O. Udensi

Radio-Sensitivity of Some Selected Landraces of Pulses to Gamma Irradiation: Indices for Use as Improvement and Preservation Techniques

Aim: Effects of gamma irradiation on amino acid profile, proximate and anti-nutritional compositions of selected landraces of pulses were investigated. Methods: Seeds of Brown “Fiofio”, White “Fiofio” ( Cajanus cajan ) and “Olaudi” ( Vigna unguiculata ) were exposed to gamma irradiation. Each variety was divided into five groups of fifty grams weight and was exposed to 200, 400, 600, 800Gray (Gy) doses of gamma irradiation from Cobalt 60 source while the fifth group served as control. Results: Our results revealed that the proximate, anti-nutritive factors and amino acid profile were significantly (P 0.05) affected, there was delayed germination and survival percentage became zero percent on exposure to 400Gy and above. “Olaudi” variety was less affected by the gamma rays exposure going by the result of the days to seedling emergence and percentage survival, making pigeon pea species more sensitive to the irradiation. Conclusion: Taking the results together, it does importantly suggest, however, that lower doses of gamma irradiation might be preferred for achieving the dual purpose of improvement and preservation but high enough to reduce the anti-nutritional factors.

Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid in Reducing Glyphosate-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Aim: Humans and animals interact with their environments on a daily basis and, as a consequence, are exposed to a broad spectrum of synthesized chemicals present in the food they eat, the air they breathe and the water they drink including glyphosate. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of glyphosate on the sperm dynamics of male albino rats and the protective effects of ascorbic acid. Methods: Twenty five mature male albino rats were weighed and divided into five groups in a completely randomized design (CRD). Group 1 rats served as the control. Rats in groups 2 and 4 received 250ml/kg and 500ml/kg of glyphosate while groups 3 and 5 rats were administered with 250ml/kg and 500ml/kg of glyphosate and 200mg/kg of ascorbic acid, respectively, which were administered orally using oral gavages. The treatment regimen lasted for 65 days. Results: Our results showed that there were significant adverse effects (P<0.05) of glyphosate treatment on sperm parameters and the cyto-architecture of the gonad, which showed disruption in the seminiferous tubules, necrotic germinal epithelium and clumped Leydig cells. However, administering the rats with ascorbic acid caused significant ameliorating effects on the parameters investigated. Conclusion: Succinctly, glyphosate exposure to animals is detrimental to their reproductive physiology, including the cellular integrity of the gonads. This not

Microbial analysis and biogas yield of water hyacinth, cow dung and poultry dropping fed anaerobic digesters.

Aim: Biogas research and subsequent production is fundamental to mitigating the possible depletion of crude oil and energy crisis, especially in Nigeria. This research paper was aimed at evaluating the biogas production capacity of water hyacinth, poultry droppings, cow dung and their combination. Methods: One kilogram, two kilograms and three kilograms weight of these substrates were subjected to anaerobic digestion in starter and without starter cultures for 45 days at the interval of 5 days. Results: Our results showed that heterotrophic bacteria and fungi counts were substratespecific with poultry dropping fed-digester having the highest. Different bacteria and fungi were isolated including methane-producing bacteria such as methanolreoibacteria, methanoculleus bourgense, methanogenium cariaci, methanocorpusium parvum, methanoscrcimon barkeri, methanoplanus lunicola, methanococcoides methyluteus and Original Research Article British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 4(4): 650-661, 2014 651 methanothrix sochngenic. There were significant differences in the amount of biogas produced by the different substrates. However there was no significant differences (P>0.05) between the biogas produced by water hyacinth-fed digester (170.41mls) and poultry droppings-fed digester (182.88 mls). Combining all the substrates (WH+PD+CD) yielded the highest biogas (423.80 mls), which was followed by biogas production of cow dung (331.8 mls). Conclusion: Explicitly, our present report showed that higher biogas yield can be achieved by the combination of different biogas feedstock.

Evaluation and Identification of Genetic Variation Pattern in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Accessions Using Multivariate Analyses

Thirty accessions of cowpea from Ebonyi, Enugu and Kogi States, Nigeria were used for the study. Seeds of the accessions were randomized in a plot measuring 50x50 meters for three growing seasons. Our results on yield and yield-related traits showed that three principal components were extracted, which contributed 82.23% of the total variability. It revealed that number of seeds pod -1 , 100-seed weight, pod length, days to 50% maturity, seed yield, number of leaves plant -1 contributed significantly to the total genetic variability while for proximate composition, four principal components accounted for 93.75% of the total genetic divergence. Cluster analysis revealed that accessions were grouped not necessarily based on geographical location but genetics. Selection for high yielding accessions should be done on cluster 2 as we recommend selection and hybridization of accessions from cluster 1, 2, and 3 for optimal benefit.