Showing papers by "Rivers State University of Science and Technology published in 2001"
42 citations
TL;DR: Boiling proved more effective than roasting for improvingprotein digestibility and for reducing the levels of trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid and polyphenols of the samples, as demonstrated by the low values obtained for in vitro protein digestibility, protein fractions and protein extractability.
Abstract: The effects of dry heat (roasting) and moist heat (boiling) on in vitro protein digestibility, protein fractions and other chemical properties of African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne) seed that affect their utilization as a source of human food were investigated. Chemical analyses showed that the crude protein and fat contents of the unprocessed (raw) seeds were 20.1% and 13.7%, respectively. The level of phytic acid in the raw seed (1.19 mg/g) was lower than the levels found in some commonly consumed pulses in Nigeria. Albumin and globulin protein fractions were found to be the major seed proteins of African breadfruit seed, constituting 67.8% of the total protein of the raw seed. There were no significant (p<0.05) differences between crude protein, ash and fat contents of the raw and heat processed samples. Boiling proved more effective than roasting for improving protein digestibility and for reducing the levels of trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid and polyphenols of the samples. The complete removal of these antinutrients, however, would require a more severe heat treatment of the seed, which in turn would profoundly reduce the nutritional value and availability of proteins, as demonstrated by the low values obtained for in vitro protein digestibility, protein fractions and protein extractability.
27 citations
TL;DR: Germination increased the crude protein content, total phosphorus content, nitrogen solubility, fat absorption capacity and foam capacity but decreased ether extract, polyphenol and phytic acid contents, water absorption capacity, bulk density and foam stability of all cowpea lines.
Abstract: The chemical composition and functional properties of ungerminated and germinated seeds of four advanced lines of cowpeas (IT81D-699, IT82E-18, IT84S-2246-4 and TVx 3236) were investigated. Ungerminated seeds contained 20.1 to 25.8% crude protein, 2.0 to 2.2% lipid, 115.1 to 210.0 mg phytic acid/100 g and 8.9 to 9.6 mg iron/100 g. The polyphenol contents of the brown- and cream-colored beans were similar (192.0 to 196.0 mg/100 g) but were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the amount (99.8 mg/100 g) found in the white beans. Germination increased the crude protein content, total phosphorus content, nitrogen solubility, fat absorption capacity and foam capacity but decreased ether extract, polyphenol and phytic acid contents, water absorption capacity, bulk density and foam stability of all cowpea lines. Incorporation of up to 0.2 M NaCl improved foam volume. Ungerminated seeds had high water (2.3-3.2 g/g) absorption capacities, while germinated seeds had high fat (3.1-3.6 g/g) absorption capacities. TVx 3236 and IT81D-699 might be selected for combining such characteristics as high crude protein, low phytic acid content and good foaming properties into a single cowpea line through breeding.
27 citations
TL;DR: African yam beans were fermented to obtain anowoh-type product and a comparison of unfermented seeds with thefermented product showed that there were decreases in the levels of total nitrogen, crude protein, crudefiber and lipids, and that there was increases in thelevels of carbohydrate and total organic matter.
Abstract: African yam beans were fermented to obtain anowoh-type product. Microorganisms associatedwith the fermentation were Bacilluslicheniformis, B. pumilus, B. subtilis and Staphylococcus sp. Total microbial counts increasedfrom 1.53 × 105cfu/g to 1.51 × 109cfu/g under aerobic conditions, and from 8.0 × 103cfu/g to 1.35 × 107 cfu/g under conditions ofreduced oxygen tension. The pH of the substrateincreased throughout the fermentation, from 6.8 to7.5. A comparison of unfermented seeds with thefermented product showed that there were decreases inthe levels of total nitrogen, crude protein, crudefiber and lipids, and that there were increases in thelevels of carbohydrate and total organic matter.Enzyme activities during fermentation revealed thatamylase production was erratic showing a slightincrease during the first 24 h followed by a steeprise in activity in the next 24 h. By contrast, lipaseactivity increased rapidly throughout the first 72 hwhile proteinase activity followed a type of sigmoidcurve with a steady increase in activity within thefirst 48 h and a relatively high activity until the96th h before plunging downwards.
25 citations
TL;DR: The ecology of the water snake, Grayia smythii (Reptilia: Colubridae) occurring in a seasonal rainforest swamp of the Niger Delta (southern Nigeria) was investigated and there was a statistically significant negative correlation between number of eggs and mean egg size.
Abstract: The ecology of the water snake, Grayia smythii (Reptilia: Colubridae) occurring in a seasonal rainforest swamp of the Niger Delta (southern Nigeria) was investigated between December 1998 and March 2000. Females and males were similar in body sizes (SVL) and head sizes, but males had tails significantly longer than females. The diet was constituted only by frogs and fish. The major prey type was Xenopus tropicalis, followed by Tilapia sp. and Clarias sp. Adult sex-ratio was 1:1. Sloughing of skin and ovipositions occurred in dry season, in the humid enclosure of buttress roots amongst leaf litters. Fecundity ranged from 8 to 14 eggs per female, with a mean of 10 eggs (SD = 1.8). The smallest gravid female was 78.2 cm SVL. Eggs were laid in batches of three to four eggs at a site, in at least two to three different sites. The size of the eggs averaged 3.1 cm in length, 2.1 cm in width, and had a fresh weight ranging from 18,2 to 22.1 g. Maternal size influenced significantly the number of eggs produced by female, but not their average size. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between number of eggs and mean egg size. Predators of this snake at the study area were herons and fishermen.
11 citations
TL;DR: Three promising new improved lines of lima beans (Tpl 1B, Tpl 7A and Tpl 175A) were evaluated for physicochemical properties and cooking quality, suggesting that cooking times and cooked texture for all lines were improved through soaking.
Abstract: Three promising new improved lines of lima beans (Tpl 1B, Tpl 7A and Tpl 175A) were evaluated for physicochemical properties and cooking quality. The beans varied in seed dimensions and weights with Tpl 1B and Tpl 7A having smaller seed volume than Tpl 175A. Seed coat percentages, leached solids and swelling capacities were within a range of 10.2–19.6% (w/w), 0.44–0.92 g/100 g and 94.0–121.0 g/100 g dry bean, respectively. Cooking times varied between 62 and 81 min without soaking and were reduced by about 34%following a presoaking treatment in water for 12 h at room temperature (28 ± 1 °C). Small seeds absorbed higher amounts of water during soaking and required more cooking time than larger seeds. No significant (p>0.05) difference in cooked texture was found between unsoaked beans cooked for 50 min and soaked beans cooked for 30 min,suggesting that cooking times and cooked texture for all lines were improved through soaking.
8 citations
TL;DR: Some data is reported on the food habits of free-ranging Atractaspis in rainforest habitats of southern Nigeria, and a discussion point is suggested that could serve as basis for investigating the evolution of Atractionaspis species in homogenous habitats where they occur sympatrically.
Abstract: The group of the stiletto snakes (genus Atractaspis) consists of several species of unusual burrowing snakes, originally believed to be vipers (because of their movable poison fangs) and now believed to be an highly specialized ancient group (Atractaspididae), with a very confused taxonomy (DE WITTE 1930; LAURENT 1945, 1950a, 1950b; PERRET 1960; BROADLEY 1991; MEIRTE 1992). We still have an embryonic knowledge of the life-history attributes of Atractaspis species (VILLIERS 1975, SPAWLS & BRANCH 1997). However, due to their unique ecological position in the natural ecosystems of tropical Africa, they should be crucial organisms for study from in an ecological perspective (POLITANO 1997). Apart for a few anecdotal comments (CANSDALE 1961, VILLIERS 1975, BÖHME 1975, SPAWLS & BRANCH 1997), virtually nothing is known on the dietary habits of Atractaspis species inhabiting the rainforests of West Africa. As for Atractaspis from Nigeria, no dietary data has been reported in previous literature. This lack arises because of the rarity of encountering these snakes in the rainforest environment, due to their specialized burrowing behaviour and elusive habits. Indeed, stiletto snakes accounted for a very small proportion of the total number of specimens captured during long-term snake research in the natural environments of southern Nigeria (BUTLER & REID 1986, 1990; LUISELLI et al. 1998). In this note we report some data on the food habits of free-ranging Atractaspis in rainforest habitats of southern Nigeria, and suggest a discussion point that could serve as basis for investigating the evolution of Atractaspis species in homogenous habitats where they occur sympatrically.
5 citations
TL;DR: It is confirmed that Causus maculatus (Hallowell 1842) is widespread in Nigeria, inhabiting a wide variety of ecological regions, from the rainforests of the south to the Sudanese savanna in the north.
Abstract: New data for snakes of the genus Causus Wagler 1830 (Viperidae) are
reported for Nigeria, with emphasis on their ecological distribution and biology.
Causus rhombeatus (Lichtenstein 1823) was never observed during our long-term
field study, and is probably a very rare species in Nigeria, confined to a small
area in the north-east of the country. We confirmed that Causus maculatus (Hallowell
1842) is widespread in Nigeria, inhabiting a wide variety of ecological
regions, from the rainforests of the south to the Sudanese savanna in the north.
It feeds on amphibians, mainly ranid frogs. Causus resimus (Peters 1862) was
reported to occur in Nigeria only on the basis of a few specimens without precise
locality. We found three vouchers with known locality of capture in the Zoological
Museum of Copenhagen, and we captured a few other specimens in the
field. Although probably rare (given the very few captures), this species has a
wide distribution in Nigeria, mainly in savannas and forest-derived savannas. It
feeds on toads. Causus lichtensteini (Jan 1859) was occasionally captured in the
swamp-forests of the Niger Delta (southern Nigeria), but seems to be absent
from other forested regions of the country. It is also an anuran-eater.
KEY WORDS: ecology, distribution, Causus, Viperidae, Nigeria.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was observed that the flared gas is greater than the total electric power generated in the country for any given period even at 30 per cent fuel conversion, even with 30 percent fuel conversion.
Abstract: Nigeria is one of the major petroleum producers in the world. It flares an average of 22 billion cubic metres of gas annually as a by-product of petroleum exploitation. This practice is inimical both to the environment and a waste to the economy. There are over 300 flares sites in the country and for this study 10 were monitored. Measurements were taken over a period of 24 h for each of the flares to determine the energy flux. The heat radiation was measured with a non-contact thermometer mounted on a tripod 50 m from the flare. When the product of the measurement was converted into other energy equivalents for the flared gas it is observed that the flared gas is greater than the total electric power generated in the country for any given period even at 30 per cent fuel conversion. This paper proposes that other options for gas utilization be explored to check the trend. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
4 citations
TL;DR: An effective pollination system is an important pre-requisite for successful hybridization in any breeding programme and a field experiment was conducted in a humid agroecological zone of Nigeria to evaluate ten selected cassava clones for hybrid seed production efficiency.
Abstract: An effective pollination system is an important pre-requisite for successful hybridization in any breeding programme. A field experiment was conducted between March 1998 and March 1999 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in a humid agroecological zone of Nigeria, to evaluate ten selected cassava clones for hybrid seed production efficiency after natural and artificial pollination. The time to 50% flowering and the number of pistillate and staminate flowers showed significant variation (P=0.05) in the study. More staminate than pistillate flowers were produced in all clones, at a ratio of 8:1= staminate: pistillate per clone. Hybrid seed production was significantly different (P=0.05) in the ten selected clones of cassava after natural and artificial pollination. Natural pollination was more effective as regards the rate of seed set (26.9 seeds on 0.056 ha-1, equivalent to 480.9 seeds ha-1) than artificial pollination, which produced 8.8...
4 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the properties of blends containing 5,10,20,25 and 30% full-fat f1uted pumpkin seed flour (FPF) with wheat flour (WF) were investigated.
Abstract: Rheological and bread making properties of blends containing 5,10,20,25 and 30% full-fat f1uted pumpkin seed flour (FPF) with wheat flour (WF) were investigated. Dough properties were studied using an alveograph. Bread loaves were prepared from the blends using the straight-dough procedure and evaluated for loaf volume, loaf weight, specific volume and sensory characteristics. As FPF level in blend was increased beyond 5%, alveograph values for reistance of dough to extension (R), extensibility (L) and mechanical work for dough deformation (W) decreased. Protein contents of baked breads increased with increasing level of FPF incorporation. Up to 10% subsitution of WF with FPF yeilded bread with acceptable crust colour, crumb colour and crumb texture but loaf weight and loaf volume decreased significantly (p<0.05) when FPF level in blend increased beyond 5%.
TL;DR: In this article, the food habits of goby, Porogobius schelgelii from the artisanal fisheries of the Bonny River in the Niger Delta were examined and the results showed that detritus, diatoms and blue-green algae are the primary food items followed by sand granules, macrophytes and nematodes as secondary food items.
Abstract: The study examines the food habits of goby, Porogobius schelgelii from the artisanal fisheries of the Bonny River in the Niger Delta. The results show that detritus, diatoms and blue-green algae are the primary food items followed by sand granules, macrophytes and nematodes as secondary food items. Protozoa. Fish eggs and parts were observed as incidental food items. The Shannon-Weaver Relative Index (J) showed that Porogobius schelgelii are omnivores with no preference for any food items. Also, Shorygin Index (X) indicates that there is a positive intra specific feeding relationship among the various size groups leading to competition for food items. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCES Volume 16, Number 2, October 2001, pp. 79-82
KEY WORDS: Food habits, Goby, Elechi Creek, Bonny River, Niger Delta
TL;DR: There have been conflicting reports on comparative nutritive value of Soya bean and sunflower meal in trials on chick growth and egg production.
Abstract: (2001). Comparison of Soya Bean and Sunflower Meal Protein in Egg Production Under Tropical Conditions. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal: Vol. 67, No. 1-2, pp. 11-17.