.0, 2.0/1.5 mg/L of GA3/BAP, which were used to grow 2cm nodal cuttings of the V. paradoxa on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media. Treatment F (with 2.0/1.5 mg/L GA3/BAP) produced the highest number of leaves (2.4 ± 0.6, 3.2 ± 0.8) and longest shoot length (1.1 ± 0.3 cm, 1.4 ± 0.5 cm) at 4 and 8 Weeks After Inoculation (WAI), respectively. The results of this study showed that application of growth- enhancing hormones for the regeneration of important tree species could provide means for their mass propagation so as to meet the need for afforestation projects. Keywords: Vitellaria paradoxa, Afforestation, In-vitro propagation, Mass propagation

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

Assessment of Functional Impairments among the Elderly in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: The aging process is characterized by various physiological conditions that results in decline of functional capacity and physical abilities. This leads to limited quality of life and increased dependency among the elderly.Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of functional impairments among elderly persons in IjebuOde Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 500 elderly subjects selected from 100 households in the study area using systematic random sampling. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit relevant socio-demographic information. Functional impairment was assessed using the Katz Index of Independence Activities of Daily Living (KADL). Six aspects of daily activities were assessed - urinary continence, toileting, dressing, bathing, feeding and transferring. Frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviations and Chi square test were used in data analysis.Results: The study comprised of 41.2% males and 58.8% females with age ranging from 60-92years and mean age of 71.10±8.40years. More female (58.6%) compared to male (41.4%) were impaired. Overall prevalence of functional impairment was 26.6%. There were significant associations between functional impairment, older age and lower educational level (p=0.001). The most common impairment was related to transference (25.6%) while the least was with feeding (3.6%).Conclusion: Elderly subjects are prone to functional impairments related to transference which advances with age and more in women. Thus, assessing functional impairment is important in preventive geriatric health care for screening to help in reducing further morbidity in the elderly.Keywords: Assessment, prevalence, functional impairment, elderl