Effect of Varying Concentrations of Ethanol and Lime Extracts Pre - treatments on the Aflatoxins and Chemical Quality Characteristics of Stored Irvingia Seeds

In this study the effects of different concentrations of ethanol and lime extracts pre- treatments on the aflatoxins contamination and quality characteristics of stored Irvingia seeds were investigated. The quantity of total aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus((FR33818)) on stored Irvingia seeds was determined using ELISA method. Aspergillus flavus used for this study was identified by ITS rDNA sequence analysis by CABI identification services UK. The results showed that the aflatoxins contaminations and the overall quality characteristics of the Irvingia seeds were influenced by the pre-treatments applied. No aflatoxins were produced at the different concentrations of the ethanol and lime extracts used for the first two month of the storage period. However aflatoxins were produced from the third month but the concentrations in the stored Irvingia seeds decreased with increasing concentrations of the pre-treatments applied except for sample pre-treated with 70% ethanol that recorded no aflatoxins throughout the study period. The pre-treatments applied also significantly improved the chemical qualities of the seeds when compared with the control sample.  Thus the finding of this study showed that 70% ethanol and lime extracts concentrations could be used to improve the shelf-life and other quality characteristics of stored Irvingia seeds. Keywords: Aflatoxins, Aspergillus flavus, Ethanol, Lime extracts, Pre-treatment

The Influence of Seasonal Water Level Fluctuations on the Soil Nutrients in a Typical Wetland Reserve in Poyang Lake, China

To comprehend the distribution characteristics of the nutrients and the variations in the soil fertility, a total of 23 samples were collected from Nanjishan wetland reserve in the dry season, wet season, and water-recession season. The study area was divided into four areas (A1, A2, A3, and A4) based on the local hydrological conditions, geographical locations, and nutrient load characteristics. The findings showed that the highest concentration of nutrients appeared in A1, followed by A2 due to anthropogenic activities and the sewage discharge along Ganjiang River. Except for the total amounts of nutrients (the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK)), the nutrient concentrations dropped in the wet season and recovered in the water-recession season. A close association between microorganisms and the soil nutrients was observed. The Integrated Fertility Index (IFI) indicated a significant spatio-temporal variability in the soil fertility. The soil quality was higher in the dry season. The values of the IFI displayed a decreasing trend during the growing season (wet season). The single factor standard index method (SFSI) suggested that the whole area had a potential risk of eutrophication, to which the TN could be considered a main contributor

Microbial and Heavy Metal Analysis of Irrigation Water and Vegetables Grown and Consumed in Abakaliki Metropolis

In this research, the Heavy metal and Microbial content of vegetables and its irrigation water in Abakaliki were studied. The samples were collected from Onuebonyi Inyimagu village in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) and Iyiudele farm located at Abakaliki LGA. The samples were analyzed for heavy metals (lead, cadmium chromium arsenic and mercury,) using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The microbial count was done using digital colony counting machine while the microbial cells were further identified to species level using 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA sequencing analysis for bacterial and fungal cells respectively at CABI identification services UK. The results of the heavy metal analysis showed that cadmium was within tolerable limit for food while lead, arsenic, chromium and mercury where above maximum acceptable limit according to relevant national and international food and water regulatory agencies. The high levels of these heavy metals on the vegetables portents significant health risk for the consumers of these vegetables as high levels of these heavy metals in human body have been linked to so many cardiovascular and other organ dysfunctions. The result of the microbial analysis also showed that the microbial load of both the irrigation water and the vegetables where above acceptable limit according to international Commission for microbiological specification of food (ICMSF) and other necessary food and water quality regulatory agencies. The contaminating organisms were identified as Escherichia coli and Escherichia fergusonii) (504743) and Aspergillus tamari (504744a) according to the result of 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA sequencing analysis. Thus, the findings of this study showed that there is an urgent need for government to take steps to provide clean water for irrigation purposes in Abakaliki metropolis. This will go a long way in ensuring that vegetables produced in Abakaliki are free from potentially dangerous microbes and heavy metals and are generally of better quality