Effects of salinity and ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (edta) on the germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seeds

In this study, the effects of the combined treatment of salinity and ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) on the germination of tomato seeds in Petri-dishes were compared to sole salinity. The treatments consisted of seven concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCL): 0 (control), 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mM. The results from this study showed that percentage germination decreased from 86.7% in the control to 73.3% in 10 mM, 70 % in 50 mM and 23.3 % in 100 mM. Seeds treated with 250, 500 and 1 000 mM sodium chloride did not germinate. The addition of EDTA at concentration of 1.0 mM significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the salinity effect and enhanced germination of tomato seeds except for concentrations between 250 – 1000 mM where the effect of EDTA had no effect on the germination. Similarly, plumule and radicle lengths were significantly reduced with increase in concentration of NaCl. The results showed that higher concentration of NaCl significantly reduced the germination potential of tomato seeds and this can be reversed with the addition of EDTA when the concentration of NaCl was not above 100 mM.Keywords: Ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, Germination, Sodium Chloride, Tomato seed

Germination of several groundnut cultivars in relation to incidence of fungi

This experiment is concerned with the germination of nine cultivars of groundnut grown in Nigeria in relation to incidence of fungi. The cultivars were NHK 5V8, NUTII 288, Samnut 10, 11, 21, 22, 23, 24 and MK 373. Germination potential was assessed after 10 days of planting in petri-dishes. Parameters such as seedling vigour and electrical conductivity were assessed. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) was used to isolate the fungi grown in each seed types and the fungi were identified. Four species of fungi: Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium sp and Penicillium sp were isolated in all the nine cultivars at varying degree except Aspergillus niger that was absent in Samnut 24. Fusarium sp. was preponderant in NUTII288, Samnut 22, 23 and 24. Whereas A. flavus was highest in NHK5V8, MK 373 and Samnut 21. The species such as A. niger and Penicillium sp were respectively high in occurrence in Samnut 10 and 11. Samnut 23 showed highest percentage germination followed by Samnut 24 and 21 (100-90%). All other cultivars had percentage germination between 70-80%. The results of speed, ability and seedling vigour followed similar trend as recorded for percentage germination. Seeds with higher vigour showed lower conductivity test as compared to those with low vigour. Generally, cultivars with high germination potential showed low incidence of fungal attack.Keywords: Germination, Seedling Vigour, Conductivity, Aspergilus niger. Groundnu

Comparative analysis of phytochemical and proximate composition of Allium sativum L. and Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale are spices with great potentials as food additives and medicinal values. In this study, the phytochemical and proximate composition of the two spices were evaluated and compared. The results of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides and phenols in both the bulb of Allium sativum and rhizome of Zingiber officinale. The bulb of Allium sativum contained significantly higher amount of saponins, tannins and phenols when compared to the rhizome of Zingiber officinale. Zingiber officinale is rich in glycosides and flavonoids as compared to Allium sativum bulb. Terpenoids was the highest phytochemical detected in both spices while phenol recorded the least amount. The proximate composition of both spices showed moisture, protein, ash, fat fibre, and carbohydrate contents with values that ranged between 60.35 ± 0.23-76.48 ± 0.05%,7.52 ± 0.10-10.15 ± 0.02%, 1.51±0.05-1.54 ± 0.05%,1.02 ± 0.02-4.29 ± 0.06%, 2.13 ± 0.06-2.64 ±0.08%, 7.59 ± 0.23-24.82 ± 0.08% respectively. Protein and carbohydrate were significantly higher in Allium sativum bulb as compared to the rhizome Zingiber officinale. Significant differences were not recorded for all constituents analysed except for moisture. The energy content of Allium sativum bulb was higher than that observed for the Zingiber officinale rhizome. The present investigation therefore indicated that variations exist in both the phytochemical and proximate composition of the two spices, thus their use in food recipe should be encourage.Keywords: Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoids, Allium sativum and Zingiber officinal

Bioproductivity and grain quality of two cowpea varieties in relation to frequency of hand weeding

The concern for human health and safety coupled with the increase in herbicides resistant weeds necessitated the need to investigate the effect of frequency of hand weeding on weed suppression, productivity and grains quality in two varieties of cowpea (Tvx 3236 and Ife brown). Plot layout was a split-plot arrangement in complete randomized block design with three replications. The cowpea lines were subjected to five treatments of frequency of hand weeding. Data on weed and crop were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 0.05 level of significance. Weed species that were found to be preponderant include Brachiaria deflexa, Euphorbia heterophylla and Commelina benghalensis. The three hand weeding at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after planting (WAP) showed the highest weed control efficiency of 90.48 % followed by those of two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAP (86.98%) and one hand weeding at 3 WAP (74.68%). The weed free check was the most effective in controlling weeds (93.80%). Growth and productivity of the two cowpea lines were enhanced with increase in frequency of hand weeding when compared with the weedy check. Weeds reduced crop yield by 56.17%. The results of grain quality such as crude protein, lipid content, ash and crude fibre were also enhanced with increase in frequency of hand weeding. Generally, growth and yield were higher in Ife brown than Tvx3236. The research was limited to one cropping season and there is need for reproducibility for consistent of results. The study concluded that weeding twice and three times were found to be feasible since these frequencies of weeding times promoted effective weed reduction, higher growth, and yield and grain quality of the two cowpea varieties studied.Keywords: growth and yield, proximate composition, three hand weeding, cowpea productivit

Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The rapid appraisal method was used to identify the botanicals used ethnomedicinally from a total of 300 randomly selected respondents drawn from the existing three geo-political zones of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The results obtained revealed that about 40% of the 71 botanicals identified presently rare. Most of the presently abundant botanicals are species primarily cultivated for other purpose other than medicine. Most of the identified species are valued for their curative effects on malaria and fever, the predominant diseases in the study area. The need for the conservation of the rare species cannot be over emphasised as most rural dwellers in the study area depend mostly on herbs from these species. Strategies towards the attainment of this goal are proposed