Department of Nuclear Agriculture and Radiation Processing

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    Mutagenesis Of Cowpea for Early Maturity and Higher Yield
    (University of Ghana, 2020-10) Dorvlo, I.K
    ABSTRACT Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is an important grain legume that is widely grown in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for food and feed. Its grain is composed of high levels of protein, carbohydrate, micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients which are essential for human nutrition. In Ghana, cowpea productivity is considerably low due to frequent terminal drought as a result of climatic changes. Therefore, breeding improved varieties by incorporating “farmer-preferred” traits remains an overriding consideration to boost the productivity of cowpea in Ghana. The main objective of this study was to develop early maturing and high seed yielding cowpea varieties through mutation induction using gamma irradiation. Before the commencement of the mutagenesis, it is important to determine the right dose of gamma radiation for causing genetic variability in the desired agro-economic trait. Therefore, seeds of a farmer-preferred cowpea variety ‘Videza’ (obtained from a farmer in Akatsi, Volta region of Ghana) were gamma irradiated using twelve irradiation doses (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 and1100 Gy) at GAEC. Using a linear regression model, the LD50 value of the cowpea variety ‘Videza’ was calculated as 240.51Gy. A dose-dependent reduction was observed in seed germinastion, seedling survival and plant height. For mutation induction, 2000 seeds of cowpea variety ‘Videza’ were acutely irradiated at 230 Gy, at the Radiation Technology Centre (RTC) of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Accra, Ghana, using a Cobalt 60 source, delivering at a dose rate of 300 Gy/hr. Normal looking M1 plants with the desired traits (early maturity and high seed yield) were advanced to M2 generation and further advanced to M3 generation. The planting was linear and serpentine at a seeding rate of one seed per hill using 75cm x 40 cm. Control seeds were sown in three rows after every ten rows of the irradiated seeds separated by a spacing of 1.50m. Compared to the Control (Videza), genetic variability was recorded among plants in both M2 and M3 generation. The extent of genetic variability for the number of days to 50% flowering, number of days to 90% maturity, number of pod-bearing branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g) were evaluated in M2 and M3 generations. The number of days to 50% flowering and 90% maturity reduced in putative mutants in both M2 and M3 generations compared to the parental line (Control). The number of days to 50% flowering and days to 90% maturity, reduced further in the M3 generation as compared to M2. Increments in 100-seed weight per plant (g) and seed yield per plant (g) were observed among the putative mutants in M3 generation compared to the parental line (Control). The following twelve putative mutant lines P1N06#20, P1N06#9, P1N08#13, P1N08#17, P2N09#12, P4N03#2, P4N14#7, P5N05#10, P5N07#14 and P6N10#19 were outstanding in the M3 generation, exhibiting both early maturity as well as high seed yield. The twelve putative mutant lines are recommended for yield trials (preliminary and advanced), alongside the parental line (Videza) as well as a local check (as Controls), in farmer-participatory multilocational trials (including the Akatsi District of the Volta Region of Ghana) towards identifying superior lines for release as new variety or varieties.
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    Radiation Preservation of Black Velvet Tamarind (Dialium guineense Wild.)
    (University of Ghana, 2010-12) Ofosu, D.O.
    The economic distribution and marketing of the lesser known fruit Dialium guineense Wild in Ghana has been studied using a structured questionnaire and the rapid appraisal system. The seasonality of the fruit (from January to May) makes it abundant in the peak season and rare or not all for the best part of the year. Some fruits also go to waste in the field owing to underexploitation. This thesis provides information on the resident fungi, mycological quality, sorption isotherm, and the e ffect 0 f gamma irrad iation and packaging on the phys ico-chem ical properties of the fruit and the sensory evaluation of the pulp by a taste panel with the view to showing the economical and nutritional potential of the fruit. The resident fungi and mycological quality were assessed by the conventional decimal serial dilution technique and plating on three media (PDA, DG 18 and OGYE). Sorption isotherms at 29±J -c were determined under simulated Environmental Relative Humidity (20, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95%) provided by glycerol: water mixtures; physico-chemical properties were assessed by the method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Descriptive and preference sensory eval uation were adrn inistered using prescribed international methods on a hedonic scale. The tamarind markets are in the southern sector of the country, namely Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and Volta Regions with the hub at Ho, Abor and Akatsi in the Volta Region. The local names of the fruit varied from one region to another. The fruit was purchased mostly by adult females (48.25%) followed by school children (37.06%) and adult males (14.68%). The produce is marketed predominantly in polypropylene sacks (81.81 %) with jute sack taking only 3.63% of the packaging. The sizes of the fruit as expected were variable. The pulp did not lose moisture at 75% ERH but lost moisture to the surrounding at ERI-I's 20, 55, and 65% and the same was true for the whole (intact) fruit. The resident fungi in the pulp belonged to 15 fungal species and 7 genera (Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Neurospora and Rhodotorulai. The fungal flora was predominated by Aspergillus (A. alutaceus, A. candidus, /I. flavus, A. fum igat us, A. niger, A. sulphureus, A. us/us) followed by Penicillium (P. digitatum, P. expansum) all of which are being recorded for the first time in the fruit of D. guineense. The fruits were also infested with an insect, Ephestia cautella, of economic importance. There was a commensurate drastic reduction in the mould count in the fruit as the irradiation dose increased from 0 to IOkGy. The resident fungi were not however completely eliminated with the variable residual species appearing after 3 months storage in the packaging materials (polypropylene, polyethylene and jute). The presence and isolation of mycotoxinproducing species A. flavus (Aflatoxins), A. alutaceus (Ochratoxins), P. expansum, P. digitatum (Patulin), F verticil/oides (fumonisin) leave much to be desired. Packaging did not significantly influence pH and ash content; but influenced total titratable acidity with increasing dose and storage time. The crude fat content decreased with prolonged storage and increasing dose of gamma irradiation while there was no interaction between dose applied, packaging material and storage time. The panelists did not find significant (P>0.05) difference in the parameters tested for acceptance (colour, sweetness, acidity and tenderness) and they found no differences in the packaging material although they slightly preferred produce kept in jute sacks. The practical implications of these findings are discussed in the light of future promotion and preservation of the pulp for industrial use after gamma irradiation.
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    Effect Of Npk Fertiliser On Growth, Flowering And Yield Of Fonio (Digitaria Exilis) In A Coastal Agro-Ecological Environment Of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2013-07) Amekli, Y.
    Fonio (Digitaria spp) is a neglected and underutilised crop traditionally grown in the Sahelian savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana for its grain which is rich in crude protein, fibre and has medicinal properties. Decline in production of the crop is attributed to poor agronomic and yield characteristics and changing agro-climatic conditions as a result of global warming which has rendered traditional growing areas too dry to support cultivation of the crop. There is a need to explore the possibility of growing the crop in new agro-ecologies to sustain the production. The study was therefore conducted in Kwabenya-Atomic area which is located in the coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana, to evaluate the adaptability of three fonio landraces (Yadema, Nomber and Nvoni) to the coastal zone, their growth and response to NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser treatment, apparent fertiliser nitrogen recovery (AFNR) as well as presence of basic elements, in the grains. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 during the major cropping season, using three fonio landraces grown at a planting distance of 0.05 m 0.45 m. The experiment design used was the split plot in three replicates. Plants were sampled every two weeks throughout the growing season. Grain yield (GY) and its associated apparent fertiliser nitrogen recovery were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) among the fonio landraces during the cropping season with the landrace Nvoni producing the highest grain yield of 964 kg ha−1 at NPK fertiliser rate of 60 kg ha−1 and with a AFNR of 33.1%. The study also established a positive correlation between biomass accumulation and grain yield. The efficiency of grain production per unit of fertiliser nitrogen (FN) increased, but at a diminishing rate with each additional unit of FN. Additionally, ten essential mineral elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, I, Cl, Cu, Al, Mn and V) were detected among the grain of the three fonio landrace using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA).
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    Effect Of Irradiation On The Shelf Life And Nutritional Quality Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicon L.) Powder
    (University of Ghana, 2013-07) Atuobi-Yeboah, A.A.
    Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) is a major horticultural crop with an estimated global production of over 153 million metric tons. It is the most important fruit vegetable and the second most widely cultivated crop in the world after potato, with a total production of about 141 million tons. In 2009, the average total yield in Ghana was 7.5 Mt ha-1 compared to the achievable yield of 15.0 Mt ha-1. The tomato industry in Ghana for the past decade has been bedevilled by a myriad of problems of which post-harvest losses range between 30% and 70% in the major seasons of production, hence a study was conducted into the preservation of S. lycopersicon L. through drying and packaging to reduce post-harvest losses. Two drying methods comprising of solar and freeze drying were employed for three varieties of tomato which are cultivated locally. The methods were compared to determine the more efficient for the three varieties used in the study and the impact of drying and radiation on some physico-chemical properties, microbial load as well as shelf-life of the samples. Evaluation of the packaging material for the dried samples was also carried out. The samples were exposed to gamma irradiation at 0 kGy, 1 kGy, 2 kGy and 3 kGy. The parameters determined included moisture content, pH, titratable acidity; total soluble solids total carotenoids, lycopene, lutein and beta carotene. Microbial analysis carried out included total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count, total coliform count and moulds and yeasts using standard methods. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Storage had significant effect (p<0.05) on the pH, TSS, TTA, colour and microbial load of the various varieties used. Irradiation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on pH, colour, microbial quality, lycopene content, beta carotene, and total carotenoid content of the varieties used; however irradiation had no significant (p>0.05) effect on moisture content, total soluble solids and microbial quality of the varieties used. Comparing powders obtained from freeze dried and solar dried tomatoes (Akoma), solar drying emerged as a more efficient method of drying. In Akoma, significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in all the parameters due to the difference in drying methods. Gamma irradiation did not affect (p>0.05) the moisture content, total soluble solids, of the Akoma variety irrespective of the drying method used. However, gamma irradiation had a significant effect (p<0.05) effect on pH, colour, total aerobic mesophilic counts, total coliforms; moulds and yeast, total carotenoid, lutein and beta carotene. Storage had significant (p<0.05) effect on the colour, total carotenoid content, and lycopene of the powders from the two drying methods. The packaging material used was suitable for the solar dried powder but not the freeze dried powder. Varietal differences (p<0.05) existed between the tomatoes in terms of moisture content, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, colour, total aerobic mesophilic counts, total coliform count and total moulds and yeast counts.
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    Propagation And Molecular Characterisation Of Rubber Tree (Hevea Brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) In Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2015-07) Antwi-Wiredu, A.
    The study was aimed at the propagation and molecular characterisation of some introduced clones of Hevea brasiliensis in Ghana. Propagation of H. brasiliensis by stem cuttings and in vitro techniques was used to study alternative procedures for mass production of rubber planting materials. Brown and green stem cuttings of Clone I and Clone II were soaked for 6 hours in 0.0-22.5g/L NAA followed by propagation in a nursery bag filled with nutrient-rich soil. Only the brown stem cuttings of H. brasiliensis survived. The % survival, length of shoots, number of roots as well as length of roots of Clone II was significantly (P<0.05) higher than Clone I. Stem cuttings treated with 15.0g/L NAA significantly (P<0.05) developed higher shoots (83.33%), number of roots (6.167), length of shoots (15.38cm) and length of roots (6.00cm) than the remaining treatments. There was significant (P<0.05) effects of NAA and Clone II in sprouting and rooting growth of the brown stem cuttings. The addition of 5.0mg/L kinetin in the MS culture medium significantly (P<0.05) enhanced higher shoot development (84.00%), number of shoots (3.60) and leaves (23.40) of the shoot-tip explants compared to other treatments. In nodal explants cultured on a medium without kinetin developed higher shoots (94.00%), height of shoot (4.80cm), number of leaves (19.20), number of shoots (6.00) and number of roots (7.00) than those with kinetin treatments. However, 7.5mg/L kinetin of the nodal culture also performed significantly after the controls. A dendrogram derived from the UPGMA distinguished the rubber clones from four areas of Ghana into two clusters. The five SSR markers showed high degree of relatedness among the rubber clones which suggested high genetic similarity (IRCA317-5, IRCA41-2, IRCA331-6, IRCA230-4, IRCA109-3, B8-23) and some degree of diversity/variation (K2-18, IRCA840-7, PB217-8, PB217-10, IRCA317-16) among the clones. Thus, clones of interest could be selected for future breeding and propagation programmes. Successful in vivo and in vitro propagation as well as molecular characterisation (genetic similarity and diversity) of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in Ghana were achieved.
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    Intra-Specific Hybridisation and Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Lines of Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.)
    (University Of Ghana, 2015-03) Kwofie, J.
    Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is an important multi-purpose crop in Ghana and across West Africa, used as a source of food as well as raw material for medicinal and industrial applications. However, due to limited research efforts to gather relevant information on breeding behaviour and inheritance of desirable traits of existing cultivars to enhance yield and nutritional contents, economic potential of the crop has not been fully exploited. The present study was therefore initiated with a broad objective of assessing breeding behaviour and nature of inheritance of selected qualitative and quantitative traits and also variability with respect to agro-morphological characteristics, as well as nutritional composition of leaves and calyces, among 20 local accessions of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.); comprising 6 accessions of H. sabdariffa var altissima and 14 accessions of H. sabdariffa var sabdariffa. The accessions were collected from three major production regions of Ghana (Northern, Volta and Western). The investigations were carried out at the research fields and laboratories of Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) from April 2013 to November 2014. All six accessions of var altissima were able to hybridize with one another in both direct and reciprocal cross combinations with high degree of crossability success (30 % to 80 %). On the other hand, cross compatibility among the 14 accessions of var sabdariffa was direction-dependent, and crossability success was low (0.00 % to 43.33 %), as some parents could only be used as males or females. Parental lines A3 and A11 emerged as most compatible male and female respectively. Crossability success was relatively high during early hours of the day but decreased continuously in subsequent hours. Fourteen parental accessions and 25 F1 progenies of var sabdariffa evaluated for 23 agro-morphological traits exhibited significant variations in all quantitative traits studied. Clustering pattern based on both qualitative and quantitative traits largely reflected colour and size of calyx. Leaf and calyx traits showed strongest positive association among pairs of quantitative traits investigated. Accessions D2, D3, D4 and D6 exhibited highest general combining ability for major yield traits; days to first flowering, number of fruits per plant, plant height and stem basal diameter, while D2 x D5, D5 x D2, D2 x D4, D6 x D5, D3 x D6 and D6 x D4 emerged as most promising in specific cross combinations following a diallele experiment. Concentrations of the various nutrients were generally higher in calyces compared to the leaves. Except for total titrable acid and vitamin C contents, F1 offspring performed better on all other parameters than their parental accessions and control varieties. Calyces of A11 x A1 and A11 x A13 contained highest protein, ash and pH contents and relatively low moisture as well as highest concentration of K (3284.04±0.01 mg/100 g), Fe (19.45±0.02 mg/100 g) and Ca (1360.70±1.0 mg/100 g), while A4 x A1 recorded highest concentrations of Mg (4.30±0.88 mg/100 g). With regards to the leaf samples, A7 x A12 produced highest values for Ca (1440.20±1.00 mg/100 g) and Fe (15.59±0.01 mg/100 g), while A11 x A2 gave highest Mg (2.72±0.13 mg/100 g) and Na (32.93±1.15 mg/100 g) contents. Similarly leaves of A2 gave highest concentration of K (1641.08±0.01 mg/100 g). These results demonstrate possibility of producing superior hybrids of roselle through artificial cross-pollination. Key recommendations based on these findings include: i) ascertaining specific barriers to crossability between accessions of H. sabdariffa var sabdariffa and H. sabdariffa var altissima to aid transfer of useful traits between them. ii) use of molecular markers to confirm results of morphological characterisation and also to better understand inheritance of qualitative traits. iii) composite breeding to incorporate as many desirable traits as possible into one or two improved (standard) variety/varieties.
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    Characterization of Yellow-, Red-, and Purple- Kernel Maize (Zea Mays L.) Accessions in Ghana
    (University Of Ghana, 2013-07) Ansah, G
    Twenty yellow-, red- and purple-kernel maize accessions were collected from three regions in Ghana for the study. The objectives were to characterize the yellow-, red- and purple-kernel maize accessions in Ghana using phenotypic traits in order to determine their identity, using molecular traits for confirmation of their identity and to determine the presence of the opaque -2 gene and -carotene content of the grains as a way of assessing nutritional quality. A replicated field experiment was conducted to evaluate and characterize the accessions based on 16 quantitative and eleven qualitative traits. The same accessions were characterized based on 16 SSR markers. Variability in -carotene content was determined by HPLC while presence of opaque 2-gene was determined by a light box. The results revealed that accessions GH4055 and GH4863 are extra early maturing and therefore can be very useful for urban farmers producing fresh maize and for cultivation in the coastal savanna ecological zone. However, they produce smaller cobs (Cob weight = 58.24g) as compared to other accessions. Significant variability in morphological traits was observed among the accessions with cob weight, number of kernels per row, plant height and 1000 seed weight having coefficient of variation of 42.7544, 20.5828, 11.4634, 13.0634 and 26.76 respectively. Few traits contributed to the variations observed as revealed by the principal components analysis and these include days to 50% anthesis, days to 50 % leaf senescence, plant height and cob weight. A dendrogram generated from morphological traits clustered the accessions based on kernel colour, physical structure of the plant and geographical location. Two duplicates were identified among the accessions and widest genetic distance was observed between NYR1 and GH4055. Strong correlation exist between most of the morphological traits measured (r = 0.9103) but negative correlation was observed between most important yield parameters and number of row per cob. Accession NYR1 showed promise in terms of yield (1000 seed weight = 281 g) as well as high carotenoid (4.7895 μg/g) and -carotene content (0.8507 μg/g) and therefore can be very useful in future breeding programmes. Population genetic analysis shows that the accession bear close resemblance to each other with high Nei's genetic identity coefficient 0.9587 and 0.9020 between accessions from Northern and Eastern region and Northern and Greater Accra region respectively with short genetic distances and this is confirmed by the high outcrossing rate (0.6642) and gene flow (0.7387) among the populations and the high heterozygosity (0.4023). A dendrogram generated by SSR markers revealed that the accessions are separate entries with no duplications. Significant variations were found in the -carotene and carotenoid contents of the accession. Accession DYF had the highest carotenoid and -carotene concentrations of 12.0327 and 2.0313 respectively. No significant correlation was observed between kernel colour and -carotene content. Generally the amount of -carotene increased with increasing carotenoid content but this is not always the case as few exceptions may be found as revealed by the experiment. None of the accessions contained the opaque-2 gene and therefore did not fit the description of Quality Protein Maize. It is recommended that accession DYF had the highest carotenoid and -carotene concentrations. The accession also performed well in various yield parameters and therefore can be useful in the fresh maize market as well as food for infants and accessions GH4055 and GH4863 are extra early maturing and can be useful for cultivation in the coastal savanna ecological zone and for minor season cropping in the forest and forest savanna transitional zones. Information presented may be useful to the breeder, the farmer and the consumer.