Assessment of growth and yield of some high-and low-cyanide cassava genotypes in acid ultisols of south eastern Nigeria

Thirty-eight high and low cyanide cassava genotypes were evaluated for growth and yield. The experiment was fitted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in growth and yield parameters, indicating strong genetic variations among the genotypes. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) highest average storage root weight of 1.5 and 1.8 kg were obtained from TMS 94/0035 (high cyanide cassava genotype) and TMS 98/0505 (low cyanide cassava genotype), respectively. Correlation analyses indicated significant (P ≤ 0.05) and positive associations between number of storage roots per plant, average storage root weight and root yield in the two types of cassava genotypes tested, indicating that the parameters are good indices that can be improved upon during breeding and selection to enhance root yield. Four high cyanide cassava genotypes (TMS 99/2123, TMS 96/1642, TMS 98/0068 and TMS 94/3200﴿ were outstanding in fresh root yield performance. To improve fresh root yield in cassava, the inter-relationships among the various agronomic character of the cassava genotypes demands appropriate attention. The study gives more information on the improvement of fresh storage root yield of cassava.Keywords: High cyanide cassava genotypes, low cyanide cassava genotypes, correlations, growth, yieldAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(5), pp. 651-656, 29 January, 201

Pregnancy Outcome in Cervical Incompetence: Comparison of Outcome Before and After Intervention

Context: Cervical incompetence is a major cause of recurrent mid-trimester pregnancy loss and preterm deliveries; it contributes significantly to fetal loss and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite its wide use, the effectiveness of cervical cerclage in its management remains unsettled.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cervical cerclage by comparing the pregnancy outcome before and after its insertion in women with cervical incompetence.Study design: An observational study [retrospective] of 95 women  diagnosed with cervical incompetence that had cervical cerclage inserted from 1st January 2007 to31st December 2010. The pregnancy outcomebefore and after cervical cerclage were compared, the data was analyzed using SPSS version 18; p value <0.05 was considered significant.Main outcome measure: The gestational age at the end of pregnancy, the duration of prolongation of the pregnancy after cervical cerclage and the pregnancy outcome.Results: Of 103 cases of cervical incompetence managed, 95 satisfied the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of cervical incompetence was 8.4/1000 deliveries or 0.85%. There were 85 elective and 10 emergency cerclage with mean gestational age at end of pregnancy of 36.06±3.96 vs. 25.10±3.99 and mean duration of prolongation of pregnancy 20.98±4.71 vs. 4.00±3.37 weeks. After cervical cerclage insertion, there was reduction in miscarriages [P<0.0001] and preterm deliveries [P<0.0001] and increase in term deliveries [P=0.4100] and viable pregnancies [P=0.001]. The child take home rate was 89.4% following elective and 20% after emergency cervical cerclage.Conclusion: Cervical cerclage resulted in improved pregnancy outcome in women with previous midtrimester losses or preterm delivery.Keywords: Cervical cerclage; cervical incompetence; pregnancy outcome; intervention

Evaluation of cassava (Manihot esculenta (Crantz) planting methods and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] sowing dates on the yield performance of the component species in cassava/soybean intercrop under the humid tropical lowlands of southeastern Nigeria

Field study was conducted during 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of cassava planting methods (horizontal or slanting) and soybean sowing dates (4 and 2 weeks beforecassava, simultaneous with cassava, 2 and 4 weeks after cassava) on the yield and yield components and biological productivity of the crop species grown in sole and intercrop. The treatments werearranged in a 2 x 5 factorial laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Intercropping significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the yield of cassava and soybean compared with theirsole crops. Horizontal method of planting cassava (P < 0.05) depressed yield and yield components of the crop species in the mixture. Soybean yields were generally low due to the shading effect of thecassava component in both cropping seasons. In 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, sowing soybean four weeks before cassava increased grain yield than when sown two weeks before, simultaneously, and two orfour weeks after cassava planting. There was no interaction effect between cassava planting method and soybean sowing date in the two cropping seasons. Regardless of the cassava planting methodused, soybean sown 4 or 2 weeks before cassava gave the highest monetary returns and net profit than soybean sown at any other time in the mixture or by growing the component crops separately

Current features of urethral mucosa prolapse among children in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

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