The effect of desiccation on lipid content, fatty acid composition and the antioxidative enzymic capacity was investigated in seeds of Telfairia occidentalis, harvested at physiological and agronomic maturity. Seeds were dried at 5 and 28 o C, environments that induced different drying and metabolic rates. Desiccation of seeds was associated with decreased antioxidative enzymic capacity (of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase), and thus increased likelihood of free radical attack and decreased viability (germinability). Agronomically mature seeds contained predominantly saturated fatty acids (tridecanoic), with very low levels of the major fatty acids of edible oilseeds (palmitic, stearic or the unsaturated C18 fatty acids). There was increased accumulation of the mono-unsaturated (oleic) and polyunsaturated (linoleic) fatty acids when seeds were dried at 28 o C and moisture contents have reduced to about 42 % or lower. In contrast, seeds dried at 5 o C maintained high levels of saturated fatty acids and lower levels of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Results suggest the need to develop different post-harvest protocols for seed storage, and for processing T. occidentalis to 'improve' the seed fatty acid profile as an oilseed for human and animal food.

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The loss of Africa's forests and bioresources is occurring at an alarming rate, a consequence of increasing population pressure, agricultural land degradation, urbanization and neglect. There is a growing recognition worldwide that conservation and sustainable management of bioresources are pressing priorities in the world today. The choice of conservation methods and techniques depend on the objectives of the particular conservation effort, the breeding system and behaviour of the species in question as well as the available resources including funds, trained personnel, infrastructure and technologies. The use of biotechnological tools and "bioprospecting" will open new vistas in medicine, agriculture, silviculture, horticulture, environment and other important issues. This paper reviews some biotechnological tools that could be harnessed in promoting conservation and sustainable use of bioresources.

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Seeds of S. tryonii require an after-ripening period for germination.

Background Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an acquired defect of the cellular immunity associated with the infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The disease has reached pandemic proportion and has been considered a public health concern. This study is aimed at analyzing the trend of HIV/AIDS research in Nigeria. Method We used the PUBMED database to a conduct bibliometric analysis of HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria from 1986 to 2021 employing “HIV”, “AIDS”, “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome”, “Human immunodeficiency virus”, and “Nigeria” as search description. The most common bibliometric indicators were applied for the selected publications. Result The number of scientific research articles retrieved for HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria was 2796. Original research was the predominant article type. Articles authored by 4 authors consisted majority of the papers. The University of Ibadan was found to be the most productive institution. Institutions in the United States dominated external production with the University of Maryland at the top. The most utilized journal was PLoS ONE. While Iliyasu Z. was the most productive principal author, Crowel TA. was the overall most productive author with the highest collaborative strength. The keyword analysis using overlay visualization showed a gradual shift from disease characteristics to diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Trend in HIV/AIDS research in Nigeria is increasing yet evolving. Four articles were retracted while two had an expression of concern. Conclusion The growth of scientific literature in HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria was found to be high and increasing. However, the hotspot analysis still shows more unexplored grey areas in future.

Studies to identify the stage at which developing fruits of Irvingia gabonensis (var. excelsa and var. gabonensis), picked from standing trees and/or forest floors, attain maximum viability and germinability were conducted in two harvesting seasons in 2000 and 2001. Some pretreatment methods were used as a means of stimulating expression of maximum germinability as source of seeds for seedling production. The moisture contents of whole seeds decreased steadily and significantly (P = 0.05) throughout the developmental stages of both varieties and in both harvests. Seeds harvested from standing trees and forest floors, pretreated by steeping in water for 24 h at 26 o C and sown in sawdust and petri dishes on moist filter paper, gave 80% germination in variety gabonensis, 20 weeks after fruiting. Germination potentials of seeds in both harvests were enhanced significantly (P = 0.05) with seeds pretreated by steeping in water for 24 h at 26 o C, and sown in sawdust and petri dishes on moist filter paper by as much as 60% and 80% for var. excelsa and var. gabonensis, respectively, in the developmental stages, 14-20 weeks after fruiting with significant (P = 0.05) decrease in germination time to 21 and 15 days, respectively. There was also significant (P = 0.05) relationship between viability and germination in both harvests and in the two varieties throughout the developmental stages. Potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ) significantly (P = 0.05) enhanced germination potentials of the seeds over the control when soaked in 1.5 g/l concentration in both varieties and in the two harvests (18-20 WAF) by 80%. Mannitol significantly (P = 0.05) reduced germination potential (40%) of the seeds with increased germination time in both harvests and in the two varieties throughout the developmental stages. There was a high significant (P = 0.05) increase in germination potential (60%) of seeds treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) when soaked in concentration of 10 g/l for 48 and 72 h in both varieties and in the two harvests (18-20 WAF). The study shows that the fruits of I. gabonensis assume ripening characteristics (yellowing) and that the viable seeds can be obtained from standing trees and/or picked from forest floors from the 12th to 20th week after fruiting.

Several studies have recorded effect of spent lubricant oil pollution on soil properties. This study aims at evaluating the ecology of waste oil pollution and the impact of phytoremediation on soil hydraulic conductivity vis-à-vis some edaphic properties using three leguminous plants; with the objectives of performing field and laboratory study of such contamination and impact of phytoremediation on such properties as soil texture and structure, particle density, bulk density, porosity, organic matter content and total hydrocarbon content and hydraulic conductivity. Using classical and conventional methods to assess the performance of these plant species, result showed a trajectory influence across pollution levels on the soil edaphic properties culminating to decrease in hydraulic conductivity. With the impact of phytoapplication P. pterocarpum had greater particle size (87.73%) of sand, particle density of 2.61 g/cm 3 with significant difference (P=0.05) than C. retusa and L. leucocephala treated soils. A significantly (P=0.05) lower bulk density (0.83 g/cm 3), increased porosity (68%) and reduced organic matter content (2.65%) were recorded in