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.
Discotic liquid crystal compounds were synthesized and characterized. Liquid crystalline texture of these compounds was investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM). The Hartree-Fock approximation (HF) was used to calculate theoretical molecular parameters for synthesized compounds such as optimization, hardness, EHOMO, ELUMO, and energy gap using the Gaussian 09W program.
This research paper aimed to quantitively characterize the pore structure of shale reservoirs. Six samples of Silurian shale from the Ahnet basin were selected for nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. Experimental findings showed that all the samples are mainly composed of mesopores with slit-like shaped pores, as well as the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda pore volume ranging from 0.014 to 0.046 cm3/ 100 g, where the lowest value has recorded in the AHTT-1 sample, whereas the highest one in AHTT-6, while the rest samples (AHTT-2, AHTT-3, AHTT-4, AHTT-5) have a similar average value of 0.03 cm3/ 100 g. Meanwhile, the surface area and pore size distribution were in the range of 3.8 to 11.1 m2 / g and 1.7 to 40 nm, respectively.
... Show MoreMagnetic plaster kiln dust (MPKD) was synthesized as a unique, low-cost composite reused of byproduct plaster kiln dust (PKD), which is considered a source of air pollution. The FESEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, VSM, and BET tests were used to characterize the MPKD. The characterization revealed that the MPKD was nanotubes non-agglomerated and super-paramagnetic with a high specific surface area (102.7 m2/g). Compared with the specific area of other materials (composites), the MPKD could be considered a promising substance in the field of water/wastewater treatment.
The new Schiff base 1‐[(2‐{1‐[(dicyclohexylamino)‐methyl]‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl}‐ethylimino)‐methyl]naphthalen‐2‐ol (HL) was prepared from 1‐{[2‐(1H‐Indol‐3‐yl)‐ethylimino] methyl}‐naphthalen‐2‐ol and dicyclohexyl amine. From this Schiff base, monomeric complexes [M (L)n (H2O)2 Cl2] with M = Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, and Hg were synthesized and characterized based on elemental analysis (EA), FT‐IR, mass(MS), UV‐visible, thermal analysis, magnetic moment, and molar conductance. The results showed that the geometrical structural were octahedral geometries for the Cr(III) and Fe(III) complex
The present study aimed to synthesize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using aqueous extract of black currant as a reducing agent. The green synthesized black currant selenium nanoparticles (BCSeNPs) were identified by color change. The characterization of SeNPs was achieved by Ultraviolet-visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X–ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These tests were used to detect: stability, morphology, size, crystalline nature, and functional groups present on the surface of BCSeNPs. The results revealed appearance of the brick-red color indicating the specific color of selenium nanoparticles, and UV-Vis spectroscopy showed band absorbanc
... Show MoreLetrozole (LZL) is a non-steroidal competitive aromatase enzyme system inhibitor. The aim of this study is to improve the permeation of LZL through the skin by preparing as nanoemulsion using various numbers of oils, surfactants and co-surfactant with deionized water. Based on solubility studies, mixtures of oleic acid oil and tween 80/ transcutol p as surfactant/co-surfactant (Smix) in different percentages were used to prepare nanoemulsions (NS). Therefore, 9 formulae of (o/w) LZL NS were formulated, then pseudo-ternary phase diagram was used as a useful tool to evaluate the NS domain at Smix ratios: 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1.
The synthesis of zeolite NaX from locally available kaolin has been studied. The operating conditions for zeolite NaX production from kaolin with good crystallinity were as follows; a gel formation step of metakaolin in alkaline medium in presence of additional silica to crystallize the zeolite was achieved at 60 oC for 1 hr,and with stirring. In ageing step of the reactants at room temperature for 5 days and crystallization step at 87±2 oC for 24 hr. The catalytic activity of catalyst prepared from local kaolin was studied by using cumene cracking as a model for catalytic cracking and compared with standard HY zeolite and HX zeolite catalysts. The activity test was carried out in a laboratory continuous flow unit with fixed bed re
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