July 2017

Effect of resin from Commiphora swynnertonii on white blood cell and selected haematopoietic organs in albino mice (Mus musculus)

Commiphora swynnertonii is among the most commonly used medicinal plants by pastoralist communities especially in northern regions of Tanzania. The effect of resin from this plant on white blood cells (WBC) and haematopoietic organs was studied using albino mice. Sixty adult mice were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 15). G1 acted as control whereas G2, G3 and G4 received oral doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg resin...

Author(s): Bakari G. G., Ceaser G., Max R. A. and Mbasa G. K.

July 2017

Characterization of cassava starch films plasticized with glycerol and strengthened with nanocellulose from green coconut fibers

The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize biodegradable films of cassava starch plasticized with glycerol and reinforced with nanocellulose from coconut fibers. The mechanical and physical-chemical properties of the nano-biocomposites films obtained were evaluated. The method used to investigate the viability of incorporating coconut nanocellulose in films was applied through a statistical design of the...

Author(s): Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado, João Henrique de Oliveira Reis, Lindaiá Santos Cruz, Ingrid Lessa Leal,  Josiane Dantas Viana Barbosa, Joyce Batista Azevedo and Janice Izabel Druzian

July 2017

Quantitative trait loci for resistance to spotted and African maize stem borers (Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca) in a tropical maize (Zea mays L.) population

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the staple food in Kenya, and mapping the qualitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to maize stem borer pest is important towards marker assisted breeding for this quantitative trait. The objective of this study was to identify any QTL associated with resistance to Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca, the two important stem borer pests in maize production in Kenya. A total of 203 F2:3...

Author(s): Munyiri, S. W. and Mugo, S. N.