This study evaluated insecticidal activity of different doses of Adansonia digitata stem bark and leaf powders on yam beetles dinoderus porcellus. Obtained plant parts from Federal colloge of Forestry, Jos were pulverized into powders. Phytochemical constituents of the plant were extracted by Soxhlet extraction and identified using standard procedure. Mortality testing was done by exposing dinoderus porcellus to yam chips mixed with various doses of Adansonia digitata stem bark and leaf powders. Yam chips without treatment served as the control. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete design with three replications. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance (P≤ 0.05). The result of the phytochemical examination of ethanolic extract of A. digitata revealed the presence of saponins, phenols, tannins and alkaloids flavonoids. The finding revealed the superiority of yam chips mixed stem bark and leaf powders over the untreated. The effect of plant extracts on percentage mortality showed significant difference (p<0.05) among the treated and control. The sample treated with 15g of A. digitata stem-bark powder gave the highest mortality. The research hence recommends the use of 15 g of A. digitata stem-bark powder in elimination of Dinoderus porcellus infecting yam chips. Keywords: A. digitata, Insecticida, Mortality, flavonoid, Dinoderus porcellus

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Lemongrass on fungal pathogen associated with cassava tuber rot. The study was carried out in the biology laboratory of the Federal College of Forestry Jos, Plateau state from March to May, 2019. Rotten and healthy cassava tubers were collected separately from Farin-Gada market Jos, fungi species were isolated from rotten cassava tubers by direct inoculation of the spoiled part on sterile Potato Dextrose Agar medium and incubated for 3-5 days, the isolated fungi were identified microscopically and macroscopically. The identified fungi were used for pathogenicity test. The antifungal effect of different concentrations of ethanol extract of lemongrass was investigated. Data collected were analyzed using one way ANOVA and the means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at (p≥0.05). The fungi isolated include, Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp, Geotrichum candidum, and Aspergillus flavus. The frequency of occurrence of the isolated fungi indicated Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp, Geotrichum candidum, and Aspergillus flavus had 30, 15, 35 and 20% respectively. 20 mL of the tested extract gave the highest inhibition of 19.07, 20.57, 18.17 mL and 18.00 mL on Fusarium spp, Penicillium spp, Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus flavus respectively. At the 5th day of incubation the results of the pathogenicity showed that Aspergillus flavus gives the highest deterioration of 9.17 mm. The length of deterioration showed significant difference. The lemongrass extract indicated anti-fungal effect on the fungal isolates, therefore could be used to control cassava tuber rot caused by fungi.

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This study assessed the reproduction inhibition effects of Adansonai digitata plant part powders against D. porcellus affecting yam chips. Reproduction of adults D. porcellus were monitored with various doses of Adansonai digitata plant part powders and untreated yam chips as negative control (0 g). The finding of the research indicated that all treatments exhibited anti-reproduction potential and strong inhibition of D. porcellus emergence. The result of analysis of variance showed significant difference between the treated samples and the control (untreated) after 37 days. Adansonai digitata stem bark powders (10 g) was able to achieve no reproduction(0.00) after 37 days exposure. Based on this results, combining yam chips with 10 g of Adansonai digitata stem bark powders could ensure adequate management of D. porcellus destroying yam chips and yam tubers as a whole. Keywords: Adansonai digitata, D. porcellus, yam chips, Stem bark powder, Leaf powder

Purpose: This research was conducted to determine the occurrence of aflatoxin producing fungi in smoke-dried fish in Bida.Methodology: The study was carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger state. Smoke dried fish samples were collected randomly from three major markets in Bida town. Fungi isolation was done after serial dilution using Potato dextrose agar. Total fungal load per sample was obtained from plate counts and expressed as colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g). The isolates were identified microscopically using Lactophenol cotton blue stain. Aflatoxigenicity text was done using coconut extract agar and exposed to 365 nm ultra violet light. Data collected were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P < 0.05.Findings: The results showed maximum mean fungal load of smoke-dried fish of 9.54x105±1.83x106 cfu/g. Fungi associated with the smoked dried fish belong to five genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Candida, Acremonium and Rhizopus. Comparatively, the assessment showed that smoke-dried fish from old market were the most contaminated followed by samples from small market and modern markets. Aspergillus flavus had the highest prevalence of 32.88 %. Only strains of Aspergillus flavus gave positive to aflatoxins, out of the 24 Aspergillus flavus studied, only 25 % were positive to aflatoxins. Old market exhibited the highest of aflatoxin producing fungi.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: In view of this results, there is need to adopt hygienic practices during smoke dried fish processing and storage in Bida to avoid increase risk of aflatoxin poisoning.