Seed weight is essential in assessing seed quality traits, while sowing medium has significant role in seed germination. This study therefore assessed effect of seed weights and sowing media on germination of Afzelia africana seeds to enhancing sustainable production of the species. Seeds of different sizes were collected, weighed and grouped into small (120), medium (120) and large (120) seeds. Each seed group was sown in three sowing media (washed river sand, decomposed sawdust, and forest top soil) replicated 4 times and arranged in Completely Randomized Design. The growth assessment comprised of 3 treatments which included seedlings from small, medium and large seeds and replicated 4 times. Plant height, leaf production and stem diameter were assessed fortnightly for twelve weeks. Biomass assessment was carried out twice (second week and twelfth week). Mean Daily Germination, Germination Percentage, Germination Energy, Peak Value, Germination value, Net Assimilation Rate and Relative Growth Rate were estimated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean Daily Germination showed that large seeds sown in river sand large seed size sown in saw dust (T4 and T7) had highest value of 3.47 and 3.29 respectively with GV of 12.83. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the effects of different sowing media and seed weights on the germination of A. africana. Saw dust gave the highest mean value with 52.777±0.28 while mean value of large sized seeds was highest (57.539±0.6). There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the effects of different seed weight on the height, collar diameter and leaf production. Germination percentage of A. africana improved significantly with the sowing media and seed weight especially sawdust, river sand, and large seed size. It therefore suggested that A. africana seedling should be raised at nursery stage with river sand and Large seed size in order to increase the growth of plant and have more vigorous seedlings for plantation establishment.
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.
Naturally inherited herbs are almost lost and only very few are left in the herbal trade. The study therefore assessed the medicinal values of Rauvolfia vomitoria and its availability in Ibadan municipality with the use of structured questionnaires and target informant interview. A multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data on medicinal values of Rauvolfia vomitoria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and cross tabulation. The findings revealed that Rauvolfia vomitoria has a lot of medical potential in curing and preventing ailments like malaria, typhoid, and jaundice among others. It also has aesthetic effects on human beings and their environment. The plant is abundant at both seasons of the year as testified by 95% of the respondents. It is therefore recommended that sustainable management and domestication of Rauvolfia vomitoria must be ensured for posterity. In the same vein, preservation techniques of the harvested parts must be intensified to avoid quick spoilage.
Chrysophyllum albidum (African star apple) fruit is among the well known indigenous fruit trees in the tropical rainforest zone of the Western region of Africa. The fruits are much cherished by both the young and the old and are of huge commercial interest in Nigeria. The fruits often deteriorate within a very short period and become spoilt as a result of fungi attacks. The study therefore carried out the survey of fungi attacks on C. albidum and investigates the etiology of post harvest deterioration. Fresh fruits were procured from purposively selected markets in Ogun State for microbial analysis. Descriptive and cross tabulation analysis were used to analyze the data and these include: percentages, frequency distribution and cross tabulation. The results of this study showed that five fungal genera were associated with African star apple fruits. The fungi found on the surface of the fruits were Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium citrinum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus spp. Fusarium solani was the most abundant and prevalent in almost all the localities. The incidence of the occurrence of fungi found associated with highest percentage of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (40.37%) and Fusarium solani (26.23%) respectively. The least occurrence of all the fungal isolates is Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus niger, Penicillum citrinum and Aspergillus fumigatus. They all were found to be pathogenic to C.albidum fruits and responsible for their spoilage. Therefore the use of local preservatives (plant extracts) like Afromomum danielli, Afromomum melegueta and chemical disinfectants like paraozone, sodium chloride and sodium benzoate at mild dosages were recommended to reduce the losses due to storage moulds. Early harvesting of the fruits, prevention of over ripening and keeping the fruits dry and cool at all time should be ensured.Keywords: Chrysophyllum albidum, fungi attacks, etiology, microbial analysis, preservatives
Viability of tropical seeds is crucial in plantation establishment. Temperature – moisture duration relationship of the seed is of great significance in seed viability. 3000 ripe fruits of V. paradoxa C. F. Gaertn were collected from each of three sources where it is endemic: Eruwa, Sakiand New-Bussa. The fruits were depulped; a sample of 100 seeds was drawn from each of the three sources and sown in washed and sterilized river sand to monitor the germination percentage of the seeds. The seeds were dried under dehumidifier to attain two moisture contents (43% and 32%). Thereafter, each seed lot from the three sources was divided into two batches (A and B) of 1200 seeds each, divided into four and stored at four different temperature regimes: -20°C, 5°C, 22°C and 28± 2°C. Samples were taken monthly for germination test for six months. Data were subjected to percentages and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that freshly collected seeds of V. paradoxa had 98% germination when sown within 48 hours of fallen and collection which eventually dropped to 4.4% after the six months storage. Storage temperature had significant effect (P > 0.05) on germination of the seeds. Seeds stored at 28±2°C had the highest mean germination (72.2%), those stored at 22°C had 70.2% while seeds stored at -20°C and 5°C failed to germinate. The seeds of V. paradoxa readily lost viability with time, hence fallen fruits should be collected during fruiting season processed and sown immediately or within 7 days of collection.
Entandrophragma angolense is relatively slow growing species and its growth needs to be enhanced by soil nutrients amendment. Uniformed two weeks old seedlings of E. angolense were transplanted into the polythene pots filled with 2kg of degraded soil and mixed with different levels of biochar and ash produced from bamboo. A 2 x 7 factorial experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications to assess the effects of charred bamboo and its ash on the stem girth, leaf area, leaf production and shoot height of E. angolense. The germination data were subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments in leaf area and shoot height while there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments in stem girth, leaf production and interactions among levels of biochar and ash. On stem girth, leaf production and shoot height, T6 (15g of bio char + 15g of ash + degraded soil) had the highest mean value of 4.27 mm, 4.59 and 37.55cm respectively while T2 (30g of bio char + 0g of ash + degraded soil) had the highest leaf area (73.31cm2 ). The biochar and ash from bamboo had significant effects on the growth and development of E. angolense seedlings on degraded soil. Keywords: Degraded soil, Pyrolysis, Biochar, Ash, E. angolense
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