Showing papers in "Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology in 2011"
TL;DR: Most of the work reviewed in this article describes commercial hatchery experiments, probiotic research in the culture of fish, crustaceans and live food with an evaluation of results obtained so far.
Abstract: Disease outbreaks are being increasingly recognized as important constraints to aquaculture production and trade, affecting the economic development of the sector in many countries. An increase of productivity in aquaculture has been accompanied by ecological impacts including emergence of a large variety of pathogens and bacterial resistance. These impacts are in part due to the indiscriminate use of chemotherapeutic agents as a result of management practices in production cycles. There is an urgent need in aquaculture to develop microbial control strategies. One of the alternatives to antimicrobials in disease control could be the use of probiotic bacteria as microbial control agents. Most of the work reviewed in this article describes commercial hatchery experiments, probiotic research in the culture of fish, crustaceans and live food with an evaluation of results obtained so far. Directions for further research are discussed. Key words : Probiotics, Chemotherapeutic, Fish Culture, Crustaceans, Water Quality,
33 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was carried out on different retention times in the anaerobic fermentation of slurry from poultry droppings and cassava peels and the system adopted in this work was batch-type.
Abstract: A study was carried out on different retention times in the anaerobic fermentation of slurry from poultry droppings and cassava peels. The system adopted in this work was batch-type. Daily gas production fell slightly from 130 to 32 litres as retention time was increased from 10 to 40 days for poultry droppings. For cassava peels the daily gas production fell slightly from 30 to 15 litres as retention time was increased from 5 to 75 days. The amount of gas produced per unit of volatile substrate charged into a polyethylene digester showed a linear increase with retention time. The total biogas produced from poultry and cassava wastes was 1.508m3 and 1.179m3 for 42 days and 79 days respectively. The ambient and slurry temperature for poultry and cassava were (33.6oC, 33.0oC) and (29.4oC, 35.6oC) which are under mesophilic temperature. Key word : Batch-type, Anaerobic, Substrate, Volatile, Polyethylene.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated other properties necessary to confirm their suitability for this purpose, including low moisture content and bulk density, high porosity and good water absorption capacity of rice husk and cassava peels.
Abstract: The quality of carrier is a vital factor in determining microbial load and shelf life of biofertilizers. Rice husk and cassava peels are abundant and practically of no economic value in many developing countries and thus satisfy two important requirements of biofertilizer-carrier materials. This study evaluated other properties necessary to confirm their suitability for this purpose. Low moisture content and bulk density, high porosity and good water absorption capacity of both materials suggest adequate environmental conditions within them for the growth and survival of inoculant organisms. Both carrier materials supported the growth of the test organism, thus suggesting the presence of nutrients and absence of toxicity. Rice husk showed potential for good shelf life. Promotion of plant growth (p ≤ 0.5) by test organism was not diminished after six weeks of immobilization in this carrier. Keywords: Biofertilizer carriers; cassava peel; rice husk Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 1- 4
14 citations
TL;DR: The antibacterial effect of P. niruri leaves is established and it is established that P. aeruginosa was the most susceptible bacterium to the ethanolic extract, followed by S. typhi.
Abstract: Studies were carried out on the antibacterial effect of Phyllanthus niruri (Linn) leaves using ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves at concentrations 400mg/ml, 200mg/ml, 100mglml, 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml. Gentamycin was employed as control at concentration of 50mg/ml. Pure isolates of Escherchia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes were employed as test organisms. Results showed that both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts had antibacterial activities against test bacteria but to varying degrees. P. aeruginosa was the most susceptible bacterium to the ethanolic extract, followed by S. typhi. E. coli was the least susceptible. For the aqueous extract, K. aerogenes was most susceptible followed by P. aeruginosa. S. typhi was the least susceptible. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of the ethanolic extract for E. coli was found to be 50mg/ml while S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and K. aerogenes had a common MIC of 12.5mg/ml. However, S. typhi was inhibited in all concentrations used. For the aqueous extract; E. coli was inhibited in all concentrations used while S. typhi , and P. aeruginosa had the same MIC of 25mg/ml. S. aureus with MIC 12.5mg/ml was the most susceptible. Results of the Minimum Bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ethanolic extracts showed that it had bacteriostatic effect on test bacteria in all the concentrations tested. The aqueous extracts had bacteriostatic effect on only K. aerogenes and had bactericidal effect on all other test bacteria. Statistical analysis revealed that the mean diameter zones of inhibition for gentamycin was significantly higher than those of the plant extracts at 0.05 level of probability though, 400mg/ml concentration exhibited high antibacterial activities in both extracts. This study has established the antibacterial effect of P. niruri leaves. Keywords : Phyllanthus niruri ; antibacterial; Jos; Enteric pathogens Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 22- 27
12 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the significant variation in the proximate composition and the high biological value of the amino acids in sesame seed could be useful in enhancing human, as well as, livestock nutrition.
Abstract: The proximate composition and amino acid profile of the seed of 30 Nigerian sesame genotypes were determined based on the standard methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and the Sequential Multi- sample amino acid Analyzer (TSM). Proximate analysis showed that sesame seed contained ash content of between 1.44 and 5.93 %; moisture (0.22 - 3.5 %). Similarly, fibre content ranged between 4.20 and 11.41 %; lipid had the highest value (58.36 ± 1.54 %, with a range of 52-63 %). The carbohydrate content varied from 15.68 - 28.05 %, while the protein content ranged between 3.25- 11.27 %. The high protein content in sesame seed was also shown to be rich in essential amino acids needed for enhanced nutrition. This study suggests that the significant variation in the proximate composition and the high biological value of the amino acids in sesame seed could be useful in enhancing human, as well as, livestock nutrition. Keywords : Sesamum indicum ; Proximate composition; Amino acid profile; Nutrient value Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 5- 12
11 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that on the basis of infestation of borer, high yield and conservation of natural enemies, neem seed extract can be regarded as suitable alternative to synthetic insecticides for the management of rice stem borers in the field.
Abstract: Stem borers are economic pests of rice and its management through conventional methods has not given the desired results. Hence in this study field experiments were conducted to determine the comparative efficacy of neem seed kernel extracts ( Azadirachta indica ; (Neem) and synthetic insecticide (Carbofuradan) against rice stem borers in Nigeria during 2006/07 farming season. The effect of these sprayings was also recorded on natural enemies and yield attributes. Results showed that the two pesticides significantly (p < 0.01) reduced stem borers damage (number of dead hearts, white heads) compared to untreated check, and also significantly (p < 0.05) increased number of productive tillers with resultant increase in grain yield than the control plots. Maximum numbers of different natural enemies were found in neem extract treated plots against the carbofuran treated plots. It is suggested that on the basis of infestation of borer, high yield and conservation of natural enemies, neem seed extract can be regarded as suitable alternative to synthetic insecticides for the management of rice stem borers in the field. Keywords : Botanical/insecticide, stem borer control Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 13- 21
9 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The effects of crude ethanolic plant extracts of Garcinia kola seeds and Nauclea latifolia root on mycelial growth of seed-borne fungi of African yam bean at different concentrations and the inhibitory effects of the plant extracts increased with higher concentrations were investigated.
Abstract: The effects of crude ethanolic plant extracts of Garcinia kola seeds and Nauclea latifolia root on mycelial growth of seed-borne fungi of African yam bean at different concentrations (100 mg/ml, 60 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml) were investigated. The seed-borne fungi were Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium sp. and Absidia sp . Results showed that all the plant extracts at various concentrations inhibited the mycelial growth of the seed-borne fungi. However, the inhibitory effects of the plant extracts increased with higher concentrations. The percentage inhibition of mycelial growth of fungal isolates by G. kola ranged from 57.9%-100%; 38.8%-72.6%; 31.4%-82.3% and 68.7%-100% for Absidia sp., Penicillium sp., A. flavus and F. moniliforme , respectively. Also, the percentage inhibition of growth of isolates by N. latifolia ranged from 52.3%- 89.4%; 37.1%-62.5%; 37%-93.6% and 49.7%-95.2% for the seed-borne fungi, respectively. G. kola extracts had more inhibitory activities on Absidia sp ., Penicillium sp . and F. moniliforme while N. latifolia was more active against A. flavus . Key Words : Extracts, Inhibition, Seed-borne fungi, African yam bean, Mycelial growth.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, ways in which biotechnology is applied to aquaculture and the future of fish farming are described.
Abstract: Fish farming is the world’s fastest-growing sector of agricultural business Consumer demand for fish products is increasing At the same time, wild fish stocks are rapidly declining, mainly because of over-fishing Aquaculture contributes more than 16 million tones of fish and shellfish annually to the world food supply Increased public demands for fish and dwindling natural marine habitats have encouraged scientists to study ways that biotechnology can increase the production of fish and shellfish Biotechnology allows scientists to identify and combine traits in fish and shellfish to increase productivity and improve quality This article describes ways in which biotechnology is applied to aquaculture and the future of fish farming Key words : Biotechnology, Aquaculture, Fish Production
6 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The results of the enzyme activity showed that the organisms; Aspergillus flavus, As pergillus niger, AsPergillus fumigatus and Penicillium italicum produced the protease enzyme maximally between day three and day five of incubation while the effect of temperature and thermal stability on the enzyme production showed temperature optimal for enzyme production was between 30 and 60 0 C.
Abstract: This study was undertaken to monitor the production of protease enzyme from soil fungal isolates obtained from Omo natural forest in Ogun State of Nigeria. The study also sought to determine the kinetic parameters of the enzyme with the aim of establishing the industrial and biotechnological importance of this microbial enzyme. The harvested mycelia of the fungi were separately homogenized in buffered culture medium for five days using shaker incubator in which the protease activity was monitored. The results of the enzyme activity showed that the organisms; Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium italicum produced the protease enzyme maximally between day three and day five of incubation while the effect of temperature and thermal stability on the enzyme production showed temperature optimal for enzyme production was between 30 and 60 0 C and the thermal stability on the enzyme activity was between 30 and 50 0 C. The optimal pH on the enzyme production was observed to be between pH 3.5 and 5.5 for the organisms. Keywords: Soil microorganism, fungal isolate, incubation period, microbial enzyme Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 28 - 34
6 citations
TL;DR: Physical and chemical properties of nine rice varieties grown and processed in Ebonyi State were studied in this paper, and the results showed that all the tested rice varieties had translucent grain except Awilo Ikwo, Faro 15 Izzi and Kpurukpuru Afikpo which had opaque grains.
Abstract: Physical and chemical properties of nine rice varieties grown and processed in Ebonyi State were studied. Average length and width of the tested varieties ranged between 6.31 and 7.63mm and 2.04 to 2.28mm respectively. All the grains are long grain but, Afikpo mars had the longest grain length of 7.63mm while kpurukpuru had the least grain length of 6.31mm. The length/width ratio for Afikpo mars 3.74 was the highest, and IR8 Izzi 2.87 was the lowest.The nine rice varieties tested had translucent grain except Awilo Ikwo , Faro 15 Izzi and Kpurukpuru Afikpo which had opaque grains. The appearance of Awilo Ikwo, Mars Izzi and Afikpo mars were very good, IR8 Ngbo rice was fair. Size and shape of all the varieties tested were long slender except IR8 Izzi rice and IR8 Ngbo. Ash, Moisture and Fat content of the varieties ranged from 0.80 to 2.40%, 2.02 to 2.23% and 7.6 to 12.2% respectively. Protein content of the varieties ranged from 7.86 to 9.48%. The highest and lowest found in kpurukpuru Afikpo and Mars Afikpo rice respectively. All the varieties tested had protein content of more than the recommended standard (7%) of protein. Vitamin B content; thiamine (B 1 ), Riboflavin (B 2 ) and Niacin (B 3 ) contents ranged from 0.17 to 0.24mg, 0.23 to 0.29mg and 1.60 to 1.81mg respectively. Zinc content of the tested varieties ranged from 6.48 to 9.81mg/100g with the highest (9.81mg/100g) found in Awilo Ikwo rice and Kpurukpuru Afikpo rice respectively. Iron and calcium contents of the varieties range from 0.94 to 1.21mg/100g and 1.00 to 1.75mg/100g with IR8 Ngbo rice having the highest values. Key words : Rice (Oryza sativa L); physical; chemical; mineral; vitamin; appearance
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Micrococcus spp on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil was carried out using standard microbiological methods.
Abstract: The effect of the consortium of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Micrococcus spp on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil was carried out using standard microbiological methods. Spectrophotometer, gas chromatography and viable count which determined the optical density, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the total heterotrophic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were used for the study and analysis was for a period of three weeks at one week interval. The values of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon decreased from 419 mg/l to 0.06 mg/l while the values of the optical density and viable counts, respectively, increased from 0.018 to 0.740 and from 9.80 x 105 cfu/ml to 2.74 x 106 cfu/ml. This research concluded that the consortium of these bacteria can be used for the decontamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) polluted sites. Key words : Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Petroleum hydrocarbon, Biodegradation
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The molluscicidal effects of Talinum triangulare from two locations in Nigeria on Bulinus truncatus and ethanolic plant root extracts from the two locations were studied in the laboratory and may be a potential molluskicide in schistosomiasis control.
Abstract: The molluscicidal effects of Talinum triangulare from two locations in Nigeria on Bulinus truncatus were studied in the laboratory Snails were exposed for 96h to different concentrations of ethanolic extract of the plant root from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State, Nigeria Those in dechlorinated water served as control On coming in contact with the test medium, the snails reacted by speedily crawling out of the containers Exposure of snails to Talinum triangulare concentrations of less than 300ppm showed only ovicidal activity while varying numbers of those exposed to 300ppm died as the exposure time increased The control group recorded no effects Snail recovery was only observed in concentrations less than 300ppm The LC 50 of the plant root extract from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State decreased (ranging from 505-251ppm) as exposure time increased The molluscicidal activities (LC 50 ) of the ethanolic plant root extracts from the two locations were not significantly different (p> 005) The ethanolic plant root extracts of T triangulare may be a potential molluscicide in schistosomiasis control Key words : Molluscicide , Talinium triangulare , Bulinus truncatus, Schistosomiasis
TL;DR: A low occurrence rate of pathogenic Yersinia species in locally fermented cow milk (nono) hawked in Jos indicates that milk still remains a vehicle for a variety of human disease in a developing country like Nigeria.
Abstract: Yersiniosis has been reported globally due to contamination of milk and other related products. ‘Nono’ is the Fulani word for the locally fermented milk product (from cow) produced by Fulani cattle rearers and popularly consumed in Northern Nigeria. This study was aimed at investigating locally fermented cow milk (nono) on sale to the public in Jos metropolis for the presence of pathogenic Yersinia species. A total of 300 milk (nono) samples were collected and examined using the cold enrichment technique and Yersinia selective culture media. Confirmatory biochemical tests were carried out using the API 20E strip test. Three (3) samples of Yersinia species were isolated indicating a 1% occurrence rate. Only Yersinia enterocolitica was implicated in this study. Serotyping revealed that all strains were of serotype 0:9 which is one of the two most common serotypes representing the most virulent worldwide causes of yersiniosis. The results of this study indicate a low occurrence rate of pathogenic Yersinia species in locally fermented cow milk (nono) hawked in Jos. In a developing country like Nigeria where hygiene standards are to an average extent unchecked, and animal disease not properly controlled, milk still remains a vehicle for a variety of human disease. Keywords: Yersinia enterocolitica , nono, Jos. Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 45 - 52
TL;DR: Comparative Assessment, Pathogenicity, Storage rot fungi, Cocoyam, host-pathogen interactions, fungal hyphae penetrated the corms of cocoyams from cell to cell both inter- and intra- cellularly in the carbohydrate rich storage parenchyma.
Abstract: Pure isolates of five storage rot causing fungi of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) (L)Schott) corms were assessed for their potency in causing rot of the corms during storage. The isolates were Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat., Fusarium solanii (Mart) Sac., Fusarium SP. and Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehren ex. Fr) Lind. Each of the fungal organisms were inoculated on five corms of cocoyam free from blemish and were left for two weeks after which the extent of rot was determined by assessing both the area and volume of rot caused by each pathogenic fungus. S. rolfsii and B. theobromae proved most potent in causing rot with mean percentage volume of 14.50 cm3 and 10.14cm3 respectively. The area of rots caused by these two fungal organisms was again significantly higher (P.0.05) than the rest. The least pathogenic organism was R. stolonifer with only 3.10cm3 mean volume of rot caused and less than 2 cm2 mean area of rot. Fungal hyphae penetrated the corms of cocoyams from cell to cell both inter-and intra- cellularly in the carbohydrate rich storage parenchyma. Key words : Comparative Assessment, Pathogenicity, Storage rot fungi, Cocoyam, host-pathogen interactions.
TL;DR: Corn waste liquor is a potential source of probiotics that can be utilized for the prevention of diseases that are caused by the susceptible pathogens.
Abstract: Probiotic bacteria offer potential beneficial uses to man. The most common types are the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) which is sourced mostly from fermented diary and vegetable products such as yoghurt, cheese and sauerkraut. Although some fermented cereals are known to contain LAB, limited information is available on the massive production of LAB from low cost fermented meals such as corn mash waste. Hence the efficiency of 72h- corn waste liquor as a rich source for probiotic LAB was evaluated. The liquor aseptically recovered from sieved, wet-milled 72h-fermented corn mash wastes was cultured into DeMan Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) medium, Yeast extract agar, MacConkey agar, Nutrient agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar, to obtain their mean microbial counts. The most common LAB colonies from MRS plates were identified as Lactococcus lactis , Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum by morphological and physiological tests. Equal concentrations of the LAB isolates at their determined peak growth periods (14h, 18h &22h), were screened for antibacterial potentials against 1x103mgml-1 concentration of the test pathogenic organisms using cross-streak method. Results obtained revealed a much higher LAB counts (>2.40x107cfuml-1) than that of other organisms that ranged from 2.4x101 to 2.1x103cfuml-1. Coliforms were scantily recovered ( Lactococcus lactis > Pediococcus acidilacti which had slight antibacterial effect (<0.58mm) on the test pathogens. This gave an indication that corn waste liquor is a potential source of probiotics that can be utilized for the prevention of diseases that are caused by the susceptible pathogens. Key Words : Probiotics, Lactic acid bacteria , Fermentation, Corn waste-liquor.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, ascorbic acid and citric acid were added as constituent of the media using MS and stock at different concentrations to reduce exudates browning in industrial sugarcane.
Abstract: Ex plant preparation in the course of sugarcane micro propagation is known to release exudates which lead to the death of sugarcane in vitro . An industrial sugarcane variety (NCS008) was used for the study and was observed to die in less than 14 days in vitro . In a study to reduce the death of this variety, ascorbic acid and citric acid was added as constituent of the media using MS and stock at different concentrations. The browning was reduced drastically at the addition of 0.1g/litre ascorbic acid and 0.15g/litre citric acid. Keywords: reduction, exudates browning, micro propagation, sugarcane Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 40 - 44
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The results showed that the cell growth rate of Chlorella sorokiniana and Euglena, final cell concentrations increased with increase in the number of hours of sunshine, and showed that these species can be cultivated in Nigeria.
Abstract: This work evaluates the suitability of Nigeria weather conditions for cultivation of microalgae species. Meteorological data from different locations were analyzed and compared with optimal conditions for cultivation of various species of microalgae . Average solar radiation in various parts were 1439.9±5µmolm 2 /s for Jos; 2837.1±4µmolm 2 /s for Kaduna, 1783.3±5µmolm 2 /s for Ikeja, 2368.4±5µmolm 2 /s for Benin; 2516±3µmolm 2 /s for Emene; 2540.6±5µmolm 2 /s for Independence layout Enugu; and 2038.5 ±4<µmolm 2 /s for Owerri. In order to establish if these solar radiation values are suitable for cultivation of photosynthetic cells, Chlorella sorokiniana was cultivated under sunny (2816±5µmolm 2 /s), partially shaded (2243±2µmolm 2 /s) and shaded (1468±5 µmolm 2 /s) conditions within Abakaliki. The result showed high growth rate under full sunlight, followed by medium and low growth rate for partial shade and shade. Thus Kaduna and Enugu would support better growth of Chlorella than Jos and Owerri. The results of average hours of sunshine showed that Jos has the lowest number of hours of sunshine whereas Kaduna has the highest number of hours of sunshine for the areas investigated. The results showed that the cell growth rate of Chlorella sorokiniana and Euglena, final cell concentrations increased with increase in the number of hours of sunshine. Mean temperature in the meteorological stations ranged from 21. 8±4 0 C in Jos to 28.2±5 0 C in Kaduna. Temperature stratification in ponds within Abakaliki was investigated and found to be conducive for cultivation of many species of photosynthetic cells, (22-41 0 C) in stagnant; (22-28 0 C) in mixed ponds. There was an interaction between temperature, time and distance from the surface to bottom of the pond. The result of effect of inoculation volume on the growth of Chlorella sorokiniana and Euglena showed that these species can be cultivated in Nigeria. Key words : C hlorella sorokiniana, Euglena gracilis , Weather Condition, Microalgae
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Popcorn and groundnut composite flours were fermented using pure strains of Rhizopus nigricans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by solid substrate fermentation method as mentioned in this paper, and the result of proximate analysis revealed that there was an increase in protein content in the fermented sample with10.0g groundnut flour + 10.
Abstract: Popcorn and groundnut composite flours were fermented using pure strains of Rhizopus nigricans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by solid substrate fermentation method. There was decrease in pH with increase in total titrable acidity in all the samples. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that there was an increase in protein content in the fermented sample with10.0g groundnut flour + 10.0g popcorn flour having the highest protein content (27.89%) compared to the unfermented samples (7.49 and 24.69%) respectively. There was increase in fat and crude fibre contents and decrease in carbohydrate and ash contents of the fermented samples. The effect of fermentation on the antinutritional content showed that there was a decrease in the content of phytic acid,oxalate and tannin. Keywords : Popcorn flour, groundnut flour, fermentation, physiochemical properties and antinutrient Nig J. Biotech . Vol. 23 (2011) 35 - 39
TL;DR: Among the yam cultivar, GA3 and Azadiractha indica always had the best effect of extending the dormancy, reduction in weight loss and rot incidence, and Physico-chemical changes.
Abstract: A storage experiment was conducted in an improved yam barn at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria. Five cultivars of yam namely; Nwaopoko, Amula, Pepa, Danacha and Ezakwukpolo were obtained from four major yam producing states in Nigeria. The plant parts (botanicals) of Azadiracdica indica A. Juss (leaf), Xylopia aethiopica (Dun) A. Rich (fruit), Occimum gratissimum L. var (leaf) and Zingiber officinale Rosecoe (stem tuber) were obtained locally while the gibberellic acid (GA3) was imported from Europe. The yam tubers were soaked in the chloroform extracts of the botanicals/GA3 solution for 3 hours, air dried and stored in the barn for both physical and biochemical observations. The botanicals and GA3 treatments significantly (p . 0.05) increased the moisture and dry mass contents of the stored tubers but had no effects on the crude protein, ash and fiber. Extension of dormancy period of the stored tubers by the storage treatments was in order of GA3 > A. indica > O. gratissimum whereas X. aethiopica and Z. officinale reduced dormancy. Among the yam cultivar, GA3 and Azadiractha indica always had the best effect of extending the dormancy, reduction in weight loss and rot incidence. Keywords : Yam; storage treatments; Physico-chemical changes