Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 261-280 of 5157

    • Extrapolation suitability index for sustainable vegetable cultivation in Babati district, Tanzania. 

      Muthoni, F.K.; Delore, J.M.; Lukumay, P.J.; Justus, O. (2023-04-03)
      Land suitability assessment matches crop requirements with available resources to promote sustainable production. Scaling out of sustainable agricultural intensification practices to suitable biophysical and socio-economic conditions reduces the risk of failure and increases their adoption rate. This study applies a geospatial framework to identify potentially suitable sites for extrapolating two improved vegetable cultivars grown under integrated management practices (IMP’s) in Babati District ...

    • Effective Striga control and yield intensification on maize farms in western Kenya with N fertilizer and herbicide-resistant variety 

      Roobroeck, D.; Kimutai, G.; Kanampiu, F.; Ng'etich, W.; Roing de Nowina, K.; Vanlauwe, B. (2023-05-15)
      Context Maize production in western Kenya is limited by the spread of parasitic weed Striga hermonthica and depletion of soil nutrient stocks. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer and imidazolinone resistant (IR) maize are key elements in the agronomic toolbox to control infestations and enhance yields Research question The circumstances under which their use, individually or combined, is most effective on farmer fields have not been well documented. Inappropriate management decisions and low returns on ...

    • Multi-trait selection index for superior agronomic and tuber quality traits in bush yam (Dioscorea praehensilis Benth.) 

      Adewumi, A.S.; Asare, P.A.; Adejumobi, I.I.; Adu, M.O.; Taah, K.J.; Adewale, S.; Mondo, J.; Agre, A.P. (2023-02-26)
      Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. is a semi-wild yam species and a valuable source of resistance trait genes. To access the agronomic and tuber quality performance, eleven quantitative phenotypic traits were used to discriminate and identify promising accessions among 162 accessions of D. praehensilis collected in Ghana. Significant and high genetic variability (p < 0.001) for all eleven quantitative traits was found among the evaluated accessions. Moderate broad-sense heritability (H2) (30–60%) was ...

    • Genome-wide association studies of Striga resistance in extra-early maturing quality protein maize inbred lines 

      Okunlola, G.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Ariyo, O.; Agre, P.; Offernedo, Q.N.; Ayo-Vaughan, M.A. (2023-02)
      Identification of genes associated with Striga resistance is invaluable for accelerating genetic gains in breeding for Striga resistance in maize. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions associated with grain yield and other agronomic traits under artificial Striga field infestation. One hundred and forty-one extra-early quality protein maize inbred lines were phenotyped for key agronomic traits. The inbred lines were also genotyped using 49,185 DArTseq markers ...

    • COVID-19 outbreak and rural household food security in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo 

      Manyong, V.; Bokanga, M.; Dieu-Merci, A.N.; Bamba, Z.; Adeoti, R.; Mwepu, G.; Cole, S.M.; Dontsop-Nguezet, P. (2022-12)
      Although global assessments of the initial impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have focused on income, jobs, and health conditions, this study constitutes one of the first studies that assessed the impact of COVID-19 on food security in DRC and established the short-term implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on rural households’ food security in DRC. In addition, the study recommendations contributed to shaping government interventions toward the pandemic in the Country. The study used ...

    • The differential impact of four tropical species of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) on biofortified cassava 

      Oyetunde, A.K.; Afolami, S.; Kulakow, P.; Coyne, D. (2022-05-10)
      Cassava plays an important food security role in Africa. Although a hardy crop in general, average yields are low, while traditional cultivars tend to be low in nutrients and vitamins. Substantial efforts have therefore been made to improve the nutritional quality of cassava through the development of biofortified cultivars. Although root-knot nematodes (RKN) are among the various important constraints affecting production, details on the impact of different species of RKN on cassava productivity ...

    • Chemical and pasting properties of potato flour (Solanum tuberosum L.) in relation to different processing techniques 

      Buzera, A.; Nkirote, E.; Abass, A.; Orina, I.; Sila, D. (2023-03-29)
      Processing potato tubers into flour can be done using various methods, which can impact the flour’s nutritional and pasting properties. This study evaluated the effects of five different processing methods, namely, low-temperature blanching, followed by oven drying (LTB_OD), high-temperature blanching followed by oven drying (HTB_OD), boiling followed by oven drying (Boiling_OD), freeze drying (FD), and oven drying (OD), on the nutritional and pasting properties of potato flour derived from Shangi ...

    • Lessons from integrated seasonal forecast-crop modelling in Africa: a systematic review 

      Mkuhlani, S.; Zinyengere, N.; Kumi, N.; Crespo, O. (2022-11-07)
      Seasonal forecasts coupled with crop models can potentially enhance decision-making in smallholder farming in Africa. The study sought to inform future research through identifying and critiquing crop and climate models, and techniques for integrating seasonal forecast information and crop models. Peer-reviewed articles related to crop modelling and seasonal forecasting were sourced from Google Scholar, Web of Science, AGRIS, and JSTOR. Nineteen articles were selected from a search outcome of 530. ...

    • Exploring the bush yam (Dioscorea praehensilis benth) as a source of agronomic and quality trait genes in white guinea yam (dioscorea rotundata poir) breeding 

      Adewumi, A.S.; Agre, A.P.; Asare, P.A.; Adu, M.O.; Taah, K.J.; Mondo, J.; Akaba, S. (2022-12-27)
      Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop in the tropics and subtropics. However, it is characterized by a narrow genetic base within cultivated and breeding lines for tuber yield, disease resistance, and postharvest traits, which hinders the yam breeding progress. Identification of new sources of desirable genes for these traits from primary and secondary gene pools is essential for this crop improvement. This study aimed at identifying potential sources of genes for yield and quality ...

    • Nitrogen budgets and nitrogen use efficiency as agricultural performance indicators in Lake Victoria basin 

      Ntinyari, W.; Gweyi-Onyango, J.; Giweta, M.; Mutegi, J.; Mochoge, B.; Nziguheba, G.; Masso, C. (2022-10-21)
      Too little nitrogen (N) is a threat to crop productivity and soil fertility in subSaharan Africa (SSA). Nitrogen budgets (NB) and nitrogen use e ciency (NUE) are critical tools for assessing N dynamics in agriculture and have received little or no attention in the region. Data were collected from smallholder farmers clustered into two categories, farmers applying and farmers not applying N fertilizers. NB were calculated using the Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS) model approach for field ...

    • Characterization of starches from some selected white and yellow cassava roots for dry starch noodle production 

      Akinde, H.A.; Sanni, L.; Shittu, T.; Adegunwa, M.; Abass, A.; Awoyale, W. (2022-07-11)
      Starch noodle, originally produced from mung bean starch, is now patronized in many parts of the world. Although cassava is one of the most abundant sources of starch in Nigeria, previous works determining its applicability for noodle production are scarce in literature. This study therefore determined the chemical properties of starches from selected white and yellow cassava for dry starch noodle production. Descriptive attributes and sensory acceptability of the starch noodle produced were also ...

    • Early planting of cassava enhanced the response of improved cultivars to potassium fertilization in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo 

      Birindwa, D.R.; Van Laere, J.; Munyahali, W.; De Bauw, P.; Dercon, G.; Kintche, K.; Merckx, R. (2023-05-15)
      Cassava is the most important crop in DRC, where it is both a staple and a cash crop. Over the last years, cassava productivity seems increasingly constrained by climate disturbances. To respond to these climatic disturbances, farmers opt to adjust the planting period to spread the risk by optimizing their chances to receive the most regular rainfall in the crucial first 100 days after planting. To investigate the potential of varying cassava planting time to mitigate the effect of changes in ...

    • A framework to understand the social impacts of agricultural trade 

      Schaafsma, M.; Dreoni, I.; Ayompe, L.M.; Egoh, B.N.; Ekayana, D.P.; Favareto, A.; Mumbunan, S.; Nakagawa, L.; Ngouhouo-Poufoun, J.; Sassen, M.; Uehara, T.K.; Matthews, Z. (2022-08)
      While international trade in agricultural commodities can spur economic development especially where governance is strong, there are also concerns about the local impacts of commodity production and their distribution. Previous frameworks have primarily focused on trade effects on environmental conditions in production regions, as well as economic growth and food security. Instead, we develop a conceptual framework for understanding the impact of agricultural trade on multidimensional wellbeing ...

    • Genetic studies of fall armyworm indicate a new introduction into Africa and identify limits to its migratory behavior 

      Nagoshi, R.N.; Goergen, G.; Koffi, D.; Agboka, K.; Adjevi, A.K.M.; du Plessis, H.; Van den Berg, J.; Tepa-Yotto, G.; Winsou, J.K.; Meagher, R.L.; Brevault, T. (2022-02)
      The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is native to the Americas and a major pest of corn and several other crops of economic importance. The species has characteristics that make it of particular concern as an invasive pest, including broad host range, long-distance migration behavior, and a propensity for field-evolved pesticide resistance. The discovery of fall armyworm in western Africa in 2016 was followed by what was apparently a remarkably rapid spread throughout sub-Saharan ...

    • Phenotypic variability for root traits in Andean common beans grown with and without aluminum stress conditions 

      Ambachew, D.; Asfaw, A.; Blair, M.W. (2023-02-22)
      Genetic variation in wild relatives, GenBank accessions, landraces, and cultivars can unlock key alleles for the traits of interest for breeding programs. Breeding programs often utilize different strategies to quantify the source of heritable variation for target traits. One neglected area of study is the root traits of diverse genotypes, and this is especially the case for aluminum toxicity effects on legumes such as the common bean, which is the most used pulse for direct human consumption. ...

    • Antioxidant, starch-digesting enzymes inhibitory, and pasting properties of elite yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes 

      Kareem, B.; Irondi, E.A.; Alamu, E.O.; Ajani, E.O.; Abass, A.; Parkes, E.; Maziya-Dixon, B. (2023-03-16)
      Biofortification of cassava roots has improved its health benefits by raising the quantity and bioavailability of bioactive compounds, particularly carotenoids. This study analyzed the bioactive constituents (carotenoids, tannins, total phenolics, and flavonoids), antioxidant, starch-digesting enzymes (a-amylase and a-glucosidase) inhibitory and pasting properties of flours of 18 elite yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, using ...

    • Establishing optimal planting windows for contrasting sorghum cultivars across diverse agro-ecologies of north-eastern Nigeria: a modelling approach 

      Akinseye, F.M.; Ajeigbe, H.A.; Kamara, A.; Omotayo, A.O.; Tofa, A.; Whitbread, A.M. (2023-02-28)
      In the context of climate change, the sowing date and cultivar choice can influence the productivity of sorghum, especially where production is constrained by low soil fertility and early terminal drought across the challenging agro-ecologies of north-eastern Nigeria. Planting within an optimal sowing window to fit the cultivar’s maturity length is critical for maximizing/increasing the crop yield following the appropriate climate-smart management practices. In this study, the APSIM crop model was ...

    • Grain yield and leaf gas exchange in upland NERICA rice under repeated cycles of water deficit at reproductive growth stage 

      Suleiman, S.O.; Habila, D.G.; Fofana, M.; Abolanle, B.M.; Olatunbosun, A.N. (2022-04)
      New Rice for Africa (NERICA) was reported to have higher exudation and transpiration rates, above ground dry matter at heading than Japanese cultivars. Information on the expression of their gas exchange attributes and water balance under repeated cycles of water deficit at reproductive stage is unknown. This investigation tested the hypothesis that variation in leaf gas exchange and energy attributes of NERICA rice under repeated cycles of water deficit at reproductive stage would affect their ...

    • Spodoptera eridania: current and emerging crop threats from another invasive, pesticide-resistant moth 

      Weinberg, J.; Ota, N.; Goergen, G.; Fagbohoun, J.R.; Tepa-Yotto, G.; Kriticos, D.J. (2022-10-25)
      Spodoptera eridania (Stoll), a polyphagous lepidopteran pest from the Americas, has recently invaded western and central Africa. Like its congeners, S. eridania has developed pesticide resistance. The rapid global spread and impacts of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has raised concerns about whether S. eridania is set to do the same. Here we fit a CLIMEX niche model for S. eridania and apply a climate change scenario for 2050 to investigate the sensitivity of the pest threat. We find that S. ...

    • Maize resistance to witchweed through changes in strigolactone biosynthesis 

      Li, C.; Dong, L.; Durairaj, J.; Guan, J.; Yoshimura, M.; Quinodoz, P.; Horber, R.; Gaus, K.; Li, J.; Setotaw, Y.B.; Qi, J.; de Groot, H.; Wang, Y.; Thiombiano, B.; Flokova, K.; Walmsley, A.; Charnikhova, T.V.; Chojnacka, A.; de Lemos, S.C.; Ding, Y.; Skibbe, D.; Hermann, K.; Screpanti, C.; De Mesmaeker, A.; Schmelz, E.A.; Menkir, A.; Medema, M.; Van Dijk, A.D.J.; Wu, J.; Koch, K.E.; Bouwmeester, H.J. (2023-01)
      Maize (Zea mays) is a major staple crop in Africa, where its yield and the livelihood of millions are compromised by the parasitic witchweed Striga. Germination of Striga is induced by strigolactones exuded from maize roots into the rhizosphere. In a maize germplasm collection, we identified two strigolactones, zealactol and zealactonoic acid, which stimulate less Striga germination than the major maize strigolactone, zealactone. We then showed that a single cytochrome P450, ZmCYP706C37, catalyzes ...