June 2014
Ameliorative effects of betaine and ascorbic acid administration to broiler chickens during the hot-dry season in Zaria: A review
This review highlights the huge challenges heat stress pose to profitable production of broiler chickens during the hot-dry season. It also enumerates the negative effects of heat stress due to excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in broiler chickens. It emphasizes that administration of betaine and/or ascorbic acid is highly beneficial to broiler chickens, subjected to high ambient temperature and high...
June 2014
Plant natural products research in tuberculosis drug discovery and development: A situation report with focus on Nigerian biodiversity
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a disease of global importance with approximately two million deaths annually worldwide. Effective treatment of TB has been hampered by the emergence of drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The global resurgence of TB and the development of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), call for the development of new...
June 2014
The effect of Agrobacterium densities and inoculation times on gene transformation efficiency in rubber tree
Rubber tree belonging to the genus Hevea is an economically important crop of Thailand and South-east Asia. To optimize its agronomical trait for glyphosate-resistant, in vitro gene transformation through Agrobacterium tumefaciens was investigated. The bacteria carrying plasmid pCAMBIA 1304, harboring gus as screenable marker genes and EPSPs gene was used. The shoot tips were immersed in A. tumefaciens suspension at...
June 2014
Does foliar application of salicylic acid protects nitrate reductase and enhances resistance in virus infected maize?
The present study was conducted to assess whether exogenous applied salicylic acid (SA) as a foliar spray could ameliorate the adverse effects of virus infection in two maize cultivars (maize cv. sabaini and maize cv. Nab El-gamal). The plants were grown under normal field conditions for two weeks in sand clay soil, and then sprayed with either 2 or 4 mM SA. Two weeks later, plants were subjected to infection with two...
June 2014
Effect of different growth parameters on chitinase enzyme activity of acridine orange and ethidium bromide mutant bacteria of the gut environment
The degradation of chitin is mediated primarily by bacterial chitinases. Bacteria produce several chitinases, probably to hydrolyze the diversity of chitins found in nature. Chitinases have shown numerous applications in waste treatment and management of shellfish processing industries. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to optimize chitinase production by one of the shrimp’s gut mutant bacterial...
June 2014
Soil chemical properties and legume-cereal rotation benefits in an Ultisol in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria
This research was conducted at the Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria Teaching and Research Farm in 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. The objective was to evaluate the effects of edible grain legumes (cowpea and soybean) and velvet-bean/maize rotations on soil chemical properties and the contribution of these chemical properties to rotation benefit conferred on the maize by velvet-bean, cowpea and soybean....
June 2014
In vitro spore germination and gametophytic growth development of a critically endangered fern Pteris tripartita Sw.
The effects of sucrose, pH and plant growth hormones on spore germination percentage and gametophyte growths of Pteris tripartita were studied. Various morphological structures of gametophytes were observed namely, filamentous, spatulate and heart stages in the MS culture medium with hormones. After 15 days, the spores of P. tripartita were sprouted in MS basal medium fortified with pH, sucrose and hormones....
June 2014
Leaf anatomy of genotypes of banana plant grown under coloured shade nets
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of spectral light quality on different anatomical features of banana tree plantlets grown under coloured shade nets. Banana plants of five genotypes (Maçã, Thap Maeo, Caipira, BRS Platina and Princesa), obtained from micropropagation, were grown under white, blue, red and black nets, with shade of 50%, in a completely randomized design. After 90 days of...
June 2014
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of apiary honey produced by honey bee (Apis mellifera) on clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans
Honey produced by honeybee (Apis mellifera) which is used in herbal medicine was examined for its chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity. The phytochemical analysis of honey showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, reducing sugar and glycosides. Antimicrobial activity of honey on fresh hospital isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans obtained from...
June 2014
Purification, characterization of phytase enzyme from Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria and determination of its kinetic properties
Phytases (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.8) catalyze the release of phosphate from phytates. Many of the cereal grains, legumes and oilseeds store phosphorus in phytate form. Phytases can be produced by plants, animals and microorganisms. However, the ones with microbial origin are the most promising for commercial uses and biotechnological applications. In this study, phytase enzyme isolation...
June 2014
Comparitive studies on antibacterial activity of Patchouli [Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth] and Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) aromatic medicinal plants
Solvent (Hexane, Ethanol, Methanol) extracts of Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) were compared for their potential antibacterial activity against four bacterial species using disc diffusion assayed method. DMSO and Chloramphenicol were used as negative and positive controls respectively. The growth inhibitory effect of the various solvents on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis,...
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