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African Journal of Biotechnology

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Volume 2 Number 10 October 2003
ABSTRACTS

 

Genetic transformation of forest trees

Diaga Diouf

Laboratoire de Biotechnologies végétales, Département de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Sénégal; E-mail: [email protected] 

Abstract

In this review, the recent progress on genetic transformation of forest trees were discussed. Its described also, different applications of genetic engineering for improving forest trees or understanding the mechanisms governing genes expression in woody plants.

Key words: Genetic transformation, transgenic forest trees, gene expression.

 

 

Phylogenetic diversity and relationships among sorghum accessions using SSRs and RAPDs

Agrama H.A.* and Tuinstra M.R.

Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, 2004 Throckmorton, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501, USA.

*Corresponding author; Present address: Plant Pathology Department, North Dakota State University and NCSL, USDA, Fargo, ND 58105-5677, USA. Tel.: 701-239-1345. Fax: 701-239-1369, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Two DNA-based fingerprinting techniques, simple sequence repeats (SSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses, were applied in sorghum germplasm analysis to compare suitability for quantifying genetic diversity. Twenty-two sorghum genotypes, representing an array of germplasm sources with important agronomic traits, were assayed for polymorphism using 32 RAPD primers and 28 sets of sorghum SSR primers. The results indicated that SSR markers were highly polymorphic with an average of 4.5 alleles per primer. The RAPD primers were less polymorphic with nearly 40% of the fragments being monomorphic. An analysis of genetic diversity among sorghum lines indicated that the genetic distances calculated from SSR data were highly correlated with the distances based on the geographic origin and race classifications. Based on the results of these studies, SSR markers appear to be particularly useful for the estimation of genetic similarity among diverse genotypes of sorghum.

Key words: cluster, diversity, polymorphism, RAPD, Sorghum, SSR.

 

 

Sequence heterogeneity of the envelope-like domain in the Egyptian cotton Gossypium barbadense

Abdel Ghany A. Abdel Ghany1 and Essam A. Zaki2*

1Institute of Efficient Productivity, Zagazig University, El Zagazig, Egypt.

2Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, GEBRI, Research Area, Borg El Arab, Post Code 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

*Corresponding author; Essam A. Zaki, Current Address: Department of Biological Sciences, 1392 Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1392, Phone (765) 494-9837 Fax (765) 496-1496, E-mail: [email protected].

Abbreviations; LTR: long terminal repeat, ORF: open-reading frame, PCR: polymerase chain reaction, RT: reverse transcriptase gene.

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the evolution of env-like sequences in the Egyptian cotton Gossypium barbadense. DNA sequence determination and analysis of env -like sequences revealed that these sequences are heterogeneous in G. barbadense. The observed sequence diversity, however, seems to preserve the coding information. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that plant env -like sequences group together, suggesting their monophyletic origin. Gossypium env-like sequences are, however, more closely related to elements present in other plant species. Our result suggests that env -like sequences in cotton have evolved under functional constraint and likely to play a role in the life cycle of these elements.

Key words: Envelope, Gossypium, gypsy, plant retroviruses, retrotransposons, retroviruses, reverse transcriptase.

 

 

Influence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application on the yield of maize in the savanna zone of Nigeria

Kogbe J. O. S. and Adediran J. A.*

Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 5029, Ibadan, Nigeria

*Corresponding author:E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Field trials testing the effects of five rates each of N, P and K application on three hybrid and two open-pollinated maize varieties were conducted in three separate experiments on an Arenic haplustalf (USDA) at Ilora in the derived savanna and Typic paleustalf (USDA) at Mokwa in the southern guinea savanna of Nigeria. The hybrid maize varieties planted were 8516-12, 8321-18 and 8329-15 and were compared with the open-pollinated maize, TZSR-Y and TZSR-W. Nitrogen was applied at rates 0-200 kg ha-1 in the first trial, while P and K were supplied as basal nutrients. In the second trial, P was applied at rates 0- 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 using basal N and K fertilizers. In another trial, K was applied at rates 0-120 kg ha-1 with blanket application of N and P. The hybrid maize gave higher yields and used N and P more efficiently than the open pollinated at both trial locations. The yield of maize was higher in the southern guinea savanna than in the derived savanna. The performance of the hybrid varieties followed in the ascending order of 8516-12, 8321-18 and 8329-15. The optimum rates of N and P for maize grown in the derived savanna were 100 and 40 kg ha-1 respectively. In the southern guinea savanna the open pollinated and hybrid varieties responded up to 150 and 200 kg N ha-1 respectively. The 8516-12 showed higher N and P use efficiency than other varieties. Consequently, planting such variety could be advantageous, using minimal dose of fertilizer most especially, where farmers have less access to fertilizer.

Key words: Hybrid maize, open pollinated maize, nitrogen use efficiency, phosphorus use efficiency.

 

 

The Contribution of food plants to the growth, development and fecundity of Zonocerus variegatus (L)

Idowu A.B. and Sonde O.A.

Department of Biological Sciences University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

*Correspondence author:E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The performance of the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus (L) fed on different food plants namely cassava (Manihot esculenta), pawpaw (Carica papaya) and acalypha (Acalypha wilkesiana) and a mixture of these plants (mixed diets) from 5th nymphal instar to adult was investigated. Survivor and longevity of nymphs and as well as the reproductive performance of adult Zonocerus was greater and better for insect fed on cassava and mixed diets, as compared to those fed only on Acalypha and pawpaw. Adults emerged between the 5th to 16th week in cages containing 5th instars fed on cassava and mixed diets, while it took between 7-23 weeks for those fed on acalypha and pawpaw to emerge as adult. There were significant differences in the measurements of the body parameters of insects fed on the four different food plants. Ranking was cassava>mixture>pawpaw>acalyhpa. Sex had no significant effect on the measurement of body parameters regardless of the food plants. Feeding assay showed that there was a significant difference between the amounts of leaves consumed by Zonocerus fed on the different food plants. Of all the diets, cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant. This had a corresponding effect on the weight gained by the insects. The results of the proximate analysis showed significant differences in the dry matter, crude protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants. A positive correlation existed between the body weight, protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants.

Key words: Zonocerus variegatus, food plants, instar, growth, development.

 

 

Citric acid production from whey with sugars and additives by Aspergillus niger

Murad A. El-Holi and Khalaf S. Al-Delaimy٭

Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, The university of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

*Corresponding author; Tel.: 00962-6-5355000/2568, Fax: 00962-6-5355577, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Citric acid (CA) production by Aspergillus niger ATCC9642 from whey with different concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactose riboflavin, tricalcium phosphate and methanol in surface culture process was studied. It was found that whey with 15% (w/v) sucrose with or without 1% methanol was the most favourable medium producing the highest amount (106.5 g/l) of citric acid. Lower CA was produced from whey with other concentrations of sugars and other additives used. Highest biomass of A. niger was produced with the addition of riboflavins. In general, extension of the fermentation (up to 20 days) resulted in an increase in CA and biomass, and decrease in both residual sucrose and pH values.

Key words: Citric acid, Aspergillus niger, whey fermentation, surface culture.

 

 

Removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) ions from wastewater by cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz) waste biomass

Horsfall, M. Jnr*, Abia, A. A. And Spiff, A.I.

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Uniport P.O. Box 402, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The ability of cassava waste biomass (untreated and acid treated) to remove heavy metals (Cu(II) and Zn(II) ) from single-ion solution and wastewater was investigated. All experiments were conducted using 10mM solutions of mixed metal ions of CuSO4.5H2O and ZnCl2. The uptake capacities of the two metal ions tested on the untreated and acid treated cassava waste biomass were 71.3 and 85.2 mg/g for Cu(II), and 43.4 and 58.1 mg/g for Zn(II) in single-ion solution. For wastewater, the uptake capacities of untreated and acid treated biomass was found to be 40.1 and 59.7 mg/g for Cu(II), and 38.6 and 38.7 mg/g for Zn(II), respectively. Metal ion uptake capacities in wastewater were lower than in single-ion solution probably due to competition of metal ions of different sizes on available binding sites. Uptake capacities of these metal ions on the biomass surface increased with acid treatment. Equilibrium sorption studies showed that the extent of metal uptake was enhanced by chemically modifying the cassava waste biomass by thiolation. Cassava waste biomass saturated with metal ions shows remarkable ability for metal recovery by dilute acid treatment, and can be used repeatedly for removal of heavy metals in single-ion solution and in wastewater effluents.

Key words: Wastewater, bioremediation, heavy metals, biosorption, cassava waste.

 

 

Mycoflora and mycotoxins in kolanuts during storage

L. O. Adebajo* And O. J. Popoola

Department of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University**, P.M.B. 2002, Ago–Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.

*Correspondence author; E-mail: [email protected]

** Former name: Ogun State University.

Abstract

The mycoflora, levels of afllatoxins and the presence of ochratoxin A and zearalenone in nuts of Cola acuminata and C. nitida were determined immediately after curing and after 3, 6 and 9 months of storage in leaf-lined baskets. Five field fungi and 11 storage fungi were isolated. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium were the predominant genera. None of the target toxins was detected immediately after curing. Increasing quantities (5 to 160 ppb) of each of the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 were recorded as from the 3rd month while zearalenone and ochratoxin A were detected only after the 6th and 9th month, respectively.

Key words: Kolaunts, mycoflora, mycotoxins, storage.

 

 

Mycology and spoilage of retail cashew nuts

L. O. Adebajo1* and S. A. Diyaolu2

1Department of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, Nigeria. [email protected]

2Biology DepartmentTai Solarin College of Education, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria.

*Correspondence author; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Thirty-two samples of retail cashew nuts from Lagos, Nigeria were examined on two media. The pH values (5.1-6.3) of all the samples were conducive for fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Moisture content levels ranged between 4.1 and 6.8%. Fifteen samples had moisture contents up to or above 5.8%, the highest level estimated to be ‘safe’ for the storage of the nuts. Fourteen fungal species, mostly toxigenic and belonging to 5 genera were isolated. Seven species were from genus Aspergillus, 3 from Penicillium, 2 from Rhizopus and one each from Mucor and Syncephalastrum. The most predominant isolates were: A. niger, A. restrictus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus and Aspergillus sp. The mean and range of total fungal counts (CFU/g) in samples were: 3,368 (180 to 16, 300). At acceptable fungal levels of 103 and 104/g, only 14 and 28 samples, respectively, were deemed fit for human consumption. All the species recovered induced detectable loss in weights of the milled nuts, though to varying extents and would be expected to cause considerable spoilage of the nuts.

Key words: Cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale, fungal count, mycology, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., spoilage.

 

 

Antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Abia State of Nigeria

Chigbu, Chinwe .O. and Ezeronye, O.U.

Department of Biological Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

A total of 70 ear and nasal swab samples collected from 35 persons, 16-hospital population and 19 non-hospital population was examined for presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Eighty percent of the population studied were found to be carriers of S. aureus. Of the 28 positive cases, 35.7% were carriers of S. aureus. in both the ear and nostrils, while 14.3% and 50.0% had it only in their ear and nostrils, respectively. The S. aureus. isolates varied in their antibiotic susceptibility pattern when tested for their sensitivity to 16 antibiotics. Eighty percent of the isolates were resistant to more than one antimicrobial agent. All the isolates showed resistance to nalidixic acid and 100% sensitivity to rifampicin.

Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic resistance, inhibition zone diameter.

 

 

Antimicrobial, heavy metal resistance and plasmid profile of coliforms isolated from nosocomial infections in a hospital in Isfahan, Iran

Vajiheh Karbasizaed1*, Naser Badami1, Giti Emtiazi2

1Dept. of Pathobiology, Faculty of Heath Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2Dept.of Biology, Isfahan University, Tehran, Iran.

*Corresponding author; Tel: 00983116245031, Fax: 00983112220283, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The antimicrobial, heavy metal resistance patterns and plasmid profiles of Coliforms (Enterobacteriacea) isolated from nosocomial infections and healthy human faeces were compared. Fifteen of the 25 isolates from nosocomial infections were identified as Escherichia coli, and remaining as Kelebsiella pneumoniae. Seventy two percent of the strains isolated from nosocomial infections possess multiple resistance to antibiotics compared to 45% of strains from healthy human faeces. The difference between minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of strains from clinical cases and from faeces for four heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Pb, Cd) was not significant. However most strains isolated from hospital were more tolerant to heavy metal than those from healthy persons. There was no consistent relationship between plasmid profile group and antimicrobial resistance pattern, although a conjugative plasmid (>56.4 kb) encoding resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics was recovered from eight of the strains isolated from nosocomial infections. The results indicate multidrug-resistance coliforms as a potential cause of nosocomial infection in this region.

Key words: Nosocomial infection, plasmid profile, antimicrobial resistance, Escherichia coli, Kelebsiella pneumoniae.

 

                   

Plasmodium falciparum malaria resistance to chloroquine in five communities in Southern Nigeria

Patrick O Erah*, Gertrude Arienmughare and Augustine O Okhamafe

Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected],  Tel: +234 802 336 0318; 805 526 3622, Fax: +234 52 602257.

Abstract

Chloroquine is still a first-line antimalarial drug in uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Increasing resistance to chloroquine has been reported in many parts of Nigeria. Clinical and parasitological responses and classes of resistance to chloroquine in falciparum malaria in five communities in Delta region, southern Nigeria were assessed. Chloroquine was administered to 218 patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. The levels of parasitemia, clinical response and classes of resistance were monitored for 7 days. High levels of therapeutic failures of chloroquine in P. falciparum malaria were recorded in the region. The frequencies of clinical and parasitological failure of chloroquine were 25.7% and 55%, respectively. These frequencies were significantly lower in children below 5 years than older people. R2 and R3 resistance occurred in 37.2% and 17.4% of the patients, respectively. The therapeutic failure of chloroquine was not gender dependent. We conclude that chloroquine is still effective in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in some communities in Delta region of Nigeria. However, resistance to chloroquine is likely. These results may be used as an important indicator of the significant level of therapeutic failure of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria to chloroquine in Nigeria.

Keywords: Chloroquine, falciparum malaria, resistance, clinical failure, parasitological failure.

 

 

Prevalence of Bartonella infection among patients with fever

Kei Numazaki

Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8543, Japan. Tel: (011) 611-2111 EXT.3413, Fax: (011) 611-0352, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Bartonella henselae has been associated with an increasing spectrum of clinical syndromes including cat scratch disease. The prevalence of Bartonella infection among patients with unexplained fever in San Francisco was much greater than has previously been documented. However, out of 29 Japanese children with fever of unknown origin, only one had serum IgG antibody to B. henselae. Although general prevalences of serum antibodies to some infectious agents in healthy adults are higher than those of healthy children, the prevalence of B. henselae infections in Japanese population is not so high as expected.

Key words: Bartonella henselae, cat scratch disease, fever of unknown origin.

 

 

Glycyrrhizin therapy for viral infections

Kei Numazaki

Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8543, Japan. Tel: (011) 611-2111 EXT.3413, Fax: (011) 611-0352, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Glycyrrhizin (GL) was reported as the most active in inhibiting replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus. Therapeutic effect of GL for liver dysfunction associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent individuals was evaluated. Liver dysfunction in 4 cases improved and CMV disappeared from urinary samples after administration of GL intravenously by the age of 12 months. GL treatment also should be applied for the patients with SARS.

Key words: Glycyrrhizin, SARS, cytomegalovirus.

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