IN VITRO Proliferation of Plantain using Different Concentration of Auxin and Cytokinin

This study was carried out in the Tissue Culture Laboratory of Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), moor plantation, Ibadan. The explants used were obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and the growth parameter studied is the number of proliferated buds. MS (Murashige and Skoog) media supplemented with 0.18mgl-1NAA + 2.3mgl-1BAP supported the growth and bud formation in meristem culture of Musa paradisiaca cv. Agbagba during the initiation stage. After the first apical buds appeared, the buds were transferred to MS media supplemented with different combinations of Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Benzylaminopurine (BAP) at different concentrations (0.0mgl-1NAA + 0.0mgl-1BAP, 0.1mgl-1 NAA + 3.5mgl-1 BAP, 0.18mgl-1 NAA + 4.5mgl-1 BAP, 0.26mgl-1 NAA + 5.5mgl-1 BAP). The results obtained showed that proliferation media supplemented with 0.18mgl-1 NAA + 4.5mgl-1 BAP yielded the highest number of buds. This study however revealed the effect of hormone in the initiation and proliferation of plantain buds as essential and MS medium with NAA (0.18mgl-1) and BAP (4.5mgl-1) was the optimum concentration required for the proliferation of plantain. Keywords: Optimum concentration, In-vitro, MS medium, proliferated bud

Screening of Tanzanian medicinal plants for anti-Candida activity

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans has become resistant to the already limited, toxic and expensive anti-Candida agents available in the market. These factors necessitate the search for new anti-fungal agents. METHODS: Sixty-three plant extracts, from 56 Tanzanian plant species obtained through the literature and interviews with traditional healers, were evaluated for anti-Candida activity. Aqueous methanolic extracts were screened for anti-Candida activity by bioautography agar overlay method, using a standard strain of Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). RESULTS: Twenty- seven (48%) out of the 56 plants were found to be active. Extracts of the root barks of Albizia anthelmintica and Balanites aegyptiaca, and roots of Plectranthus barbatus showed strong activity. CONCLUSION: The extracts that showed strong anti-Candida activity are worth of further investigation in order to isolate and identify the active compounds