Crop diseases are usually caused by inoculum of pathogens which might exist on alternate hosts or weeds as endophytes. These endophytes, cum pathogens, usually confer some beneficial attributes to these weeds or alternate hosts from protection against herbivores, disease resistance, stress tolerance to secondary metabolites production. This study was therefore carried out to isolate potential crop pathogens which exist as endophytes on weed species in the University of Ilorin plantations. Green asymptomatic leaves were collected from 10 weed species across the plantations, and processed for their endophytic fungi isolation. Isolates were purified into pure cultures and used for molecular identification using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the fungal sequences using MEGA software revealed 9 fungal genera belonging to 13 species, with species in the genera Curvularia, Epicoccum and Daldinia occurring in more than one weed species, while other genera such as Alternaria, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Macrophomina, Arthrinium and Phomopsis occurred in just one weed species each. Daldinia eschscholtzii was isolated in this study as an endophyte from Loudetia arundinacea for the first time. This plant is very abundant in Nigeria and Africa where it is used majorly for thatching and feeding livestocks. This also represents the first endophytic fungi from the genus Loudetia. Potential relationship between the occurrences of these fungi as endophytes and as pathogens are discussed. These discoveries represent the first large-scale molecular identification and several first reports of endophytes from these weed species. These results also represent the first records of some of these fungi in Nigeria.
This research focuses on the synthesis of carbon nanotube (CNT) and Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) (pristine polymer) with Ag doped (CNT/ P3HT@Ag) nanocomposite thin films to be utilised in various practical applications. First, four samples of CNT solution and different ratios of the polymer (P3HT) [0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt.%] are prepared to form thin layer of P3HT@CNT nanocomposites by dip-coating method of Ag. To investigate the absorption and conductivity properties for use in various practical applications, structure, morphology, optical, and photoluminescence properties of CNT/P3HT @Ag nanocomposite are systematically evaluated in this study. In this regard, the UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotometer in the wavelength range of 350 to 7
... Show MoreIn this work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite was prepared and hybrid with Graphene (Gr) by casting method. The morphological and optical properties were investigated. Fourier Transformer-Infrared (FT-IR) indicates the presence of primary distinctive peaks belonging to vibration groups that describe the prepared samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed a uniform dispersion of graphene within the PVP-MWCNT nanocomposite. The results of the optical study show decrease in the energy gap with increasing MWCNT and graphene concentration. The absorption coefficient spectra indicate the presence of two absorption peaks at 282 and 287 nm attributed to the π-π* electronic tr
... Show MorePrevious studies on the synthesis and characterization of metal chelates with uracil by elemental analysis, conductivity, IR, UV-Vis, NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis were covered in this review article. Reviewing these studies, we found that uracil can be coordinated through the electron pair on the N1, N3, O2, or O4 atoms. If the uracil was a mono-dentate ligand, it will be coordinated by one of the following atoms: N1, N3 or O2. But if the uracil was bi-dentate ligand, it will be coordinated by atoms N1 and O2, N3 and O2 or N3 and O4. However, when uracil forms complexes in the form of polymers, coordination occurs through the following atoms: N1 and N3 or N1 and O4.
The preparation and characterization of the Cu (II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) metal complexes of heterocyclic azo ligand 2-[(4`-sulphamide phenyl) azo] -4,5-diphenyl imidazole (4-SuBAI) have been studied by elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-Vis Spectroscopic, magnetic moment and molar conductance methods. The analytical data showed that all chelate complexes were prepared with (metal-ligand) ratio of (1:2). The general formula of these complexes was [ML2X2]. nH2O [were L=2-[(4`-sulphamide phenyl) azo]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole and X=Cl, and the octahedral geometry were suggested for these complexes .
Pathogenic microorganisms are becoming more and more resistant to antimicrobial agents. So the synthesis of new antimicrobial agents is very important. In this work, new 5-fluoroisatin-chalcone conjugates 5(a–g) were synthesized based on previous research that showed the modifications of the isatin moiety led to the synthesis of many derivatives that have antimicrobial activity. 4-aminoacetophenone reacts with 5-fluoroisatin to form Schiff base (3), which in turn reacts with two different groups of aromatic (carbocyclic and heterocyclic) aldehydes 4(a–g) separately to form the final compounds 5(a–g). Proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to confirm the chemic
... Show MoreThere is currently a significantly larger concentration of toxins in our environment than there was in the past. This is mostly attributable to the expansion of modern industry. This investigation was conducted in order to investigate various haematological and biochemical changes in order to determine the effects of Cd on the liver and kidney. Because of its long biological half-life, it is considered hazardous to human health. The effect of sub-lethal doses (40, 80 and 120 mg\Kg) of Cadmium (Cd) on male mice were evaluated for 4 weeks, and analysis was done to estimate their biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes. The results showed that Cd-treated mice had considerably lower packed cell volume, red blood cells, and haemoglobin. W
... Show MoreAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic rheumatic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the spine and sacroiliac joints. Since the copper-to-zinc ratio (Cu/Zn) indicates an inflammatory response, the change in ratio is expected to correlate with axSpA. This study compared levels of Cu/Zn in the serum of axSpA patients. Serum samples were obtained from 53 patients with axSpA divided according to biological treatment into cohorts A and B, and 28 healthy control as cohort C. Serum levels of Cu and Zn were determined first by a fully automated chemistry analyzer TC-Matrix Plus, then the ratio was obtained. The elevated serum Cu concentration means of cohort B (189.32 ± 13.808 µg/dL) compared to cohort A (168.85 ± 7.244 µg/dL) a
... Show MoreNeuron-derived neurotrophic factor [NENF], a human plasma neurotrophic factor, also increases neurotrophic activity in conjunction with Parkinson's disease-related proteins in Neudesin. Although Neudesin (neuron-derived neurotrophic secreted protein) is a member of the membrane-associated progesterone receptor (MAPR) protein subclass, it is not evolutionary related to the other members of the same family. The expression of Neudesin is found in both brain and spinal cord from embryonic stages to adulthood, as w Neudesin levels in Parkinson's patients with osteoporosis disease and Parkinson's patients without osteoporosis disease, as well as the relationship between Neudesin levels, Anthropometric and Clinical Features (Age, Gender, BMI) and
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