October 2023

Effects of sound waves on conidiospores of Aspergillus oryzae strain RIB40 and characterization of the enzyme activity of rice–koji

It was reported that the glucoamylase activity of rice-koji prepared with sound-irradiated conidiospores of yellow-koji, Aspergillus oryzae, at 16 kHz was decreased as compared with that of conidiospores that had not been sound irradiated. To reveal why the glucoamylase activity was changed, we observed the changes of the expression level of glaB encoding glucoamylase. We also determined to observe how the germination...

Author(s): Taku Matsumoto, Kouji Kojima, Noriaki Saigusa and Yuji Teramoto

October 2023

An optimized protocol for in vitro regeneration of tropical maize inbred lines through cell suspension and semi-protoplast cultures

Maize being an important staple food crop is widely consumed in Kenya but its production remains low due to biotic and abiotic challenges that have not been addressed sufficiently through conventional breeding. This study sought to optimize the establishment of cell suspension and protoplast cultures for 10 tropical inbred maize genotypes in order to identify genotypes that can readily establish in liquid cultures and...

Author(s): Billiah Moemi, Joel Masanga and Steven Runo

October 2023

Screening extracts of fungal endophytes isolated from Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst. Radlk.) for control of bean anthracnose

Common bean is consumed in large quantities globally but it is highly susceptible to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, leading to 90 to 100% yield losses. This study investigated the bioactivity of secondary metabolites from Allophylus abyssinicus fungal endophytes against C. lindemuthianum, causing bean anthracnose. A total of 37 fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves, bark and roots of A. abyssinicus and 20%...

Author(s): Hellen Gathiru Kariuki, Isabel Nyokabi Wagara, Beatrice Were, Waudo Walyambillah and Josphat Clement Matasyoh

October 2023

Quality evaluation of low free fatty acid and high free fatty acid crude palm oil and variation of total fatty matter and fatty acid composition in Nigerian palm oil

Quality of palm oil determines its consumer and market acceptability and price. This correlates directly to its moisture (%), free fatty acid (% FFA) and total fatty matter (%TFM) content. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of low free fatty acid (LFFA) and high free fatty acid (HFFA) crude palm oil (CPO) samples aged 5 to 10 days, purchased from four locations in Southern Nigeria. HFFA CPO is...

Author(s): Igile G. O., Iwara A. I., Ekpe O. O., Essien N. M. and Egbung G. E.

October 2023

Introducing cotton farming by the use of transgenic cotton for phytoremediation of industrial wastes polluted soils in Southern Nigeria

Industrialization in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria has resulted in excessive discharge of industrial wastes, especially oil spillage. Farming in this region has declined and cotton farming has not survived there due to this menace. Phytoremediation, which is an emerging green technology has been adopted for the revitalization of farming in polluted sites and has been integrated towards solving this...

Author(s): Nnaemeka E. Vitalis and Yuqiang Sun