416 research outputs found
Sort by
GROWTH AND ANATOMICAL RESPONSES OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM ) UNDER MICROGRAVITY AND NORMAL GRAVITY CONDITIONS
Get PDFMicrogravity is known to be a major abiotic stress in space which affects plants depending on the duration ofexposure. In this research, tomato seeds were exposed to long hours of simulated microgravity condition usinga one-axis clinostat. The seeds were sown on a 1.5% combination of plant nutrient and agar-agar solidifiedmedium in three Petri dishes. One of the Petri dishes was mounted on the clinostat and allowed to rotate atthe speed of 20 rpm for 72 hours while the others were subjected to the normal gravity vector. The anatomicalsections of both clinorotated and normal gravity plants were made after 72 hours and observed using a Phasecontrast digital microscope. The percentage germination as well as the growth rate of the normal gravity seeds was higher than the clinorotated treatments. The orientation of the clinorotated roots during germination were in different directions unlike the normal gravity which all germinated towards the direction of gravity vector. The clinostat was able to switch off gravistimulation as distinct cellular arrangement was observed for the tomato plants under normal gravity condition unlike those of the clinorotated treatment. The results revealed that the thickness of the epidermis and cortex of the roots of normal gravity are higher than those of clinorotated. This suggests that under long-term microgravity exposure, plants can acclimatize to the stress by changing their internal cellular features such as reduction in the thickness of cells and rate of cell proliferation
PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT MICRONUTRIENTS LEVEL OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY ADULTS AFTER A DIETARY INTERVENTION BASED ON AGE AND GENDER IN NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI, NIGERIA
No full textImmunologic functions particularly cell-mediated immunity declines with age, contributing to the increased incidence of infectious diseases in the elderly. The study looked at vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene levels in plasma of 150 healthy adults of 96 men and 54 women aged between 30 and 74 years. The subjects were randomly grouped into three at baseline for further dietary studies. either 1 capsule per day of antioxidant nutraceutical (Forever living product) (containing vitamin E 10 mg, vitamin C 60mg and β-carotene 2000 mcg of vitamin A, or cheap affordable indigenous antioxidant functional foods of equivalent vitamin composition of oranges, carrots, and soybean or bottled water, and the first dose was dispensed and followed up for six months. The result showed that the vit C,E and β-carotene concentration of antioxidant treated groups were positively influenced than the placebo group (Grp 1 (AT-P)6m. Grp 3 (AT-F)6m was affected more positively than the antioxidant Grp 2 (AT-) 6m. Vitamin C, E, and β-carotene concentrations of the elderly are beyond reference/normal range of blood plasma. Plasma Vitamin C and β-carotene concentration of the female was higher than the male. There vitamin E concentration in blood plasma of male is higher compare to femal
SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROFLORA AS INFLUENCED BY PARAQUAT APPLICATIONS
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of paraquat (1, 1’-di methyl-4,4’-biyridinium dichloride) at the recommended and twice the recommended field application rates on soil physicochemical properties and microorganisms. The effects of the herbicide on soil pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus content and cation exchange capacity were analyzed along with microbial populations and the growth and distribution of representative soil microorganisms were obtained using standard procedures. There was no significant effect of paraquat on soil physicochemical properties at P>0.05. Paraquat applications at both concentrations caused reduction in the bacterial and fungal populations with twice the recommended rate having more adverse effect when compared with the control while the fungal populations were more adversely affected than the bacteria populations by herbicide treatment. Reduced number of predominant bacteria and fungi genera as well as the elimination of some secondary genera as observed in paraquat treated soils could be detrimental to the sustainability of soil fertility. These results are discussed in line with the soil management practices for sustainable crop productio
PROTEIN CONTENTS OF MAIZE VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY NITROGEN AND MICRONUTRIENTS
Get PDFField experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 in the Guinea Savanna ecology of Nigeria to investigate the protein content of maize varieties (Quality Protein Maize QPM and normal varieties) as influenced by nitrogen fertilizer and micronutrients. The treatments were four rates of inorganic fertilizer N (0, 50, 100, 150kgNha-1) and two rates of cocktail micronutrient (Fe, Zn, B, Mo, and Cu). These were tested in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and the treatments were laid out in factorial design. The results from the study revealed that micronutrients rate of 22.85g/ha applied increased the lysine and tryptophan content of the QPM varieties. The result also showed that addition of nitrogen fertilizer and micronutrients increased the crude protein content of the maize varieties and so also with micronutrients addition the QPM varieties differed significantly from each other with respect to lysine and tryptophan contents (P< 0.05). It can be inferred from this that though normal maize and QPM varieties could be exposed to the same environmental conditions and take up same amounts of micronutrients, the QPM varieties have genetic capacity to synthesize high levels of amino acids and so would have nutritionally higher quality grains. Plant breeders therefore may find this attribute useful in genetic manipulation and cultivar development to enhance protein biochemical component
ROT OF SEED POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) TUBERS AFFECTED BY STORAGE CONDITIONS AND STORAGE DURATION IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFA study was carried out at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Potato Programme Kuru, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria (Longitude 08oE 47l, Latitude 09oN 441and 1,239 meters above sea level (msl)) during three seasons to investigate ‘the rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed tubersas affected by storage conditions and storage duration.’ Five potato varieties (Nicola, Bertita, Diamant, BR63-18 and Roslin Ruaka) were stored for three durations (12, 24 and 32 weeks) in three kinds of stores (room temperature store (RTS), diffused light store (DLS) and air conditioned store (ACS). The experimental design used was completely randomized design in factorial combination of 5 potato varieties forming the main plots, three storage conditions and three storage durations constituting the split plots. There were 45 treatment combinations replicated 3 times. Weekly temperatures and relative humidity were recorded in each type of store.For percentage tuber rot, the result showed that all main effects were significant (P<0.05) except the main effect of variety and store type during season 2. All the varieties had similar percentage tuber rot except the variety Nicola which showed significantly lower tuber rot. RTS and DLS resulted in significantly higher tuber rot than the ACS. Tuber rot (%) was lowest at 24 weeks of storage in all the 3 seasons while 32 weeks of storage resulted in significantly higher rot than the other periods. All interactions were significant in the first cropping season, only the interaction of variety X storage duration was significant in the second cropping season, while inthe third cropping season, all interactions were significant except the interaction of store type X storage duration. For number of whole tubers left after storage, all the main effects and interactions were significant. Variety Nicola resulted in the highest number of whole tubers leftwhile Roslin Ruaka had the lowest tubers left in cropping seasons 1 and 2 and variety Diamant had lowest tubers left in cropping season 3. The number of tubers left decreased with storage period with the lowest number of tubers left after 32 weeks of storage. Tuber storage in ACS resulted in highest number of tubers left while RTS was lowest. The RTS and DLS characterized by higher temperature enhanced rot of tubers while the ACS with lower temperature reduced rot of tubers, it is therefore suggested that for prolong storage (8-9 months), the ACS should be use
GROWTH AND YIELD TRAITS OF GROUNDNUT(ARACHIS HYPOGAEA) LINES TREATED WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Get PDFThe response of some growth and yield traits of four groundnut cultivars, Ms 54-76, ICGV-Sm-42, RmP 12 and Samnut 21 treated with hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours prior to planting was studied using seed treatmentof 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The treated seeds were planted in a split plot experimental designing a completely randomised design (CRD) using three replications in University of Calabar, Nigeria. Results showed that more seedlings of Ms 54-76, ICGV-Sm-42 and RmP 12 were established than Samnut 21 at fourteen days after planting. There was a similar variation in the number of days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, and weight of pods per plant, shelling percentage and seed weight. The H2O2 incited increase in the seed germination, plant height and in seeds weight from 8 weeks after planting upwards. Generally, ICGV-Sm-42 had the most luxuriant growth and superior yield of the four varieties, followed by Sm-54-76 and RmP 12.ICGV-Sm-42 had the highest response to seed treatment with hydrogen peroxid