In vitro propagation of Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze in Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the propagation of Tacca leontopetaloides (Taccaceae) in vitro using seed embryos. The seeds were cultured on Murashige & Skoog basal media augmented with various concentrations of single or combined growth hormones to obtain a suitable protocol for plantlet regeneration. Seed embryo germination of 57% was obtained, as against 20% for germination under conventional sowing. The best shoot proliferation was obtained using media fortified with 0.1 mg/L 6-benzyl amino purine and 0.01 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid, while the best rooting was obtained with MS media supplemented with 0.1 mg/L indole butyric acid. Callus formation was not observed on plantlets in vitro, indicating much easier and less challenging in vitro plant propagation.Keywords: tissue culture, micro-propagation, regeneration, recalcitranc

Socio-Economic Benefits of Iroko Trees (Milicia excelsa Welw C.C. Berg) in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria

A complete survey of Iroko trees in Ibadan metropolis was carried out with the view to determining their distribution and status. The entire of Ibadan City was considered for the study. The city was divided into sections and a reconnaissance survey was conducted to confirm existence of the tree species within each of the section. Direct observation of the already identified Iroko trees was then carried out during the actual data collection stage of the study. Permissions were sought before data collection was carried out on the identified trees. A total of 62 Iroko trees were surveyed; out of these, 33 (53.2%) stands were accessible while the remaining 29 stands (46.8%) were inaccessible. Many of the trees that could not be accessed were a result of restriction into the location where they exist. The most frequently observed benefit obtained trees are shade from direct sunlight and cool breeze it creates. Other uses of trees include peeling of the tree bark and used in preparation of local medicine, fetish activities on and around the tree, and use of the fallen branches as firewood. There is urgent need for appropriate protection strategies of these remaining indigenous tree species where they exist. Keywords: Milicia excelsa, endangered species, urban forest, bark slashing, medicines, restriction, Ibada

VOLUME PREDICTION FOR MILICIA EXCELSA (WELW C.C. BERG.) TREES IN SELECTED INSTITUTIONS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study develops equations for the prediction of stem volume of Milicia excelsa  (Welw C.C. Berg.) in some selected institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Sequel to the relationship between stem volume (sv), diameter at base (db) and  at breast height (dbh) from enumeration of 61 trees in selected institutions, equations were developed for estimating tree volumes of M. excelsa. Of all the equations developed, logarithmic for volume was the best fit equation containing the db and dbh as the predictors. The equation is lnSV = 1.5924 + 1.4915lndb + 0.8600lndbh with coefficient of determination (R2) and standard error of estimate being 0.9011 and SEE = 0.3485 respectively. Residual analysis revealed that the assumption of independence of residuals is valid, and there is no evidence of an outlier. Validation of the equation was done by testing for significant difference between the predicted stem volume (PSV) and observed stem volume (OSV). The study showed that stem volume of M. excelsa can be predicted from db and dbh by using this equation with reasonable precision. The prediction equation developed in this work would be very useful and applicable where tree dimensions such as diameter at middle and top as well as the height of M. excelsa is difficult to assess and there is need to reduce the cost of inventory of such species.Â

Morphological and anatomical studies on Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze (Taccaceae) in Nigeria

Tacca leontopetaloides is the only species in the genus Tacca naturally distributed in the Guinea savannah and dry rainforest regions in Nigeria. The study was conducted to contribute to scientific knowledge on the macro-morphological and anatomical features of the plant collected from 4 locations (Akoko, Eruwa, Bazza and Ile-Ife) across the Nigeria and to determine the effect of environmental factors on its anatomy. Leaf epidermal peel of the 4 samples, leaf and stem Transverse Sections (T.S) and stem Tangential Longitudinal Section (T.L.S) and Radial Longitudinal Section (R.L.S) as well as stem fibres were prepared and studied. A wide range of similarities and differences were noted in the anatomical features of the 4 samples studied. The similarities include, but not limited to stomata being anomocytic, epidermis hypostomatic, cuticle single-layered and striated, vascular bundles conjointed collateral, epidermis undulating, stem rays uniserrate and procumbent, stem fibres non-septate and non-storeyed. Wide range of variations are noted in stomata density and measurements, epidermal cell density, guard cell measurements, cuticle thickness, vascular bundle arrangement, shapes of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells and many other anatomical features. The variations observed among the samples studies were attributed to the prevailing environmental factors in each collection site.Morphological and anatomical studies on Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze (Taccaceae) in Nigeri

Assessment of nutritional and sensory qualities of whole grains cookies formulated from vegetables and mushrooms

Malnutrition and obesity keeps increasing in the developing countries alongside, the burden of diet-related diseases, therefore, regular food is expected to be functional by providing additional health benefits; other than basic nutritional needs. In this study, 10, 25 and 50 % of two edible mushrooms namely; Termitomyces robustus and Lentinus squarrosulus and four vegetables; Basella alba, Launea taraxacifolia, Senecio biafrae, and Crassocephalum ruben were used to substitute whole grain flours of wheat, millet, guinea corn and yellow corn, separately, in formulation of cookies, with the aim of improving the nutritional properties and health benefit potential of the cookies. Proximate composition of the cereal flours were in the range of 7.27±0.06 -11.56 ±0.20% (moisture), 0.52±0.05 - 2.51±0.26 % (Ash), 8.48a±0.44- 14.97d±0.10% (protein), 8.72a±0.86- 12.35e±0.13 (fat), 0.19a±0.05 - 1.91e±0.03 % (fibre) and 63.78±0.43- 68.84b±0.56 % (carbohydrate). The nutritional and sensory qualities of representative cookies from each formulation were determined. Generally, supplementation with the vegetables and mushrooms had positive effect on the mineral, vitamins and proximate compositions, which is an indication of good nutritional quality; also the non-wheat flours compared favourably with the wheat flour nutritional-wise. Although, there was significant difference in sensory quality and acceptability of the non-wheat and wheat cookies, the results show that it is possible to use the named mushrooms, vegetables and grains to partially (≤ 10 %) substitute for wheat flour in the production of flour -based food systems with acceptable physical characteristics

Socio-economic contributions of an indigenous tree in urban areas of southwest Nigeria

Indigenous trees have been discovered to be disappearing from urban areas at alarming rates, and the contributions of the existing trees are not adequately documented. Milicia excelsa is an indigenous trees species in tropical Africa and popularly known as Iroko. Due to extensive exploitation for wood production and other socio-economic activities, the tree species is classified as threatened and relics could only be found in a few locations. A survey of the trees in the city of Ibadan was therefore carried out to determine their distribution as well as their socio-economic contributions to the urban people. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the people living close to the trees or working in the locations where the trees are sighted to determine the socio-economic benefits. A total of 65 trees (0.14 trees/km2) of M. excelsa were sighted. As observed in the city, the benefits of the tree species were categorized as: environmental, medicinal, economic, spiritual and ecological services. Provision of shade that creates a ‘microclimatic environment’ in the form of cooling effects from the heat of the day was mentioned by about 95% of the respondents as the major benefit obtained from the trees. A strategy for the conservation of the trees as urban trees and their protection against damage to life and property are considered imperative. There is also a need for an appropriate policy that protects indiscriminate felling of indigenous trees in the city and constant monitoring of the trees’ status for any sign of weakness.http://adonisandabbey.com/show_journal1.php?list_journals=14am2014gv201

Plant conservation in the Anthropocene - challenges and future prospects

Despite the massive efforts that have been made to conserve plant diversity across the world during the past few decades, it is becoming increasingly evident that our current strategies are not sufficiently effective to prevent the continuing decline in biodiversity. As a recent report by the CBD indicates, current progress and commitments are insufficient to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020. Threatened species lists continue to grow while the world's governments fail to meet biodiversity conservation goals. Clearly, we are failing in our attempts to conserve biodiversity on a sufficient scale. The reasons for this situation are complex, including scientific, technical, sociological, economic and political factors. The conservation community is divided about how to respond. Some believe that saving all existing biodiversity is still an achievable goal. On the other hand, there are those who believe that we need to accept that biodiversity will inevitably continue to be lost, despite all our conservation actions and that we must focus on what to save, why and where. It has also been suggested that we need a new approach to conservation in the face of the challenges posed by the Anthropocene biosphere which we now inhabit. Whatever view one holds on the above issues, it is clear that we need to review the effectiveness of our current conservation strategies, identify the limiting factors that are preventing the Aichi goals being met and at the same time take whatever steps are necessary to make our conservation protocols more explicit, operational and efficient so as to achieve the maximum conservation effect. This paper addresses the key issues that underlie our failure to meet agreed targets and discusses the necessary changes to our conservation approaches. While we can justifiably be proud of our many achievements and successes in plant conservation in the past 30 years, which have helped slow the rate of loss, unless we devise a more coherent, consistent and integrated global strategy in which both the effectiveness and limitations of our current policies, action plans and procedures are recognized, and reflect this in national strategies, and then embark on a much bolder and ambitious set of actions, progress will be limited and plant diversity will continue to decline

Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gap

Scientific communities need to understand and eliminate barriers that prevent people with diverse backgrounds from contributing to and participating in science. However, the combined impact of individuals’ linguistic, economic, and gender backgrounds on their scientific productivity is poorly understood. Using a survey of 908 environmental scientists, we show that being a woman is associated with up to a 45% reduction in the number of English-language publications, compared to men. Being a woman, a non-native English speaker, and from a low-income country is associated with up to a 70% reduction, compared to male native English speakers from a high-income country. The linguistic and economic productivity gap narrows when based on the total number of English- and non-English-language publications. We call for an explicit effort to consider linguistic, economic, and gender backgrounds and incorporate non-English-language publications when assessing the performance and contribution of scientists