African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Functional and Structural Dynamics of Pteronia incana (Asteraceae) Foliar Trichomes

Buyisile Mayekiso^1*, Micheal L. Magwa^2, Roger Coopoosamy

¹Botany Department and 2ElectronMicroscopic unit, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Accepted 08 November, 2025

The electron microscopical investigation of foliar appendages of Pteronia incana (Burm) has shown that there are two types of trichomes. The non-glandular type which consists of two-four cells forms a dense mass of long fibrous hairs, covering the entire surface of plant. The glandular trichome types which are club-oval shape and consist of several glandular cells. The gland cells of the glandular trichome are characterized by a dense cytoplasm containing osmophilic droplets, various organelles such as modified plastids, endoplasmic reticulum, a large nucleus with a dense cytosol. The secreted material accumulates in a cavity beneath a wall derived from separation of the cuticularized outer wall surface of the top tier of secretory cells and are released to the outside when the cavity ruptures. Only the apical pair of cells participates in secretion. Cells of both types possess plastids without thylakoids. These active compounds secreted by P. incana might be the reason why this plant is unpalatable to livestock.

Key words: Pteronia incana, trichomes, oil glands, electron microscope.
 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro Shoot Induction and Regeneration of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) from Embryonic Axis Explants

M. Yusuf¹*, A. A. Raji², I. Ingelbrecht² and M. D. Katung¹

¹Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture/ Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
²International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Central Biotechnology Laboratory, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 September, 2025

The experiment was conducted to test the in vitro regeneration efficiency of cowpea shoots via embryonic axes explants and the effect of benzyl amino purine (BAP) concentration on shoot formation. A total of 600 explants (embryonic axes) were plated from which 237 shoots were regenerated. The average regeneration ratio was 39% and the number of shoot per explant obtained stood at an average of 6.0. This indicates likelihood that higher regeneration percent and number of shoots per explant could be possible as more proficiency is attained in the use of the protocol. The role of the growth regulator, benzyl amino purine (BAP), as a shoot growth inducing factor and modifier in cowpea in vitro regeneration was demonstrated in the experiment. The protocol used in the experiment gave promising results for the efficient regeneration and subsequent genetic transformation of cowpea.

Key words: Cowpea, in vitro, regeneration ratio, benzyl amino purine (BAP), embryonic axes explants.
 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 13 (10), pp. 001-015, October, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of Piliostigma reticulatum Intercropping on Crop Developmental Stages and Growth

Authors: Roger Bayala*¹, Ibrahima Diedhiou², Nathaniel A. Bogie³, Matthew B H Bright⁴; Y. Ndour Badiane⁵, Teamrat Ghezzehei⁶ and Richard P. Dick⁴

¹UFR Agroforestrie, Jean Lorougnon Guédé Université, Daloa, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
²University Der THIAM of Thiès, École Nationale Supérieure d’Agriculture (ENSA) BP.A. 296 Thiès, Sénégal University Iba Der THIAM of Thies.
³Geology Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José California, USA, 95192
⁴School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.
⁵Laboratoire National de Recherche sur les Productions Végétales BP 3120, Dakar Sénégal.
⁶ University of California, Merced 5200 N. Lake Dr. Merced, CA 95343. Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Received 06 August, 2025; Revised 20 August, 2025; Accepted 21 August, 2025; Published 24 October, 2025

Yields of crops in the Sahel are well below the theoretical potential due to degraded soils from intensification of cropping, overgrazing, and scavenging for fuel wood.  Local, biologically based systems that provide organic inputs are needed to address these agroecological challenges. The Optimized Shrub-intercropping System (OSS) utilizing Piliostigma reticulatum that has elevated density (~1500 shrubs ha-1) where coppiced biomass is annually added to soil has been shown to remediate soils and increases crop yields, However, limited information is available on physiological and growth mechanisms of the two major crops in Senegal, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) under OSS. The objective was to determine the effect of interplanted P. reticulatum on crop development under varying rates of fertilizer in northern Senega L The experiment (from 2013 to 2016) was a split-plot factorial design. The presence (OSS) or absence of P. reticulatum (no OSS management) was the main plot factor and fertilizer rate (0, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 times the recommended N-P-K rate) was the subplot factor. OSS increased, over no OSS, tiller/stem and leaf number in the drier years of 2014 and 2015 whereas millet height was higher for OSS over non-OSS across all years. Except for 2013, the presence of P. reticulatum—reduced days to millet and peanut maturity by 7 to 9 days. Correlation of crop physiological properties with yield provided evidence that mechanistically, the OSS yield response was related to increased millet tillering with OSS. The most dramatic benefits on crop growth response due to OSS occurred when there was greater water stress and at the zero fertilizer rate – shown with OSS increasing millet height by as much as 105 % (2015).  The results also indicate OSS increases fertilizer efficiency. This shrub as the basis for OSS, is a locally available resource that can be readily used by subsistence farmers of the Sahel.

Key words: West Africa, agroforestry, Optimized Shrub Intercropping, millet, peanut, physiology, Piliostigma reticulatum.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 13 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A Comparative Phytochemical Screening of Strophanthus hispidus, Voacanga africana, and Thevetia neriifolia 

Ayoola G. A.1*, Folawewo A. D.1, Adesegun S. A.2, Abioro O. O.1, Adepoju-Bello A. A.1, Coker H. A. B.1

1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 September, 2025

The phytochemical and antioxidant properties of Strophantus hispidus (stem and root), Voacanga africana (stem and leaf) and Thevetia neriifolia (stem and leaf) were investigated. The parts of the plants used were based on those used locally. All the plants tested positive for the presence of tannins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides, all except S. hispidus (stem) tested positive for the presence of anthraquinone. Only V. africana (stem and leaves) and Thevetia neriifolia (leaves) tested positive for the presence of saponins, all except S. hispidus (root) tested positive for the presence of terpenoids. Only V. africana leaves and T. neriifolia tested positive for the presence of phlobatannins. The free radical scavenging activities were investigated based on the presence of flavonoids and tannins in all the plant materials. Preliminary screening of the free radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extracts of the plants with 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using thin layer chromatography only tested positive for V. africana leaves. IC50 values (concentration of sample required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity) for the inhibition of DPPH were 0.048 and 0.054 mg/ml for V. africana and Vitamin C respectively. The phenolic content, total flavonoid content and proanthocyanidin contents of V. africana were determined as, 124, 30 and 90 mg as gallic acid, rutin and catechin equivalents per gram of extract respectively. A good correlation was observed between radical scavenging capacity of V. africana and total phenolic, total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin content (R2 = 0.96 in all cases), showing that flav- onoids are likely to be responsible for antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Antioxidants, free radicals, phenolic content, proanthocyanidin content, total flavonoid, DPPH, Stro- phantus hispidus, Voacanga africana, Thevetia neriifolia.
 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Utilizing Thermal Power Plant Wastewater for Irrigation Boosts Oilseed Crop Performance

Afroza Akhtar, Akhtar Inam and Arif Inam*

Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Botany Department, A.M.U., Aligarh -202002

Accepted 13 August, 2025

The effect of thermal power plant discharged waste water (TPPW) on growth, yield and quality of mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Alankar) and linseed (Linum usitatissimum L. cv. Neelam) was studied. TPPW increased growth characteristics, net photosynthetic rate, seed yield, oil content and oil yield of the two crops. In mustard, treatments TPPW N112P60 (112 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha), TPPW N112P30 (112 kg N/ha + 30 kg P/ha) and TPPW N90P60 (90 kg N/ha + 60 kg P/ha) were equally effective while in case of linseed lower levels of N and P with waste water proved beneficial. TPPW may be considered as an alternative of fresh water for irrigation purpose improving yield and quality of mustard and linseed.

Key words: Nitrogen, phosphorus, wastewater, mustard, linseed, seed yield, oil yield.
 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Salt Stress Mitigation in Chickpea by Exogenous Application of Ascorbic Acid

Mohamed Salah Beltagi

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 10 April, 2025

The effect of exogenous supply of ascorbic acid on growth and metabolic changes in chick pea under salinity treatment was carried out in pot experiment. The exogenous supply of ascorbic acid (4 mM) improved the fresh and dry matter gain in roots, shoots and leaves of chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.) Plants attenuated by the salt stress (40 mM NaCl) environment in the soil solution. Significant synergistic effect between NaCl (40 mM) and ascorbic acid treatment increased the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll stability index (CSI %) in leaves of chick pea plants. The total number of protein bands/lane did not change under the low (20 mM) NaCl concentration but was dramatically reduced by the high (40 mM) NaCl treatment. The sum of optical densities (O. D.) of protein bands was inhibited by both levels of NaCl, but was induced by 10.68% by the added ascorbic acid at 20 mM NaCl and by 21.39% at 40 mM NaCl. Six different polypeptides of molecular weights 146.28, 117.98, 51.55, 49.6, 44.49 and 38.34 were completely disappeared under NaCl stress (40 mM). These bands reappeared in response to the added ascorbic acid treatment. Moreover, the optical density of every individual protein band was induced by ascorbic acid under the low NaCl concentration. The results indicate synergistic interaction between salinity stress and ascorbic acid for the sake of salt resistance in chick pea plants.

Keywords: Plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll stability index, SDS-PAGE protein.