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Indigenous ducks are important biodiversity resources and genetic reservoirs needed for mitigating future challenges of food insecurity even though they are highly prejudiced in some parts of Nigeria. They can compare favourably with chickens to produce meat and egg, can adapt to different climatic conditions since raising them does not require elaborate houses. These ducks are known for their high hatching rate that is higher than any other local poultry species and also have the potential to perform better under improved management systems. Average body weight of 2.7 and 1.6 kg have been reported for drakes and females respectively, egg weight of about 50-60 g have equally been reported. Each duck can lay between 60-80 eggs annually under scavenging conditions, while meat from duck is rich in unsaturated fatty acids which are advantageous for human health. Wide variations in phenotypic traits and also high genetic diversity exist among ducks. Thus the findings of this paper suggest that the genetic makeup of these ducks have not been altered through selective breeding therefore, their genetic improvement and conservation is highly essential towards achieving food security.

The need to improve the nutritive value of feed materials containing high levels of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) such as lignin, cellulose, mannan among others for monogastric feeding has led to interest in solid state fermentation (SSF) in recent years. In this study, the efficacy of SSF to improve nutritive value of mixture of grated cassava roots and palm kernel cake for pig feeding was evaluated using 40 unsexed crossbred (Large White X Nigerian Indigenous) weaner pigs. The pigs were randomly allotted to five treatment groups and fed experimental diets in which the maize in the control diet was partially (50%) or completely replaced with either solid state fermented mixture of grated cassava root and palm kernel cake (FEMCARPP) or a 1:1 blend of cassava meal and palm kernel cake (CSM-PKC). Data was collected weekly on the live-weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, and efficiency of protein utilization. The pigs on dietary FEMCARPP consumed significantly (p

Pollution occurs through natural and anthropogenic activities. Toxic substances generated from different sources may accumulate in the soil and water bodies and potentially alter their physicochemical properties and ecosystem function. Although several environmental remediation methods have traditionally been tried with some success, bioremediation processes have been found eco-friendlier and cost-effective. Plant-assisted bioremediation, a remediation method that utilizes green plants and their associated microflora to eliminate contaminants from the soil or environment has been found commercially applicable because of its cost-effectiveness among other benefits. Phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, and phytovolatilization among others are techniques commonly used to remove heavy metals and inorganic contaminants from polluted environments. Endophytes such as bacterial or fungal organisms that live within or between healthy plant tissues are known to portray either obligate or facultative association along with complex interaction with their host plant, which may be mutualistic and antagonistic in nature. Plant root exudates also contribute to plant–microbe interaction due to the fact that these exudates provide important nutrients and energy for associated soil microorganisms. Chemotaxis influences the movement of bacteria to plant root by the attraction of root exudates that exist between the soil and the rhizosphere. Specifically, the natural ability of most rhizospheric bacteria to tolerate environmental contaminants has lent them to phytoremediation use, especially in removing organic pollutants from food crops. Similarly, the ability of some plant species to be tolerant to specific stress in a time-dependent manner is being exploited in phytoremediation processes. For example, maintenance of high antioxidant levels that are capable of detoxifying toxic reactive oxygen species is associated with a plant’s ability to tolerate environmental stress. Therefore, information on rhizospheric microorganisms and their benefits in phytoremediation processes should continually be updated, especially in tropical environments where cost is a critical factor. Furthermore, screening of plants to identify those with phytoremediation potentials, especially in tropical regions of the world that harbor rich plant biodiversity is imperative for cost-effective bioremediation of polluted environments.