Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Ten Year Progression of Musa Breeding from 1987 to 1997: 1. Pollination Success and Seed Production (Fecundity) Patterns among Multiple Ploidy Crosses

Abstract: Aims: To create genetic variability, produce seeds and ultimately develop disease resistant and agronomically desirable hybrids with good organoleptic quality bunches. Study Design: Multiple hand pollinations/ crosses in possible combinations of 2x, 3x and 4x as maternal/ seed and paternal/ pollen parents. Place and Duration of Study: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture High Rainfall Station (IITA), Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. 1987 to 1997. Methodology: Utilizing over 320 landraces, varieties, cultivars, clones/ genotypes and IITA accessions obtained from plantain and banana growing regions worldwide, scientists performed numerous hand pollinations/ crosses in possible combinations of 2x, 3x and 4x as maternal/ seed and paternal/ pollen parents every day. Results: There were significant differences (P=.05) in number of seeds produced when diploids were used as maternal parents. Overall, 2x-2x produced 11times more seeds than the 2x-3x, and 54times more seeds than the 2x-4x. The 2x-2x crosses had double seed production maxima when crosses took place in June and July (8,300 seeds) and August and November (6,200 seeds) indicating a high level of fecundity. Only 2x-2x showed significantly positive correlation between seed production and pollination success (r = 0.617*). When triploids were maternal parents, there were significant differences (P=.05) in number of seeds produced. On average, 3x-2x produced 4times the number of seeds obtained from 3x-3x and 27times more than 3x-4x crosses. Seed production from triploids was 32times less than from diploids. The 3x-3x exhibited positively significant correlation between seed production and pollination success (r = 0.595*). With tetraploid maternal parents, there was significant difference (P=.05) in seed production when the male parent was diploid. High seed production (3,000-4,000) was achieved when pollination took place from June to October in the 4x-2x crosses. Seed production and pollination success in the 4x-2x were positively and highly significantly correlated (r = 0.865**). Conclusion: In all crosses, diploid males produced the most seeds and pollination success increased as ploidy of maternal parent increased from diploid to tetraploid especially with diploid males.

Effect of Treatments on the Quality Evaluation of Cocoyam Crisps and Chips

Abstract: Cocoyam (Colocasia esculental) was processed and used in the production of crisps and chips by subjecting the peeled, washed and sliced cocoyam to four different pretreatments (plain-untreated, salted, sugared, salted/sugared) The proximate properties and sensory attributes of the crisps and chips were evaluated using plantain chips as the control Proximate composition result showed that moisture, ash, fibre, fat, protein, fibre, fat and carbohydrate content of the cocoyam crisps ranged from 326 – 412% (samples A3 and A), 169 – 305% (A and A3), 615 – 947% (A and A3), 275 – 1035% (A2 and A1), 925 – 1176% (A2 and A) and 6515 – 7278% (samples A1 and A2), respectively While result for cocoyam chips ranged from 417 – 955% (samples B1 and B), 293 – 462% (B and B2), 836 – 1274% (B1 and B2), 221 – 755% (B3 and B1), 917 – 1087% (B2 and B1) and 6077 – 6642% (samples B2 and B3), respectively From the result, it was observed that moisture, ash, fat and carbohydrate values of plantain chips compared significantly (P<005) with some samples of cocoyam crisps and chips with the values of 451%, 262, 980 and 7552%, respectively Significantly low protein and fibre content of plantain chips was recorded (439 and 316%, respectively) compare to the values of crisps and chips produced from cocoyam Sensory scores obtained from the parameters evaluated showed that both pretreated and untreated cocoyam crisps and chips were acceptable by the panelists compared to the control sample (plantain chips) Highest overall acceptability scores were recorded from samples A1, A2 and B3 (720, 740 and 730, respectively) This result is an indication that cocoyam can be pretreated with either salt, sugar or a combination of both and used in the production of crisps and chips with high level of market acceptability which will still provide proximate compositions comparable with that of plantain chips

Electrolyte and glucose contents of ripe and unripe coconut liquid as source of oral rehydration solution

Abstract: Summary: Electrolyte and glucose contents of 20 ripe and 20 unripe coconuts were analysed along with a commercially prepared oral rehydration solution using flame photometry for sodium, potassium and back titration method for bicarbonate estimation while glucose oxidase method was carried out for glucose estimation. The unripe coconut liquid had mean+ SEM of sodium (mmol/L) 40.08 + 3.21, potassium (mmol/l) 24.06 + 0.89, bicarbonate (mmol/l) 1.48 + 0.20 and glucose (mmol/l) 26.30 + 0.21 while the ripe coconut liquidhad sodium (mmol/l) 24.60+ 1.36, Potassium (mmol/l) 15.48 + 0.23, bicarbonate (mmol/l) 0.80 + 0.18 and glucose concentration (mmol/l) of 1.68 + 0.51 respectively. There was significant difference in the electrolyte content of the ripe and unripe coconut liquid (P< 0.05). The commercially prepared ORS had sodium (mmol/l) 90.00 + 0.1, Potassium (mmol/l) 20.00 + 0.1, bicarbonate (mmol/l) 29.00 + 0.1 and glucose concentration (mmol/l) of 111.00 + 0.1 respectively. The electrolyte and glucose contents of the ripe coconut was found not to meet minimum WHO standard of glucose concentration of 111mmol/l, sodium 90mmol/l, Potassium 20mmol/l and bicarbonate concentration of 30mmol/l for ORS. The Potassium concentration of the unripe coconut was higher than minimum WHO standard for ORS. However, the use of coconut liquid for rehydration cannot be recommended on the basis of its glucose and electrolyte composition. Industrial relevance: Coconut water is often used as an alternative solution for oral rehydration, particularly in regions where mothers' knowledge of oral rehydration is lacking. There has been no differentiation in the type of coconut water used for the purpose of replacing lost electrolytes; hence the electrolytes lost due to dehydration will not be replaced if the source of rehydration doesn’t contain the proper concentration of electrolytes. The study highlighted the deficiencies in the ripe and unripe coconut water as a rehydration source. Therefore a commercial source of rehydration is still the best source of oral rehydration since the coconut water is deficient in electrolytes to replace lost electrolytes. Keywords: Electrolyte; glucose; Coconut; Oral Rehydration Solution

Biochemical and Enzyme Responses in Rabbits Experimentally Fed Crude Oil Contaminated Diets

Abstract: Ovuru, S.S., Berepubo, N.A., Nodu, M.B. and Dambo, L.B. 2003. Biochemical and enzyme responses in rabbits experimentally fed crude oil contaminated diets. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24: 169–176. Thirty experimental rabbits were fed sublethal levels of crude oil (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 or 0.20%) in their diets for 84 days and their blood assayed for Cortisol, glucose, total protein, albumin, amylase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. Activities of these parameters showed a progressive increase with increasing concentration of crude oil indicating significant differences (P<0.05) between controls and crude oil treated animals. The elevated biochemical changes indicate that ingestion of crude oil fractions imposed a physiological and homeostatic stress in the animals.