Differential effects of UVA, UVB, and PAR on photosynthetic efficiency in red algae: Gracilaria dentata, Hypnea musciformis and Centroceras clavulatum
March 2025
The effects of distinct components of the solar spectrum (ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and photosynthetically active radiation) on Gracilaria dentata, Hypnea musciformis, and Centroceras clavulatum were investigated under laboratory conditions. Thalli of the samples were exposed to either unfiltered solar radiation or solar radiation filtered through WG 295, WG 320, and GG 400 cut-off filters. Photosynthetic pigments...
Combining ability and effect of water stress on morphological and physiological traits of Lablab purpureus L. sweet
November 2024
Drought limits crop production worldwide, reducing yields by up to 70%. Lablab bean, suited for arid and semi-arid regions, shows notable drought tolerance, yet Kenya lacks improved drought-tolerant lablab varieties. This study aimed to (i) identify drought-tolerant lablab genotypes based on morphological and physiological traits and (ii) assess the combining ability of seven parental genotypes and 21 crosses to find...
Foliar fungal diseases of banana in the central region of Burkina Faso: Characterisation of pathogens
November 2024
Banana plantations in Burkina Faso are confronted with climatic hazards and parasitic attacks resulting in a considerable yield drop. Unfortunately, few studies have been devoted to banana leaf diseases. This study was initiated to characterize the major foliar fungal pathogens that hinder the development of this crop in the Centre region. Four communes were involved which are Koubri, Loumbila, Pabré, and...
Ethno-botanical survey and indigenous knowledge on the regeneration of Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae), in the Noun Division of the West Region of Cameroon
October 2024
Human activities, such as over-exploitation for food, fuel, craftwork, construction, and medicines, have resulted in species depletion and near extinction due to lack of re-afforestation. This ethnobotanical study was conducted to assess indigenous knowledge on the use and regeneration of Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) in the Noun Division, West Region of Cameroon. The Snowball sampling technique, combined with the...
Growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L) under the influence of different organic manure applications
October 2024
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a widely consumed root vegetable mostly for its nutritional, health and economic values. In Cameroon, the production rate of garlic is below its demand primarily due to low soil fertility. A field experiment was conducted at the research plot of the Faculty of Science of the University of Bamenda, to investigate the effect of three organic manures (poultry, goat and pig manures) on the...
Effect of varietal combination and relative time of planting on yield productivity of maize and soybean intercrop in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana
September 2024
Two field experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the research field of Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong campus, Ghana to evaluate the effect of relative time of planting two maize varieties intercrop with one soybean variety on yield productivity in transition zone of Ghana. The two maize varietal combinations were extra-early maturing maize (Abontem) +...
Evaluation of different fungicides against wheat rusts in West and Southwest Shewa zones, Ethiopia
August 2024
Wheat stem and yellow rusts which are respectively, caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp tritici and Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, are among the most devastating diseases of wheat in Ethiopia. The use of fungicides is among the most important wheat rusts management strategy in wheat production and rust hot spot areas. The field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of some selected fungicides (Azoxystrobin...
Salinity-induced changes on growth, chlorophyll, metabolites, mineral distribution and productivity of three varieties of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
August 2024
Soil salinity constitutes a global threat to world food security given its deleterious effects on crop yield and the sustainability of arable lands. A comparative study was done on the changes induced by salinity on the growth, chlorophyll, metabolites, mineral distribution and productivity of three varieties of eggplant (Solanum melongena L). Research was effected in the green house (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl) and on...
Allelopathy as a tool for invasiveness of Tithonia diversifolia extracts through in vitro suppression of crop seeds’ germination
July 2024
Wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) is an invasive weed in both tropical and subtropical cultivated lands and propagates through seeds and plant cuttings. Invasive plants have distinctive functional traits that enable their invasiveness. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro suppression of germination of crop seeds by extracts of T. diversifolia. Two experiments were carried out, one in the...
Characterization of the causal organisms of soft rot on tomatoes grown in Lesotho
June 2024
In order to study the causal agents of tomato rot in tunnels/greenhouse, the tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L) showing symptoms of soft rot was collected and their juices were used for the identification of microbes. Microbial isolates were obtained from lesions following surface sterilization and rinsing with distilled water. Bacteria cultures were prepared on nutrient agar while fungal cultures were...
Infestation dynamics of mistletoes in urban and rural landscapes of semi-arid Botswana
June 2024
The available information regarding mistletoes inadequately explains the dynamic facets of infestation in rural-urban gradients. This study was carried out to compare the abundance of mistletoe species on hosts between urban (Gaborone and Gakuto) and rural (Lentsweletau and Oodi) areas of Botswana. Four plots each with a surface area of 625 m2 were established in the respective study areas and from which...
Neuroprotective effect of Khaya grandifoliola against aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced neurotoxicity in rats
April 2024
Aluminium chloride (AICl3) is known as a potent environmental neurotoxin causing progressive neurodegeneration in the brain. Khaya grandifoliola (KG) is used in Cameroon in traditional medicine for its therapeutical properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of K. grandifoliola against AICl3-induced neurotoxicity in rats. The KG25-fraction was obtained by maceration of the K....
Combining ability of aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) resistance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)
December 2023
General combining ability (GCA) describes the general usefulness of the parental form in terms of the concerned trait, whereas specific combining ability (SCA) indicates importance of the joint action of the genes of parental forms. Such information is useful to identify the best combiners which may be hybridized to build up favourable genes. This present investigation aimed to determine the GCA and SCA effects of...
An investigation of the photophysiology and phenology of cultivated African violet plants
November 2023
African violets (Streptocarpus ionanthus), originally native to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Africa and adjacent submontane or montane forests in Kenya and Tanzania, are commonly grown as ornamental plants and have been extensively studied by horticulturists. However, there is a lack of laboratory data regarding their ecophysiology. Given the growing interest in conserving African violets in their threatened natural...
Occurrence and distribution of viruses associated with papaya ringspot disease in Kenya
November 2023
Papaya ringspot disease is a serious threat to papaya production in Kenya. For effective management, it is important to determine the occurrence and distribution of the viruses associated with the disease. A survey was conducted in 2017, covering a total of 103 papaya fields in major papaya production areas in the country. To determine the disease incidence, 20 plants per field were visually inspected for symptoms...
Prospecting, survey and plant material collection for Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) genebank establishment in Côte d'Ivoire
October 2023
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) is a plant whose leaves and calyxes are integral to the local diet. The leaves are commonly used in sauce preparations, while the calyxes are utilized in making the local drink known as "bissap," which is highly appreciated by the local population. Despite its socio-economic significance, the production of this species remains relatively low in Côte d'Ivoire. This...
Effects of four plants and solarization on bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum E. F. Smith in Burkina Faso
October 2023
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a major constraint in tomato production. Experiments were carried out using four sanitised plants and solarization in a semi- controlled environment and in the field to reduce the infectious potential of the soil in R. solanacearum. The experimental design used is a randomized Fisher block with eight (8) treatments composed of Ocimum basilicom, Ocimum gratissimum,...
Effect of soil provenances on seed germination and seedling growth of Aframomum citratum (Pereira) K. Schum
September 2023
Soil that is rich in organic matter means soil that is rich in physical and chemical properties and enhances plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of soil provenance on seed germination and seedling growth of Aframomum citratum. Soil provenances were Buea, Dschang and Bamenda. These respective soil types were filled into 25 cm diameter polyethylene bags and pretreated...
Detached berries response to coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum kahawae) of F1 hybrid genotypes developed from Ethiopian accessions of Arabica coffee
August 2023
Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is a cash crop that supports the livelihoods of many Tanzanians, but its productivity is limited by various factors, including Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) caused by Colletotrichum kahawae. CBD can lead to up to 90% coffee yield losses in Tanzania. There are different control measures for CBD, but the use of resistant cultivars has been mentioned to be a more sustainable method than the...
In vivo effect of cashew apple powder on fungi isolated from stored maize seed (EV8728-SR)
June 2023
One of the most significant cereal crops in the world is maize (Zea mays L.), which is susceptible to a number of illnesses, particularly those spread through seeds. Plant extract research offers a viable area for replacement research for fungicides used to treat seeds. In order to evaluate its antifungal impact on the sanitary and physiological quality of maize seeds, this study examined the phytochemical profile...
Relationship between rice blast severity and the rice growth stage for accurate selection of rice breeding material for improved rice production in Africa
May 2023
To improve the disease resistance of adapted rice genotypes, fourteen rice genotypes selected from previous field screening and four controls (two resistant and two susceptible) were screened in greenhouse trials against ten Beninese and four East African pathogenic isolates at rice seedling and tillering stages. Results show that across isolates, no significant difference was observed between disease severity on tested...
Screening Sclerocarya birrea provenances on pests and diseases: A step towards domestication
April 2023
Sclerocarya birrea is a famous wild fruit tree species which constitutes an important agro ecological system of the global ecosystem. It is one of the widely spread miombo woodland fruit trees species within sub Saharan Africa. An international provenances trial of 21 genotypes evaluated the plant phenology thus including, growth, adaptability (survival), fruit productivity and quality to select genotypes with superior...
Distribution of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) root rot complex and associated pathogens in eastern Ethiopia
March 2023
Groundnut root rot is a complex disease affecting the crop production worldwide. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Assess the occurrence and distribution of groundnut root rot complex in four main groundnut-growing areas of eastern Ethiopia; (2) Identify the major pathogens associated with groundnut root rot complex; and (3) Determine the role of pathogens singly and in combination on root rot severity of...
Nutritional composition of cinnamon and clove powder and the evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of their extracts: A comparison between Ghana and other countries
February 2023
Current trends have suggested that the continuous use of chemical additives has carcinogenic effects on consumers. This has instigated the research into more organic ingredients such as plant parts which could serve as potential replacement for these additives in food. This study was therefore conducted to compare the proximate and mineral compositions of the powder of cinnamon bark and clove buds collected from Cape...
Different levels of irradiance and plant regulators modify the leaf structure and essential oil production of Lippia origanoides H.B.K (Verbenaceae)
January 2023
The quality and quantity of secondary metabolites produced by plants can be influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, since the biochemical and physiological processes that coordinate the synthesis of these compounds are influenced by these. Plant regulators can also interfere with plant growth and terpene biosynthesis in aromatic species, which is why they are widely used in agriculture. Lippia origanoides H.B.K is an...
Performance of cotton genotypes (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for yield and yield component traits under irrigated climatic conditions of Ethiopia
November 2022
The present study was conducted to test the performance of cotton genotypes for yield and yield components from 2011 to 2013 cropping season at different cotton growing agro-ecologies in the country. Eleven cotton genotypes along with three check varieties were examined at three locations in RCBD under three replications. The genotypes manifested highly significant differences (p≤0.01) for plant height, bolls per...
Effect of storage temperature on fruit firmness and weight loss of nine tomato lines
November 2022
This study aimed to determine effect of three temperature levels on fruit firmness and weight in nine tomato lines in Kenya. Fruit firmness and weight loss were evaluated in a split plot design, temperature levels as main plots and tomato lines as sub-plots at the University of Nairobi, Pilot Seed Processing Plant. Fruits stored at 16°C showed the lowest average decrease in fruit firmness (58.19%) followed by...
Screening for complete submergence seedling tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes collected from Sudan and South Sudan
October 2022
Eighteen rice genotypes from Sudan and South Sudan and two genotypes (FR13A tolerant and IR42 sensitive checks) from the International Rice Research Institute were screened for complete submergence at seedling stage in a protected house. Most of the genotypes showed zero survival, except genotypes [NBGA (2.08%), Banban (3.92%), Masury1 (5.56%), Pipanfary Red2 (11.11%) and Sommboy (14.58%)]. Sensitive genotypes...
Seed dispersal of a range restricted and vulnerable species, Guibourtia copallifera Benn. in Sierra Leone
October 2022
In the early 20th Century, Guibourtia copallifera Benn. was extensively exploited as a source of gum copal. Its geographic distribution in Sierra Leone is now restricted to a few square kilometers in a single badly degraded forest reserve. We conducted a series of seed rain experiments to quantify its seed dispersal potential. Transects of seed traps were laid out and a total of 1,164,880 seeds were collected over...
Physical, mechanical and acoustic properties of Terminalia superba, Cleistopholis patens and Holarrhena floribunda woods used in sculpture and instrument making in Benin
October 2022
Wood is important in several fields including sculpture and instrument making. In the last two fields, Terminalia superba, Cleistopholis patens, and Holarrhena floribunda are three of Benin’s most used wood species. In this work, we have, on prismatic samples (500 mm × 20 mm × 20 mm) of the wood of these species, used the acoustic method Beam Identification by Non-destructive Grading (BING) of...
Molecular characterization of banana genotypes by SSR markers
October 2022
Banana and plantain are monocotyledonous herbs in the genus Musa (Musa spp.) and grown globally due to their diverse uses as export income, food and fiber. Banana is also grown widely in Ethiopia; however, the crop attracted very limited research attention and has little genetic information available. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of banana...
Evaluation of maize germplasm for resistance to maize chlorotic mottle virus and sugarcane mosaic virus: The casual agents of maize lethal necrosis disease
September 2022
In Kenya, at national policy level to the individual household level, food security is synonymous to maize productivity and availability. However, the productivity of maize is affected majorly by maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) that was first reported in Kenya in 2011. MLND results from co-infection between maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any cereal-infecting viruses in Potyviridae family particularly...
Radio-Sensitivity of four selected rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in Kenya, as a pre-requisite for mutation breeding
September 2022
Radio-sensitivity test informs the optimal irradiation dose for use in mutation breeding. In this study, four rice varieties (Basmati 217, Basmati 370, ITA310, and Komboka) were irradiated with gamma-ray doses ranging from 0 to 500 Gy, to examine their morphological responses at the seedling stage, and estimate their optimal doses. Two experiments were carried out at varied time points between March and May 2022. In the...
Spatial variation in the micro-minerals and ß-carotene concentration in four varieties of plantain
September 2022
Nutrition plays a vital role in growth, development and the prevention of possible nutrient-deficiency diseases that may cause permanent health risks in the later stages of life. Due to this, the concentrations of iron, zinc, copper, manganese and β-carotene in four varieties of plantain were investigated in this study. The relationship between the micro-minerals in the fruit, the sampling location and soil were...
Genetic diversity in pepper (Capsicum annum L.) germplasms using SSR markers
August 2022
Analysis of pepper genetic diversity and genetic relationship is important in selecting genetically diverse parental lines drawn from several genetic populations, and also helps to implement effective conservation strategies. For this purpose, 25 pepper genotypes comprising both accessions and improved varieties were examined using 16 SSR markers. The markers were polymorphic and showed a mean PIC value of 52% with a...
Potential and measures for sustaining Prunus africana (Hook.F.) Kalkman (Rosaceae) in Tchabal Mbabo forest (Mf), Adamaoua Cameroon
August 2022
Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman is a medicinal plant for which the bark is used to treat benign prostate hypertrophy. P. africana is listed in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its exploitation has been regulated in Cameroon through the settlement of some management standards. This paper aims to assess the potential of P. africana in the Tchabal...
Alleviation of Huanglongbing disease in citrus by foliar application of microelements
August 2022
Huanglongbing (HLB), also referred to as citrus greening disease, ranks high among the most destructive diseases in citrus plants worldwide. This disease is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter species. As a strategy for the appropriate management of this disease has not been established yet, economic cultivation of citrus in the diseased areas has mostly ceased. One of the most conspicuous...
Antibacterial activity of some substances against citrus bacterial canker caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Hasse) in Burkina Faso
July 2022
Citrus bacterial canker (CBC) threatens citrus fruit production in Burkina Faso due to the lack of effective control methods. In this study, the antimicrobial effect of copper hydroxide and sulphate, the biopesticide from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum and aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus camadulensis, Azadirachta indica and Cymbopogon citratus were tested in vitro and in vivo against...
Effects of grain spawn and substrates on growth and yield of oyster mushroom grown under different cropping shelters
July 2022
Limited access to oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) substrates and the high cost of production are among the constraints affecting mushroom farming in Kenya. In an effort to solve the above problem, a study was carried out in Egerton University to determine the effect of grain spawn and substrates on growth and yield of oyster mushroom grown under different cropping shelters. The study was laid out as...
Identification and relative quantitative comparison of compounds in bottle gourds [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]
July 2022
To study the diversity and cultivar-specific of phytochemicals in bottle gourd, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based untargeted metabolomics method was used to analyze the metabolic profiles of two groups of bottle gourd cultivars exhibiting different tastes and flavors: fresh and slightly bitter (BBGs) / fragrant and sweet (SBG). A total of 155 metabolites (16 differential metabolites and 139...
Traditional knowledge and economic importance of Ferula assa-foetida in the rural areas of southeastern Iran
July 2022
Traditional knowledge is considered as knowledge, innovations, practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional life-styles; the wisdom developed over many generations, of holistic traditional scientific utilization of lands, natural resources and environment. Traditional knowledge is valid and necessary, and due to its relevance, it currently has wide application for human benefit. Many people in...
Variability effect of pH on yield optimization and Mycochemical compositions of Pleurotus ostreatus sporophores cultured on HCl-induced substrate
June 2022
Contamination due to Coprinus cinerius has been identified as a major drawback in the use of oil palm bunch (OPB) for mushroom cultivation. OPB is a common agro-waste in the South-eastern part of Nigeria with high alkalinity which does not support the growth of oyster mushrooms. A study on the fructification and some mycochemical contents of Pleurotus ostreatus fruitbodies cultivated on hydrochloric acid (HCl)-induced...
Phenotyping selected Australian wheat genotypes for resistance to stem rust and yellow rust and yield performance in Kenya
June 2022
Stem rust and yellow rust are major diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) caused by Puccinia graminis and Puccinia striiformis, respectively. In Kenya, although the two diseases occur together, available genetic resistance is limited. Therefore, research for resistance to both diseases is of priority. We therefore evaluated 59 Australian wheat genotypes alongside local checks over three seasons in Njoro, Kenya, for...
Combining ability and gene action for bacterial wilt disease resistance in wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes
April 2022
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most destructive and widespread diseases of tomato in Kenya. The objective of this study was to determine the combining ability effects and gene action conditioning bacterial wilt disease resistance in tomato. Eight parents were crossed in North Carolina II mating design scheme to produce sixteen F1 hybrids. The F1 hybrids and the parental genotypes were...
Identification of drought tolerant finger millet (Eleusine coracana) lines based on morpho-physiological characteristics and grain yield
April 2022
Drought stress contributes significantly to economic yield losses in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) production. This study evaluated morpho-physiological and agronomic traits among 25 finger millet genotypes for drought tolerance under field conditions. Out of the 25 genotypes, 24 were advanced lines preselected for drought tolerance from ICRISAT, KALRO and Egerton University seed units and one check cultivar P-224....
Physical and mechanical properties of Holarrhena floribunda and Nesogordonia papaverifera branch wood in Ghana
March 2022
The current study examines the physical and mechanical properties of branch wood from Holarrhena floribunda and Nesogordonia papaverifera, two of Ghana's least researched deciduous species. At an equilibrium moisture content of 12±2%, H. floribunda and N. papaverifera specimens had average density values of 467.53 and 720.80 kgm-3, respectively. The overall tangential and radial shrinkage was 3.8 and 3.2%,...
Nitrogen use efficiency and performance of rice to the application of slow release nitrogen fertilizer under waterlogged conditions in North Western Ethiopia
February 2022
Highly soluble N fertilizers like urea may be lost from the soil plant system through leaching, ammonia (NH3) volatilization and denitrification that reduce NUE and yield. The study was conducted to determine the effects of UREAStabil on enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiencies of rice crop and to evaluate the influence of UREAStabil on growth and yield of rice under waterlogged conditions of Fogera area....
Normalized difference vegetation index as screening trait to complement visual selections of durum wheat drought tolerant genotypes
January 2022
Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is considered as a potential screening tool detecting stay green traits for drought tolerance. The present study aimed to evaluate durum wheat genotypes using NDVI under drought condition and investigate its association to grain yield. NDVI scores taken at different growth stages for 64 durum wheat genotypes were replicated twice in both sandy clay and clay textured soils...
Current state of knowledge on the potential and production of Cucurbita moschata (pumpkin) in Africa: A review
January 2022
Pumpkin has high nutritional value essential for food security. Despite many benefits, it still considered an orphan crop in Africa. Very little information is available on the potential and production of pumpkin in Africa due to neglect by researchers and improvement program. Classical research, both theoretical and empirical, was used to conduct a systematic review of the various result trends obtained by researchers...
Bioconversion of bananiculture waste for Amazon edible mushroom production
December 2021
The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of banana stalk and pseudostem residues from two banana cultivars as cultivation substrate for the Amazonian Pleurotus ostreatus NATB. The residues of the two cultivars (silver-dwarf and thap-maeo) were used to cultivate P. ostreatus NATB from the Mushroom Cultivation Laboratory Micoteca, CTI, INPA, Brazil, reactivated in medium Potato Dextrose...
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