EVALUATION OF PLANTING PERIODS AND FERTILIZER TYPES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER INTERCROPPED WITH PAWPAW VARIETIES

In a two phased field experiment conducted between 2006 and 2008 at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, the performances of cucumber (Cucumber sativus L.) var. Market-more introduced into pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) var: ‘Homestead selection’ and ‘Sunrise solo’ at the early, simultaneous and late times of introduction using 10 t/ha OMF as basal application was evaluated. Also in the mixture, the best fertilizer type involving 10 t/ha OMF or NPK 15:15:15 at 125 kg / ha / month using the zero (0 t/ha) application as control was determined. The factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The results indicated that except at early cucumber introduction, growth and yield depression occurred in the crop mixture compared to the sole in the main vine length, leaf area, number of fruits, fruit yield and relative yield total (RYT). The cucumber performance was better in juvenile pawpaw (one year old) than in mature pawpaw (two year old). Both early and simultaneous introductions under juvenile and mature pawpaw were significantly better than late introduction. The cucumber with OMF was higher than those with NPK treatment in main vine length (101.6 cm and 53.3 cm respectively) and both were significantly better than the control (38.6 cm), though plants with OMF and NPK both were not different in leaf area (4,844 and 4,874 cm2 respectively), while plants with NPK compared to OMF recorded higher number of fruits (16 and 14 respectively) and higher fruit yield (13.8 and 11.2 t/ha respectively). The LER > 1.0 recorded for both cucumbers in Sunrise or Homestead indicated yield advantages of the mixtures compared to the sole.Â

THE INFLUENCE OF TYPE OF CUTTING AND GROWING MEDIUM ON GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF SCORPION ORCHID (Arachnis maingayi) Hook.f. Schltr

Orchids are of importance primarily for their horticultural appeal and accounts for 8% of the world floricultural trade. Scorpion orchid (Arachnis maingayi Hook) is highly prized for its beautiful long lasting flowers, but it is under-exploited in many countries including Nigeria. There is the need to determine the best type of cutting and growing medium protocols for commercial production of this species. Seven homogenous growing media (sawdust, topsoil, charcoal, coconut husk, wood shavings, maize cobs and rice husk) and two types of cutting (apical and non-apical) were compared in a factorial experiment laid out in Completely Randomized Design with six replications at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria between 2010 and 2012. Data collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot dry weight, days to spiking, length and number of spike, size and number of florets were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s HSD at p ≤ 0.05 to separate treatment means. Apical cuttings were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) superior to non-apical cuttings in terms of all parameters assessed except floret diameter which was statistically similar. For growing medium, dry matter accumulation and spike yield were in the order of charcoal > rice husk > maize cob > topsoil > wood shavings > coconut husk. Apical cuttings planted in charcoal or rice husk gave the best results relative to other media. Thus, apical cutting is the best propagating technique and charcoal or rice husk is the best growing medium for scorpion orchid cultivation. &nbsp

GC-MS Analysis, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts of the Aerial Parts of Conyza sumatrensis

Phytochemical analyses as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the extracts of C. sumatrensis aerial parts were investigated in this study. METHODS: The aerial parts of C. sumatrensis were air dried, weighed and exhaustively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol successively. The crude extracts were screened for metabolites.  These extracts of the plant were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using agar  diffusion and DPPH method respectively. The extracts were also analysed using Gas chromatography – Mass spectrometry, and the chromatogram coupled with mass spectra of the compounds were matched with a standard library. RESULTS: Preliminary phytochemical investigation of  rude n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Conyza sumatrensis revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannin, glycosides and carbohydrate. All the crude  extracts gave a clear zone of inhibition against the growth of the test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiellae pneumonae) at moderate to high  concentrations, as well as test fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, penicillium notatum and  Rhizopus stolonifer) at high concentration. Methanolic extract exhibited significant radical scavenging  property with IC50 of 17.08 μg/mL while n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed no significant antioxidant activity. GC-MS of N-hexane extract showed a total number of eleven chemical constituents with α-Farnesene and spathulenol being the most abundance compounds constituting 20.27 and 22.28% of the extract respectively. Ethyl acetate extract revealed thirteen  compounds with two most abundant compounds, cis-β-farnesene (16.64 %) and cis-pinane (21.09 %). While  methanolic extract affords seventeen compounds with Ephytol being the most abundant compound  (19.36 %). © JASEMKeywords: Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant, GC-MS analysis, Phytochemicals, Conyza sumatrensi

Cytotoxic Activity of Crude Extracts as well as of Pure Components from Jatropha Species, Plants Used Extensively in African Traditional Medicine

Extracts from Jatropha curcas, a plant used in African traditional medicine for various diseases, were tested for cytotoxic activity. The root extracts strongly reduced cell growth of tumor cells in vitro, a result consistent with the knowledge of the application of these plant extracts in traditional medicine, especially to cure/ameliorate cancer. A selection of pure diterpenoids existing in extracts from Jatropha species and isolated from J. curcas, for example, curcusone C, curcusone D, multidione, 15-epi-4Z-jatrogrossidentadion, 4Z-jatrogrossidentadion, 4E-jatrogrossidentadion, 2-hydroxyisojatrogrossidion, and 2-epi-hydroxyisojatrogrossidion, were likewise tested, and they also showed strong cytotoxic activity. It turned out that these extracts are highly active against L5178y mouse lymphoma cells and HeLa human cervix carcinoma cells, while they cause none or only very low activity against neuronal cell, for example, PC12. These data underscore that extracts from J. curcas or pure secondary metabolites from the plant are promising candidates to be anticancer drug, combined with low neuroactive effects

Polyphenolic Contents and Antioxidant Potential of Stem Bark Extracts from Jatropha curcas (Linn)

We assessed the polyphenolic contents and antioxidant potential of the aqueous, ethanol and methanol stem bark extracts of Jatropha curcas. The total phenol, flavonoids, flavonols and proanthocyanidin contents of the extracts were evaluated to determine their effect on the antioxidant property of this plant, using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of the plant were also assessed against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing, nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion, (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using spectroscopic methods and results were compared with that of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid as standards. The concentrations of different classes of phenolic compounds were higher in methanol and ethanol extracts compared to aqueous extracts. There was correlation between total phenol, total flavonoids, total flavonol and total proanthocyanidins (r = 0.996, 0.978, 0.908, and 0.985) respectively. There was correlations between the amount of phenolic compounds and percentage inhibition of DPPH radicals scavenging activity of the extract (r = 0.98). Findings from the present study indicated that J. curcas is a potential source of natural antioxidants and may be a good candidate for pharmaceutical plant based products

The Screening of Phytoconstituents, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Brysocarpus Coccineus Schum and Thonn. Stem (Connaraceae)

ABSTRACT The uses of Brysocarpus coccineus stem in traditional African medicine have led to the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the hexane, ethylacetate and methanol stem extracts of the plant evaluation using six pathogenic bacteria and six fungi. The extracts inhibited the 12 test organisms to different degrees. Hexane, ethylacetate and methanol successive extracts of Brysocarpus coccineus stem effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations between 12.5 and 200mg/ml, while the extracts showed lower inhibition on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellae typhii and Klebsiellae pneumonae. The sensitivity of test bacteria was concentration dependent, activity being higher at higher concentrations of the three extracts. Ethylacetate and methanol exhibited higher antifungal properties on Rhizopus stolon and Epidermophyton floccosum, while hexane also inhibited the growth of Rhizopus stolon, Epidermophyton floccosum, Tricophyton rubrum and Aspergillus niger with activity comparable to that of the reference drug tioconazole. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the three extracts revealed the presence of saponins, reducing sugar, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids and anthraquinones

EFFECTS OF SOIL MOISTURE STRESS ON GERMINATION OF \u27HOMESTEAD SELECTION\u27 PAWPAW (CARICA PAPAYAL.) SEEDS

The effects of soil moisture on the germination of \u27Homestead Selection\u27 pawpaw seeds were investigated under six moisture regimes created by withholding water for various durations. The objective was to determine the critical soil water potential for germination of pawpaw seeds. Soil moisture stress delayed and retarded seed germination. It also decreased seedling size and seedling survival. The critical soil water potential for germination decreased from -0.01MPa during the exponential phase to -0.20MPa during the lag phase. These water potentials were created by withholding water for 3 and 5 days respectively. Although water use efficiency was highest in the soil water potential regime of -0.20MPa obtained by withholding water for 5 days, -0.01MPa was considered as critical soil water potential for germination of \u27Homestead Selection\u27 pawpaw seeds since lower soil water potentials delayed and retarded seed germination

EFFECTS OF SOIL MOISTURE STRESS ON GERMINATION OF 'HOMESTEAD SELECTION' PAWPAW (CARICA PAPAYAL.) SEEDS

The effects of soil moisture on the germination of 'Homestead Selection' pawpaw seeds were investigated under six moisture regimes created by withholding water for various durations. The objective was to determine the critical soil water potential for germination of pawpaw seeds. Soil moisture stress delayed and retarded seed germination. It also decreased seedling size and seedling survival. The critical soil water potential for germination decreased from -0.01MPa during the exponential phase to -0.20MPa during the lag phase. These water potentials were created by withholding water for 3 and 5 days respectively. Although water use efficiency was highest in the soil water potential regime of -0.20MPa obtained by withholding water for 5 days, -0.01MPa was considered as critical soil water potential for germination of 'Homestead Selection' pawpaw seeds since lower soil water potentials delayed and retarded seed germination

Essential Oils of Aerial Parts of Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. ex Jacq.) S. Moore and Cardiospermum grandiflorum (Sweet) Stem

Aim: This paper presents the essential oils constituents of aerial parts of Crassocephalum rubens and stem of Cardiospermum grandiflorum. C. rubens is a Nigerian vegetable used as a nutraceutical and traditionally has been used as antibiotic, anti-helminthic, anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, anti-malaria and blood regulating agents. C. grandiflorum (Sapindaceae) is considered a noxious weed in Australia and South Africa. The leaves are taken as vegetable in Ghana and have application for dermatological troubles, chest problems and fever. The plant has also been used in the treatment of jaundice, cough and kidney problems. Methodology: The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus designed to British Pharmacopeia specifications and analyzed using Gas-Chromatography/Mass- Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Oil yields were 0.52% and 0.09% w/w for C. rubens and C. grandiflorum respectively. Fifty-six compounds representing 97.5% of C. rubens oil were identified. Main constituents in the leaf oil of C. rubens were monoterpenes; limonene (81.1%), (Z)-β-ocimene (4.6%), terpinolene (3.4%) and (E)-β-ocimene (2.2%). Oxygenated derivatives were detected at trace amount. Sixty- three compounds were identified that represented 97.8% of the essential oil of C. grandiflorum stems. The essential oil was characterized by high content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons that accounted for 91.2% of the whole oil followed by 3.7% oxygenated sesquiterpene. The main compounds were germacrene D (26.2%), (Z)-γ-bisabolene (15.5%), β-caryophyllene (13.9%) and germacrene B (7.9%). Conclusion: This paper presents essential oil components of C. rubens and C. grandiflorum that are scanty in the literature. Characterized compounds in each plant could be responsible for their ethno-medicinal activities