Working Document Series Open Access Integrated soil fertility management in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo B.J. Bashagaluke · R.D Birindwa · L.N. Cizungu · M.J. Walangululu This paper describes a collaborative research involving South Kivu province in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi to disseminate resilient agro-ecosystem packages. Modifying crop arrangement by planting legumes within and bet… RUF-34705 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Identification of drought related and drought responsive genes in cassava Harvey. Jagger · E.B. Kizito · Ferguson. Morag · L. Turyagyenda Conventional cassava breeding has yielded a lot of progress for many traits including pest and disease resistance and high yields but little progress has been made with respect to drought tolerance. It is believed that molecular breeding o… RUF-34689 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing Callus induction and embrogenic cell suspension development in East African highland banana G. Arinaitwe · P. Gibson · A. Kiggundu · S.B. Mukasa +3 more Improvement of banana using conventional breeding methods is very difficult due to its biology. Genetic transformation is a novel alternative approach for crop improvement. Transformation of EA-AAA bananas has, however, been limited by dif… RUF-34682 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Soil survey information for sustainable agriculture in Ikwuano local Government area Abia State South East Nigeria G.E. Akinbola · B.O. Nuga A semi-detailed soil survey of the land of Ikwuano Local Government Area Abia State South East Nigeria was undertaken. The soils were sampled with the aid of soil auger to identify major soil types and their morphological properties (e.g. … RUF-34655 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing water use efficiency of cassava and sorghum based cropping systems in drylands G. Kironchi · R. Mulebeke · M. M. Tenywa Soil moisture flow characteristics, infiltration and storage in the root zone determine the overall availability and use efficiency of water in crop production. This study is evaluating the effects of cropping systems and tillage managemen… RUF-34646 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Testing the efficacy of artificial microRNAs to control cassava brown streak disease T. Alicai · Y. Baguma · Claude M. Fauquet · Settumba B. Mukasa +4 more Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is a major constraint to cassava production in East Africa. It is caused by at least two single stranded (+) RNA viruses (CBSV and CBSUV). To date, only a few genetic sources of resistance to the disease… RUF-34597 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biotic constraints to banana production in Eastern and Central Provinces of Kenya R. Gathu · J. Mbaka · R. Muasya · Maina Mwangi +1 more Banana is an important crop whose production faces major challenges, especially pests and diseases. A banana pests survey was carried out in Eastern and Central Provinces of Kenya. Results showed Fusarium wilt as the most widespread diseas… RUF-34571 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Tomato curl stunt virus management strategies for all year round tomato production in Mozambique C. Ecole · B. Francisco · A. Mondjana · B. Nhaulaho +1 more Tomato is the most popular vegetable in the home garden all over the World as well as in Mozambique. Tomato production in Mozambique has been recently affected by Tomato curl stunt virus (ToCSV) disease, a devastating viral disease that is… RUF-34569 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Participatory development, testing and validation of concepts and technologies for site-specific detection and control of plant parasitic nematodes infecting tomatoes in Mwea, Kenya J.K. Birgen · V. Gathaara · F.W. Kariuki · G.M. Kariuki Tomato production in Kenya has been a lucrative business for smallholder farmers who cannot afford huge capital to invest in other cash crops. It is a major source of household incomes and has created employment that has resulted in improv… RUF-34557 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Detection and screening of yellow and sweet calabash passion fruit for resistance to woodiness disease in Uganda G. Ddamulira · R. Edema · S. Musaana · M.K.N. Ochwo-Ssemakula +1 more In Uganda passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD) damages passion fruit, causing yield losses of 60-100%. This study aimed at detecting and screening yellow and sweet calabash passion fruit for resistance to PWD. Four viruses, namely, Cowpea… RUF-34552 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing effectiveness of macropropagation technology to produce healthy seedlings of banana varieties with high market demand in Eastern and Central provinces, Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · R. Muasya +2 more Banana is an important food and cash crop in Kenya. However, its cultivation is hindered by scarcity of seedlings, pests and diseases, among other factors. Naturally regenerated seedlings which most farmers rely on are likely to carry pest… RUF-34508 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic effects of inbreeding on harvest index and root dry matter content in cassava M. Ferguson · L. Herselman · R.S. Kawuki · M.T. Labuschagne +1 more Inbreeding of predominantly cross-pollinating crops is expected to result in progeny with reduced fitness and or improved phenotypes. The effects of inbreeding in cassava are not well quantified. Accordingly, in this exploratory study, S1 … RUF-34468 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Variability in carotenoid content among introduced yellow-fleshed cassava clones R. Edema · J. W. Kamau · P. W. Njenga Cassava is important in semi-arid Kenya. However, the crop is low in micronutrients including beta-carotene. A total of 129 high beta-carotene cassava clones from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) were established … RUF-34434 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Ethno-botanical and morphological characterisation of cocoyams (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott and Xanthosoma sagittifolum L. Schott) germplasm in Malawi I. R. M. Benesi · F. P. Chipungu · L. Herselman · M. T. Labschagne +1 more Cocoyam accessions of Malawi were characterised using ethnobotany and morphological characters. Thirty above ground qualitative characters were evaluated. The cultivars were identified mainly based on the predominant leaf base and petiole … RUF-34424 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Weeds as potential biopesticides in Taro leaf blight disease management D. Chikoye · C. Fokunang · L. A. Fontem · E. M. Ndifon Weeds play an important role as biopesticides for the management of several field pests. An experiment was conducted in the Life Science Laboratories of the University of Buea in 2012 to assess the biopesticidal potential of aqueous extrac… RUF-34300 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of trends in crop type and land cover change using GIS in Yatta sub-county, Kenya G. N. Karuku · V. M. Kathumo · B. A. Liavoga · R.N. Onwonga +2 more Assessment of the distribution and dynamics of vegetation using remote sensing techniques and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have proven to be efficient tools in monitoring agricultural activities as they provide methods for analys… RUF-34258 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Development of quality and affordable fish feed for small scale fish farmers in Malawi A. Kamangira · J. Kang’ombe · F. Kapute · V. Kasulo +5 more The project aims at contributing to increased fish production in rural communities of Mpamba in Nkhatabay district of Malawi. The aim is being achieved through developing quality affordable feed from locally available ingredients, evaluati… RUF-34191 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Proximate composition of potential plant feedstuffs for production of Tilapia rendalli in northern Malawi J. Kang’ombe · F. Kapute · O.V. Msiska · K. Mzengereza +1 more The aquaculture sector in Malawi contributes two percent to nation’s fish production. Availability of affordable quality feed is one of the most important problems that hamper aquaculture growth in Malawi. This study, therefore, aimed at i… RUF-34171 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Protein nutritional quality of soy fortified complementary flours from Western Kenya E.H. Kamau · C.A. Serrem · F.W. Wamunga Protein Energy Malnutrition accounts for 50% of the annual deaths of children aged below 5 years. Complementary foods for such young children should be protein efficient and nutrient dense. Compositing complementary flours with legumes of … RUF-34147 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Farming characteristics in urban districts of Nairobi county - Kenya A.W. Kihurani · P.W. Masinde · J.B. Mukundi · J. N. Njenga Urban farming practitioners face challenges like lack of quality irrigation water, poorly decomposed manure, diverse inputs of unknown sources, unhealthy farm environment and abject poverty. All these contribute to production of unsafe foo… RUF-34041 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Epidemiology of Tomato Curly Stunt Virus in Mozambique C. Ecole · B. F. Francisco · A. M. Mondjana · B. A. Nhaulaho +2 more Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) has a great socio-economic importance in Mozambique, since it is one of the sources of income for many families. However, its continuous production throughout the year provides conditions for the overwinter… RUF-34036 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Row covers for management of insect-vectored viral diseases of tomato in Uganda H. Jurua · J. Karungi · M.K.N. Ochwo-Ssemakula · P. Sseruwagi Tomato production in Uganda is constrained by among others use of low quality planting materials, non-availability of inputs, sub-optimum agronomic practices, pests and diseases. Studies have shown that viral diseases have quickly become a… RUF-34016 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Developing ecological management strategies for virus diseases of tomato in Uganda S. Ahabwe · H. Jurua · J. Karungi · M.K.N. Ochwo-Ssemakula +1 more Tomato (Lycoperscum esculentum) is one of the priority crops considered to drive development and food security in Uganda. However, severe levels of viral diseases have been found to constrain productivity in Uganda: A survey found mean inc… RUF-33944 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Identification of tomato varieties resistant to Tomato Curl Stunt Virus in Mozambique J. Bokossi · E. Chilembwe · C. Ecole · B. Filipe +5 more The importance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) as source of food and income generation in Mozambique is threatened by proliferation of a viral disease called Tomato Curly Stunt virus (ToCSV) which belongs to the Geminiviridae Family (B… RUF-33922 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Diversity assessment of cassava mutants, hybrids and landraces using morphological markers E. E. Arunga · M. Chelulei · E. Chepkoech · S. Kimno +2 more Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a very important crop in terms of adaptability to various micro-environments, flexibility in management, returns, and multiple uses as food and in various industries. Knowledge of levels of genetic variation … RUF-33871 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015