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

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Fungi Contaminants Associated with In Vitro Cultured Banana Based on ITS Region Sequence

This study characterized, identified and conducted phylogenetic analysis on fungi contaminants in vitro bananas based on the sequence of inter-space (ITS) regions. Genomic DNA was extracted from the pure culture of fungi contaminants, amplified and sequenced using ITS1 and ITS4 markers. Analysis of the sequences using MEGA 7 Software at higher similarity sequence identified five Aspergillus spp., three Penicillium spp., one each of Fusarium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium as the contaminants. The genetic distance between the fungi species was 0.205, which suggests a homogeneous substitution between the sequences, and thiamine was the most stable. The fungi clustered in three major groups at 0.10 genetic distance, subdivided into five clusters. A cluster and sub-cluster consisting of five Aspergillus strains; a major cluster of three Penicillium strains; a cluster comprising of Fusarium chlamydosporum and Trichoderma viride; and a sole fungi Cladosporium tenuissimum. The Aspergillus group were phylogenetically related to A. flavus and A. parvissclerotigenus, the identified Penicillium spp. were closely related to Penicillium citrinum while the detected Cladosporium aligned with Cladosporium tenuissium and Phoma multirostrata. The information provided by this study could be utilized to develop a specific and compelling sterilization protocol to minimize the rate of contamination during in vitro culture procedures

SDS-PAGE Characterisation of Crude Seed and Leaf Proteins in <i>Corchorus</i> Species

Crude protein separation was carried out for Corchorus incisifolious, Corchorus aestuans, Corchorus tridens and Corchorus olitorious using Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Plants were collected both from wild and cultivated sites and samples included leaves and seeds for the electrophoretic study. Distinct polymorphism in electrophoretic banding patterns of seed and leaf proteins following SDS- PAGE was observed in the four Corchorus species studied. Forty- two polypeptide bands were observed in the seed and a total of eleven polypeptide bands were observed in the leaves of the Corchorus species studied. The electrophoretic study revealed protein bands with various intensities ranging from high, to low and faint. The results showed that there was variation in both the seed and leaf proteins of the Corchorus species studied. A dendrogram constructed based on the Single Linkage Cluster Analysis (SLCA) clustering method revealed three major clusters for seeds. Cluster I consisted of C. incisifolious and C. aestuans, cluster II consisted of C. tridens, while cluster III consisted of C. olitorious. The leaf protein extracts were grouped into two clusters, cluster one containing C. incisifolious and C. aestuans, while the other contained C. tridens and C. olitorious

SDS-PAGE Characterisation of Crude Seed and Leaf Proteins in <i>Corchorus</i> Species

<p class="Continutabstract">Crude protein separation was carried out for<em> Corchorus incisifolious</em>, <em>Corchorus aestuans</em>, <em>Corchorus tridens</em> and <em>Corchorus olitorious</em> using Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Plants were collected both from wild and cultivated sites and samples included leaves and seeds for the electrophoretic study. Distinct polymorphism in electrophoretic banding patterns of seed and leaf proteins following SDS- PAGE was observed in the four <em>Corchorus</em> species studied. Forty- two polypeptide bands were observed in the seed and a total of eleven polypeptide bands were observed in the leaves of the <em>Corchorus</em> species studied. The electrophoretic study revealed protein bands with various intensities ranging from high, to low and faint. The results showed that there was variation in both the seed and leaf proteins of the <em>Corchorus</em> species studied. A dendrogram constructed based on the Single Linkage Cluster Analysis (SLCA) clustering method revealed three major clusters for seeds. Cluster I consisted of <em>C. incisifolious</em> and <em>C. aestuans</em>, cluster II consisted of <em>C. tridens</em>, while cluster III consisted of <em>C. olitorious</em>. The leaf protein extracts were grouped into two clusters, cluster one containing <em>C. incisifolious</em> and <em>C. aestuans</em>, while the other contained <em>C. tridens</em> and <em>C. olitorious</em>.</p

Pollen Grain and Hybridization Studies in the Genus &lt;i&gt;Capsicum&lt;/i&gt;

The current study aimed to evaluate the pollen viability of the commonly cultivated varieties of Capsicum species and assessed the potentials for gene exchange among the genotypes through hybridization studies. Capsicum annuum var. abbreviatum, C. annuum var. acuminatum, C. annuum var. grossum and C. frutescens var. baccatum were the species and varieties used in this study. The present findings indicated that the percentage of pollen viability varied in the studied Capsicum genotypes. The highest pollen viability was obtained in C. annuum var. abbreviatum (96.3%), followed by C. annuum var. grossum (95%), and C. annuum var. acuminatum (91.1%). The lowest pollen viability was recorded in C. frutescens var. baccatum (86.2%). The pollen viability was high in most varieties indicating that meiosis is normal, resulting in viable pollen grains. Several intraspecific and interspecific crosses were performed among the Capsicum genotypes and three putative hybrid fruits were produced. Percentage successes obtained in the crosses were low and comparable in both intra and inter-specific crosses. In the entire crosses pattern, pollination success of 10% was recorded for C. frutescens var. baccatum and C. annuum var. acuminatum. Knowing the nature and viability of pollen grains may help in predicting the success rate of hybridization and the successful crosses between C. frutescens var. baccatum and C. annuum var. acuminatum suggest that these two varieties are the closest genetically