Showing papers by "Rivers State University of Science and Technology published in 1985"

Effects of cooking, germination and fermentation on the chemical composition of Nigerian Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Abstract: The effects of cooking, germination, and fermentation on the chemical composition of cowpea were studied. There were noticeable trends in the protein, carbohydrate and crude fiber as a result of the different treatments. Both the germinated and fermented samples contained more ether extractable lipids than the raw and cooked samples. Untreated raw cowpea contained 5.9 mg/g phytic acid, 1.66 mg/g phytate phosphorus, 3.3 mg/g total phosphorus, 56.8 mg/g total sugar, and no reducing sugar. Cooking the dry beans at 100°C for 1 1/2 hours had little effect on the phytic acid and phytate phosphorus. There were, however, significant decreases in total phosphorus and sugars of the cooked beans. After germination for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours respectively, there was a significant decrease in phytic acid and total sugar and increase in total phosphorus and reducing sugar. Similar results were also obtained when the dry beans was fermented for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours respectively.

Life history, development and behaviour of Eldana saccharina Walker on sugar-cane in southern Ghana

Abstract: Female Eldana saccharina Walker was found to lay 327 ± 17.1 eggs within a period of 4 days and required three surfaces to lay eggs which were mainly deposited on the inner side of leaf sheaths fitting tightly on to the sugar-cane stalk. The mated females laid more eggs per female (327.0 ± 17.1) than virgin females (212.3 ± 5.5). The incubation period of the eggs of E. saccharina was found to be 5.64 ± 0.01 (5–7) days in the laboratory and 5.82 ± 0.03 (5–7) days in the field. The mean larval duration was 31 days and pre-pupal period lasted 2.05 ± 0.05 days. Larvae were found to exude a brownish liquid from their mouth in the direction of the invading predators. The newly hatched larvae spread out in 1–3 days of hatching. The mean growth ratio of the larval instars was 1.54 ± 0.05. Pupae frequently occurred very close to the exit hole (less than 5 cm) and the pupal period varied from 7 to 13 (9.76 ± 0.05) days. The life cycle of E. saccharina was completed in 49 (36–62) days. The pre-oviposition period was 2 days and the female reproductive life lasted 4 days. It takes about 53 days for a succeeding generation to be produced. Adults of E. saccharina survived from 6 to 13 days. Adults reared from field collected larvae snowed a sex ratio of 42:51 which was significantly different from 1:1 in the laboratory bred stock, at the 5% level of probability. A comparison of the life cycle of E. saccharina populations in Ghana and Uganda suggests the existence of two biotypes of the pest.

Competition between Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) and Ephestia cautella (Walker) in cocoa beans

Abstract: Competition between Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) and Ephestia cautelici (Walker) was studied in broken cocoa beans using the two species alone, introduced one before the other and together. Both species of moths cannot co-exist for an extended period and in competition E. cautella becomes extinct. The results offer an explanation of recent evidence that C. cephalonica is rapidly becoming the most important pest of stored cocoa beans in Ghana today.

Physical and chemical characteristics of refined vegetable oils from rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) and bread-fruit (Artocarpus altilis)

Abstract: Crude vegetable oil obtained by solvent extraction from rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) and breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) were subjected to alkali refining (neutralisation), degumming and bleaching. At each stage of refining, the crude and the refined oil were analysed for their physical and chemical characteristics notably specific gravity, moisture and volatile matter content, saponification, iodine values, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, fatty acids and free fatty acids. Results showed an improvement in the quality of the oil after refining. Refining decreased the free fatty acids and peroxide value, which are some of the characteristics that determine stability. There was a very slight decrease in saponification value and unsaponifiables matter after refining. Refining did not have much effect on the fatty acid composition except slight nonconsistent decreases in saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. There was no decrease in iodine value.

Borer damage and estimation of loss caused by sugar-cane stem-borers in southern Ghana

Abstract: Studies on damage by larvae of Eldana saccharina Walker, Chilo zacconius Bleszynski and Sesamia spp. to sugar-cane stands revealed a high degree of correlation between internode damage and stalk damage as well as between internode damage and sugar content of the canes. For every 1% increase in stalk damage there was a corresponding increase of 0.214% in the internode damage. The distribution of larvae inside the internodes was found to depend on the level of infestation. At low field infestation level (below 25 larvae per 100 canes) the distribution was random. As the level of infestation increases, the distribution becomes more aggregated. The distribution of damage in the sugar-cane field was found to depend on the overall stalk damage. The distribution tends to be more contagious when field level of stalk damage was less than 45%. The damage became evenly distributed when stalk damage rose above 60%. An estimation of average loss of sugar caused by stem-borers to the variety NCO 376 (at the field damage rate of 8.6, 10.6 and 3.1% damage for bottom, middle and top parts respectively of the cane) was U.S.S332.10 per ha of field.

Effects of Blanching, Soaking, and Cooking on the HCN Yields, Nitrogen, Ash, and Minerals of Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

Abstract: Blanching, soaking, and cooking two cultivars of lima bean reduced the HCN concentrations to a safe level. Beans soaked for 12 hr had lower HCN levels than those soaked for 6 hr. Traditional processing was also effective in reducing the HCN concentration in the beans. The treatment of the beans also resulted in a reduction in ash, and the concentration of some minerals.

Non-linear deformation and buckling of panels of non-canonical contour configuration

Abstract: The stability of a panel of non-canonical contour configuration is investigated with the aid of the finite difference scheme. Isolines showing stress distribution at various stages of loading and equilibrium paths which reflect the relationship between the load parameter and normal displacement are plotted. Comparison is made with previously published work.