Chemotaxonomic studies on Schwenckia americana LINN

This study investigated the chemotaxonomic studies on Schwenckia americana Linn., a member of the family Solanaceae predominantly found mostly in low grass fields, Nigeria. The habit is annual  herbaceous weed with slender stem characterized with free branching and growing up to 45cm in height.They are used mainly as medicine. The leaves are simple, entire, elliptic to ovate in shape, smooth, variable, petiolate and larger at the lower region of stem and narrowing to smaller almost sessile and oblanceolate towards the apical regions which are alternately arranged and acrescently structured from the top to the base up to 3.7 ± 1.5cm long and 2.4±0.6cm wide. The inflorescence is a panicle of 15 or more flowers occurring at stem terminal.The flowers are whitish tubular structures measuring up to 1.0±0.2cm in length and 0.1cm in diameter. The petals are whitish up to 0.9 ±0.2cm in length and sepals are greenish up to 0.1cm in length. The berry fruit is greenish when unripe and  pale yellowish when ripe up to 0.3±0.1cm in diameter. The seeds are blackish and spherical or  triangular shaped with rough edges measuring up to 0.1cm in diameter. The epidermal studies revealanomocytic stomata whereas the trichomes are simple uniseriate forms wth bulge heads. The anatomy of mid-ribs and petioles showed bicollateral vascular systems. There are three vascular traces and the node is unilacunar. The petioles have 2 rib traces at primary growth phase. At secondary growth phase, the mid-rib and petiole revealed vascular arcs and the stem has a ring of open vascular system. The cytological studies showed a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 24 and n = 12 for the haploids. Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, flavonoids, combined anthraquinones, free anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides are present.© JASEMKeywords: Morphological, Anatomical, Cytological, Phytochemical, Studies

Morphological characters, occurrence and distribution among members of the family Solanaceae in parts of the Niger Delta Ecological Zone

This study investigated a comparative micro-morphological features of 14 species in the family Solanaceae, using trichome and stomatal complements in delimitation of species and genera within the taxon, family. The genus Solanum L. is the largest among the genera in Solanaceae. Solanum aethiopicum Linn. Solanum macrocarpon Linn. Solanum torvum Swartz. Solanum anomalum Thonn. Solanum erianthum D. Don, are covered with stellate trichomes. While Solanum nigrum Linn., Solanum lycopersicum Linn., Solanum incanum Linn., Datura spp., Schwenckia spp., Capsicum spp., Physalis spp. have simple uniseriate trichomes. S. aethiopicum Linn. S. torvum Swartz. S. lycopersicum Linn, and Physalis micrantha Linn, revealed higher trichome indices. In most species, these trichomes are not visibly observed with the naked eyes. While in some others such as in S. torvum and S. lycopersicum the trichomes are observable on the plants. Glandular hairs are also present in Solanaceae. Stomata is amphistomatic, types commonly observed are: anisocytic and anomocytic, while paracytic and tetracytic stomata are sometimes revealed in stem epidermis in Solanaceae. The usefulness of trichome and stomatal complements in species and generic taxa are recommended as pertinent characters for classification in Solanaceae and their density may vary from one ecological zone to another.Keywords: Solanaceae, Solanum, Stomata, trichomes, Complements, Comparativ

Phytochemical And Micro Anatomical Studies on Leaf, Stem and Petiole of Two Species of Dioscorea (Dioscorea alata L. and Dioscorea bulbifera L.)

This study investigated the presence of bioactive compounds and micro anatomy on leaf, stem and petiole of Dioscorea species (Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea bulbifera). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides and absent of alkaloids, anthraquinone and phlobatanin in Dioscorea alata. Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides and flavonoids were present in Dioscorea bulbifera while anthraquinone and phlobatanin were absent. Microanatomical section of Dioscorea alata leaf showed amphistomatous epidermal cell with thickened cell wall and distinct middle lamella, bounded with intercellular air space, adaxial epidermal cells with eccentric nuclei, large central vacuole with thin peripheral layer of cytoplasm. The foliar epidermis of Dioscorea bulbifera leaf revealed anamocytic and anisocyticstomatas as well as dense hairy trichomes with cuticular striated cell wall on the adaxial and abaxial epidermis. Histological sections of Dioscorea alata stem revealed vascular bundles arranged in two concentric circles. The vascular bundle of the outer circle was smaller than the inner, with two metaxylem vessels together with one phloem unit present at both ends, however, the sections of Dioscorea bulbifera stem, showed bundles of inner circle with unpaired metaxylem with phloem unit at one end. Sections of Dioscorea alata’s petiole showed basically collateral vascular bundles arranged in a ring with the presence of two to three phloem units in each bundle with the presence of crystal granules. The sections of Dioscorea bulbifera’s petiole on the other hand showed longitudinal cell walls with the presence of sieve plates. These histological features and active compounds show that these plant parts are likely to have some medicinal compositions values that should be explored

Studies on chemotaxonomic properties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Linn.)

This research investigated the chemotaxonomic properties of Solanum lycopersicum Linn belonging to Solanaceae. The annual herbaceous free branching cultivated crop grows up to 60 cm or more in height. It has simple uniseriate trichomes densely dispersed all over the plant with adaxial and abaxial foliar trichome indices of 27.19% and 19.44% respectively. The compound leaves measure up to 6±3 cm long and 4 ± 2cm wide with serrated margin. The inflorescence has a cyme of 3 to 5 flowers or more. The petals are yellowish, up to 2±1 cm long and 1.5±0.7 cm wide with greenish sepals up to 1.5±0.7 cm long and 0.7±0.3 cm wide. Flowers are axile, hexa-pentamerous up to 1 cm in diameter with bilocular 2 celled ovary. The berry fruit is greenish when unripe and reddish when ripe, up to 5 cm in diameter with seed measuring up to 0.3 cm in diameter. The epidermal studies revealed anisocytic stomata with adaxial and abaxial stomatal indices of 19.30% and 19.64% respectively. The anatomy of mid-ribs and petioles showed bicollateral vasculation. The node is unilacunar. The stem anatomical section is made of 5 to 6 vascular bundles, with petioles associated with 2 rib traces at primary growth phase while at secondary growth phase, the mid-rib and petiole revealed vascular arcs and the stem, rings of open vascular system. Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, flavonoids and combined anthraquinones were present while free anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides were absent.Keywords: Morphological, Anatomical, Cytological, Phytochemical, Studie

Chemotaxonomic Characteristics of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) Danser of Loranthaceae Collected from University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Tapinanthus bangwensis commonly known as mistletoe, is a hemi parasitic shrub of Loranthaceae, and the native range is West Tropical Africa to Chad; used in tradomedicine to remedy various ailments in Nigeria. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the chemotaxonomic characteristics of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) Danser of Loranthaceae collected from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Results of anatomy revealed 4 to 5 rows of collenchyma at hypodermis, parenchyma domiciled in the ground tissues, vascular sclerenchyma present especially in vascular system. In the phytochemistry, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids were present while terpenoids absent. These information would assist for further delimitation of the species

Free-hand sectioning machine invented for anatomical studies of biological materials

This research was set to investigate an easier, faster, better and near-permanent sections made with advanced Free-Hand Sectioning Machine of tissues of Biological origin. The time of exposure using hazardous chemicals such as chloroform and xylene was considerably reduced to 5 to 30 minutes when compared to that of 2 to 3 hours in microtomy. The arrangement of 5 Razor Blades or more sets of such cross-sections, such that one vertical Nacet Blade lies in-between two horizontal Nacet Blades, serve as the heart of this machine, supported on both sides with two vertical sets of Tiger Blades, one on each reverse side. The material to be sectioned is placed through the hole immediately below the horizontal sets of blades, which are carefully pushed downward producing sections as thin as 5 to 15μm in thickness. The sections are pass through alcohol solutions of 30%, 50%, 70%, 95% and absolute alcohol for 10 minutes in each solution; and alcohol-chloroform series in the ratio of 3:1, 1:1, 1:3 and pure chloroform for 15 minutes in each series. The dehydrated sections were rehydrated in the same manner and stained with 50% alcohol with 1% Alcian blue for 5 minutes, rinsed with tap water and counterstained with 1% Safranin for 2 minutes, rinsed, dehydrated at 2 minutes in each solution and series, cleared in xylene and mounted with a drop of Canada Balsam previously mixed with xylene and a coverslip placed on it. The slides were dried in oven set at 300C. Photomicrographs were taken from good preparations. Keywords: Free-Hand, Sections, Blades, Biological, Materials

Taxonomic studies on Solanum macrocarpon Linn. and Solanum incanum Linn.

The present study investigated the comparative taxonomic properties of S. macrocarpon Linn. and S. incanum Linn. members of Solanaceae in the Niger Delta Tropics, Nigeria. They are used as vegetable and medicine. The plants are erect annual sub-wood, attain up to 120cm in height. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate and glabrous up to 18.5 ±5.0cm in length and 8 ± 3.0cm wide for S. macrocarpon Linn. while that for S. incanum Linn. is glabrous, obovate and cuneate base, acute apex and variegated shiny surface up to 27 ± 6cm in length and 15 ± 4.5cm wide with alternate phyllotaxy. The inflorescence has 4 to 6 flowers for S. macrocarpon Linn. but a panicle of 4 to 5 flowers for S. incanum Linn.. The petals are whitish up to 0.6cm in length and 0.3cm wide with greenish sepals for the former whereas the latter has very large flowers having violet coloured petals measuring 1.3 to 2.0cm in length and 0.3cm wide with long greenish sepals. The berry fruit is greenish when unripe and yellowish when ripe up to 4.5cm in diameter for the formerand darkish green up to 5.5cm in diameter for the latter. The epidermis revealed anisocytic stomata whereas the trichomes aresimple uniseriate and the flowers are axile in placentation. The anatomy of mid-ribs and petioles showed bicollateral vascular systems. There are 3 vascular traces at primary growth phases and node is unilacunar. At secondary growth phases, their mid-ribs and petioles revealed vascular arcs and the stems have rings of open vascular systems. The cytological studies showed a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 24. Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, combined anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides are present in both specieswhile free anthraquinones is absent only in Solanum macrocarpon Linn. and phlobatannin is absent in both species.Keywords: Morphological, Anatomical, Cytological, Phytochemical, Studie

Comparative chemotaxonomic investigations on amaranthus hybridus l. and Amaranthus spinosus L.

The present study is set to investigate the comparative chemotaxonomic investigations on Amaranthus hybridus L. and Amaranthus spinosus L. which belong to the family Amaranthaceae. They are dicots pre-dominantly found in the Niger Delta Tropics, Nigeria. The species are annual erect herbs with flower inflorescences as elongated spikes which are mostly paniculate occurring at ends of branches in globose fashion in axils of leaves.The nodes often have pair of axillary spines. Flowers are small, greenish with male ones at the top while the female ones below the clusters and stem is greenish but often reddish with one-seeded capsule as fruit in Amaranthus spinosus which attains up to 80 ± 20cm in height whereas A. hybridus differ in absence of a pair of axillary spines, the stems are greenish or slightly pinkish which grows up to 100 ± 10cm in height. A. hybridus is more of a vegetable and has alternate phyllotaxi and narrow cuneate base. Fruits from both species are circumscissile capsules and their inflorescences are terminal racemes positioned at their axils with female perianth segments of five. Epidermal studies revealed amphistomatic stomata which is anisocytic  type for both species. The stomatal index for A. spinosus adaxial foliar epidermis is 20% and the abaxial 20% whereas for A. hybridus adaxial is 20% and abaxial foliar stomatal index of 20%. Anatomical studies revealed open vascular system, collenchyma dominating the hypodermis while parenchyma occupied the general cortex and pith regions. A. hybridus has more vascular bundles and trichomes, and wider pith than A. spinosus. Phytochemical studies showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids are present in A. spinosus while alkaloids were absent only in A. hybridus. This may be the reason why A. spinosus is used more in tradomedicine than A.hybridus which served more as vegetable. &nbsp

Characteristics of Intercropped Sorghum and Soybeans; And Soybean Nitrogen-Fixation Under Shade

187 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1976.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE COSTS AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED TOP ECOWAS’ BANKS

The impact of business Intelligence costs on the performance of selected top ECOWAS’ banks that made Banker Magazine’s 2017 list of 1000 Global banks was investigated using descriptive-quantitative research approach and based on economic theoretical framework. Purposeful sampling technique was adopted based on availability of data. Data were extracted from sampled banks’ audited annual reports from 2012 to 2016. Six literature-backed hypotheses were developed and tested using OLS multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that: (i) computer hardware cost did not have significant effect on profitability; but, it had significant negative effects on value added and productivity of sampled banks; (ii) software cost had significant negative effect on profitability, and significant positive effects on value added and productivity of sampled banks; (iii) total equity had significant positive effects on profitability, value added, and productivity of sampled banks; (iv) bank age did not have significant effect on profitability; but, it had significant positive effects on value added and productivity of sampled banks; and (v) In cumulative terms, business intelligence cost had significant effect on profitability only; and it is negative. Practically, the study suggests that BI cost does not have significant positive effect on firms’ financial performance as it decreased profitability by circa 40%. Theoretically, the importance of economic model in BI studies has being highlighted. Far reaching recommendations have being proposed