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Carbohydrate profiling of different accessions of three underutilized legumes: a potential source of valuable nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals
(2023-11-03)Carbohydrates are significant components of legumes, and their profiling can provide information about their nutritional value and potential health benefits. This study explores the proximate composition and carbohydrate profiles of accessions of three underutilized legumes, namely, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, and Macrotyloma uniflorum. The total starch and soluble sugar are determined. Starch granule morphology and diameter are determined using scanning electron microscopy and chain length ... -
Impact of nitrogen-fixation bacteria on nitrogen-fixation efficiency of Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc] genotypes
(2023-09-26)Nitrogen fixation by bacteria is essential for sustaining the growth, development, and yield of legumes. Pot experiments were carried out at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in the glasshouse between August to December 2018/2019 cropping season in Ibadan, Nigeria. Field studies were also performed in two different agroecological zones, “Ibadan and Ikenne” between August and December of 2019/2020 cropping season. The studies were set up to determine the potential of ... -
Yield response of accessions of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc) inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains
(2023-03-27)Field experiments were conducted in two different agroecological locations of Ibadan and Ikenne in Nigeria from August through December during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. The studies were set up to reduce reliance on inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and to embrace the use of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to improve legume production to increase farmers' output and profitability. Ten accessions of the Bambara groundnut (BGN) were used in the trials. Seeds of each BGN accession were coated with each ... -
Unlocking the potential of agribusiness in Africa through youth participation: an impact evaluation of N-Power Agro Empowerment Program in Nigeria
(2020-07)In a country of about 200 million people, the government has over the years constituted various initiatives to address the issue of unemployment, food security, and youth involvement in agriculture. However, the impact of these initiatives has been minimal due to the inconsistency in government policies, changes in government, inadequate implementation mechanism amongst others. This study, therefore, evaluated the impact of the N-power Agro Program on youth employment and income generation through ... -
Candidate genes for field resistance to cassava brown streak disease revealed through the analysis of multiple data sources
(2023-11-03)Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a food and industrial storage root crop with substantial potential to contribute to managing risk associated with climate change due to its inherent resilience and in providing a biodegradable option in manufacturing. In Africa, cassava production is challenged by two viral diseases, cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease. Here we detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with CBSD in a biparental mapping population of a Tanzanian ... -
Cassava molecular genetics and genomics for enhanced resistance to diseases and pests
(2023)Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is one of the most important sources of dietary calories in the tropics, playing a central role in food and economic security for smallholder farmers. Cassava production is highly constrained by several pests and diseases, mostly cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). These diseases cause significant yield losses, affecting food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Developing resistant varieties is a good way of increasing ... -
Agronomic performance and yield stability of extra-early maturing maize hybrids in multiple environments in the Sahel
(2023-09)Frequent occurrence of drought, heat, low soil fertility and Striga infestation are the main stress factors reducing maize yield in the Sahel. Adoption of stable multiple stress tolerant maize cultivars in the region is crucial for achieving food security. However, selection of a stable high yielding cultivar is complicated by genotype × environment interaction (GEI) due to differential responses to growing conditions. Eleven extra-early maturing multiple-stress tolerant maize hybrids and two ... -
Closing the crop yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems in Kenya: Long-term trial research indicates agronomic viability
(2024-12)The production gap between current and attainable yields is highest on Africa`s smallholder farms, and some studies indicate that they might not benefit from the yield gains offered by conventional farming. Simultaneously, alternative farming systems like organic provide biodiversity and soil fertility advantages, but their ability to produce sufficient food is still under debate. Additionally, comparative data on the productivity of organic versus conventional in tropical regions are scarce or ... -
Genotype x environment interaction and yield stability of soybean (Glycine max l.) genotypes in multi-environment trials (METs) in Nigeria
(2024-10-15)Genotype × environment interaction (GEI) poses a critical challenge to plant breeders by complicating the identification of stable variety (ies) for performance across diverse environments. GGE biplot and AMMI analyses have been identified as the most effective and appropriate statistical techniques for identifying stable and high-performing genotypes across diverse environments. The objective of this study was to identify widely adapted and high-yielding soybean genotypes from Multi-Locational ... -
Efects of silver nitrate on in vitro development of yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) plants
(2024-09-25)Yam (Dioscorea spp.) production is constrained by many factors including insufficient planting materials, diseases, and climate change. Plant tissue culture (PTC) offers practical solutions for rapid propagation of many plant types. However, ethylene buildup during PTC is a major challenge to in vitro plant growth and development. This study examined the effects of silver nitrate (AgNO3), a known ethylene action blocker on the in vitro growth and development of four accessions of D. rotundata in ... -
The challenge of industrialization of a nature-based solution that allows farmers to produce aflatoxin-safe crops in various African countries
(2024-12-06)In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), many crops are contaminated by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi with highly toxic, carcinogenic aflatoxins. This contamination has severe negative impacts on health, trade, income, and development sectors, hindering progress toward various objectives of most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing. Farmers, industries, and governments need sound aflatoxin management strategies to effectively limit aflatoxin ... -
Exploring farmer’s assessment of soil quality and root yield in cassava-based cropping systems
(2024-06-28)Nigeria. Data were collected on farmers’ demography, farming experience, criteria for selecting a site for cassava cultivation and preferences for those criteria, farmers’ methods of yield prediction and how it compares with the scientific approach, farmers’ agronomic knowledge and how it relates to the realities of climate change and soil fertility decline. The modal age class of the farmers is 45–55 years, and most of the farmers are male. The results show that farmers use a combination of soil ... -
Signaling quality in informal markets. Evidence from an experimental auction in the Sahel
(2025-01)This study estimates the extent to which rural consumers in sub-Saharan Africa value quality signals about their food. We tested this by implementing an incentive-compatible Becker-Degroot Marschak auction among consumers in Niger and Northern Nigeria to estimate their willingness to pay (WTP) for cowpea (blackeyed pea) that was stored and sold in an improved grain storage bag that signaled unobservable quality in the form of insecticide-free grain. The improved bag had two inner layers of ... -
Mitigation of aflatoxin contamination of maize, groundnut, and sorghum by commercial biocontrol products in farmers’ fields across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo
(2024)Background Aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi poses a significant threat to food security and public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Maize, groundnut, and sorghum are staple crops frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, sometimes at dangerous levels. Despite its detrimental effects, many farmers in SSA lack access to effective tools for mitigating aflatoxin contamination. Biocontrol based on atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus is an effective tool to limit aflatoxin ... -
Control potential of multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) isolated from fall armyworm in Nigeria (West Africa)
(2024-03-26)The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) has now become an invasive pest of global concern. The pest was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016. Sustainable management options explored by stakeholders during early FAW invasion in Africa included the use of biopesticides and biological control. The current study aimed to compare the susceptibility of FAW larvae to SfMNPV with the assumption that the virus isolated from FAW populations in Africa has ... -
Drivers and magnitude of food insecurity among rural households in southern Democratic Republic of Congo
(2024-11-06)Access to adequate and nutritious food is accepted as a human right worldwide. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kasai Oriental province is one of the most vulnerable provinces in the country in terms of food insecurity. However, its current depth of food insecurity and the root factors have not been studied. Against this background, this study used cross-sectional data from 318 households to analyze the magnitude and socioeconomic drivers of food insecurity among rural households in the ... -
Remotely sensed spectral indicators of bird taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity across Afrotropical urban and non-urban habitats
(2025-01)Urban areas are quickly expanding around the world, promoting deep changes in biodiversity. However, certain biogeographic realms, like the Afrotropics, are clearly understudied despite urbanization overlapping with their biodiversity hotspots. A commonly highlighted reason for the lack of information from the Afrotropics has been the logistical problem associated with data collection in the field. Recent advances in satellite remote sensing imagery offer an excellent opportunity to revert this ... -
Development of standard operating protocol for measurement of cassava root mealiness
(2024-07-27)One of the major attributes of boiled cassava roots is its ability to soften within a short period, otherwise known as mealiness. This study aimed to establish and validate standard operating procedures for assessing the mealiness of boiled cassava roots. Twenty cassava genotypes, including landrace and improved varieties, were selected for the protocol development, with an additional ten genotypes used for validation. Following cooking, the cassava roots were evaluated for hardness and work done ... -
Early detection of plant virus infection using multispectral imaging and machine learning
(2024-07-31)Climate change-resilient crops like cassava are projected to play a key role in 21st-century food security. However, cassava production in East Africa is limited by RNA viruses that cause cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). CBSD typically causes subtle or no symptoms on stems and leaves, while destroying the root tissue, which means farmers are often unaware their fields are infected until they have a failed harvest. The subtle symptoms of CBSD have made it difficult to study the spread of the ... -
Comparing fresh root yield and quality of certified and farmer-saved cassava seed
(2024-09-06)Formal systems supporting the delivery of high-quality cassava seed are being established in several key cassava producing countries in Africa. Questions remain, however, about the value of certified cassava seed when compared to seed which is recycled multiple times, which is standard farmer practice. A study was therefore conducted to compare fresh cassava root yields of high-quality seed (HQS) versus farmer-saved (recycled) seed (FSS) for three widely grown improved cassava varieties in Tanzania ...
