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A Study of Foliage Morphological Descriptions Accommodating Continuity in Previous Delimitation of Types in Tropical Plants
Fawibe Oluwasegun Olamide,
Ogunyale Omolara Grace,
Oyelakin Abiodun Sunday,
Ayodele Muyiwa Segun
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
111-116
Received:
23 February 2015
Accepted:
10 March 2015
Published:
24 April 2015
Abstract: The morphological description of some selected tropical plants in Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated. This is with a view to bridge existing more or less compartmentalized foliar descriptions which are discrete and lack the observed continuum of shape types in nature. Plants from which leaves were collected and observed for the different traits were randomly collected from some Local Government Areas of the State. The qualitative macromorphological characters observed include, leaf type, leaf shape, leaf apex, leaf base and leaf margin with varying percentage occurrence. Of the 74 distinct foliage types examined 62(84%) matched the existing foliage descriptions in literature while 12(16%) had undefined shape descriptions. It was observed that simple (79%), ovate and lanceolate (18%), entire (58%), acute (26%), acute (44%) had the highest frequency for the leaf type, leaf shape, leaf margin, leaf apex and leaf bases respectively, while the lowest frequency was recorded to be compound (21%), linear, oblanceolate, acicular, orbicular, sagitate, falcate, peltate, hastate, lobed (1.6%), spinose, denticulate, crenate, parted (1.6%), mucronulate and cirrhose (1.6%), auriculate and hastate (1.6%) in the leaf type, leaf shape, leaf margin, leaf apex and leaf bases respectively. Other shapes hitherto undefined include: lanceospatulate, zygomorphic-trilobe, ensiformis, lobed-pentate, lobed-starlate and ellipto-dentoid. The study revealed that there is a continuum in plant foliage macromorphological description rather than independent occurrence of plant foliage characters found in literature.
Abstract: The morphological description of some selected tropical plants in Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated. This is with a view to bridge existing more or less compartmentalized foliar descriptions which are discrete and lack the observed continuum of shape types in nature. Plants from which leaves were collected and observed for the different traits w...
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Sustaining Improved Cassava Production on West African Ferralsols Through Appropriate Varieties and Optimal Potassium Fertilization Schemes
Jean Mianikpo Sogbedji,
Lakpo Kokou Agboyi,
Kodjovi Sotomè Detchinli,
Ruth Atchoglo,
Mihikouwe Mazinagou
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
117-122
Received:
3 April 2015
Accepted:
16 April 2015
Published:
24 April 2015
Abstract: Improved nutrient use efficiency and use of appropriate crop varieties are required towards producing enough food in a sustainable manner. This study assessed the response of three cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties to three potassium (K) fertilization rates on West African ferralsols. It aimed at identifying optimal K fertilizer application rates and corresponding appropriate crop varieties for improved and sustainable cassava production. Three K fertilizer rates including 0, 50 and 100 kg K ha-1 were used together with fertilizers nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) each at a fixed rate of 60 kg ha-1. The cassava varieties were Gbazekoute (V1), KH (V2) and Moya (V3). Field data including cassava fresh tuber and stover yields, and harvest index (HI) were collected from the 2-yr experiment in which treatments were arranged in a split-plot design, with varieties as main plots and K fertilizer rate as subplots. Mean fresh tuber yield under Gbazekoute (65.5 Mg ha-1) increased by 68.4 and 44.3% as compared with KH (38.9 Mg ha-1) and Moya (45.4 Mg ha-1), respectively, while yield under Moya was superior to that of KH by 16.7%, indicating that tuber yield potential was highest, intermediate and lowest for V1, V3 and V2, respectively. Mean stover yield under Gbazekoute (52.2 Mg ha-1) decreased by 12.6 and 18.7% as compared with KH (59.7 Mg ha-1) and Moya (64.2 Mg ha-1), respectively. Mean harvest index values increased under Gbazekoute (55.7%) by 41 and 34.5 % as compared with KH (39.5%) and Moya (41.4%), respectively, and value under KH was 4.6% lower than that for Moya. The three varieties were responsive to applied fertilizer K rate with the response being highest, intermediate and lowest for the KH, Moya and Gbazekoute, respectively. For the three varieties, the optimum K fertilizer application rate was 50 kg K ha-1. Gbazekoute proved superior over KH and Moya in efficiently allocating assimilates to storage roots at the expenses of the stover. The use of 50 kg K ha-1 together with 60 kg N ha-1 and 60 kg P ha-1 (N60P60K50 kg ha-1) under the Gbazekoute may be a recommended practice towards sustaining improved cassava production on the inherently degraded West African ferralsols.
Abstract: Improved nutrient use efficiency and use of appropriate crop varieties are required towards producing enough food in a sustainable manner. This study assessed the response of three cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties to three potassium (K) fertilization rates on West African ferralsols. It aimed at identifying optimal K fertilizer applicat...
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Identification and Purification of Antioxidant Peptides from Lentils (Lens Culinaris) Hydrolysates
Muhammad Jamirul Ashad Zehadi,
Kingsley Masamba,
Yue Li,
Maoshen Chen,
Xuemei Chen,
Hafiz Rizwan Sharif,
Fang Zhong
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
123-132
Received:
1 April 2015
Accepted:
11 April 2015
Published:
24 April 2015
Abstract: Powder derived from Lentils was hydrolyzed sequentially using five different enzymes and their combinations for production of antioxidant peptide. For identifying antioxidant peptides, Lentils hydrolysate was fractionated using Ultra filtration and size exclusion chromatography (Superdex Peptide 10/300 GL) methods. The lentils peptide and its fractions demonstrated antioxidant activities as revealed from studies using a β-carotene-linoleate model system, hydroxyl radical-scavenging, the DPPH radical-scavenging activity assay, and a reducing power evaluation. Molecular characteristics of individual Lentils protein was investigated using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results demonstrated that Lentils peptide fraction III exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to the other Lentils Fraction. The molecular weight and sequence were identified by LC-MS analysis as 587.31 Da and the amino acid sequence was as follows: Ala- Leu- Gly- Pro- Val- Met.
Abstract: Powder derived from Lentils was hydrolyzed sequentially using five different enzymes and their combinations for production of antioxidant peptide. For identifying antioxidant peptides, Lentils hydrolysate was fractionated using Ultra filtration and size exclusion chromatography (Superdex Peptide 10/300 GL) methods. The lentils peptide and its fract...
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GC-MS Analysis of Phyto-components from the Leaves of Senna alata L
Omotoyinbo Oluwasegun Victor,
Sanni Morakinyo David
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
133-136
Received:
6 April 2015
Accepted:
17 April 2015
Published:
29 April 2015
Abstract: The biochemical constituents of extracts obtained from the leaves of Senna alata obtained from Akure, Nigeria is being reported. The chloroform-methanol extracts was analysed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The main constituents of the extracts were 6-Octadecenoic acid (24.99 %), 2, 3-Dihydroxypropyl-9-octadecenoate (20.86 %) and Octadecanoic acid (18.08 %).
Abstract: The biochemical constituents of extracts obtained from the leaves of Senna alata obtained from Akure, Nigeria is being reported. The chloroform-methanol extracts was analysed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The main constituents of the extracts were 6-Octadecenoic acid (24.99 %), 2, 3-Dihydroxypropyl-9-octadecenoate (2...
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Identification of the Genus Phyllanthus (Family Phyllanthaceae) in Southern Nigeria Using Comparative Systematic Morphological and Anatomical Studies of the Vegetative Organs
Daniel Azubuike Awomukwu,
Bio Louis Nyananyo,
Chiedozie Joel Uka,
Clement Uwabunkeonye Okeke
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
137-149
Received:
6 April 2015
Accepted:
25 April 2015
Published:
11 May 2015
Abstract: Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing a more natural clarification than the existing one. The foliar and floral morphology of these species were described while the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem and root are valuable characters in delimiting the species. The results obtained from the studies showed that species of Phyllanthus have different attributes in their vascular characteristics that could be used together with other existing systematic evidence in clarifying the confusion in identifying these plants. Evidence from the nature of the palisade parenchyma in the mesophyll, nature of the collenchyma, sclerenchyma and vascular bundles are presented and discussed with their values in the systematic positions of these plants. A dichotomous bracketed key to the identification of the species studied is provided.
Abstract: Five species of Phyllanthus L. Family Phyllanthaceae occurring in Southern Nigeria, P. amarus Schum and Thonn, P. urinaria Linn., P. odontadenius Mull-Arg., P. niruroides Mull-Arg. and P. muellerianus (O. Ktze) Excell were compared using the morphology and anatomy with the view to adding to increasing the systematic lines of evidence and providing ...
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Novel Set of Sex-Specific PCR-Based Markers Reveals New Hypothesis of Sex Differentiation in Date Palm
Atia A. M. Mohamed,
Adawy S. Sami
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
150-161
Received:
28 April 2015
Accepted:
13 May 2015
Published:
28 May 2015
Abstract: The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), 2n=36, is a dioecious long-lived monocotyledonous plant, with separate male and female trees. The dioecy represents the major challenge in development of breeding programs as it is impossible to distinguish tree gander till they flower approximately five to eight years after planting. Although, during the past two decades numerous attempts to develop molecular markers can discriminate among male and female trees in date palm. But, to date, sex-differentiation mechanism is still uncertain and there is no reliable way to determine the sex of date palm plants before reproductive age across all cultivars. Here, we employed an effective three novel gene-targeting marker approaches (SCoT, CDDP and ITAP) in additions to AFLP, in an attempt to develop a novel set of reliable sex-specific PCR-based markers can helping in early gender determination in Egyptian date palm trees. A set of 26 SCoT, 21 CDDP, 18 ITAP and 14 AFLP primers/primer combinations (PCs) were applied against twelve date palm genotypes belonging to three superior Egyptian date palm cultivars to identify any sex-specific markers. Four SCoT (SCoT1, SCoT24, SCoT26 and SCoT35), two CDDP (CDDP4 and CDDP6), one ITAP (ITAP-8/1) and one AFLP (AFLP-4/1) primer/PC exhibited differential fragments/bands between males and females. These differential bands were gel extracted and cloned for subsequent sequencing analysis. Three of the sequenced bands found to be contain more than one sequence. BLAST analysis results indicated that the eleven sequences generated from different gene-targeting marker systems (SCoT, CDDP and ITAP) revealed main similarity with master transcription factors, transcriptional activators/repressors and regulatory proteins involved in plant hormone signal transduction pathways, plant development and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, playing important role in different types of abiotic and biotic stresses in date palm or oil palm. We speculate that kind of similarity is not just a coincidence. Our results reveals hypothesis that sex differentiation is a complex but well-organized process that involves endogenous and exogenous factors regulate and control the changes in gene expression, physiology, metabolism and architecture of the plant. These results represent the first case-study focusing on the applications of CDDP, ITAP and SCoT techniques as a novel gene targeting markers in sex-determination in date palm. Moreover, indicate that sex-differentiation process have to be addressed at system biology level for deep and better understanding. This developed sex-specific markers expected to be helpful in distinguish the gander in date palm at earliest stages.
Abstract: The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), 2n=36, is a dioecious long-lived monocotyledonous plant, with separate male and female trees. The dioecy represents the major challenge in development of breeding programs as it is impossible to distinguish tree gander till they flower approximately five to eight years after planting. Although, during the pas...
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Comparative Investigation of Glutathione S-transferase (GST) in Different Crops and Purification of High Active GSTs from Onion (Allium cepa L.)
Md. Raisul Islam,
Abul Kashem Chowdhury,
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman,
Md. Motiar Rohman
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2015
Pages:
162-170
Received:
18 May 2015
Accepted:
25 May 2015
Published:
13 June 2015
Abstract: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18) are abundant proteins encoded by a highly divergent ancient gene family with protective functions through detoxification and non-catalytic roles as carriers of cytotoxins. In this work, we investigated the GST activities in seedlings of 38 crops to obtain a plant with high active GST for further study. In screening of 38 crops, onion seedling showed the highest GST activity (483.54 nmol min-1mg-1 protein) followed by wheat(372.89 nmol min-1mg-1 protein), barley (253.44 nmol min-1mg-1 protein), rice (244.12 nmol min-1mg-1 protein) and proso millet (173.34 nmol min-1mg-1 protein). Carrot seedling showed the lowest activity (3.63 nmol min-1mg-1 protein).In onion plants, both root and leaf showed high GST activity. Onion bulb GSTs were separated DEAE cellulose column chromatography, and purified by affinity chromatography (S-hexyl glutathione-agarose). Three GST peaks were found to elute at 67, 107 and 140mM of KCl gradient solution, and were named as GSTa, GSTb and GSTc. Among the three GSTs, GSTa, GSTb and GSTc contained 9.58, 61.45 and 28.97% of total activity, respectively. In purification, GSTa, GSTb and GSTc had specific activities of 9075, 17259 and 19868 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein, respectively, along with yield of 2.48, 3.17 and 1.28,and purification fold of 15.8, 29.9 and 34.5, respectively. The purity and molecular mass of the fraction was examined by SDS-PAGE. The silver staining of the purified GSTa, GSTb and GSTc indicated that final product of GSTb and GSTc were highly purified and migrated as a single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular mass of 27 kDa. However, GSTa eluted with Glyoxalase-I (Gly-I) and to purify GSTa, more methodological application are suggested.
Abstract: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18) are abundant proteins encoded by a highly divergent ancient gene family with protective functions through detoxification and non-catalytic roles as carriers of cytotoxins. In this work, we investigated the GST activities in seedlings of 38 crops to obtain a plant with high active GST for further study....
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