AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

Bacterial Contamination Associated with Mobile Cell Phones among Undergraduate Students of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Mobile cell phones are extensively used globally. This study was aimed at determining bacterial contamination associated with mobile cell phones among undergraduate students of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. One hundred swab samples from mobile cell phones were randomly collected from the students’ cell phones between August 2019 and December 2019. Demographic factors like age, gender, mobile phone type, storing of mobile cell phones, cleaning habits and use in toilets were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The samples were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. The data collected were analysed using percentile and SPSS version 20.0. The value (p<0.01) was statistically considered to have significant associations.  Microbial analysis showed that 70 nondisinfected samples were contaminated by eight diverse types of bacteria, which included  Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., Micrococcus sp and Enterobacter sp. The swabbed cell phones of females (56.3%) were more contaminated than those of males (43.7%) with bacterial load count of 41.9 x 103 and 28.8 x 103 CFU/mL among females and males, respectively. The mobile cell phones used in toilets (75.0%) were highly  contaminated by bacteria. Users who did not cut their nails had higher contamination (69.4%) than those users who cut their nails (34.3; p = 0.01). The age of mobile cell phones within 6 – 12 months had 55.5% for females and 23.5% for males. This study showed that  mobile cell phones harbor bacteria liable for causing health threats to handlers. Therefore, awareness programs concerning hand hygiene and discouraging their use in toilets to avoid causing severe health consequences. The use of disinfectants to wipe mobile cell phones whenever contamination is encountered is advocated to safeguard public health. Keywords: Mobile Cell Phone, Swabs, Microbes, Contaminatio

AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

Comparative Effects of Trichoderma species on Growth Parameters and Yield of Zea mays (L.)

The effects of two Trichoderma species (T. harzianum and T. koningii) on number of leaf, stem height, leaf length, leaf area and yield of maize was investigated at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State University. Trichoderma species were isolated from a contaminated mushroom at Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. The species were applied on maize as follows: T. koningii combine with T. harzianum, T. koningii only and T. harzianum only; they were replicated thrice at 10-3 spores/ml, 10-5 spores/ml and 10-7 spores/ml levels of concentration. The results showed significant differences in the number of leaf, stem height, leaf length, and leaf area at 5ml and 10ml at six weeks after planting, but no significant difference was recorded on the growth parameters at 10-3 spores/ml concentration. The highest percentage yield (%Y) increase was observed at 10-7 spores/ml in T. koningii+T. harzianum combination with 61% increase in yield followed by10-3 spores/ml in T. harzianum with (40%) yield increase when compared to the control that had 18% yield increase. Trichoderma species have positive effects on all the growth parameters at the various concentration levels. For best results, combination of T. koningii and T. harzianum should be used to promote high yield in maize

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND PROTEOLYTIC POTENTIALS OF FUNGAL FLORA OF SOILS STRESSED BY TANNERY WASTES IN JOS, NIGERIA

The physico-chemical parameters and proteolytic potentials of fungal population in soils stressed by tannery wastes were investigated. The fungal species were isolated using hair baiting technique. Sabouraud Dextose Agar (SDA) medium was used for the isolation work. The pH, percentage moisture/organic matter contents and elemental analysis of the soil samples were assessed. The assessment of the soils polluted with tannery wastes was compared with that of the control sample collected from soils devoid of tannery activities. The results of the physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples showed the pH values of the soils to be 7.32, 7.53 and 6.46 for soils collected from Naraguta tannery (SNG), Dodo Street tannery (SDS) and College of Forestry, Jos (SCF control) respectively. The percentage moisture content values recorded for the soil samples from the two tanneries were higher than that of the control soil. The nitrogen level of the soil samples ranged from 0.010-0.19% while phosphorus ranged from 1.4-24mg/kg. The sodium levels were between 1.0-2.0mg/kg while the calcium levels ranged from 900-5080mg/kg. Twenty-one fungi species belonging to 12 genera were isolated from the experimental soil samples. Three of the genera including Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor haemalis and Rhizopus sp belong to the class phycomycetes. Others belong to the class hyphomycetes. Aspergillus niger had the highest number of isolation as well as highest frequencies of occurrence. Nine fungal species produced zones of clearance on the skim milk casein agar medium used for the assay of proteolytic activity indicating their potentials as keratin degraders

Effects of Solubilised Orange Peels on the Occurrence of some Fungal Soil-borne Pathogens of Zea mays (L.)

This work examined the use of Trichoderma solubilised orange peel to inhibit the occurrence and growth of some fungal pathogens associated with soil-borne diseases of maize (Zea mays). The study was conducted in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology demonstration plot, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Trichoderma species were isolated from contaminated mushroom substrates at Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peels were collected from a local market at the Port Harcourt Metropolis, air-dried for seven days and ground to powder. The treatments were Trichoderma harzianum+orange peel, T. koningii+orange peel, orange peels only, T. harzianum only, T. koningii only, T. harzianum+T. koningii and Soil only. The layout was a completely randomized design with three replications and concentrations at 5g/15ml, 10g/15ml and 15g/15ml which were applied to the soil at the interval of two weeks for 10 weeks. Pythium spp, Fusarium spp, Rhizoctona spp and Phytopthora spp were isolated and identified at three weeks and ten weeks of treatments. Average number of individual colonies of soil mycoflora in the various treatments at the three concentration levels varied relatively and the total number and frequency of occurrence decreased as the number of weeks of treatments increased. There was relatively high occurrence of soil-borne pathogens of maize at 5g/15ml concentration, but 10g/15ml concentration recorded less whereas 15g/15ml had the least occurrence. However, the frequency of occurrence was very high on the control experiment. Frequency of soil-borne fungal pathogens of maize decreased with increase in concentration as well as Trichoderma spp occurrence in the soil across the treatments when compared to their controls. The treatments had higher inhibitory effects on all the soil-borne pathogens of maize at 15g/15ml at 10 WAP

Occupational Predisposition to Dermatophytes and other Agents of Human Dermatitis in Jos, Nigeria

Five hundred and twenty human samples were collected from patients with dermatitis, who visited the Dermatophilosis research laboratory in Jos, Plateau  State, Nigeria. This was in order to determine occupational predisposition to dermatophytes and other agents of human dermatitis. Samples collected were skin scrapping, nails, hair and pus exudates. They were processed according to standard procedure. Four hundred and thirty-three (83.3%) of the collected samples were positive for dermatophytes and other agents of dermatitis. The breakdown of the result along occupational categories were; Students (38.10%), Civil servants (31.64%), Self-employed (12.93%), Housewives (9.24%), Unemployed (4.16%) and Farmers (3.93%). The dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes had the highest frequency of occurrence in Civil servants (28), Students (26) House wives (8) and Unemployed (5). While Aspergillus niger had the highest frequency with the Farmers (4) and Self-employed (11). The students’ were noticed to be more predisposed to dermatophytes and other agents of dermatitis than any other category as a result of poor environmental hostel conditions that facilitate easy spread of infections and their unhealthy habit of sharing clothing and personal items. A vigorus public awareness on the risk involved in unhealthy and unhygienic habits could reduce the spread of these organisms. @JASEMJ. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 97 - 10

INFLUENCE OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS ON ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS’ CREATIVITY: THE DIDACTIC ROLES OF EDUCATORS IN SELECTED NIGERIAN SCHOOLS

Accounts of the influence of personality characteristics on architecture students’ creativity has largely been pedagogical in ‘modus operandi’. While only few records have been documented on the didactic roles of studio Teachers in nurturing and cultivating creativity among students. Creativity, as a phenomenon, has also been engaged in diverse fields of human endeavours, namely, jurisdictions of arts, philosophy, psychology, law, medical sciences, liberal arts and architecture and other liberal arts. This study investigated the polar influences of extroversion-introversion personality characteristics on students’ creativity in design studio course in order to evaluate the Teachers’ didactic roles in schools. The research was carried out in a survey of architecture students(n=225) in three selected schools of architecture in the Southwest Nigeria. The findings suggested that in spite of polar differences of extroverson and introversion, with the engagement of didactic tools by the design studio Teachers and Instructors, there are lots of merger benefits and synergic associations of attributes in the tutelage process of a well-seasoned professional architects. From these findings, this study suggested that there is urgent need for stakeholders, especially the studio Teachers, parents and guardians of architecture school to understand typical personality attributes of students in order to orchestrate the Gestalt applications in the desirable directions of career developments. This would also assist the Architectural design studio Instructors and Teachers to emphasize the pedagogical Tenets needed on the contents of the syllabi, the relevant indices in the curricula grains and the specifics projects needed by individuals to study optimize the latent potentials in the simile of personality attributes. This would lead to professional competency in didactic handling of Architecture programmes with high-stake achievements

Effects of Crude Oil contaminated Water on the reproductive system of Female Wistar Rats

The rising level of infertility in the females have been associated with environmental pollutants and one such pollutants is crude oil. Crude oil pollution occurs in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria and interaction with this toxicant by both humans and animals may adversely the female reproductive system. This study was designed to investigate the effect of crude oil contaminated water on reproductive functions in female Wistar rats. Fifteen (15) female rats weighing between 140g-230g were used for this study and the rats were divided into three (3) groups (1, 2 and 3) and each group had five rats. Group 1 was the control group while group 2 and 3 were the test groups receiving 2.5mls and 5mls of crude oil contaminated water twice daily for four weeks. The stages of Oestrus cycle of the rats were checked daily. The rats were sacrificed after four weeks and the blood collected were used for hormonal assays (Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Testosterone). The uterus and ovaries were used for histology (Haematoxylin and Eosin staining), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software for windows and data were expressed as mean±standard error of mean. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. There was no significant changes (p>0.05) in the weights and relative reproductive organ weights (uterus and ovary) of among the three groups. FSH and LH in the test group of rats fed with crude oil contaminated water when compared with the control were not statistically significant (p<0.05). Oestradiol was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the test group whereas progesterone and progesterone-oestradiol ratio was significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the test groups when compared with the control. There were degenerative changes in the ovaries and uterus of rats fed with crude oil contaminated water when compared with the control. SOD was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the test group while MDA was elevated in the ovaries and uterus of the test group. The oestrus cycle was irregular in the test groups.   Crude oil contaminated water has endocrine disrupting effects on the female reproductive system as well as inducing oxidative stress and this may adversely affect female reproductive functions and fertility. KEY WORDS: Crude oil contaminated water, Endocrine disruptor, Female reproductive functions, Oxidative stress DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/72-05 Publication date: June 30th 202

Participatory analysis for adaptation to climate change in Mediterranean agricultural systems: possible choices in process design (versão Pre Print)

There is an increasing call for local measures to adapt to climate change, based on foresight analyses in collaboration with actors. However, such analyses involve many challenges, particularly because the actors concerned may not consider climate change to be an urgent concern. This paper examines the methodological choices made by three research teams in the design and implementation of participatory foresight analyses to explore agricultural and water management options for adaptation to climate change. Case studies were conducted in coastal areas of France, Morocco, and Portugal where the groundwater is intensively used for irrigation, the aquifers are at risk or are currently overexploited, and a serious agricultural crisis is underway. When designing the participatory processes, the researchers had to address four main issues: whether to avoid or prepare dialogue between actors whose relations may be limited or tense; how to select participants and get them involved; how to facilitate discussion of issues that the actors may not initially consider to be of great concern; and finally, how to design and use scenarios. In each case, most of the invited actors responded and met to discuss and evaluate a series of scenarios. Strategies were discussed at different levels, from farming practices to aquifer management. It was shown that such participatory analyses can be implemented in situations which may initially appear to be unfavourable. This was made possible by the flexibility in the methodological choices, in particular the possibility of framing the climate change issue in a broader agenda for discussion with the actors