This study examined the effects of different levels of NPK fertilizer on the growth of Vitellaria paradoxa. Shoot height, collar diameter and leaf productions were assessed fortnightly up to the sixteenth week after transplanting. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatments in shoot height, collar diameter and leaf production. It was observed that shoot height of Vitellaria paradoxa exhibited close values ranging from 8.49 to 10.64 cm. The leaf production ranged from 6 to 10 at the end of sixteenth week of study. Different levels of NPK fertilizer applied did not have effect on collar diameter of seedlings of V. paradoxa during the period of study. The study has shown that application of NPK fertilizer did not have significant effects on the growth of seedlings of V. paradoxa. In conclusion, more effort should be employed in determining optimum quantity of mineral fertilizers required to promote the growth of V. paradoxa seedlings in the nurseries.

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Garcinia kola plays an important socioeconomic role in the Africa culture. Inspite of this, the plant only exists in the wild or as part of left over in the Agroforestry farms. Therefore, this research examined the phenology in seed germination for possible plantation establishment. G. kola seed dormancy and growth was investigated using hormone Napthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and Benzene Amino Purine (BAP) application to induce quick germination and early growth The experiment was laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven treatments (0.5mg/ml BAP, 0.5mg/ml NAA, 1mg/ml BAP, 1mg/ml NAA, 2mg/ml BAP, 2mg/ml NAA and Control) in twenty replications. The results showed that Garcinia kola seeds germinated in seven weeks in IBA. Growth were assessed for 19wks and the result showed that Length of Radicle (LR) and Number of Radicle (NR) were significantly affected by the treatments, while 0.5mg/ml IBA gave the best result among the treatments. Length of Plumule, Number of Leaves and Collar diameter were not significantly affected by the treatments.Keywords: Garcinia kola, seed, hormone, dormancy, germination

This study examines the effect of sowing media and sowing depth on the germination and growth of Lecanodiscus cupanoides (Planch.Ex Benth). The germination of L. cupanoides seed was significantly affected by sowing depth and sowing medium at p=0.05. The result of various sowing media and sowing depth showed that the seed sown at 2 cm and 5 cm depths had the highest germination percentage of 52% each. This was followed by surface sowing with 49.3% and the least germination was found at 7 cm depth. Also, the highest germination was also recorded in sawdust with 50 % germination followed by those planted in topsoil with 44%. Least germination percentage was recorded in river sand (41%). Lecanodiscus cupanoides seedling height was significantly affected by sowing depth and sowing medium. The highest plant height was recorded in seeds sown at 5 cm depth (9.6 cm) while the least height was recorded in Sawdust with 8.6 cm.Shoot height was highest in humus rich top soil with 9.9 cm followed by river sand with 9.2 cm. The least shoot height was found in sawdust with 8.6 cm. Other parameters are mean leaf production and collar diameter. The highest leaf production was found in seeds sown in river sand at 2 cm depth with mean values of 10.5 and 11.0 respectively. The highest collar diameter was in humus rich top soil and river sand with value 2.6 mm. Observations from the study shows that to propagate L.cupanoides on large scale, it is better to sow at the depth of 5 cm and in sawdust for its germination.Keywords: Lecanodiscus cupanoides, sowing depth, sowing media, seedling growth and germination

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of water and methanolic extracts from root bark of Ficus exasperata. The crude extracts were screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Samonella typhimurium Shigella spp, Candida valida, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium flocciferum at 125μg/ml, 250μg/ml and 500μg/ml concentrations using agar well diffusion. The methanolic extracts had more inhibitory effect on test organisms than water extracts. Antimicrobial activity observed with water extract ranged between (10±0.24 - 25±0.20mm) with no detectable activity at 125μg/ml on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Similarly, no detectable activity was observed with Candida valida, Candida albicans and Fusaruium flocciferum at all concentrations with water extract. Better antimicrobial activity was observed with the methanolic crude extracts at all concentrations with all test organisms. The activity ranged between (25±0.19 - 35±0.82 mm). Prelimlinary phytochemical screening of Ficus exasperata root bark showed that it contains saponin, alkaloids, cardiac glycoside and reducing sugar with no traces of tannin and anthraquinone. The results of the study provide scientific basis for developing a novel broad spectrum antimicrobial herbal formulation in future.Keywords: Ficus exasperata, antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis

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