The study was conducted to evaluate eight tomato varieties for their genetic resistance to bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas perforans (McCulloch &Pirone) with a view to identifying those which may be used for genetic improvement. In 2021, ten seeds each of the varieties were sown per pot and later thinned to two in the screen house. At 35 days after sowing (DAS), seedlings were inoculated with the suspension X. perforans. Plants treated with sterile distilled water served as control. Treatments consisting of the eight inoculated tomato varieties were arranged in a completely randomized design with four repetitions. Three days after inoculation (DAI), records were taken on symptoms appearance and subsequently at 48 hours interval until 31 DAI. Disease severity on leaves was assessed at each interval and between 70-80 DAS, disease incidence and severity on fruit was evaluated. Disease progress curve was drawn and area under disease progress curve was calculated. Records on the severity on leaves showed significant difference (P<0.05) among the varieties evaluated in this study with the highest (38.9%) and the least (25%) on Tima and RomaVF respectively. The highest incidence and severity on fruits (100%, 32.5%) were recorded on Tima variety, which were significantly higher than those recorded on other varieties (P<0.05). The least incidence and severity (15.0%, 12.5%) on fruit were recorded on Roma VF. Area under disease progress curve showed that Tima recorded the highest AUDPC (765), followed by UC82B (756) while the least was recorded on RomaVF variety (501). The study revealed that the tomato varieties evaluated varied in their responses to bacterial spot, with Roma VF been the least susceptible, none of the varieties was resistant to the disease.

This study x-rays the prevailing situation in the Okeluse Forest Reserve (OFR) for necessary interventions. The study assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on land-use changes in OFR between 1984 and 2020 using Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI images of 1984, 1990, 2001, 2010 and 2020. The images were acquired from USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS), processed, and classified using ArcGIS. Ground-truthing was achieved using GPS receiver. The images were pre-processed and classified using unsupervised iso-cluster classification method. The classified iso-cluster images were re-classified into forest, agricultural land, shrubland, built-up areas and water bodies. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used for assessing vegetated areas and non-vegetated land within the reserve. The rates of changes and forest-cover losses within the 36-year-period were then analyzed. The result revealed losses in forest areas and water bodies within the period. Area coverage of forest reduced from 11,422 ha in 1984 to 5,706.2 ha in 2020, water bodies also contrasted by 80.8%, from 1,425.9 ha in 1984 to 273.6 ha in 2020. Consequently, agricultural land increased by 832.4% from 702.7 ha in 1984 to 5,849.6 ha in 2020. Shrubland, a resultant effect of deforestation and eventual degradation, increased from 647.8 ha in 1984 to 2,196.1 ha (339%) in 2020. Built-up areas increased from 225.2 ha in 1984 to 398.1 ha in 2020 due to increases in farm settlements and other infrastructure. The results further showed that the reserve was far more vegetated in 1984 (NDVI = 0.67), and less vegetated in subsequent years. The major drivers of changes in the forest reserves were unsustainable timber exploitation, and unpermitted land clearing for agricultural activities. It is projected that there would be a substantial increase in agricultural land, shrubland, and built-up areas, if deforestation persists at the current pace. However, there would be continued contractions in forest areas and water bodies.

This study was carried out to assess the abundance and distribution of the woodland kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) in the University of Ibadan. Point Count Method was used in the survey. Three landuse types namely, Residential, Aquatic and Forest area were selected, and 15 points were marked with 100 m apart on each area with the aid of GPS. Calls, sightings of bird and the position sited (tree, shrub and grass) were recorded within a 30 m radius for five minutes on each point between (08: 00hrs) and (19:00hrs) for 3weeks using standard procedure. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α< 0.05. A total of 265 individuals were encountered. Residential area had the highest population of 120 (45.3%), followed by aquatic area 105 (36.6%) and 40 (15.1%) at the forest area. The mean frequency is highest in residential area (7.67), followed by aquatic area (7.00), but least in forest area (2.67). There was significant difference (P<0.01) in the distribution of the Woodland Kingfisher across the different sites. The abundance of Woodland Kingfisher is significantly different from the aquatic landuse type and forest landuse type. However, there was no significant difference between the aquatic area and forest area.