Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 1021-1040 of 5157

    • Cyst nematode bio-communication with plants: implications for novel management approaches 

      Ochola, J.; Coyne, D.; Cortada-Gonzalez, L.; Haukeland, S.; Ng'ang'a, M.; Hassanali, A.; Opperman, C.; Torto, B. (2020-09-28)
      Bio‐communication occurs when living organisms interact with each other, facilitated by the exchange of signals including visual, auditory, tactile and chemical. The most common form of bio‐communication between organisms is mediated by chemical signals, commonly referred to as ‘semiochemicals’, and it involves an emitter releasing the chemical signal that is detected by a receiver leading to a phenotypic response in the latter organism. The quality and quantity of the chemical signal released may ...

    • Varietal selection in marginal agroecological niches and cultural landscapes: the case of rice in the Togo Hills 

      Teeken, B.; Temudo, M.P. (2021-02-19)
      The Togo Hills borderland between Ghana and Togo is known for its cultural and ecological diversity and dynamic socio-political history. In this setting, African rice (Oryza glaberrima) is cultivated together with other local cultivars of Asian rice (O. sativa), and smallholders are keen innovators. This article presents the results of participatory variety selection (PVS) trials, in four different cultural and ecological settings within the Togo Hills, designed to understand farmers’ innovation ...

    • Allometric equations, wood density and partitioning of aboveground biomass in the arboretum of Ruhande, Rwanda 

      Mukuralinda, A.; Kuyah, S.; Ruzibiza, M.; Ndoli, A.; Nabahungu, N.L.; Muthuri, C. (2021)
      There is growing interest in plantation forests throughout Africa because of their role in environment, economy and people's livelihoods. However, the contribution of planted forests to climate mitigation is poorly understood, partly due to lack of allometric equations for biomass estimation. This study aimed to determine wood density and biomass fractions in aboveground components, and to develop biomass estimation equations for multispecies plantation forests in the arboretum of Ruhande in Rwanda. ...

    • Short communication: finetuning molecular markers for efficient selection of vitamin A-rich tropical maize lines in a molecular breeding scheme 

      Babalola, D.; Menkir, A.; Ilesanmi, O.; Obi, Q.; Gedil, M. (2021-01)

    • A CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-editing system for yam (Dioscorea spp.) 

      Syombua, E.D.; Zhang, Z.; Tripathi, J.N.; Ntui, V.O.; Kang, M.; George, O.O.; Edward, N.K.; Wang, B.; Yang, B.; Tripathi, L. (2020)

    • Record of new host plants associated to the invasive mealybug species Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the Center and Littoral regions of Cameroon 

      Simo, H.S.K.; Goergen, G.; Tindo, M. (2021)
      The papaya mealybug (PM) is a known notorious polyphagous insect pest of many plant species and has always been found associated with a new host/s in newly invaded areas. This pest recently invaded West and Central Africa. Surveys were conducted randomly from July 2014 to May 2018 to determine the host range of this pest in the Center and Littoral regions in Cameroon. Plants infested by PM were recognized by the presence of black sooty mould, leaf deformation and/or chlorosis. A standard infestation ...

    • Application of CRISPR/Cas for diagnosis and management of viral diseases of banana 

      Tripathi, L.; Ntui, V.O.; Tripathi, J.N.; Kumar, P.L. (2021)
      Viral diseases are significant biotic constraints for banana (Musa spp.) production as they affect the yield and limit the international movement of germplasm. Among all the viruses known to infect banana, the banana bunchy top virus and banana streak viruses are widespread and economically damaging. The use of virus-resistant bananas is the most cost-effective option to minimize the negative impacts of viral-diseases on banana production. CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing is emerging as the most ...

    • Technological innovations for improving cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa 

      Mbanjo, E.; Rabbi, I.Y.; Ferguson, M.E.; Kayondo, S.I.; Eng, N.H.; Tripathi, L.; Kulakow, P.; Egesi, C. (2021-01)
      Cassava is crucial for food security of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop has great potential to contribute to African development and is increasing its income-earning potential for small-scale farmers and related value chains on the continent. Therefore, it is critical to increase cassava production, as well as its quality attributes. Technological innovations offer great potential to drive this envisioned change. This paper highlights genomic tools and resources available in ...

    • Opportunities and challenges for biofortification of cassava to address iron and zinc deficiency in Nigeria 

      Okwuonu, I.C.; Narayanan, N.N.; Egesi, C.N.; Taylor, N.J. (2021-03)
      Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava (Manihot esculenta), and its production is important to the country's economy. Cassava's edible storage roots act as a critical staple food for over 180 million Nigerians. Micronutrient deficiency presents a major public health issue in Nigeria and correlates with cassava consumption level across six-agro-ecological zones within the country. Though high in caloric value, cassava roots are deficient in minerals, placing populations that rely on ...

    • Emergence of Maruca vitrata as a major pest of food legumes and evolution of management practices in Asia and Africa 

      Srinivasan, R.; Tamò, M.; Malini, P. (2021-01)
      Legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, has emerged as a major pest on food legumes in Asia and Africa. It is an oligophagous pest, feeding on over 70 species in Fabaceae. We examine the species complex in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, with an emphasis on molecular taxonomy. Studies on pheromone production and perception suggest the existence of pheromone polymorphism, especially in Asia and Africa. No Maruca-resistant varieties are available in the major food legumes including cowpea, ...

    • Does agricultural cooperative membership impact technical efficiency of maize production in Nigeria: an analysis correcting for biases from observed and unobserved attributes 

      Olagunju, K.O.; Ogunniyi, A.I.; Oyetunde-Usman, Z.; Omotayo, A.O.; Awotide, B.A. (2021)
      The formation of agricultural cooperatives has been widely promoted as an agricultural development policy initiative to help smallholder farmers cope with multiple production and marketing challenges. Using a nationally representative survey dataset of smallholder maize producers from rural Nigeria, this study assesses the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on technical efficiency (TE). We based our estimation approach on the combination of a newly developed sample selection stochastic ...

    • Impacts on greenhouse gas balance and rural economy after agroecology development in Itasy Madagascar 

      Rakotovao, N.H.; Chevallier, T.; Chapuis-Lardy, L.; Deffontaines, S.; Mathé, S.; Ramarofidy, M.A.; Rakotoniamonjy, T.H.; Lepage, A.; Masso, C.; Albrecht, A.; Razafimbelo, T. M. (2020)
      Rural development projects to develop sustainable agriculture need to be assessed before engaging smallholder farmers at large scale. Data on agricultural systems to produce food, provide income for smallholders and reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions are scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Here, we assessed the potential of agroecological practices (AP) on economic benefits to farmers, GHG balance derived from agricultural activities, and efficiency of economic investments to mitigate GHG. ...

    • Genotype by environment cultivar evaluation for cassava brown streak disease resistance in Tanzania 

      Shirima, R.R.; Legg, J.; Maeda, D.G.; Tumwegamire, S.; Mkamilo, G.; Mtunda, K.; Kulembeka, H.; Ndyetabula, I.; Kimata, B.P.; Matondo, D.G.; Ceasar, G.; Mushi, E.; Sichalwe, K.; Kanju, E. (2020-09)
      Cassava brown steak disease (CBSD), caused by Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV), is the most important biotic constraint to cassava production in East and Central Africa. Concerted efforts are required to prevent further spread into West Africa as well as to reduce losses in areas already affected. The study reported here was part of a five-country (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda) programme that aimed to identify superior cassava ...

    • Multiple small-effect alleles of Indica origin enhance high iron-associated stress tolerance in rice under field conditions in west Africa 

      Melandri, G.; Sikirou, M.; Arbelaez, J.D.; Shittu, A.; Semwal, V.K.; Konaté, K.A.; Maji, A.T.; Ngaujah, S.A.; Akintayo, I.; Govinduraj, V.; Shi, Y.; Agosto-Perez, F.J.; Greenberg, A.J.; Atlin, G.; Ramaiah, V.; McCouch, S.R. (2020)
      Understanding the genetics of field-based tolerance to high iron-associated (HIA) stress in rice can accelerate the development of new varieties with enhanced yield performance in West African lowland ecosystems. To date, few field-based studies have been undertaken to rigorously evaluate rice yield performance under HIA stress conditions. In this study, two NERICA × O. sativa bi-parental rice populations and one O.sativa diversity panel consisting of 296 rice accessions were evaluated for grain ...

    • Enhancing farmers’ agency in the global crop commons through use of biocultural community protocols 

      Halewood, M.; Villanueva, A.B.; Rasolojaona, J.; Andriamahazo, M.; Rakotoniaina, N.; Bossou, B.; Mikpon, T.; Vodouhe, R.; Fey, L.; Drews, A.; Kumar, P.L.; Rasoanirina, B.; Rasoazafindrabe, T.; Aigbe, M.; Agbahounzo, B.; Otieno, G.; Garforth, K.; Kiene, T.; Nnadozie, K. (2021)
      Crop genetic resources constitute a ‘new’ global commons, characterized by multiple layers of activities of farmers, genebanks, public and private research and development organizations, and regulatory agencies operating from local to global levels. This paper presents sui generis biocultural community protocols that were developed by four communities in Benin and Madagascar to improve their ability to contribute to, and benefit from, the crop commons. The communities were motivated in part by the ...

    • Organic manure improves soybean response to rhizobia inoculant and p-fertilizer in northern Ghana 

      Ulzen, J.; Abaidoo, R.C.; Ewusi-Mensah, N.; Osei, O.; Masso, C.; Opoku, A. (2020-09)
      Inherently low concentrations of soil nutrients and erratic rainfall pattern in sub-Sahara Africa limit soybean response to rhizobia inoculant and P-fertilizer. The study was conducted to: (i) improve soybean response to rhizobia inoculation and P-fertilizer through the addition of organic manure; (ii) enhance rain water use efficiency and (iii) determine the economic viability of combined application of the three factors in soybean cropping systems in the Northern region of Ghana. A factorial ...

    • Carotenoid profile and functional properties of flour blends from biofortified maize and improved soybean varieties for product developments 

      Alamu, E.O.; Olatunde, G.O.; Adegunwa, M.O.; Adebanjo, L.A.; Awoyinfa, O.C.; Soyoye, J.B. (2021)
      Biofortified maize has received increased attention from a nutraceutical perspective because of its bioactive phytochemical components, including carotenoids. However, biofortified maize is limiting in some amino acids which are present in soybeans; hence both crops are used as blends in food products. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the carotenoids and functional properties of maize-soybean flour blends as influenced by biofortified maize variety. Flour blends were prepared from each maize ...

    • Simple sequence repeat-based mini-core collection for white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata) germplasm 

      Pachakkil, B.; Yamanaka, S.; Girma Tessema, G.; Matsumoto, R.; Tamiru-Oli, M.; Bhattacharjee, R.; Abberton, M.; Muranaka, S.; Asiedu, R.; Terauchi, R.; Takagi, H. (2021)
      A core subset with a small number of accessions representing the genetic diversity of the base collection plays a vital role in facilitating efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. This is particularly relevant for vegetatively propagated large plant size tuber crops with a long growing period, such as white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.). For the efficient utilization of D. rotundata genetic resources, this study was aimed at developing a mini‐core collection from a core collection ...

    • Genotype by environment interaction on resistance to cassava green mite associated traits and effects on yield performance of cassava genotypes in Nigeria 

      Jiwuba, L.; Danquah, A.; Asante, I.; Blay, E.; Onyeka, J.; Danquah, E.; Egesi, C. (2020-09-04)
      Cassava is the main source of carbohydrate for over 70% of the people in Nigeria, the world’s largest producer and consumer of the crop. The yields of cassava are, however, relatively low in Nigeria largely due to pests and disease infections that significantly lead to inconsistencies in productivity of cassava genotypes in various environments. Fifty-eight F1 hybrid cassava genotypes plus their two parents which served as check varieties were evaluated in three locations for two years (that is ...

    • Harvesting time and roasting effects on colour properties, xanthophylls, phytates, tannins and vitamin C contents of orange maize hybrid 

      Alamu, E.O.; Maziya-Dixon, B.; Menkir, A.; Ogunlade, A.O.; Olaofe, O. (2020)
      Biofortified maize varieties form an essential part of a nutritious diet; available evidence suggests that different processing methods may affect the final food products. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of processing (roasting) and harvesting time on the bioactive components (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, phytate, tannin and vitamin C) and colour properties (L*, a*, b*), of biofortified orange maize. The orange maize hybrids used for the study were obtained from the International ...