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Correlations were observed between Balanites aegyptiaca fruit morphology and kernel oil yield and quality, thus suggesting the possibility of selecting trees with smaller fruits and lower pulp/seed ratio for edible oil production. Phenotypic variations in fruit morphology (length, diameter, total fruit weight, anatomical part weight percentages) and kernel chemical traits (gross composition, amino acid content, fatty acid composition of kernel oil) were assessed in a natural population of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. grown in the South-East of Sudan, with the main aim of highlighting the potential of B. aegyptiaca kernel for edible oil production. Mature fruits were randomly collected from eight trees, representative of eight distinct categories for shape (length/diameter ratio) and size (weight). Significant tree-to-tree differences in fruit morphology and kernel composition have been registered. The smallest fruits were characterised by the highest kernel contribution to the whole fruit weight, while the largest fruits showed the smallest seeds. The highest oleic/linoleic acid ratio in kernel oil fatty acids was found in fruits characterized by the lowest pulp percentage; the maximum oil yield (highest kernel percentage and kernel oil percentage) was associated to the highest levels of polyphenolic antioxidants and the highest radical scavenging activity of kernel tissues. Experimental data suggested the possibility of selecting trees with large fruits and high pulp/seed ratio, suitable for direct consumption as human food, and trees with smaller fruits and lower pulp/seed ratio for oil production.

The study aimed to investigate the effect of two plant growth regulators, namely ethephon (Eth) and methyl jasmonate (Ja-Me) at different concentrations and combinations (1% Eth; 1% Ja-Me; 5% Ja-Me; 1% Eth+1% Ja-Me; and 1% Eth+5% Ja-Me) on physicochemical properties of Acacia seyal var. seyal gums. The study covered two areas within the Sudanese “gum belt” (Shambat and Kenana), thus exemplifying the potentials and problems of gum Arabic production under clay soil in the dryland of Sudan. The results indicated that pedoclimatic conditions (locations) significantly affected gum characteristics; treatments, too, affected physicochemical properties of gum, but in an unpredictable way and with different intensities in the two study areas. Gums obtained by the application of growth regulators, complied with international laws and standards (European Council; Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; United States Pharmacopeia).

Acacia species are considered as the most widely distributed species in Sudan. Their uses concentrate in charcoal, firewood and fuel wood. Despite the richness of Sudan in most of the basic factors required to establish pulp and paper industry, it is still dependent on imports to satisfy its needs of pulp and paper. There is an urgent need to assess the suitability of the local fibrous raw materials for pulp and paper making. The present study was carried out to assess the suitability of five Acacia species wood for pulp and paper making. The wood materials were collected from the low rainfall woodland savannah in Sudan. Fibers dimensions and their derived values were investigated and used to consider the suitability of the selected species for pulp and paper making. The results indicate the suitability of the studied species for pulp and paper making. However, mixing their wood with those of soft-wood is suggested to improve their properties.

In Sudan (Khartoum state), the material was collected during the winter and summer seasons. The aim of the study to show the steroid histochemical of the testis of adult Sudanese chicken ( Gallus domesticus ) and duck ( Anas platyrhynchos ). The adult chicken and duck testes were two bean-shaped, large and soft, the left testes wasususally higher in position and larger in size than the right one. The histochemical localization of steroid enzymes was studied in the testis of adult chicken and duck. Δ 5 -3&beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17&beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were demonstrated solely in the interstitial tissue and the seminiferous tubules and no qualitative difference was noticed between winter and summar material.

Decoctions and macerations of the stem bark and wood of Terminalia brownii Fresen. are used in traditional medicine for fungal infections and as fungicides on field crops and in traditional granaries in Sudan. In addition, T. brownii water extracts are commonly used as sprays for protecting wooden houses and furniture. Therefore, using agar disc diffusion and macrodilution methods, eight extracts of various polarities from the stem wood and bark were screened for their growth-inhibitory effects against filamentous fungi commonly causing fruit, vegetable, grain and wood decay, as well as infections in the immunocompromised host. Ethyl acetate extracts of the stem wood and bark gave the best antifungal activities, with MIC values of 250 µg/mL against Nattrassia mangiferae and Fusarium verticillioides, and 500 µg/mL against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Aqueous extracts gave almost as potent effects as the ethyl acetate extracts against the Aspergillus and Fusarium strains, and were slightly more active than the ethyl acetate extracts against Nattrassiamangiferae. Thin layer chromatography, RP-HPLC-DAD and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were employed to identify the chemical constituents in the ethyl acetate fractions of the stem bark and wood. The stem bark and wood were found to have a similar qualitative composition of polyphenols and triterpenoids, but differed quantitatively from each other. The stilbene derivatives, cis- (3) and trans- resveratrol-3-O-β-galloylglucoside (4), were identified for the first time in T. brownii. Moreover, methyl-(S)-flavogallonate (5), quercetin-7-β-O-di-glucoside (8), quercetin-7-O-galloyl-glucoside (10), naringenin-4'-methoxy-7-pyranoside (7), 5,6-dihydroxy-3',4',7-tri-methoxy flavone (12), gallagic acid dilactone (terminalin) (6), a corilagin derivative (9) and two oleanane type triterpenoids (1) and (2) were characterized. The flavonoids, a corilagin derivative and terminalin, have not been identified before in T. brownii. We reported earlier on the occurrence of methyl-S-flavogallonate and its isomer in the roots of T. brownii, but this is the first report on their occurrence in the stem wood as well. Our results justify the traditional uses of macerations and decoctions of T. brownii stem wood and bark for crop and wood protection and demonstrate that standardized extracts could have uses for the eco-friendly control of plant pathogenic fungi in African agroforestry systems. Likewise, our results justify the traditional uses of these preparations for the treatment of skin infections caused by filamentous fungi.

Decoctions and macerations of the stem bark and wood of Terminalia brownii Fresen. are used in traditional medicine for fungal infections and as fungicides on field crops and in traditional granaries in Sudan. In addition, T. brownii water extracts are commonly used as sprays for protecting wooden houses and furniture. Therefore, using agar disc diffusion and macrodilution methods, eight extracts of various polarities from the stem wood and bark were screened for their growth-inhibitory effects against filamentous fungi commonly causing fruit, vegetable, grain and wood decay, as well as infections in the immunocompromised host. Ethyl acetate extracts of the stem wood and bark gave the best antifungal activities, with MIC values of 250 ug/mL against Nattrassia mangiferae and Fusarium verticillioides, and 500 ug/mL against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Aqueous extracts gave almost as potent effects as the ethyl acetate extracts against the Aspergillus and Fusarium strains, and were slightly more active than the ethyl acetate extracts against Nattrassia mangiferae. Thin layer chromatography, RP-HPLC-DAD and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were employed to identify the chemical constituents in the ethyl acetate fractions of the stem bark and wood. The stem bark and wood were found to have a similar qualitative composition of polyphenols and triterpenoids, but differed quantitatively from each other. The stilbene derivatives, cis- (3) and trans- resveratrol-3-O-b-galloylglucoside (4), were identified for the first time in T. brownii. Moreover, methyl-(S)-flavogallonate (5), quercetin-7-b-O-di-glucoside (8), quercetin-7-O-galloyl-glucoside (10), naringenin-40-methoxy-7-pyranoside (7), 5,6-dihydroxy-30,40,7-tri-methoxy flavone (12), gallagic acid dilactone (terminalin) (6), a corilagin derivative (9) and two oleanane type triterpenoids (1) and (2) were characterized. The flavonoids, a corilagin derivative and terminalin, have not been identified before in T. brownii. We reported earlier on the occurrence of methyl-S-flavogallonate and its isomer in the roots of T. brownii, but this is the first report on their occurrence in the stem wood as well. Our results justify the traditional uses of macerations and decoctions of T. brownii stem wood and bark for crop and wood protection and demonstrate that standardized extracts could have uses for the eco-friendly control of plant pathogenic fungi in African agroforestry systems. Likewise, our results justify the traditional uses of these preparations for the treatment of skin infections caused by filamentous fungi.

The aim of this work was to study the effects of pre-treatments, wood-cement ratios and partial cement substitution by gypsum on Prosopis chilensis wood composites. Using ASTM D1037-7, the study reveals that the mechanical properties of the composites are improved by the addition of gypsum treatment, and the lower substitution percentages (10, 20 %) are found to improve the compressive strength. Increasing the substitution percentages by more than 20 % causes a reduction in the density of the aggregates, which negatively affects the compressive strength of the cement composites.