Alike other cereals, maize is deficient in certain essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan. While lysine is critical in protein synthesis for the growth of tissues and important in the absorption of calcium from the intestinal mucosa, tryptophan is the biological precursor of B-vitamin and niacin. Increasing protein quality alone may have a displacement effect on the efficiency of provitamin A, carotenoid bio-conversion and utilization. The research was designed to improve the quality protein maize with beta carotene in order to further enhance its nutritional content by hybridization, through the conventional method of breeding, using randomize complete block design (RCBD). Materials used were quality protein maize (white endosperm) genotype and yellow (rich in beta carotene) maize. Pollination was manually conducted and controlled, to exclude the possibility of unwanted pollination. Harvested seeds indicated a successful cross of both varieties as seen in the pigmentation of the hybridized maize seeds, which appeared pale yellow. However, the two varieties and their hybrid seeds harvested were subjected to laboratory analysis to compare their nutritional content. All the data collected were subject to statistical analysis using SPSS and mean separated by DMRT at 5% probability level. The result shows that individual varieties were higher in crude protein (13.5%) for yellow maize and Quality protein maize (12.9%), than the hybrid QYM (11.9%). Similarly, hybrid maize seed had higher percentage of lysine (1.37%), tryptophan (0.54%) and methionine (0.85%) than the individual varieties. Also the ear diameter correlated positively to 100 seeds weight.
Background Alteration in the normal composition of gasses in the atmosphere referred to as air pollution can occur as a result of different processes, including emissions from vehicles and power generators. Gasses affect living things directly and indirectly by playing roles in respiration, membrane function, synthesis, and growth. The gasses contained in fumes emitted from vehicles and generators may likely have effect on microorganisms in the environment including microfungi. Two microfungi were selected to study the effect of generator emissions on their growth. Results The gaseous emissions from power generators fueled by gasoline caused reduction in spore germination and germ tube lengths of R. stolonifer and F. oxysporum. For the former, spore germination decreased with length of exposure after an initial increase by ~ 100%. The fungus exhibited a single major germination peak at 10 min and a minor one at 30–35 min exposures. Germ tube length of the fungus also decreased with increased exposure. F. oxysporum too showed reduced spore germination and germ tube length with exposure but the fungus seemed to adjust better to the unfavorable environment created by emitted gasses showing multiple peaks of reduced heights as time progressed, though another rise that could reach a peak appeared at the 45-min maximum exposure for germ tube length. The peaks were however more broad for spore germination experiments indicating more stability in adjustment than observed for germ tube length. Greatest reduction in spore germination was by 25% in R. stolonifer and 71% in F. oxysporum Germ tube length reduction for R. stolonifer was by 24–76%, the greatest occurring at 35-min exposure, while for F. oxysporum it was 5–83%, the greatest occurring at 40 min exposure. Conclusions These observations reveal the toxicity of the gasses emitted to the growth of the two filamentous fungi and the potential harmful effect to other fungi which might be useful in the ecosystem as decomposers and to those that may be pathogenic to higher plants.
Background The release of pollutant gases into the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic activities exert effect on biological systems at many levels. Combustion engines such as those in vehicles and power generators pollute the air with emissions from their exhausts. The gases released which are oxides of carbon, nitrogen; sulphur and particulate matter have effect on living things in the immediate environment. Up to 25% of harvested fruits and vegetables are lost mainly due to microbial activities before consumption. Disease development in ripe tomato fruit (host) by two of its fungal pathogens in the presence of generator emissions is presently being studied. Results Treatment produced variable effects depending on the fungus and the route of infection. For Rhizopus stolonifer coated and Fusarium oxysporum wound inoculated fruits, significant disease reduction was noticeable in the later days of storage, specifically from day 11. Fruits coated with F. oxsporum spores without wounding however, rotted more with gasoline emissions treatment also noticeably at the later period of storage. Long exposures caused greater rot reduction where disease was reduced and more severe rot where disease was enhanced. Rhizopus infected fruits were best preserved for 14 days by 40 min exposure while wound inoculated Fusarium infected fruits were best preserved by 45 min exposure. Disease reduction was 40–50% in both types of infection. Conversely, disease was most aggravated by about 50% by 45 min exposure of unwounded Fusarium infected fruits. Other exposures also caused increased rotting by about 5–35%. Conclusions The results demonstrate that air pollution by fumes from generators may under certain host–pathogen conditions be advantageous in prolonging postharvest life of ripe tomatoes, while at other times could be devastating when fruits are subsequently stored or marketed at tropical ambient temperature. The advantage, however, outweighs the negative effects.
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