ABSTRACT Biofertilizers offer commercially feasible and environmentally sound means for supplementing nutrient supply to crops. The basic problem in acquiring quality rhizobia biofertilizers is the low number of efficient cells. The major limitations affecting the quality of rhizobia biofertilizers are; short storage duration, unavailability of appropriate carrier materials, and susceptibility to high temperature. The present study evaluated the effects of selected carrier materials and stora...
ABSTRACT The Napier grass stunt (NGS) phytoplasma is a phloem limited bacterium that is transmitted by insect vector, Maiestas banda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The phytoplasma causes NGS disease in Napier grass resulting into huge forage yield losses hence impacting negatively the economy of smallholder dairy farmers in East Africa. Phytoplasma infections causes massive changes in phloem physiology including the sieve elements which may lead to reduced rate of phloem mass flow that interfere...
ABSRACT Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.) is a protein rich legumes, with food security potential. The nine (9) accessions of the Bambara Groundnut were obtained from ational Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (I'TACGRAB) Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. These were accessed for their genetic and phylogenic relatedness through electrophoresis of the seed's proteins. Protein characterization with standard gel marker revealed that the 9 accessions contained proteins (Bovine Serum ...
Abstract Objective: To examine malaria-related knowledge and practices among residents in Ilorin City to guide forthcoming malaria elimination action of the recently restructured Nigerian National Malaria Elimination Program. Methods: Community-wide cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2012 using pretested structured questionnaire and interview schedule to collect information on perception, prevention and treatment of malaria among the residents. Results: Majority of the respondents at...
ABSTRACT The fall armyworm is a devastating pest of maize which has recently reached the African continent. Currently, there are no registered insecticides for FAW control in African countries, except applications allowed through an emergency label, suggesting an urgent need for insecticide screening. A study was carried out at the Department of Research and Specialist Service to investigate the efficacy of selected biopesticides and synthetic chemicals against the fall armyworm. The laborato...
ABSRACT Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of infections encountered in medical practice today. Effective treatment of these infections is being hindered by antibiotic resistance of UTI pathogens. Prevalence of UTIs differs with geographical location, seasons, and gender. Therefore, it is important to isolate and identify the uro-pathogens causing UTIs in an area and determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. In this study, a total of 92 mid-stream urine samples...
ABSTRACT Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a drought resistant crop that can potentially contribute to food security through diversification of the staple diet in Zimbabwe. A major hindrance to its adoption as a major food item is its perceived toxicity because it contains a cyanogenic glycoside, which can be hydrolyzed into hydrogen cyanide, HCN, and there is also lack of its nutritional benefits. A comparative study of three cassava varieties (Benguela, Malawi 1 and Malawi 7) grown in Zimbabwe...
ABSTRACT The importance of spices and herbs as dietary supplements and alternative medicines to Zimbabwean society has increased in recent times. The popularity of these substances has come largely as a result of the dire economic situation prevalent in Zimbabwe which has engendered the dramatic collapse of the country„s healthcare system. In spite of the numerous therapeutic claims that have been associated with spices and herbs sold openly in the streets, they pose a genuine threat to the...
ABSTRACT Maize (Zea mays L.) is grown in different parts of the world, where it is a staple crop and many people rely on it as a primary source of nutrition. Salt stress is an external abiotic constraint that reduces maize ability to convert energy to biomass when it is in high concentrations. We conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of sodium chloride concentration on morphology of seedlings of maize varieties Agri Seeds R201, SC 513 and SC 403. The practical importance of the st...
ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a common gastrointestinal enterobacteriaceae that contaminates food resulting in food poisoning. Due to prolonged exposure to antibiotic therapy in their livestock hosts, E. coli continue to develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Most E. coli strains are commensal but may attain virulence genes through horizontal gene transfer. A cross sectional observational study was carried out to determine the total E. coli count in polony, beef burgers and traditionally ferm...
ABSTRACT Finger millet is chief food crop for millions of people in the world. It is ranked third in cereal production in semi-arid regions after sorghum and pearl millet. It is generally grown all over the world especially the developing countries with stable yield and strong adaptability to a number of agro-ecological environments. Despite its importance, finger millet increase in production is limited by abiotic stresses especially drought and salinity which affects the plant in the field ...
ABSTRACT Pain, pyrexia and inflammation cause unnecessary discomfort, suffering and also lower productivity of the victims. Conventional drugs for these conditions are expensive, not easily available and have adverse side effects. There is therefore need to develop alternative therapeutic agents, such as medicinal plant derivatives, that are cheaper and have lesser side effects. Terminalia brownii is used in traditional medicine to treat pain, pyrexia, inflammation but there is no scientific ...
ABSTRACT Pain, pyrexia and inflammation cause unnecessary discomfort, suffering and also lower productivity of the victims. Conventional drugs for these conditions are expensive, not easily available and have adverse side effects. There is therefore need to develop alternative therapeutic agents, such as medicinal plant derivatives, that are cheaper and have lesser side effects. Terminalia brownii is used in traditional medicine to treat pain, pyrexia, inflammation but there is no scientific ...
ABSTRACT Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a low growing fleshly leaved annual plant that can be used as a vegetable and or to treat a variety of diseases. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of cow, chicken and pig manure on the plant height, leaf number, leaf length as well as root length of spinach. An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Africa University between the months of June and July 2018. The experiment was a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with chicken ma...
Abstract Salmonella enterica and Shigella dysenteria are different groups of Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella infection affects the small and large intestine (enterocolitis) whereas Shigella infection affects the colon (colitis). Diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever are the main symptoms in both diseases. The study was conducted among Beitbridge residents who visited Beitbridge District Hospital suffering from diarrhea in the months December 2017 and January 2018. The aim of the study was t...