Alkylating efficiency of sodium azide on pod yield, nut size and nutrition composition of Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Mutation has been utilised to improve growth and yield of many food crops, but only little effort has been made to ascertain the nutritional advantages in such improved crops. The present study evaluates the alkylating efficiency of sodium azide of different concentrations on pod yield, nut size and nutritional composition of two groundnut varieties. Dry seeds of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.); Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria were treated with different sodium azide concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mM) for 12 hours. Seeds soaked in distilled water for 12 hours were used as control for each variety. The treated seeds and control were sown in planting bags in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Alkylating effects of the treatments were studied on pod parameters and nut size while proximate analysis was carried out on the nuts to determine their nutritional composition. The results showed that sodium azide treatment of 50 mM produced significantly taller plants with more branches and leaves. Analysis of collected data revealed that sodium azide is effective in achieving significantly earlier- maturing plants with higher pod yield, bigger nut size and heavier nuts. All concentrations of Sodium azide applied induced significant higher crude protein and fat with respect to control in samnut 10 while 50 mM yielded highest protein and fat in samnut 20 variety. Generally, nutritional values of the studied groundnut were improved by sodium azide treatments with respect to protein and fat content which are the most important constituents in groundnut utilization as food or raw material for edible oil. The study concluded that the alkylating effect of sodium azide was effective on pod yield, nut size and other nut characteristics of groundnut and could be employed to improve protein, crude fat and other nutrition contents of the nuts for human and animal consumption as well as industrial applications.Key words: Alkylating effect, nutrition composition, sodium-azid

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF GYMNEMIC ACID EXTRACTS FROM BIG AND SMALL LEAF VARIETIES OF Gymnema Sylvestre R.Br

Phytochemical and hypoglycemic effects of two varieties of Gymnema sylvestre were studied. The leaves of Big-leaf (MCL) and the small-leaf (ZMGL) varieties were grown in Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli, India. Water, ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, haxane and chloroform were used for phytochemical extraction from the dried leaves. Gymnemic acid was extracted and purified from the two varieties by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Four groups of matured whisker rats (six per group) were induced with high-glucose level. Three groups were treated with standard drug Glibenclamide (5mg/kg), gymnemic acid extracts from MCL and ZMDL respectively while the fourth group served as experimental control. Hypoglycemic activities of extracts were evaluated using animals’ blood sample. Result showed water and methanol are best solvents for phytochemical extraction from the plant and the yield is higher in ZMGL than MCL. Also, gymnemic acid yield varied. From the results, hypoglycemic activities from the animals’ blood revealed that treatments from both MCL and ZMGL are not significantly different from standard drug Glibenclamide. The study concluded that water or methanol is appropriate solvent for phytochemical extraction from G. sylvestre leaves and extract from both lines of the plant could be utilized to reduce blood glucose levelKeywords: phytochemical extraction, extraction solvents, gymnemic acid, hypoglycemic effect

Sodium chloride stress induced differential growth, biomass yield, and phytochemical composition responses in the halophytic grass Aeluropus lagopoides (L.)

This study evaluates the growth and biochemical changes in Aeluropus lagopoidesi (L.) Thawaites. induced by different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations to understand the effects and tolerance of the plant to salinity regimes. A. lagopoides stolons were grown on Hoagland media in three replicates. At four weeks after planting, 0, 100, 300, and 500 mM of NaCl were added to the media as treatments, and this was repeated at 2-week intervals. Data were collected and analyzed on growth and biological yield of the plants at 3, 6, and 9 days after the final salt stress. Also, sodium, potassium, and calcium ions present in the root and shoot of the treated plants were determined, while the number of salt crystals extruded from the leaf was counted. The amounts of proline, amino acids, and total soluble sugars in response to salt concentrations were evaluated. There was a significant variation in the growth of A. lagopoides in response to the NaCl concentrations. Generally, a concentration of 500 mm adversely affected plant growth and biomass yield. The concentration of sodium ions in the tissue of treated plants increased with NaCl concentration, while the concentration of potassium and calcium ions decreased. Total amino acid and proline in the plant tissue increased with salinity, while soluble sugar increased from 3-6 days but declined remarkably on the 9th day after NaCl applications. The study demonstrated salt stress tolerance in A. lagopoides and suggested its potential as a biotechnological model plant for salt tolerance improvement of economically important crops in high-salinity zones

WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVALUATION OF WATER-IMPROVEMENT VARIABLES TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ASSESSMENT OF A SEMI-URBAN CITY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Target 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is aimed at the sustainable management of water using different levels of challenges and goals for different countries. The survey presented in this paper involves the distribution of 600 well-structured questionnaires to 340 mapped-out households, as well as personal interviews and group interactions to capture respondents’ perceptions in line with the subject matter. The questions examined variables of analysis pertaining to the level of accessibility, cost perception, sources of water and proposed use of water gotten within Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The outcome from the contributions of respondents was analyzed using the Multinomial Logit model. The Logit result obtained from the survey showed that the responsibility of accessing water within a household lies with the woman, as more women responded in affirmative to that aspect (61.2%). A thorough appraisal of the demographics showed that respondents depend on private sources, which seem expensive to get because the quality of other sources could not be relied on based on the judgment of some physical properties such as smell and colour. After evaluating all logical variables, the results further identified the shortcomings and complications of water service delivery that have caused respondents to lose confidence in government-provided water facilities. To positively improve the SDG metrics, the research highlights positive initiatives such as subsidy, cost recovery, and policy re-visitation to improve water supply access within Ado-Odo Ota

WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVALUATION OF WATER-IMPROVEMENT VARIABLES TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ASSESSMENT OF A SEMI-URBAN CITY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Target 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is aimed at the sustainable management of water using different levels of challenges and goals for different countries. The survey presented in this paper involves the distribution of 600 well-structured questionnaires to 340 mapped-out households, as well as personal interviews and group interactions to capture respondents’ perceptions in line with the subject matter. The questions examined variables of analysis pertaining to the level of accessibility, cost perception, sources of water and proposed use of water gotten within Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The outcome from the contributions of respondents was analyzed using the Multinomial Logit model. The Logit result obtained from the survey showed that the responsibility of accessing water within a household lies with the woman, as more women responded in affirmative to that aspect (61.2%). A thorough appraisal of the demographics showed that respondents depend on private sources, which seem expensive to get because the quality of other sources could not be relied on based on the judgment of some physical properties such as smell and colour. After evaluating all logical variables, the results further identified the shortcomings and complications of water service delivery that have caused respondents to lose confidence in government-provided water facilities. To positively improve the SDG metrics, the research highlights positive initiatives such as subsidy, cost recovery, and policy re-visitation to improve water supply access within Ado-Odo Ota

Ameliorative effects of <i>Daniellia</i>- and <i>Vitellaria</i>-derived biochars on the chemistry of oil-contaminated soils and germination indices of cowpea

The study assessed the effectiveness of biochars derived from Daniellia oliveri and Vitellaria paradoxa in ameliorating waste lubricant oil contaminated soils and improving germination of cowpea seeds. Daniellia oliveri and Vitellaria paradoxa biochars were applied at 0.5 and 1.0 % levels to soils contaminated with 2 % v/w waste lubricant oil (WLO). The unpolluted soil and WLO-contaminated soil without biochar were also used as controls. All treatments in three replicates were arranged in a randomized block design in a screen house. Biochars and soils were analyzed for pH, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH exclusively analyzed for soil). Ten cowpea seeds sown in soils were observed for sprouting from 1 to 10 days after sowing (DAS). Germination percentage and indices were determined from the number of sprouted seeds at 10 DAS. Vitellaria-derived biochar (BV) had higher N, K and Mg than Daniellia-derived biochar (BD). WLO contamination significantly reduced soil P but slightly affected pH, OC and exchangeable cations. Addition of BD and BV reduced TPH and improved soil quality. Oil contamination delayed and reduced cowpea germination by 9.3 % in un-amended WLO-contaminated soil. 1 % BV addition was effective in improving germination velocity and indices of cowpea seeds in oil-contaminated soils