Studies were conducted to detennine the effects of hot water （50 ℃） and fungicide （contizeb ‘5＇） treatments on avocado seeds in terms of seed health, germination and seedling growth before side-grafting. The le...Studies were conducted to detennine the effects of hot water （50 ℃） and fungicide （contizeb ‘5＇） treatments on avocado seeds in terms of seed health, germination and seedling growth before side-grafting. The leathery coverings or seed coat were removed and either 1 cm or 1.5 cm of the narrow top of the seeds was removed before sowing. There were six treatments arranged in a randomized complete block and rephcated three times. In a six week period after germination when side grafting could be done, it was found out that the earliest germination came from the ＇no hot water or fungicide-treated＂ seeds cut at 1 cm but most seeds germinated from the fungicide-treated seeds at 1 cm cut. Most fungi including Fusarium andAspergillus spp found to either delay germination or reduce seedling vigour were minimized in number through the fungicide treatment compared to the hot water-treated seeds. Seedlings performance in terms of shoot extension and canopy development was significantly better in the fungicide-treated seeds than from either the hot water or the non-treated seeds. The study concluded that avocado seed treatment prior to sowing enhanced germination.展开更多
This report details an assessment of an integrated low-technology phytodisinfectant-sand filter drum for household water and waste water treatment for sub-Saharan Africa, using bacterial culture tests, total solids, a...This report details an assessment of an integrated low-technology phytodisinfectant-sand filter drum for household water and waste water treatment for sub-Saharan Africa, using bacterial culture tests, total solids, and turbidity amongst others is presented. A hundred litres of very dirty/turbid water （130.3 NTU） was pretreated with 100 seeds of Moringa olieferaand further filtered through a sand filter drum （120 litres carrying capacity） made of fine, coarse sand, charcoal and gravel. The mean total aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts, E coli, coliform, pseudomonas, and yeast counts, as well as turbidity of untreated water drastically reduced to wealth health organization acceptable standards for potable water. The results indicated that the mean values of the same parameters for sand filtered pond water alone was significantly lower than the corresponding mean values obtained for Moringa treated pond water. The findings from this study suggest strongly that an integral of two natural water purification technologies （phytodisinfectant-sand filter drum） could be applied for the treatment of all types of contaminated water rendering it free from pathogens for potable and non potable uses.展开更多
Harvested fruits of mango （Mangifera indica） suffer from both physiological and pathological deterioration in quality during storage which consequently affects their market value. A study was conducted to investigat...Harvested fruits of mango （Mangifera indica） suffer from both physiological and pathological deterioration in quality during storage which consequently affects their market value. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of fungicide treatments and storage temperatures on fruit quality of two mango cultivars, Keirt and Palmer. Mango fruits were treated with 0.04% or 0.08% v/v Triadimefon at either 53 ℃ （hot） or at room temperature and then either stored under ambient conditions （27-29 ℃） or in a refrigerator at a temperature of 11-12 ℃. Fruits stored under ambient conditions developed external colour faster than those stored at a lower temperature. Brix values for fruits treated with Triadimefon decreased with time. Fruits stored at lower temperatures gave least Brix values as compared with those stored under ambient conditions. Percentage titratable acid （%TA） of fruits stored at low temperatures increased over time. Fruits stored at lower temperatures recorded lower pH compared with fruits stored under ambient conditions. Palmer fruits recorded higher %Brix to %TA ratio, indicating a higher sweetness level. The firmness of Palmer fruits kept at lower temperatures increased with time when compared with Keitt fruit. Fruits treated with hot water at 53 ℃ and/or stored at low temperatures （11-12 ℃） had lower levels of anthracnose infection than other treatments. Keitt fruits were more susceptible to anthracnose infection than Palmer fruits. Mango fruits should therefore be treated with hot water at 53 ℃ and then stored at low temperatures （11-12 ℃） in order to slow down the rate of ripening and to reduce anthracnose infection.展开更多
文摘Studies were conducted to detennine the effects of hot water （50 ℃） and fungicide （contizeb ‘5＇） treatments on avocado seeds in terms of seed health, germination and seedling growth before side-grafting. The leathery coverings or seed coat were removed and either 1 cm or 1.5 cm of the narrow top of the seeds was removed before sowing. There were six treatments arranged in a randomized complete block and rephcated three times. In a six week period after germination when side grafting could be done, it was found out that the earliest germination came from the ＇no hot water or fungicide-treated＂ seeds cut at 1 cm but most seeds germinated from the fungicide-treated seeds at 1 cm cut. Most fungi including Fusarium andAspergillus spp found to either delay germination or reduce seedling vigour were minimized in number through the fungicide treatment compared to the hot water-treated seeds. Seedlings performance in terms of shoot extension and canopy development was significantly better in the fungicide-treated seeds than from either the hot water or the non-treated seeds. The study concluded that avocado seed treatment prior to sowing enhanced germination.
文摘This report details an assessment of an integrated low-technology phytodisinfectant-sand filter drum for household water and waste water treatment for sub-Saharan Africa, using bacterial culture tests, total solids, and turbidity amongst others is presented. A hundred litres of very dirty/turbid water （130.3 NTU） was pretreated with 100 seeds of Moringa olieferaand further filtered through a sand filter drum （120 litres carrying capacity） made of fine, coarse sand, charcoal and gravel. The mean total aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts, E coli, coliform, pseudomonas, and yeast counts, as well as turbidity of untreated water drastically reduced to wealth health organization acceptable standards for potable water. The results indicated that the mean values of the same parameters for sand filtered pond water alone was significantly lower than the corresponding mean values obtained for Moringa treated pond water. The findings from this study suggest strongly that an integral of two natural water purification technologies （phytodisinfectant-sand filter drum） could be applied for the treatment of all types of contaminated water rendering it free from pathogens for potable and non potable uses.
文摘Harvested fruits of mango （Mangifera indica） suffer from both physiological and pathological deterioration in quality during storage which consequently affects their market value. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of fungicide treatments and storage temperatures on fruit quality of two mango cultivars, Keirt and Palmer. Mango fruits were treated with 0.04% or 0.08% v/v Triadimefon at either 53 ℃ （hot） or at room temperature and then either stored under ambient conditions （27-29 ℃） or in a refrigerator at a temperature of 11-12 ℃. Fruits stored under ambient conditions developed external colour faster than those stored at a lower temperature. Brix values for fruits treated with Triadimefon decreased with time. Fruits stored at lower temperatures gave least Brix values as compared with those stored under ambient conditions. Percentage titratable acid （%TA） of fruits stored at low temperatures increased over time. Fruits stored at lower temperatures recorded lower pH compared with fruits stored under ambient conditions. Palmer fruits recorded higher %Brix to %TA ratio, indicating a higher sweetness level. The firmness of Palmer fruits kept at lower temperatures increased with time when compared with Keitt fruit. Fruits treated with hot water at 53 ℃ and/or stored at low temperatures （11-12 ℃） had lower levels of anthracnose infection than other treatments. Keitt fruits were more susceptible to anthracnose infection than Palmer fruits. Mango fruits should therefore be treated with hot water at 53 ℃ and then stored at low temperatures （11-12 ℃） in order to slow down the rate of ripening and to reduce anthracnose infection.
