The effect of cassava processing wastewater from four hybrid varieties of cassava (TMS 92/0057, NR 8082, TMS 92/0326 and TMS 30572), on the germination and early seedling growth of maize was studied in the laboratory. The physicochemical properties of the effluents and elements were analyzed using standard methods. The wastewater from these cassava varieties were highly acidic 4.0, 4.0, 4.10 and 4.20 in contrast to WHO allowable limit of 6.5-8.5 had a low BOD ranging from 1.6 -2.45, while their HCN ranged from 12.96 -16.86 mg/lwhich was observed to be very high as against FAO/WHO admissible maximum limit of less than 10mg/kg. The germination percentage, growth parameters and biomass were significantly (P= 0.05) reduced with increase in the acidic level of the effluents. Higher concentrations of the wastewater were inhibitory to the germination and early seedling growth of maize. The waste water from the four hybrid varieties of cassava increased the level of trace metal elements in Zea mays. Hybrid TMS 92/0326 was less toxic and is recommended to farmers. This study suggests that higher concentrations of cassava processing effluent could be detrimental to the germination and early seedling growth of Zea mays.

The macrofungi diversity in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria has been inadequately sampled and never documented; this situation makes the status of macrofungi in the State unclear. It is from this reason that this study was necessitated. A total of 60 species of wild macrofungi belonging to 25 families we documented during the period of this study (April to July 2021).  Agaricaceae family recorded the highest number of species (12), followed by Polyporaceae (10), Psathyrellaceae (5), Marasmiaceae (4), Amanitaceae (3), Gomphaceae, Lycophyllaceae, Physalacriaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Gamodermataceae andStrophariaceae recorded 2 species each. Pluteaceae, Stereaceae, Bondarzewiaceae, Schizophyllaceae, Entolomaceae, Cortinariaceae, Pleurotaceae, Dacrymycetaceae, Auriculariaceae, Tricholomataceae, Hygrophoraceae, Hydnangiaceae, Tubiferaceae and Lycoperdaceae recorded 1 species respectively. Out of the 60 macrofungi recorded, 36 species (60.00%) were non-edible, 13 species (21.67 %) were edible, 2 (3.33%) were choice edible and 2 (3.33%) edible but not recommended respectively. 1 species (1.67%) each were poisonous, psychoactive, edible while young, not recommended, non-poisonous but leathery, edible but shows allergic reactions in some individuals and unknown edibility status. Analysis on the growth substrate of the macrofungi species found revealed that; 32 species (53.33%) grew on dead wood, 25 species (41.67%) on soil, 2 species (3.33%) on living tree trunk and 1 species (1.67%) on decaying organic matter. The list and inventory provided by this study will give baseline information that will be needed in the assessment of changes that may occur in wild macrofungi diversity in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The rich diversity of wild occurring macrofungi in Akwa Ibom State offers huge economic life for the local inhabitants in terms of nutriton, health and medicine as well as ecosystem stability at large. Inclusion of macrofungi biodiversity conservation in Akwa Ibom State and Nigerian forest management policies will be an appropriate step towards conservation of these wild macrofungi.

Scent basil (Ocimum gratissimum L) is a plant of great medicinal, and ornamental value. Parts of the plant, especially, the leaves, are used to garnish food, treat various health challenges ranging from gasrtro-intestinal problem, cough etc. Despite its usefulness, the leaves are affected by some yellowish-brown distortions which affect their maximum use as ornamental and others. This work is aimed at isolation and identification of the fungus associated with this foliar problem, and its effect on the proximate and phytochemical composition of the leaves which could reduce their maximum benefits to man. Standard method was used for the isolation of the fungal culprit,  and  the manual of Barnett and Hunter was used for its identification. The method of AOAC  was used for the analysis of the proximate and the anti-nutrient compositions, while the mineral composition was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. All the chemicals used in this work were of analytical grades. The result showed that Geotrichum gloeosporoides was associated with the leaves of the plant. Moisture, carbohydrate, crude fat, protein, crude fiber and ash, all the minerals sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron, and the anti-nutrient alkaloids, phenol, glycoside, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, and quinone contents  of the apparently healthy leaves, were significantly higher than the infected (p <0.05). Generally, the results showed that the organism caused significant decrease in the proximate and phytochemical contents of the infected leaves, which implies a marked reduction in the nutrients benefits consumers could derive from the leaves of the plant.

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Hormonal profiles of ungerminated and germinated seeds of Sphenostylis stenocarpa were studied. The hormone gibberellin (GA) was extracted with 80% methanol. The hormone was purified with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) column chromatography and quantified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). High performance liquid chromatography analysis identified five endogenous gibberellins GA1, GA3, GA4, GA7 and GA20. Quantification of gibberellin in ng/g (dw) for ungerminated and germinated seeds showed that GA1 was highest in quantity than GA3, GA4, GA7 and GA20 in all the fractions in ungerminated seed while GA3 was highest in quantity in germinated seed than GA1, GA4, GA7 and GA20. This study suggests that hormone extracted from ungerminated and germinated seeds of S. stenocarpa could be a source of phytohormones for research and agricultural purposes.