August 2010

Embarking on a second green revolution for sustainable agriculture by vermiculture biotechnology using earthworms: Reviving the dreams of Sir Charles Darwin

  Vermiculture biotechnology promises to usher in the ‘Second Green Revolution’ by completely replacing the destructive agro-chemicals which did more harm than good to both the farmers and their farmland. Earthworms restore and improve soil fertility and significantly boost crop productivity. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive ‘organic fertilizer’ rich in humus, NKP,...

Author(s):     Rajiv K. Sinha, Dalsukh Valani, Krunal Chauhan and Sunita Agarwal

August 2010

Effect of explant type, source and genotype on in vitro shoot regeneration in Macadamia (Macadamia spp.)

  Macadamia, (Macadamia spp.) is conventionally propagated by grafting scions from selected superior cultivars onto rootstocks raised from seed, a process that takes about two years in addition to high inputs thus ending up with costly seedlings. A study was conducted to investigate the possibilities of applying tissue culture techniques in mass production of clean planting materials. Different types of...

Author(s):   L. N. Gitonga, S. T. Gichuki, K. Ngamau, A. W. T. Muigai, E. M. Kahangi, L. A. Wasilwa, S. Wepukhulu and N. Njogu