International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

Flour beetles of the genus Tribolium are major and cosmopolitan pests of stored products. This study was conducted to estimate the repellency effect of essential oils and powders of Mentha longifolia, Thymus daenensis, Achillea wilhelmisii and Artemisa haussknechtii against adults of T. castaneum and T.confusum. Essential oils were prepared by hydro distillation methods using clevenger-type apparatus. Based on primary experiments, for each essential oil, three concentrations in 30 replications were used. Experiments were carried out at 30±2°C and 60±5% relative humidity (RH) using flat olfactometer. Results showed that all the four plant essential oils tested were found to be repellent against T.castaneum and T. confusum. The essential oil of M. longifolia exhibited significantly stronger repellency effects; as at 0.9 μL oil concentration caused 86.7 and 80% repellency of T.castaneum and T.confusum, respectively.
At the highest concentration (6 μL) repellency effect of essential oils extracted from T.daenensis, A. wilhelmisii and A.hausskenechtii were recorded 71.42, 79.31 and 57.14% against T.castaneum and 78.57, 71.42 and 77.77% against T.confusum, respectively. At the highest dosage (1.3 g) repellency effects of M.longifolia powder against T. castaneum and T. confusum were 76.92 and 65.51%, respectively, while at this dose repellency effect by powder of T. daenensis, A. wilhelmisii and A.hausskenechtii against T. castaneum and T. confusum were recorded 52, 55.55 and 43.83% and 60, 61.53 and 40.74%, respectively.

Keywords: Botanical powders, Essential oils, Repellency, Storage pest, Tribolium

Effects of different metals on growth of bacteria were identified to be heavy metal resistant. A total of six bacterial samples were selected, re-purified and re-identified from the bacterial isolates. Different morphological and biochemical tests were performed that differentiated bacteria into two genera (Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp). Bacteria were grown at pH 7 and temp of 37ºC up to incubation time of 96 hours. Three metals (Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+) were used with concentrations ranged between 25-200 mg/ml. It was found that as the concentrations of metals increased, growth of Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. firstly increased and then decreased in case of all selected metals. Lowest growth occurred at 200 mg/ml of metal concentration. Optical density at 600 nm was considered as a measure of growth of bacteria. As growth increased, optical density increased and vice versa. Na+1 was found to have a more negative effect on growth of bacterial isolates as compared to other two metals that is, Ca2+, Zn2+. Bacillus spp. Under investigation was found to be more resistant to these metals as compared to Pseudomonas spp. Both bacterial isolates showed their maximum growth after 72 hours of incubation in most of the cases, afterwards growth decreased. Decreasing resistance patterns for both of bacterial species were as follows; Ca2+ > Zn2+ > Na+. The findings revealed the potential application of Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters under the conditions where salts of Sodium, Zinc and Calcium are present.

Keywords: Bacillus metal effect, Optical density, Pseudomona

The study was conducted to evaluate the gonadal and extra-gonadal characteristics of Red Sokoto goats fed Moringa oleifera leaf supplemented diets. Twenty (20) Red Sokoto goats (males) were allotted to five dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with four animals per treatment. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. The left gonadal plus extra-gonadal length recorded significant effects (P<0.05) with T3 recording the highest value of 9.16 cm. The gonadal sperm reserves were all significant (P<0.05) in left and right testes with highest values obtained in T2 (777.33 and 577.00×106/ ml). The extra-gonadal sperm reserves were found to be significant in the caput and the right part of the caudal epididymis. Based on these findings, it was observed that supplementation at 50% level of inclusion could therefore be used to enhance the gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm reserves, motility and pH of Red Sokoto bucks.

Keywords: Goats, Gonadal, Moringa oleifera, Sperm

This study was conducted to determine the influence of egg genotype on internal and external egg quality, proximate composition and lipid profile. Ninety (90) fresh eggs of the three genotype in exotic, crossbred and local strains of layers turkey were used. The genotype has significant effect (P<0.05) on egg proximate composition and other egg traits. Egg quality trait in term of crude protein highly favored exotic compared to other. There’s significant effect (P<0.05) on internal and external egg quality trait. The result also showed significant effect (P<0.05) on egg weight and egg production traits when compared between genotypes. The mean weights of exotic turkey eggs (76.10 g) was significantly (P<0.05) much heavier than the crossbred and local turkey eggs (65.85 g). The egg length and egg width followed the same pattern. The proportion of shell weight to the egg weight was higher in exotic turkey (7.40 g) than the local turkey (6.15 g). Similarly, the exotic turkey eggs had the highest values of internal and external egg traits. The effect of genotype on egg biochemical indices were significantly (P<0.05) different from each other. The highest value of the total cholesterol (TC) and Try glycerol (TG) were found among the local turkey eggs. The egg lipids for High density lipoproteins (45.80±4.28%) and low density lipoproteins (51.60±6.58%) were also significantly (P<0.05) different and higher in the local turkey eggs. The mean values of potassium, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and phosphorus of the genotype were also significantly (P<0.05) influenced. The egg minerals in relation to genotypes were also significantly (P<0.05) influenced, the values are suggestive of the existence of genetic variation. The present study therefore indicates that genotype, significantly affect egg weight and egg quality traits. The implication is that the egg quality traits are influenced by both genetic and non genetic factors.

Keywords: Crossbred, Eggs quality, Exotic, Genotype, Strains

The effects of polyethylene enriched compost on culturable microbial load, physical and macro-nutritional status of amended soils and control were evaluated. Serial dilution and pour plate methods were used to ascertain the microbial flora of the soil treatments. Prior to its amendment, the bacterial and fungal count of the experimental soil were 7.7×104 cfu/g and 8×103 cfu/g. The mean heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts for the treated soils ranged from 1.27×105 cfu/g to 2.92×105 cfu/g and 1.7×104 cfu/g to 10.4×104 cfu/g respectively. The differences in these counts were statistically significant (P<0.05). The polyethylene utilizing bacterial count varied from 0.4×102 cfu/g to 7.8 ×102 cfu/g. Nine (9) heterotrophic bacterial and nine (9) fungal isolates were isolated and identified; Arthobacter sp., Acinetobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., Micrococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Aspergillus sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium sp., Mucor sp., Fusarium sp., Saccharomyces sp., Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma sp. Three polyethylene utilizing bacterial isolates were identified; Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Arthobacter sp. Physico-chemical analyses of the soil treatments revealed that the pH and bulk density values varied from 5.1 to 6.8 and 60.0% to 82.0% respectively. The addition of polyethylene enriched compost to the respective soils had a positive impact on the microbial density of the soils. It also increased the concentration of some essential elements (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) in the amended soils.

Keywords: Amended soils, Culturable, Microbial, Polyethylene enriched compost

The combined antibacterial activity of Face cleansing agents and Psidium guajava leaf Extract on Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated. The plant material was extracted and the phytochemical analysis done using standard procedures. The extract and face cleansing agents were tested for antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion technique. Phytochemical studies revealed that Psidium guajava contains Glycosides, Saponins, Tannins, Resin and Terpenoids as its constituents. The result of the antibacterial assay showed that all the face cleansing agents were ineffective against the MRSA isolates, however, two of the face cleansing agents were slightly effective against normal laboratory strains of Staphylococcus aureus Furthermore, after incorporating the P. guajava extract into the face cleansing agents, it produced a synergistic antibacterial activity against the MSRA isolates. Thus, the study has shown that P. guajava possesses potent antibacterial activity and could be employed in the eradication of infections caused by MSRA isolates.

Keywords: Antibacterial, Face cleansing agents, Psidium guajava and Methicillin resistant, Staphylococcus aureus

The seeds of Capsicum annum have been widely cultivated in many regions of this country, Nigeria. This Capsicum annum serve as food condiment in many Nigerian soup and the seed have been the interest of the consumers.
This research was conducted to evaluate the tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids phytochemical constituents of the seeds of three varieties of Capsicum annum (Nsukka yellow, Atarugu and Otuocha varieties) grown in Awka, Anambra State South Eastern Nigeria. The seeds were subjected to phytochemical analysis for quantitative studies. At the end of this research, it was observed that the tannins in the seed of Atarugu variety is the highest among the three varieties studied having the mean value of 1.79. Also the alkaloids and flavonoids of Nsukka yellow variety were the highest among the three studied having the mean of 6.31 and 4.21 respectively. From the research, it can be stated that the seeds of Atarugu variety will be spicier than others. Also the seeds of Nsukka yellow variety are more medicinal among the three varieties studied.

Keywords: Alkaloid, Capsicum annum, Flavonoid
Tannin

In some parts of Nigeria, okra leaves as well as the pods are consumed as vegetables. This practice of harvesting the leaves of okra for consumption during its productive life is the basis for this trial. The experiment was conducted in the rainy seasons of 2011 and 2012 at the Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Kogi State University Anyigba, located in the southern Guinea savannah agro ecological zone of Nigeria. The experiment investigated the effect of artificial defoliation on the growth and yield of okra. Treatment consisted of five defoliation levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) apportion to three stages of okra growth / development (vegetative stage, flowering stage and fruiting phase) in a 3 x 5 Factorial Experiment with six replications. The research aimed at providing answers to the following questions: Does artificial defoliation affect the performance of okra? If affirmative, what stage of growth / development is most affected by artificial defoliation? What level of defoliation is tolerable and in which of the stages of growth /development? Finally, what level of defoliation is beyond the economic threshold level? Results of statistical analysis reveal that there were significant (P≤0.05) influences of defoliation on growth and yield parameters including; plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of pods, pod length, pod diameter, harvested pod weight / ha. Defoliating at 25 percent was the most tolerable for okra growth and development, hence, recommended to meet farmers’ aiming for pod and leaf production, however defoliating at vegetative phase is not advised as this had the most depressing impact on okra pod yield, at best okra crop should be defoliated at fruiting, or at worst at flowering stage. Defoliating okra above 25 percent is beyond the economic threshold if farmer is aiming for optimization of fruit production, as pod yields would be considerably depressed by the practice.

Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, Defoliation, Flowering and fruiting, Pod yield, Vegetative growth

In order to investigate the effect of different irrigation treatments and plant density on herbage biomass, essential oil production, grain and mucilage yield of Dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fish. et Mey.), an experiment was carried out as split-plot based on randomized complete block design with four replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran in 2012. Irrigation treatments (I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5: irrigation after 70, 100, 130, 160 and 190 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively) were assigned to main plots and four plant density levels (D1, D2, D3 and D4: 200, 300, 400, 500 plant/m2) were allocated to the sub plots. Different planting densities were employed by changing plant spaces within rows. Herbage biomass and essential oil percentage of shoot were measured at flowering stage. Essential oil percentage increased with decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage biomass and essential oil yield positively responded to frequent irrigation. Mucilage percentage and mucilage and grain yield decreased with drought severity. Essential oil percentage and yield, herbage biomass and mucilage percentage indicated no response to planting density. Highest essential oil yield was achieved on I2 treatment. Highest mucilage and grain yield were achieved under I1 treatment, but difference between I1 and I2 treatments was not significant. The greatest grain yield and mucilage production was obtained from 400 plant/m2. According to the results we found, irrigation after 100 mm evaporation from class A pan and density of 400 plant/m2 is a better treatment combination for Dragon’s head grain, essential oil and mucilage production.

Keywords: Essential oil, Herbage biomass, Irrigation interval, Mucilage, Planting density, Tannin

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Roxazyme G2G supplementation on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens fed wheat-based diets at varying levels of inclusion (0, 10, 20 and 30%) without or with enzyme supplementation in an experiment that lasted for 56 days. Four hundred and twenty (420) 1-day-old broiler chicks (Arbor Acre strain) were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments consisting 6 replicates with 10 birds each in a 2×4 factorial arrangement of a completely randomised design. Weekly feed intake and weight gain of birds in the starter and finisher phases were significantly (P<0.05) improved though enzyme supplementation did not affect the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio of the birds. There was no positive interactive effect of wheat and enzyme on the performance parameters of birds measured in both the starter and finisher phases except the feed intake. Although, wheat-based diets affected the feed intake of birds in starter phase with a corresponding effect when enzyme was supplemented, similar trend was observed for the finisher phase. Apparent nutrient digestibility in birds was significantly (P<0.05) improved with enzyme supplementation when compared with other diets. The cost of feed per kilogram weight gain was highest (N262.87) for the birds on 20% wheat with enzyme supplementation and lowest (N175.57) for those on the control diet in the finisher phase. The results showed that Roxazyme G2G evaluated improved some performance indices and positively enhanced nutrient digestibility in broilers chickens fed wheat-based diets.

Keywords: Broilers, Nutrient digestibility, Performance, Wheat