Germplasm Collection of Highland Palms of Afikpo in Eastern Nigeria

The need for extensive germplasm collection to broaden the genetic base of the oil palm breeding material and to safeguard against crop vulnerability, inherent in growing of uniform and closely related cultivars over wide areas has become imperative. This paper highlights the oil palm germplasm collections from the highland areas of Afikpo in Eastern Nigeria. Fourteen oil palm accessions were collected from ten locations in Afikpo which do not form part of the continuous stretch of the oil palm belt and hitherto unexploited. Data on stem height, bunch weight, bunch length, bunch width, bunch spine length, bunch stalk weight, fruit length and width were recorded in-situ. Mesocarp, kernel, and shell to fruit ratios were computed. Elementary statistics (mean values, range and coefficient of variation) were evaluated using standard procedures. Results revealed very high variation for the fruit and bunch quality traits. It was however interesting to note the inheritance of most of the qualitative traits and their frequencies in the wild. Only nigrescens fruits were encountered in the groves while the dominant genotype for shell, the dura occurred at high frequency. The Ufensi Edda tenera had the highest mesocarp to fruit ratio (73.42%) while heavy bunch weight was recorded for the duras in the Oso Edda and Ndiba Edda groves. Height differences were generally very small in the tenera accessions than in the duras. The prospected fruits have been used to raise seedlings for future planting in the field gene banks following introgression into the breeding programme. Keywords: Afikpo, coefficient of variation, Edda grove, germplasm, mesocarp to fruit ratio, nigrescen

Aquatic snail species of two adjoining rivers in Owerri, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria

Aquatic snail species of two adjoining Rivers (Otamiri and Nwaorie Rivers) in Owerri Southeastern Nigeria was surveyed between December 2008 and May 2009. The study identified 231 aquatic snail species. Snail species collected were Bulinus globosus (29.9%), Lymnaea natalensis (59.3%), and Melanoides sp. (10.8%). There was an observed statistical difference (P < 0.05) in the occurrence of the snail species. Otamiri River recorded 93.3% species while Nwaorie recorded 6.1% - a significant difference (P < 0.05) also existed. Of the total number of snail species collected, none was foundshedding cercariae. Therefore, surveillance is needed to avoid emergence of diseases vectored by this snail species in the study area

In vitro effects of metals and pesticides on dehydrogenase activity in microbial community of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) rhizoplane

Effects of heavy metals and pesticides on cowpea (Vigna unquiculata) rhizoplane microbial community  were assessed in vitro via dehydrogenase activity. The microbial community was exposed to various concentrations of heavy metals and pesticides in a nutrient broth-glucose-2,3,5-triphenyl chloride (TTC) medium. At 0.2 mM, iron and cadmium stimulated the dehydrogenase activity of the microbialcommunity. For all the metal ions, there was progressive inhibition with each successive increase in the concentration of metal ion, reaching near 100% at 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 0.12 and 12 mM for cobalt, cadmium,iron, mercury and nickel, respectively. Between 0.2 and 0.4 mM, zinc sharply inhibited dehydrogenase activity and at concentration above 0.4 mm, inhibition of dehydrogenase activity became lesspronounced. The order of toxicity is Hg2+ > Co2+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+ > Fe2+ > Ni2+. The herbicides Cotrazine (Atrazine 80W) and Northrin®10EC stimulated dehydrogenase activity of the microbial community at 0.2% and inhibited it at higher concentrations. The median inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of Cotrazine(Atrazine 80W) and Northrin®10EC were 0.552 ± 0.028 and 0.593 ± 0.051%, respectively. The dehydrogenase activity varied significantly (p < 0.05) with the type and concentrations of metals orpesticides. The result indicates that the heavy metals and pesticides are potentially toxic to V. unquiculata root surface microorganisms. In soil, this toxicity may affect nitrogen fixation processes and by extrapolation affect crop yield

Availability and functionality of sphygmomanometers at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the availability of functional blood pressure monitors at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria.Methods: During repeated surveys of 15 (primary, secondary and tertiary) health care institutions in Enugu between 2007 and 2012, records were made of the availability and functional status of sphygmomanometers in the clinics and wards. We also assessed the degree of agreement between measurements by institutional staff and measurements by trained observers using the same or the standard sphygmomanometer.Results: Apart from three institutions, there was inadequate availability of fully functional sphygmomanometers: 61 staff attending to outpatients were sharing 35 sphygmomanometers, 6 of which were faulty i.e. needing repairs. Wards invariably had only one or two functional sphygmomanometers, regardless of bed occupancy. Institutional staff ignored recommended guidelines for blood pressure measurement. The overall mean difference in blood pressure measurements between institutional staff and a trained observer (1.6 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.3 to 3.4; P = 0.1) was greater and more significant than the mean difference between the two observers (0.1 mmHg; CI: -1.5 to 1.7; P = 0.9) and the mean difference between institutional and standard sphygmomanometers (-0.2 mmHg; CI: -1.7 to 1.3; P = 0.8).Conclusion: There has been a notable lack of reporting on the availability of blood pressure measuring devices in third world health care institutions. Our surveys have shown inadequate availability of functional sphygmomanometers in the institutions, but satisfactory agreement between measurements by institutional staff and trained observers. In view of recent guidelines and recommendations, there is need to supplement office readings with mercury devices with oscillometric home or automated office blood pressure recording.Keywords: Blood pressure measurement, healthcare quality, hospital care, mercury devices, Nigeria, sphygmomanometer

Components Of The Stigmatic Exudate Of Raphia hookeri, Mann And Wendl

Raphia hookeri, like all Raphia species, flowers once and dies. It is protogynous and the stigma secretes at anthesis a transluscent fluid (exudates) which hardens after three to four days. This fluid attracts insects and fruit set, though generally scanty on the species (0.1- 0.5%) is observed to be very poor in palms with heavy insect visitation during female flower anthesis. The stigmatic exudates were analyzed to determine its components with a view to understanding its role in pollination in the palm.The exudates oil was analyzed by the AOCS methods while the total sugar was determined by the methods of Whistler and Wolfrom. The fatty acid distribution was obtained on an APU model gas chromatography machine and the presence of phenolic compounds was determined by scanning alcoholic extracts of the exudates with and without sodium hydroxide.The fluid (exudates) was found to contain 0.28% oil, 0.8% sugar and four main fatty acids and traces of two others with intermediate chain lengths (10 – 18). The lipid components of the exudates ensures that the stigmatic surface is protected from desiccation to enable it trap pollen while the 0.8% sugar possibly serves as a source of energy for initial pollen germination on the stigma. Phenolic compounds present probably act as insect repellant and also inhibit spore germination to keep the exudates in good condition during the three to four days of female anthesis. Keywords: Raphia hookeri, stigmatic exudate, palmitic acid Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 83-8

Prevalence and Pattern of Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infection among HIV-Infected Children attending a Tertiary Health Facility in South Eastern Nigeria

Soil-transmitted helminthic infection has been postulated to influence the immunologic mechanisms in the body thereby affecting the hosts' ability to control infections like Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To determine the relationship between soil-transmitted helminthiasis and HIV co-infection in children attending a tertiary health facility in South Eastern Nigeria. This was a comparative crosssectional study involving 210 HIV-positive children and 210 HIV-negative children (age and sex matched) The prevalence rate of helminthic infection in HIV positive children was 5.7%. Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest species observed both for HIV-positive subjects (3.8%) and the controls (1.4%). There was a negative correlation between CD4 count of HIV-positive subjects and positive stool microscopy (r-0.136; p value = 0.048). The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among HIV-infected children attending Paediatric HIV Clinic at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri Imo State was three times higher than in HIVnegative controls. CD4 counts correlated negatively with soil-transmitted helminthic infection. This underscores the need for regular deworming of HIV-infected children

The Structure Of The Tapping Panel Of Raphia hookeri,(Mann and Wendl).

The Raphia palm is known for its main product, palm wine, an alcoholic beverage obtained by skilfully harvesting the palm sap through incisions made at the apex of the palm at the onset of emergence of the palm’s massive inflorescence. During the duration of tapping the palm for wine,which varies from 7 to 60 days, sap flow is induced through the removal of thin slices of tissues of three major structures in the panel- the emerging petioles of the short spear leaves, the emerging primary branch inflorescences and the main inflorescence axis. The transverse section of these three structures is described through the dissection of the tapping panel

Intestinal Parasitosis Among Unicef Primary School Pupils Of Isingwu Oraifite Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Southeastern Nigeria

No Abstract

Fruit Setting Under Controlled Natural Cross Pollination In Three Populations Of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)

Four coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties, West African Tall (WAT), Malayan Green Dwarf (MGD), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Malayan Red Dwarf (MRD), planted in the Main Station of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) near Benin City, in an isolated seed garden to produce different types of hybrids through open pollination were used Selected dwarf mother palms were emasculated, while the tall mother palms were not, allowing the tall palms to cross pollinate the emasculated dwarf palms. Controlled natural pollination of these selected dwarf mother palms was carried out for four years, 1996 – 2000. Data collected include number of bunches (NOB), number of buttons (NOBT) and number of nuts (NON). The various cross combinations (populations) studied were MGD x WAT (population 1), MYD x WAT (population 2) and MRD x WAT (population 3). Mean squares from the analysis of variance were significant (P< 0.01) for both palms and years for NOB, NOBT, NON and fruit setting percentage. The significant palms effect indicates that genetic variability existed among the palms, while the significant years mean squares suggested that climatic factors and other factors common to all environments, encounted for a proportion of the variation in the environment. The fruit setting percentage for the four years of investigation was 51.4% with a range between 48.2 – 54.3%. There was no significant difference in fruit setting percentage between the three populations. Maximum setting percentage was 54.3% in population 3, 51.7% in population 1 and 48.2% in population 2. Keywords: Controlled natural pollination, Fruit setting percentageJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 190-19

Packaging of oil palm seedlets/seedlings for air freighting

The mode of exporting oil palm planting materials from one country to another is by air and only sprouted seeds have been so transported. This method ensures that the seeds get to their destinations in good time and in healthy condition. Presently, there are indications that other forms of planting materials viz: seedlets and transplantable seedlings may be required for airfreighting. Oil palm seedlets of 4 - 5 leaf stage and nine month old seedlings with roots dipped in 0.2% Dithane M 45 solution to prevent fungal attack were used for this study. The roots of the seedlets and seedlings were given different treatment viz: dipping in clay slurry, planting in reduced soil, sawdust and with naked roots. The seedlets and seedlings were packaged in particle foam crates and stored at 18&#176C for 14 days. They were then transplanted into nursery polybags, filled, and scored for survival and growth. It was concluded from the study that it would be more feasible and cost effective to engage in the air transportation of preheated seeds, sprouted seeds or seedlets than planting materials in form of transplantable seedlings.Keywords: oil palm, seedlets, seedlings, freightingJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol 3(1) 2005: 146-15