Symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in D. alata and D. rotundata were observed when yam plants were grown in nutrient solutions from which any of the following had been omitted: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, B, Mn, Cu and Mo. The symptoms of deficiency of major elements were visible on plants of both species. The omission of Fe, B and Mo produced characteristic symptoms on the leaves of D. rotundata, but D. alata showed symptoms only in response to Fe deficiency. The omission of minor elements led to poor growth of the leaves, stems and roots. Nutrient deficiencies in yam plants could be diagnosed by visual symptoms in the field.

Field experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1991,1992 and 1993 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Farm, Bauchi (10 ° 22‘N, 09 ° 47‘E) to study the response of sunflower (Helianthus annaus L.) to N rates and plant population under rainfed conditions. Four N rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha ‐1) and four plant populations (40000,80000,120000 and 160000 plants ha‐1) were factorially combined in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Leaf area index, shoot dry weight and seed yield (kg ha‐1) increased significantly with increasing N rates from 0 to 100 kg N ha‐1. The growth and yield parameters per plant decreased significantly with increasing plant populations from 40000 to 160000 plants ha‐1, but the seed yield (kg ha‐1) obtained at 80000 plants ha‐1 was significantly higher than all the other plant populations. The interactions of N x plant population confounded the main effect of each factor on the growth and yield of sunflower. The seed yield (3425 kg ha‐1) obtained from the use of 100 kg N ha‐1 at 80000 plants ha‐1 was significantly higher than those obtained from all other combinations of N x population and out‐yielded the main effects of 100 kg N ha‐1 and 80000 plants ha‐1 by 18 % and 25 %, respectively. The use of 100 kg N ha‐1 at 80000 plants ha‐1 is therefore recommended for maximum yield of sunflower in Bauchi.

Background: Anaemia is known to be associated with diabetes; moreover, with the increasing cases of diabetes there is need for the use of more affordable alternative herbal medicines for the treatment of diabetes and anaemia. The aim of this work was to evaluate the hypoglycaemic and haematinic properties of Artocarpus heteropyllus on diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Ethanol leaf extract of Artocarpus heteropyllus was screened for phytochemicals and its acute toxicity was tested on mice. Induction of diabetes was done at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight (b.w) (with exception of the control group). The extract was administered to rats for a period of 7 days at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg b.w, respectively, following induction. Blood samples of rats were tested for fasting blood sugar (FBS), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin, neutrophil lymphocyte and eosinophil counts. Results: The ethanol leaf extract of A. heterophyllus showed no mortality up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg b.w. Administration of the extract to diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the FBS of diabetic rat, and significant increases (p< 0.05) in RBC, PCV, WBC and haemoglobin levels. Conclusion:The ethanol leaf extract of A. heterophyllus increased the haematological indices of diabetic rats. Our findings support the use of this plant as an herbal alternative in the treatment of diabetes and anaemia associated diabetes.

Growth of varieties of Dioscorea alata and D. rotundata were stunted when they were grown in nutrient solutions containing 5 to 60 mg l -1 Fe. In D. alata variety TDa 95/00361, plants grown in 60 mg l -1 Fe solution exhibited reductions of 29-65% in plant height, leaf length and width, number of leaves, stems and roots, and root length compared to the control. The corresponding values for D. rotundata variety TDr 89/02565 were 34-59%. Tuber weight in D. rotundata variety TDr 89/02565 was increased by the iron treatments but the foliar symptoms of iron toxicity reported for other crops were not observed.

No abstract