The effect of the interaction of various oil types with different culture media on biomass production of Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler

Psathyrella atroumbonata, an indigenous mushroom species, was cultured on six different media that were inoculated separately with three different grain spawns and amended with six different oils at five different rates. The results revealed that the interaction of the various oils with the different culturemedia produced a highly significant effect (p<0.01) on the dry weights and stipe and pileus diameters of P. atroumbonata. The widest mean stipe diameters were produced by the interaction of coconut x animal bedding and rice as well as butterfat x sawdust media. Both the heaviest mean dry weight and widest pileus diameters were induced by coconut x animal bedding and rice medium

The effect of the interaction of various spawn grains and oil types on carpophore dry weight, stipe length and stipe and pileus diameters of lentinus squarrosulus (mont.) singer

Lentinus squarrosulus, an indigenous Nigerian mushroom species, was cultured on six different media that were inoculated separately with three different spawn grains and amended with six different oils at five different rates. The results revealed that the interaction of the different spawn grains with the various oil types produced a highly significant effect (

Proximate analysis of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer and Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two mushroom species commonly found growing on dead leaves and logs, were collected from the Zaria environ and taken to the laboratory for further studies. Each of the mushroom species was separated into its stipe and pileus and used for proximate analysis. There was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the two species. P. atroumbonata had significantly higher crude protein, crude fibre and moisture content than L. squarrosulus while the reverse was the case for ash, dry matter, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. In addition, there was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the different mushroom parts. The pilei contained significantly higher amounts of crude protein, crude fibre, ash, and dry matter than the stipes while the converse was the case for moisture, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. There was also a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the interaction of species by parts.Keywords: Lentinus squarrosulus, Psathyrella atroumbonata, proximate analysi

Nutritional studies with Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer and Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler: I. Animal assay

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two edible indigenous mushroom species, were dried, ground and used in nutritional studies. According to the results L. squarrosulus and P. atroumbonata had significantly lower protein efficiency ratio (PER) values than the standard casein diet but gave rise to net protein retention (NPR) values which were at par, but slightly higher than that of the standard casein diet. In addition, the mean albumin and bilirubin levels were significant at p<0.01 while the total serum protein level was significant at p<0.05. The animals fed the protein free and P. atroumbonata diets produced comparable total serum protein levels that were significantly higher than the comparable total serum protein levels produced by the animals fed L. squarrosulus and the standard casein diet. The albumin levels produced by mice fed the protein free diet were at par with those of the P. atroumbonata diet, but significantly higher than the albumin levels of animals fed L. squarrosulus and the standard casein diets, which were similar.Keywords: Lentinus squarrosulus, P. atroumbonata protein efficiency ratio, net protein retention ratio, total serum protein, albumin, bilirubi

Energy intake and anthropometry: A case study of families in Zaria, Nigeria

Energy intake and nutritional status of 44 members of 5 families in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State were evaluated for 6 consecutive days. The socioeconomic activities and health condition of the participants was determined by the administration of questionnaire interviews. Food samples were analyzed by the standard AOAC methods to determine their energy and proximate composition while nutritional status was determined by anthropometric measurements. The mean energy intake (EI) of the subjects from the families were 2435-4558 kj/d for age groups 1-5 years; 4446-4996 kj/d for age groups 6-15 years; 5632-6493 kj/d for age groups 16-35 years and; 5547-10,883 kj/d for age groups 36 years and above. Fifteen (42.9%) of the subjects from the families had a normal body mass index (BMI) of 20-25 kg/m2, 10 (28.6%) were underweight with BMI of 18.4 kg/m2 and below while 5 (14.3%) were of thin weight with BMI of 18.5-19.49 kg/m2. Energy intake contributed approximately 22% (r = 0.22) to the BMI

Roll Back Mycotoxicosis: An Ethnobotanical Alternative

A survey of the incidence of infestation of mycotoxic fungi on some edible seeds and grains was carried out on five major markets in humid South Eastern Nigeria with a view to reducing mycotoxicosis by depopulation of the vectors. Ethnobotanical extracts of Baphia nitida (Papilionaceae) and Kalanchoe pinnata (Crassulaceae) were used in the study. Aqueous and cold absolute ethanolic extracts of the two plants were separately sprinkled on seed samples of Arachis hypogea (Papilionaceae), Irvingia gabonensis, (Irvingiaceae), Physeolus lunatus (Papilionaceae), Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Fabaceae), Vignia ungiculata (Papilionaceae) and grains of Zea mays (Graminae). Seed samples were dusted with aqueous suspensions of pure cultures of Aspergilus flavus, A. oryzae, Fusarium moniliforme and Penicillium species and allowed to dry. The same were dispensed in two sets of four groups and incubated. After 14 days of incubation, both pairs of sets recorded zero growth relative to the control which showed luxuriant growth. Another set of seeds were treated with the extracts, stacked in Bacco sack, kept in a dry compartment in the open laboratory and monitored for 90 days. Seed samples were taken from the sack pool, moistened with sterile distilled water and incubated for 7days. The result also showed zero growth of the test fungi but the seeds sprouted. The relevance of the results to health and agriculture was discussed while recommendations with respect to preservation of post harvest grains and processed food were proffered.Keywords: mycotoxicosis, Baphianitida (Papilionaceae), Irvingia gabonensis, Penicillium speciesNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 277-28

Short Communication - Proximate analysis of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer and Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler

Lentinus squarrosulus   and Psathyrella atroumbonata   , two mushroom species commonly found growing on dead leaves and logs, were collected from the Zaria environ and taken to the laboratory for further studies. Each of the mushroom species was separated into its stipe and pileus and used for proximate analysis. There was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the two species. P. atroumbonata had significantly higher crude protein, crude fibre and moisture content than L. squarrosulus while the reverse was the case for ash, dry matter, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. In addition, there was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the different mushroom parts. The pilei contained significantly higher amounts of crude protein, crude fibre, ash, and dry matter than the stipes while the converse was the case for moisture, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. There was also a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the interaction of species by parts