Yam diseases and its management in Nigeria

This review presents different diseases associated with yam and the management strategies employed in combating its menace in Nigeria. The field and storage diseases are presented, anthracnose is regarded as the most widely spread of all the field diseases, while yam mosaic virus disease is considered to cause the most severe losses in yams. Dry rot is considered as the most devastating of all the storage diseases of yam. Dry rot of yams alone causes a marked reduction in the quantity, marketable value and edible portions of tubers and those reductions are more severe in stored yams. The management strategies adopted and advocated for combating the field diseases includes the use of crop rotation, fallowing, planting of healthy material, the destruction of infected crop cultivars and the use of resistant cultivars. With regards to the storage diseases, the use of Tecto (Thiabendazole), locally made dry gins or wood ash before storage has been found to protect yam tubers against fungal infection in storage. Finally, processing of yam tubers into chips or cubes increases its shelf live for a period of between 6 months and one year. Key words: Yam, field and storage diseases, resistant varieties, yam nematodes, disease management, fungicides, Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 497-502, December 200

Examining mindfulness-based stress reduction: Perceptions from minority older adults residing in a low-income housing facility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs are becoming increasingly common, but have not been studied in low income minority older populations. We sought to understand which parts of MBSR were most important to practicing MBSR members of this population, and to understand whether they apply their training to daily challenges.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted three focus groups with 13 current members of an MBSR program. Participants were African American women over the age of 60 in a low-income housing residence. We tape recorded each session and subsequently used inductive content analysis to identify primary themes.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>Analysis of the focus group responses revealed three primary themes stress management, applying mindfulness, and the social support of the group meditation. The stressors they cited using MBSR with included growing older with physical pain, medical tests, financial strain, and having grandchildren with significant mental, physical, financial or legal hardships. We found that participants particularly used their MBSR training for coping with medical procedures, and managing both depression and anger.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A reflective stationary intervention delivered in-residence could be an ideal mechanism to decrease stress in low-income older adult's lives and improve their health.</p

Effect of Intercropping Jatropha Curcas on Growth and Yield of Arable Crops (Maize and Vegetable)

This research study was carried out to investigate the effect of Jatropha curcas plant on the growth and yield of Arable crops (maize and vegetable) at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Arboretum, Jericho, Ibadan. This research study involves six (6) experimental plots of Jatropha curcas interplanted with vegetable and maize in both Mono and Agro-forestry plot respectively. Relative comparison in Jatropha curcas plant agronomic parameter such as plant height, stem girth and number of leaves, planted in Mono and Agro-forestry plots were determined and analysed using factorial experimental design in Randomised Completely Block Design&#160; (RCBD). The result of analysis of variance conducted shows significant difference in the major treatments and weeks on the parameter assessed while non existence of significant difference was recorded in the combination factor of treatment and weeks.&#160;&#160; The mean results of the parameters for plant height, stem girth, number of leaves were assessed 4.560g, 4.515g, 3.725g for maize and 127g, 96g, 72g for vegetable plant. Based on the agronomic result obtained in this study can therefore be concluded that Jatropha curcas plant could be successfully incorporated in both mono and agro-forestry practices to yield positive effect. Keywords: Jatropha curcas, vegetable, maize, height, stem girth, agronomi