International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 15 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Establishing Baseline PAH Levels in Rural Agricultural Wetlands of the Niger Delta Prior to Oil Well Reactivation

P. O. Oviasogie¹, E. E. Ukpebor²* and U. Omoti¹

¹Chemistry Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR). P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Nigeria.
²Chemistry Dept., University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

Accepted 06 October, 2025

The concentration and distribution of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some rural agricultural wetland soils of the Niger delta region, Nigeria was determined. There were measurable amounts of naphthalene, acenaphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. Benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3)perylene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene were not detected in the soils. There were also significant correlations between the occurrences of some of the PAHs. However, the concentrations of the PAHs obtained were within the background levels expected for rural agricultural soils. The PAHs levels obtained in this study would act as baseline levels of these persistent organic pollutants in this environment with about 50 abandoned oil wells that are now been reactivated for completion and production.

Key words: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, wetland soils.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Nursery Media and Water Stress Effects on African Breadfruit (Treculia africana) Seedling Growth and Development

Baiyeri, K. P.* and B. N. Mbah

Dept. of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Accepted 4 April, 2025

The production of high quality seedlings for orchard and plantation establishment involves several cultural inputs. The quality of potting media perhaps stands out as the most important. Therefore, the effects of three soilless media and a soil-based medium on seedling emergence, seedling growth and susceptibility to water stress were studied using African breadfruit as a test crop. Most of the seedling parameters evaluated was significantly influenced by the potting media used. Percent seedling emergence and whole-plant dry matter content were higher in media 1:2:3 ricehull-based (ricehull : poultry manure : river sand, RHB) and 2:3:1 RHB. After induction of water stress, seedling grown in these media remained turgid for a longer period than those grown in media 1:2:3 soil-based (top soil : poultry manure : river sand, SB) and 1:4:3 RHB. Seedlings raised in the soil-based medium were generally poorer in most of the parameters measured. General growth responses and reaction to water stress suggested that media 1:2:3 RHB and 2:3:1 RHB were the best. Seedling grown in these media had delayed water stress symptom expression suggesting a better water economy.

Key words: Potting media, physicochemical properties, seedling growth, water stress.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seed Treatment and Storage Duration Effects on Emergence and Quality of African Breadfruit Seedlings

Baiyeri, K. P.* and B. N. Mbah

Dept. of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 April, 2025

The effects of factorial combinations of four storage duration (in days after seed extraction) and surface sterilization with three dilution levels of sodium hypochlorite on seedling emergence and seedling quality of African breadfruit were studied. Storage duration significantly influenced days to seedling emergence, cumulative emergence and seedling quality traits. The effect of sterilization was, however, only significant on deformed seedlings and seedling foliage development. The combined effects of storage duration and sterilization were significant on all traits measured. Seedlings arising from previously sterilized seeds and planted within six days of extraction had fewer cases of deformity and had better foliage development. It was conclusive that after-ripening treatment was necessary to enhance the number of seedling emerging and quality of seedlings of African breadfruit. Sterilizing seeds with 10% dilution of NaOCl and air-drying under ambient tropical room condition for three to six days were found most appropriate, and thus, recommended.

Key words: Seed storage, sterilization, seedling emergence, seedling quality.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Crop Yield and Yield Components Response to Poultry Manure and NPK Fertilizer in Southwestern Nigeria

Ayoola, O. T.* and O. N. Adeniyan

Farming System Research and Extension Programme; Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, P. M. B. 5029, Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 25 May, 2025

Field experiments were conducted in two villages (Oniyo and Moloko Ashipa) representing two agro ecologies in the south west area of Nigeria during 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. The objective was to determine the effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure on the yield and yield components in cassava/maize/melon systems. The factors were (1) cropping systems: cassava/maize/melon, sole cassava, sole maize and sole melon; and (2) fertilizers: no fertilizer, NPK 15-15-15 (400 kg/ha), poultry manure (5 t/ha), 2.5 t/ha poultry manure + 200 kg/ha NPK 15- 15-15 and mineral fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15). Intercropping had no significant effect on cassava root yield but it reduced maize and melon seed yield compared to sole cropping. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values were however higher under intercropping than sole cropping. Crop yields were statistically the same under NPK alone and NPK + poultry manure but significantly higher than both poultry manure alone and control in both locations.

Key words: Poultry manure, NPK, Cropping system, intercrop.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-003, June, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Coliform Contamination in Milk: A Microbiological Study in Tarakeswar, India

Chatterjee S. N.1*, Bhattacharjee I. 2, Chatterjee S.K 2 And Chandra G.1

1Microbiology Department, Rabindra Mahavidyalaya, Champadanga-712401, Hooghly
2Mosquito Research Unit, Parasitology and Microbiology Laboratory, Dept.of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan-
713104, India.

Accepted 17 February, 2025

A study was carried out to assess the milk quality in Tarakeswar, India with special reference to coliforms. By standard plate count (SPC) method, out of ten raw milk samples, the microbial colonies were found to be high in six samples and the colony content was low in rest four samples. In pasteurized milk samples, the colonies were low in seven samples and high in three samples. The methylene blue test performed for raw milk samples showed that out of ten samples, the five samples were poor, two samples were fair, two samples were good and only one sample was found to be an excellent. Out of ten pasteurized samples, nine samples were of good quality and one was found to be excellent. Bacterial colony was found to be opaque and metallic sheen in colour prepared from five raw milk samples, and by biochemical characterization it was identified as Escherichia coli.

Key words: Raw milk, pasteurized milk, methylene blue reduction test, standard plate count, coliforms.
 

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular Differentiation of Ficus carica L. Varieties Using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) Analysis

Ferdaous Guasmi, Ali Ferchichi*, Kadija farés, Leila touil

Institut des Régions Arides - Medenine – Tunisia.

Accepted 21 April, 2025

Information on germplasm diversity and relationships among elite materials is fundamentally important in crop improvement. The main objectives of our study is to determine the level of genetic diversity inter fig-tree cultivars using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Fifty-seven local Tunisian fig-tree cultivars were fingerprinted with ISSR marker. A total of 33 alleles were detected. A high level of genetic diversity was identified inter cultivars. The clustering grouped the studied cultivars into four clusters with no correlation to geographical origins.

Key words: Ficus carica L., genetic diversity, ISSR markers, Southeast Tunisia.