Incidence of leaf blight disease of Egusi melon in South-west Nigeria

Egusi melon ( Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) Mansf.) is an important vegetable crop grown for edible seeds and oil in West Africa. Leaf Blight Disease (LBD) is one of the major constraints to its production, with potential to cause economic damage. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and distribution of leaf blight on Egusi melon in Southwestern Nigeria. A survey of LBD of Egusi melon was conducted in 2015 and 2016, in five southwestern States of Nigeria (Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States). Twenty plants each, were randomly sampled from 150 farms comprising 30 farms each, from each State. The distribution of different Egusi melon varieties planted was recorded. \u201cBara\u201d cv. was the most cultivated variety (51.6%); followed by \u201cBojuri\u201d (30.4%) and \u201cSerewe\u201d (18%). Leaf blight was observed in most farms in the five States, from 73% in Osun and Oyo states to 83% in Ondo State. Disease incidence and severity varied with locations and cultivars, and ranged from 0.0-87.5\ub118% and 1.0\ub10-4.5\ub10.8 in Osun State to 20.0\ub119 - 95.0\ub14.5% and 2.3\ub11.5 - 5.0\ub10 in Ondo State. Out of the twelve fungal pathogens from ten genera isolated from infected plants, only Colletotrichum truncatum , C. gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae caused Leaf blight on Egusi melon.Le melon Egusi ( Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) Mansf.) Est une importante culture l\ue9gumi\ue8re cultiv\ue9e pour les graines et l\u2019huile comestibles en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest. La maladie de br\ufblure foliaire (LBD) est l\u2019une des principales contraintes \ue0 sa production, avec le potentiel de causer des dommages \ue9conomiques. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9tudier l\u2019incidence et la distribution de la br\ufblure foliaire du melon Egusi dans le Sud-ouest du Nig\ue9ria. Une enqu\ueate sur la LBD du melon Egusi a \ue9t\ue9 faite en 2015 et 2016, dans cinq \uc9tats du sud-ouest du Nig\ue9ria (\uc9tats d\u2019Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti et Ondo). Vingt plantes dans chaque \uc9tat ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9chantillonn\ue9es au hasard dans 150 fermes comprenant 30 fermes chacune, de chaque \uc9tat. La distribution des diff\ue9rentes vari\ue9t\ue9s de melons Egusi plant\ue9es a \ue9t\ue9 enregistr\ue9e. \uabBara\ubb cv. \ue9tait la vari\ue9t\ue9 la plus cultiv\ue9e (51,6%); suivi de \uabBojuri\ubb (30,4%) et \uabSerewe\ubb (18%). La br\ufblure foliaire a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e dans la plupart des exploitations agricoles des cinq \uc9tats, passant de 73% dans les \uc9tats d\u2019Osun et d\u2019Oyo \ue0 83% dans l\u2019\uc9tat d\u2019Ondo. L\u2019incidence et la gravit\ue9 de la maladie variaient selon les emplacements et les cultivars, et allaient de 0,0-87,5 \ub1 18% et 1,0 \ub1 0-4,5 \ub1 0,8 dans l\u2019\uc9tat d\u2019Osun \ue0 20,0 \ub1 19 - 95,0 \ub1 4,5% et 2,3 \ub1 1,5 - 5,0 \ub1 0 dans l\u2019\uc9tat d\u2019Ondo . Sur les douze agents pathog\ue8nes fongiques de dix genres isol\ue9s de plantes infect\ue9es, seuls Colletotrichum truncatum , C. gloeosporioides et Lasiodiplodia theobromae ont caus\ue9 la br\ufblure foliaire du melon Egusi

Unsteady Variable Thermal Conductivity Gravity Flow of a Power-Law Fluid with Viscous Dissipation through a Porous Medium

In this work, the unsteady variable thermal conductivity gravity flow of a power-law fluid with viscous dissipation through a porous medium is examined. It is assumed that the fluid has variable temperature-dependent viscosity. The modified Darcy’s law is considered together with the equation of energy transfer in such media. The governing partial differential equations were transformed into ordinary differential equations in terms of a suitable similarity variable. Criteria for existence and uniqueness of solution are formulated. Central finite difference technique and Galerkin weighted residual method were employed to solve the resulting non-linear equations. The effects of variable viscosity parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkman number, Prandtl number, Peclet number, and those of viscous dissipation parameter on the flow system were reported graphically. Keywords: Non-Newtonian fluid , Weighted residual method, Power-law fluid and Viscous dissipation

Combined Effect of Radiant Heat, Local Nusselt Number and Skin Friction Coefficient of a Third Grade Fluid through a Channel Flow in a Saturated Porous Medium

This paper investigates the combined effects of radiant heat, local Nusselt number and Skin friction coefficient on a channel flow of third grade fluid in the presence of saturated porous medium. It is assumed that the fluid has temperature-dependent variable viscosity and thermal conductivity. The non-linear governing differential equations are obtained and tackled numerically using Spectral element technique and C++ programming language. Increase in the values of radiation parameter and third grade material parameter consequently increase the local Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient. Graphical results showing the effects of various physical parameters are presented and discussed quantitatively. It is concluded that Williamson’s fluid parameter served as a cooling factor in diverse improved technological processes in order to avoid different machines from overheating and enhance their efficiencies

The Influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on micro-propagated hybrid yam (Dioscorea spp.) growth and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) suppression

Article Purchased; Published online: 12 October 2016The use of commercial inoculants containing non-indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is an emerging technology towards improving crop production in Africa. The present study aims at evaluating the influence of two strains of commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) products, based on Funneliformis mosseae and Glomus dussii, on yam growth and on root knot nematodes suppression. Using micropropagated plantlets two cultivars each of Dioscorea alata (TDa98-01183 and TDa98-165), and D. rotundata (TDr97-00551 and TDr 745) were inoculated with the F. mosseae and G. dussii products separately, at transplanting into 2L pots, and then inoculated one month later with 500 infective juveniles of Meloidogyne spp. and grown for further seven months in the greenhouse. Results demonstrated that even with low colonization rates (6%), AMF led to improved yam growth, especially for D. alata. When challenged with Meloidogyne spp., AMF inoculation significantly suppressed galling symptoms across the treatments and led to higher tuber yield. This study indicates the potential of AMF to sustainably improve yam quality and productivity, although further screening should be done in order to identify a suitable combination AMF species/strain x cultivar compatibility to optimise the results

Effect of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on development of micro-propagated yam plantlets and suppression of Scutellonema bradys (Tylenchideae)

Using two commercially available arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) products, one based on Funneliformis mosseae and the other on Glomus dussii, an experiment was conducted to assess their effect on yam growth and ability to suppress nematode damage in pots. Four yam cultivars (cvs) were used: two Dioscorea alata cvs (TDa98-01183 and TDa98-165), and two Dioscorea rotundata cvs (TDr97- 00551 and TDr 745). Micropropagated yam plantlets were inoculated either with F. mosseae or with G. dussii at the stage of transplanting into 2L pots and - one month later - with 500 vermiform Scutellonema bradys. The plantlets were grown for further six months in the greenhouse at IITA-Ibadan. The results showed that the presence of AMF tended to lead to improved growth of yam, especially D. alata cvs, as compared with the non-arbuscular mycorrhizal control plants. When challenged with the yam nematode S. bradys, plantlets of the two D. alata cultivars pre-inoculated with F. mosseae and cv TDr97-00551 pre-inoculated with G. dussii yielded significantly higher tuber weights compared to non- AMF control plantlets. S. bradys densities on yam plantlets pre-inoculated with AMF were generally suppressed, although no differences were observed in visible damage scores, which remained low or absent across treatments

Effect of Climate Change on Arable Crop Farmers Productivity in Ibarapa Centra Local Government Area of Oyo State Nigeria

The study was an analysis of the Effect of climate change on arable crop farmers’ productivity in ibarapa central local government of Oyo state, Nigeria.  Primary data were collected using structured interview guide, administered on 100 arable crop farmers using multistage sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential (partial correlation) statistical tools. The result showed that the mean age was 47.6years while 97% were married. However 97.00% of the arable crop farmers reported to have had malaria attack occasionally within the last10 years and 83.00% in the last five years  while 64% reported malaria occurrence within the last one year.Majority (83.00%) of the respondent stated that erratic rainfall as compared to other causes  had more effect on their productivity while just a few (7.00%) of the respondent claimed that low heat was the cause of their low productivity. The hypothesis tested revealed that the socioeconomic characteristics of the arable crop farmers such as age (0.7490), sex (0.3200), household size (0.4580), income (0.5500) and educational status (0.3240) had significant positive relationship with their levels of productivity. It was recommended that the arable crop farmers should form farmers association to pool resources together to acquire irrigation gadgets so as to alleviate the problem of erratic nature of rainfall in the area and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) should be more alive to her weather forecast responsibilities in the area of using diverse languages of the people in the Nigerian agricultural zones. Keywords:Climate Change, Arable crop, Farmers, Productivity

Analyses of Willingness to Practice Agriculture as Enterprise among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study investigated willingness to practice agriculture as enterprise among students of tertiary institutions in Oyo State. A Multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit data from 112 selected respondents in the study area. Data were collected using a well structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive (frequency counts, percentages, and mean) and inferential statistic (Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation). The results showed that majority of the respondents were within the age range of 21-25 years, with majority males, whom were single in the study area. Furthermore, results revealed that majority of the respondents had low interest in agricultural enterprise preference and high constraint associated with respondents willingness to engage in agricultural enterprise in the study area. Majority of the respondents had positive willingness to practice agricultural enterprise in the study area. There was significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of the respondents except Gender and Marital status. It is therefore recommended that government should motivate agricultural students by providing Youth Empowerment programmes and services directed to improve their willingness to engage in agricultural enterprises

Challenges in access and satisfaction with reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Background The presence of COVID-19 has led to the disruption of health systems globally, including essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. This study aimed to assess the challenges faced by women who used RMNCH services in Nigeria’s epicentre, their satisfaction with care received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with their satisfaction. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lagos, southwest Nigeria among 1,241 women of reproductive age who had just received RMNCH services at one of twenty-two health facilities across the primary, secondary and tertiary tiers of health care. The respondents were selected via multi-stage sampling and face to face exit interviews were conducted by trained interviewers. Client satisfaction was assessed across four sub-scales: health care delivery, health facility, interpersonal aspects of care and access to services. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between personal characteristics and client satisfaction. Results About 43.51% of respondents had at least one challenge in accessing RMNCH services since the COVID-19 outbreak. Close to a third (31.91%) could not access service because they could not leave their houses during the lockdown and 18.13% could not access service because there was no transportation. The mean clients’ satisfaction score among the respondents was 43.25 (SD: 6.28) out of a possible score of 57. Satisfaction scores for the interpersonal aspects of care were statistically significantly lower in the PHCs and general hospitals compared to teaching hospitals. Being over 30 years of age was significantly associated with an increased clients’ satisfaction score (ß = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.10–2.50). Conclusion The COVID-19 lockdown posed challenges to accessing RMNCH services for a significant proportion of women surveyed. Although overall satisfaction with care was fairly high, there is a need to provide tailored COVID-19 sensitive inter-personal care to clients at all levels of care

Challenges in access and satisfaction with reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The presence of COVID-19 has led to the disruption of health systems globally, including essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. This study aimed to assess the challenges faced by women who used RMNCH services in Nigeria's epicentre, their satisfaction with care received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with their satisfaction. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lagos, southwest Nigeria among 1,241 women of reproductive age who had just received RMNCH services at one of twenty-two health facilities across the primary, secondary and tertiary tiers of health care. The respondents were selected via multi-stage sampling and face to face exit interviews were conducted by trained interviewers. Client satisfaction was assessed across four sub-scales: health care delivery, health facility, interpersonal aspects of care and access to services. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between personal characteristics and client satisfaction. RESULTS: About 43.51% of respondents had at least one challenge in accessing RMNCH services since the COVID-19 outbreak. Close to a third (31.91%) could not access service because they could not leave their houses during the lockdown and 18.13% could not access service because there was no transportation. The mean clients' satisfaction score among the respondents was 43.25 (SD: 6.28) out of a possible score of 57. Satisfaction scores for the interpersonal aspects of care were statistically significantly lower in the PHCs and general hospitals compared to teaching hospitals. Being over 30 years of age was significantly associated with an increased clients' satisfaction score (ß = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.10-2.50). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 lockdown posed challenges to accessing RMNCH services for a significant proportion of women surveyed. Although overall satisfaction with care was fairly high, there is a need to provide tailored COVID-19 sensitive inter-personal care to clients at all levels of care