Covenant Journal of Physical and Life Sciences (Special Edition)

Relationship between Meteorological Variables and Effective Earth Radius Factor over Auchi, Edo State, South-South, Nigeria

Ukhurebor K. E. & Odesanya I. — 2019-05-07

The effective earth radius factor; k-factor is a major parameter in the prediction of the local radio wave propagation conditions of the lower atmosphere from meteorological variables. In this study the k-factor values were calculated and analyzed from the measurements of air temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure in Auchi area of Edo State, South-South, Nigeria using a self-implemented cost effective portable weather monitoring device for a period of one year; 2017, so as to determine the relationship between these meteorological variables and the k-factor values. The fixed measuring method by placing the weather monitoring device on 188 m height above sea level was employed for the measurements of the various meteorological variables at the administrative block of Edo University Iyamho. The results show that the calculated k-factor values range from 1.06 to 1.94 with an average value of 1.47 and were generally higher during the months with much rainfall compared to that of the months with lesser rainfall. The measured meteorological variables were having significant influences on the calculated k-factor values during all the months, and these influences were more pronounced during the months with much rainfall compared with the months with lesser rainfall. The influence of the air temperature was higher compared to the other meteorological variables. The results that are obtained from this study should be taken into account for enhancement and improvement purposes in radio communication systems.

Effect of Solid State Fungal Fermentation on the Chemical Composition of Adansonia digitata Seed

Majekodunmi Racheal Adedayo & Alhassan Sani — 2019-05-07

The seed of Adansonia digitata was fermented with the aim of producing additional plant protein food and feed. The seed was subjected to natural fermentation for 120 hours under laboratory condition. Nine moulds and two yeasts were isolated and characterized macroscopically and microscopically as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor racemosus, Mucor hiemalis, Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria tenuis, Scopuloriopsis brevicaulis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Spores of isolated fungi were used as starter cultures in the fermentation of the seed using solid-state fermentation method for 120 hours. The fermented products were analyzed for proximate and anti-nutrient content using standard methods. The result showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in crude protein, total ash and carbohydrate but decreased significantly (p>0.05) in crude fat and crude fibre. The anti-nutrients in form of total tannins, saponins, oxalate and phytate content were significantly decreased after fermentation.Â From the findings in this research, it was concluded that fermented A. digitata seed can serve as additional plant protein food source in food and feed formulation for livestock.

Marker Assisted Foreground Selection for Identification of Striga Resistant Backcross Lines in Sorghum bicolor

2019-05-07

Striga is a major constraint to sorghum production causing high yield loss due to increasing infestation. Locally-adapted cultivars with resistant genes/QTLs could be an effective control strategy for Striga. Marker-Assisted Foreground Selection was used to select backcross lines possessing Striga resistance QTLs from N13. Marker polymorphism was conducted for the donor parent N13 and 10 recurrent parents using 10 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Recurrent parents with SSR alleles, polymorphic to the donor parent allele were selected. F1 lines were developed by making a cross between the selected recurrent parent and the donor. The F1 were confirmed for heterozygosity using SSR markers. Selected heterozygote F1s were backcrossed to their recurrent parent to develop backcross populations (BC1F1 and BC2F1). BC1F1 and BC2F1 populations were genotyped using SSR markers flanking the Striga resistant QTLs in N13. Forty two DANYANA-N13 BC2F1 lines (with 4 QTLs in 3 lines, 3 QTLs in 10 lines and other 28 lines having 1 to 2 QTLs) were selected for the presence of N13 QTLs. Forty three SAMSORG39-N13 BC2F1 lines (with 3 QTLs in 2 lines while 41 lines had 1 to 2 QTLs) were also selected for the presence of N13 QTLs. Although, selected lines will be genotyped for the recovery of recurrent parent background and evaluated to identify elite genotypes for possible release as varieties, the successful introgression of Striga resistance QTLs using Marker Assisted Selection suggests that in developing superior sorghum varieties, breeders could make use of molecular marker technologies to speed up breeding programmes.

Mixed-Culture Fungal Fermentation for Protease and Amylase Production from Adansonia Digitata Seed Through Solid State Technique

Adedayo Majekodunmi Racheal & Sani Alhassan — 2019-05-07

Production of amylase from the seed of A. digitata by mixed-culture fungal fermentation was examined. Six fungi were isolated from naturally fermented A. digitata seed in the laboratory and identified as Mucor racemosus, Mucor hiemalis, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria tenuis and Rhizopus stolonifer. Spores obtained from the fungi were randomly mixed for protease and amylase production using solid-state technique and the enzyme activity was monitor for 120 hours incubation period. The highest protease and amylase activity was obtained at 72 hours (100.8 and 53.60 Î¼mol/mg respectively) by a mixed-culture of P. citrinum, R. stolonifera, A. tenuis and M. racemosus. While the lowest activity (22.2 and 4.0 Umol/mg) was obtained at 120 and 24 hours of fermentation by a mixed-culture of A. tenuis, M. racemosus, M. hiemalis and M. racemosus respectively. The optimum pH for amylase production was pH 5.5 at 28 Â± 2 oC. This study revealed that mixed-culture of these fungi especially A. tenuis and M. racemosus were able to produce amylase, hence may be considered as a source for the production of industrial amylase from A. ditata seed.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles in improved strain of Auricularia polytricha -an edible mushroom from Nigeria and its antimicrobial activities

2019-05-07

Nano materials and their application are of great use in research because of their size range. In this study, Auricularia polytricha (EW1) collected from Benin in Southern Nigeria was subjected to mutation by exposure to UV-light resulting in a mutant (EW1M1). EW1 and EW1M1 were evaluated for biosynthesis of silver nano-particles. The anti-microbial properties of both strains were also evaluated. Absorption spectra of silver nano-particle (AgNPs) of mutant exhibited a strong broad peak at 420 nm while wild type absorption peak was obtained at less than 420 nm. The mutant was further characterised. DLS showed a monodispersion with diverse sizes, morphology and shapes. TEM micrograph revealed a monodispersed formation of the nano-particles, with uniform size at 10 â€“ 20 nm. FTIR study revealed the absorption bands at 3380, 2921, 2839, 1658, 1083 and 610 cmÖ¿1 respectively showing the functional groups reducing the silver nitrate to silver ion. There was formation of zone of inhibition on all the microorganisms that were used for the study but the control showed no zone of inhibition. The mushroom extract of mutant strain exhibited higher anti microbial activity than the wild type.

E-Version

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Banke Ogunlana — 2019-05-07

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