Isolation of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. From the Wild in Lagos through Tissue Culture Techniques and Cultivation on Sawdust of Six Nigerian Hardwoods

Cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst, a medicinal mushroom known for antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities is not practiced in Nigeria. Tree species used for cultivation in Asia, America and Europe are not available in Nigeria. The present study investigated indigenous hardwoods and their supplementation with rice and wheat bran as substrates for its cultivation. Six hardwoods (Mansonia altissima (A Chev.) A Chev., Avecennia germinans (L.) L, Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn., Triplochiton scleoxylon K. Schum, Uapaca guineensis Mull. Arg, Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild. & Th. Dur.) Merrill) were investigated as potential growth substrates and potentially improve biological efficiency. The mushroom was collected from the wild and identification confirmed by amplifying the ribosomal DNA-ITS fragment with ITS1 and ITS4 primers. Tissue culture of the mushroom collected from the wild was initiated successfully with modified malt extract agar and grain spawn developed from it. The substrates were incubated after inoculation with grain spawn at room temperature for 30-60 days. Substrates were given cold treatment for 7days to induce fructification which was achieved with 9-10h/day regime and daily watering. There was full mycelial ramification of all substrates by the mushroom. Fruit bodies were harvested from all substrates but Lophira alata. The highest yield (308.76±5.81g/kg) was recorded with Mansonia altissima (Biological Efficiency-31.42±4.55%) and the least yield (31.45±5.44g/kg) was recorded in Nauclea diderrichii (B.E- 5.25±0.58%). The substrates with wheat bran performed significantly better than rice bran supplemented substrates. Commercial cultivation of native G. lucidum in Nigeria is possible with local agricultural wastes.

Isolation of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. From the Wild in Lagos through Tissue Culture Techniques and Cultivation on Sawdust of Six Nigerian Hardwoods

Cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst, a medicinal mushroom known for antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities is not practiced in Nigeria. Tree species used for cultivation in Asia, America and Europe are not available in Nigeria. The present study investigated indigenous hardwoods and their supplementation with rice and wheat bran as substrates for its cultivation. Six hardwoods (Mansonia altissima (A Chev.) A Chev., Avecennia germinans (L.) L, Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn., Triplochiton scleoxylon K. Schum, Uapaca guineensis Mull. Arg, Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild. & Th. Dur.) Merrill) were investigated as potential growth substrates and potentially improve biological efficiency. The mushroom was collected from the wild and identification confirmed by amplifying the ribosomal DNA-ITS fragment with ITS1 and ITS4 primers. Tissue culture of the mushroom collected from the wild was initiated successfully with modified malt extract agar and grain spawn developed from it. The substrates were incubated after inoculation with grain spawn at room temperature for 30-60 days. Substrates were given cold treatment for 7days to induce fructification which was achieved with 9-10h/day regime and daily watering. There was full mycelial ramification of all substrates by the mushroom. Fruit bodies were harvested from all substrates but Lophira alata. The highest yield (308.76±5.81g/kg) was recorded with Mansonia altissima (Biological Efficiency-31.42±4.55%) and the least yield (31.45±5.44g/kg) was recorded in Nauclea diderrichii (B.E- 5.25±0.58%). The substrates with wheat bran performed significantly better than rice bran supplemented substrates. Commercial cultivation of native G. lucidum in Nigeria is possible with local agricultural wastes.

Mass Propagation of Nauclea diderrichii (de Willd. & Th. Dur) Merr. Seedlings through Tissue Culture Technique

Nauclea diderrichii is a tree species of economic importance. However, its plantation establishment is limited by inadequate seedling production. Hence, there is ample scope of tissue culture for its mass propagation. Its in vitro plantlets development as affected by media strengths indicated that 100 % seed germination was obtained in full MS basal medium while the least (3.35 %) was from quarter-strength at 8 Weeks after inoculation (WAI). The effects of BAP and NAA assessed on the growth of its sub-cultured plantlets showed that highest number of leaves (17) and adventitious shoots (3) were obtained from MS basal medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l BAP only. Whereas, highest shoot length (3.61 cm) and average number of roots (5/plantlet) were obtained from the same medium without hormone(s) at 8 WAI. Further sub-culturing into MS with 0.05 mg/l NAA resulted into plantlets having optimum shoot and massive root growth ready for acclimatization in 6 WAI. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized using coconuthusk/ topsoil mixture with 90 % survival. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 31(1): 51-60, 2021 (June)

Comparative Effect of Horse Dung and Pig Dung on The Early Growth of Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild) Seedlings

The research work examined the effect of horse dung and pig dung on the early growth of Nauclea diderrichii seedling. The experiment was carried out at the back of library of Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan. The experiment consisted of five treatments which were replicated nine times in a completely Randomized design (CRD). The following materials were used: Topsoil, Polythenepot, seeds of Nauclea diderrichii, Horse dung and pig dung, sieve, wheel barrow, venier caliper, ruler, field record book and pen. Data on the number of stem girth, height, leave production and leave area were recorded fortnightly starting from a week after transplanting. The data collected were analyzed through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result revealed that 15g of horse dung + 2kg of top soil had the highest mean number of height value of 12.49cm followed by 10kg of horse dung +2kg of topsoil,(10.15cm). While topsoil only had the least mean number of height (8.25cm). The result further showed the highest mean stem girth (0.30cm) followed by 0.27cm and produced least mean stem girth of 0.24cm in treatments T12, T1 and T5 respectively. Also, in the leaf production the result revealed that 15g of horse dung +2kg of topsoil had the highest mean number of 16.69cm followed by treatment one 12,56cm and topsoil only produce the least mean leaf production of 9.40cm. The result further showed highest mean leave area (134.50cm2 ) followed by treatment one 124.60cm2 and (T5) produced the least mean leaf area of 108.06cm2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for plant height, stem girth, leaf production and leaf area also indicated that the treatment applied Nauclea diderrichii seedlings showed no significant effect. Generally 15g of horse dung + 2kg of topsoil produced the best result in terms of plant height, stem girth, leaf production and leave area of Nuclea diderrichii seedlings, hence treatment two (T2) is best suitable for raising Nuclea diderrichii seedlings. Keywords: Forest, Horse dung, Pig dung, Nauclea diderrichii

Survey on the Industrial Logging Activities in the Businga Territory (Nord-Ubangi Province) in Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The aim of this study was to investigate industrial logging in Businga Territory. The survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire addressed to 235 people including 150 men (64%) and 85 women (36%) between 31 and 100 years of age, on the basis of free and informed consent. It emerged from this study that 110 subjects out of the 235 (46.8%) were from SICOTRA company and its surroundings and 125 respondents (53.2%) belonged to from KKF company and its surroundings. Of the 235 people surveyed, only 104 (or 44.3%) were workers from two companies, the rest were heads of groups, capitas, local notables and those who had not worked in either company. 44.6% of the respondents had a primary level followed by 31.9% (or 75 people) with a secondary level. There are 55 illiterate people (23.4%). No university executives were met in the area during the survey. The logging by these two companies (KKF: from 1949 to 1998 (49 years of exploitation) and SICOTRA: from 1980 to 1998 (18 years)) has caused enormous destruction of the ecosystem and the population is today confronted with multiple difficulties and problems of supply of Non Timber Forest Products (caterpillars, snails, mushrooms, Cola acuminata, etc.) and the erosion of biodiversity. Of the 17 forest species exploited in this Sector, 03 have totally disappeared: Diospyros crassiflora Hiern, Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild.) Merr. and Prioria balsaminfera (Vermoesen) Breteler. The majority contacted had no notion of protecting the forest (67.2% vs. 32.8%); the population had no notion of drawing up specifications (95 vs. 5%). The results revealed that the indigenous population did not benefit from their forest, nor did they benefit from basic social infrastructures of community interest. In order to remedy this situation, a good regulation of the forestry exploitation code, the popularization of the new forestry code and the elaboration of specifications in collaboration with local communities are necessary to correct this situation in the future.

Phytoremediation potential of Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild and Th. Dur.) seedlings grown in spent engine oil contaminated soil

Remediation of environmental pollution has been of great concern in recent years. This study was carried out to investigate the potentials of Nauclea diderrichii seedlings to remediate heavy metals from spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soil. SEO from diesel and petrol engines in different quantities were applied to each plant using 2 kg soil. Plant height, collar diameter, number of leaves, root length were assessed. Amount of lead and cadmium present in the leaves, stem and root of the seedlings were assessed at the end of the experiment. Result showed that 100 % of the seedlings subjected to various treatments survived for the duration of 5 months. There was no significant difference (α>0.05) in the height of N. diderrichii seedlings. Significant (α=0.05) negative reductions were observed in the seedlings collar diameter, no. of leaves and root length. There was significant difference (α>0.05) in the amount of lead and cadmium extracted by N. diderrichii seedlings. This study has been able to show that N. diderrichii has the ability/potential to phyto-extract heavy metals from soil. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.55(4), 261-272, 2020

Anthelmintic Activity of Nauclea diderrichii Leaf Extracts and Fractions Against Adult Haemonchus placei

Background: Nauclea diderrichii is used in West and Central Africa countries for its insecticidal and antiparasitic properties. There is, however, no documentation on its activity against parasitic nematodes.Objectives: This study investigated N. diderrichii leaf extracts and fractions for anthelmintic activity against adult Haemonchus placei, an abomasal parasitic worm that infect cattle.Materials and Method: Pulverized dried leaves of N. diderrichii was defatted using n-hexane, followed by successive extraction using chloroform and acetone. The extracts were evaluated for anthelmintic activity by incubating ten (10) adult H. placei in a range of concentrations (1 ̶ 20 mg/mL) for 3h and then counting the number of confirmed dead worms. The most active extract was subjected to chromatographic fractionation, and the thin layer chromatographic (TLC) profile of the fractions was documented. The dried fractions were then evaluated for anthelmintic activity and anthelmintic data were fitted to a non-linear regression equation (Log [extract or fraction] vs. response; variable slope) to produce best-fit sigmoidal curves and LC50 values computed.Results: Anthelmintic assay shows that acetone extract is worm-active with a best-fit LC50 of 16.24 mg/mL, while the chloroform extract was inactive. Fractionation of the acetone extract yielded three fractions (FA, FB and FC) and TLC profile revealed the various secondary metabolites in the fractions. Of the fractions, only fraction B was active against H. placei with LC50 of 12.24 mg/mL.Conclusion: Acetone extract of N. diderrichii leaf possessed anthelmintic activity against adult H. placei, and could be useful as anthelmintic phytomedicine to deworm cattle. Keywords: Anthelmintic, Haemonchus placei, Nauclea diderrichii, Chromatography