Browsing by Author "Asitoakor, B.K."
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Item Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from Ghana; confirmation of ethnobotanical uses, and review of biological and toxicological studies on medicinal plants used in Apra Hills Sacred Grove(Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2018-12) Adeniyi, A.; Asase, A.; Ekpe, P.K.; Asitoakor, B.K.; Adu-Gyamfi, A.; Avekor, P.Y.The majority of human populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicines but the practice of traditional medicine is not the same across the world. In this study, the authors investigated traditional medicinal uses of plants by the communities living around Apra Hills Sacred Grove, in southern Ghana. A total of 75 households in three communities, namely, Akrampa, Apra and Loye, living in the study area were interviewed about the plants they used for the management of their common human ailments. Data collection was achieved after obtaining prior-informed consent, and using a semi-structured questionnaire. Botanical voucher specimens of the plants reported as being used were collected following standard ethnobotanical practice. A total of 31 species of plants belonging to16 families were reported as being used in the management and treatment of diseases. Approximately 65% of the plants were collected from degraded areas outside the protected area of the grove whereas 35% were obtained from inside the protected area of grove (wild). The majority (81%) of the plants reported were non-cultivated plants while 19% were semi-cultivated plants, and none were cultivated. Leaves formed a major component (57%) of the plant materials being used and most of the herbal remedies were prepared by boiling and the decoctions drunk. The results of the study have also confirmed the ethnobotanical uses of the plants as well as highlighted “new use reports”. The study has confirmed importance of degraded areas as a source of medicinal plants for indigenous communities and that a high proportion of non-cultivated plants is used for such medicines. Plants in need of further investigations based on a survey of the available literature on their ethnobotanical use, biological activity and toxicological studies have been highlighted.Item Limited effects of shade on physiological performances of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) under elevated temperature(Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2022) Mensah, E.O.; Asare, R.; Vaast, P.; Amoatey, C.A.; Markussen, B.; Owusu, K.; Asitoakor, B.K.; Asitoakor, A.Shade is one of the recommended management solutions to mitigate the effects of heat stress, which is a major challenge for cocoa production globally. Nevertheless, there are limited studies to verify this hypothesis. Here, we evaluate the effects of heat and shade on cocoa physiology using experimental plots with six-month old potted seedlings in a randomized complete block design. Infrared heaters were applied for one month to increase leaf temperatures by an average of 5–7 ºC (heat treatment) compared with no heat (unheated treatments), and shaded plants were placed under a shade net removing 60% of the light compared with no shade (sun treatments). Plants under heat treatments in sun and in shade showed severe reduction in photosynthesis. Measurements of chlo rophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic light response curves indicated that heat caused damages at photo system II and additionally resulted in lower rates of maximal photosynthesis. Temperature optima for photosynthesis were at 31–33 ºC with only small differences between treatments, and as light saturation was reached at low PAR levels of 325 – 380 µmol m− 2 s − 1 in shade and 427 – 521 µmol m− 2 s − 1 in sun, ambient rates of photosynthesis were comparable between sun and shade treatments. Heat treatments resulted in decreased concentrations of chlorophyll and changed pigment composition, reduced specific leaf areas, and plant biomass. While shade may benefit cocoa seedlings, our results indicate that the positive effects may not be sufficient to counteract the negative effects of increased temperatures on cocoa physiology.Item Linkages between tree diversity and carbon stocks in unlogged and logged West African tropical forests(International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 2012-07) Asase, A.; Asitoakor, B.K.; Ekpe, P.K.Understanding the long-term effects of logging disturbances on the linkages between tree diversity and carbon stocks is important for conservation efforts and mitigation of global climate change. This study was carried out in unlogged and 14-29 years post-logged forests in the Bia Conservation Area in southwest Ghana. The study results showed that both large (diameter at breast height or dbh10cm) and smaller (dbh10cm but 5cm) tree diversity increased significantly in logged forest compared with unlogged forest while tree dominance was similar between the two land-use types. Tree species guild composition was significantly different due to the higher proportion of pioneer species of large trees in logged forest and shade bearer species of smaller trees in the unlogged forest. Total mean carbon stock was 322.8 Mg C per ha [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 191.6-443.8] for logged forest and 211.2 Mg C per ha (95% CI: 196.9-228.0) for unlogged forest, although no significant difference was detected (p>0.05). There was a significant interaction (p<0.01) between ecological guilds and land use types in total tree-stored carbon stocks. The results of the study showed that logging has comparatively long-term effects on tree diversity while its effect on carbon stocks might only be short term. The findings from this study underscore the need for more comparative data from other areas in West Africa. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.