African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Correlation between density and other mechanical wood properties of Ficus Exasperata (Vahl) along axial plane

*David-Sarogoro, N¹. and ²Emerhi, E. A.

¹Department of Forestry and Environment, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

P.M.B. 5080.

²Department of Forestry & Wildlife Management, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 July, 2020 

Abstract

This study examined correlation between density and other mechanical wood properties of Ficus exasperata in Bunu Tai. Samples were collected along the axial direction: base, middle and top (sampling height). Wood samples for mechanical properties were prepared in accordance with British Standard Test 879 procedures. The experiment was laid in 2 x 3 factorial experiment in Completely Randomized Design (CRD), and data collected were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA ) at P<0.05 level of significance, while relationships and associations among mechanical properties were subjected to regression and correlation analyses. The results of ANOVA showed that the average mean values were 465.05±46.64kg/m³, 3997.990±1488.19N/mm², 19.04±4.413m, and 3.7093±2.28N/mm² for density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), impact strength (IS) and modulus of rupture (MOR) respectively. Similarly, the results of regression analysis of density on IS, MOE and MOR showed that there was significant relationship (P<0.05: P-value=0.041384) between density and impact strength, and no significant relationship existed between density and MOE and MOR (P>0.05: P-value=0.15118) while their correlation coefficients (r) were 0.83, 0.91 and 0.14for IS, MOE and MOR respectively. The highest correlation coefficient was between density and MOE, followed by between density and IMS while the r-value between density and MOR was the lowest. Mechanical properties particularly IS had no correlation with density while MOR and MOE had positive correlations with density; an indication of possible associations and could therefore project F. exasperata wood as being recommended for usage for low construction and joinery purposes.

Keywords: Density, impact strength, modulus of elasticity.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-008, June, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Scion and stock diameter size effect on growth and fruit production of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) trees

Simon A. Mng’omba¹*, Gudeta W. Sileshi¹, Ramni Jamnadass², Festus K. Akinnifesi¹ and Jarret Mhango³

¹World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P. O. Box 30798, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.

²World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P. O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, Malawi.

Accepted 15 May, 2021

Abstract

Sclerocarya birrea (marula) is a highly valued fruit tree in southern Africa because of its products which have gained both regional and international markets. However, its fruits have been harvested from the wild with a few provenances being managed on farmland. Grafted marula trees have shown wide variations in scion and rootstock growth (for example, stem diameters), but effects of these variations on tree survival, growth and fruit production have not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess variations in growth of scions and their stocks and (2) evaluate the effect of scion and stock growth differences on overall grafted tree growth, survival, flower and fruit production on farmland, six to eight years after planting. Over 70% of the grafted trees had similar scion and stock diameters, while 24% had thicker (i.e, slow growing) scions than their stocks. Trees with similar scion and stock growth rate had a high flowering percentage (> 40%), but there was also significant fruit abortion during the three years of fruit production. Grafted trees with thicker scions than their stocks produced significantly more (P < 0.05) fruits than the rest. Such trees were also significantly (P < 0.0126, N = 50) taller than the rest. There was a low survival for grafted trees with either thick or thin scions relative to the stock diameters. It can be concluded that unequal growth rate of scion and stock in grafted marula trees has a negative effect on early tree survival and dwarfing characteristics, but this may not reduce fruit yield in the early years. Therefore, scion and stock selection is critical to reduce growth variations which have negative effects on grafted tree growth and fruit productivity.

Key words: Fruit abortion, graft compatibility, phenotypic variations, tree dwarfing.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-008, June, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Physiochemical and nutritional characterization of Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr. (Verbenaceae): An indigenous fruit tree of Eastern Africa

James Munga Kimondo¹*, Jacob Godfrey Agea ², Clement Akais Okia², Refaat Atalla Ahmed Abohassan³, Elizabeth T. N. Nghitoolwa Ndeunyema⁴, Dino Andrew Woiso⁵, Zewge Teklehaimanot⁶ and Jackson Mulatya¹

¹Kenya Forestry Research Institute, P. O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Community Forestry and Extension, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala Uganda.

³Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80208 Jeddah,

21589 Saudi Arabia.

⁴Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, The University of Namibia - Ogongo Campus, Private Bag 5520, Oshakati, Namibia.

⁵Department of Biological Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3038, Morogoro, Tanzania.

⁶University of Bangor, Bangor Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.

Accepted 13 April, 2021

Abstract

In the dry areas, indigenous fruits become important staples when cereals harvested are inadequate to support populations. Farmers in these areas have identified many of the handicaps in domestication but there is still need for inputs from the food industry into identification of the desirable traits and characteristics of potentially novel food. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient content of one edible wild fruit, Vitex payos that has been identified as a top priority species among the inhabitants of drylands of Kenya for domestication. The proximate, minerals and vitamin content were determined. Results showed that the fruit did contain useful quantities of potassium, manganese, phosphorus and vitamin C. Besides, sodium, magnesium and calcium were also present in minute quantities.

Key words: Vitex payos, indigenous fruits, dry lands, nutrients, proximate, Kenya.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-003, June, 2021. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Ziziphora clinopodioids Lam. from Iran by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

A. R. Sardashti¹*, J. Valizadeh² and Y. Adhami¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, P. O. Box 98167 Zahedan, Iran.

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, P. O. Box 98167, Zahedan, Iran.

Accepted 17 March, 2021

Abstract

The essential oil from aerial parts of Ziziphora clinopodioids plant was extracted by hydro distillation with efficiency of 1.86% (w/w). The components were characterized by means of gas chromatography– mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using kovat's retention indices. Thirty-two components of the essential oil which composed 98.18% of the total oil were characterized. The major components were pulegone (61.67%), cis-caran-trans-2-ol (12.66%), 1, 8-cineole (10.23%) and 2-β-pinene (2.16%).

Key words: Ziziphora clinopodioides, essential oil, pulegone, (-) cis-caran-trans 2-ol, 1, 8-cineole, 2-β-pinene.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Use of aeroponics technique for potato (Solanum tuberosum) minitubers production in Kenya

M.  W. Mbiyu¹*, J. Muthoni¹*, J. Kabira¹, G. Elmar², C. Muchira¹, P. Pwaipwai¹, N.  J. Ngaruiya¹, S. Otieno¹ and J. Onditi¹

¹Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Potato Research Centre -Tigoni P. O. Box 338-00217, Limuru Kenya.

²International Potato Centre (CIP), sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office P. O. Box 25171-00603 Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 18 August, 2020

Abstract

In Kenya, potato productivity is severely constrained by limited high quality seed tubers; this is precipitated by inefficiencies in various stages in the seed production system. Production of certified seed starts with meristem tip cuttings in the tissue culture. The resultant plantlets are grown in pots in the greenhouse and/or screen-house for production of minitubers (generation 0). In Kenya, production of minitubers through aeroponics systems has been introduced. This paper discusses the production of potato minitubers using aeroponics. Important considerations that should be addressed before setting-up an aeroponics based potato minituber production system are also discussed. Research areas to optimize production and improve field performance of mini-tubers produced through aeroponics are also presented.

Key words: Aeroponics, clonal multiplication, hydroponics, minituber production, rapid multiplication techniques, tissue culture.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Botanical formulation and extracts based on plant leaves and flower, a substitute for toxic chemical and waxes for shelf life extension and quality retention of apple cv Starking Delicious in India

Sandeep K. Chauhan²*, Thakur K. S.¹, Jawa N. K.² and Thakur K. P.²

¹Department of Postharvest Technology, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-173 230, India.

²FHEL, CONCOR, Government of India.

Accepted 19 August, 2020

Abstract

Pre-harvest treatments consisted of nimbecidine, neem azal, neem gold, with Bavistin, as control. The plant leaves/flowers used as coatings were neem leaf extract, drake leaf extract, spearmint leaf extract, marigold flower extract, and semperfresh. Neem, melia, mentha, walnut, banna, basooti, and camphor were used as cushioning materials in packages. Freshly harvested fruits were subjected to the above treatments and were kept under refrigerated storage (1±1°C) for analysis at a monthly interval up to 6 months. Nimbecidine (1.5%) was found better in reducing physiological loss in weight (PLW) and retaining fruit firmness, whereas, neem azal (2.0%) was found effective in retaining maximum total soluble solids (TSS) content, starch iodine rating and pectin content at the end of 6 months storage period. Among the treatments of extracts of plant leaves/flowers, fruits treated with 20% drake leaf extract proved to be most effective in reducing weight loss, whereas, maximum retention of firmness was recorded in fruits treated with 20% neem leaf extracts. Drake and neem leaf extracts also retained maximum TSS content. Minimum decrease in starch content maximum pectin content in the fruits and were recorded with 20% neem leaf extract. Leaf extract was highly effective in reducing spoilage as no spoilage was recorded under this treatment. Fruits cushioned with camphor leaves were superior over non-cushioned fruits in retaining most of quality characteristics.

Key words: Neem (Azadirachta indica), plant extract, drake (Melia azedarach), spearmint, marigold, banna (Vitex negundu), basooti (Adhatoda vasica), camphor, apple.