Browsing by Author "Okello, Jaspher"

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    Mineral Composition Of Tamarindus Indica LINN (Tamarind) Pulp And Seeds From Different Agro-Ecological Zones Of Uganda
    (Food science & nutrition, 2017) Okello, Jaspher; Okullo, John B. L.; Eilu, Gerald; Nyeko, Philip; Obua, Joseph
    Mineral composition of dry Tamarindus indica LINN pulp and seeds was evaluated on samples collected from three different agro-ecological zones of Uganda (Lake Victoria Crescent, and Eastern and West Nile). The objective of the study was to evaluate the mineral composition of T. indica pulp and seed samples from across Uganda’s different agro-ecological zones and land use types. Separately grounded samples of T. indica pulp and seeds were analyzed for Zn, Fe, Mg, P, Na, K, and Ca. The univariate analysis of variance in the General Linear Model was used to compare differences in mineral composition. Treatment means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) in Post Hoc Tests. The results showed that there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.005) in mineral composition levels of T. indica pulp and seed samples between the different agro-ecological zones with the exception of P and Na (for pulp). The T. indica pulp and seeds samples from the Lake Victoria Crescent zone and wild land use type had generally higher mineral levels than T. indica samples from other agro-ecological zones and different land use types. As mineral composition levels were generally higher in the seed than the pulp samples, consumption of T. indica seeds should be promoted. There is also need to conserve individual species both on-farm and in the wild population, but T. indica mineral concentrations (both pulp and seeds) were higher in the samples from the wild population, making them good for human and animal diets.
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    Morphological Variations in Tamarindus indica LINN. Fruits and Seed Traits in the Different Agroecological Zones of Uganda
    (International Journal of Ecology, 2018) Okello, Jaspher; Okullo, John B. L.; Eilu, Gerald; Nyeko, Philip; Obua, Joseph
    An investigation was carried out on variations in the morphological traits of Tamarindus indica LINN. fruits (length, breadth,mass, and pulp mass) and seeds (number and mass) from the different agroecological zones and land use types of Uganda. Fruits were collected from the two land use types in the three agroecological zones and measured for various morphological traits. The study sites were located between 593 and 1,096 meters above sea level. ANOVA was used to test the differences in morphological traits of fruits and seeds between agroecological zones and land use types.The morphological traits relationship was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R).There were significant (P≤0.05) variations among the T. indica fruits and seed morphological traits within the agroecological zones and land use types. Lake Victoria Crescent agroecological zone recorded higher fruits morphological traits values. Wild and on-farm land use types were superior in fruits and seed traits, respectively. Many seeds per fruit (17) were recorded in Uganda (Eastern agroecological zone) than those recorded elsewhere. Significant uphill positive linear correlations between all morphological traits (P≤0.05) were observed, with the strongest relationships being between seed mass and seed number (R=0.79), fruitmass and fruit length (R=0.75), pulp mass and fruit mass (R=0.73), and seed mass and fruit mass (R=0.73). However, fruit breadth presented slightly weaker positive linear correlations with all other morphological traits. This is the first quantitative evaluation of T. indica morphological traits variation in Uganda. Dispersion/variation and correlation relationships suggest that all the studied morphological traits can be used for selection of plus trees for tree breeding improvement such as yield per tree. The observed variations are probably attributed to influence of agroecological zones’ factors, environmental factors, climate, land use types, and farming systems, a reflection of T. indica adaptation to different conditions showing high genetic and phenotypic differences to be exploited.
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    Physicochemical composition of Tamarindus indica L. (Tamarind) Fruits in the agro-ecological zones of Uganda
    (Food Science & Nutrition, 2018) Okello, Jaspher; Okullo, John B. L.; Eilu, Gerald; Nyeko, Philip; Obua, Joseph
    The relationships between the physicochemical composition of Tamarindus indica pulp and seeds, and agro-ecological zones and land use types were assessed in Uganda. The objective was to determine the relationship between the physicochemical composition, agro-ecological zones, and land use types. The samples were processed by manually depulping the T. indica pods, sun-drying the pulp and seeds, and grinding into powder. The powdered samples were analyzed for β-carotenoids, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), calorific value, crude oil, acid, and peroxide values. Data were analyzed using ANOVA in the general linear model (GLM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to relate the physicochemical properties to the agro-ecological zones and land use types. There were significant differences (p ≤ .05) in the physicochemical composition variables between agro-ecological zones and land use types. Land use types showed strong correlations with physicochemical properties while agro-ecological zones did not show correlations. The results show that in terms of general properties, T. indica pods provide a valuable, rich, and exceptional source of vitamin C, compared to many widely consumed indigenous and conventional fruits and vegetables. The pods from land use types characterized by natural habitats had relatively more nutrient levels than the land use types influenced by anthropogenic activities.
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    Proximate composition of wild and on-farm Tamarindus indica LINN fruits in the agro-ecological zones of Uganda
    (J. Nutr. Health Food Eng, 2018) Okello, Jaspher; Okullo, John Bosco Lamoris; Eilu, Gerald; Nyeko, Philip; Obua, Joseph
    Proximate composition of wild and on-farm Tamarindus indica Linn fruits (pulp and seeds) were evaluated from three agro ecological zones and land use types in Uganda. The study objectives were: to compare the proximate composition of T. indica pulp and seeds among agro-ecological zones and land use types, and to determine the relationships between the pulp and seeds proximate composition variables among the agro-ecological zones and land use types in Uganda. Samples were analysed using standard procedures for moisture content, total ash, crude protein, crude fibre, crude oil and total carbohydrates. The results show that there were significant differences (P˂0.05) in the pulp and seeds proximate variables between agro-ecological zones except the seed ash content that showed significant difference between land use types. Only total ash contents showed significant interactions between agro-ecological zones and land use types while samples from the Lake Victoria Crescent agro-ecological zone were rich in proximate contents than other zones. The proximate composition revealed the presence of pulp and seed samples for: moisture content (27.40-31.60; 9.00-13.90%), total ash (4.60-5.00; 2.20-2.40%), crude protein (15.70-16.10; 4.30-4.50%), crude fibre (7.10-8.40; 8.00-9.00%), crude oil (0.27-0.29; 2.64- 2.98%) and total carbohydrates (50.20-56.20; 56.20-61.00%) respectively. There were no significant relationships among the proximate variables with agro-ecological zones and land use types. Both pulp and seeds showed good proximate contents, but the traditionally inedible seeds (thrown away after depulping) have more prospects and are recommended for consumption due to the high proximate contents than pulp, but first need to be processed before incorporation into human and animal diets.