International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Somatic Embryogenesis in African Cassava: A Germplasm Screening Study

J. Atehnkeng1,2, V.O. Adetimirin2 and S.Y.C. Ng1

1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan Nigeria. 2Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan.

Accepted 11 May, 2024

Somatic-embryogenic competence of eleven cassava genotypes was determined in induction media containing 8 and 12 mg/l of the auxin picloram, using axillary meristems and leaf lobes as explants. There were significant differences (p<0.01) among the cassava genotypes for ability to form somatic embryos. Proembryo formation took between 27 to 35 days and ranged between 34.5% for TME 596 and 0% for SL80/40. Embryo formation at the two picloram concentrations were not significantly different. Pro-embryos formed by two genotypes viz I96/1439 and I95/0528 did not survive beyond the globular developmental stage. Generally the level of proembryo formation was not adequate as an indicator of embryogenic competence. Development to torpedo stage took between 55 to 65 days. Higher success was achieved with leaf lobes (21.7%) than axillary meristem (13.8%). There was a significant (p<0.01) genotype x explant interaction, indicating that ability of the cassava genotypes to undergo somatic embryogenesis was influenced by the explant. Seven out of the eleven (63.63%) cassava genotypes studied showed capability to undergo somatic embryogenesis.

Key words: Cassava, picloram, somatic embryogenesis.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants and Prospects of IITA Plantain and Banana Technologies Adoption in Niger Delta 

B. O. Faturoti1*, G. N. Emah2, B. I. Isife2, A. Tenkouano1 and J. Lemchi1

1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Accepted 6 June, 2024

High yielding and disease resistant plantain and banana hybrids and its associated technologies generated by IITA to combat the menace of black Sigatoka disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) were massively disseminated in year 2000. Since the hybrids were slightly different from the existing varieties in fruit size there was a need to assess thier prospects. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data on the adoption of the fourteen disseminated innovations among 85 randomly selected farmers in 15 villages drawn from the three states. Correlation analysis was used to test the strength of relationship between the respondents personal and socio economic factors, the variables investigated and the adoption index. The results showed that all the respondents adopted at least one of the 14 disseminated innovations. Average adoption level was 40.33% ranging from Rivers 36%, Akwa-Ibom 38% and Bayelsa 47%. The adoption process was strongly influenced by household size, educational attainment, farming experience, frequency of extension visit, overall experience from innovation, market access, access to credit and profit as a result of the technology. It was concluded that the high level of adoption of the technology was not unconnected with the induced model of adoption where farmers saw the yield before embarking on the cultivation and the support (educational and material incentive) received from the disseminating institutions.

Key words: hybrids, disease resistant, adoption, innovations, induced model.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Oxytocic Activity of Musanga cecropioides R. Brown Stem Bark: A Water Extract Study

B. A. Ayinde1 *, D. N. Onwukaeme1 and Z. A. M. Nworgu2

1Department of Pharmacognosy and 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Accepted 10 May, 2024

Musanga cecropioides (Umbrella tree) is one of the medicinal plants used in tropical parts of Africa for its oxytocic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activities. This work examined the effect of the water extract of the stem bark on rat uterus pre-treated with 1 mg/kg stilboesterol for 24 h. The effects of oxytocin-a uterine contraction agonist, antagonists like atropine (1-2 mg) and salbutamol (2 µg) on the uterine contractile effect of the water extract as well as its acute toxic effect were investigated. The water extract of M. cecropioides produced a dose related increase in the force of uterine contraction. An equivalent force of uterine contraction of 1.10 ± 0.15 g produced by 12.5 mg of the extract was increased to 2.53 ± 0.6 g when 1600 mg of the extract was administered. Oxytocin at 0.08 i.u. was observed to elicit a similar force of contraction with 400 mg of the water extract. The drug was observed to potentiate the uterine contractile activity of the extract while pre-treating the tissue with either atropine or salbutamol before administering the water extract showed the inhibitory effects of the drugs on the activity of the extract. The inhibition effect showed by atropine suggests the probable stimulation of the muscarinic receptors of the uterus by the extract. Between doses of 1-4 g/kg, the water extract of M. cecropioides was observed to be well tolerated in mice as no obvious signs of toxicity were observed on the animals.

Key words: Musanga cecropioides, stem bark, oxytocic effect.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal Effects of Hedgerow Mulch on Cassava Production: Mycorrhiza and Pruning Interactions in Nigeria

M.O. Liasu1, M.O. Atayese2* and O. Osonubi3

1Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
2Department of Plant Physiology and Crop Production, College of Plant Science, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
Nigeria.

3Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 April, 2024

Field experiments were carried out on an alley- cropping farm in Ajibode village, near Ibadan where cassava alley-cropped with three hedgerow trees (Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Senna (Syn Cassia) siamea), and sole planted cassava (all in three replicates) were arranged with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation (with Glomus deserticolum) in a completely randomized block design. Each plot was split after the first year into two and hedgerows within subjected to 2 and 3-month pruning regimes. Wet and dry season mulch contribution by pruning to alley-cropped cassava, as well as cassava yield characteristics in both alley-cropped and sole plots as affected by AMF inoculation and pruning regimes were monitored over two consecutive planting periods. During the first pruning year, AMF inoculation promoted dry season pruning production which was masked in Leucaena at 3 months by biomass diversion into flowering and in Gliricidia with both flowering and mite infestation. No definite patterns were observed in the second pruning year due to development of indigenous AMF symbiosis in all plots. Total yield of cassava increased with inoculation in all plots but dry season leaf area values and tuber yield indices were relatively higher in cassava alley-cropped with Senna and sole cassava than in others. The low total yield of sole cassava makes cassava alley cropped with Senna (inoculated or uninoculated) the best option for maintaining steady tuber yield with time in a continuing alley-cropping system.

Key words: Biomass diversion, cassava tuber yield index, mycorrhizal contribution.

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-004, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Grain Sorghum Improvement: Associations Between Traits and Pathways to Yield

I.E. Ezeaku1 and S.G. Mohammed2

1International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Western and Central Africa Region, P.M.B. 3491
Kano, Nigeria.
2Department of Plant Science, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 May, 2024

Association and path analysis between hill count, bloom, plant height, panicle length, panicle count, 1000 seed mass, head weight and grain yield of thirty sorghum varieties were studied over two locations and years. There is significant high positive correlation between grain yield and head weight (r=0.976), grain yield and 1000 grain mass (r=0.522) and 1000 grain mass and head weight (r=0.528). Similarly, significant but negative correlation exists between panicle count and panicle length. Partitioning of yield and yield components into direct and indirect effects revealed that head weight had the highest direct effect on grain yield (0.961) while 1000 grain mass contributed indirectly to grain yield via head weight (0.507). Panicle count also contributed to grain yield indirectly through head weight (0.420) indicating the importance of head weight as one of the most important yield components followed by 1000 grain mass and then panicle count. There is high positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient between hill and panicle count, panicle count and head weight, panicle count and grain yield and head weight and grain yield. Plant height has high positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients with head weight (rp= 0.550, rg=0.881) and grain yield (rp=0.555, rg=0.904).

Key words: Sorghum, grain yield, correlation, path analysis.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-011, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mitochondrial Genome Evolution in Insects: Conserved Structure, Divergent Sequences

Sathees B. C. Chandra1*, Jennifer L. Vlk1 and Vinayak Kapatral2

1Department of Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL 60605, USA.
2Integrated Genomics, 2201 W Campbell Park Dr, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Accepted 7 March, 2024

We present a comparative analysis of select insect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) representing four insect orders (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and Coleoptera) consisting of 12 different species in an effort to study a common set of genes and to understand the evolution of mitochondrial genome. A functional analysis of mitochondrial genomes was carried out using ERGO bioinformatics suite. To compare the similarity between closely related insect mitochondrial genome sequences, dot-plot comparisons of sequences were performed. LSU and SSU rRNA sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree to determine the relationship among four insect orders. LSU rRNA sequences yielded a tree with branching patterns reflecting the expected pattern as insect species belonging to different orders were put into separate clades. Based on the sequence similarity, insect species belonging to four different orders in general appear to be closely related. However, a comparative and functional analysis of insect mitochondria sequences revealed differences in gene organization of mtDNA. Although tRNA species were identical in most species of insects, their position and the transcription orientations were different, reflecting differential transcriptions. Based on this study we conclude that, although the gene types are very similar across these insect orders, significant differences in GC content perhaps suggest multiple mitochondrial ancestors.

Key words: Mitochondria, genome analysis, gene content, gene order, phylogenetic analysis.