African Journal of Agriculture

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigating the Role of Different Carbon Sources in Enhancing Cellulase Activity in Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

Nwodo-Chinedu, S.¹*, Okochi, V. I.², Smith, H. A.², Okafor, U. A.², Onyegeme-Okerenta, B. M. and Omidiji, O. ³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University,    KM 10 Idiroko Road,
Canaan Land, PMB 1023 Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
²Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003 Idiaraba, Nigeria.
³Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 May, 2024

Abstract

The effects of glucose, crystalline cellulose and sawdust of Mitragyna cilata on the growth and cellulase production, inferred from cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity, of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 was determined. Glucose-containing media gave the highest mycelia weight of 1.78 mg mL-1 in 120 h of incubation. This is about 3.5 – 4.5 times the maximum weights of 0.51 and 0.40 mg mL-1 respectively obtained from the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. The cultures containing crystalline cellulose and sawdust produced extracellular protein with cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity whereas glucose-containing cultures yielded very low protein and no significant cellulase activity. Maximum protein content of 0.02, 0.13 and 0.46 mg mL-1 respectively were obtained from the cultures containing glucose, cellulose and sawdust. Peak cellulase activity values of 100.0 and 92.2 Units L-1 respectively were obtained for the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. There is a correlation between the protein released and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. P. chrysogenum PCL501 produces extracellular proteins with significant cellulase activity in media containing cellulose and sawdust but not in glucose- containing medium. Sawdust is indicated as a good inducer of cellulase activity in the organism. The waste cellulosic material can be used as low-cost carbon source for commercial cellulase production.

Key words: P. chrysogenum PCL501, growth, cellulase activity, glucose, cellulosic materials.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring the Lipid Profile of Wedge Clam (Donax cuneatus): Implications for Nutrition

Annaian Shanmugam, Chendur Palpandi* and Subramanium Sambasivam

Centre of Advanced in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai – 608 502 Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 14 June 2024

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of the wedge clam Donax cuneatus collected from the sandy beach of Cuddalore (southeast coast of India) was determined. In the analysis, the fatty acid profile by gas chromatography revealed the presence of higher amount of saturated fatty acids (35.28%) than mono (12.71%) and polyunsaturated (11.72%) fatty acids. Among the saturated fatty acids, the stearic acid contributed the maximum amount of 15.68%. Whereas the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were accounted for 26.57% with mostly 16:1w7c (12.71%), fatty acid. Among the PUFA 20:4 w6c (6.75%) and 18:2 w6c (2.41%) acid contents were high. Omega – 6 fatty acids accounted for 10.74% of total PUFA and omega – 3 fatty acids were accounted for 0.48%. Thus the present study enlightens the possible role of this clam in the field of human nutrition.

Key words: Fatty acids, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, Donax cuneatus.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Macro-Propagation Techniques for Gongronema latifolia Benth Across Various Physiological Ages

AGBO, C.U.* and I.U. OBI

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

Accepted 23 May, 2024

Abstract

Non-wood forest products have been shown to be sustaining the rural poor in Nigeria and other developing countries. They are in most cases threatened to extinction because most species are not domesticated and thus harvested from forests. Macro-propagation of Gongronema latifolia Benth highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal qualities but has not been substantially domesticated was studied using three physiological ages (hardwood, semi-hardwood and soft wood) in Nsukka. Statistical analyses were performed on the attributes of the cuttings and nodal cuts. The study showed that large number of clones could be produced from a single stem cutting of G. latifolia with any of the three physiological ages. Hardwood and semi-hardwood nodal cuts produced five and four shoots/clones respectively and thus have higher potential of producing clones. Macro-propagation technique could thus be utilized to rapidly disseminate selected land races and new varieties of G. latifolia resulting from hybridization.

Key words: Gongronema latifolia, macro-propagation, nodal cuts and physiological age.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring In Vitro Methods for the Regeneration of Adult Bambusa vulgaris Trees

Aliou NDIAYE, Mamadou Saliou DIALLO, Dame NIANG and Yaye Kène GASSAMA-DIA

Laboratoire de Biotechnologies végétales, Département de Biologie Végétale Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar.

Accepted 31 May, 2024

Abstract

We developed procedures for the regeneration of Bambusa vulgaris using nodal segments from adult plants. Optimal shoot growth was after 16 days cultivation on modified Murashige and Skoog (MMS) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l of BAP. Elongated shoots of B. vulgaris rooted (45.85%) when cultured in MMS + 20 mg/l IBA. The rooted and acclimated shoots were successfully transferred into the field with 100% of plantlets survival.

Key words: Bambusa vulgaris, micropropagation, adult.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (8), pp. 001-003, August, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soils from Decommissioned Waste Disposal Sites

Okoronkwo¹*, N.E., Odemelam, S.A.² and Ano, O.A.³

¹Department of Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia, State, Nigeria.
³Department of Soil Sciences, National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 June, 2024

Abstract

The soils of an abandoned waste dumps sites which has been presently used for crop cultivation was investigated. Three points on the location of the waste dump site were selected and three pits of 100 cm depth were dug at selected points. Soils samples were collected at an interval of 10 cm from the three pits. The physico-chemical properties and toxic heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) levels were determined. The results of the study showed that the mean percentage of sand, silt and clay were 75.01±2.31, 12.87±0.93 and 10.45±1.47, respectively, while the mean pH was 6.89±0.01. The mean percentage organic matter content were high and was 3.47±0.41. The mean exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na in meq/100 g of soil were 4.20±0.42, 3.41±0.32, 0.31±0.004 and 0.47±0.006, respectively. The mean exchangeable acidity (EA) and exchangeable AI were 0.23±0.002 and 0.69±0.004, respectively. Of all the five toxic elements studied, the highest mean concentration (mg/kg) of 133.74±10.60 was recorded for Pb followed by Cr (22.27±3.03), Ni (8.14±0.33) and As (5.97±0.32) in the soils while the least mean concentration of 1.64±0.11 was recorded for Cd. The toxic elements were examined for dependency upon some soil factors through the use of correlation analysis, sand, organic matter and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) correlated significantly and positively with Cr and Pb indicating that these factors largely control the concentration of these elements in the soils.

Key words: Toxic elements, waste dump site, crop cultivation physico-chemical.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 11 (7), pp. 001-003, July, 2024. Available online at https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajaoas/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Advancements in Tissue Culture Methods for Stevia rebaudiana Bert Cultivation in Bangladesh

Mohammed Salim Uddin¹, Mohammad Shaheed Hossain Chowdhury¹, M. Muoztaba Mahfuzul Haque Khan¹, Mohammad Belal Uddin1, Romel Ahmed¹, Md. Azizul Baten²*

¹Department of Forestry, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh.
²Department of Statistics, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh.

Accepted 28 March, 2024

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on in vitro culture of Stevia rebaudiana Bert, an important non-caloric sweetening herb to explore its potential for micro-propagation. Leaf, nodal and inter-nodal segments of the selected herb as explant were cultured on MS medium containing 2,4- D at 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/L for callus induction. Inter-nodal segments initiated callus earlier than node and leaf. The highest amount of callus was found in MS medium with 3.0 mg/L 2,4-D and MS medium with 5.0 mg/L 2,4-D gave the poorest callus.

Key words: In vitro propagation, 2,4-D, Stevia rebaudiana.