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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
Occurrence of maize yellow mosaic virus and evidence of co-infection with maize lethal necrosis viruses in Bomet County, Kenya
December 2021
Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease is caused by synergistic interaction between maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). However, some East African countries have detected maize infecting polerovirus named maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV) also known as maize yellow dwarf virus (MYDV-RMV) co-infecting maize with MLN viruses. Maize yellow dwarf virus occurrence and distribution in different...
Assessing production constraints, management and use of pearl millet in the Guinea Savanna Agro-ecology of Ghana
November 2021
The adoption of new and high yielding pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) varieties can be boosted if they correspond to farmers’ preferences and answer the constraints prevailing in the production environments. Therefore, the focus of this study was to assess production constraints, farmers’ preferences and choices of varieties among pearl millet cultivating farmers using participatory rural...
Distribution and farmers’ knowledge on Fusarium wilt (Race 1) in cropping systems of Uganda
November 2021
The study aimed at understanding the spatial distribution of Fusarium wilt (FW) in different banana growing regions, ascertain the effect of management practices and plantation age on FW incidence, as well as investigate farmers’ knowledge regarding the symptoms and spread of FW in Uganda. Individual interviews were conducted in 119 farms using a pre-tested questionnaire and field observations during a survey in...
Genotypic variability, heritability and path analysis of yield components of determinate lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) inbred lines in Kenya
October 2021
Lablab is a leguminous crop that offers great potential as food and cash crop in Kenya. However, high yielding early maturing determinate varieties suitable for short season environments and for intercropping systems are lacking. This study was conducted to estimate heritability, genetic advance and correlation between grain yields and yield attributing traits of advanced inbred determinate lines. Thirty nine lablab F5...
Effect of integrated potassium nutrition on Fusarium wilt tolerance in apple bananas
September 2021
Potassium nutrition has been used in controlling fungal and bacterial diseases of plants. However, this has not yet been tested on control of Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense -Foc), a major fungal disease constraining apple banana production. This study was set up with a general objective to investigate the effects of potassium on tolerance to Fusarium wilt in apple bananas using chlorophyll content, stomatal...
Correlation and path coefficient analysis studies in Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun)
August 2021
Ethiopia is the center of origin for Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata). The crop is one of the oldest oil crops and farmers in the highlands of the country grow as a leafy vegetable in their gardens. However, no attempt has been made to assess the association of characters and path analysis in Ethiopian mustard leaf. This study was conducted to assess association of traits among leafy vegetable yield and yield...
Combining ability of quality protein maize inbred lines under low and optimum soil nitrogen environments in Ethiopia
August 2021
Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop on which many smallholder farmers in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) depend on as a sole source of calories, proteins, and vitamins. However, conventional maize is deficient in two essential amino acids, lysine, and tryptophan. Thereafter, Quality Protein Maize (QPM) developed to combat protein malnutrition. In SSA low soil nitrogen is also the most limiting factor in maize...
Classifying highland quality protein maize in bred lines into heterotic groups
August 2021
Efforts to boost maize productivity can be undertaken through systematic management of heterosis. Combining ability test is a critical step towards identifying a heterotic group of new parental lines. Different heterotic grouping methods has been used by different researchers. Among these, SCA and hybrid mean, hybrid index, combined use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), SSR markers and heterotic...
Meta-analysis of the effects of Rhizobia inoculants and phosphorus fertilizer on soybean nodulation in Africa
August 2021
Soybean has the potential to bring significant benefits in diversified cropping systems, which could help restructuring soil fertility and allow smallholders to increase grain yield. Rhizobium inoculation improves the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legume crops and assists resource-poor farmers to increase grain yield at lower financial costs. The efficacy of symbiotic bacteria on legumes can also be...
Genetic variability and correlation of agronomic and malt quality traits in Ethiopian sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces at Sheraro, Northern Ethiopia
July 2021
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a major cereal crop, grown in a wide range of agro-ecology. However, in Ethiopia there are very few high yielding improved sorghum varieties for malting purpose. A field experiment was conducted at Sheraro, sub-site of Mytseberi Agricultural Research Center during the 2017 cropping season. The objectives of the study were to identify sorghum landraces with high grain yield, study...
Standard heterosis and heterotic grouping of highland adapted maize (Zea Mays L.) inbred lines in Ethiopia
July 2021
The current study was initiated to estimate the magnitude of standard heterosis for grain yield and yield related traits in a line x tester hybrids and to classify the inbred lines into different heterotic groups. Fifty entries consisting of 48 testcrosses developed from 12 inbred lines and 4 testers using line x tester design and two commercial check hybrids used in the study. The experiment was conducted using alpha...
Growth, yield and phosphorus use efficiency of potato varieties propagated from apical rooted cuttings under variable phosphorus rates
July 2021
This study determined effect of phosphorus (P) rates on growth, yield and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of potato varieties propagated from apical rooted cuttings. Experiments were conducted at Egerton University, Njoro and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization, Molo, in a split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Main plot factors were four potato varieties...
Conservation agriculture-based Zea mays (maize)-Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) cropping systems in South Central Ethiopia
June 2021
Conservation agriculture (CA) is defined as sustainable agriculture production system comprising a set of farming practices. The experiment was conducted at three districts from 2011 to 2016 at five farmers’ field they considered as replicate. The experiment consisted of five treatments (continuous sole maize, maize bean rotation, maize-bean inter-cropping, bean rotation under CA and farmer practice). Maize yield...
Genotypic screening of tomato’s AREB 1 gene for drought tolerance and computational protein structure prediction
June 2021
In this investigation, the coding sequence of the drought-stress inducible gene AREB1 in tomato derived from cDNA indicated 100% identity with the reference gene in the NCBI PlantEnsembl database. The protein structure of the AREB1 sequence derived from polymerase chain reaction from tomato DNA template was done using ExPASy and its protein parameter tools ProtParam. The structures of AREB1 protein showed a MolProbity...
Efficacy of soil solarization on the control of root-knot nematodes infecting eggplant (Solanum melongena) in Plateau State
June 2021
The efficacy of soil solarization was tested for the control of root-knot nematodes in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State using three commercially available cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena) namely: Yallo Bello, Chida Masoyi and Farin Yallo. Two levels of soil solarization based on time of exposure namely: Four weeks, five weeks and a control were employed. Soil temperature for...
Viral synergism and its role in management of maize lethal necrosis disease
June 2021
Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) in Kenya has been reported to be caused by a coinfection between a non-potyvirus Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and a potyvirus Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). The control of the disease in Kenya has been a challenge owing to the synergistic interactions that exist between the two viruses. This study, sought to determine the stage of synergism between the two viruses and its role...
Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on sweet potato production in Iwo, Nigeria
May 2021
Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) is one of the most important horticultural crops for human consumption and livestock feed. All parts of the plant are found useful to human consumption, animal feed, and industrial uses. Fertilizer applications have been shown to improve vegetative and storage parameters could be enhanced, but inorganic fertilizers are not always readily available, or are too expensive for prevalently...
Improvement of the kola tree cuttings root (Cola nitida) in nursery by removing the terminal bud of the semi-lignified plagiotropic cuttings
May 2021
The influence of the terminal bud treatment and genotype on the cutting of plagiotropic semi-lignified kola tree cuttings was studied with the aim of vegetative propagation. Two dressing modes cuttings (B1: Presence of terminal bud and B2: Absence of terminal bud) were tested on three genotypes (D9L20A3, 315 and 323) in a split-plot design with the genotype in the large plot and the cutting dressing mode in the small...
Comparative effect of weed control methods on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) in maize
April 2021
Mexican sunflower management in arable crops is becoming increasingly important due to its prevalent growth habit. The field experiments were conducted to compare weed suppressive abilities of two cover crops and two maize herbicides on Mexican sunflower. The treatments consist of the pre-emergence application of Primextra Gold (atrazine + metolachlor) at 4 l/ha, a post-emergence application of Aminoforce (2, 4-D)...
Litterfall production, nutrient input and soil fertility in yerba-mate agroforestry systems
April 2021
Adoption of agroforestry systems (AFS) for yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) production contributes to improvement of soil quality due to intense litterfall input. This study aimed (i) to quantify the litterfall input and its nutrients, as well as soil fertility attributes in yerba mate AFS (ii) to discriminate which soil fertility attributes and litterfall nutrients enabled differentiation of yerba mate AFS and...
Pharmacognostic and phytochemical characterization of Maerua angolensis DC.
April 2021
Maerua angolensis DC is a medicinal plant widely used in ethnomedicine in northern Nigeria. It is used to treat disease conditions like skin infections, sexually transmitted diseases, peptic ulcers and wounds amongst others. The plant is well known in Fulani Fulfude as leggal baali (or leggal mbaali). The plant was subjected to pharmacognostic and physicochemical characterization to establish standard profiles for...
The multi-level table and circular diagnostic chart as alternative taxonomic key formats for plant identification
March 2021
Correct identification of plants is a prerequisite to achieving desirable results in health care delivery, sustainable food production and housing, forest resources management and environmental protection. However, many of the paper-based/printable taxonomic key formats available to the taxonomist for this important responsibility are fraught with inadequacies some of which include fixed sequence of plant identification...
Grain yield and stability of selected early and medium duration cowpea in Ghana
March 2021
Changes in climate are a major driver for climate-smart crops with short duration on-field and adaptation to diverse growing conditions. This study evaluated the performance of nine early duration and 10 medium duration cowpea genotypes at six locations within the Guinea and Sudan savanna zones of Ghana. Genotypes for each maturity group were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications for...
Solving the mystery of the construction and elucidating the structural and functionality attributes of dichotomous key, a widely used tool for plant identification
February 2021
The significance of correct identification of plants is acknowledged in many human endeavours such as health care, food production, sustainable housing, forest resources management and environmental protection. Plant identification is usually carried out by means of descriptions and keys, which are available in floras, manuals or other taxonomic publications, the most widely used tool being the dichotomous key. However,...
Molecular characterization of garlic (Allium sativum L.) using SSR markers in Ethiopia
February 2021
Garlic is one of the most cultivated and medicinal horticultural crops in the world. Its production and productivity is decreased due to different constraints. Knowing the genetic distance will give information to tackle the constraints. This study characterized genetic diversity of garlic germplasm by analysis of eleven Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) loci in 115 garlic accession. Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh...
Page 1 of 16, showing 50 records out of 791 total, starting on record 1, ending on 50
Advertisement
Advertisement
