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The study is aimed at establishing a simple protocol for in vitro regeneration of sweet potato with a view to providing planting materials to farmers as well as basis for genetic improvement. Axillary buds were excised and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal salts supplemented with 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP), gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) singly or in combination. The shoot height and number of leaves differed significantly among the cultivars. The result also indicated significant difference (p< 0.01) among the cultivars with King J recording the highest mean values. Significant differences (p< 0.05) was also recorded in the media combination with respect to organogenesis and number of shoots obtained. The results of hardening further revealed 33.33% success in the explants transferred directly to the field, as well as for the plantlets that were gradually weaned in a mixture of 3:1 sand and biochar.

Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano (Latitude 120 03′N and Longitude 80 32′E) and Jigawa State Research Institute Farm, Kazaure (Latitude 120 06′N and Longitude 8047 E) in 2015 rainy season. The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Parkia biglobosa fruit powder in the control of Striga (Striga gesnerioides (Walp) Vatke), growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) under field condition. The treatments consisted of three methods of Parkia fruit powder application (seed coating, basal and the control) and seven cowpea varieties (IT90K-277-2, IT97K-205-8, IT97K-390-2, IT97K-461-4, IT97K-568-11, IT98D-288, IT98K-131-2 and IT03K-378-4). These were laid in a split plot design and replicated three times. Methods of application of Parkia fruit powder were assigned to the main plot, while cowpea varieties were in the subplot. Results of the study showed that the control plots had the highest Striga count m−2 in both locations. The variety IT90K-390-2 recorded the highest number of Striga m−2 (5.11) while 1T97K-205-8 had none. Among the varieties tested, IT90K-277-2 recorded the highest grain yield (1841.3 kg ha−1) while IT03K-378-4 had the lowest grain yield (1439.4 kg ha−1) at BUK. Coating cowpea seeds with Parkia fruit powder recorded lowest stand count on most varieties. Basal application of Parkia fruit powder to IT90K-277-2 recorded higher grain yield (2137 kg ha−1) and lower Striga count m−2 (0.66), and is therefore recommended for Striga control.

Field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 at the Agricultural Research Station Farm, Minjibir, Bayero University, Kano. The study was conducted to know the nature and magnitude of the associations of some yield attributing characters on grain yield in Soybean. There are eighteen treatments consisting of two levels (inoculated and non-inoculated) of rhizobium inoculation, three levels (0, 10, and 20 kg N ha -1 ) of nitrogen and three levels (0, 30, and 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ) of phosphorus. These were laid in split-split plot design with three replications. Results of the study showed significant (p < 0.01) positive associations between all the measured characters and grain yield. The path analysis also revealed that number of pods per plant has the greatest direct effect on grain yield. The greatest combined contributions of yield characters to grain yield in soybean were observed from number of pods per plant and number seeds per pod. Based on these findings, attention can be given towards improvement of number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod as criteria for selection of soybean for increased grain yield.

The increased demand for high quality mango in Nigeria requires for provision of qualitative fruits with superior characters. This could be achieved by grafting of cultivars with the desired qualities onto and adapted and available rootstocks. In view of a the demand deficit, two trials were conducted in 2015 rainy season at the Kano Institute of Horticulture screen house, Bagauda to study the influence of scion length, scion type and root-stock on epicotyl grafting in mango. Treatments consisted o and 10 cm), scion types (Alphonso, Julie and Mabrouka) and local rootstocks (Dankamaru and Gwaiwarrago). These were factorially combined and laid in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Results of the study revealed t successful in 8 and 10cm scions and these produced more leaves and longest grafted saplings. Alphonso and Gwaiwarrago were most compatible as they recorded the highest graft success. Experiments involving many scions and rootstocks is determine suitable combination of scion and rootstock for successful epicotyl mango.

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