Prophylactic effect of paw-paw leaf and bitter leaf extracts on the incidence of foliar myco-pathogens of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Ishiagu, Nigeria

The aqueous extracts of the leaves of paw-paw (Carica papaya) and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) were used to investigate their prophylactic effects on the incidence of myco-pathogens of groundnut inIshiagu, south eastern Nigeria. Two field experiments were conducted: pre-soaking of the seeds before sowing and post-germination spraying. Both experiments had significant effects (P < 0.05) on the disease incidence of the pathogens. In the pre-soaking experiment, the incidence was drastically reduced to 2.17% (for PL15–BL20 treatment combination) being the lowest disease incidence. Postgermination spraying proved efficacious on the disease incidence by reducing the disease incidence toas low as 2.20% for PL25–BL25 treatment combination. It is therefore recommended that both methods be used at the sowing and germinated stages respectively for better effective results

Studies on Meloidogyne javanica infestation on roma tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) under different soil amendments

The effect of different soil amendments on infestation of Meloidogyne javanica on roma tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) was investigated at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Nigeria using pot experiment. Completely randomized design was used for experiment and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). All significant differences observed were separated using Fisher's least significant difference (F-LSD). The parameters measured were plant height (cm) at 50% flowering, number of leaves at 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant at harvest, weight (g) of fresh fruit at harvest, number of galled roots per plant and number of galls per root per plant. The study revealed that there exist significant (P &lt; 0.05) differences among the amendments in the height of plant at 50% flowering, leaf number, number of fruit per plant and number of galls per root per plant. There was no significant (P &gt; 0.05) effect on weight of fresh fruit at harvest and number of galled roots per plant. Results further showed that soil amended with organic materials (poultry droppings, grass ash and Rice husk ash) at the range of 10 to 20 t/ha were good for optimum growth, performance and control of root-knot nematode of tomato. Therefore, farmers are advised to use 20 t/ha for optimum growth and control of root knot nematode on roma tomato

Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in different local agricultural waste materials

The present study was conducted to evaluate different substrates for establishment of yield performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The substrates were prepared from single or mixture of different agricultural waste materials supplemented with lime and water as additive to each substrate. A total of eight substrates labeled 1 to 8 were prepared. Substrate 4, which is a mixture of palm kernel cake and maize cob, had the highest mycelia growth rate (80%), sprouted 15 days after inoculation and yielded the highest total fresh weight for a period of 10 harvests (2957.5 g). Substrate 3, a mixture of palm kernel cake and sawdust, had 78% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 16 days after inoculation and yielded 2535.7 g fresh mushroom. Substrate 2 is a mixture of maize straw and sawdust and had 75% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 17 days after inoculation and a total of 2207.4 g fresh weight. The mushroom grown in substrates 4, 3 and 2 produced bigger and firmer fruiting bodies, which differed significantly (P &lt; 0.05) from the other substrates. Substrates 1 and 5 which had 50% mycelia growth rate, sprouted 31 and 33 days after inoculation and 1408.8 and 1092.6 g, respectively, were recorded after a period of 10 harvests. Substrate 4, 3 or 2 is therefore recommended for cultivation of oyster mushroom.Keywords: Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), mycelial growth, palm kernel cake (PKC), substrate, maturit

SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

Studies on the weed host range of bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) (Genus: comovirus) Disease of Soybean In Nsukka Agro-Ecological Zone, South Eastern Nigeria

The epidemiology of Bean Pod Mottle Virus (BPMV) disease of soybean involving screening of twenty soybean varieties and ten plant species for incidence of BPMV disease were studied for two years in the Nsukka Agro ecological Zone of Nigeria. Twenty soybean varieties used in the field experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, while ten plant species used in Screen house experiments were laid out in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Incidence of BPMV disease on soybean varieties by natural infection increased with time and reached 35% at 10 weeks after planting. The seed transmission of BPMV was not observed. Host range studies implicated five plant species including, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, Glycine max (L.) Merril, Calapogonium sp., Desmodium sp. and Mucuna mucunoides. They served as alternate host of BPMV disease

Effects of Botanical Extracts on the Mycelial Growth of Seed-Borne Fungi of The African Yam Bean, Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex a. Rich) Harms.

The effects of crude ethanolic plant extracts of Garcinia kola seeds and Nauclea latifolia root on mycelial growth of seed-borne fungi of African yam bean at different concentrations (100 mg/ml, 60 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml) were investigated. The seed-borne fungi were Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium sp. and Absidia sp. Results showed that all the plant extracts at various concentrations inhibited the mycelial growth of the seed-borne fungi. However, the inhibitory effects of the plant extracts increased with higher concentrations. The percentage inhibition of mycelial growth of fungal isolates by G. kola ranged from 57.9%-100%; 38.8%-72.6%; 31.4%-82.3% and 68.7%-100% for Absidia sp., Penicillium sp., A. flavus and F. moniliforme, respectively. Also, the percentage inhibition of growth of isolates by N. latifolia ranged from 52.3%- 89.4%; 37.1%-62.5%; 37%-93.6% and 49.7%-95.2% for the seed-borne fungi, respectively. G. kola extracts had more inhibitory activities on Absidia sp., Penicillium sp. and F. moniliforme while N. latifolia was more active against A. flavus.Key Words: Extracts, Inhibition, Seed-borne fungi, African yam bean, Mycelial growth

Studies on the tolerance of soybean (Glycine max,/i> (l.) Merrill) to Bean Pod Mottle Virus (BPMV) (genus Comovirus) in humid tropical zone of Nigeria

The reaction of twenty soybean varieties to inoculation with Bean Pod Mottle Virus (BPMV) (Genus comovirus) was studied for two consecutive years both in the field and in the greenhouse. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used for the field studies while completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications was used for the greenhouse studies. The tolerance of soybean varieties to BPMV was investigated using Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) and Gross Wounding Inoculation Technique (GWIT). The twenty soybean varieties studied differed significantly (P = 0.05) in the incidence and disease severity ratings of BPMV disease. TGX 1835-3E produced the highest (73.8%) incidence, while TGX 1864-25F gave the lowest (8.80%) incidence of BPMV disease in the field. TGX 1875-2E had the highest (3.9) disease severity rating of BPMV while TGX 1843-3E and TGX 1448-1E had the lowest (2.3 each) rating. BPMV was transmitted to soybean varieties by Gross Wounding Inoculation Technique (GWIT) (61.7%) and by bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) (51.5%). Keywords: Bean leaf beetle, Gross wounding inoculation technique, Transmission, Incidence, Bean pod mottle virusPlant Product Research Journal Vol. 12 2008: pp. 14-1

Influence of rural processing methods and postharvest storage treatments on quality characteristics of kola nut (Acuminata Schott & Endl.)

Quality changes of kola nut (Cola acuminata) as affected by processing methods and short-term storage environments were investigated. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Laboratory of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria. The treatments comprised of: three different colour plastic buckets – red, green, white and three inner linings - Newbouldia laevis leaves, Spondias mombin leaves and Black polyethylene sheets giving a 3 × 3 × 3 treatment combinations. The N. laevis, S. mombin and Black polyethylene sheets were laid inside the buckets as beddings for the kola nuts. About 0.45 kg of kola nuts (coated and uncoated) numbering 20 nuts were put in each storage container. Sensory quality of the nuts after storage was determined with quantitative descriptive analysis in expert panel, using six quality attributes. Physical parameters measured were; weight loss, pest incidence and sprouting incidence. Weight loss was significantly lower in white plastic storage container for coated kola nut while green plastic container reduced weight loss for uncoated. Black polyethylene sheet as inner-ling of the storage container significantly (P≤ 0.05) reduced weight loss and pest incidence in coated kola nut compared to uncoated. N. laevis and S. mombin significantly reduced weight loss in kola nuts. It is evident in this study that coated kola nut genotype were kept better than the uncoated kola nut.  Key words: Processing methods, kola nut, storage treatments, quality characteristic

The Efficacy Of Botanical Protectants In The Storage Of Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott)

Aqueous extracts made from Ocimum basilium L., Vernonia amygdalina Del., Azadirachta indica L. and Carica papaya L. at different concentrations (150g/l and 300g/l) were used to study their effects on corm fresh weight loss, rotting and sprouting of two cocoyam varieties (Colocasia esculenta var. “Ede Ofe” and var. Ugwuta”). All the aqueous extracts at both 150g/I and 300g/I reduced fresh weight loss and rotting of corms in both varieties better than in water control. O. basilium L. at both 150g/I and 300g/I significantly reduced fresh weight loss and rotting of corms in both varieties compared to all other extracts and also promoted higher sprouting in both varieties at 300g/l. C. esculenta var. “Ede ofe” had less weight loss, rotting of corms (i. e. were more storable) and less sprouting than C. esculenta var. “Ugwuta”. Agro-Science Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 93-9

Host suitability studies and reporting of resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

Efficient and improved agripreneurship cannot be attained if measures are not put in place to curtail crop losses due to nematode damage. This research was conducted to look at the level of resistance and susceptibility of selected annual crops to guide agripreneurs on what crops to adopt for planting in meloidogyne infested soils and in crop rotation as a method of cultural control. Five crops namely were randomly selected from different crop families and soillorganic manure medium in a 3:1 ratio was used as the planting medium. Nematode inoculum containing about 1000 larvae of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in 30ml of nematode slurry was used to inoculate the test crops with the control left un-inoculated. Data were collected on plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight and number of galls/plant. The data were analyzed using genstat and the mean separation done using Fisher’s least significant difference. The results showed that maize was resistant to the inoculum and a good control crop in nematode infested soils while the other four test crops (water-melon, green beans, tomato and green amaranthus) showed varying degrees of susceptibilities from the effect of the inoculum on all the parameters measured. Maize being immune to the inoculum can be used in rotation programmes as a cultural control crop in M. incognita infested plots to reduce the pest’s population and boost the yield of the follow-up crop.Keywords: Infestation, Nematode inoculum, Meloidogyne incognita, Resistance and Susceptibility