ABSTRACT

Morphological characteristics, early growth and chemical composition of Monodora myristica and Tetrapleura tetraplera species were investigated. The seeds of Monodora myristica and pods of Tel rapleura tetraptera were subjected to two cooking temperatures i.e. 100°C and 130°C for 5 minutes. The effects of high temperature on proximate, micronutrients, macronutrients and phytochemical compositions of the two species were determined. Effect of cold water treatment on rate of germination and germination percentage of the seedlings were also assessed. Stem height, stem girth, total number of leaves and mean leaf area were measured fortnightly. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in completely randomized design. The results obtained showed that morphological characteristics of Monodora myristica ranged as follows: seed weight, 0.6-1.6 g; seed length, 1.4-2.7 cm and seed diameter 0.89-1.36 cm. In Tetrapleura letraptera the ranges were as follows: fruit length, 13.5-28.0 cm; fruit weight, 13.8-66.8 g; pulp weight, 12.9-64.6 g; total seed weight, 0.2-2.9 g; seed number 1-19 and mean seed weight 0.1-0.21 g. Monodora inyritica seeds soaked for 12 hours had the highest germination percentage of 93.1 %. Seeds soaked for 6 hours had the least germination percentage (40.0 %). Tetrapleura tetrapteraa seeds when extracted from freshly harvested pods do not require cold water (pregerm ination) cold water treatment before sowing. The longer the length of storage of the pods, the longer the period of cold water treatment needed. Pre-sowing treatment also had positive effect on the following growth parameters: stem height, stem girth, total number of leaves, total leaf area and mean leaf area of the two species. Protein, fibre, moisture, carbohydrate, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Cu, alkaloid, saponnin, steroid, antocyannin and tannin contents of raw seeds and seeds roasted at 100°C and 130°C of Monodora myristica were significantly different (P<0.05) but fat, ash, Fe, Zn and Co were not significantly different (P>0.05). However, for Tetrapleura tetraptera, protein, fat, fibre, ash and carbohydrate, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Fe, Cu and Zn, flavonoid, saponnin, steroid, antocyannin, tannin and starch contents of raw seeds, raw pods, roasted seeds at 100°C, roasted pods at 100°C, roasted seeds at 130°C and roasted pods at 130°C were significantly different (P<0.05). Moisture and Cobalt showed non-significant difference (P><0.05). The two species apart from being rich in nutrient composition also had high medicinal values. Government and NON-governmental Organizations should encourage conservation of these species. ><0.05). Moisture and Cobalt showed non-significant difference (P<0.05). The two species apart from being rich in nutrient composition also had high medicinal values. Government and NON-governmental Organizations should encourage conservation of these species. >