Field experiment were carried out during the first and second cropping seasons (2013//2014) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria, the effect of seed treatments with varying rates of Mancozeb fungicide, Pawpaw and Moringa leaf powders on early leaf spot incidence and ground nut yield was studied; and the cost benefit ratios calculated. The seed treatments were: Mancozeb, Moringa leaf powder and Pawpaw leaf powder while the seed treatments rates were 0.0 (control), 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0gm. Groundnut variety Benue AGR seeds were treated with the seed treatment rates replicated 3 times and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results of the first season and second seasons showed that seed treatment with Mancozeb significantly gave the highest plant establishment followed by moringa leaf powder and pawpaw leaf powder respectively. In the first year, 3.0g seed treatment significantly gave the highest plant establishment while the untreated control recorded the lowest plant establishment, but was not significantly difference (P ≤ 0.05) amongst the treatment rates in the second year. In the two cropping seasons, plants grown from seed treated with mancozeb recorded the lowest incidence of early leaf spot disease followed by moringa leaf powder at 40, 47 and 54 DAS respectively. Seed treatment rate of 3.0gm gave the lowest disease incidence from 40 to 54 DAS. At 90 DAS of the first season, seed treatment with Mancozeb significantly lowered the leaf defoliation followed by Moringa leaf powder compared to Pawpaw leaf powder. Similarly, during the second season, seed treatment with Mancozeb also reduced the leaf defoliation compared to the plant powders at 70, 80 and 90 DAS respectively. Mancozeb and Moringa leaf powder gave higher grain yield compared to Pawpaw leaf powder in the first season. Increase in seed treatment rate resulted to higher percentage increment in grain and haulm ............

This study was part of a basic assessment of the level of contamination of precooked fonio by pesticide residues in Bamako. Thus, 36 samples of precooked fonio were collected. The active ingredients of five organochlorine pesticides (op’ DDT, pp’ DDT, Endosulfans α and β and Dieldrin), categorized as persistent and obsolete organic pollutants in Mali, have been investigated and quantified by gas chromatography. The results showed high rates of pesticide residues contamination in the tested precooked fonio samples into twenty nine of 36 samples (75%). About 59% of the samples have contained two or more pesticides while 30% three or more pesticides. The Endosulfan β was the most detected pesticides (15 times) in our samples followed by the pp’ DDT (13 times). The total pesticides residues per samples of the five pesticides active ingredients have varied from 0.037 to 1.874 mg/kg. In other side, the total residues per individual pesticide varied from 3.377 mg/kg for op’ DDT to 0.984 mg/kg for Dieldrin. According to the Codex Alimentarius norms, the most of the tested precooked fonio are unsafety for consumption. These data showed that these organochlorine pesticides are present in our foodstuffs despite their prohibition.

Human health effects associated with silica exposure have been widely discussed. Environmental and occupational exposure to silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) is inevitable, as nanomaterials have become part of our daily routine. SiNPs were found to have severe toxicity than silica micro-particles in male reproductive systems. It might be due to the factor that smaller the diameter of silica nanoparticles, the greater will be the toxicity. In the present study, 40 and 80 mg SiNPs were exposed to rats for 60 days and a group treated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) along with SiNPs. At the end of the exposure, rats were sacrificed by anaesthetic overdose, rat testes were removed for the biochemical investigations namely, lipid peroxide levels (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH). Results of the present study demonstrates that SiNPs intoxicated rats were found increased LPO and PC level while the antioxidant level namely SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH were found to be decreased in the testes when compared with the control rats, while DHA acclimation rats were observed insignificant changes as compared with the SiNPs treated groups. On the basis of results it may be concluded that the oxidative stress markers increased in the intoxicated rats and the DHA supplementation might have rescued the SiNPs exposure.

Black Sigatoka, caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, is the main devastating banana (Musa sp.) leaf disease. The environmental and health constraints linked to the misuse of chemicals against this disease imply efficient methods aimed at reducing these products. This study, conducted on the Akressi site of Société Agricole Kablan Joublin (SAKJ), an industrial company of dessert banana, assessed the reduction in the dose of contact fungicide associated with adjuvants on black Sigatoka prevalence in Ivorian industrial banana tree plantations. This study made it possible to assess certain phytopathological (YLA, YNL and SI), growth (NEL and LER) and toxicity parameters of treatments every week over two months. Banana trees treated with reduced doses of VONDOZEB 62 OD associated with adjuvants induced statistically identical performance to the reference control. Thus, the use of reduced doses of fungicides associated with adjuvants appears to be an ideal strategy for reducing M. fijiensis severity and the use of chemical fungicides in the control of this disease.

The uncontrolled dumping of solid waste is a risk factor for soil and groundwater contamination. Indeed, the buried waste generates a strong accumulation of metallic trace elements in the soil. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the Akouédo landfill on soil metallic trace elements. Soil samples (0-20 cm) were taken from the control site (soils without residues) and the three sites DAK, DAD, DJD, which correspond, respectively, to older residue soils, aged 30 years, older residue soils, aged between 20 and 30 years and young residue soils, aged 10 years. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) analysis of trace metals showed higher concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr and Cd in the tailings soils than in the control site.

In southwestern Central African Republic, natural stands of K. anthotheca are difficult to regenerate due to numerous pressures related to industrial exploitation and ethnobotanical uses. In order to identify the best approach for artificial regeneration of this species, two reproduction methods (seed sowing and cuttings) were evaluated. In particular, the effects of seed pre-treatment on germination and seedling growth as well as the effect of the type of cuttings on bud recovery and seedling growth of K. anthotheca were tested. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA) was performed using XLSAT 2008 software. From the results obtained, the control seeds of K. anthotheca were significantly more successful (64.44±7.33%) compared to the pre-treated seeds (F= 2.261 and p= 0.001). Seedlings from control seeds grew faster than from pre-treated seeds with a highly significant difference (F=10.690 and p=0.000). The wild type cuttings were more successful (55.33±7.39%) than the cuttings from the seeds (11.92±0.75%) with a highly significant difference (p=0.0001). All seedlings from basal cuttings died after budding. Overall, the control seeds of K. anthotheca had the highest success rate (64.44±7.33%) followed by the wild type cuttings (55.33±7.39%). Artificial regeneration of K. anthotheca could be done by sowing the seeds without pre-treatment and cutting the wildings. However, further investigations on the survival of seedlings in the field is needed to determine the most viable option for planting.

Since ancient times, peasants have relied on the presence of some plants or animals to assess soi’s fertility. This study carried out in Dogo site in Niger and that aim is ti determine the main farmer indicators of soil fertility assessment. For this, an individual semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the farmers. Results showed that several types of biological indicators are used by farmers to assess soil’s fertility through the presence or absence of some plants and/or animals. Thus, Cenchrus biflorus, Cyperus alopeuroides, Alysicarpus ovalifolius, Brachiaria spp have been cited as non-woody fertility indicator species. As for Faidherbia albida, Acacia nilotica, Piliostigma reticulatum, they were cited as woody species indicative of fertile soils. Also, Striga hermonthica, Aristida stipoides, Ipomoea koschyana, Euphorbia forskalii, Ipomoea cosunosperma, Alysicarpus ovalifolius, Commelina benghalensis were considered as non-woody indicator species of poor soils and Prosopis juliflora, Lannasinarima indicuticosa in poor soils woody species.

Salmonella typhimurium is a food-borne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis. Until now, antibiotics have been used to treat gastroenteritis. Nowadays, some antibiotics have become resistant to a variety of pathogens. Therefore, alternative treatments based on natural ingredients need to be explored. Lactic acid bacteria, or so-called probiotics, that are naturally found in human digestion have been studied for their antibacterial properties, such as bacteriocins. The purpose of this study is to see if bacteriocin from Bifidobacterium longum FNCC 0210 has any inhibitory activity against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 in vitro. Bacteriocin was extracted from B. longum as cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) in MRS broth, which was neutralized at pH 6.5 with 1 N NaOH and heated at 100°C for 10 minutes. The antibacterial assay of B. longum bacteriocin against S. typhimurium was performed with the agar-well diffusion method with concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25% (v/v), and determined based on the diameter of the zone of inhibition (mm). The results of the tests revealed that B. longum CFCS 100% (v/v) had the highest antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium with intermediate category. This study provides information on the ability of B. longum bacteriocin that has antibacterial activity against food-borne pathogens.