November 2023

An investigation of the photophysiology and phenology of cultivated African violet plants

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...

Author(s): O. Roger Anderson  

November 2023

Occurrence and distribution of viruses associated with papaya ringspot disease in Kenya

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...

Author(s): Naomi Nzilani Mumo, Elijah Miinda Ateka, George Edward Mamati, Fredah Karambu Rimberia and George Ochieng’ Asudi