DEPARMENT OF CROP SCIENCE

Dialium guineense fruit is an important tropical fruit which faces substantial post-harvest losses and food safety concerns due to microbial contamination. This study investigated microorganisms associated with the shell, pulp and seed of D. guineense to determine infection rates, identify microbial species (fungal and bacterial) and assess their diversity. The research was conducted at the media preparation room of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Three (3) fruit parts were studied: Shell, pulp and seed on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Nutrient Agar (NA) laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six (6) replications. It involved evaluating infection percentages, sub-culturing and identification based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Results showed a 100% infection rate across all fruit parts except one (1) replicate which had a 75% infection rate, indicating significant microbial pressure. A wide variety of fungal and bacterial species was observed, with specific microbial adaptations per fruit part. Pathogenic bacteria, including Shigella sp. and Bacillus cereus, were identified, posing potential health risks, alongside Aspergillus and Fusarium species. This study confirms the fruit's vulnerability to widespread microbial contamination. Findings underscore the critical necessity for improved safety measures against Aspergillus and Fusarium contamination, while identifying promising opportunities to utilize Saccharomyces sp. for industrial processing and seed extracts for natural preservation

The study was conducted at the screen house of the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Four different potting media sources: Top soil (TS ), Rice husk (RS ), Poultry manure (PM ) and Oil Palm Refuse Bunch (OPRB ), were used as substrate. The objective of the study was to determine the appropriate potting medium the for the growth and yield of Fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis ) . The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data was collected on plant height , stem girth , number of leaves ,leaf length , leaf girth, leaf area , dry weight, moisture content and herbage yield. Results obtained after six (6 )weeks showed that Potting media had significant (p < 0.05 ) effect on growth characters. Plants in top soil and Rice husk media exhibited better growth performance than poultry manure and oil palm refuse bunch. Herbage yield , dry and moisture content of fluted pumpkin were significant ( p < 0.05 ) by potting media . Plants solved in top soil had the highest herbage yield which was similar with rice husk plants . Plants in top soil , rice husk and oil palm refuse bunch had comparable values. There was no yield for poultry manure plants as the plants withered immediately after four ( 4 ) weeks after sowing . Top soil potting media is thereby suggested for fluted pumpkin growers due it's ease of availability, handling and also had 12 % herbage yield advantage over rice husk.

Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important cereal crop worldwide. It contains starch, proteins, fibers, oils, and sugars. It plays a significant role in human and livestock nutrition. Nitrogen (N) is essential for crop growth and yield. The most common sources of nitrogen are NPK and urea. However, consistent usage of these inorganic fertilizers can have adverse effects on the soil which includes soil acidification, reduced soil microorganisms, alteration of soil PH, which in turn can affect the soil fertility. This has made it essential to utilize organic fertilizers like plant residues, which can improve soil fertility without causing damage to the soil. Chromolaena odorata (L.) shows promise in boosting plant nutrient levels as mulch. Hence, this study is aimed to assess the agronomic performance of maize fertilized with C. odorata. The trial was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. The treatment involved the use of four rates of freshly cut C. odorata leaf residues (0, 1, 3, 5 kg m-2). The variables studied were plant height, cob yield, grain yield and stover yield. Maize plant height and cob, grain and stover yields increased with increase in the levels of C. odorata plant residues (0-5 kg m-2). Based on the present
study, C. odorata residues has potential for use as a mulch in improving maize yield and soil quality.

A study was conducted to compare yield of some fruit variables of Ghana and Nigeria coconuts. The main objective was to compare coconut oil yield between Nigeria and Ghana coconut types. The experiment also evaluated five key variables namely, weight of coconut, water, shell, copra and oil content. Standard pressing method was applied and, in the process, shell and copra were extracted, blended, sieved before oil was finally extracted through heating. The data collected were analyzed using T-test at 5% level of significance. The results shows that coconut and shell were significantly different with Nigeria coconut producing higher values of 557g and 400g in copra and shell variables respectively. The other variables did not differ between the coconut types. Furthermore, Nigerian coconut had a higher value of crude protein and oil whereas Ghana coconut
surpassed Nigeria coconut in all other variables. In conclusion, Nigeria coconut was better (p<_ 0.05) than Ghana coconut, shell and copra variables whereas all other variables were similar

This study investigated the shelf life and viability of Trichoderma harzianum formulated with various carrier combinations to enhance its potential as a sustainable biocontrol agent. Formulations were prepared using different ratios of corn cob and spent mushroom substrate (4:1 and 1:1) respectively, combined with clay and cassava starch. The viability of T. harzianum spores was monitored monthly over a five-month storage period under room temperature conditions (15–35 °C) by determining colony-forming units (CFU/g) on potato dextrose agar. The experiment was subjected to Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level. Results revealed that the media type had a highly significant effect (p< 0.001) on spore viability across all months, while concentration and substrate × concentration were non-significant. The formulation containing a 1:1 mixture of corn cob and spent mushroom substrate supplemented with clay and cassava starch consistently produced the highest CFU/g values throughout the storage period, indicating superior shelf stability. onversely, formulations with higher corn cob ratios (4:1) showed reduced viability. Overall, the inclusion of starch improved moisture retention and nutrient availability, slowing the decline in spore viability over time. The study concludes that a balanced organic–inorganic matrix enriched with starch provides an optimal carrier system for maintaining the viability of T. harzianum during storage, thereby enhancing its suitability for large-scale biocontrol applications.

This study was designed to evaluate the microorganisms associated with soursop seeds obtained from New Benin market, Benin City. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the percentage of infection of microorganism associated with soursop seeds; isolate and identify microorganisms associated with soursop seeds, and determine the microbial diversity associated with soursop seeds. The experiment was carried out in the Department of Crop Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Edo State. The Incubation Technique (Agar plate method) was employed during the course of the study. Soursop seeds
(seedcoat and endosperm) were chopped into tiny bits, surface sterilized, and placed on filter paper to drain off moisture, and cultured with Potato Dextrose Agar and nutrient agar (PDA and NA). Microbial identifications were done using morphological and biochemical tests for bacteria, while microscopic features examination was carried out for fungi. During the course of the study which lasted for 9 weeks, three (3) bacteria species (Proteus sp., Streptococcus sp., and Bacillus sp.) and three (3) fungi species (Aspergillus sp., Phoma sp., and Yeast cell) were isolated from the seed of soursop. Results of the study showed that Aspergillus sp. Phoma sp. Yeast cell, Proteus sp. streptococcus sp. and Bacillus sp., known to be pathogenic, were disseminated predominantly by seeds, and was observed that the level of bacteria infection was higher in seed coat when compared to endosperm while the level of fungi infection was higher in the endosperm when compared to the seed coat. The incidence of bacteria and fungal organisms on the seed parts of soursop has been demonstrated by this study. High incidence of some of these organisms can result in far reaching consequences such as total crop failure. It was therefore recommended to carry out seed tests by agar plate method (Incubation Technique). This is because the agar plate method provides an efficient tool for the quick identification of specific seed infections; plant pathogen management should be carried out in form of plant products (plant extract) that show
good bioactivity against bacterial and fungal isolates associated with soursop seed or other related crops.

Annona muricata also known as soursop, is a plant in the Annonaceae family. Soursop grows in a variety of soil types of soil, which provides a habitat that supports the growth of soil organisms. One of the most important factors influencing microbial activity and diversity in soil is the availability of water. The objective of this study was to identify microorganisms in soil subjected to treatment with Trichoderma sp and planted with soursop under varying watering regimes. The experiment was conducted in the department of Crop Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture; University of Benin, Benin city. The study investigated the influence of watering regime, soil media and soil incubation duration on the growth of Soursop. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two replications and were separated using Student-Newman-Keul test. The results of this experiment showed the presence of four fungal isolates (Mucor mucedo, Trichoderma sp, Aspergillus niger, and Rhizopus arrhizus) and four bacterial isolates (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, and Klebsiella oxytoca) in soil cultivated with soursop under different watering regimes. The identification of Trichoderma sp reaffirms the efficacy of the treatment while the diverse fungi and bacterial species suggest a complex soil ecosystem. It was observed that the varying watering regimes (Watering every day, watering every 3 days, watering every 5 days and Watering every 7 days) showed different degrees of microbial population and diversity, with the highest occurring (12.4 x 10 6 cfu/g and 16.9 x 10 6 cfu/g) in Watering every day while soil-seed treatment; Untreated seed-Untreated soil had the highest microbial population (12.9 x 10 6 cfu/g and 16.4 x 10 6 cfu/g). From the results obtained, the soil and seed treatment, watering regime and soil incubation duration had effect on the microbial population. On the basis of these findings, it is recommended that soil watered daily should be used when growing soursop for optimum growth.

The effect of digestate admixed top soil on the dry matter production of Tiger-nut (Cyperus esculentus L) was evaluated between December 2023 - April 2024 at the Department of Crop Science screen house, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. The Experiment involved four application rates (0,5,10 and 15 kg N ha -1) of digestate per 10 kg top soil laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data were collected at 10 - 14 weeks after planting (WAP) on shoot dry weight and nut dry weight; and at harvest on number of nuts per plant, nut size, weight and yield from the results, the application of digestate brought about increase in dry matter in terms of enhanced dry shoot and nut weight. Nut yield parameters were also improved through digestate application. The heaviest nut size (8.89g), highest nut weight (34.8g) and yield (0.69g) were recorded in top soil media treated with digestate at 10 kg N ha -1 which was not significantly (p>0.05)
higher than those of plants produced from 5 kg N ha -1 digestate. Top soil media treated with digestate at 5 kg N ha -1
is thereby suggested for tiger nut farmers.