Microorganisms associated with the production of volatile compounds in spoilt tomatoes

The microorganisms associated with the production of volatile compounds in spoilt tomatoes has been isolated and identified. The mean heterotrophic bacterial count recorded range between 8.7 x 106 to 9.1 x 106 cfu/g. The highest value was obtained from Bado and the least from Dundaye market. The organisms isolated and identified  include three species of bacteria and four fungal species. These include Bacillus, Listeria, Morganella, Aspergillus, Absidia, and Fusarium. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of eight  compounds dominated by 9, 12 – octadecadienoic acid (31.08%), 2, 3 – Butandiol (28.79%), and n-Hexadecanoic acid (19.85%). This study  suggests that spoilt tomatoes could be exploited for the biogeneration of some volatile compounds that could provide baseline knowledge for curbing post harvest lost

Incidence of Fungal flora and Aflatoxin content of millet and maize cereal grains sold in Guinea savanna zones of Kebbi State

Cereal grains get contaminated with fungi and aflatoxin due to poor agricultural, displayed in market and storage practices. A total of three local governments in Guinea savanna zone of Kebbi State were selected for samples collection namely; Zuru, Yauri and Danko/Wasgu. Five heads of millet and five heads of maize were collected in each site, marked total of Thirty (30) head of both millet and maize in all. Fungi were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) using Agar plate method. Eight (8) fugal species were isolated and identified as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates, Fusarium spp., Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor hiemalis, Eurotium harvarium and Penicillium spp. The highest incidence of fungi were obtained in Aspergillus flavus with (30.9%) and lowest were obtained in Eurotium harvarium (4.4%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were used for the determination of Aflatoxin. From the results obtained Zuru had the highest level of aflatoxin 58.00±3.65a μg/kg in millet while Danko/Wsagu with less 12.72±2.99bμg/kg in maize. Implication of this findings showed that both millet and maize had aflatoxin levels above maximum acceptable limit of 10μg/kg set EU and NAFDAC. Therefore, adequate and rapid drying of grains to water content level may be employed as this could reduce the growth of aflatoxingenic fungi to the minimum possible level

Estudo fitoquímico de folhas de Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil (Solanaceae) e sua aplicação na alelopatia

(Phytochemistry of Solanum lycocarpum A.St.–Hil (Solanaceae) leaves and their application in allelopathy). Solanum lycocarpum A.St.-Hil (Solanaceae) is a typical shrub in the Cerrado of central Brazil. The allelopathic activity of aqueous extracts of the leaves and fruits of this species has already been proven in previous studies. The goal of this work was to verify the allelopathic activity of different leaf extracts of S. lycocarpum on the germination and growth of four target species. The leaves were collected, dried, triturated and submitted to two distinct methods of extraction: 1- liquid--liquid (ethyl acetate and dichloromethane) from the aqueous extract and 2- with solvents of increasing polarities (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water) directly from the leaves. Each extraction was made with ultrasound equipment for one hour, filtered and evaporated. From these extracts, solutions of 800, 400 and 200 ppm were prepared, and water and Logran® were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Each solution, as well as the controls, was dissolved in DMSO for the bioassays. The target species used were lettuce, watercress, tomato and onion. To each plate, 20 seeds were added and 1 mL of the tested solutions (with 4 repetitions). The plates were incubated at 25 oC without light, and the shoots and roots of the seedlings were then measured and the percentage of germination and the inhibition of each extract were calculated. Tomato was the most sensitive to the extracts, followed by watercress, onion and lettuce. The extracts with stronger activity were AcOEt, acetone and the liquid-liquid extraction, indicating the fractions that may contain the active principles of the leaves in this species

Preliminary Studies on Biofuel Potentials of Silk (Ceiba pentendra) Castor (Ricinus communis) and Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

The aim of the study is to investigate the suitability of Ceiba Pentandra (Silk cotton), Ricinus Communis (Castor) and Gossypium hirsetum (cotton) for the uses as biofuel feed stock. The seed oil in each of the samples was extracted using soxhlet extractor, analyzed for their physicochemical properties. From the analysis, it was found that the percentage oil yield of 51.00%, 43.02% and 42.50% were obtained for Castor, Cotton and Silk respectively. Other fuel properties test indicates that the oils have saponificarion value (209.60; 232.30; 198.660mgKOH/g). Iodine value (43.10, 51.25 and 35.02 mg/g). Ester value (188.79, 195.86 and 219.60) for silk castor and cotton seed oils respectively. All the evaluated properties of the seed oils produce were within the limits prescribed by AOAC and ASTM Standard

Estimates of Heritability for Enhanced Storage Shelf Life and Early Maturity in Onions (Allium cepa L.)

Thirty-seven Onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes comprising of twelve parents (12) and twenty-five hybrids were evaluated at the Fadama Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto during the 2015/2016 dry season. The objective of the study was to estimate heritability, phenotypic coefficient of variation, the genotypic coefficient of variation and environmental coefficient of variation. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. After harvesting, the genotypes were stored for five months under farmers practice. The analysis of the results indicated significant (P < 0.05) difference between the genotypes with respect to plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index, percentage bolting, days to maturity, bulb diameter, bulb height, average bulb weight, fresh bulb yield, cured bulb yield, and percentage weight loss after five months of storage. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were observed. However, cured bulb weight recorded the highest values for both phenotypic (176.57%) and genotypic coefficients of variation (167.67%) followed by percentage bolting with 65.51 and 56.58% respectively. Days to maturity and plant height, on the other hand, recorded the lowest phenotypic coefficient of variation of (11.64 and 12.79% respectively) as well as genotypic coefficient of variation of 11.43 and 9.18% respectively. Percentage loss had the highest heritability (98.01%) while leaf area index had the lowest heritability of 14.11%. At the end of the research, it was concluded that all the characters were highly heritable with the exception of leaf area index

Correlation Studies for Bulb Yield and Yield Contributing Traits among Onion (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes

Thirty-seven Onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes comprising of twelve parents (12) and twenty-five hybrids were evaluated at the Fadama Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto during the 2015/2016 dry season. The objective of the study is to determine the correlation of characters among the 37 genotypes. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. After harvesting, the genotypes were stored for five months using farmers practice. The analysis of the results indicated highly significant (P<0.001) positive correlation between plant height and leaf area (1), plant height and leaf area index (0.84676), plant height and number of leaves (0.46727) plant height and percentage loss (0.43356) leaf area and leaf area index (0.85459), leaf area and cured bulb weight (0.47029), leaf area and percentage loss (0.50254) number of leaves and cured bulb weight (0.51363), number of leaves and percentage loss (0.43259), bulb diameter and bulb length (0.36367), bulb diameter and percentage loss (0.68209). Results obtained indicated highly significant (<0.001) negative correlation between leaf area index and days to maturity (-0.29333), leaf area index and number of leaves (- 0.29333), number of leaves and bulb diameter (- 0.02255), and between days to maturity and percentage loss (- 0.86679). Results obtained also revealed significant (<0.05) negative correlation between number of leaves and percentage bolting (- 0.26466) number of leaves and average bulb weight (- 0.26466) number of leaves and days to maturity (- 0.24959) days to maturity and average bulb weight (0.02255) cured bulb weight and days to maturity (-0.24001). The results of the study, therefore, conclude that Onion genotypes with longer maturity are best for storage

Influence of Different Water Frequency on the Growth and Yield of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (Camel Grass)

Cymbopogon schoenanthus is a biennial or perennial grass that grows in a dried stony environment, capable of withstanding harsh environmental condition. In this research, the influence of different water frequency on the yield of Cymbopogon schoenanthus was assessed. Plant sample was watered after three days, two days and one-day continuing for an interval of 12 months, But the controlled sample was watered daily. The growth of the grass was evaluated each week, up to the period when the plants were expected to reach vegetative and reproductive phase. The growth parameters estimated are plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of seeds, flowers and stem or shoots bearing flowers. The result shows that samples were irrigated daily and yielded more followed by samples irrigated after one day or two days intervals. The yield and productivity of the grass samples examined was higher under conducive environmental condition. The seeds and inflorescent were obtained after four methods of cultivation in the samples which were watered daily. The seeds and flowers were dispersed by wind as the plant produced new seeds. This resulted in decrease in the number of seeds in some of the treatment, leading to less number of seeds in some of the treatments. From the research it shows that the water frequency has the effect on the growth of plant species