Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 861-880 of 5157

    • Mineral analysis reveals extreme manganese concentrations in wild harvested and commercially available edible termites 

      Verspoor, R.L.; Soglo, M.; Adeoti, R.; Djouaka, R.; Edwards, S.; Fristedt, R.; Langton, M.; Moriana, R.; Osborne, M.; Parr, C.L.; Powell, K.; Hurst, G.D.D.; Landberg, R. (2020)
      Termites are widely used as a food resource, particularly in Africa and Asia. Markets for insects as food are also expanding worldwide. To inform the development of insect-based foods, we analysed selected minerals (Fe-Mn-Zn-Cu-Mg) in wild-harvested and commercially available termites. Mineral values were compared to selected commercially available insects. Alate termites, of the genera Macrotermes and Odontotermes, showed remarkably high manganese (Mn) content (292–515 mg/100 gdw), roughly 50–100 ...

    • Subterranean microbiome affiliations of plantain (Musa spp.) under diverse agroecologies of western and central Africa 

      Kaushal, M.; Kolombia, Y.A.; Alakonya, A.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Amah, D.; Masso, C. (2021)
      Plantain (Musa spp.) is a staple food crop and an important source of income for millions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, there is a paucity of knowledge on soil microbial diversity in agroecologies where plantains are grown. Microbial diversity that increases plant performance with multi-trophic interactions involving resiliency to environmental constraints is greatly needed. For this purpose, the bacterial and fungal communities of plantain fields in high rainfall ...

    • Notes on the Afrotropical hover fly genus Meromacroides Curran (Syrphidae, Eristalinae) 

      Bellingan, T.; Midgley, J.; Goergen, G.; Jordaens, K. (2021)
      The African endemic hover fly Meromacroides meromacriformis (Bezzi, 1915) (Syrphidae, Eristalinae) was described more than a century ago and its monotypic status established in 1927, but subsequent collections and publications are rare. Only the male has been described and nothing is known about its biology. We re-describe the male, including geographic variation, describe the female for the first time and provide the first DNA barcodes for the species. Despite the large range and observed variations, ...

    • Traits that define yield and genetic gain in east African highland banana breeding 

      Batte, M.; Swennen, R.; Uwimana, B.; Akech, V.; Brown, A.; Geleta, M.; Ortiz, R. (2021)
      East African highland bananas (Musa spp. AAA group) are an important staple in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Their production has declined due to pests and diseases. Breeding for host plant resistance is a sustainable option for addressing this challenge. Understanding the relationships between growth parameters and bunch weight (i.e., yield) is crucial to guide breeding efforts for this crop. We investigated cause-effect relationships, through path analysis, in bunch weight of East African ...

    • The fall armyworm strain associated with most rice, millet, and pasture infestations in the Western Hemisphere is rare or absent in Ghana and Togo 

      Nagoshi, R.N.; Koffi, D.; Agboka, K.; Adjevi, A.K.M.; Meagher, R.L.; Goergen, G. (2021)
      The moth pest fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is now present throughout much of the Eastern Hemisphere where it poses a significant economic threat to a number of crops. Native to the Western Hemisphere, fall armyworm is one of the primary pests of corn in the Americas and periodically causes significant economic damage to sorghum, millet, cotton, rice, and forage grasses. This broad host range is in part the result of two populations historically designated ...

    • How is organic farming performing agronomically and economically in sub-Saharan Africa? 

      Schader, C.; Heidenreich, A.; Kadzere, I.; Egyir, I.; Muriuki, A.; Bandanaa, H.; Clottey, J.; Ndungu, J.; Grovermann, C.; Lazzarini, G.; Blockeel, J.; Borgemeister, C.; Muller, A.; Kabi, F.; Fiaboe, K.; Adamtey, N.; Huber, B.; Niggli, U.; Stolze, M. (2021-09)
      The potential of organic agriculture and agroecological approaches for improving food security in Africa is a controversial topic in global discussions. While there is a number of meta-analyses on the environmental, agronomic and financial performance of organic farming, most of the underlying data stems from on-station field trials from temperate regions. Data from sub-Sahara Africa in particular, as well as detailed real-farm data is scarce. How organic farming is implemented in sub-Saharan ...

    • Can it be all more simple? Manufacturing aflatoxin biocontrol products using dry spores of atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus as active ingredients 

      Ortega-Beltran, A.; Kaptoge, L.; Senghor, A.L.; Aikore, M.O.S.; Jarju, P.; Momanyi, H.; Konlambigue, M.; Falade, T.D.O.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2021)
      Aflatoxin contamination of staple crops, commonly occurring in warm areas, negatively impacts human and animal health, and hampers trade and economic development. The fungus Aspergillus flavus is the major aflatoxin producer. However, not all A. flavus genotypes produce aflatoxins. Effective aflatoxin control is achieved using biocontrol products containing spores of atoxigenic A. flavus. In Africa, various biocontrol products under the tradename Aflasafe are available. Private and public sector ...

    • Mineral fertilizer use in land-scarce conditions: case of Rwanda 

      Mugabo, J.R.; Tollens, E.; Chianu, J.N.; Vanlauwe, B. (2020)
      This study was undertaken to investigate the use of mineral fertilizer by smallholder farmers in order to understand the set of factors influencing the decisions of smallholder farmers to use fertilizers in land-scarce conditions. Using descriptive analysis and the Cragg’s double-hurdle model, the study identified and analyzed factors that determine smallholder farmer adoption of mineral fertilizers and those that affect the intensity of household mineral fertilizer use. From factors that only ...

    • Stakeholder perceptions about the drivers, impacts and barriers of certification in the Ghanaian cocoa and oil palm sectors 

      Dompreh, E.B.; Asare, R.; Gasparatos, A. (2021)

    • Maximizing genetic representation in seed collections from populations of self and cross-pollinated banana wild relatives 

      Kallow, S.; Panis, B.; Vu, T.D.; Vu, D.T.; Paofa, J.; Mertens, A.; Swennen, R.; Janssens, S. (2021)
      Background Conservation of plant genetic resources, including the wild relatives of crops, plays an important and well recognised role in addressing some of the key challenges faced by humanity and the planet including ending hunger and biodiversity loss. However, the genetic diversity and representativeness of ex situ collections, especially that contained in seed collections, is often unknown. This limits meaningful assessments against conservation targets, impairs targeting of future collecting ...

    • Cytological and molecular characterization for ploidy determination in yams (Dioscorea spp.) 

      Gatarira, C.; Sladekova, L.; Nemeckova, A.; Simonikova, D.; Paliwal, R.; Asfaw, A.; Abberton, M.; Gueye, B.; Asiedu, R.; Cizkova, J.; Hribova, E.; Dolezel, J.; De Koeyer, D .; Adetimirin, V.; Bhattacharjee, R. (2021)
      Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a monocotyledonous herbaceous vine plant grown in the tropics and subtropics. It is a multi-species plant with varied intra- and interspecific ploidy levels. Of the 600 species, 11 are cultivated supporting the livelihood of over 300 million people. The paucity of information on ploidy and the genomic constitution is a significant challenge to the crop’s genetic improvement through crossbreeding. The objective of this study was to investigate the ploidy levels of 236 ...

    • Combining ability and heterotic grouping of turcicum-resistant early-maturing maize inbreds 

      Badu-Apraku, B.; Bankole, F.; Fakorede, M.; Ogbe, G.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Ortega-Beltran, A. (2021)
      Maize (Zea mays L.), an important source of calories and nutrients in sub-Saharan Africa, is threatened by northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum. This study examined combining ability and heterotic patterns of early-maturing maize inbreds, gene action conditioning NCLB resistance, and performance of derived hybrids across environments and identified testers. Fifteen each of white and yellow inbreds were intercrossed using North Carolina Design II to obtain 75 hybrids per ...

    • Are landscape restoration interventions sustainable? A case for the upper Tana Basin of Kenya 

      Kizito, F.; Gicheha, J.; Rahman, N.A.; Tamene, L.D.; Nganga, K.W.; Koech, N. (2021)
      Landscape restoration initiatives often have the potential to result in environmental gains, but the question of whether these gains are sustainable and how they are linked to other community needs (social, productivity and economic gains) remains unclear. We use the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework (SIAF) to demonstrate how environmental benefits are linked to productivity, environment, social, human, and economic components. Using the SIAF, the standardization of relevant indicators ...

    • Consumer preferences and socioeconomic factors decided on plantain and plantain-based products in the central region of Cameroon and Oyo state, Nigeria 

      Udomkun, P.; Masso, C.; Swennen, R.; Innawong, B.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Alakonya, A.; Lienou, J.; Ibitoye, D.O.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021)
      Plantain is a key staple food in Central and West Africa, but there is limited understanding of its market in Africa. In addition, the cooking methods for enhancing the nutritional value, consumer preference, and willingness to pay for plantain and plantain-based products are not well understood. The knowledge gaps in the market and consumer dimension of the food chain need to be known to increase plantain utilization and guide breeding efforts. This research contributes by examining the cooking ...

    • Collection, genotyping and virus elimination of cassava landraces from Tanzania and documentation of farmer knowledge 

      Ferguson, M.; Tumwegamire, S.; Chidzanga, C.; Shah, T.; Mtunda, K.; Kulembeka, H.; Kimata, B.; Tollano, S.; Stephen, M.; Mpayo, E.; Mohamedi, S.; Kasele, S.; Palangyo, E.; Armachius, J.; Ali, A.H.; Sichalwe, K.; Matondo, D.; Masisila, F.F.; Matumbo, Z.; Kidunda, B.; Arati, A.C.; Muiruri, R.; Munguti, F.; Abass, A.; Abberton, M.; Mkamilo, G. (2021)
      Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) has been a vital staple and food security crop in Tanzania for several centuries, and it is likely that its resilience will play a key role in mitigating livelihood insecurities arising from climate change. The sector is dominated by smallholder farmers growing traditional landrace varieties. A recent surge in virus diseases and awareness in the commercial potential of cassava has prompted a drive to disseminate improved varieties in the country. These factors ...

    • Genome sequence of a Spodoptera frugiperda multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus isolated from fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Nigeria, west Africa 

      Wennmann, J.; Tepa-Yotto, G.; Jehle, J.A.; Goergen, G. (2021)

    • Increasing cassava root yield on farmers’ fields in Nigeria through appropriate weed management 

      Ekeleme, F.; Dixon, A.; Atser, G.; Hauser, S.; Chikoye, D.; Korie, S.; Olojede, A.O.; Agada, M.; Olorunmaiye, P. (2021)
      Weed competition is the major biological stress affecting cassava production in smallholder farms in West and Central Africa, where yields are low compared with those in Asia and Latin America. Options for improved weed management are crucial in increasing productivity. Selected pre- and post-emergence herbicides, integrated with appropriate tillage and plant spacing, were tested in 96 sites in four locations in Nigeria, 24 in 2016 and 72 in 2017. Trials were split plots with six pre-emergence ...

    • Acibenzolar-S-methyl induces resistance against cassava mosaic geminiviruses in Nicotiana benthamiana and their vector Bemisia tabaci in cassava (Manihot esculenta) 

      Doungous, O.; Khatabi, B.; Hanna, R.; Tchuanyo, M.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Fondong, V.N. (2021-12)
      Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), caused by cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs), is a major constraint to the cassava crop in Africa and southeastern Asia. Here, we investigated the ability of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a functional analog of salicylic acid (SA), to trigger systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against two CMGs, namely African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV) in Nicotiana benthamiana. ASM treatment delayed the time to first viral symptoms ...

    • Effects of pressure and temperature on the physico‑chemical properties and acrylamide formation of starchy banana chips during the post‑frying centrifuge step 

      Udomkun, P.; Innawong, B.; Masso, C.; Klaikreuh, D.; Swennen, R.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Alakonya, A.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021)
      The effects of pressure (21.3, 41.3, 61.3, 81.3, and 101.3 kPa) and temperature (174–184 °C) applied during the post-frying centrifuge stage on the physico-chemical characteristics of atmospheric fried plantain chips were studied. Results showed that the surface temperature dropped very fast during the cooling process while the total oil content gradually increased. The oil uptake in the plantain chips increased by 7.7% after 9 min of post-frying cooling. Though an alteration in moisture and oil ...

    • Data on assessment of flours from advanced genotypes and improved cassava varieties for industrial applications 

      Chimphepo, L.; Alamu, E.O.; Monjerezi, M.; Ntawuruhunga, P.; Saka, J.D.K. (2021)
      The data presented in this article are related to the research paper “Physicochemical parameters and functional properties of flours from advanced genotypes and improved cassava varieties for industrial applications” [1]. The genotypes were collected from a multi-location (Uniform yield Trial) trial of the IITA breeding program in Malawi. The data were obtained using multiple analytical techniques and methodology such as oven-drying, sieving, colorimetry, titration, acid hydrolysis method, the ...