Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 1081-1100 of 5271

    • Seed yam production using high-quality minitubers derived from plants established with vine cuttings 

      Aighewi, B.; Maroya, N.; Kumar, P.L.; Balogun, M.; Aihebhoria, D.; Mignouna, D.; Asiedu, R. (2021)
      Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a valuable food security crop in West Africa, where 92% of the world production occurs. The availability of quality seed tubers for increased productivity is a major challenge. In this study, minitubers weighing 1, 3, and 5 g produced from virus-free single-node vine cuttings of two improved yam varieties (Asiedu and Kpamyo) growing in an aeroponics system were assessed for suitability in seed production at a population of 100,000 plants ha−1. A 3 × 2 factorial experiment ...

    • Dried small fish provide nutrient densities important for the first 1000 days 

      Byrd, K.A.; Pincus, L.; Pasqualino, M.M.; Muzofa, F.; Cole, S.M. (2021)
      Inadequate nutrient intakes are prevalent among many populations in sub-Saharan Africa and increasing fish consumption among pregnant/lactating women and children is one strategy to improve diets and address nutrient deficiencies. We report the nutrient content of two fish-based recipes—fish powder and fish chutney—that contain dried small fish available in local markets in Zambia. The contribution of a serving of each recipe to the recommended daily intakes of iron, zinc, calcium and docosahexaenoic ...

    • Assessment of sustainable land use: linking land management practices to sustainable land use indicators 

      Nziguheba, G.; Adewopo, J.; Masso, C.; Nabahungu, N.L.; Six, J.; Sseguya, H.; Taulya, G.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021)
      Land degradation threatens food production especially in smallholder farming systems predominant in sub-Saharan Africa. Monitoring the effects of agricultural land uses is critical to guide sustainable intensification (SI). There are various indicators of sustainable land use (SLU), but conventional methods to quantify their metrics are complex and difficult to deploy for rapid and large-scale assessments. Considering that SLU indicators are dependent on agricultural practices, which can be rapidly ...

    • Welfare impacts of smallholder farmers’ participation in multiple output markets: empirical evidence from Tanzania 

      Manda, J.; Azzarri, C.; Feleke, S.; Kotu, B.; Claessens, L.; Bekunda, M. (2021-05-06)
      A relatively large body of literature has documented the welfare effects of smallholder farmers’ participation in single-commodity output markets. However, limited empirical evidence is available when smallholder farmers participate in multiple-commodities output markets. We tried to fill this gap in the literature by estimating the impacts of smallholder farmers’ contemporaneous participation in both maize and legume markets vis-à-vis in only maize or legume markets using household-level data ...

    • Aflatoxin contamination in Tanzania: quantifying the problem in maize and groundnuts from rural households 

      Boni, S.; Beed, F.; Kimanya, M.; Koyano, E.; Mponda, O.; Mamiro, D.; Kaoneka, B.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Korie, S.; Mahuku, G. (2021)
      Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites, produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which contaminate food and feed and threaten human and animal health. To assess the prevalence of aflatoxins in Tanzania, 180 groundnut and 200 maize samples were collected from 9 and 10 districts, respectively. Aflatoxin contamination was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography. Aflatoxins were detected in samples collected from all districts and prevalence ...

    • Distribution and diversity of alternate hosts of Maruca vitrata Fabricius in three west African countries 

      Addae, P.C.; Bruce, Y.A.; Utono, I.M.; Abudulai, M.; Traore, F.; Ishiyaku, F.S.; Adamu, R.S.; Seldu, A.; Batieno, B.J.; Nwankwo, O.F.; Ba, M.N.; Adazebra, G.A.; Tignegre, J.B.; Dabire, C.; Huesing, J.; Hellmich, R.L.; Pittendrigh, B.R.; Tamo, M. (2021)
      The evolution of resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins by insect pests is a major threat to Bt technology. However, the rate of resistance can be slowed with appropriate integrated insect resistance management (IRM) strategies. Surveys were conducted to identify alternate host species for Maruca vitrata (commonly called the legume pod borer or Maruca) that could serve as refuges for Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea in three West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso). ...

    • Progeny fitness determines the performance of the parasitoid Therophilus javanus, a prospective biocontrol agent against the legume pod borer 

      Souna, D.A.; Bokonon-Ganta, A.; Ravallec, M.; Alizannon, M.; Srinivasan, R.; Pittendrigh, B.R.; Volkoff, A.N.; Tamo, M. (2021)
      Therophilus javanus (Bhat & Gupta) is an exotic larval endoparasitoid newly imported from Asia into Africa as a classical biological control agent against the pod borer Maruca vitrata (Fabricius). The parasitoid preference for the five larval instars of M. vitrata and their influence on progeny sex ratio were assessed together with the impact of larval host age at the time of oviposition on development time, mother longevity and offspring production. In a choice situation, female parasitoids ...

    • Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) provides an effective monoxenic culture media for Radopholus similis 

      Oduori, C.A.; Atandi, J.; Kisaakye, J.; Coyne, D. (2021)
      The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is the most economically important nematode parasite of bananas, in addition to parasitising a range of other crops (Coyne & Kidane, 2018). Weakened, infected roots result in poor plant development and they are less able to provide anchorage to banana plants, which can lead to toppling of the entire plant. To enable research activities, such as resistance screening and efficacy studies, a readily available supply of inoculum is required for timely use ...

    • Genome wide association analysis of a stemborer egg induced “call‑for‑help” defence trait in maize 

      Tamiru, A.; Paliwal, R.; Manthi, S.J.; Odeny, D.A.; Midega, C.A.; Khan, Z.R.; Pickett, J.A.; Bruce, T.J. (2020)
      Tritrophic interactions allow plants to recruit natural enemies for protection against herbivory. Here we investigated genetic variability in induced responses to stemborer egg-laying in maize Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae). We conducted a genome wide association study (GWAS) of 146 maize genotypes comprising of landraces, inbred lines and commercial hybrids. Plants were phenotyped in bioassays measuring parasitic wasp Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attraction to volatiles collected ...

    • Rapid determination of fructooligosaccharide in solar‑dried banana syrup by using near‑infrared spectroscopy 

      Udomkun, P.; Rungpichayapichet, P.; Phuangcheen, N.; Innawong, B. (2021)
      The transformation of value-added solar-dried banana to banana syrup, which contains very high levels of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), is attractive. It has promising economic potential for the nutraceutical and functional food industry. In this study, the near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used for the detection of 1-kestose (GF2), nystose (GF3), 1F-fructofuranosylnystose (GF4), and total FOS in solar-dried banana syrup in the spectral region of 4000–12,000 cm−1. Partial Least Squares (PLS) ...

    • Morphological and molecular characterisation of Aporcelaimellus nigeriensis sp. n. (Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae), a remarkable dorylaim from Nigeria 

      Rashidifard, M.; Bello, T.T.; Fourie, H.; Coyne, D.; Peña-Santiago, R. (2020)
      A new species of Aporcelaimellus, collected in a watermelon field in Nigeria, is described, including its morphological and molecular (D2-D3 28S-rDNA, 18r-DNA) characterisation. Aporcelaimellus nigeriensis sp. n. is distinguishable by its 2.76-3.55 mm length, very coarse ventral body pores, lip region offset by deep constriction and 24-27 μm broad odontostyle 30-36 μm long at its dorsal and 28-31 μm at its ventral side, neck 648-779 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 54-60% of total neck ...

    • New cassava germplasm for food and nutritional security in central Africa 

      Tize, I.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Nukenine, E.; Masso, C.; Ngome, F.A.; Suh, C.; Lendzemo, V.W.; Nchoutnji, I.; Manga, G.A.; Parkes, E.; Kulakow, P.; Kouebou, C.; Fiaboe, K.; Hanna, R. (2021)
      Cassava is a key food security crop in Central Africa, but its production depends largely on the use of local farmers’ varieties characterized by inherently low yield which is compounded by generally high susceptibility to various growth and yield-limiting pests and diseases. Improved cassava genotypes have demonstrated the potential to substantially improve cassava’s contribution to food security and the development of the cassava industry and the improvement of nutrition status elsewhere in ...

    • Unveiling African rainforest composition and vulnerability to global change 

      Rejou-Machain, M.; Mortier, F.; Bastin, J.F.; Cornu, G.; Barbier, N.; Bayol, N.; Benedet, F.; Bry, X.; Dauby, G.; Deblauwe, V.; Doucet, J.L.; Doumenge, C.; Fayolle, A.; Garcia, C.; Lubamba, J.P.K.; Loumeto, J.J.; Ngomanda, A.; Ploton, P.; Sonke, B.; Trottier, C.; Vimal, R.; Yongo, O.; Pelissier, R.; Gourlet-Fleury, S. (2021)
      Africa is forecasted to experience large and rapid climate change1 and population growth2 during the twenty-first century, which threatens the world’s second largest rainforest. Protecting and sustainably managing these African forests requires an increased understanding of their compositional heterogeneity, the environmental drivers of forest composition and their vulnerability to ongoing changes. Here, using a very large dataset of 6 million trees in more than 180,000 field plots, we jointly ...

    • Effect of single or dual inoculation of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae and root‑nodulating rhizobacteria on reproduction of the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis on non‑leguminous and leguminous banana intercrops 

      Van der Veken, L.; Cabasan, M.T.N.; Elsen, A.; Swennen, R.; De Waele, D. (2021)
      The bio-protective effect of either single or dual mycorrhizal (AMF) and rhizobial colonisation of the roots of non-leguminous and leguminous banana intercrops differing in host response to Radopholus similis on the reproduction of this important migratory endoparasitic nematode was examined. Included in the study were sorgho-Sudan grass (good R. similis host), sweet potato and common bean (intermediate hosts), soybean and sunn hemp (poor hosts), and marigold (non-host). Significant plant ...

    • Direct estimation of maize leaf area index as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer rates in Guinea Savanna 

      Berdjour, A.; Dugje, I.; Rahman, N.A.; Odoom, D.A.; Kamara, A.; Ajala, S. (2020-05-15)
      Leaf area index (LAI) plays an important role in radiation capture, crop growth and yield formation. However, there is limited quantitative data on the influence of poultry manure (PM) and NPK fertilizer rate (NPK) on LAI, as estimated directly. Using a split-plot design with three replications, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three PM rate (0, 2 and 4 t/ha) as main plot and three NPK rate (0:0:0, 60:30:30 and 120:60:60 kg N P2O5 K2O/ha) as sub plot, on LAI and maize ...

    • Simulating the response of drought-tolerant maize varieties to nitrogen application in contrasting environments in the Nigeria Savannas using the APSIM Model 

      Beah, A.; Kamara, A.; Jibrin, J.M.; Akinseye, F.M.; Tofa, A.; Adam, A.M. (2020-12-31)
      This paper assessed the application of the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM)–maize module as a decision support tool for optimizing nitrogen application to determine yield and net return of maize production under current agricultural practices in the Nigeria savannas. The model was calibrated for two maize varieties using data from field experiments conducted under optimum conditions in three locations during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. The model was evaluated using an ...

    • Optimizing sowing density-based management decisions with different nitrogen rates on smallholder maize farms in northern Nigeria 

      Adnan, A.A.; Diels, J.; Jibrin, J.M.; Kamara, A.; Shaibu, A.S.; Garba, I.I.; Craufurd, P.; Maertens, M. (2021)
      In this study, the CERES-Maize model was calibrated and evaluated using data from 60 farmers’ fields across Sudan (SS) and Northern Guinea (NGS) Savannas of Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons. The trials consisted of 10 maize varieties sown at three different sowing densities (2.6, 5.3, and 6.6 plants m−2) across farmers’ field with contrasting agronomic and nutrient management histories. Model predictions in both years and locations were close to observed data for both calibration and evaluation ...

    • Introducing a mechanistic model in digital soil mapping to predict soil organic matter stocks in the Cantabrian region (Spain) 

      Hendriks, C.M.J.; Stoorvogel, J.J.; Álvarez‐Martínez, J.M.; Claessens, L.; Pérez‐Silos, I.; Barquín, J. (2021-03)
      Digital soil mapping (DSM) is an effective mapping technique that supports the increased need for quantitative soil data. In DSM, soil properties are correlated with environmental characteristics using statistical models such as regression. However, many of these relationships are explicitly described in mechanistic simulation models. Therefore, the mechanistic relationships can, in theory, replace the statistical relationships in DSM. This study aims to develop a mechanistic model to predict soil ...

    • Comparative transcriptome and expression profiling of resistant and susceptible banana cultivars during infection by Fusarium oxysporum 

      Kaushal, M.; Mahuku, G.; Swennen, R. (2021)
      Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the most destructive diseases of banana. Methods to control the disease are still inadequate. The present investigation targeted expression of defense-related genes in tissue cultured banana plantlets of Fusarium resistant and susceptible cultivars after infection with biological control agents (BCAs) and Fusarium (Foc race 1). In total 3034 differentially expressed genes were identified which annotated to 58 transcriptional ...

    • Global habitat suitability of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): key parasitoids considered for its biological control 

      Tepa-Yotto, G.T.; Tonnang, H.E.; Goergen, G.; Subramanian, S.; Kimathi, E.K.; Abdel-Rahman, E.M.; Flo, D.; Thunes, K.H.; Fiaboe, K.; Niassy, S.; Bruce, A.; Mohamed, S.A.; Tamò, M.; Ekesi, S.; Sæthre, M.G. (2021)
      The present study is the first modeling effort at a global scale to predict habitat suitability of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda and its key parasitoids, namely Chelonus insularis, Cotesia marginiventris,Eiphosoma laphygmae,Telenomus remus and Trichogramma pretiosum, to be considered for biological control. An adjusted procedure of a machine-learning algorithm, the maximum entropy (Maxent), was applied for the modeling experiments. Model predictions showed particularly high establishment ...