Research
Parkia Biglobosa Jacq (dawa-dawa): The Threatened Giant of the Guinea Savanna of Nigeria (The Cross River State Situation).
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) is a perennial tree of considerable multipurpose importance. In Nigeria, over 60 million people depend on it for food, fuel, wood work and income. This priority tree with enormous economic and social values to the local people of Cross River State (North) is rapidly declining due to rapid human population growth, livestock population pressures, increasing land fragmentation, over exploitation for seed (food) and a high demand for wood fuel especially charcoal. In view of this, a survey was carried out in the Guinea Savanna of Cross River State (North) to determine the level of abundance (A) or rarity (R) of the specie. In each site, ten 20m × 20m randomly selected points were laid along four 1km line transect and accordingly assessed. Seventeen economic important trees were assessed and counted as present with particular emphasis on P. biglobosa (taking into consideration the age of the plant). Results showed that the tree was rare (R) and facing extinction with low densities of 2.1/ha for (Ogoja L.G.A), 1.6/ha (Bekwarra), 2/ha (Obudu), 1.7/ha (Obanliku) and 1.5/ha for (Yala).
Fungi Associated with Pre-Harvest Deterioration of Eggplant Solanum Melongena and their Control using Fruit Extract of Tetrapleura Tetraptera.
This study was carried out to investigate the fungi associated with pre-harvest fruit rot of eggplant (Solanummelongena L.), their effect on fruit nutritional content and their control using fruit extracts of Tetrapleuratetrapterain- vitro. The fungal pathogens isolated as the causative agents of fruit rot in this study were Phomopsismelongenae and Collectotrichummelongenae. The result of proximate analysis of fungal infected and non-infected eggplant carried out showed that there was an increase in the moisture and protein content of the fungal infected eggplant as compared to healthy ones (control), while there was a decrease in the crude fibre, fat, ash, and carbohydrate contents of the fungal infected eggplant fruits as compared to the healthy ones (control).
Gmelina Arborea Roxb: Associated Mycoflora and Diseases in Cross River State, Nigeria
Gmelina arborea Roxb is a major income earner for the Government and people of Cross River State, Nigeria. In spite of the vast economic potential of this plant in Nigeria, very little pathological research had been done on diseases afflicting this valuable species. In view of this, a survey on mycoflora and diseases associated with G. arborea was carried out in major plantations in Oban and Awi in Akamkpa Local Government Area and Ovonum in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Twenty four plant stands were sampled in four sites per location. The plant stands were examined for various disease symptoms and the means of infection calculated in each location. Percentage frequencies (occurrence) were also determined using the means. Randomized Block Design (RBD) was used for the experiment. A total of twenty fungi were isolated (root, bark, leaf, seed and soil) while five fungal diseases were identified in the field. The fungal isolates were: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Apodachlya pyrifera, Botroyodiplodia theobromae, Bouvularia sp, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Cercospora appi, Chalaropsis sp, Dacromyces deliquescens, Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum sp, Mucor mucedo, Penicillium vermiculatum, Penicillium thomii, Phoma herbarum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Thielaviopsis brasicola, Trichoderma viride, Trichosporonoide oedocephalus and Graphium penicilliodes. The diseases were leaf spot, stem canker, die back, Butt and root rot and Damping off. Of the twenty fungal isolates, A. flavus occurred in all parts of the plant and the soil while others occurred in four or three parts. Pathogenicity tests revealed that all the isolated fungi were pathogenic on G. arborea.
