African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12480

Table of Content: 16 July, 2014; 13(29)

July 2014

Sulphur oxidising bacteria in mangrove ecosystem: A review

Mangrove soils are anoxic, sulphidic and variable since their chemistry is regulated by a variety of factors such as texture, tidal range and elevation, redox state, bioturbation intensity, forest type, temperature and rainfall. Sulphur-oxidizing bacteria such as photoautotrophs, chemolithotrophs and heterotrophs play an important role in the mangrove environment for the oxidation of the toxic sulphide produced by...

Author(s): B. C. Behera, R. R. Mishra, S. K. Dutta and H. N. Thatoi

July 2014

Resilience of cereal crops to abiotic stress: A review

In the last century, conventional selection and breeding program proved to be highly effective in improving crops against abiotic stresses. Therefore, breeding for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants should be given high research priority as abiotic stresses are the main factor negatively affecting crop growth and productivity throughout the globe. Advancement in physiology, genetics and molecular biology, have...

Author(s): Mushtaq Ahmad, Gul Zaffar, S. M. Razvi, Z. A. Dar, S. D. Mir, S. A. Bukhari and Mehfuza Habib

July 2014

Immunodiagnostic potential of a 27 kDa protein of Fusarium xylarioides, the cause of coffee wilt disease in Robusta coffee in Uganda

Several Fusarium species infect Robusta coffee; these Fusarium xylarioides Steyaert (Gibberella xylarioides Heim and Saccas) are the most virulent and responsible for the destructive Robusta coffee wilt disease in Uganda. To date, F. xylarioides has not been isolated directly from soil, though the pathogen can persist in soil for a short time. In this study, a promising diagnostic target which can be developed into a...

Author(s): Olal, S., Atuhaire, K. D., Ochwo, S., Kiiza, L., Kangire, A., Musoli, P., Olaho-Mukani, W., Lubega, G. W. and Hakiza, G. J.

July 2014

Discrimination of oats (Avena sativa L.) cultivars using isozyme markers

The present investigation was carried out to discriminate the oat cultivars based on isozymic banding patterns. The pattern of isozymes such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, esterase and amylase in the selected 11 oats cultivars were studied. The enzyme extracts prepared from seven days aged seedlings of each cultivars were analyzed through polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the cultivars were...

Author(s): S. Sumathi and P. Balamurugan

July 2014

The genetic diversity and population structure of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) germplasm in Uganda

The knowledge and understanding of the genetic variability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) germplasm is important for the implementation of measures addressed to their utilizations and conservation. The objective of this study was to characterize common bean in Uganda using polymorphic molecular markers for use in hybridization and variety development. Genomic DNA was extracted from plants at the first trifoliate...

Author(s): Dennis Okii, Phinehas Tukamuhabwa, James Kami, Annet Namayanja, Pamela Paparu, Michael Ugen and Paul Gepts

July 2014

Genetic structure and diversity of East African taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott]

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott] is mainly produced in Africa by small holder farmers and plays an important role in the livelihood of millions of poor people in less developed countries. The genetic diversity of East African taro has not been determined. This study utilizes six microsatellite primers to analyze five populations of taro from three different regions of East Africa. Plant material consisted of 98...

Author(s): Mercy Wairimu Macharia, Steven Maina Runo, Alice Njeri Muchugi and Valerie Palapala

July 2014

Assessing relationship between phenolic compounds and resistance to Phytophthora megakarya using two cocoa (Theobroma cacao) families

Black pod disease is an important fungal infection in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) which causes high production losses. In Cameroon, these losses reached 80% of cocoa production depending on ecological zones. In order to contribute to the efficiency of selection methods used in resistance or tolerance to black pod disease with the aim of improving on cocoa farming, the content of phenolic compounds was analyzed on the...

Author(s): SIMO, C., DJOCGOUE, P. F., MBOUOBDA, H. D., EFFA, P. O., BOUDJEKO, T., NDIANG, Z. and OMOKOLO, D. N.

July 2014

Physiological response, molecular analysis and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown under various irrigation regimes

With a view to study the effects of irrigation scheduling on the water use efficiency and physiological response and molecular basis of maize hybrids of different maturity groups, a field experiment was conducted at Water Management Research Center (WMRC), Belvatagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India during 2010-2011 rabi season in Malaprabha Command Area’. The experiment was laid out in split...

Author(s): Chigign Adamu, Aravinda Kumar B. N., Rajkumara S., Patil B. R., Patil H. Y. and Kuligod V. B.

July 2014

Antimicrobial activities of lactic acid bacteria isolated from akamu and kunun-zaki (cereal based non-alcoholic beverages) in Nigeria

Three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates designated AS1, AS2 and KN4 isolated from kunun-zaki (a sorghum based non-alcoholic beverage widely consumed in Northern Nigeria) and identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus delbruckii, respectively, produced significant inhibitory compounds in broth. The partially purified inhibitory compounds were screened by agar spot assay method for...

Author(s): Okpara, A. N., Okolo, B. N. and Ugwuanyi, J. O.

July 2014

Energetic assessment of soybean biodiesel obtainment in West Paraná, Brasil

This work presents the result of a research that aimed to assess soybean-based biodiesel production in the West region of Paraná State, showing that the growing usage of these fuels happens due to the need for alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, once biomass-based fuels have been an environmentally-friendly energetic alternative. The methodology consisted of determining the energetic consumption of biodiesel...

Author(s): Josefa Moreno Delai, Jair Antonio Cruz Siqueira, Carlos Eduardo Nogueira, Reginaldo Ferreira Santos and Darlisson Bentes dos Santos

July 2014

Platelet function, anthropometric and metabolic variables in Nigerian Type 2 Diabetic patients

This study examined the effects of anthropometric variables and metabolic imbalance on platelet aggregation in diabetic patients. A total of 109 volunteer were used; 58 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients (28 males and 30 females) who were receiving treatment at the University College Hospital Ibadan and 51 non diabetic control recruited from residents of Agbowo and Teachers of some secondary schools within the University...

Author(s): Jeje, S. O., Shittu, S. T. and Fasanmade, A. A.

July 2014

Isolation, partial purification and characterization of antifungal trypsin inhibitor protease from the seed of Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig (Ackee)

Seed proteins have been evaluated for their nutritive value and biological activity. Proteases and proteinase inhibitors have been of immense benefit to both agriculture and therapeutic purposes. The seed proteins of Blighia sapida was evaluated for both structure and biological activity in this study. The matured dried seeds were pulverized and sequentially extracted using 10 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.4, 10 mM ammonium acetate...

Author(s): Nwozo S. O., Iwuoha E. I., Waryo T. and Kgarebe B.