Surface sterilization and duration of seed storage influenced emergence and seedling quality of African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne)

The effects of factorial combinations of four storage duration (in days after seed extraction) and surface sterilization with three dilution levels of sodium hypochlorite on seedling emergence and seedling quality of African breadfruit were studied. Storage duration significantly influenced days to seedling emergence, cumulative emergence and seedling quality traits. The effect of sterilization was, however, only significant on deformed seedlings and seedling foliage development. The combined effects of storage duration and sterilization were significant on all traits measured. Seedlings arising from previously sterilized seeds and planted within six days of extraction had fewer cases of deformity and had better foliage development. It was conclusive that after-ripening treatment was necessary to enhance the number of seedling emerging and quality of seedlings of African breadfruit. Sterilizing seeds with 10% dilution of NaOCl and air-drying under ambient tropical room condition for three to six days were found most appropriate, and thus, recommended

Effects of soilless and soil-based nursery media on seedling emergence, growth and response to water stress of African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne)

The production of high quality seedlings for orchard and plantation establishment involves several cultural inputs. The quality of potting media perhaps stands out as the most important. Therefore, theeffects of three soilless media and a soil-based medium on seedling emergence, seedling growth and susceptibility to water stress were studied using African breadfruit as a test crop. Most of the seedlingparameters evaluated was significantly influenced by the potting media used. Percent seedling emergence and whole-plant dry matter content were higher in media 1:2:3 ricehull-based (ricehull :poultry manure : river sand, RHB) and 2:3:1 RHB. After induction of water stress, seedling grown in these media remained turgid for a longer period than those grown in media 1:2:3 soil-based (top soil : poultry manure : river sand, SB) and 1:4:3 RHB. Seedlings raised in the soil-based medium were generally poorer in most of the parameters measured. General growth responses and reaction to water stress suggested that media 1:2:3 RHB and 2:3:1 RHB were the best. Seedling grown in these media had delayed water stress symptom expression suggesting a better water econom

Effect of Seed Source and Watering Intervals on Growth and Dry Matter Yield of Shea Butter Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn F.) Seedlings

Shea butter tree seeds obtained from five locations in Guinea and Sudan savanna zones of Nigeria were evaluated for seedling growth under three watering intervals. The accessions were named after the site of collection, which included Makurdi, Minna, Jalingo, Yola and Kano while the watering intervals included 3, 6, and 9 day-intervals. Factorial combinations of the accessions and the watering intervals were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times. Data on growth pattern, dry matter yield and distribution were collected between July 2006 and April 2007. Result indicated that accession had significant (P < 0.05) effect on all traits except number of leaves, total shoot length, shoot dry matter content and dry matter distribution to the roots and leaves. Watering intervals exerted significant effect only on fresh weight of roots, total fresh weight of seedling, root dry weight, leaf dry weight, total plant dry weight, and per cent total dry matter. Generally, the Jalingo accession was superior in most seedling attributes while Makurdi was the most inferior, a pattern probably associated with heavier seed weight of Jalingo and light seeds from Makurdi used for planting. The interaction between accession and watering intervals was significant (P < 0.05) on most characters except seedling girth, total shoot length, fresh weight of shoot, dry matter distribution to the root and per cent total dry matter. Dry matter content of the leaves and roots varied significantly (P < 0.05) with seedlings from the Makurdi seed source giving the lowest values. Amount of dry matter allocated to the roots was more than 70% in all the accessions. Generally, the longest watering interval produced seedlings with the longest roots. The Kano accession appeared more tolerant to water stress judging mainly from its dry weight/matter traits. On the other hand, the Minna provenance performed better under the 3 and 6 days watering intervals. Other accessions performed more or less uniformly under all watering intervals Keywords: Shea butter tree seeds, Accession, Watering intervals, Seedling growth, Dry matterBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 303-30

Effect of different weed management techniques on growth, susceptibility to wind damage and bunch yield of a plantain landrace (musa sp. Aab cv. Agbagba) in a derived savanna ecosystem of Nigeria

A field study was conducted at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the derived savanna ecosystem to evaluate the influence of five weed management techniques and a weed-free control on the pre-flowering growth, susceptibility to wind damage, sucker production, and fruit yield of a plantain landrace (Musa spp. AAB cv. Agbagba). The weed management techniques included slashing at 8-weekly intervals, mulching alone, glyphosate + slashing, glyphosate + mulching, glyphosate alone and a weed-free control. Glyphosate + mulching proved to have the greatest positive influence on plant height, plant girth, leaf area and number of leaves throughout the duration of the experiment. Similarly, glyphosate + mulching treated plants produced bunch yield that was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the other weed managements. Mulching and weed-free control produced the highest number of suckers. Generally, the plants that were mulched were the least susceptible to wind damage, for example, mulched plots had zero percent lodging in contrast to the weed-free (control plots) that lost more than 50% of the total plant population to wind damage. Results from this study suggested that glyphosate + mulching was the most effective weed management system in plantain plantation in the study area. Keywords: Weed Management; Plantain; Growth; Wind damage; YieldGlobal Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 17-2

Effect of sowing depth and mulch application on emergence and growth of shea butter tree seedlings (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn.)

Shea butter tree seeds from three sources (Makurdi, Akwanga and Kano), were sown at five depths (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm) under mulch and no-mulch conditions at Makurdi in 2006. The aim was to determine the effect of seed source, sowing depth and mulching status on seedling emergence and growth. Factorial combinations of the treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant main effects of treatment on seedling emergence and growth parameters. Similarly, both first and second order interactions were significant. The Akwanga seed source gave significantly higher percentage seedling emergence and growth than all other seed sources. While seeds obtained from Makurdi emerged better at 2 - 8 cm depth, those from Kano did so when sown at 2 - 4 cm. On the other hand, the Akwanga accession showed better emergence at 4 - 8 cm depth, giving poorer E% values at 2 and 10 cm depths. Generally, sowing depths giving better emergence also variously showed better seedling growth in one or two characters at various monitoring intervals. The superior seedling emergence of no-mulch treated plots across most depths was more apparent with the Makurdi and Akwanga seed sources. However, seedling growth was generally more vigorous in plots that did not receive any mulch, although with the Kano seed source, this became more apparent at the final seedling growth stage (50 WAS). It has been inferred that the better emergence and growth of the Akwanga provenance could be due to their larger seed size. Also, while smaller seeds could be planted at 2 - 8 cm depths, larger ones may do better at 4 - 8 cm depth. The study could not establish any positive effect of mulching on shea seedling emergence and growth

Anti-nutrient, vitamin and other phytochemical compositions of old and succulent moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) leaves as influenced by poultry manure application

The study was carried out to determine the anti-nutrient, vitamin and other phytochemical compositions of old and succulent leaves of Moringa oleifera plants as influenced by poultry manure application. Three levels of poultry manure, that is, 0, 5 and 10 tonnes ha-1 were used for treatment. Poultry manure application insignificantly (p &gt; 0.05) increased oxalate, phytate and saponin compositions of the leaves. The older leaves had higher values of tannin, oxalate, phytate and saponin than the succulent ones. The poultry manure levels did not show any significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) in the proximate/chemical properties and some vitamins (vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C). Succulent leaves had higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties. The higher concentrations of the anti-nutrients in the older leaves and higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties in the succulent ones provide a good guide to moringa leaf consumers, to harvest the younger succulent (first to fifth) leaves for consumption

The effects of ripening and cooking method on mineral and proximate composition of plantain (Musa sp. AAB cv. ‘Agbagba’) fruit pulp

In West and Central Africa, plantain fruits are eaten after cooking or after some other forms of processing. The cooking or processing method employed influences the biochemical and nutritional composition thereafter. In this study, the fruits of Falsehorn plantain (Musa sp. AAB, cv. ‘Agbagba’) at the green harvest stage, light green (more-green-than-yellow), yellowish green (more-yellow-thangreen) and fully-ripe (yellow) stages of ripeness were analysed for nutritional composition after boiling, steaming or roasting, alongside the unprocessed (raw) fruits as the control. The fruits were analysed in triplicate samples for fat, protein, carbohydrate (CHO), dry matter content (DMC), β-carotene (vitamin A precursor), ash, Fe, K and Zn contents in a 4 x 4 factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed significant variations in the mineral and proximate composition of the fruits following natural ripening, and the cooking (processing) method employed. Ash, CHO and K contents of the fruits seemingly increased with ripeness, whereas fat, DMC, Fe and β-carotene decreased particularly at full ripe state. Majority of the proximate and mineral constituents (fat, protein, CHO, DMC, vitamin A, Fe and K) were relatively higher at the light green and the greenish yellow (semi-ripe) stages. Similarly, ash, fat, protein, DMC, Fe and K were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher in the roasted fruits, but steamed fruits had the highest concentration of β-carotene. Except for CHO content, boiling significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased most of the proximate and mineral contents of the fruits. It was observed that fruits roasted at the semi-ripe stages had the highest concentration of nutrients, and the CHO content in roasted fruits was correspondingly low. It is conclusive from this study that roasting followed by steam-cooking better conserved nutrients of plantain fruits, thus adjudged the best cooking methods. To optimize nutrients derivable from eating plantain fruits, roasting semi-ripe (light green or slight yellow stage) fruits was the best option.Key words: Plantain, ripeness, processing, nutritional qualities

Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potplant under varied manure rates and watering intervals

Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potherbs under varied manure rates and watering intervals were investigated at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The treatments included three accessions of Moringa (Awo-Anaekpa, Idere and Kano), three pig manure rates (0, 10 and 20 t/ha) and three watering intervals (3, 4 and 5 days). These were laid out as 3 x 3 x 3 factorial in a completely randomized design, replicated three times. Results showed that seeds of Awo-anekpa accessions had the highest cumulative emergence percentage (97%) and number of emerged seedlings. Plant height and stem girth at 3 months, and number of leaves at 2 and 3 months, after treatment application were higher in Awo-anekpa and Idere accessions than in Kano accession. The leaf proximate composition showed that Idere accession accumulated the highest ash (7.6%) and crude fibre (11.9%). Awo-anekpa contained the highest carbohydrate (41.1%) and moisture (20.7%), while the highest crude protein (26.9%) and oil content (3.0%) were found in Kano accession. Generally, plant height, stem girth and number of leaves increased with increase in manure rate; however, the leaf proximate compositions were not significantly (p &gt; 0.05) influenced by manure application. Only stem girth was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) affected by watering interval. The thickest stem girth (12.2 mm) was associated with 3 day watering interval, whereas 5 day watering interval produced the tiniest stem girth (10.8 mm). Second order interaction of accession, manure rate and watering interval suggests that Idere accession grown with 20t/ha of pig manure and watered at 3 day interval was most adaptable to the container growing condition. Evidences from this study suggest that Moringa can successfully be grown as a potherb if appropriate horticultural practices are followed.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, potherb, pig manure, watering interval, leaf proximate qualities

Evaluation of nursery media for seedling emergence and early seedling growth of two tropical tree species

Five nursery media formulated from top soil, poultry manure and river sand respectively in the following ratios 0:3:3, 1:2:3, 1:3:2, 2:3:1 and 3:2:1 were evaluated for their effects on seedling emergence and early growth of Cashew (Anarcadium occidentalis Linn.) and African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne) seedlings. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) media effect on days to first and 50% seedling emergence and percentage total emergence in Cashew but non-significant in African breadfruit. Number of days to last seedling emergence was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by media in African breadfruit. Bi-weekly leaf count and plant height monitored for ten weeks were responsive to differences in media in both crops. Media influenced total dry weight only in Cashew while dry matter distribution pattern varied significantly in African breadfruit. In both crops percentage total seedling emergence and seedling vigour were better in medium 1:2:3. Similarly, percentage survival of African breadfruit after mild moisture stress was highest in medium 1:2:3. The differential influence of media on seedling growth as evident in the study suggested need for broader evaluation of media for different tropical tree species to identify the most appropriate medium for each species that will ensure the production of vigorous seedlings for plantation/orchard establishment. Key Words: Nursery media; physicochemical properties; seedling emergence and growth Moor J. Agric. Res. Vol.4(1) 2003: 60-6

Effects of storage media on the green life span and culinary qualities of plantain (Musa sp. AAB) fruits

Sawdust (SD) and ricehusk (RH)) used singly or mixed in varying proportions and enclosed in polyeth­ylene were used to study the storage life of mature green plantain fruits. There were two control treat­ments comprising fruits sealed in polyethylene without plant residue and fruits kept on laboratory shelf. Fruits were sealed in storage media for two weeks under ambient laboratory conditions and thereafter removed and lined on laboratory shelf to monitor ripening pattern. Culinary qualities of samples were evaluated 14 and 21 days after storage. Results showed that only fruits sealed in polyethylene without plant residue or polyethylene impregnated with 100% SD were still completely green after seven days of storage while fruits on the shelf were almost completely ripe. By the 14th day of storage fruits stored in polyethylene without plant residue or polyethylene impregnated with 100% SD were still at preclimac­teric phase (and only started ripening 17 days after storage) whereas fruits kept on the shelf or polyeth­ylene impregnated with 100% RH were at senescent phase. Fruitsin the former storage systems had the least weight loss after three weeks. Acceptability rating of boiled sample was strongly associated with taste. Fruits stored in polyethylene without plant residue or polyethylene impregnated with 100% SD had high acceptability rating when ripe. The study suggests that fruits could be harvested at full maturity to optimize yield and eating quality. And with a fairly long green life, the storage system could enhance availability and utilization potential of plantain fruits at household and small-scale retailing levels. Agro-Science Vol.2(2) 2001: 19-2