Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology

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Browsing Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology by Author "Aghale, Duke Nduka"

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    EFFECTS OF EARLY WEED REMOVAL ON SOME YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF ZEA MAYS L. VAR. TZB (FARZ 34) CULTIVATED IN OWERRI, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA
    (Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2017-09-21) Egbucha, Kelechukwu Chris; Isa, Hauwa'u; Aghale, Duke Nduka
    Investigation was conducted on the effects of early weed removal on some yield attributes of Zea mays L. var. TZB (FARZ 34) cultivated in Owerri, Nigeria with the aim of evaluating the extent of reduction in total output occasioned by delays in weed removal following seed sprouting. Healthy seeds of this variety were obtained from State Agricultural Development Corporation. The seeds were sown onto manually prepared plots in a Completely Randomized Design. Weeds on treated subplots were removed ten day following germination while those growing on the other plots (untreated) were not removed until 30 days after germination. Data on yield attribute parameters such as number of marketable cobs per plant, green earlength of undehusked cob, thousand grain weight etc. were collected. Results showed that difference in number of cobs per plant between crops harvested from treated and untreated subplots was statistically significant p<0.01. Other yield attributes investigated gave similar results with varying degrees of percentage yield differences between crops from treated and untreated subplots. The implication of this is that Zea mays competitive capability with weeds at early vegetative stages was inadequate comparable to that of the weeds. Incorporating early weed removal in the total farming plan will result in substantial yield gain for growers.
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    KARYOTYPE ANALYSIS IN ZEA MAYS L. VAR. EVERTA (POPCORN) CULTIVATED WITHIN OWERRI, SOUTHEAST NIGERIA
    (Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2023-02-20) Egbucha, K.C.; Aghale, Duke Nduka; Isa, Hauwa'u
    Karyotype analysis of Zea mays L. variety everta (Popcorn) was carried out with an aim of establishing any karyotypic features of this plant which could be useful in designing crop improvement efforts for the crop. Fruits of the plant were obtained from operators and certified in a University Herbarium. Germinating root tips were pretreated in colchicine solution and fixed with acetic ethanol. Metaphase chromosomes were accessed after hydrolysis and squashing in orcein. A diploid chromosome count of 2N = 20 was recorded for all cells. The karyotype was highly asymmetrical with intrachromosomal asymmetry index of 0.4548 and interchromosomal asymmetry index of 0.4314. The shortarm had a very high coefficient of variation value of 84.14%, while total length coefficient of variation value was 43.14%. The implication of a history of both major and cryptic activities in this karyotype can be interpreted as karyotypic instability which could be exploited in improvement regimes such as recurrent selection.