The effect of 2, 3-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (sniper) application on the nutritional contents of cowpea over a period of time has been investigated. The chemical free cowpea samples were purchased directly from local farmers in Mubi town, Adamawa State. Three different treatment rates of 5, 10 and 15 ml of sniper were used. Each of the treatment rates was applied to 13 kg of cowpea and was placed in an air tight galloon. Another galloon containing 13 kg of cowpea without chemical treatment was used as the control sample. These were kept for a period of 30 and 60 days before analysis. The proximate and mineral components of the cowpea were analyzed using standard procedures. Assessment of the proximate composition revealed varied concentrations of protein, carbohydrate, ash, fat, crude fibre and moisture that ranges between 22.79-26.16%, 58.85-60.86%, 3.85-5.88%, 2.25-2.53%, 1.52-1.76% and 5.90-6.85%, respectively. Most of the proximate compositions were observed to decrease with increase in sniper concentration and storage duration. The proximate contents at 60 days after treatment application were observed to be significantly lower than that at 30 days. The mineral components analyzed ranges between 185.03-195.54 mg/100 g (P), 226.32-245.76 mg/100 g (Ca), 80.76-85.92 mg/100 g (Mg) and 595.25-642.34 mg/100 g (K) respectively; and at day 60 it ranges between 186.54-198.65 mg/100g, 251.07-262.73 mg/100 g, 86.48-90.12 mg/100 g and 650.06-700.04 mg/100 g respectively. The mineral contents were observed to increase with increase in treatment concentrations as well as storage duration. Therefore, sniper has significant effect on the proximate and mineral contents of cowpea. The effect depends on the rate and duration of storage. The use of sniper as an insecticide in the storage of cowpea should therefore be discouraged.
The purpose of this research was to determine the appropriate methods of breaking seed dormancy, level of water uptake, and the influence of gibberellic acid on the early growth of Tamarindus indica seedlings. The scarification methods used included: concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4), manual scarification, flaming, hot and cold water treatments. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory on Petri dishes and in potting media. GA3 was used to optimize the production of seedlings by spraying the solution on the foliage. The treatment for 10 minutes with concentrated H2SO4 gave the maximum germination percentage and water uptake (80.41%). GA3 enhances the growth of the seedlings by increasing the height, the number of leaves and stem girth at eight weeks after sowing. In conclusion, all the scarification treatments applied to the seeds of T. indica proved effective. The ten minutes treatment with concentrated H2SO4 was the best treatment for breaking seed dormancy of T. indica. And gibberellic acid enhanced early and fast seedling growth as it increase height, number of leaves and stem girth of T. indica.
This study was focused on the ethanobotanical survey, phytochemical and proximate analysis of Jatropha tanjorensis in Mubi. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out in some selected parts of both Mubi North and South local government area through oral interview using traditional medicine practioners and some householders as the interviewee. After air drying, pulverizing and extracting the bioactive constituents of the leaf using ethanol and water as solvents, the phytochemical and proximate analysis were carried out using a standard procedures. The ethnobotanical survey showed that, J. tanjorensis were used in the study area as a remedy to diseases such as: measles, scabies, malaria, high blood pressure, stomach ache, diabetes mellitus, eczema and anaemia with 74 % of the interviewee mentioning leaves as part mostly used. The qualitative phytochemical screening indicated the presence of compounds, namely: tannins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides and anthraquinones in both the ethanoic and aqueous leaf extracts except terpenoids which was not detected in the ethanolic extract. The quantitative analysis showed glycosides (4.12 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (3.45 mg/100 g) as the highest compound in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. Carbohydrate was shown to be the highest proximate constituent with 52.38 % and fat the least with 1.76 %. Therefore, J. tanjorensis is rich in bioactive constituents and the leaves are mostly the plant part used as a remedy to illnesses such measles, scabies, malaria, high blood pressure, stomach ache, diabetes mellitus, eczema and anaemia.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.