Morphological Comparison of Five Varieties of <i>Colocasia esculenta</i>(L.) Schott in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

Comparative morphological study of five varieties of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott present in Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out, in order to furnish plant taxonomists with information which could be of great help in delimitation of the varieties. Significant difference was established at p < 0.05. The result showed that adaxial surface of “kochuo” had a purplish dot on the centre, abaxial leaf surface had a conspicuous purplish colour at the point of attachment to the leaf, and the cormels had numerous striking vertical purple stripes on the surface. There was presence of foliaceous (leaf-like) appendages at the veins of the abaxial surface of the leaf of “ogeriobosi”. The leaf length ranged from 35.6 ± 7.70 cm (“kochuo”) to 49.9 ± 3.55 cm (“ogeriobosi”). Petiole length of “ogeriobosi” was the highest (63.3 ± 3.83 cm), whereas the least was Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (26.67 ± 2.20 cm). The corm length ranged from 4.10 ± 0.10 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 8.60 ± 0.35 cm (“ogeriobosi”), while the cormel length ranged from 3.70 ± 0.96 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 7.03 ± 0.36 cm (“ogeriobosi”). This work has revealed diagnostic and differential morphological characters, which could be useful for identification and description of varieties of C. esculenta. In addition, it provided additional information which might be helpful in resolving the on-going controversy in the taxonomy of Colocasia, which would, in turn, probably lead to possible delimitation of C. esculenta.

Sex Hormones Secretion Pattern in Pregnant Sickle Cell Subjects in Niger Delta Region, South of Nigeria

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients are reported with infertility and low rate of pregnancies. This is associated with wide range of reproductive issues that are still relevant because of the complications and problems of the disease that still persist till date. This study was carried out to establish the secretion pattern of the sex hormones (Progesterone and Estradiol) in the three trimesters of pregnant sickle cell disease subjects in the Niger Delta Region, south of Nigeria. The study included twenty (20) pregnant sickle cell anemia subjects with average age of 27.4 years and twenty (20) apparently healthy (Hemoglobin AA) subjects with average age of 28.2 years. Their samples collection started when they registered for antenatal care at the clinics within the first trimester of pregnancy. The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used in the measurement of the hormones in the plasma of the subjects. The result showed a statistical significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the values of the hormones in the three trimesters obtained for the sickle cell disease (SCD) subjects when compared with apparently healthy subjects with the same age range. Statistical analysis showed a strong positive correlation ((r = 0.8151 for Estradiol and r = 0.8793) for Progesterone) between the secretion of the sex hormones, in the sickle cell subjects and the control. The result is attributed to the sickle cell gene abnormality and the treatment of SCA that affects the endocrine system by inhibiting the production of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland. The SCD itself does not directly damage the reproductive system;however it can affect other systems which will eventually cause harm to the reproductive system. The study concluded that the sickle cell anemia patients require the administration of the hormone drugs during pregnancy to prevent to a certain extent, complications arising from hormonal imbalance.