Ethiopia is home to diverse plant species that provide nectar and pollen as bees forage. In this study, honey bee forages were assessed in three different agro-ecology districts, Jimma Zone, Southwest, Ethiopia. Random sampling techniques was used to collect the data, ninety beekeepers were interviewed using structured questioner. Key informants were interviewed with in all study areas. ANOVA of GLM and Regression were done using Minitab statistical software. Accordingly 42 honey bee’ forages; 28 trees, 6 shrubs and 8 herbs were mentioned by respondents which belong to 22 families, Fabaceae and Asteraceae were the first and second dominant family respectively. Natural forest trees, cultivated crops and fruits were identified as bee forage. Beekeepers experience and their knowledge on seasonal availability of bee forage and honey bee poisonous plants found in their locality were also assessed. In the study area traditional forest beekeeping system is practiced to produce honey. Different bee forages bear flower at different months and visited by honey bees for different number of days. Poisonous bee floras according to beekeepers’ response there is similar knowledge in highland (93%) and midland 96.5% agro ecology, whom say ‘Yes I know’ while in lowland was 30%. In all agro-ecology Euphorbia cotinifolia was mentioned as bee poisonous plant which bear flower at different months of the year even if it is not toxic.

The phenology, morphology and biomass production of six velvet bean (M. melanocarpa) accession were evaluated at Bambasi Medicinal Plants Field Gen Banks. The time from seeding to first floral buds ranged from 83-135 days, to first blooms 109-149 days, and to first pods 109-160 days. The six accessions initiated blooming in a certain order, which could be described by calendar days. Five accessions had an indeterminate flowering habit, while one was determinate. Accession number DM00102, DM00103 and DM00105 produced the most biomass and accession DM00101 the least. The petiole constitutes 14% to 23% of total leaf weight. Leaf weight at bloom accounted for 81% of above-ground plant weight in indeterminate accessions, and 69% in determinate accessions. The period from first bloom to first pods spanned 8 weeks. Differences in velvet bean growth habits may be used to stag per planting dates of other crops. Growers may implement a strategy of “one time planting” of several velvet bean lines of various maturation rates each on a fraction of their acreage.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) belongs to malvaceae family and its widely cultured in the world for its fibrous fruits which contain round white seeds. In this study the bioactive compounds where extracted by using many solvents methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanolic extract where used invitro to determine the antibacterial activity of the extracts of dried fruit okra against some selected potential bacterial pathogens, Klebsiella and E. coli. This research is an experimental study using completely randomized design by using disk diffusion testing method. The object used was the extract of the Okra fruits at concentration of 25%, 50%, 100% and 200%. The zone of inhibition was 3.73mm at 200% with Klebsiella and 3.47 mm with E. coli in comparison with the control 4.4 mm. The least concentration of the extract that completely inhibit the growth of the organism MIC is 30%.