Introduction: Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) is an eatable mushroom with an exceptional aroma and savour. It is suited to be cultivated in temperate as well as tropical climate. Aim: This research was aimed at comparing the effects of different substrates on the cultivation of P. ostreatus. Method and Materials: The substrates used in this study were cornhusk, sawdust with wood shavings, banana leaves and a combination of all the substrates. All substrates bags were inoculated with 52.5 mL teaspoon of spawn, autoclaved at 1210C and 1.1 kg/cm2 pressure and incubated under appropriate conditions both at the cropping room and fruiting chambers. The linear mycelia growth and biological efficiency were determined. Result: The time for spawn running varied between 20-60 days and time for harvesting took between 60-85 days. The maximum linear mycelia growth after spawn running, were observed on cornhusk and the longest mycelia growth time was observed on sawdust which took 60 days after spawn running. Maximum yield of P. ostreatus was obtained in cornhusk treatments with an average weight value of 92.1 g. The minimum yield observed on sawdust was 22 g and combination of all was 23 g while the banana leaves treatment gave no yield at all. The biological efficiency obtained on cornhusk was 12.43% and the lowest 2.2% was obtained on sawdust. Conclusion: Among all the substrates, cornhusk was established as the most effective substrate for the production of P. ostreatus as it best supported both the spawn running phase and the yield phase.

Lannea egregia (Anacardiaceae) and Emilia sonchifolia (Asteraceae) are plants used in traditional medicine in southwestern Nigeria. The essential oils from the leaves of L. egregia and E. sonchifolia were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Both essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenoids. The major components in L. egregia leaf essential oil were α-panasinsen (34.90%), (E)-caryophyllene (12.25%), α-copaene (11.39%), and selina-4,11-diene (9.29%), while E. sonchifolia essential oil was rich in γ-himachalene (25.16%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.72%), and γ-gurjunene (8.58%). The essential oils were screened for antimicrobial activity against a panel of bacteria and fungi and displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 156 μg/mL to 625 μg/mL. Based on these results, either L. egregia or E. sonchifolia essential oil may be recommended for exploration as complementary antibacterial or antifungal agents.

Ocimum gratissimum is an essential plant because of its wide food and medicinal usage. Despite its relevance, its morpho-physiological compositions are influenced by several abiotic stresses. Hence, this study examined the effects of water stress on the growth and chlorophyll contents of O. gratissimum. Seedlings of O. gratissimum were grown in twenty-four pots, two per pot and were arranged using a complete randomized design with four groups: Very Wet O. gratissimum (VWO), Moderately Water Stress O. gratissimum (MWSO), Strongly Water Stress O. gratissimum (SWSO) and Adequately Watered O. gratissimum (AWO) as control. Fifty centiliters of water was applied in AWO once daily, VWO twice daily, MSWO once in three days and SWSO once a week. Growth parameters: Stem height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth and petiole length were determined one week after treatment for six weeks. Chlorophyll contents were determined at two weeks intervals after treatment for eight weeks. Descriptive statistics such as mean±standard deviation and one-way Analysis of Variance (p < 0.05) were done using SAS software. Results obtained showed the highest mean stem height (27.50 ± 0.29 cm), number of leaves (37.00 ± 9.0), leaf area (735.7 ± 4.12 cm2), stem girth (0.40 ± 0.00 cm) and petiole length (7.20 ± 0.40 cm) in VWO. Similar results were obtained for chlorophyll (56.70 ± 0.65 mg–1). It could be concluded that regular watering of O. gratissimum could promote growth and increase chlorophyll contents of the plant.

Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) is an essential vegetable crop consumed worldwide. Major limiting factors in its production include fungal foliar diseases. Therefore, this work was aimed at investigating the fungi associated with diseased tomato leaves. Infected leaf samples (3 per plant, 30 plants per farm) of Kerewa variety were randomly collected at the expression of disease symptoms from 3 farms in Alapoti, Ogun State. Samples were cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar for fungal isolation. All isolates were identified using morphological and microscopic features. Pathogenicity test was conducted based on Koch’s postulates. Identified symptoms on the leaf samples were chlorosis, leaf spot and wilt. Fungi isolated from diseased tomato leaves were Aspergillus aculeatus, A. niger, A. tamarii, A. ustus, A. versicolor, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Phialophora melinii, Phomopsis sp. and Trichodema asperellum. Fusarium oxysporum and Phomopsis sp. were found to be the causal organisms of the leaf infections. Due to the effect of the leaf diseases of the overall productivity of tomato, it is important to put in place adequate control measures to mitigate the effect of the diseases.

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