Nutritional Value and Utilization of Amaranthus (Amaranthus spp.) – A Review

Amaranth consists of 60-70 species, 40 of which are considered native to the Americas. They are grown in the temperate and tropical climates, and are used as grain or vegetable. They are highly nutritious, contain vitamins and minerals. The leaves, shoots, tender stems and grains are eaten as pot herb in sauces or soups, cooked with other vegetables, with a main dish or by itself. The plants are used as forage for livestock. Traditionally, the boiled leaves and roots are used as: laxative, diuretic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, anti-snake venom, antileprotic, anti-gonorrheal, expectorant, to relieve breathing in acute bronchitis. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, immunomodulatory activity, anti-androgenic activity and anthelmintic properties.Keywords: Amaranth, species, nutritional value, anti- nutritional factors, nitrate

Effect of low glycaemic index meals on insulin secretion in diabetic and apparently healthy subjects

One of the potential effects of low glycaemic index (low-GI) diets is to reduce insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes. The effects of low GI meals (Acha, Rice and Eba) on serum insulin were elicited in diabetic type 2 subjects. Ten diabetic and 6 healthy individuals participated in thestudy. Fasting blood samples were taken and after consumption of the reference (glucose) and test meals (Acha, Rice and Eba) every 30 minutes until two and half hours post - consumption. Serum blood glucose level was determined using glucose oxidase method while insulin level wasdetermined using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Insulin responses to the various meals in the diabetic subjects were initially lower (p<0.05) compared to those in the control and also the insulinogenic indices were significantly lower in the diabetics than the control (p<0.05). In the type 2 diabetic patients however, despite higher increments of serum glucose, only modest changes of plasma insulin occurred initially but later the insulin responses continued to increase up to two and half hour but the hyperglycaemia continued leading to a much lower ratio. This is to show that there is a state of impaired pancreatic beta-cell function since insulinogenic index is a measure of â -cell secretary function and also the insulin produced is not effective. Therefore, diabetic individuals consuming low glycaemic meals may not be producing effective insulin to clear the hyperglycaemia being produced by these meals.Keywords: type 2 diabetics, low glycaemic index, insulin, insulinogenic indice

Comunicación corta. Cultivares de algodón con resistencia moderada a African cotton mosaic virus

A 3 year screening of 25 long staple cotton cultivars for resistance to African cotton mosaic virus (ACMoV) conducted in northern Nigeria during the 1999-2001 wet seasons indicated that no cultivar was immune or resistant. Two cultivars, Pima S1 and Pima S4 were moderately resistant (16% infection), four cultivars Pima S2, Pima S3, Giza 45 and Giza 69 were moderately susceptible (31% infection), while the remaining 19 cultivars were highly susceptible. The moderately resistant cultivars are high yielding, have high quality lint characteristics such as crin percentage, bundle strength, and micronaire fineness. They can be used to reduce the menace caused by ACMoV on cotton in Nigeria.Se llevó a cabo durante tres años, durante las estaciones húmedas de los años 1999-2001, en el norte de Nigeria, una búsqueda de resistencia al African cotton mosaic virus (ACMoV) entre 25 cultivares de algodón de fibra larga. Ningún cultivar fue inmune o resistente. Dos cultivares (Pima S1 y Pima S4) fueron moderadamente resistentes (16% de infección), cuatro cultivares (Pima S2, Pima S3, Giza 45 y Giza 69) fueron moderadamente susceptibles (31% de infección) y los 19 cultivares restantes fueron altamente susceptibles. Los cultivares moderadamente resistentes dieron una producción alta y tienen una hiladura de alta calidad. Estos cultivares pueden ser utilizados para reducir la amenaza producida por ACMoV en algodón en Nigeria

A study of non-monetary rewards as a motivation tool for employee performance in Tesco

2013 dissertation for MSc in Human Resource Management. Selected by academic staff as a good example of a masters level dissertation. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate the impact of non-monetary rewards on employee motivation, to determine which non-monetary reward motivates employees in Tesco and to investigate the value of non-monetary rewards to employees. The survey design was adopted in this study and data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to the sample that was selected. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The sample size comprised of 150 respondents from three branches of Tesco. 150 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents but only 120 of the questionnaires were returned, hence the response rate was 80%. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics in order to obtain the mean, tables and charts showing their frequencies and percentages. The findings of this study revealed that, non-monetary rewards have positive impact on employee motivation in Tesco. It was discovered that recognition was found to be the highest non-monetary reward that motivates most in Tesco. Conclusions were drawn and some suggestions for managers and future researchers were also highlighted

Alternative hosts of cassava viruses in Kaduna and Sokoto states, Nigeria

Field surveys were conducted in 2015 wet and 2016 dry seasons to determine the occurrence of alternative hosts of cassava viruses in Kaduna and Sokoto States, Nigeria. Eighteen farms from six local Government Areas namely; Lere, Chikun, Kajuru (Kaduna State), Tureta, Shagari and Tambuwal (Sokoto State) were surveyed. Fifty- four weed samples within and around the farms were collected; Eighteen weeds were identified in wet season while 19 weeds were collected and 18 were identified during dry season. Three viruses were tested; African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) were detected using Triple Antibody Sandwich ELISA and Cassava Congo sequivirus using Double Antibody Sandwich ELISA. In Kaduna State, seven samples were positive to ACMV (38.8%) and four samples were positive to ACMV (22.22%) in wet and dry seasons respectively. One sample was positive to EACMV (5.56%) and mixed infection of ACMV + EACMV (5.56%). Cassava Congo sequivirus was negative in all the samples. In Sokoto State, seven weeds were positive to ACMV (38.89%) and three weeds were positive to ACMV (16.69%) in both wet and dry seasons respectively. Weeds that were identified in both wet and dry seasons were Combretum hispidum (L.) and Euphorbia hirta. Euphorbia hirta (L) was found to be an alternative host to ACMV, EACMV and their co-infection. The identification of Euphorbia hirta as new alternative host has widen the knowledge on viral inoculum. This will help to narrow the gap in spread of the disease

Evidence for Non-Transmission of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) through Rice Seed

An indexing of the organs (radicle and plumule) and components (husk, endosperm and embryo) of rice seeds using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was carried out to detect Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) and establish the exact location of the virus in the rice seed. RYMV was detected only in the husk (seed coat) but not in the endosperm, plumule, radicle, nor embryo. None of the seedlings raised from the seeds expressed RYMV symptoms. No virus particle was detected by the ELISA test in the leaves of the screenhouse-reared plants obtained from seeds of infected plants. The results indicate that RYMV is apparently not transmitted through rice seed probably because the virus is seed-borne in the husk (seed coat) of mature rice seeds

Occurrence, distribution and alternative hosts of Wheat streak mosaic virus infecting ginger in Kaduna State, Nigeria

A field survey was conducted during the 2018 rainy season (June – October) in three major ginger producing Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, Nigeria to determine the occurrence and spread of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) infecting ginger. Symptomatic and asymptomatic ginger leaf samples (n=180) and weed samples (n=45) were collected from the surveyed fields and indexed against WSMV using Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA). The results obtained showed that WSMV occurred in all the LGAs surveyed but with significant (P = 0.05) variation in distribution. Jaba had the highest virus incidence (22.67\,\%) followed by Kagarko (17.67\,\%) while Kachia had the lowest virus incidence of 10.00\,\%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of WSMV infecting ginger in Nigeria. Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton and Setaria barbata (Lam.) Kunth tested positive against WSMV as alternative weed hosts of the virus. The incidence of WSMV even at lower percentage is significant as population build-up could lead to a disease outbreak. Awareness programs need to be organised for farmers on yield loss potential of WSMV on ginger crop and the role of cultural practices on the incidence and management of the virus

EFFECTS OF SERIAL PLANTING OF SEED YAM TUBERS ON VIRUS INCIDENCE AND YAM TUBER DEGENERATION

Vegetative propagation of yam ( Dioscorea spp.) with seed tubers is done to ensure uniformity of crop growth and yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of serial planting of seed yam on virus incidence and tuber degeneration in the Southern Guinea Savanna agro-ecologies of Nigeria. This study was conducted during the wet seasons of 2010 to 2012 at Kwara State and Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Abuja-FCT) in Nigeria. TDa 05/00129 and TDr 89/02665 yam bred lines from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, and three popular local varieties from each of Kwara State and Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Abuja- FCT) were used in the study. Harvested seed yams were tested for Yam mosaic virus (YMV), Yam mild mottle virus (YMMV), Dioscorea alata bacilliform viruses (DaBV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Data obtained for germination percentage, virus incidence and tuber yields were subjected to ANOVA with mean separation done using Tukey HSD method in SPSS version 24. Viruses YMV, YMMV and DaBV were detected in seed yam as single or mixed infections. High virus incidence was associated with low tuber yield while low virus infection was associated with high tuber yield for most yam varieties. However, TDa 05/00129 produced high tuber yield inspite of high incidence of viruses in the tubers, indicating adaptation of this variety. There was progressive increase in virus population in yam seeds from the first to the third year of study with concurrent degeneration of seed yam and low yield at harvest.La multiplication v\ue9g\ue9tative de l\u2019igname (esp\ue8ces de dioscorea ) avec des tubercules de graine est faite pour assurer l\u2019uniformit\ue9 de la croissance de culture et pour rapporter. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer l\u2019effet de la plantation p\ue9riodique de l\u2019igname de graine sur la d\ue9g\ue9n\ue9rescence d\u2019incidence et de tubercule de virus en agro\ue9cologie du sud de la savane de la Guin\ue9e du Nig\ue9ria. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 entreprise pendant les saisons des pluies de 2010 \ue0 2012 \ue0 l\u2019\ue9tat de Kwara et au territoire capital f\ue9d\ue9ral d\u2019Abuja (Abuja-FCT) au Nig\ue9ria. TDa 05/00129 et TDr 89/02665 igname multipli\ue9e raye de l\u2019institut international de l\u2019agriculture tropicale, Ibadan, et trois vari\ue9t\ue9s locales populaires de chacun de l\u2019\ue9tat de Kwara et du territoire capital f\ue9d\ue9ral d\u2019Abuja (Abuja-FCT) ont \ue9t\ue9 employ\ue9es dans l\u2019\ue9tude. Des ignames moissonn\ue9es de graine ont \ue9t\ue9 examin\ue9es virus pour le virus doux du virus de mosa\uefque d\u2019igname (YMV), virus ignifuge de l\u2019igname (YMMV), les virus bacilliformes de dioscorea alata (DaBV) et de concombre mosa\uefque (CMV). Des donn\ue9es obtenues pour le pourcentage de germination, l\u2019incidence de virus et les rendements de tubercule ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9es utilisant ANOVA avec la m\ue9thode moyenne de Tukey HSD de s\ue9paration dans la version 24 de SPSS. Des virus YMV, YMMV et DaBV ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9tect\ue9s en igname de graine en tant qu\u2019infections simples ou m\ue9lang\ue9es. L\u2019incidence \ue9lev\ue9e de virus a \ue9t\ue9 associ\ue9e au bas rendement de tubercule tandis que la basse infection de virus \ue9tait associ\ue9e au rendement \ue9lev\ue9 de tubercule pour la plupart des vari\ue9t\ue9s d\u2019igname. Cependant, TDa 05/00129 a produit le rendement \ue9lev\ue9 de tubercule malgr\ue9 l\u2019incidence \ue9lev\ue9e des virus dans les tubercules, indiquant l\u2019adaptation de cette vari\ue9t\ue9. Il y avait augmentation progressive de population de virus pendant graines d\u2019igname d\ue8s la d\ue9but \ue0 la troisi\ue8me ann\ue9e d\u2019\ue9tude avec la d\ue9g\ue9n\ue9rescence concourante de l\u2019igname de graine et du bas rendement \ue0 la r\ue9colte

Occurrence and Distribution of Viruses Associated with Okra and Their Alternative Hosts in Kaduna and Zamfara States, Nigeria.

One of the major constraints to production of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) in Nigeria and in particular in Kaduna and Zamfara States, is the problem of okra mosaic virus and okra leaf curl virus. This study was carried out to provide information on the occurrence and distribution of okra mosaic and okra leaf curl viruses on okra, in Kaduna and Zamfara states, Nigeria. A survey of okra-producing farms was carried out during dry and wet seasons of 2017 cropping season in Kaduna (Zaria, Lere, and Igabi Local Government Areas) and Zamfara (Gusau, Bungudu, and Zurmi LGAs) states. Leaf samples (15) of symptomatic okra plants were collected from each farm in the study area. The total number of plants and the number of symptomatic plants within each subplot were recorded, and the disease incidence was determined. Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS- ELISA) kit was used in the detection of Okra Mosaic Virus while Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed for the detection Okra Leaf Curl Virus. The results showed that all the okra leaf samples tested for OLCV were negative in this study while OkMV was tested positve in all the samples with a recorded incidence of  20 % and 14 %  in Kaduna and Zamfara states respectively, however, only 8 out of total weed samples were also tested positive for OKV, but all were tested negative to OLCV

First report of maize yellow mosaic virus infecting sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and itch grass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) in Nigeria

Article purchased; Published online: 9 May 2017During routine surveys conducted from February to July 2015 in the northern guinea savannah region of Nigeria, sugarcane and itch grass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) plants showing virus-like mosaic symptoms were encountered in farmers’ sugarcane fields in Kaduna State. Symptomatic leaf tissue samples from five randomly selected plants (sugarcane = 4; itch grass = 1) were dried and stored under CaCl2 at room temperature then shipped to Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco, TX, with USDA-APHIS-PPQ permit (P526P-14-04321) for further analysis. The MagMAX-96 viral RNA isolation kit (Thermo Fisher) was used to isolate total nucleic acid (TNA) from each sample and from a sample subset consisting of pooled leaf tissue materials from both plants. TNA aliquot from the pooled sample was subjected to ribosomal RNA depletion and cDNA library construction using a TruSeq Stranded Total RNA with Ribo-Zero Plant kit (Illumina), then sequenced on the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. The raw high-throughput sequencing (HTS) reads were analyzed as previously described (Alabi et al. 2015), generating ∼43.5 million Illumina reads (76 nucleotides [nt] in length), of which 31,486 de novo assemble