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Phylogenetically diverse Bradyrhizobium genospecies nodulate Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) in the northern savanna zones of Ghana
(FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2022) Adjei Josephine A.; Aserse Aregu A.; Yli-Halla Markku; Ahiabor Benjamin D. K.; Abaidoo R. C
A total of 102 bacterial strains isolated from nodules of three Bambara groundnut and one soybean cultivars grown in nineteen soil samples collected from northern Ghana were characterized using multilocus gene sequence analysis. Based on a concatenated sequence analysis (glnII-rpoB-recA-gyrB-atpD-dnaK), 54 representative strains were distributed in 12 distinct lineages, many of which were placed mainly in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii supergroups. Twenty-four of the 54 representative strains belonged to seven putative novel species, while 30 were conspecific with four recognized Bradyrhizobium species. The nodA phylogeny placed all the representative strains in the cosmopolitan nodA clade III. The strains were further separated in seven nodA subclusters with reference strains mainly of African origin. The nifH phylogeny was somewhat congruent with the nodA phylogeny, but both symbiotic genes were mostly incongruent with the core housekeeping gene phylogeny indicating that the strains acquired their symbiotic genes horizontally from distantly related Bradyrhizobium species. Using redundancy analysis, the distribution of genospecies was found to be influenced by the edaphic factors of the respective sampling sites. In general, these results mainly underscore the high genetic diversity of Bambara groundnut-nodulating bradyrhizobia in Ghanaian soils and suggest a possible vast resource of adapted inoculant strains.
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Characterization of latex from trees in the Bobiri forest of Ghana
(Resaerch Gate, 2019) Saah Ama Selina; Badu Mercy; Boadi Nathaniel; Mensah Baah Michael
In this study, ten latex samples collected from different trees in the Bobiri forest in the Ashanti region of Ghana, were characterized based on FT-IR, viscosity, protein content, ash content, crosslink density, surface tension and rubber content. The results were compared to that of Hevea brasiliensis, which was used as reference. FT-IR analyses showed peaks at 1637.06 and 2963.61 cm‐1 (C-H bond) and 1450.06 and 1470.00 cm‐1 (C=C bond). These peaks are common with isoprene units (C5H8). Of all the samples, Hevea brasiliensis had the highest rubber contents of 56.18%, and lowest total solids and crosslink density of 14.98 and 0.08 respectively. Pycnanthus angolensis was the most viscous. With respect to total solids and coagulum content, Landolphia hirsuta had the highest percentages of 88.4 and 13% respectively. Based on their properties, these latexes could be used as alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis.
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Heavy metal contamination in canned fish marketed in Ghana
(Research Gate, 2011) Boadi Nathaniel; Badu Mercy
The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, Mn and Hg in 46 canned fish samples of nine different brands purchased within Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were determined using the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd and Mn and direct mercury analyzer (DMA) for Hg. The ranges obtained for the elements analyzed in μg/g (wet weight) are as follows: Pb (0.058 - 0.168), Zn (0.010 - 0.370), Hg (0.088 - 0.410), Mn (0.001 - 0.057), Fe(0.990 - 32.607) and Cd, below detection limit in all the samples. The fish samples had Hg levels below the European dietary limit of 0.5 μg/g. Zinc levels were generally below the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommended limit of 40 μg/g. The concentration of lead in the canned fish was also below the MAFF guidelines of 2.0 μg/g. Also, based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) health criteria for carcinogens, there are no health risks associated with Pb concentrations in canned fishes analyzed. The result of the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted on the data suggested no significant variations (P>0:05) in the concentrations of the metals in the same brands of canned fishes.
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First use of the 137Cs technique in Nigeria for estimating medium-term soil redistribution rates on cultivated farmland
(Elseviere, 2010) Junge B.; Mabit L.; Dercon G.; Walling D.E.; Abaidoo R. C; Chikoye D.; Stahr K.
Soil erosion is a serious problem in the forest-savanna transition zone or derived savanna of West Africa and Nigeria and needs to be reduced to maintain soil quality and to ensure food security. In 2007, the use of the fallout radionuclide 137Cs as a tracer for estimating the magnitude of medium-term (40–50 years) rates of soil redistribution was tested at a research station in Ibadan, Nigeria, to investigate, for the first time, its applicability in the derived savanna of West Africa. Because of the traditional tillage practice for cassava cultivation of creating downslope oriented ridges and furrows during the annual ploughing, there was a need to adapt the 137Cs approach to these specific condition. The mean inventory was determined for cores collected from both ridges and furrows at different positions down the slope and this value was used to estimate the downslope variation in the longer term soil redistribution rate. The mean 137Cs reference inventory obtained for an undisturbed site was 568 138 Bq m 2 . The average inventory for the upper slope of the cassava field (423 323 Bq m 2 ) was generally lower than the average inventory for the middle slope (509 166 Bq m 2 ) and for the lower slope (606 245 Bq m 2 ) and these results provided clear evidence of the downslope movement of soil. The mean 137Cs inventory for the study area within the cassava field (496 273 Bq m 2 ) was 13% lower than the reference inventory, indicating that some of the soil mobilised and redistributed by erosion had been exported beyond the field. Using 137Cs data set and the conversion model mass balance model 2 (MBM2), the gross erosion rate from the cultivated site was estimated to be 18.3 t ha 1 year 1 and the net erosion rate 14.4 t ha 1 year 1 , providing a sediment delivery ratio of 78%. These estimates are comparable to the rates generated by conventional soil loss measurements made close to the study site. The study demonstrates that the 137Cs technique can be successfully used to obtain data on medium-term soil redistribution in the derived savanna of Nigeria, and that it could be a useful tool for supporting the improvement of soil conservation on farmland in West Africa
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Determination of the triacylglycerol content for the identification and assessment of purity of shea butter fat, peanut oil, and palm kernel oil using maldi-tof/tof mass spectroscopic technique
(International Journal of Food Properties, 2016) Awudza Johannes M. A.; Badu Mercy
This article reports the rapid screening and identification of the triacylglycerol content of shea butter fat, palm kernel oil, and peanut oil sold in the local Ghanaian market for their characterization and identification. Samples were dissolved in chloroform with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the matrix. After subjecting the samples to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time- offlight/ mass spectrometry, the spectra obtained showed the characteristic triacylglycerols as sodium adducts. Seven major triacylglycerol species were identified as dipalmitoyl olein, palmitoyl diolein, palmitoyl stearoyl olein, linoleoyl diolein, triolein, stearoyl diolein, and distearoyl olein in all three samples.Palmitoyl linoleoyl olein and tristearin were also identified. Oxygenated triacylglycerols and other species from the fragmentation of triacylglycerols were also obtained. The presence of the oxygenated triacylglycerols and the triacylglycerolfragments may be a result of poor handling and production processes.
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Contribution of Wastewater Irrigation to Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection among Vegetable Farmers in Kumasi, Ghana
(Plos One, 2016) Amoah Isaac Dennis; Abubakari Amina; Stenstro¨m Thor Axel; Abaidoo R. C; Seidu Razak
Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were cal culated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indi cate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the con trol group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15–13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87–10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evi dence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season.
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Phylogenetically diverse Bradyrhizobium genospecies nodulate Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) in the northern savanna zones of Ghana
(FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2022) Adjei Josephine A.
A total of 102 bacterial strains isolated from nodules of three Bambara groundnut and one soybean cultivars grown in nineteen soil samples collected from northern Ghana were characterized using multilocus gene sequence analysis. Based on a concatenated sequence analysis (glnII-rpoB-recA-gyrB-atpD-dnaK), 54 representative strains were distributed in 12 distinct lineages, many of which were placed mainly in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii supergroups. Twenty-four of the 54 representative strains belonged to seven putative novel species, while 30 were conspecific with four recognized Bradyrhizobium species. The nodA phylogeny placed all the representative strains in the cosmopolitan nodA clade III. The strains were further separated in seven nodA subclusters with reference strains mainly of African origin. The nifH phylogeny was somewhat congruent with the nodA phylogeny, but both symbiotic genes were mostly incongruent with the core housekeeping gene phylogeny indicating that the strains acquired their symbiotic genes horizontally from distantly related Bradyrhizobium species. Using redundancy analysis, the distribution of genospecies was found to be influenced by the edaphic factors of the respective sampling sites. In general, these results mainly underscore the high genetic diversity of Bambara groundnut-nodulating bradyrhizobia in Ghanaian soils and suggest a possible vast resource of adapted inoculant strains.