The Search for Alternative Energy Sources: Jatropha and Moringa Seeds for Biofuel Production

Biodiesel utilization, in recent times, has become a novel issue especially because of its benefits towards mitigating global warming effect, as well as being an alternative source of energy. In the fore front of choice energy crops adopted for use are Jatropha curcas and Moringa oleifera seeds which produce about 27-40% oil and 38–40% (edible oils) respectively. Both crops exhibit numerous attributes which make them suitable as alternative energy sources. However Jatropha possesses some risk factors associated with its inherent toxic part as well as environmental hazards associated with its large scale and long term production as an alternative energy source crop. Moringa however, has one hundred percent usability, as all parts of the plant are useful without any toxic part. This review highlights some of the merits and demerits of the two crops; vis-a- viz the search for a viable and sustainable means of an alternative energy source

Sustainable Development and Female Participation in a Dynamic Global Community

The paper highlights the role females play towards achieving a sustainable development in an upcoming society in the global community. The productions of low income yielding crops which are relegated to the females are highlighted. Issues bothering on gender-imbalance in the education of children in the society which has led to a concomitant decline in the number of females involved in science oriented courses at the tertiary levels of education are discussed. The issues of poverty which forces female children into food vending as a means of enhancing the family economic base also lends a pointing finger at some of the reasons responsible for the decline. Lack of gainful employment of the men-folk, which has inadvertently forced females to take up the role of ‘Breadwinners,’ thereby short-circuiting the original role of female towards sustainable development are analyzed. Also, the effect of urbanization and lack of crèche facilities in work places which takes a toll on the number of females available to build a virile and sustainable local, national and global scientific community

Potentials of biological control of plant diseases in the tropics

This paper highlights the various categories of biological control, which are employed in an Integrated Disease Management (IDM) scheme. These include conservation, classical biocontrol and augmentation. Also, the various types of biocontrol agents/agencies which are currently in use in various parts of the world like, parasites, predators, nutrient competition, induced resistance and antibiotic production are enunciated. The overall effect on post-harvest diseases of crops and the issue of increased food production are reviewed. Keywords: biological control, biological control agents, post-harvest diseasesInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 6 2005: 151-15

The use of plant extracts in the control of Aspergillus niger in the rot of yam (Dioscorea spp.) during storage

The storage rot of yam (Dioscorea spp) starts from the field to the storage barn. Fungi pathogens affecting yam tubers are controlled by either synthetic pesticides or plant extracts.The following plant extracts, Vernonia amygdalina (bittter leaf), Azadirachta indica (neem), Ocimum gratissimum (nchuanwu), Pergularia spp. (utazi), Citrus aurantifolia (lime), Allium sativum (gallic), and Capsicum annum (red pepper) were used to control the rot of yam (caused by Aspergillus niger). The ethanol extracts of the test plants were observed to have higher fungitoxic ability than the water extracts on A. niger, which was isolated from the rotten yam tubers. Ethanol extracts of A. indica and O. gratissimum were observed to have the highest percentage fungi growth inhibition, having 68.8% and 65.2% respectively, while A. sativum, and C. annum had the lowest with 36.3% and 40.6% respectively. A. indica was also observed to have the highest severity and A. sativum had the lowest. However, yam tubers which were treated 2 days before inoculation were observed to have more inhibitory effect on the fungi pathogen than those treated 2 days after inoculation.Keywords: storage-rot, yam-tubers, plant-extracts, fungal-pathogens, severityInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 6 2005: 74-8

Ethno-botanical uses and trade characteristics of Garcinia kola in Imo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to identify the various ethno-botanical uses to which seeds of Garcinia kola (bitter kola) are put in Imo State. The characteristics of the trade as practiced by peasant farmers cum traders was also studied. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data from sixty traders, randomly selected across the three agricultural zones of the State. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. Individual respondents enumerated various uses, from which a total of thirteen ailments were recorded. The trade characteristics examined included sex of traders, age, market types, caliber of traders, educational qualifications, mode of transportation and profit margin.International Journal of Agricultural and Rural Development Vol. 5 2004: 140-14

Evaluation of post harvest monetary losses of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in south eastern Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 1 (4) 2007: pp. 390-39

Efficacy of Garlic and Other Plant Extracts In the Control of Septorial Leaf Spot of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

The attempt by man to improve crop yield in order to produce enough food for consumption by the increasing population is a decision in the right direction which has led to search of biopesticides of plant origin. The research work studied the effect of different rates of garlic juice in the control of septorial leaf spot of tomato caused by the fungus Cercospora sp. and also other plant extracts were compared with garlic so as to ascertain the effectiveness of garlic in the control of these leaf spots. The 0.5L of garlic (Allium sativum) spray produced the least number of infected leaves in all the different rates of applications. The utazi (Pergularia spp) spray was significantly different (P<0.05) from the bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and garlic (Allium sativum) spray and produced significantly lower number of infected leaflets (0-1.5) than that of the bitter leaf (1.5-3.0) and garlic (2.7-3.7) spray throughout the 6 weeks