http://repository.unn.edu.ng/handle/123456789/162 2026-09-02T19:53:16Z http://repository.unn.edu.ng/handle/123456789/8614 The Effect of Industrial Coconut Oil Effluent (Ice) Irrigation on the Germination, Growth, Development and Anatomy of Talinum Fruticosum (L.) Juss. Ubochi, Kingsley Chinedu The increase in food production has been the major concern to developing countries. Due to high demand for certain crops especially vegetables, there is need to cultivate these crops in dry season. The aim of this research work was to determine the effects of coconut oil effluent on the growth and yield of Talinum fruticosum L. The chemical composition of the effluent was determined using standard analytical methods. Percentage germination, vegetative growth and anatomical studies were carried out on T. fruticosum. Seeds and seedlings were subjected to irrigation with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% and 0% (control) concentration of industrial coconut effluent (ICE). The experiment on the vegetative growth studies was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data were collected every two weeks and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means compared by using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at P < 0.05. The results of chemical analysis obtained showed that ICE parameters mean values were above tap water values and FEPA standard limits except iron. Results from germination and vegetative studies showed that mean values from treatment 0% (control) were significantly higher at P < 0.0. The result from the soil minerals significantly increased from treatments 20% to 100% and significant (P < 0.05) in plant parts (leaf, stem and root) from treatments 20% to 100%, except at 2 WAT. The results from heavy metals accumulation showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in the root. The anatomical studies showed no significant difference (P < 0.05) in the number of epidermal cells, number of stomata and stomatal frequency index, while stomatal length and width were significant on both leaf surfaces from all treatments. The higher treatments (40% to 100% ICE) caused poor growth and development of T. fruticosum. Therefore, irrespective of the nature, the ICE could be well utilized for agricultural crops on adequate dilution, so as to reduce the lethality of the pollutants. 2018-06-08T00:00:00Z http://repository.unn.edu.ng/handle/123456789/8613 Induction of Genetic Variability in Three Capsicum Annuum L. Cultivars using Gamma Irradiation Ojua, Eugene Obashi Micronutrients deficiency affects more than 2 billion individuals globally. Therefore, there is need to improve our plant species to increase their nutritional value, to meet the worlds increasing nutritional insecurity. Induced mutation is one of the methods used in creating genetic variations that could result to new cultivars with different characteristics. Capsicum annum among other qualities is a good source of β-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. This study was aimed at inducing mutation on three cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. to source for new favourable genetic variations in the M1 generation that could be exploited for better agronomic and nutritional traits. Mutation was induced by exposing seeds of Shombo, Tatase and Nsukka yellow pepper to gamma irradiation with varied dosages (50, 100, 150 and 200 Gy from 60Co source). The evaluation was conducted as a 5 x 3 factorial laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) in the Botanic Garden of the University of Nigeria. There were significant effects of the mutagenic treatments on most of the parameters evaluated and percentage coefficient of variability revealed a shift in means of the treatments from their controls in both positive and negative directions. The treatment doses showed different morphological effects on the cultivars used. Seeds exposed to 50 Gy induced higher fruits per plants in Shombo (11.2 ± 2.47 fruits) and Tatase (7.00 ± 0.63 fruits) variety while 200 Gy induced higher fruits in Nsukka yellow pepper (10.1 ± 4.39 fruits). Increase in vitamin C, β-carotene, total carotenoid and capsaicin content were observed in fruits of the treated plants as compared to their controls. Shombo fruits from plants irradiated with 50 Gy and 150 Gy recorded significantly the highest β– carotene content with a mean value of 9.71 ± 0.22 mg/ 100 g and 11.35 ± 0.60 mg/ 100 g. Conclusively, there were indications that gamma irradiation dosage of 50 Gy – 200 Gy could be exploited in the creation of variability relevant for the improvement of morphological, yield and biochemical traits in peppers. Irradiation of 50 and 150 Gy dosages could also be exploited in the improvement of pepper for increased β-carotene content. 2018-07-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.unn.edu.ng/handle/123456789/8612 Gaseous Profile and Air Pollution Tolerance Indices of Some Plants around the Gas Flaring Site in Umuebulu Community, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria Obidiegwu, Chinyere Patricia The study examined the gaseous profile and air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of some plants around the gas flare site in Umuebulu Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Four physiological and biochemical parameters: relative water content, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll and pH of the leaf extracts were used to compute the APTI values. Plants were classified into three categories of sensitivity: APTI < 8.22 = sensitive, APTI 8.23 to 8.25 = intermediate and APTI > 8.26 = tolerant. The study quantified eight gases using eight Crowcon Gasman gas monitors. A Global Position System (GPS) was used to measure the longitude, latitude and elevation of the area before taking the readings from the flare site. The readings were taken for two weeks in each season, with February for dry season and October / November for rainy season, from four different locations designated as locations A, B, C and D. Micro-climatic features of the study area were determined by measuring the wind direction, wind speed, temperature and relative humidity, using mini-total station (Envi-monitor Model 08-1511). At each location readings were randomly monitored in the morning, afternoon and evening. Plants were collected randomly from the experimental and control sites and were used to determine their APTI values. Soil samples were randomly collected from the experimental site at four different locations and all readings were taken in triplicates. Eleven (11) plant species had significantly (P < 0.05) higher APTI than the other nine (09). The eleven were Elaeis guineensis (10.47 ± 0.02) / Manihot esculenta (10.05 ± 0.020), Chromolaena odorata (9.84 ± 0.09), Ocimum gratissimum (9.44 ± 0.01), Anthocleista vogelii (9.38 ± 0.03), Panicum maximum (9.26 ± 0.012), Carica papaya (9.11 ± 0.05), Phyllanthus discoideus (8.81 ± 0.01) / Phyllanthus muellerianus (8.76 ± 0.03) , Ixora coccinea (8.31 ± 0.14) and Solanum incanum (8.30 ± 0.00), and were the tolerant plants. The others Alchornea cordifolia, Sida acuta, Psidium. guajava, Musa sapientum, Mangifera indica, Millettia thonningii, Acalypha ciliate, Newbouldia laevis and Combretum platypterum had lower APTI values, and were the sensitive plants. Vernonia amygdalina was the only moderately tolerant plant found. Eight out of the twenty-one plants studied were tolerant at both control and experimental sites, while seven were sensitive at both sites, six were not tolerant or sensitive at both sites. T-test between experimental and control plants showed that the APTI values of most of the control plants were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the experimental plants. The physiological parameters showed higher ascorbic acid content, lower total chlorophyll content, lower relative water content and variable pH leaf extract of the experimental plant than those of the control. Gaseous profile showed that HCN and SO2 had no significant differences in all locations. Ammonia (NH3), CO, Cl2, and NO2 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at location A (gas flare site) than in other locations. For daily emissions HCN, Cl2 and NO2 showed no significant differences in all the periods of the day but H2S, CO and SO2 had high emissions in the evenings. For seasonal emissions there were significant (P < 0.05) differences between the emissions during rainy season and dry season for all gases, except H2S.The concentrations of H2S, HCN, NH3, SO2, NO2 and CH4 were higher than the Nigerian and United States National ambient air quality standard but CO and Cl2 are within the permissible limits. Data for heavy metal concentration in the soil of Umuebulu indicated that the mean values of Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn, Al, Hg, Mn, Mo, As and Ag were relatively higher than the threshold critical levels, while Pb, Cd, Cu and Co had low optimal range and low critical values for toxicity (FEPA/USEPA). The pollution of the soil was thus remarkable, in which case animals and plants in the area are under threat of long term contamination. The result from the analysis of the mineral nutrient showed that K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, H, CEC, N2, O.M, C, K2Cl, H2O, Coarse Sand, Fine Sand, Silt and Clay were all concentrated in the soil and the mineral nutrient contents were within the USEPA/FEPA guideline. The result of micro – climatic elements showed variations at different period of the day. Effect of the gas flaring activities increased the temperature of the area. Increase in temperature affects the humidity, wind speed and wind direction of the area, due to increase in the toxic gaseous emissions. It is recommended that gas flaring should be stopped completely and plants with high APTI values be grown near pollution prone areas. These plants would absorb and in turn screen off certain harmful gaseous pollutants, which contribute to green house effects, global warming and climate change, while sensitive plants should be planted as phyto-indicators of air pollution in urban and industrial areas. 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.unn.edu.ng/handle/123456789/8611 Comparative Morphology, Anatomy and Phytochemistry of Four (Two Specific And Two Infraspecific) Taxa of Mussaenda L. (Rubiaceae) Across Nsukka and Uyo Metropolises in Nigeria Nwafor, Felix Ifeanyi This work was carried out to study the comparative morphology, anatomy and phytochemistry of four taxa of Mussaenda L. (Rubiaceae). Each of the taxa was collected from its natural region of provenance in two different ecological (Derived Savanna and Tropical Rainforest) zones of Nigeria. Morphological observations were made in the field while anatomical studies were carried out on the leaves and the wood. Results from the comparative morphology showed that all the taxa possess common characteristic features of Rubiaceae – opposite leaves, fused corolla, fused calyx, inferior ovaries and the presence of interpetiolar stipules but differ in their habits, flower colour: corolla orange in M. elegans, creamy in M. erythrophylla, and yellow in M. phillipica var. aurorae and M. ‘Dona Aurora’; sepals absent in M. elegans but red in M. erythrophylla, greenish white in M. phillipica var. aurorae and pink in M. ‘Dona Aurora’, lamina shape (elliptic in all except M. ‘Dona Aurora’ which is ovate), lamina size, petiole length, number of lateral veins and presence and number of petaloid sepals. In all the taxa, leaves were hypostomatic and had paracytic type of stomata; irregularly shaped epidermal cells with wavy cell walls. Similarly, simple, multicellular and uniseriate non-glandular trichomes were a common feature in all taxa. However, stomatal density, index and sizes, and trichomes density, index and sizes differed significantly at P ≤ 0.05. The wood was diffuse porous in all taxa except in M. ‘Dona Aurora’ which was semi-diffuse porous. However, absent to scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma, septate fibres, pitted, solitary or in radial multiples of 2 - 4 or more pitted vessels, storied heterocellular rays and simple perforation plates (Wood Type II) were common features. Quantitative study showed considerable variations among the four taxa (M. elegans, M. erythrophylla, M. phillipica var. aurorae and M. ‘Dona Aurora’): fibre lengths were 0.80 ± 0.02 µm, 0.70 ± 0.05 µm, 0.65 ± 0.03 µm and 0.64 ± 0.04 µm respectively; fibre diameters were 0.019 ± 0.00 µm, 0.015 ± 0.00 µm, 0.020 ± 0.00 µm and 0.014 ± 0.00 µm respectively; fibre lumen diameters were 0.010 ± 0.00 µm, 0.009 ± 0.00 µm, 0.014 ± 0.00 µm and 0.091 ± 0.00 µm respectively; fibre cell wall diameters were 0.005 ± 0.00 µm, 0.005 ± 0.00 µm, 0.006 ± 0.00 µm and 0.004 ± 0.00 µm respectively; vessel lengths were 0.025 ± 0.00 µm, 0.033 ± 0.00 µm, 0.032 ± 0.00 µm and 0.044 ± 0.00 µm respectively; vessel pore diameters were 0.001 ± 0.00 µm, 0.001 ± 0.00 µm, 0.006 ± 0.00 µm and 0.001 ± 0.00 µm; vessel densities were 24.69 ± 1.40 mm-2, 60.33 ± 3.15 mm-2, 11.45 ± 0.90 mm-2 and 40.31 ± 1.78 mm-2 respectively. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of all the tested phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, hydrogen cyanide, phenols, reducing sugars, saponins, soluble carbohydrates, steroids, tannins and terpenoids) in different proportions, with M. phillipica var. aurorae and M. ‘Dona Aurora’ having the highest distribution of phytoconstituents in mg/100 g. In summary, the highest contents of phytochemicals were seen in M. elegans (terpenoids: 650.88 ± 0.36), M. “Doña Aurora” (alkaloids: 311.01 ± 0.37, phenols: 899.27 ± 0.04, reducing sugars: 967.35 ± 0.21, soluble carbohydrates: 27.68 ± 0.01, steroids: 2.89 ± 0.03 and tannins: 393.16 ± 0.45) and M. “Doña Luz” (flavonoids: 69.34 ± 0.15, glucosides: 339.64 ± 0.22 and hydrogen cyanides: 1.34 ± 0.18). From this study, it was observed that ecological factors affected the morphology and anatomy, as well as the phytochemical constituents which could be attributed to changing environmental conditions. The results thus, could be used as important diagnostic tools in delimitation of the four taxa of Mussaenda L. and for environmental monitoring. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z