3

 This study aimed at assessing the presence of plant pathogenic fungi in soil samples collected from the immediate vicinities of anthill mounds and adjacent areas. Soil samples were collected from anthill mound and their corresponding adjacent soils, from four sites located in Ekosodin and Ugbowo respectively with both locations sited in Benin City, Nigeria. Enumeration, characterization and identification of fungal isolates were done using standard mycological methods.

Groundwater consumption is increasing due to high susceptibility of contamination of other sources. In this study, the consumption, contamination and management of groundwater resource in Isiohor quarters in Edo State were evaluated. A total of 300 questionnaires were randomly administered and laboratory analysis was carried out to determine the physicochemical parameters of the water samples collected. The results obtained showed that 94.7% of the respondents depend on groundwater as against 5.3% that use harvested rainwater.

In Nigeria, the continuous discharge of industrial wastewater with non-complaint quality parameters as stipulated by the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is a daunting challenge. This precarious situation has led to the continuous decline in our freshwater quality, with adverse environmental and health implications. Consequently, monitoring of wastewater discharged from industries is of utmost importance in order to check them and raise awareness, where necessary.

Maize (Zea mays) is an annual monoecious crop and the most important cereal in the world after wheat and rice with regard to cultivation areas and total production. Despite the various improvements in the drying and storage of maize, the growth of moulds is usually a common occurrence in stored grains. The grain is vulnerable to biodeterioration by mycotoxigenic fungi which include Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium.

Standard bacteriological methods and physico-chemical procedures were utilized in the determination of the isolation and enumeration of the culturable heterotrophic bacterial flora, MCPA utilizing bacteria and physico-chemical profile of top soils collected from a variety of edaphic sites under varying anthropogenic usages. The mean heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 3.5 × 104 - 1.15 × 105 cfu/g. No MCPA-utilizing bacterial counts were recorded for all the soils after seven days. The observed differences in the mean counts were not significant (P>0.05).

Industrial wastes like starchy wastes cause environmental pollution especially of waterways however, they can be used for biosynthesis of enzymes (amylases) thereby reducing their pollution impact on the environment. Amylases are starch degrading enzymes that have great importance in biotechnology and starch processing industries. This study aimed at optimizing Penicillium chrysogenum biomass and amylase production in cassava whey media using organic and inorganic nitrogen supplementations. Biomass yield of P.

This study was carried out to assess the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat papaya fruit from selected locations in Benin City. Standard bacteriological techniques using selective/differential media were employed for the isolation, purification and putative identification of selected bacterial isolates present in vended papaya fruits. The susceptibility and resistance of these bacterial isolates to common antibiotics was accessed. The public health implication of the identified isolates were also evaluated using their multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index.

This study was done to determine the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Tectona grandis on egg yolk induced non- alcoholic liver damage. The rats were randomly divided into four groups A, B, C, and D comprising of 8 rats each. Group A served as the control. Group B received egg yolk daily for 30 days, Group C was treated with 300 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of T. grandis alone while Group D was fed egg yolk and was treated with aqueous leaf extract of T. grandis for 30days.

The suitability of banana peel medium for Aspergillus niger Single Cell Protein (SCP) and amylase production was studied. Single Cell Protein and amylase production was investigated using media designated as Supplemented Banana Peel (SBP), Glucose Banana Peel (GBP) and Unsupplemented Banana Peel (UBP). Biomass of A. niger protein content, amylase production and pH were determined using standard techniques in the course of submerged fermentation. Analyses of the various media showed that SBP medium produced the highest yield of A.