Inedible mushrooms are endowed with diverse nutritional and nutraceutical compounds. In this study, the amino acid profile, and phytochemical fingerprints of four selected wild inedible mushroom species from Oban Division of Cross River National Park (CRNP), Nigeria including Crepidotus applanatus (Pers.) P. Kumm, Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Cesati & de Notaris, Oxyporus populinus (Schumach.) Donk and Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd were investigated. The fresh sporocarps of study mushroom were collected from the decaying wood during July 2018. Samples for amino acids profiling were dried to constant weight, defatted, hydrolyzed, evaporated in a rotary evaporator and loaded into the cartridge of the Applied Biosystems PTH Amino Acid Analyzer and analyzed for 45 minutes. The samples for phytochemical analysis were subjected to methanol extraction using a Soxhlet extractor and rotatory evaporator and injected into the column of an Agilent gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS). The results of amino acid analysis revealed the presence of ten essential and eight non-essential amino acids in varying quantities across the species. The total amino acid content was highest in C. applanatus followed by D. concentrica, T. versicolor, and O. populinus in decreasing order. Glutamic acid, Arginine, and Aspartic acid were present in the highest amounts while Cystine, Lysine, and Histidine were the least across the species. The phytochemical screening of the samples led to the identification of 24 different compounds in D. concentrica, six compounds each in C. applanatus and O. populinus and three compounds in T. versicolor. In terms of percentage composition, 4H-Imidazo(1,5-a)(1,4)benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid, 5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-, ethyl ester, 1-Methylbicyclo[3.2.1]octane, Acetamide, N-(6-acetylaminobenzothiazol-2-yl)-2-(adamantan-1-yl)- and 9,19-Cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)-,TMS derivative were the most dominant compounds in C. applanatus, D. concentrica and T. versicolor respectively. The identified compound reportedly shows diverse bioactive activities, including antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anaphylactic, neurostimulant, pesticidal, insecticide and insecticidal activities. This data may represent the baseline information on the amino acid profiles and bioactive constituents of inedible mushroom species from Nigeria, as sources of noble compounds of substantial nutritional, medicinal and agricultural importance.

Abstract. This study investigated the ability of Penicillium sp. to bio-remediate spent engine oil contaminated soil both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro assay, mycelium of a seven day old culture of Penicillium sp. grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was punched out using a 0.5mm Cork borer and inoculated on the centre of Petri dishes containing the spent and unspent engine oil and incubated for seven days and daily reading of the mycelia growth obtained using a metre rule. For the in vivo assay, soil received 0 (control), 20/180, 40/360, 60/540, 80/720 and 100ml/900mm concentrations/treatments (inoculation with mycelium of Penicillium sp.). Seeds of Telfeira occidentalis was sown on the soil and assessed for growth performance (plant height, leaf area (using a metre rule) and leaf count (number of leaves) for 7, 14, 21 and 28 Days after Planting (DAP). Results of the in vitro assay showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the growth diameter of Penicillium sp. relative to control. Results of the in vivo assay showed that spent engine oil had no significant effect (p<0.05) on the growth performance of T. occidentalis at 7, 14, 21 and 28 DAP and on fresh and dry weight (g) 28 DAP relative to control. After 28 days of plant growth, the added spent engine oil was no longer detected. The plant began producing pods 61 DAP. This study showed that Penicillium sp. can biodegrade hydrocarbons present in spent engine oil and as such is a good tool for bioremediation.

Abstract. The phytochemical and antifungal efficacy of the ethanolic and methanolic stem bark and leaf extracts of Parkia biglobosa on the fungal pathogens isolated from infected green bean seeds obtained from the field in Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria were investigated in vitro. The pathogens were Botryodiplodia theobromae and Aspergillus niger. Various concentrations of the extracts ranging from 10g/100ml, 20g/100ml, 30g/100ml, 40g/100ml and 50g/100ml were separately added to PDA media. Results of the in vitro antifungal assay shows that at 40g/100ml and 50g/100ml concentrations, ethanolic stem bark and leaf extracts of P. biglobosa completely inhibited the radial growth of B. theobromae and A. niger after seven days observation period while those of methanolic extracts completely inhibited the redial growth of the fungal pathogens at 50g/100ml concentration. Results, however, shows that the extracts had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the radial growth of the fungal pathogens at all the different concentrations tested as compared with the control. Pathogen growth inhibition was most effective at 30g/100ml, 40g/100ml and 50g/100ml concentrations. The inhibitory action of the extracts increased/decreased with a corresponding increase/decrease in the concentration of the plant extracts. Ethanolic stem bark and leaf extracts of P. biglobosa was found to be more effective in inhibiting the redial growth of the fungal pathogens than those of methanolic extracts, also ethanolic and methanolic stem bark extracts were observed to be more effective in the inhibition of the radial growth of the fungal pathogens than leaf extracts. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponnins and tannins with traces of alkaloids in stem bark extracts while flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponnins, tannins and terpenoids were present in leaf extracts.

Abstract. The inhibitory properties of the ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Cola acuminata on the fungal pathogens isolated from infected tomato fruits were investigated. The pathogens were Fusarium moniliformes and Rhizopus stolonifer. Various concentrations of the extracts ranging from 10,20,30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100% were separately added to PDA media. The fungal pathogens were separately inoculated into the media and incubated for seven days. Antifungal effects of these extracts on the mycelia growth of the pathogens were significant at P<0.05 for all treatments at higher concentrations. At 10-50% concentration, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Cola acuminata had no significant effect on the mycelia growth of Fusarium moniliformes and Rhizopus stolonifer after seven days observation period. At 60-100% concentrations, the two pathogens were completely inhibited by ethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Cola acuminata. Methanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Cola acuminata inhibited completely Fusarium moniliformes and Rhizopus stolonifer at 80-100% concentrations. The in vitro inhibitory effects of these extracts at higher concentrations indicated that they can be used for the control of tomato fruit rot. It may be necessary to use them in prolonging the shelf-life of fresh tomato fruit and some other fruits.

Abstract. The antifungal activity of the ethanolic and aqueous fruit extracts of Zingiber officinale, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Garcinia kola and Cola nitida on the green rot fungus (Penicillium sp.) isolated from infected groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) seeds in storage were investigated in vitro. Various concentrations of the aqueous and ethanolic fruit extract ranging from 5g/100ml, 10g/100ml, and 15g/100ml were separately added to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. The fungus was inoculated into the media and incubated for seven days. Results of the in vitro studies showed that the ethanolic extracts had a significant inhibitory effect (p<0.05) on the radial growth of Penicillium sp. at all levels of concentration tested. Complete inhibition of the fungus was at 15g/100ml of ethanolic extracts of Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera. The aqueous extracts showed less inhibitory effect as compared to the ethanolic extracts. The effective inhibition of ethanolic extracts as compared to the aqueous extracts may be attributed to the efficiency of the extraction solvent on the phytochemical content of the plant extracts. The application of botanical extracts for disease management could be less expensive, easily available, non-polluting and ecofriendly. The ethanolic fruit extracts of Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera at the higher concentrations can be produced in large quantities and used as spray in controlling the green rot fungus of Arachis hypogaea in storage.