Plant diseases accounts for huge losses in agriculture. To ensure food security and sustainability, an agricultural yield must be improved to meet the growing world population. Due to growing awareness of the effect of pesticides and herbicides on human health and the environment, an alternative safe method of controlling phytopathogens has become a subject of intense research. Biological control of plant diseases is the use of living organisms to suppress or inhibit plant pathogens. Microbiological control agents (MBCAs) employ microorganisms to protect crops from destruction by phytopathogens through different modes of action. They may act by direct interaction with the pathogens through hyperparasitism. Indirect antagonistic interaction with the pathogen through induction of host resistance and priming is another mode of attack by MBCAs. Competition for nutrients and space is another important indirect mode of attack by which MBCAs suppress the growth of pathogens through nutrient deprivation. The MBCAs can also interact with the plant through secretion of antibiotics or antimicrobial secondary metabolites with inhibitory effect against the pathogens. A clear understanding of the mode of action of MBCAs is vital to achieving a successful biocontrol operation as well as improving the biocontrol process that is devoid of risks to humans and the environment. Such improvement could be achieved through the use of microbial consortia to enhance the stability and efficiency of the biocontrol process. Further studies on aspects of mass production and formulation to produce more effective, stable, safer and cost effective MBCAs are needed.

Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) is a versatile plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of ailments and the claims of its efficacy are particularly remarkable in the treatment of infections and immuno-inflammatory disorders. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic stem bark extract and fractions of M. lucida and also identifies the phytochemicals responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. The crude extract was subjected to liquid- liquid partitioning successively with n- hexane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the four fractions and Vacuum Liquid Chromatography fraction (VLC) of the promising fraction was evaluated. The effect of the fractions on egg albumen induced rat paw oedema were also evaluated. Anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions was further screened using xylene induce ear oedema models and human red blood cell membrane stabilization test. Ulcerogenic test on the normal stomach mucosa was also evaluated. The result of the egg albumen induced rat paw oedema showed that the butanol fractions maximally inhibited egg albumen induced effect at 400 mg/kg (70%) and 200mg/kg (67.5%) after 180 minutes compared to the positive control, ibuprofen (20mg/kg) with 100% inhibition after 180 minutes. The result of the xylene induced ear oedema showed that the inhibition produced by 100 µg/ear of the Butanol fraction (BF) was 56.67 % and was greater than inhibition produced by 200 µg/ear of ibuprofen (38.89 %). HPLC analysis of the fractions revealed the following phytocompounds; Cytreo- a-pyrone, Cytosporin- J and Waol A. Ulcerogenic test was negative at the doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the fractions when compare with the indomethacin (positive control) at dose of 50 mg/kg. Human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay showed that BF-VLC 2 (Dichloromethane: methanol (8:2) VLC of Butanol fraction) exhibited concentration dependent inhibition of heat-induced haemolysis while other extract showed a non- concentration dependent inhibition of haemolysis when compared to the standard, ibuprofen. These findings suggest that the stem bark of M. lucida possess promising anti-inflammatory phytocompounds which justify its use in ethno-medicine.

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The nutritional and sensory quality of different flour blends for baked products has been investigated. However, there is paucity of information on the quality of the conventional all-purpose flour which is expected to be chiefly of wheat origin and thus very expensive. Comparative analysis of the microbial, proximate and sensory quality of bread produced from all-purpose flour and blends of locally made flour was undertaken. Composite breads were produced from all-purpose flour (APF) 100%, wheat flour (WF) 100%, potato flour (PF) 100% and WF:PF blend (50%:50%). The microbial, proximate and sensory qualities, as well as the shelf life of the bread samples were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. The bacterial and fungal counts were less than the maximum of 100 cfu/g recommended by the Standard Organization of Nigeria. The moisture and ash content of the PF bread was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the rest of the flour blends. Among the flour blends, APF recorded the lowest fiber, ash and protein content. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean sensory scores of APF bread and WF:PF bread with respect to taste and overall acceptability. PF and WF:PF bread had the highest shelf life of 8 and 7 days respectively. The nutritional composition of the bread produced from 100% WF and 50%:50% WF:PF blends were higher than that produced using the conventional APF. Thus, PF could be blended with WF to improve the nutritional quality and minimize cost of bread and other baked products.

Well water is a source of drinking water for many rural as well as sub-urban dwellers but the pollution of this water by bacteriological and chemical contaminants is of public health concern. Hence this study was aimed at accessing the bacteriological quality and physicochemical parameters of well waters located in Emene-Enugu, Nigeria. Water samples were aseptically drawn from ten different wells in Emene-Enugu. Physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, turbidity and electrical conductivity were determined using standard methods. Total and fecal coliform counts were also determined using the membrane filtration method. The isolates were also identified using cultural and biochemical tests. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between the parameters. Temperature of the well waters ranged from 31.5±0.11 to 33.7±0.11oC while the pH ranged from 6.20±0.01 to 7.40±0.01. Turbidity and conductivity also ranged from 25±0.05 to 150±0.06 NTU and 21±0.58 to 163±0.12µS/cm respectively. Total and fecal coliform counts ranged from 0 to 179±2.31 cfu/100ml and 0 to 58±0.58 cfu/100ml respectively. Bacteria identification revealed the presence of Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella enterica, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Citrobacter freundii, in the water samples. Turbidity was significantly correlated with temperature, pH and fecal coliform (p = 0.000; r = 0.693, p = 0.000; r = -0.679 and p = 0.000; r = -0.655) respectively. These isolates are potential human pathogens, thus the well waters used in this study are not fit for human consumption and should be properly treated and monitored before domestic use.