Volume 51 (2018): Issue 2 (June 2018)

The Ebola disease derives its name after a small river, the Ebola River, flowing through the former Zaire (present day DR Congo) and was formally named in 1976. The disease belongs to the category of diseases referred to as “haemorrhagic fever”; the causal agent – a filovirus (from Latin “filo” = thread) belonging to the Filoviridae family. The treatment of Ebola has been only symptomatic, i.e. based on mitigation of the symptoms related to the infection, such as kidneys and liver. An effective vaccine has not been developed yet, even though rigorous attempts have been made and reported. Ebola has been primarily found in the Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Sudan, Gabon and other equatorial African countries. Based on the data obtained during the latest epidemics, people are strongly advised to avoid direct contact with patients, avoid buying bush meat in street markets and not handle dead bats, megabats, monkeys or gorillas. Estimated data suggest that more than 5,000 of these animals have died. The disease was also diagnosed in patients in the USA and Europe. The epidemic afflicted West Africa and had significant implication on their economy in terms of lost production, higher fiscal deficits, rising prices and lower real household incomes, leading to greater poverty.

Genetic improvement of goat breeds in growth and other traits (e.g. milk production) is limited by the demographics of the goat herds, extensive production system and the seemingly long-term nature of improvement through traditional genetics and breeding methods. We studied the genetic morphometry in Nigerian goats and South African Kalahari Red goat breeds. A total of 192 goats belonging to three Nigerian breeds (Red Sokoto (RS), Sahel (SH) and West African Dwarf (WAD)) and one South African Kalahari Red (KR) goat breed were analysed. Animals were classified into four age groups: A group – less than 1 year, B group – between 1 and 2 years, C group – between 2 and 3 years and C group – older than 3 years based on dentition. Analysis of variance, correlation matrix, regression and discriminant analyses were used to evaluate morphological variability. Results revealed that the effect of breed on the measured morphometric traits was significant (P < 0.05). The best prediction equation for body weight (BW) with R² = 0.84 was obtained when body length (BL), withers height (WH) and chest depth (CD) were included in the model for KR goat. Growth traits were positively correlated with each other with the highest correlation coefficients found between BL and BW (r = 0.877, P < 0.01), WH and BW (r = 0.541, P < 0.01), WH and BW (0.661, P < 0.01) and CD and BW (0.738, P < 0.01) in KR, RS, SH and WAD goats, respectively, which are important for a conscious selection and breeding programme for desired traits. Stepwise discriminant procedure showed that WH, CD and BL were the most discriminating variables to separate KR, RS, SH and WAD goats. In accessing morphological diversity, efforts should be made to include phenotypic variables of at least ≥ 3 in order to minimize ambiguity in classification. Based on the pair-wise distances from the Discriminant function, the study provided informed decision, reference information on goat breeding and conservation strategy.

Poor germination and subsequent low grain yield of dry seeded upland rice in the existing anaerobic and short niche between lowland rice and dry season crops in the inland valley necessitate the screening of 19 rice varieties. The identification of vigorous growth and short duration upland rice variety in anaerobic condition would optimize this niche. The potted experiment was carried out in the screen house of the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ikole campus in 2015 to screen and evaluate the performance of upland rice varieties in inundated soils with a view to selecting the suitable variety or varieties that will fit into the existing niche in the inland valley. The experiment was laid in a complete randomization design and replicated three times. The number of leaves, biomass and grain weight plant⁻¹ of the varieties were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 %) different. The number of tillers observed in WAB 56-104, NERICA 4, NERICA 6, NERICA 3, NERICA 5, NERICA 10, NERICA 9, ARICA 4 NERICA 1, FARO 63, FARO 65 and NERICA 8 varieties were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of Igbemo varieties. The numbers of days to 50 % flowering of NERICA 1, NERICA 2, NERICA 10, NERICA 5, NERICA 9, NERICA 3, NERICA 7, NERICA 8, ARICA 4 and WAB 56-104 varieties were the lowest. Although Igbemo brown, Igbemo white varieties had the highest grain yields per plant, their maturity period exceeded the short period. Thus, NERICA 2 and NERICA 5 varieties which had lower number of days to flowering could be considered as candidate varieties that can be optimized in the niche in question.

Genetic variation of quantitative traits is a prevalent characteristic among cultivated tomato varieties. Twenty tomato genotypes comprising indigenous varieties and commercial cultivars, cultured in the Western Region of Cameroon were evaluated using fourteen quantitative traits for disease resistance, phenotypic divergence and heritability estimates. The experiment was carried out using a randomized completed blocks design with three replications. Data collections were disease characteristics, plant development features and yield attributes. The analysis of variance revealed significant variation among genotypes for all the experimental quantitative traits. Hybrid varieties had significantly more fruit yield (1066.00 g/plant), single fruit weight (57.28 g), fruit diameter (4.47 cm) and pericarp thickness (0.54 cm) compared to standard and indigenous varieties. These indigenous varieties were significantly more resistant to late blight, alternaria leaf spot and viral diseases. They also had significantly higher collar diameter (16.30 mm), number of primary branches per plant (8.45), number of fruit per plant (31.58) and plant height (88.33 cm) compared to standard and hybrid plants. The genotype local 2 was the third most productive (1576.39 g / plant) after Rio Semagri (1984.80 g/plant) and Sakato F1 (1691.69 g/plant). Heritability and genetic advance estimates were high for twelve of the fourteen studied quantitative traits. Fruit yield showed significant positive correlations with single fruit weight and number of fruit per plant. However, significant negative correlation was found between fruit yield and time to 50 % flowering, 50 % fruiting, 50 % maturity and viral disease. The first three and the first four components in the principal component analysis explained, respectively, 77.85 % and 88.38 % of the total variation observed among genotypes. The first component determined 41.42 % of the total variation, dominated by the collar diameter, the number of primary branches per plant and plant height. This study clearly indicated that indigenous varieties are the most disease resistant genotypes and are having substantial fruit yield (945.30 g/plant) similar to standard varieties and at a touching distance to hybrid cultivars.

The study examined factors determining forest land use decisions among rural farm households in south-western Nigeria. Primary data on socio-economic and community characteristics as well as land use systems were obtained from 300 farm households using a structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. The study revealed that marital status (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.01), land tenure security (P < 0.01), dominant crop type (P < 0.05), and preference for tree on farm land (P < 0.01) are factors influencing forest land use decision in either agroforestry, pure cultivation or in both practices. Land use choice proportion estimation shows that 63 % are still willing to retain their existing land use practice (pure cultivation). A total of 32 % are willing to shift completely from their existing land use practice while 4 % of the respondents are willing to practice both “agroforestry and pure cultivation” simultaneously. The study therefore suggests the need for a change in forest land use policy, particularly, with a view influence the pattern of use, limitation on type of crop that can be grown, and compliance to sustainable land use practice. This would go a long way in driving forest land use towards agroforestry – a practice identified as a means of ensuring food security while ensuring safe environment.

Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P < 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.