Browsing by Author "Enu-Kwesi, L."
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Item Genetic diversity in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) germplasm collection from Ghana(Journal of Crop Improvement, 2007-10) Opoku, S.Y.; Bhattacharjee, R.; Kolesnikova-Allen, M.; Motamayor, J.C.; Schnell, R.; Ingelbrecht, I.; Enu-Kwesi, L.; Adu-Ampomah, Y.Theobroma cacao L. with its center of diversity in Central and South America was first introduced to West Africa in the mid-19th century and today the region produces 70% of the world's cocoa. Several distinct cocoa types have been introduced, cultivated, and intercrossed across the region. Also, bi-parental crosses involving selections from various introductions have been planted on a large scale. Consequently, a wide range of genetic diversity that could be exploited for crop improvement is expected. The present study has been, therefore, undertaken to assess the degree and distribution of genetic diversity present in cocoa germplasm collections from the Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG), seed gardens and materials from farmers' plantations in Ghana, using molecular markers. Two hundred and thirty-five trees representing all the cocoa-growing regions of Ghana were sampled in situ from farmers' fields and grouped as farmers' collection. Another set of 104 trees was collected from breeders' seed gardens, called breeders' collection. Thirty-eight parental clones from the CRIG's collection, used in producing the bi-parental crosses, comprised the third category, called parental clones. The collections were screened with the set of 17 mapped microsatellite markers. Average gene diversity was high in all populations, with mean observed heterozygosity of 0.738. Although the highest was recorded in accessions from breeders' and parental collections, genetic diversity in the farmers' collection was comparable with them. Despite the low level of differentiation [Fst = 0.076] found across all the three groups, sufficient genetic differences existed between them, separating breeders' collection from farmers' collection. The study also revealed the pattern of adoption of available planting materials by farmers on their fields. Copyright © by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.Item Isolation and identification of some plant growth promoting substances in compost and co-compost(International Journal of Virology, 2008) Miezah, K.; Ofosu-Anim, J.; Budu, G.K.O.; Enu-Kwesi, L.; Cofie, O.In this study, plant growth hormones in compost or co-compost prepared from human excreta and/or municipal solid waste were extracted and identified. Water (deionized) or 80% methanol (chilled) extracts were prepared from the composts for the isolation and identification of plant growth substances. The methanolic extracts of plant growth hormones fraction was further partitioned into cytokinin (fraction) using ethyl acetate and n-butanol; auxins (fraction) using diethyl ether and gibberellins (fraction) using sodium hydrogen carbonate and n-butanol. Five different concentrations of standard plant growth hormones; Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP), Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) were prepared and used in a bioassay test to compare the effects and concentration of the extracted plant growth hormones from the compost and co-compost. The presence of some plant growth hormones in the extracted samples from compost or co-compost was confirmed using the relative fluidity, (Rf) values of the co-chromatography using a standard hormone and the extracted plant growth hormones. The results indicated the presence of plant growth substances such as IAA, GA3 and cytokinins. In co-compost, the concentration of hormone were found to be 68.3 to 345.1 mg kg-1, 61.9 to 185.8 mg kg-1 and 250.4 to 312.7 mg kg-1 for auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively. Whereas in compost 42.0 to 248.8 mg kg-1, 33.1 to 198.3 mg kg-1 and 10.1 to 200.2 mg kg-1 of auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, respectively were found. © 2008 Academic Journals Inc.Item Phytoremediation potential of indigenous ghanaian grass and grass-like species grown on used motor oil contaminated soils(Journal of Ecology and Environment, 2014-05) Akutam, A.; Pappoe, A.N.M.; Armah, F.A.; Enu-Kwesi, L.This study investigated the ability of Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake (Poaceae), Cyperus ligularis L. (Cyperaceae), Commelina erecta L. (Commelinaceae), Mariscus umbellatus (Rottb.) Vahl (Cyperaceae), Fimbistylis miliacea L. (Cyperaceae) and Torulinium odoratum L. (Cyperaceae) to clean up various levels of used motor oil (UMO) contaminated soils. The plants were grown in 2 kg garden soils treated to 0%, 1%, 5% and 10% levels of UMO contamination. The plant growth parameters, chlorophyll contents and dry weight of test plants were measured. The phytoremediation ability of these test plants were assessed by measuring the uptake of hydrocarbons in terms of total hydrocarbon content (THC) as well as their percentage degradation values. There was significant (P < 0.05) reduction in leaf chlorophyll contents and dry weights of the test plant species planted in UMO contaminated soils. THC as well as the percentage uptake (or degradation) of hydrocarbons were both lowest in C. ligularis but highest in T. odoratum in all cases. The phytoremediation potential of test plants was highest in soils contaminated with 5% UMO. Based on the results of this study, all test plants with the exception of C. ligularis were potentially capable of undertaking phytoremediation. However, B. bladhii and T. odoratum proved most effective in the uptake and degradation of UMO. © 2014 The Ecological Society of Korea. All rights are reserved.