UČINAK BROJA JEDINKI KOROVNE VRSTE (EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA) NA RAST I KOMPONENTE PRINOSA KUKURUZA KOKIČARA (ZEA MAYS VAR.EVERTA)

The effect of weed density on the growth and reproductive performance of Zea mays everta using Euphorbia heterophylla as the test weed was investigated. The result of the experiment revealed that there was no significant difference between the control and the treatments, as well as among the treatments in the early growth performance of popcorn for the first four weeks of planting, but as from the fifth week upward, there was a significant difference between the control and the treatments as well as among the treatments and the difference was observed on the leaf length, leaf number, leaf width, stem girth and leaf dry weight. For the reproductive performance, there was significant difference between the control and the treatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments observed in the fruit number, cob weight, weight of 100 seeds, cob length and cob circumference, also there was no significant difference between the control and the treatments observed in the number of seed rows per cob.Istraživan je utjecaj broja jedinki korovne vrste Euphorbia heterophylla na rast i komponente prinosa kukuruza kokičara Zea mays var.everta. Prema rezultatu pokusa nije bilo značajne razlike između kontrole kukuruza bez korova i tretmana kukuruza s korovima tijekom prva četiri tjedna od sjetve. Nakon petog tjedna postojala je značajna razlika između kontrole i tretmana, naročito s gledišta duljine lista, broja listova, širine lista, obujma stabljike i masi suhog lišća. Kod komponenti prinosa uočene su značajne razlike između kontrole i tretmana s korovom, ali nije primijećena značajna razlika između tretmana unutar s korovom kako u broju plodova, masi klipa, masi 100 zrna, duljini klipa i opsegu klipa. Nije primijećena značajna razlika između kontrole i tretmana u broju redova zrna po klipu

UČINAK BROJA JEDINKI KOROVNE VRSTE (EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA) NA RAST I KOMPONENTE PRINOSA KUKURUZA KOKIČARA (ZEA MAYS VAR.EVERTA)

The effect of weed density on the growth and reproductive performance of Zea mays everta using Euphorbia heterophylla as the test weed was investigated. The result of the experiment revealed that there was no significant difference between the control and the treatments, as well as among the treatments in the early growth performance of popcorn for the first four weeks of planting, but as from the fifth week upward, there was a significant difference between the control and the treatments as well as among the treatments and the difference was observed on the leaf length, leaf number, leaf width, stem girth and leaf dry weight. For the reproductive performance, there was significant difference between the control and the treatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments observed in the fruit number, cob weight, weight of 100 seeds, cob length and cob circumference, also there was no significant difference between the control and the treatments observed in the number of seed rows per cob.Istraživan je utjecaj broja jedinki korovne vrste Euphorbia heterophylla na rast i komponente prinosa kukuruza kokičara Zea mays var.everta. Prema rezultatu pokusa nije bilo značajne razlike između kontrole kukuruza bez korova i tretmana kukuruza s korovima tijekom prva četiri tjedna od sjetve. Nakon petog tjedna postojala je značajna razlika između kontrole i tretmana, naročito s gledišta duljine lista, broja listova, širine lista, obujma stabljike i masi suhog lišća. Kod komponenti prinosa uočene su značajne razlike između kontrole i tretmana s korovom, ali nije primijećena značajna razlika između tretmana unutar s korovom kako u broju plodova, masi klipa, masi 100 zrna, duljini klipa i opsegu klipa. Nije primijećena značajna razlika između kontrole i tretmana u broju redova zrna po klipu

Proximate Analysis of Fresh and Dry Leaves of Telfairia occidentalis (Hook.f.) and Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd

A study of the proximate analysis of two commonly grown and consumed leafy vegetables in Nigeria “fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) and water leaf (Talinum triangulare) was carried out. Leaves of the two vegetables were analysed in both wet and dry conditions with the aim of determining their nutrient contents and the effects of sun drying on these nutrients. The results revealed the presence of protein in the fresh leaves of Telfairia occidentalis and Talinum triangulare to be 8.31% and 2.99% respectively, while, their dried leaves protein contents were 3.43% and 2.45% for both Telfairia occidentalis and Talinum triangulare respectively. Fat content was higher in fresh leaves T.occidentalis than its dried leaves (1.40% and 0.70%), while, this was higher in the dried leaves than the fresh leaves of T. triangulare (of 0.65% and 1.45%) respectively. Crude fibre content was constant in both fresh and dried leaves of T. occidentalis (2.20 % each) but higher in the dried leaves of T. triangulare than its fresh leaves (4.0% and 1.20%) respectively. Ash contents were higher in the dried leaves than the fresh leaves of both Telfairia occidentalis (fresh leaves 1.5%, dried leaves 10.40%) and Talinum triangulare (fresh leaves 1.0%, dried leaves 8.85%). Talinum triangulare contained higher moisture in both its wet and dried leaves (22.6 and 13.40%) than that of Telfairia occidentalis (5.60 and 0.76%). Drying had effects on these vegetables as both recorded decrease in their moisture and crude protein contents on drying. Crude fibre, ash and Nitrogen free extract of both samples either increased or remained relatively constant

Morpho-chemical divergence and fatty acid profile of shea tree seeds (Vitellaria paradoxa) collected from different locations in Kwara State, Nigeria

The present study characterizes seed-related traits, phytochemical, physiochemical parameters and fatty acid profile of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) seeds collected from the Kosubosu, Fufu and Sare areas of Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the effects of microclimate on seed morphology, biochemical and oil constituents. Seed morphological data were analyzed for variability. Seed oil was extracted for phytochemical constituents, physicochemical properties, and fatty acid profiling by gas chromatography equipped with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed intra and inter-locational variations in seed characters. Most fruits had 1–2 seeds. Seeds were predominantly brown and very few were dark brown. Phytochemicals and physicochemical parameters of the seed oil varied with place of collection. Alkaloid, saponin, tannin and phytate contents ranged between 0.79–0.84, 1.20–1.26, 1.48–1.56 and 0.15–0.18 mg g–1 respectively. The density of the oil was less than that of water, acid value ranged from 10.58–13.56 mg KOH g–1 and iodine values were between 36.63 to 40.32 g I2 (100 g)–1. Saponification values lie between 160.39 and 184.14 mg KOH g–1; and free fatty acid was within 5.32–6.81 %. Peroxide, ɑ-tocopherol, total phenol and oxalate values as well as viscosity of the oil also varied; however, refractive index was similar. Ethyl oleate and octadecanoic acids were present and most abundance in all the locations, while glycidol stearate was only found in Fufu samples with three other fatty acids. Five fatty acids were present in Kosubosu, while Sare had only two. The results obtained in the present study indicate that shea oil could be used for medicinal, nutritional and industrial purposes. Since seed characters, phytochemical, physicochemical and fatty acid compositions varied with the microclimate, environmental and micro-ecological conditions should be considered when collecting seeds for oil utilization

Thuja occidentalis and Duranta repens as indicators of urban air pollution in industrialized areas of southwest Nigeria

This paper assessed biochemical parameters in leaves of selected ornamental species growing in urban areas of southwest Nigeria to obtain the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) for classification into tolerant and sensitive species against air pollution. Four sites and three ornamental species (Polyalthia longifolia, Thuja occidentalis and Duranta repens) common to the sites were used for this study. Results showed significant variations in biochemical variables, hence biochemical parameters cannot be used solely to categorize the species. APTI values obtained suggested that P.  longifolia    is tolerant species to air pollutants while T. occidentalis and D. repens are sensitive species that can be used as bioindicators of air pollutants. The API value revealed P. longifolia and T. occidentalis to be poor performer and very poor performer respectively while D. repens cannot be recommended for greenbelt development. Therefore, T. occidentalis and D. repens, can be recommended as bioindicators of poor urban air quality

Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Microbial Activities of the Root and Leaf Extracts of Ageratum conyzoides L.

Plants and plant-based pharmaceuticals are the basis of many of the modern days drugs used for treatment of various ailments. The present investigations assess the qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals, DPPH antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the root and leaf extracts of Ageratum conyzoides. The qualitative screening of the phytochemicals allows us to describe alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, steroids and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity test of the root and leaf extracts showed considerable antibacterial and antifungal activities against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (gram positive), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi (gram negative) and strains of fungi i.e. Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolon and Penicillium notatum. The root extracts showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities on the test organisms than the leaf extracts. The phenolic content, flavonoid concentrations and antioxidant activity (free radical scavenging assay) were carried out using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride and 2,2 diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The total phenolic content ranged from 20.43±0.49 to 105.4±0.3 µg/mL for the root extracts and 15.31±0.1 to 94.34±0.6 µg/mL for the leaf extracts expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Flavonoid concentrations ranged from 38.92±0.18 to 243±0.32 µg/ mL and 32.65±0.33 to 182.45±0 µg/mL for the root and leaf extracts expressed as quercetin equivalents respectively. The IC50 antioxidant activities ranged from 7.34 to 14.62µg/mL and 9.18 to 15.88 µg/mL for the root and leaf extracts respectively

Abundance and Diversity Index of Weeds in Oil Palm and Vegetable Intercropping in Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

The problem of severe weed infestation often arises during the early phases of establishment of oil palm field due to the spacing requirement and growth habit of young oil palm plantation until later years when the canopy closes. This study was conducted at Ala, Akure-North Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria, to investigate the composition of weed species and their distribution in fruit vegetable-juvenile oil palm intercrop. The fallow alleys within the immature oil palm were intercropped with 2 accessions of tomato (NGB 01665 and NG/AA/SEP/09/053) and eggplant (NGB 01737). The sampling of the weed species was carried out with a quadrat (0.25 m2). Weed species parameters and the Diversity Index (D) were quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed that members of Asteraceae and Poaceae gave the highest weed species at 3 and 6 weeks after intercropping (WAI) (17.857% and 19.04%) respectively. A total of 23 and 16 were found at 3 and 6 WAI, while the least diversity index of 0.734 was recorded in the immature oil palm/tomato (NGB 01665) plot at 6 WAI. Farmers should be persuaded to simultaneously intercrop fruit vegetables within the alley of juvenile oil palm, particularly at the earlier years prior to closure of the oil palm canopy

Weed Species Distribution of Juvenile Oil Palm Tree (<i>Elaeis guineensis</i>) Intercropped with Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>), Okra (<i>Abelmoshus esculentus</i>) and Pepper (<i>Capsicum anuum</i> var. <i>abbreviatum</i>)

This field experiment was carried out to evaluate the weed species distribution in the experimental plots of an intercrop of juvenile oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) with maize (Zea mays Linn.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) and pepper (Capsicum annuum var. abbreviatum). This was carried out during the cropping season between July and October 2012. The crops were intercropped with the juvenile oil palm trees of about 3-years-old. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with five (5) replicates. The treatments comprised of intercropping distances of 1 m, 2 m and 3 m each for the three (3) crops (maize, okra and pepper) and a plot for each of the three (3) arable crops without oil palm trees as control. Weed species distribution was carried out in each of the plots to determine the Simpson’s Diversity Index (D), Simpson’s Index of Diversity (1-D) and Simpson’s Reciprocal Index (1/D). Weed species’ frequency, density, relative density, relative frequency, importance value, abundance, dominance and relative dominance were also computed from data collected at 3WAP and 6WAP. The results showed that the control plot has the highest weed species distribution at 3WAP having the lowest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.0930. Okra plot has the least weed species distribution with the highest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.2726. At 6WAP, the pepper plot has the highest weed species distribution having the lowest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.1741. Control plot has the least weed species distribution with highest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.2831

DJELOVANJE PENDIMETHALINA NA DIJELOVE MAHUNE PET ELITNIH VRSTA STOČNOG GRAŠKA

A field study on the effects of pre- and post-emergence application of herbicide (pendimethalin) on the reproductive yield of five accessions of cowpea (TVu-9092, TVu-16265, TVu-16320, TVu-16323 and TVu-16421) was conducted between June and August, 2018. Pendimethalin was applied both as pre- and early post-emergence herbicide (PE and EPOE) and followed by hand weeding at 4 and 8 weeks after sowing (WAS). Number of pods per plant was highest in TVu-9092 treated with 0.125 kg/ha PE pendimethalin (19.33) and 0.250 kg/ha pendimethalin EPOE application (19.00). Highest pod diameter in PE treatment was produced in TVu-16320 with 0.25 kg/ha pendimethalin (7.55 mm) and TVu-16323 with 0.125 kg/ha pendimethalin produced the highest pod diameter (7.74 mm) in the EPOE treatment. Highest pod length in the PE treatment was produced in TVu-9092 with 0.125 kg/ha, while TVu-9092 without pendimethalin produced the highest pod length (30.00 cm) in the EPOE treatment. In the PE treatment, TVu-16265 and TVu-9092 treated with 0.125 kg/ha had the highest (2.99 g) and lowest empty pod weights (1.70 g) respectively. In the EPOE treatment, the highest empty pod weight (3.01 g) was produced in TVu-16265 with 0.125 kg/ha pendimethalin while the control of TVu-16320 recorded the lowest empty pod weight (2.03 g). The highest of 100 seeds weight (14.91 g) was produced in TVu-16421 with 0.125 kg/ha pendimethalin PE treatment and lowest (9.26 g) was obtained in the untreated control of TVu-16323. In the post-emergence treatment, the lowest 100 seeds weight (8.88 g) was obtained in TVu-16320 with 0.125 kg/ha. Highest weight per pod in the PE and EPOE application was obtained in untreated control with TVu-9092 (10.47 g), while the lowest weight per pod (3.22 g) was in TVu-16265 with 0.125 kg/ha EPOE application. The study concluded that pendimethalin application as pre- and early post-emergence herbicide at low and high concentrations produced varying effects on pod attributes among the accessions of cowpea.Terensko istraživanje primjene herbicida (pendimethalina) prije i poslije klijanja na reproduktivni prinos pet vrsta stočnog graška (TVu-9092, TVu-16265, TVu-16320, TVu-16323 i TVu-16421, provedeno je između lipnja i kolovoza 2018. godine. Penthalin je primijenjen kao herbicid prije i poslije klijanja (PE i EPOE) nakon čega je slijedilo ručno plijevljenje 4 i 8 tjedana nakon sijanja (WAS). Broj mahuna po biljci bio je najveći kod TVu-9092 tretiranog sa 0,125 kg/ha PE pendimethalina (19,33) i 0,250 kg/ha pendimethalina EPOE (19,00). Najviši promjer mahune u PE tretmanu nastao je u TVu-16320 s 0,25 kg/ha pendimetalina (7,55 mm), a TVu-16323 s 0,125 kg/ha pendimetalina proizveo je najveći promjer mahune (7,74 mm) u tretmanu EPOE. Najveća duljina mahuna u PE obradi proizvedena je u TVu-9092 s 0,125 kg/ha, dok je TVu-9092 bez pendimetalina proizvela najveću duljinu mahune (30,00 cm) u EPOE tretmanu. U PE postupku TVu-16265 i TVu-9092 sa 0,125 kg/ha imao najviše (2,99 g) i najniže težine prazne mahune (1,70 g). U EPOE postupku najveću težinu prazne mahune (3,01 g) imao je TVu-16265 sa 0,125 kg/ha pendimethalina dok je kontrola TVu-16320 zabilježila najnižu težinu prazne mahune (2,03 g). Najveća težina 100 sjemenki (14,91 g) zabilježena je u TVu-16421 sa 0,125 kg/ha pendimethalina dok je kontrola TVu-1632 zabilježila najnižu težinu prazne mahune (2,03 g). Najviša težina sto sjemenki (14,91 g) proizvedena je u TVu-16421 sa 0,125 kg/ha pedimenthalina i najniža (9,26 g) u netretiranoj kontroli TVu-16323. U postupku nakon klijanja najniža težina 100 sjemenki (8,88 g) zabilježena je u TVu-16320 najniža težina prazne mahune (2,03g). Najviša težina 100 sjemenki u postupku PE i EPOE dobivena je u netretiranoj kontroli sa TVu-9092 (10,47g) dok je najniža težina po mahuni (3,22 g) bila kod TVu-16265 sa 0,125 kg/ha EPOE. U radu je zaključeno da je primjena pedimenthalina prije i odmah poslije klijanja u niskim i visokim koncentracijama imala različito djelovanje na mahunu raznih vrsta stočnog graška

Utjecaj broja pupova izboja na rast i prinos batata (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)

Sweet potatoes are propagated by rooting shoots with thickened roots, but the number of vine cutting buds can significantly affect the yield. Information on the preparation of quality material for the successful production of sweet potatoes among farmers in Nigeria is not uniform. The most favorable number of shoot buds used as a material for propagating sweet potatoes has not yet been determined. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to estimate the number of buds per shoot that will result in the highest yield of sweet potato roots. Four treatments with 2, 3, 4 and 5 buds per shoot were tested. The field trial was set up according to a randomized block design with five replications. Data on the length of the cuttings, number of leaves and the yield components of the sweet potato thickened are presented. A significant increase in the length of the cutting, the number of leaves and the average length and weight of the thickened root of sweet potatoes grown from shoots with 5 buds was found. Therefore, the use of five-bud shoots is recommended for sweet potato propagation due to its positive effect on rooting, growth and yield of thickened sweet potato rootBatat se razmnožava ukorjenjavanjem izboja zadebljalog korijena, no broj pupova odrezanih vriježa koji se ukorjenjavaju značajno može utjecati na prinos. Informacije o pripremanju kvalitetnog materijala za uspješnu proizvodnju batata među poljoprivrednicima u Nigeriji nisu ujednačene. Najpovoljniji broj pupova izboja koji se koristi kao materijal za razmnožavanje batata još nije utvrđen. Stoga je cilj ovog rada procijeniti broj pupova po izboju koje će rezultirati najvećim prinosom korijena batata. U istraživanju su testirana četiri tretmana koja uključuju 2, 3, 4 i 5 pupa po izboju. Pokus je postavljen po slučajnom bloknom rasporedu u pet ponavljanja. Prikazani su podaci o dužini vriježa, broju listova te komponente prinosa zadebljalog korijena batata. Utvrđeno je značajno povećanje dužine vriježa, broja listova te prosječne dužine i mase zadebljalog korijena batata uzgojenog iz izboja s 5 pupova. Stoga se za razmnožavanje batata preporučuje upotreba izboja s pet pupova zbog pozitivnog utjecaja na ukorjenjavanje, rast i prinos zadebljalog korijena batata