Effect of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Population on Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation and Dry Matter Yield on Soybean (Glycine max L Merrill) in Some Ghanaian Soils

In as much as the noted ability of the promiscuous TGx soybean varieties developed by the International Instituteof Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan to nodulate profusely with indigenous bradyrhizobia confers advantages wherelack of fertilizers and suitable inoculants act as disincentives to growing the crop, the ability of these nodules tofix nitrogen should be even more important. Selection for promiscuous nodulators in different soils musttherefore go hand in hand with their nitrogen fixing abilities. The symbiotic performance of promiscuoussoybeans depends upon the population size and survival of bradyrhizobia on the field. A pot experiment wasconducted in the greenhouse within the Geography Department in University of Ghana-Legon using soilscollected from ten farmer’s field located in one Agro Ecological Zone (Coastal savanna) to determine nodulation,nitrogen fixation and dry matter yield by indigenous bradyrhizobia in five Ghanaian soils using threepromiscuous soybean varieties and one American type, Bragg, a non promiscuous variety. Nodulation by thethree promiscuous soybean varieties (Bengbie [TGx 536-2D], TGx 1835-10E, and TGx 1830-20E) rangedbetween 21 to 25 and the non-promiscuous variety (Bragg) recorded 13. Hake soil series which contains thehighest bradyrhizobia cell count (6.0 x 103 cellgsoil-1 also produced the highest number of nodules 22. Hakeagain produced the highest nodule dry weight, (176.0mg), shoot dry weight (3.85g), Total nitrogen (N)(106.0mgN plant-1), Total N fixed (88.9mgN plant-1) and %N fixed (69%). TGx 1830-20E also maintain itssuperiority in nodule dry weight (220.0mg plant-1) production, Total N (105.3mgN plant-1), Total N fixed(88.5mgN plant-1) and % N fixed (83.43). Bragg performed poorly in terms of nodule dry weight (67.0mg plant-1), Total N (83.8mg plant-1), Total N fixed (67.0mg plant-1) and %N fixed (78.05). The Most Probable Number(MPN) counts on sand grown soybean indicated 6000, 5300, 4700, 3600 and 3200 native B. japonicum cells g-1in Hake, Goi, Simpa, Agawtaw and Prampram soils respectively. The nodulation, N content and dry matter yieldresults showed that Ghanaian soils contain effective bradyrhizobia capable of nodulating soybean and N2fixation rendering inoculation unnecessary.Keywords: Agrecological zone. Effective bradyrhizobia. Nitrogen fixation. Nodulation Promiscuous soybea

Relationship between Indigenous Bradyrhizobia Population and the Degree of Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation among Promiscuous Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merill) Lines in Five Ghanaian Soils

In the light of conflicting reports, the earlier expectation that the promiscuous Tropical Glycine cross (TGx)  varieties developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan would relieve farmers in Africa of the need to inoculate their soybean crops for optimum nitrogen fixation and yield has become questionable and calls for more verification. Soil must contain enough compatible bradyrhizobia population for optimum nodulation and nitrogen fixation of promiscuous soybean lines.The presence of indigenous bradyrhizobia nodulating promiscuous soybean was determined using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique. Soil series such as Chichiwere contained 6.0 x 103 cells/g soil as against the minimum required level of 40x101 in Bekwai soils indicating that the soils contained enough bradyrhizobia for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Greenhouse experiments were carried out at the University of Ghana-Legon to determine the effect of indigenous bradyrhizobia on nodulation, nodule dry weight %N and total N in five soils with local  names Aveime (a Chromic cambisol)  Hatso ( a Gleic cambisol), Adenta (a Ferric acrisol), Chichiwere (a Dystric fluvisol), and Bekwai (a Ferric acrisol) in which  nodulation, nodule dry weight, growth, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen fixing abilities of three nodulating uninoculated soybean cultivars, comprising three promiscuous soybean lines bred in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-Ibadan, Nigeria such as Anidaso (TGx 813-6D), TGx 1448-2E and TGx 1903-8F soybean were examined using a non-nodulating soybean  variety as the reference crop. Nitrogen fixed by the indigenous bradyrhizobia strains was measured by total nitrogen difference method between the fixing crop and the reference one. Chichiwere soil had the highest nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, total N accumulation as well as the highest N fixed recording an average of 66.8mgN/ plant equivalent to 86.4%N in the plant. TGx 1903-8F, the best symbiotic soybean cultivar in this study fixed as high as 91.0mgN/ plant indicating that even though more bradyrhizobia were found in Chichiwere soil series most were not compatible for nodule infection and nitrogen fixation. The nitrogen fixed by these soybean cultivars in descending order were as follows TGx 1903-8F< Anidaso< TGx 1448-2E. Keywords: Anidaso, Bradyrhizobium japonicum,  nitrogen fixation,  non-nodulating soybean, promiscuous soybean

Climate Change Awareness and Coping Strategies of Cocoa Farmers in Rural Ghana

The study assessed the perception of farmers on the awareness, causes and impact of climate change on their farming activities. The study further identifies and describes the various coping strategies adopted by farmers and ways of improving upon them to effectively tackle change in climatic conditions. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, and percentages. The other key technique that was employed to address the objective includes the Chi square analysis. The findings indicates that, the ( ) calculated (25.846) is greater than critical (18.307); implying that, respondents (cocoa farmers) in all the cocoa growing regions in the country are much aware of climate change and its impact on their farming activities ranging from the time of planting cocoa to the time of harvesting and drying cocoa beans. Main causes of climate change by farmers’ perception include God’s plan signifying the end of time, usage of heavy machines on land, air and water, deforestation, indiscriminate bush burning before farming or in search of game, farming alongside river bodies and illegal mining. Amongst the coping strategies identified include the soil fertility strategy, shade management strategy, land preparation strategy, farm size strategy and lining and pegging strategy.  It evident that the existing agencies and government bodies have not been responsive enough in addressing the climatic problems, forecasting skills and opportunities facing cocoa farmers as crucial factors of risk posed by climate change. The study advocates that government and stakeholders should put up educational programmes tailored to meet the climatic information needs of farmers especially the causes to enable them cope with the emerging challenges to enhance their production. This could be realized through effective extension services. Keywords: Cocoa Farmers, Climate Change, Chi square, Coping strategies, Rural Ghana.

Quality Assessment of Artemether-Lumefantrine Samples and Artemether Injections Sold in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Most prescribers and patients in Ghana now opt for the relatively expensive artemether/lumefantrine rather than artesunate-amodiaquine due to undesirable side effects in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. The study sought to determine the existence of substandard and/or counterfeit artemether-lumefantrine tablets and suspension as well as artemether injection on the market in Cape Coast. Six brands of artemether-lumefantrine tablets, two brands of artemether-lumefantrine suspensions, and two brands of artemether injections were purchased from pharmacies in Cape Coast for the study. The mechanical properties of the tablets were evaluated. The samples were then analyzed for the content of active ingredients using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with a variable wavelength detector. None of the samples was found to be counterfeit. However, the artemether content of the samples was variable (93.22%−104.70% of stated content by manufacturer). The lumefantrine content of the artemether/lumefantrine samples was also variable (98.70%–111.87%). Seven of the artemether-lumefantrine brands passed whilst one failed the International Pharmacopoeia content requirements. All brands of artemether injections sampled met the International Pharmacopoeia content requirement. The presence of a substandard artemether-lumefantrine suspension in the market should alert regulatory bodies to be more vigilant and totally flush out counterfeit and substandard drugs from the Ghanaian market

Impacts of Financial Inclusion on Youth Development: Findings From the Ghana YouthSave Experiment

The Ghana YouthSave Experiment investigated whether and how youth savings accounts affect financial capability; psychosocial, education, and health outcomes; and economic well-being of Ghanaian youth and their households. The research rigor in the Ghana experiment is unprecedented in resource-limited countries; therefore, it offers an opportunity to posit causal relationships between savings and youth development. This endline report, which comes three years after the baseline report, describes the Ghana experiment and presents experimental findings of YouthSave. The key research questions this report aims to answer is whether the Ghana experiment improved (1) savings patterns and performance for low-income youth; (2) low-income youth’s financial capability; (3) expectations and aspirations; (4) academic performance; and (5) low-income youth’s health attitudes and behaviors, including sexual risk taking

Managing institutional fragmentation and time compression in post-disaster reconstruction - the case of Bam

Several studies have revealed the difficulties often found in defining stakeholders’ roles in post-disaster reconstruction projects. Insufficient and ill-timed collaboration are typically identified as the principal source of problems. Borrowing the concept of Institutional Fragmentation (IF) from the field of project management, this paper examines significant obstacles to collaboration and to sharing knowledge and experience in post-disaster reconstruction projects, revealing the causes and effects at four levels of fragmentation: the construction industry, project procurement, design and construction work. The case of the reconstruction program conducted after the 2003 earthquake in Bam (Iran), illustrates these different levels of fragmentation and their short and long-term impacts. Results show that three of the four levels of fragmentation caused unexpected outcomes during program implantation and afterwards; fragmentation increased the divergence between the many stakeholders with their interests and expectations, during and after their intervention. Conflict and confrontation between two controller organizations led to an excessive emphasis on technical requirements at the expense of heritage preservation. Results also explain how specific conditions after the disaster - such as lack of time coupled with socio-political pressures - increased fragmentation. Post-disaster reconstruction projects require systematic and comprehensive procurement to cover the interfaces that will enable tasks to be conducted effectively. The study proposes a conceptual approach to fragmentation that can help academics, practitioners, and decision-makers understand the origins and consequences of institutional fragmentation on the timely use of resources, and to develop governance structures and mechanisms that can help reduce it in post-disaster reconstruction initiatives

Suggested Improvements for the Allergenicity Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants Used in Foods

Genetically modified (GM) plants are increasingly used for food production and industrial applications. As the global population has surpassed 7 billion and per capita consumption rises, food production is challenged by loss of arable land, changing weather patterns, and evolving plant pests and disease. Previous gains in quantity and quality relied on natural or artificial breeding, random mutagenesis, increased pesticide and fertilizer use, and improved farming techniques, all without a formal safety evaluation. However, the direct introduction of novel genes raised questions regarding safety that are being addressed by an evaluation process that considers potential increases in the allergenicity, toxicity, and nutrient availability of foods derived from the GM plants. Opinions vary regarding the adequacy of the assessment, but there is no documented proof of an adverse effect resulting from foods produced from GM plants. This review and opinion discusses current practices and new regulatory demands related to food safety

Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice

The mining industry produces fluid fine mineral tailings on the order of millions of tonnes each year, with billions of tonnes already stored globally. This trend is expected to escalate as demand for mineral products continues to grow with increasingly lower grade ores being more commonly exploited by hydrometallurgy. Ubiquitous presence and enrichment of fine solids such as silt and clays in fluid fine mineral tailings prevent efficient solid-liquid separation and timely re-use of valuable process water. Long-term storage of such fluid waste materials not only incurs a huge operating cost, but also creates substantial environmental liabilities of tailings ponds for mining operators. This review broadly examines current theoretical understandings and prevalent industrial practices on treating fine mineral tailings for greater water recovery and reduced environmental footprint of mining operations

Synthesis of Janus compounds for the recognition of G-U mismatched nucleobase pairs

The design and synthesis of two Janus-type heterocycles with the capacity to simultaneously recognize guanine and uracyl in G-U mismatched pairs through complementary hydrogen bond pairing is described. Both compounds were conveniently functionalized with a carboxylic function and efficiently attached to a tripeptide sequence by using solid-phase methodologies. Ligands based on the derivatization of such Janus compounds with a small aminoglycoside, neamine, and its guanidinylated analogue have been synthesized, and their interaction with Tau RNA has been investigated by using several biophysical techniques, including UV-monitored melting curves, fluorescence titration experiments, and 1H NMR. The overall results indicated that Janus-neamine/guanidinoneamine showed some preference for the +3 mutated RNA sequence associated with the development of some tauopathies, although preliminary NMR studies have not confirmed binding to G-U pairs. Moreover, a good correlation has been found between the RNA binding affinity of such Janus-containing ligands and their ability to stabilize this secondary structure upon complexation