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Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivation is important for its dual role as rich source of dietary protein and soil fertility enhancer, but production is constrained by soil nutrient deficiencies. This is often resolved using chemical fertilizers that exert deleterious effects on the environment when applied in excess. This field study was conducted at Nkolbisson-Yaoundé in the agro-ecological zone V of Cameroon to assess the performance of soybean when inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), with or without NPK fertilizer addition. Ten treatments (Control, PGPB, AMF, PGPB+AMF, PGPB+N, PGPB+PK, PGPB+N+PK, PGPB+AMF+N, PGPB+AMF+PK, and PGPB+AMF+N+PK) were established in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Mycorrhizal colonization was only observed in AMF-inoculated soybean roots. In comparison to control, sole inoculation of PGPB and AMF increased the number of root nodules by 67.2% and 57%, respectively. Co-application of PGPB and AMF increased the number of root nodules by 68.4%, while the addition of NPK fertilizers significantly increased the number of root nodules by 66.9–68.6% compared to control. Acid phosphatase activity in soybean rhizosphere ranged from 46.1 to 85.1 mg h –1 kg –1 and differed significantly across treatments ( p < 0.001). When compared to control, PGPB or AMF or their co-inoculation, and the addition of NPK fertilizers increased the acid phosphatase activity by 45.8%, 27%, 37.6%, and 26.2–37.2%, respectively. Sole inoculation of PGPB or AMF and their integration with NPK fertilizer increased soybean yield and grain contents (e.g., carbohydrate, protein, zinc, and iron) compared to the control ( p < 0.001). Soil phosphorus correlated significantly ( p < 0.05) with soybean grain protein ( r = 0.46) and carbohydrate ( r = 0.41) contents. The effective root nodules correlated significantly ( p < 0.001) with acid phosphatase ( r = 0.67) and soybean yield ( r = 0.66). Acid phosphatase correlated significantly ( p < 0.001) with soybean grain yield ( r = 0.63) and carbohydrate ( r = 0.61) content. Effective root nodules correlated significantly with carbohydrate ( r = 0.87, p < 0.001), protein ( r = 0.46, p < 0.01), zinc ( r = 0.59, p < 0.001), and iron ( r = 0.77, p < 0.01) contents in soybean grains. Overall, these findings indicate strong relationships between farm management practices, microbial activities in the rhizosphere, and soybean performance.

Okra is grown globally for its nutritional and economic benefits. Okra seeds ensure continuous production of the crop but challenges of poor production, adaptability and management may not allow the seeds to express their full potential. There are two seed production systems in Cameroon; the informal and formal. In Buea, the informal seed system is used by most farmers for seed production/utilization and farmers are reluctant to use hybrid seeds. This study aimed to assess the informal seed system of okra and evaluate the adaptability of seed produce from informal and formal systems in Buea. A survey and a field experiment were carried out. The designs for the survey and field experiment were stratified random sampling and randomized complete block design respectively. Data collection for the survey was done using questionnaires and other data collection instruments, while for the field experiment, data was collected on germination, vegetative growth parameters, incidence and severity of pests / diseases and yield. Data analysis for the survey was done using descriptive statistics, while data from the field experiment was done using a two-way ANOVA test and treatment means compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. Results from the survey showed that women (60%) were mostly involved in seed production by mass selection from two landraces identified. Preservation of seeds was mostly done with the use of wood ash (58%) and insects were the major postharvest pest (76%). For the field experiment, at 66 DAP, Yellen recorded the highest significant number of leaves (13.417), leaf area (771.4 cm 2 ) and the number of branches (5.64). Clemson spineless recorded the highest significant incidence (89.9%) and severity for pests / diseases while Kirikou and Landrace recorded the least incidence (0.0%) and severity. Kirikou recorded the highest significant yield (6.0 tons/ha), followed by Landrace (5.3 tons/ha). These findings reveal the performance of the landrace and provide reasons why farmers in Buea are reluctant to use hybrid okra seeds. The Landrace should certainly have adaptable genes, coupled with the autogamous nature of okra which encourages inbreeding for homozygous traits, which are dominant in expression compared to heterozygous traits.

African farmers are currently grappling with potential control measures for the invasive fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda), which has recently emerged as an important economic pest that is ravaging maize fields across the continent. We evaluated the efficacy of the West African black pepper extract and beans intercropping systems as viable FAW control measures and the implication on maize yields. The experiment comprised five treatments (control-no input, dwarf beans intercrop, climbing beans intercrop, West African black pepper extract, and insecticide) with three replications each. FAW severity was assessed at three to seven weeks after planting (WAP), while maize infestation was assessed at seven WAP. FAW severity increased significantly (P<0.05) across WAP for the control and dwarf beans intercrop, with the highest at four and six WAP, respectively. FAW severity also differed (P<0.05) significantly across treatments at four to seven WAP, with the lowest recorded in the extract of West African black pepper (Piper guineense) and the highest in control treatments. Maize infestation ranged from 13 to 93%, with the lowest in the West African black pepper extract and synthetic insecticide, followed by both dwarf and climbing beans intercrops and then the control. The maize yield determined at physiological maturity ranged from 2.2 to 6.3 t ha−1 across treatments and differed significantly, with the highest in the West African black pepper extract and synthetic insecticide, followed by both the dwarf and climbing beans intercrops, as compared to the control. Overall, the West African black pepper extract and beans push cropping systems demonstrated efficacy as viable sustainable alternative control measures for the invasive fall armyworm in maize fields.

Okra is grown globally for its nutritional and economic benefits. Okra seeds ensure continuous production of the crop but challenges of poor production, adaptability and management may not allow the seeds to express their full potential. There are two seed production systems in Cameroon; the informal and formal. In Buea, the informal seed system is used by most farmers for seed production/utilization and farmers are reluctant to use hybrid seeds. This study aimed to assess the informal seed system of okra and evaluate the adaptability of seed produce from informal and formal systems in Buea. A survey and a field experiment were carried out. The designs for the survey and field experiment were stratified random sampling and randomized complete block design respectively. Data collection for the survey was done using questionnaires and other data collection instruments, while for the field experiment, data was collected on germination, vegetative growth parameters, incidence and severity of pests / diseases and yield. Data analysis for the survey was done using descriptive statistics, while data from the field experiment was done using a two-way ANOVA test and treatment means compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. Results from the survey showed that women (60%) were mostly involved in seed production by mass selection from two landraces identified. Preservation of seeds was mostly done with the use of wood ash (58%) and insects were the major postharvest pest (76%). For the field experiment, at 66 DAP, Yellen recorded the highest significant number of leaves (13.417), leaf area (771.4 cm.sup.2) and the number of branches (5.64). Clemson spineless recorded the highest significant incidence (89.9%) and severity for pests / diseases while Kirikou and Landrace recorded the least incidence (0.0%) and severity. Kirikou recorded the highest significant yield (6.0 tons/ha), followed by Landrace (5.3 tons/ha). These findings reveal the performance of the landrace and provide reasons why farmers in Buea are reluctant to use hybrid okra seeds. The Landrace should certainly have adaptable genes, coupled with the autogamous nature of okra which encourages inbreeding for homozygous traits, which are dominant in expression compared to heterozygous traits.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between chocolate sensory profile and certain (bio)chemical components. The aim of this study was to examine the sensorial profile and organic acid content of three lab scale chocolate brands produced from different cocoa genotypes. The sensorial evaluation was examined by a team of 12 panelists and evaluation of aroma volatiles was done by means of HS-SPME-GC-MS. On the other hand, organic acids were assessed using a high-performance ion chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector (HPIC-ED). Results showed a variability in sensorial profile: SCA12×ICS40 chocolate (vanilla/sweet, spicy, and floral), ICS40 × SCA12 chocolate (fruity, bitter, and dry) and SNK16 × T60/887 chocolate (chocolate, honey-like, woody, sweet). Moreover, some aroma volatiles like (2-methyl, 3-methyl, iso) butanal (ICS), terpenes (SCA), and ketones (acetophenone and 2-nonanone) (SNK) allowed to discriminate dark chocolate sample according to their raw cocoa genetic group. Besides, the organic acid content differed from one chocolate brand to another, and it was obtained a high content of oxalic acid and a low lactic acid content which are good indicators of chocolate quality. Results of the current study highly recommend knowing the variety of cocoa beans with high content of some volatiles and high oxalic and low acetic acid and lactic contents to produce high aromatic (special flavor) chocolates.