For IITA to thrive and meet the expectations of the wider agricultural community in sub-Sahara Africa it must: (i) continue to occupy the Research for Development (R4D) high ground and raise its profile among local and international partners; (ii) conduct rigorous, well-focused research and assure its delivery to end users; (iii) manage its human, physical and financial resources more effectively and (iv) expand its partnership with both the public and private sectors and more convincingly advocate ...

Xanthomonas vasicola p.v. mucasearum (Xvm) is the causal agent of banana bacterial wilt which is currently constraining banana production in Eastern Africa. One mode of transmission is by insect vectors and studies in Uganda have shown that drosophilids, honey and stingless bees are of particular importance. It is not yet known if bee hives consist pools for Xvm multiplication and spread or if the propolis’ antimicrobial defense at hives entrance can eliminate Xvm. The present study aimed at ...

Crop plant association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) often prove beneficial to crop productivity through a number of mechanisms, such as improved access to nutrients and water, pest and disease suppression. Banana and plantain are both mycorrhizal plants, with a number of studies demonstrating the strong stimulatory affect of AMF on plant growth in pots. Application of AMF to newly deflasked tissue culture plants or in nurseries therefore, may improve plant growth and possibly provide ...