Momordica charantia Linn, commonly called bitter-melon or ampalaya, is a vigorous, tendril-bearing, frost tender, annual vine of the cucurbitacae family reported to play significant role in health and nutrition. Chlorotic spot symptoms were observed on this plant during a visit to some Gardens in Baccocco Cross River State, Nigeria in 2021. The aim of this study was to identify the virus infecting this plant and investigate the ability of Trichoderma viride to control the virus. Infected leaf samples of M. charantia were collected and maintained on young seedlings of cucumber through mechanical inoculation which was further used to test the ability of Trichoderma viride as biocontrol agent, the sample was further tested against RT-PCR. Result obtained from Gene sequence analysis revealed 87 % nucleotide sequence identity with Morroccan watermelon mosaic virus. This is the first report of MWMV infecting M. charantia in Nigeria. The result further showed that Trichoderma viride was very effective in the control of virus the pathogen.

Evaluation of microbial loads and physico-chemicals of cassava mill effluent simulated soil was carried out using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. This was to determine the effect of cassava mill effluent (CME) on rhizosphere microbial loads, physicochemical properties, nitrogenous salt and heavy metals. The results showed that CME effect on the physicochemical determinants (pH, Ca, Mg, K) and heavy metal determinant (Fe, Zn, Co, Ni, Pb and Mn) was concentration dependents. The nitrogenous salts (NO3, NH4+ and NO2) levels progressively increased with no significant differences (p>0.05 ANOVA). The microbial isolates were: Saccharomyces sp, Mucorindicus, Fusarium sp and Gliocladium sp for the fungal group. The bacterial group were Chromobacterium sp, Corynebacterium sp, Bacillus sp, Acinetobacter sp and Escherichia coli while the nitrogen-fixing bacterial group were Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Frankia sp., Bradyrhizobium sp., Hebaspirillum sp., Cyanobacteria (or blue green algae), Anabaena sp, Nostoc sp., Clostridium sp. and Rhizobium sp. There was no significant differences (p>0.05) in the rhizosphere microbial load across the concentration gradient at the CME-simulated plot phyto-remediated by Centrosema pubesscens and Calopogonium mucunoides. Agricultural wastes such as cassava mill effluent should be properly treated before discharging to the environment in other to prevent the loss of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and total heterotrophic bacterial genera that could be of immense importance to man.

Aim: Physiological variations in Cucurbita moschata due to infection with a Nigerian strain of Moroccan watermelon virus (MWMV): Lagenaria breviflora isolate was studied. Study Design: Randomized block design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Botany Department, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria between March and May, 2015. Methodology: Seeds of C. moschata were sown, on germination inoculated with the virus and analyzed for possible variations between healthy and inoculated plants. Results: Results analysis revealed increase in all amino acids investigated. Highest significant (P=0.05) percentage variation in amino acids of inoculated and healthy were -40.0% for aspartic acid, -36.1% (histidine), -29.7% (proline), -28.8% (lysine), -23.3% (glysine), -16.6% (phenylalanine) and -12.6% (glutamic acid). Infection of C. moschata with a Nigerian Strain of MWMV: Lagenaria breviflora isolate caused significant decrease in leaf nitrogen and relative water content of inoculated plants compared to the healthy. Highest percentage decrease in leaf nitrogen was 40.7% at 2 weeks after inoculation (WAI) and lowest of 25.0% at 10 WAI. The virus caused decrease in relative water content of 29.6% at 6 WAI. Activity of oxidative stress enzymes: peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (6PGdH) and 6-phosphogluconic acid dehydrogenase (G6PdH) were significantly (P=0.05) increased in infected C. moschata- MWMV plant. Enzymes activity was significantly higher in inoculated than in healthy plants at all stages of growth with decrease at later periods for both inoculated and healthy plants. Percentage increase in POD, PPO, G6PdH and 6PGdH activity due to infection at 8 WAI had values of -40.5%, -46.7%, -98.9% and -89.1% respectively. Conclusion: The Nigerian strain of MWMV: Lagenaria breviflora isolate caused significant variations with increase and decrease in biochemical and physiological components of C. moschata affecting its growth and yield.