Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 561-580 of 5157

    • Improving root characterisation for genomic prediction in cassava 

      Yonis, B.O.; del Carpio, D.P.; Wolfe, M.; Jannink, J.L.; Kulakow, P.; Rabbi, I. (2020-05-14)
      Cassava is cultivated due to its drought tolerance and high carbohydrate-containing storage roots. The lack of uniformity and irregular shape of storage roots poses constraints on harvesting and post-harvest processing. Here, we phenotyped the Genetic gain and offspring (C1) populations from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) breeding program using image analysis of storage root photographs taken in the field. In the genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), we detected for ...

    • Review of solar dryers for agricultural products in Asia and Africa: an innovation landscape approach 

      Udomkun, P.; Romuli, S.; Schock, S.; Mahayothee, B.; Sartas, M.; Wossen, T.; Njukwe, E.; Vanlauwe, B.; Müller, J. (2020-08-15)
      Solar drying is one of the most efficient and cost-effective, renewable, and sustainable technologies to conserve agricultural products in Asian and sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. This review paper presents the different types of solar dryers that are widely used in Africa and Asia. In addition, the pre-eminent effects of their use on product quality, as well as their economic, environmental, and social impacts, are highlighted. Since financial, external, and structural factors play a key ...

    • Identification of sources of resistance in cowpea mini core accessions to Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) and their biochemical characterization 

      Togola, A.; Boukar, O.; Servent, A.; Chamarthi, S.; Tamo, M.; Fatokun, C. (2020-05-17)
      Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp) is an important grain legume for human and livestock nutrition, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), is one of the most widespread and destructive insect pests of cowpea and host-plant resistance is an effective approach to minimize the pest damage at seedling stage. This study was aimed at identifying resistant sources to A. craccivora within the cowpea mini core collection, a set of accessions from the largest ...

    • Global priorities of environmental issues to combat food insecurity and biodiversity loss 

      Scherer, L.; Svenning, J.C.; Huang, J.; Seymour, C.; Sandel, B.; Mueller, N.; Kummu, M.; Bekunda, M.; Bruelheide, H.; Hochman, Z.; Siebert, S.; Rueda, O.; van Bodegom, P.M. (2020-08-15)
      Various environmental challenges are rapidly threatening ecosystems and societies globally. Major interventions and a strategic approach are required to minimize harm and to avoid reaching catastrophic tipping points. Setting evidence-based priorities aids maximizing the impact of the limited resources available for environmental interventions. Focusing on protecting both food security and biodiversity, international experts prioritized major environmental challenges for intervention based on three ...

    • Chemical, functional and pasting properties of starches and flours from new yam compared to local varieties 

      Effah-Manu, L.; Wireko-Manu, F.D.; Agbenorhevi, J.K.; Maziya-Dixon, B.; Oduro, I. (2022)
      The potential uses of starches and flours depend on their physicochemical and functional properties. The chemical composition, functional and pasting properties of starch and flours obtained from some newly developed yam varieties from the Crops Research Institute (CRI), Ghana were evaluated, and compared with the existing local varieties. The results showed that the physicochemical and functional properties varied among the varieties studied. The CRI varieties were grouped in a principal component ...

    • Antiviral and cytotoxic activity of different plant parts of banana (Musa spp.) 

      Panda, S.K.; Castro, A.H.F.; Jouneghani, R.S.; Leyssen, P.,; Neyts, J.; Swennen, R.; Luyten, W. (2020-05-15)
      Chikungunya and yellow fever virus cause vector-borne viral diseases in humans. There is currently no specific antiviral drug for either of these diseases. Banana plants are used in traditional medicine for treating viral diseases such as measles and chickenpox. Therefore, we tested selected banana cultivars for their antiviral but also cytotoxic properties. Different parts such as leaf, pseudostem and corm, collected separately and extracted with four different solvents (hexane, acetone, ethanol, ...

    • Characterization of some fungal pathogens causing anthracnose disease on yam in Cross River State, Nigeria 

      Okon, N.I.; Markson, A.A.A.; Okon, E.I.; Ita, E.E.; Uyoh, E.A.; Ene-Obong, E.O.E.; Ntui, V.O. (2022)
      Yam anthracnose is one of the most serious fungal diseases affecting white and water yam production. Screening of available landraces for new sources of durable resistance to the pathogen is a continuous process. In the present study, the pathogens causing anthracnose in Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata farms in Cross River State yam belt region were characterized. Diseased yam leaves with anthracnose symptoms collected from the farms were used in the isolation, purification and, identification ...

    • Effects of traditional processing techniques on the nutritional and microbiological quality of four edible insect species used for food and feed in east Africa 

      Nyangena, D.N.; Mutungi, C.; Imathiu, S.; Kinyuru, J.; Affognon, H.; Ekesi, S.; Nakimbugwe, D.; Fiaboe, K.K. (2020-05-04)
      Edible insects are increasingly being considered as food and feed ingredients because of their rich nutrient content. Already, edible insect farming has taken-off in Africa, but quality and safety concerns call for simple, actionable hazard control mechanisms. We examined the effects of traditional processing techniques—boiling, toasting, solar-drying, oven-drying, boiling + oven-drying, boiling + solar-drying, toasting + oven-drying, toasting + solar-drying—on the proximate composition and ...

    • Maize production under combined conservation agriculture and integrated soil fertility management in the sub-humid and semi-arid regions of Kenya 

      Mutuku, E.A.; Roobroeck, D.; Vanlauwe, B.; Boeckx, P.; Cornelis, W.M. (2020-09-01)
      Crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is constrained by rainfall variability and declining soil fertility. This has over time led to a decrease in crop yield, among them also maize. This decrease is also experienced in the sub-humid and semi-arid locations of Kenya. Among the commonly used soil and water management practices in SSA are Conservation Agriculture (CA) and integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). Crop response to these management practices is influenced by the existence of ...

    • Spatial-temporal trends of rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures over west Africa 

      Muthoni, F. (2020-05-25)
      This article investigates the magnitude and significance of spatial-temporal trends of 37 years' time series of the gridded data for rainfall, maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperature for West Africa. A modified Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen's slope estimator were utilized to test the significance and the magnitude of trends, respectively. The magnitude of significant trends for three variables between six agroecological zones (AEZs) was compared. Gridded climate data represented gauge data ...

    • Motivational factors influencing farming practices in northern Ghana 

      Mellon-Bedi, S.; Descheemaeker, K.; Hundie-Kotu, B.; Frimpong, S.; Groot, J.C.J. (2020-12)
      Socio-economic factors that influence the adoption of management practices and technologies by farmers have received wide attention in the adoption literature, but the effects of socio-psychological farmer features such as perceptions and motivations have been analysed to a lesser extent. Using farm household survey data from three regions in northern Ghana, this study explores farmers’ motivations and perceived adoption impediments for three sustainable intensification practices (SIPs): improved ...

    • Diversified approaches to evaluate wide genetic resources of cowpea for enhancing new variety development for west Africa and its social implementation by cowpea research program of IITA 

      Ishikawa, H.; Matsumoto, R. (2021)
      Cowpea is a staple food crop and a primary source of protein for millions of people in developing countries. Although the crop is primarily cultivated for its mature grains, immature green pods and young green leaves can be consumed as a vegetable. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was established in 1967; the organisation’s extensive research has developed many improved varieties of most staple food crops to benefit people across Africa. For example, more than 100 IITA-bred ...

    • The economics of post-harvest loss and loss-preventing technologies in developing countries 

      Ricker-Gilbert, J.; Omotilewa, O.J.; Kadjo, D. (2022)
      This article reviews the recent literature that has evaluated the effectiveness of postharvest loss (PHL)-reducing technologies for grains among smallholder farmers and small-scale traders in sub-Saharan Africa. We also develop a conceptual framework for identifying and quantifying different types of PHL that include physical quantity losses along with quality losses that are both observable (e.g., discoloration, insect damage, mold growth, and odor) and unobservable (e.g., aflatoxin contamination, ...

    • Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania 

      Mponela, P.; Manda, J.; Kinyua, M.; Kihara, J. (2022)
      Transformation of knowledge systems and fostering learning among smallholder farmers such as through participatory action research (PAR) is key to agricultural growth in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We investigate how PAR influences uptake/use of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) while accounting for gendered, bonding and bridging social capital. Stratified by engagement in a mother-baby PAR and by resource endowments, 607 smallholder farmers were sampled from northern Tanzania. Binary ...

    • Identification of QTL for perenniality and floral scent in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) 

      Lo, S.; Fatokun, C.; Boukar, O.; Gepts, P.; Close, T.J.; Muñoz-Amatriaín, M. (2020-04-28)
      Perennial habit and floral scent are major traits that distinguish domesticated cowpeas from their wild relatives. However, the genetic basis of these two important traits remains largely unknown in cowpea. Plant longevity, a perenniality-related trait, and floral scent, an outcrossing trait, were investigated using a RIL population derived from a cross between a domesticated and a wild cowpea. QTL analysis revealed three significant loci, one on chromosome 8 associated with plant longevity and ...

    • Response of cassava cultivars to African cassava mosaic virus infection across a range of inoculum doses and plant ages 

      Houngue, J.A.; Pita, J.S.; Ngalle, H.B.; Zandjanakou-Tachin, M.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Cacaï, G.H.T.; Bell, J.M.; Ahanhanzo, C. (2019-12-23)
      Cassava production in Africa is constrained by cassava mosaic disease (CMD) that is caused by the Cassava mosaic virus (CMV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of a range of commonly cultivated West African cassava cultivars to varying inoculum doses of African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV). We grafted 10 cultivars of cassava plants with different inoculum doses of CMV (namely two, four, or six CMD-infected buds) when the experimental plants were 8, 10, or 12 weeks old, using ...

    • Gender differences in technology adoption and agricultural productivity: evidence from Malawi 

      Hirpa Tufa, A.; Alene, A.; Cole, S.M.; Manda, J.; Feleke, S.; Abdoulaye, T.; Chikoye, D.; Manyong, V. (2022-11)
      It is widely recognized that female farmers have considerably less access to productive assets and support services than male farmers. There is limited evidence of gender gaps in technology adoption and agricultural productivity after accounting for the differential access to factors of production between males and females. This study investigates the gender differences in the adoption of improved technologies and agricultural productivity in Malawi using nationally representative data collected ...

    • Combining ability of extra‐early biofortified maize inbreds under Striga infestation and low soil nitrogen 

      Oyekale, S.A.; Badu‐Apraku, B.; Adetimirin, V.O. (2020-07)
      Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth parasitism, low soil N, and nutritional deficiencies of normal‐endosperm maize (Zea mays L.) threaten maize yield and exacerbate nutritional problems in sub‐Sahara Africa (SSA). This study was conducted (a) to evaluate genetic variation among extra‐early maturing maize hybrids with provitamin A and quality protein characteristics, (b) to investigate gene action governing the inheritance of Striga resistance, grain yield, low N tolerance, and other measured traits ...

    • A high plant density and the split application of chemical fertilizer increased the grain and protein content of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Burkina Faso, west Africa 

      Ishikawa, H.; Batieno, B.J.; Fatokun, C.; Boukar, O. (2022)
      In West Africa, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important source of protein for many people. To meet the protein demands, the cowpea yields per unit area and its seed protein content must be increased. We evaluated the effects of the planting density and topdressing (fertilisation) timing on the cowpea yield and its protein content. High density (HD: 40 × 40 cm) and super high density (SHD: 40 × 20 cm) plantings were the most efficient approaches for enhancing cowpea yields. Across different ...

    • Adoption of improved soybean and gender differential productivity and revenue impacts: evidence from Nigeria 

      Kamara, A.; Oyinbo, O.; Manda, J.; Kamsang, L.; Kamai, N. (2022)
      Despite the considerable soybean varietal improvement and dissemination efforts in Nigeria and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, empirical evidence on farm-level yield and revenue impacts of improved soybean varieties (ISVs) from a gender perspective are limited. In this paper, we analyze the impact of the adoption of ISVs on soybean yield and net revenue, and the associated gender differential effects in northern Nigeria. We use the endogenous and exogenous switching treatment effects regression ...