Journal of Natural Sciences Engineering and Technology

ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF SOME BACTERIAL SPECIES AGAINST FUNGI IMPLICATED IN POST-HARVEST DISEASES OF CHILLI PEPPER (CAPSICUM CHINENSE) FRUITS

A.E. OJO , A.R. OLOYEDE, A.O. SOFOLAHAN — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Various fungal species have been implicated in post-harvest diseases of chilli pepper reducing its qualities worldwide. The use of pesticides for the prevention of plant diseases could lead to increased pathogen-resistance and accumulation of the chemical constituents of the pesticides in the environment. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the in-vitro antagonistic potentials of some bacterial species against phytopathogenic fungi implicated in post-harvest diseases of chilli pepper fruits. Fungi were isolated from diseased chilli pepper fruits and tested for their pathogenicity on healthy chilli pepper fruits. The pathogenic fungi were re-isolated, and identified by colonial and morphological characterization methods. The in-vitro antagonistic activity of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Lactobacillus plantarum on phytopathogenic fungal isolates was conducted using dual plate culture method. Eight different fungi were isolated from diseased fruits but only four showed visible disease symptoms like fruit rot, black rot, sunken spots and brown discoloration on the healthy pepper fruits with disease severity ranging from 14.0% to 35.0%.These phytopathogenic fungi were identified as strains of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terrus, Geotrichum candidum and Fusarium species. The results of in-vitro antagonistic activity showed that Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens inhibited the growth of the tested phytopathogens with growth inhibition ranging from 20.0% to 57.1%. Bacillus subtilis generally showed maximum growth inhibition of all pathogens, closely followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens. The study therefore showed that B. subtilis and P. fluorescens could be used as biocontrol agents to reduce postharvest diseases of chilli pepper fruits.

PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF REFRACTORY BRICKS OF ILARO CLAY WITH BLEND OF MELON SHELL AND RICE HUSK ASHES

E. O. SANNI, S. I. KUYE, B.U. ANYANWU — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Refractory bricks (RB) made from clay (kaolin) are widely utilized as linings in high thermal system where intense heat is desired. Melon Shell Ash (MSA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) have the potential to increase and stabilize the SiO₂and Al₂O₃contents in kaolin due to appreciable percentages. This study examined the physico-mechanical properties of refractory bricks produced from Ilaro kaolin reinforced with MSA and RHA. Kaolin deposits from three locations in Ilaro, South West Nigeria were harvested. Taguchi Orthogonal array was adopted for the experimental design batch mix of kaolin, MSA, and RHA which were: 100:0:0 (ED_m0); 75:12.5:12.5 (ED_m1); 50:25:25 (ED_m2); 25:37.5:37.5 (ED_m3); 75:17.5:7.5(ED_m4); 75:7.5:17.5 (ED_m5); 50:35:15 (ED_m6); 50:15:35(ED_m7); 25:50:25 (ED_m8) and 25:25:50 (ED_m9) weight percentage compositions. The samples were then used to produce ten batches of RB. Key physico-mechanical and thermal properties including: Density (D), Porosity (P), Cold Crushing Strength (CCS), Drying Shrinkage (DS), Firing Shrinkage (FS), Thermal Shock Resistance (TSR), and refractoriness (R) on the RB were determined following standard procedures and codes. Results for D, P, and CCS of the RB were: 1.65±0.1 – 1.85±0.2 g/cm³, 28.2±0.1 – 50.4± 0.3%, and 14.45±0.1 – 22.5±0.2 MPa, respectively. Results for DS, FS, TSR, and R of the RB were: 0.87±0.1 – 2.23±0.2%, 0.45±0.1 – 1.83±0.3%, 22±0.1 - 29±0.2 cycles, and 1515±0.1 – 1551±0.3^oC, respectively. Sample ED_m4 with DS, FS, TSR and R values of 0.87%, 0.45%, 29 cycles and 1551^oC respectively, had the best properties. The study found that Ilaro clay enhanced with MSA and RHA at an optimum ratio of 75:17.5:7.5 can be used for production of fireclay bricks for furnace linings.

ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITIES OF Citrullus LANATUS RIND ON PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXIC MALE WISTAR RATS

O. G. AKINTUNDE, I. E. ADESUYI, N. TAMAS, F.C. THOMAS — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Hepatotoxicity is a silent killing disease which may arise due to lifestyle and drug abuse. Paracetamol (PCM) is a common drug that is regularly used with and without physician prescription. An overdose of PCM can cause hepatotoxicity. Citrullus lanatus rind (CLR) is known to possess various beneficial properties such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of CLR on PCM-induced hepatotoxic Wistar rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were distributed into six groups, namely: normal saline (NS), PCM, Silymarin (SLY), 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg CLR, respectively. Rats were pre-treated with SLY, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg CLR for fourteen days prior to a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of PCM on fifteenth day. Antioxidant and inflammatory markers were evaluated in the liver. It was observed that 400 mg/kg CLR-treated rats had significantly increased antioxidant parameters such as catalase and glutathione –s- transferase in rat liver. There were observable hepatic atrophies in liver of rats treated with PCM which were prevented in CLR-treated rats. It was seen in the liver of CLR-treated rats that there was increased level of Cyptochrome p450, but reduced levels of Interleukin -6 and Tumour Necrotic factor- α in CLR-treated rats. It may be concluded that CLR demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects on PCM-induced hepatotoxic rats which may be suggestive of the potential to safeguard against hepatotoxicity.

FERTILIZER TYPE AND ETHYLENE REMEDIATION AFFECT POSTHARVEST QUALITY TRAITS OF STORED TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) FRUITS

A. O. Oduntan, C. O. Owolabi, J. G. Bodunde, E. A. Makinde — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Tomato fruits are highly perishable due to ethylene-mediated ripening. This study evaluated the effects of pre-harvest fertilizer applications of NPK 15-15-15, poultry manure, NPK-poultry manure composite, and unfertilized control with postharvest ethylene remediation treatments of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 µL/L 1-MCP; 5% and 10% KMnO₄; 10 g and 20 g zeolite; and open-shelf storage, on some tomato quality traits. Fruits harvested at the breaker stage, across fertilizer treatments, subjected to the varying ethylene remediation agents, were assessed for firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, lycopene and vitamin C, using a 4 × 8 factorial laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. NPK 15-15-15 treatment produced significantly firmer fruits at harvest. Among remediation treatments, 0.3–0.5 µL/L 1-MCP and 5% KMnO₄ most effectively preserved firmness, titratable acidity and vitamin C during storage. Lycopene content was highest in open-shelf fruits and those treated with zeolite or 10% KMnO₄, though these fruits exhibited concurrent softening. Open-shelf storage consistently resulted in inferior quality across all parameters. NPK fertilizer application combined with 1-MCP or 5% KMnO₄ yielded optimal overall quality retention. The study concluded that integrating NPK fertilizer application with appropriate ethylene remediation, particularly 1-MCP or KMnO₄, synergistically enhances postharvest quality and shelf life of tomato fruits.

AUTOMATED ASSESSMENT OF TOMATO RIPENESS: A YOLOv8 APPROACH FOR PRECISION

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are important fruits globally and accurately assessing their ripeness is essential for optimizing harvesting processes and reducing food waste. Traditional farmers mostly depend on manual inspections, which are labour-intensive and prone to human error. This research employed the You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) algorithm to enhance detection accuracy and efficiency across various environmental conditions. A dataset of 8,579 images, consisting of both ripe and unripe tomatoes were curated, encompassing diverse lighting scenarios and backgrounds. Data augmentation and annotation were used to increase the model’s robustness. The developed model attained a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.955 at an Intersection over Union (IoU) threshold of 0.5, demonstrating precision and recall rates of 92% and 94% for both ripe and unripe tomatoes, respectively. YOLOv8 performed well in image processing and classification, minimizing false positives and negatives, at a 0.7 confidence threshold with an F1-score of 0.90. Implementation of YOLOv8 enhanced detection capabilities and also aligned with the principles of precision agriculture, facilitating data-driven decision-making for farmers. This research has contributed to the body of knowledge on automated fruit classification systems, offering method that can be adapted for other agricultural products. By establishing a reliable framework for detecting ripe and unripe tomatoes, the study emphasized the potential of deep learning to revolutionize agricultural methods, thereby fostering sustainability and improving food security in a progressively competitive international marketplace.

PREVALENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE UROPATHOGENIC Escherichia coli PRODUCING EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA-LACTAMASE IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The global prevalence and general spread of Uropathogens producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) has remained a critical health concern globally. The rise in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant uropathogenic bacteria globally has also become a major health concern, due to the increasing mortality rate. However, one of the pathogens which has been classified as a priority pathogen by World Health Organisation is ESBL-producing Escherichia coli. This study was carried out to assess antibiotic resistance and ESBL production among E. coli recovered from the archive of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. From a total of 330 isolates retrieved from the archive of the hospital, 129 isolates were presumptively identified as E. coli by standard phenotypic methods and confirmed by the use of Oxoid 12E Microbact^TM 2009 Gram-negative identification system. Majority of these isolates (67.4%) were Congo red positive and considered pathogenic. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, and tetracycline while significant percentage (95.5%) was resistant against gentamicin. 17.1% of the isolates demonstrated multidrug resistant phenotype with multiple antibiotic resistance indices range from 0.46 to 0.62. A mid-level rate (48%) of ESBL production was observed following double-disc synergy test. This study revealed high level of antibiotic resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and gentamicin with mid-level ESBL production, hence calling for routine antibiotic surveillance.

EVALUATION OF HYDRO PRIMING DURATION ON GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS) GENOTYPES

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Seed priming is a technique used to enhance seed germination and vigour. However, the effectiveness varies depending on priming duration and genetic background of seed. This study investigated how hydro priming duration influences germination and early seedling development in three maize genotypes. The experiment was a 5 x 3 factorial arrangement laid out in a completely randomised design with three replications, comprising five hydropriming durations (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours) and three maize genotypes (EWH-107, PVAEH-11, and EYQH-55). Data were collected on germination parameters of germination percentage; germination index and vegetative traits of plant height, stem girth, leaf area, root length, number of leaves and seedling fresh weight. Hydro priming had no significant effect on germination percentage and germination index. Priming for 12 and 48 hours produced longer radicle length compared to unprimed seeds. However, unprimed seeds significantly outperformed primed seeds across all vegetative parameters. Genotypic variation was observed among maize genotypes, with PVAEH-11 recording the tallest plants, but EWH-107 had longer root length and higher seedling weight. EYQH-55 and PVAEH-11 had greater germination rates than EWH-107. Positive correlations were found among vegetative characteristics. Principal component analysis identified the first three principal components accounted for 82% of the total variation. This study established that hydro priming enhanced specific germination traits, particularly radicle length. However, this effect did not reflect on vegetative development of maize. The significant genotypic impact on all assessed parameters indicates that genetic enhancement measures might be more effective than hydro priming in enhancing overall seedling vigour in maize. Genetic improvement of maize genotypes is recommended over hydro priming for enhancing early seedling vigour.

AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF ANNONA MURICATA LEAF EXTRACT ON POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME IN FEMALE MICE

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo-ovulation, and polycystic ovaries. The disorder is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Annona muricata (Soursop) leaf extract on letrozole-induced PCOS in female mice, focusing on ovarian weight, histopathology and metabolic parameters. Twelve pubertal mice were assigned to test and control groups, with the test groups receiving letrozole (2.5 mg/kg, per os) and Annona muricata leaf extract (AMLE) 125 & 250 mg/kg by oral gavage; control groups received letrozole (2.5 mg/kg, per os) only; all were given standard feed and water ad libitum. Fasting blood glucose was measured using a glucometer, while body, ovarian and parametrial fat weights were measured using a sensitive balance. AMLE did not significantly affect ovarian weight or relative body weight gain. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the test group compared to controls, suggesting a potential discrepancy in the anti-diabetic properties. Mild follicular degeneration in the LETAM group was observed, suggesting partial preservation of ovarian architecture and a potential protective effect of the extract. Annona muricata leaf extract may offer therapeutic benefits in mitigating ovarian damage associated with PCOS but its impact on glucose metabolism requires further investigation. There is the need for deeper exploration into dosage, treatment duration and metabolic interactions to fully understand the clinical potentials of the extract.

Guide to Author

E.A. Makinde — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Table of Content

E.A. MAKINDE — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100