Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 481-500 of 5157

    • Sustainable agricultural intensification and gender-biased land tenure systems: an exploration and conceptualization of interactions 

      Fischer, G.; Darkwah, A.; Kamoto, J.; Kampanje-Phiri, J.; Grabowski, P.; Djenontin, I. (2020)
      How does sustainable agricultural intensification’s (SAI) tenet of increased productivity on the same area of land relate to prevailing gender-biased land tenure systems? How can one conceptualize the interactions between intensified land use and control over land, labour, crops and benefits – and how can equitable outcomes be facilitated? These questions (which have not yet received sufficient attention in SAI research) are explored in this study using a qualitative methodology and a gender-tra ...

    • Atoxigenic-based technology for biocontrol of aflatoxin in maize and groundnuts for Tanzania 

      Mahuku, G.; Mauro, A.; Pallangyo, B.; Nsami, E.; Boni, S.; Koyano, E.; Mponda, O.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Atehnkeng, J.; Aquiline, F.; Samuel, R.; Njela, J.; Cotty, P.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2022)
      Application of biocontrol products containing atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus to reduce aflatoxin content in crops is an effective strategy for managing aflatoxin in several regions throughout the world. We report the development and validation of two aflatoxin biocontrol products, Aflasafe TZ01 and Aflasafe TZ02, for use in maize and groundnut in Tanzania, a country frequently affected by aflatoxin contamination. Each product contains four atoxigenic A. flavus genotypes native and widely ...

    • Assessment of heterotic patterns of tropical low-nitrogen–tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines using testcross performance, morphological traits and SNP markers 

      Ajala, S.O.; Olayiwola, M.O.; Job, A.O.; Olaniyan, A.B.; Gedil, M. (2020-12)
      Breeding efforts in West and Central Africa (WCA) have focused on the development of Low‐N‐tolerant (LNT) maize inbreds and their classification into heterotic groups. This study was conducted to classify LNT maize lines into heterotic groups using testcross performance, morphological and SNP markers and to compare the consistency of groupings by the three methods. Thirty‐six LNT inbreds were crossed to two contrasting inbred testers to generate 72 testcrosses that were evaluated under low‐N ...

    • The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: implications for policy and practice 

      Sseguya, H.; Robinson, D.S.; Mwango, H.R.; Flock, J.A.; Manda, J.; Abed, R.; Mruma, S.O. (2021)
      In this paper, the authors use survey data from over 800 households to examine the impact of demonstration plots and associated activities (distribution of small packs of agricultural inputs) on smallholder farmers’ decisions to buy agricultural inputs in Tanzania. Using propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted adjustment models, the authors estimated the effect of access to demonstration plots alone and demonstration plots combined with small packs of agricultural inputs on a ...

    • Misperceived quality: fertilizer in Tanzania 

      Michelson, H.; Fairbairn, A.; Ellison, B.; Maertens, A.; Manyong, V. (2021-01)
      Fertilizer use remains below recommended rates in most of Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to low crop yields and poverty. We explore the role of fertilizer quality. We interviewed fertilizer sellers in an important agricultural region in Tanzania and sampled their fertilizer to establish that the nutrient content of fertilizers is good, meeting industry standards. However, we find farmers’ beliefs to be inconsistent with this reality. Beliefs about adulteration push down farmer willingness-to-pay ...

    • Assessing and understanding non-responsiveness of maize and soybean to fertilizer applications in African smallholder farms 

      Roobroeck, D.; Palm, C.A.; Nziguheba, G.; Weil, R.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021-01-01)
      Use of mineral fertilizers is essential to enhance crop productivity in smallholder farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, but various studies have reported ‘non-responsiveness’ where application of inorganic fertilizers does not lead to satisfactory yield gains. This phenomenon is not well defined nor are its extent and causes well understood. In order to close these knowledge gaps, we assessed the effects of commonly recommended nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K) fertilizer inputs ...

    • State of ex situ conservation of landrace groups of 25 major crops 

      Ramirez-Villegas, J.; Khoury, C.K.; Achicanoy, H.A.; Diaz, M.V.; Mendez, A.C.; Sosa, C.C.; Kehel, Z.; Guarino, L.; Abberton, M.; Aunario, J.; Al Awar, B.; Alarcon, J.C.; Amri, A.; Anglin, N.L.; Azevedo, V.; Aziz, K.; Capilit, G.; Chavez, O.; Chebotarov, D.; Costich, D.; Debouck, D.G.; Ellis, D.; Falalou, H.; Fiu, A.; Ghanem, M.E.; Giovannini, P.; Goungoulou, A.J.; Gueye, B.; El Hobyb, A.I.; Jamnadass, R.; Jones, C.S.; Kpeki, B.; Lee, J.S.; McNally, K.; Muchugi, A.; Ndjiondjop, M.; Oyatomi, O.; Payne, T.; Ramachandran, S.; Rossel, G.; Roux, N.; Ruas, M.; Sansaloni, C.; Sardos, J.; Setiyono, T.D.; Tchamba, M.; Van den Houwe, I.; Velazquez, J.A.; Venuprasad, R.; Wenzl, P.; Yazbek, M.; Zavala, C. (2022)
      Crop landraces have unique local agroecological and societal functions and offer important genetic resources for plant breeding. Recognition of the value of landrace diversity and concern about its erosion on farms have led to sustained efforts to establish ex situ collections worldwide. The degree to which these efforts have succeeded in conserving landraces has not been comprehensively assessed. Here we modelled the potential distributions of eco-geographically distinguishable groups of landraces ...

    • Gender- and youth-sensitive data collection tools to support decision making for inclusive sustainable agricultural intensification 

      Grabowski, P.P.; Djenontin, I.; Zulu, L.; Kamoto, J.; Kampanje-Phiri, J.; Darkwah, A.; Egyir, I.; Fischer, G. (2021)
      To achieve equitable sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI), it is essential to understand differential access and control over agricultural resources by women and youth, and to assess how intensification interacts with gendered and age-dependent relationships. Existing packages for assessing women’s empowerment in agriculture tend to be large-scale surveys that do not provide timely results, nor are they easily integrated into a gender-transformative process. This paper applies concepts ...

    • Assessing effect of marker-based improvement of maize synthetics on agronomic performance, carotenoid content, combining ability and heterosis 

      Iseghohi, I.; Abe, A.; Meseka, S.; Mengesha, W.; Gedil, M.; Menkir, A. (2020)
      Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other parts of the world. Understanding the effect of marker-based improvement (MARS) of two maize synthetics (HGA and HGB) representing different heterotic groups on their agronomic performance, carotenoid content, and combining abilities could help identify suitable sources to develop divergent inbred lines for optimizing heterosis. This study involved three selection cycles each of the two synthetics and their nine ...

    • Optimum time for hand pollination in yam (Dioscorea spp.) 

      Mondo, J.; Agre, A.P.; Asiedu, R.; Akoroda, M.O.; Asfaw, A. (2022)
      Hand pollination success rate is low in yam (Dioscorea spp.), due partly to suboptimal weather conditions. Thus, determining the most suitable time for pollination could improve the pollination success in yam breeding programs. We performed continuous hand pollination within flowering windows of D. rotundata and D. alata for two consecutive years to determine the most appropriate month, week, and hours of the day allowing maximum pollination success. In D. alata crossing block, we observed significant ...

    • Germplasm acquisition and distribution by CGIAR genebanks 

      Halewood, M.; Jamora, N.; Noriega, I.L.; Anglin, N.L.; Wenzl, P.; Payne, T.; Ndjiondjop, M.N.; Guarino, L.; Kumar, P.L.; Yazbek, M.; Muchugi, A.; Azevedo, V.; Tchamba, M.; Jones, C.S.; Venuprasad, R.; Roux, N.; Rojas, E.; Lusty, C. (2020)
      The international collections of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) hosted by 11 CGIAR Centers are important components of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s global system of conservation and use of PGRFA. They also play an important supportive role in realizing Target 2.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper analyzes CGIAR genebanks’ trends in acquiring and distributing PGRFA over the last 35 years, with a particular focus on the last decade. ...

    • RNAi technology for management of banana bunchy top disease 

      Jekayinoluwa, T.; Tripathi, L.; Tripathi, J.N.; Ntui, V.O.; Obiero, G.; Muge, E.; Dale, J. (2020-11)
      Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) is one of the world's most destructive viral diseases of banana and plantain, causing up to 100% yield loss in severe cases. The disease is vectored by banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa) and carried long distances through the movement of infected plant materials. The banana aphids harboring banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) present in banana producing regions are the sole vector and the most efficient method of transmitting the virus to the healthy plants. ...

    • Rural transformation and the future of cereal-based agri-food systems 

      Kruseman, G.; Mottaled, K.A.; Tesfaye, K.; Bairagi, S.; Roberton, R.; N'Diaye, D.; Frija, A.; Gbegbelegbe, S.; Alene, A.; Prager, S. (2020-09)
      Rural transformation is an inevitable and fundamental process of development. However, the speed and dimensions of rural transformation can affect investments in major staples such as maize, wheat and rice, which continue to play an important role in agri-food systems around the globe. This paper investigates the impacts of rural transformation on the future of cereal-based agri-food systems which are not directly addressed in global agricultural assessment models such as IMPACT. In this study, ...

    • Push-pull strategy combined with net houses for controlling cowpea insect pests and enhancing crop yields 

      Diabate, S.; Martin, T.; Murungi, L.K.; Fiaboe, K.K.; Wesonga, J.; Kimani, J.M.; Deletre, E. (2021-03)
      Net houses can be used in tropical environments to protect crops such as cowpea against large insect pests, thereby avoiding pesticide treatments while sustainably mitigating the effects of climate change. We investigated a push-pull strategy to prevent small insect pest outbreaks in a net house. The push component consisted of two stimulus plants, i.e. Cymbopogon citratus and Tagetes minuta, and the pull stimuli consisted of visual cues from blue and yellow sticky traps. Field experiments were ...

    • Selected shade tree species improved cocoa yields in low-input agroforestry systems in Ghana 

      Asitoakor, B.K.; Vaast, P.; Raebild, A.; Ravn, H.P.; Eziah, V.Y.; Owusu, K.; Mensah, E.O.; Asare, R. (2022-10)
      CONTEXT Cocoa agroforestry systems differ in the diversity of shade tree species composition. Though cocoa benefits from shade, there is a lack of species-specific information on shade trees that enhance soil fertility and yield. OBJECTIVE We examined how soil characteristics and cocoa yield were affected by eight commonly retained forest tree species, compared with unshaded control plots over a 3-year period. METHODS Using 74 circular plots from 10 cocoa farms in the Western region of Ghana, we ...

    • Genome sequence of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its symbionts 

      Mathers, T.C.; Mugford, S.T.; Hogenhout, S.A.; Tripathi, L. (2020-12-01)
      The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of cultivated bananas (Musa spp., order Zingiberales), primarily due to its role as a vector of Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the most severe viral disease of banana worldwide. Here, we generated a highly complete genome assembly of P. nigronervosa using a single PCR-free Illumina sequencing library. Using the same sequence data, we also generated complete genome assemblies of the P. nigronervosa symbiotic ...

    • The response of climbing bean to fertilizer and organic manure in the northern province of Rwanda 

      Rurangwa, E.; Vanlauwe, B.; Giller, K.E. (2020-10)
      Climbing beans play a central role in food security of rural households in the densely populated highlands of East and Central Africa. Soil fertility degradation and the lack of nutrient inputs are major limitations to yield of beans and other crops. We conducted field trials in Northern Rwanda in Kinoni and Muko villages to evaluate the effect of mineral N, P, and K fertilizers (both alone and in combination) and farmyard manure on nitrogen fixation and grain yields of climbing bean in smallholder ...

    • Can a combination of UAV-derived vegetation indices with biophysical variables improve yield variability assessment in smallholder farms? 

      Adewopo, J.; Peter, H.; Mohammed, I.; Kamara, A.; Craufurd, P.; Vanlauwe, B. (2020-12-09)
      The rapid assessment of maize yields in a smallholder farming system is important for understanding its spatial and temporal variability and for timely agronomic decision-support. We assessed the predictability of maize grain yield using unmanned aerial/air vehicle (UAV)-derived vegetation indices (VI) with (out) biophysical variables on smallholder farms. High-resolution imageries were acquired with UAV-borne multispectral sensor at four and eight weeks after sowing (WAS) on 31 farmer managed ...

    • Realizing Inclusive SAI: contextualizing indicators to better evaluate gender and intergenerational inequity in SAI processes and outcomes – cases from Southern and western Africa 

      Zulu, L.C.; Djenontin, I.N.; Darkwah, A.; Kamoto, J.; Kampanje-Phiri, J.; Fischer, G.; Grabowski, P.; Egyir, I. (2021)
      Despite increasing sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) investments, indicators for detecting gender and intergenerational inequities in SAI costs and benefits sharing often remain overgeneralized, theoretical, or locally irrelevant. We examine the relative value of, and how to, customize standard SAI indicators to detect such inequities in specific socio-cultural contexts to enhance data collection for evidence-based decision making in fostering gender/youth inclusive SAI. Using focus-group ...

    • Genetic diversity, population structure and inter-trait relationships of combined heat and drought tolerant early-maturing maize inbred lines from west and central Africa 

      Osuman, A.S.; Badu-Apraku, B.; Ifie, B.E.; Tongoona, P.; Obeng-Bio, E.; Garcia-Oliveira, A.L. (2020-09-04)
      Adequate knowledge and understanding of the genetic diversity and inter-trait relationships among elite maize inbred lines are crucial for determining breeding strategies and predicting hybrid performance. The objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic diversity of 162 early maturing white and yellow tropical maize inbred lines, and to determine the population structure, heterotic groups and inter-trait relationships among the lines. Using 9684 DArT single nucleotide polymorphism ...