Honey is a very complex biological product. It has great diversity, giving it a multitude of properties, both nutritionally and therapeutically. This study aimed to study the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honeys collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the different phytogeographical areas of Benin. The study revealed that all honeys had pH, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, free acidity, total sugars, and reducing sugars, respectively, ranging within 3.65-4.09; 12.07-13.16%; 530.25-698.50 s/cm; 0.42-0.53%; 35.67-40.52 meq/kg; 60-70%; and 58-70%. Moisture content, total sugars, and reducing sugars varied very significantly ( < 0.05 to < 0.001) from one area to another and from one season to another. However, only the production season has a significant influence ( < 0.05) on the pH of the honey. With regard to the ash content, free acidity, and electrical conduction, no significant difference ( > 0.05) between the zones or between the seasons was observed. The results of the microbiological characterization showed that there is heterogeneity in the microbial load. These results have shown that these honeys meet international standards and their characterization will make it possible to obtain Beninese quality labels.
Lambda-cyhalothrin (λ-cyhalothrin) is the most commonly used pyrethroid insecticide for vegetable farming in Benin. This insecticide is misused and overused by farmers, and hence may pose health hazards to consumers. We monitored λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms at the market gates in Cotonou and Parakou using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis techniques. These residues were also monitored on samples directly from farms (on-farm sampling) for 14 days post-treatment. Potential factors such as photolysis and hydrolysis involved in λ-cyhalothrin degradation were also screened. Results revealed that the level of λ-cyhalothrin residue concentrations in lettuce from Houeyiho decreased from 4.2 mg/kg on Day 1 to about 0.2 mg/kg on Day 7. On Day 9, analyzed lettuces were all λ-cyhalothrin free. In contrast, even 14 days after treatment of cabbage from Bawera (Parakou), we still recorded the presence of λ-cyhalothrin residues in analyzed samples. For samples from market gates, λ-cyhalothrin residues were found in lettuce from two markets out of the nine surveyed in Cotonou. Interestingly, none of these contaminated samples had residues above the maximum residue limit for lettuce (MRL = 0.5 mg/kg). Similarly, in Parakou, samples from all five surveyed vegetable markets were contaminated with λ-cyhalothrin residues at concentrations below the MRL for cabbage (MRL = 0.2 mg/kg). We conclude that λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms and markets in Parakou and Cotonou are within the MRL, and hence are relatively safe for consumption.
Modélisation simultanée de la perception et de l'adaptation au changement climatique : cas des producteurs de maïs du Nord Bénin (Afrique de l'Ouest) Résumé Au Bénin comme dans la plupart des pays en développement, les producteurs sont de plus en plus confrontés au besoin d'adapter leurs systèmes de cultures aux circonstances changeantes du climat. Cet article a pour objectif d'analyser l'adaptation des producteurs de maïs au changement climatique. Pour ce faire, la perception du changement climatique par les producteurs et les stratégies d'adaptation développées par eux ont été identifiées en vue d'en analyser les facteurs déterminants. L'étude a été conduite dans le Nord Bénin et plus précisément dans les communes de Malanville, Banikoara, Bembéréké et Natitingou. Au total, 336 producteurs de maïs ont été échantillonnés de façon aléatoire et ont ensuite été interviewés. De manière générale, les producteurs de maïs du Nord Bénin perçoivent le changement climatique et s'y adaptent principalement à travers la diversification des cultures et l'ajustement des pratiques culturales et du calendrier agricole. Le modèle Probit de Heckman utilisé a révélé que l'expérience dans l'agriculture et l'appartenance à une organisation étaient positivement et significativement corrélées aussi bien avec la perception du producteur qu'avec sa décision de s'adapter au changement climatique. La pratique d'une activité secondaire, l'accès au crédit et le contact avec une structure de vulgarisation ont des incidences positives et significatives sur la décision d'adaptation du producteur au changement climatique. En revanche, le nombre d'actifs agricoles par ménage et le droit de propriété sur les terres exploitées ne sont pas significativement corrélés avec la décision du producteur de s'adapter au changement climatique.
A total of 181 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, M. flavoviride Gams and Rozsypal, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, and Sorosporella sp. was found in a survey of Orthoptera in West Africa, Madagascar, Oman, and Pakistan between 1990 and 1993. Prior to this survey, there were only 28 isolates of hyphomycete fungi from Orthoptera held in international culture collections. Seventeen of the recently acquired Metarhizium isolates have been determined to be highly virulent during screening tests as part of a research programme for the development of a microbial insecticide against locusts and grasshoppers in Africa. Ninety-five isolates came from Benin which was the country where survey activities were most concentrated, and 63 of these isolates were found in Malanville, northern Benin, between 1991 and 1992 during an epizootic of M. flavoviride. Recordings from Oman and Pakistan represent the first specimens from these countries to be deposited in international culture collections. No deductions can be made on the best method for survey; both incubation of live grasshoppers and field searches for cadavers yielded results. Soil baiting with Orthoptera was used with some success. Limited soil screening using selective agar media was not found to be particularly useful.
L'analyse des indices cubitaux a montré qu'en dehors des abeilles de Dabou qui avaient une valeur moyenne de 2,28 ± 0,35, les abeilles de toutes les autres localités avaient des indices inférieurs à 2,10. Les résultats ont montré que les abeilles peuvent être classées selon la valeur de leur indice cubital, en trois groupes assez distincts. Cette étude ayant révélé une variation significative dans les caractères morphométriques de l'abeille au Nord-Est du Bénin, il importe d'adopter des stratégies appropriées pour la conservation de leur diversité.
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