Ghana Journal of Science

COMPARATIVE INFLUENCE OF MYCORRHIZA AND PHOSPHORUS ON THE GROWTH OF BOMBAX COSTATUM PELLEGR & VUILLET FROM DIFFERENT PROVENANCES

I. O. ASINWA — 2024-09-03

Arbuscular mycorrhiza has a potential to colonize plant roots towards increasing plant uptake of phosphorous and other nutrients for plant growth. This study investigated comparative influence of Mycorrhiza and Phosphorus on the growth of Bombax costatum seeds from different provenances with a view to improving the growth of the species was investigated. B. costatum seeds were collected from four provenances (Aponmu, Oluwa, Ibadan and Oyo). Seeds from each provenance were sown and at the two-leaf stage after germination, seedlings from each source were transplanted into polythene pots containing mycorrhiza inoculum soil. The inoculation was done at rate of 20 g of mycorrhiza to 2 kg of potting soil. The single super phosphate fertilizer was applied at 0 mg/l (control), 25 mg/l, 50 mg/l, 75 mg/l and 100 mg/l. Seedling height (cm), collar diameter (cm), number of leaves and leaf area (cm2) were assessed fortnightly for 12 weeks. The experimental design was 2 x 4 x 5 factorial arranged in Completely Randomized Design and replicated four times. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results show that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among mycorrhiza inoculum, phosphate fertilizer and provenances on the growth of B. costatum. The treatment with 75 mg/l phosphorus fertilizer had the highest height and leaf area of 20.0 cm and 110.7 cm2 while the lowest values 14.4 cm and 88.8 cm2 were observed for the treatment with 0 mg/l. Growth of B. costatum was enhanced by mycorrhiza inoculum and application of phosphate fertilizer.

ANTIBIOTICS SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM POULTRY ENVIRONMENT

O. A. MAKINDE — 2024-09-03

The rise in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacterial species poses an escalating challenge globally, particularly in developing countries. The extensive utilization of antimicrobials in poultry farming raises apprehensions about the emergence of multidrugresistant microbial species that could be transmitted to humans. The present study assesses the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolated from various poultry environments, including fecal, soil, feed, and water samples, in the Akoko areas of Ondo State. Fifty-three strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from the samples obtained from the poultry environments based on their cultural characteristics on Eosin-methylene Blue agar, Gram staining reaction, morphological and biochemical attributes. The susceptibility of isolates to specific antibiotics was examined utilizing the adapted Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique in accordance with CLSI recommendations. The majority of the isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline which is a commonly used antibiotic in the region. However, gentamicin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, amikacin and chloramphenicol demonstrated effectiveness against a significant proportion of E. coli isolates. Findings from this investigation indicate that environments within poultry facilities may function as possible sources for antibiotic-resistant E. coli, posing a significant public health concern. Hence, it is crucial to focus on the production of safe poultry and high-quality poultry products, as well as regulate the use of antibiotics in poultry farming.

CONSUMER FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOMES OF RESIDENTS OF HO MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

N.K. KORTEI — 2024-09-03

This study evaluated the safety knowledge of food prepared at home in the Ho municipality of Ghana. One hundred (100) respondents participated in the study by completing selfadministered questionnaires after being selected by a convenience sampling technique.
Results of the study showed that the majority (30%) of the respondents were mothers in the homes, while most (41%) were of high educational background up to tertiary level. There was adequate knowledge of the side effects of eating unhealthy foods (68.7%). Overall,
knowledge of food safety practices and risk awareness at home was sufficient (60.1%). Most of the respondents adhered to good hygiene practices during both food preparation and storage. Its theme environment represents an important hub for the spread of pathogens responsible
for foodborne diseases. Our findings scratch the surface of an important topic and the need to increase awareness about home consumer safety knowledge and practices. It is advised that a national survey should be conducted, followed by a properly designed food safety public health
campaign, to enhance household food safety awareness.

DISEASE SURVEY OF CNIDOSCOLUS ACONITIFOLIUS (MILL.) I. M. JOHNSTON IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

N. G. OGBUJI — 2024-09-03

Field survey was carried out in three senatorial zones in Rivers State to determine the disease incidence and disease severity of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius; a leafy vegetable mostly consumed for its haematological properties in the South-eastern part of Nigeria. The survey parameters observed and recorded were: location of sample collection, survey collector/Accession number, date of sample collection, total number of diseased plants, total number of diseased leaves on plant, disease symptoms observed on plants, disease Incidence (DI) and disease severity (DSV). Emuoha Local Government Area (LGA) showed the highest disease incidence and disease severity (53.31%) across all the LGAs surveyed while Rivers East showed the highest disease incidence and disease
severity (42.71% / 43.18%) among the three senatorial zones surveyed. The symptoms that occurred mostly in all the three senatorial zones include leaf spots, chlorosis, mosaic, leaf crumple, necrosis
and wilting. The level of disease incidence and disease severity shows that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius provides a favourable environment for the survival and growth of microorganisms some of which may be detrimental to the plant health. In this study, the methods used to carry out the survey and the recommendations made on how to develop appropriate disease management strategies are outlined.

GROWTH, CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT AND FRUIT YIELD OF CAYENNE PEPPER AS AFFECTED BY SEEDLING AGE AND WEED INTERFERENCE PERIOD

S. O. OSUNLETI — 2024-08-01

Field trials were conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria (700, 20′ N, 300, 23′ E) in the early and late wet seasons of 2012, to evaluate response of growth, chlorophyll content and fruit yield of cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to seedling age and weed interference period. Split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replicates was adopted in the trials. The main plot treatments were age of pepper seedlings at transplant, (four and six weeks after sowing (WAS)) while the subplot treatments consisted of ten periods of weed interference. Data were collected on stem girth, chlorophyll content, pepper fruit count, fruit yield and weed dry matter production. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were separated using least significant difference at p≤0.05. The results showed that six-week old pepper seedling had higher chlorophyll content and pepper fruit yield. Chlorophyll content and fruit yield of pepper increased with weed free period and decreased with weed infestation period. Uncontrolled weed infestation for whole season caused 98.6% and 91.6% reduction in pepper fruit yield in the early wet and late wet season respectively. In this study, six-week old pepper seedling kept weed free for at least 12 weeks after transplanting (WAT) resulted in significantly higher pepper fruit yield than four-week old pepper seedling irrespective of period of weed interference. Hence, six-week old pepper seedling should be planted and kept weed-free for the first 12 WAT for maximum fruit at harvest.

SYNTHESIS & CHARACTERIZATION OF STYRENE-DIVINYL BASED MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMER FOR THE REMEDIATION OF PHTHALATE CONTAMINATED WASTEWATER

K. N. AWOKOYA — 2024-09-03

Here, a series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized using dibutyl & diphenyl phthalates as templates with bulk polymerization method. The MIPs were employed for phthalates removal from wastewaters of environmental importance & characterized by XRD, SEM & FTIR. The designed experiments were carried out to explore the adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics & isotherms. The adsorbents were featured with excellent adsorption efficiencies that exceeded The pseudo-second order kinetic model is more consistent with the experimental data, whilst the adsorption data was well explained by Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting homogeneous surface of the adsorbent. In addition, the calculated thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption process was mainly spontaneous & endothermic in nature, with favourable adsorption efficiencies at elevated temperatures. The sorbent also showed no adsorption efficiency loss even after seven (7) runs of regeneration cycle, indicating that it is of great stability & could be considered as a candidate with excellent potential for complex wastewater treatment. Finally, this study demonstrated that phthalates in wastewaters could be effectively adsorbed by imprinted material.

PHYTOCHEMICALS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES FROM THE CONSTITUENTS OF CASSIA ANGOLENSIS GROWING IN TANZANIA

M. M. NDOILE — 2024-09-03

This study was carried out to isolate and characterize constituents from the leaves, stem and roots ethanolic extracts of the Cassia angolensis and evaluate the antibacterial and antimalarial activities. Therefore, compounds of flavan-3-ol nature including epiafzelechin (1) as well as epicatechin (2) were isolated and characterized. Biological activities of isolated compounds were not evaluated due to small amount of sample obtained during isolation. The ethanolic root extract showed the maximum zone of inhibition of 11 mm with an activity index (AI) of 0.45 and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.3 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Furthermore, the ethanolic leaves extract showed activity at MIC 0.6 mg/mL against S. aureus and 1.25 mg/mL against Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 708903), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The stem ethanolic extract was the least active compared to the rest, showing an activity of 2.5 mg/ mL against E. coli, S. aureus and K. pneumonia and 5.0 mg/mL against P. aureginosa. On the other hand, antimalarial tests showed notable significant (P < 0.05) parasitaemia (P. berghei) suppression at 92.9% and 93.5%, for root and leaves extracts, respectively at 300 mg/kg body weight dosage. The results reported herein, correlates with the local use of the plant for treatment of malaria and other ailments, therefore, revealing the potentiality of the plant in the treatment of both malarial and bacterial infections.

A RETROSPECTIVE UPDATE ON THE AURICULARIA SPECIES IN GHANA AND THEIR NUTRITIONAL, ETHNOMYCOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL VALUES FOR HEALTH

G. T. ODAMTTEN — 2024-09-03

The genus Auricularia contains mushrooms that are known for their edibility, ecological value; as decomposers and nutrient cycling. They also contain medically useful bioactive compounds; mostly polysaccharides with numerous pharmacological activities (antioxidant, anti-tumour, immunomodulatory, hypolipodemic, antidiabetic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective etc.). They also contain nutritive compounds useful as nutraceuticals and are cultivated worldwide. We set out to update the collecting localities of Auricularia in Ghana with the view to extend the list of national occurrence. Field trips were made from August 2022 to July 2023 to Ashanti, Oti, Western North and Eastern Regions to record new localities of Auricularia.A desktop studycollated the nutritional, medicinal and other bioactive compounds resident in the mushroom to assess potential for economic exploitation for health delivery. Morphological, anatomical and other characteristics of the fruiting bodies were determined to authenticate the samples obtained. Auricularia cornea was recorded for the first time on cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) and cassava (Manihot esculenta L) sticks in Adansi North (Ashanti Region), Bowiri Amanfro and Bowiri Kyiriahi (Oti Region); Baakokrom, Sefwi Bekwai in the Bibiani-Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality (Western North Region) as well as the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana- New Tafo Akim (Eastern Region). There are seven Auricularia (A. auricula-judae, A. delicata, A. fuscosuccinea, A. hunteri, A. mesenterica, A. polytricha and A. cornea) in Ghana. The morphometric, anatomical and other physical characteristics agree with the reported data in the pertinent literature for A. cornea. The plethora of bioactive, nutritive and pharmacologically useful ingredients of the basidiomata makes the mushroom a potential source of economic value and gives credence to its exploitation for health delivery in our developing economy.

EFFECTS OF PLANTING DATES AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON SELECTED SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND CASSAVA PARAMETERS

O. E. ADEBAYO — 2024-09-03

This study aimed to investigate the impact of fertilizer application under two planting dates on soil chemical properties and cassava production. Field studies were conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Psaltry International Limited
(PSALTRY), Nigeria. The trials were laid out in a split plot arrangement with planting dates (early and late plantings) as main plot and fertilizer application (nill versus fertilized) as sub plot. The fertilized plots received 75 kg N, 20 kg P, and 90 kg K per hectare sourced from NPK 15:15:15, Urea and Muriate of Potash. The treatments were fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Soil textures were sandy clay loam (FUNAAB) and loamy sand (PSALTRY). Post-harvest soil properties were significantly affected by location. Total nitrogen was 40.2% higher for late planting at FUNAAB and 3.7% higher at PSALTRY compared to early planting. Potassium had similar trend as N but differs for organic carbon. Fertilized plots had higher soil nutrients than unfertilized plots, which was 36.3% and 18.2% higher at FUNAAB and 10.3% and 90.9% higher at PSALTRY for cation exchange capacity and organic carbon, respectively. Growth and yield parameters significantly differed with planting date at both locations, with higher root yield for late planting at FUNAAB and early planting at PSALTRY. Fertilizer application resulted in 62.3% and 24.7% increase in root yield for early and late plantings, respectively. Fertilizer application improved soil properties and cassava growth, but results varied by planting dates and locations. Thus, site-specific fertilizer recommendations are needed to boost cassava production.

INTEGRATED GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISATION OF TOURMALINE-BEARING PEGMATITES FROM IJERO-EKITI, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

A. O. AFOLABI — 2024-09-03

The Ijero-Ekiti tourmaline-bearing pegmatite was investigated, using geological, geochemical, and geophysical methods to characterize its geological evolution and evaluate its mineralisation potential. Petrographical studies revealed a typical granitic mineralogical composition of quartz, feldspar, and muscovite, with tourmaline as accessory minerals. Geochemical data on whole rock analysis showed high and moderate enrichments in SiO2 (av. 71.65 wt. %) and Al2O3 (av. 14.71 wt. %) respectively, while mean values for the other major oxides ranged between 0.01 and 3.63 wt. %. Results also showed that K2O (av. 3.63 wt. %) and Na2O (av. 3.52 wt. %) concentrations were comparable to average Upper Continental values. The relatively high aluminum and alkaline compositions could be attributed to pneumatolytic crystallization from the pegmatitic melt. Aluminum Saturation Index (ASI) [Al/(Ca+Na+K)] indicated peraluminous character. Ranges of some trace elements (Cs, 1.5 – 705.6 ppm; Be, 0.5 – 12 ppm; Sn, 2.0 – 34 ppm; Ta, 1.0 – 14) support a Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) type rare-elements pegmatites for the pegmatites of the study. The spider and K/Rb vs K/ Cs plots portrayed fractionation trends suggestive of potential mineralisation. The vertical electric sounding data showed that pegmatites underlie the lateritic zone and represent the anomalous layer characterized by high resistivity values ranging from 1086 to 9489 Ohm-m with the surface to a maximum depth of 20.8m which is suspected to be a mineralised zone. Some of these pegmatites are highly tourmalinated, suggesting that they emanate from highly mineralised magma and are believed to represent late-stage pneumatolytic fluids derived from acidic magma bodies through magmatogenic processes.

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND SYNERGISTIC ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF MORINDA LUCIDA, ANOGEISSUS LEIOCARPUS AND SARCOCEPHALUS LATIFOLIUS LEAF EXTRACT

C. IMOISI — 2024-09-03

Morinda lucida, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Sarcocephalus latifolius are reputable medicinal plants with long history of uses in the treatment of variety of diseases. A combination of the leaves of Morinda lucida, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Sarcocephalus latifolius prepared as a decoction is used in Nigeria as remedy for Lymphatic filariasis, including complicated cases with wounds or sores. Extracts of the leaves of Morinda lucida (ML), Anogeissus leiocarpus (AL), Sarcocephalus latifolius (SL) and a combination of the three plants (mixed) were obtained by decoction. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis using standard methods and high-performance liquid chromatography. The extracts were also evaluated singly and in combination for DPPH antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects against Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella paratyphi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Klebsiella puemoniae, Bacillis subtillis, Candida albicans. Phytochemical analysis showed the plants contained saponins, terpenes, sterols, phenolics and tannins. The HPLC spectrum of Morinda lucida showed thirteen peaks with betulinic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin and ferulic acid predominating. The HPLC spectrum of Anogeissus leiocarpus showed major peaks being gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid. The HPLC spectrum of Sarcocephalus latifolius showed major peaks being betulinic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin. The HPLC spectrum of the combination showed major peaks as betulinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin. The three plant extracts and the combination therapy had carbohydrates, saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, and sterols. Anogeissus leiocarpus extract had the highest antimicrobial and antioxidant activities followed by the combination therapy.