Working Document Series Open Access Characterisation of micronutrient (zinc and iron), dense tropical maize hybrids grown in two different environments in Zambia L. Sinyinda Iron and zinc deficiencies that are prevalent in most sub-Saharan African countries have been attributed to the low grain micronutrient levels in local varieties. The study characterised micronutrient (iron and zinc) dense maize germplasm … RUF-34697 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 Characterisation of genetic diversity among Sudanese sorghum accessions using molecular markers and phenotypic characteristics M. A. Abdelbagi · Suliman. Sufian Sorghum is an important staple food grain crop for the millions of people living in the semi-arid tropics in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The present study examined phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 95 Sudanese sorghum accessi… RUF-34687 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Response of tomato to coffee pulp and phosphate rock composts applied to a phosphorus deficient Ultisol J.P. Mrema · M. J. Shitindi A glasshouse experiment was conducted using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.) var. Carl J to investigate the effect of composting coffee pulp with Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) on phosphorus availability, plant growth and yield response … RUF-34686 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of physiological and morphological traits conferring drought tolerance in cowpea D. Lungu · K. Simango A field study was carried at Gwebi VTC to determine relationships among the morpho-physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in cowpea. Fifteen genotypes were planted in RCBD with three replications under two moisture environm… RUF-34685 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 Regeneration dynamics of woody species in degraded natural forests in western Kenya Wellington Ekaya · J. Kinyamario · J. Otuoma Deforestation has become rampant in many areas in Kenya due to pressure on land resulting from human population increase. Efforts to rehabilitate areas that have been deforested have had little success due to the limited knowledge of veget… RUF-34678 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of drought tolerance in selected upland rice genotypes in Uganda Y. Baguma · J. Lamo · B.S. Namazzi · P. Okori Breeding for drought tolerance requires a clear understanding of the mode of gene action for this trait. To understand the action of drought tolerance genes in upland rice varieties in Uganda, a study was carried out to establish the gener… RUF-34652 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Lime requirement of selected acid soils of Lesotho and response of field beans to lime application M.V. Marake · T. Nkheloane A greenhouse experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of lime application (at different rates) on soil pH, exchangeable aluminium (Al3+) and plant response to lime application across four of the strongly acidic soils series of Les… RUF-34651 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The effect of super phosphate and planting density on mini-tuber production from true potato seed T. A. Mtaita · M. Mutetwa · M. D. Shoko Improving tuber seed quality and availability is institutionally complex in the tropics and sub-tropics. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of superphosphate and plant density on mini-tuber production from true pota… RUF-34649 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluating the macropropagation efficiency of banana varieties preferred by farmers in Eastern and Central Kenya N. Gitonga · M.R. Kasyoka · N. Kori · R. Muasya +1 more Kenyan farmers are threatened by overreliance on few crops whose yields are reduced by adverse climatic changes. Bananas are more resilient and produce year round, making it a more suitable crop. To increase banana production, farmers shou… RUF-34627 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of water quality in Mohale dam and associated rivers in Lesotho M. Johanne · R. Mating · A.O. Olaleye The study assessed Mohale dam and the associated rivers’ water quality over 5 years and comparing it to the water quality standards. It was believed that since this dam and the rivers occurred at elevations of between 2000m and 2900m above… RUF-34619 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Inheritance of resistance to bacterial blight and implication for rice improvement in Uganda G. Asea · R. Edema · P. Gibson · I. Habarurema +1 more Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae, is a destructive disease of rice worldwide. Resistant varieties are the best option to avert the disease. Thirty resistance genes identified face a wide genetic diversity exhibited b… RUF-34618 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Importance and approaches of obtaining experimental uniformity P. Gibson The need for a high degree of experimental uniformity is clearly shown by the fact in an experiment that results in a CV (coefficient of variation) of 20%, 8 replications would be required to detect the size of difference between treatment… RUF-34616 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Farmer - managed trials for evaluation of rhizatech and legumefix in Bungoma district Kenya C. Majengo · W. Ngetich · J.R. Okalebo · C.O. Othieno The nitrogen reserve of agricultural soils must be replenished periodically in order to maintain an adequate level for crop production. This replacement of soil nitrogen is generally accomplished by the addition of fertilizers or as produc… RUF-34615 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic variation of Zambian maize inbred lines commonly used in breeding Richard Chanda · C. Mungoma · M. Mwala · K. Mwansa +1 more In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), breeders have the challenge of developing high yielding maize hybrids that are adapted to farmers’ conditions. This however requires knowledge on the breeding value of elite maize germplasm. Ten (10) maize inbr… RUF-34610 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Phosphate sorption by andisols and ultisols, and its implication on phosphorus bioavailability in the wet tropics of Tanzania E. Kisetu · J.P. Mrema Phosphorus (P) sorption and desorption behaviour of Andisols of Siha - Kilimajaro and Ultisols of Magadu -Morogoro, Tanzania was studied in pot experiments. This was to facilitate development of P management strategies for enhanced maize p… RUF-34606 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Development of improved scald tolerant barley varieties with superior enduse (malt) and nutritional quality for dry land areas of the northern Ethiopia Asmud. Bjornstad · R. Edema · Abay. Feiten Barley is an important cash crop for resource-poor farmers in Tigray region of northern Ethiopian where options are very limited, and barley is often the only possible crop. Biotic stresses plus a harsh environment have contributed to low … RUF-34600 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Studies on the etiology, epidemiology and management of dieback disease of passion fruit in Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · M. Mwangi +1 more Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is an important cash crop in Kenya. In the recent past, diseases have increasingly reduced its production with yield losses ranging from 50 – 100%. Dieback is a recently emerged disease that is highly virule… RUF-34598 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 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 Comparative effects of Minjingu phosphate rock and triple super phosphate on residual P in an Ultisol A.M. Kalala · J.M.R. Semoka A glasshouse experiment was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture to compare the effects of Minjingu Phosphate Rock (MPR) and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) on Residual Phosphorus in an Ultisol. The soil was collected after seven ye… RUF-34593 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of selected arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on the growth of Calliandra calothyrsus and Sorghum bicolor in eastern Uganda E. Adipala · G. Eilu · C.L. Kizza · J.G.M. Majaliwa +2 more Successful consistent revegetation of drastically disturbed areas throughout the world has been achieved using biological “tools” including mycorrhizal fungus inoculated tree seeds, seedlings, native shrubs, and grass species. However, the… RUF-34583 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 Strategy for improving bush bean production on a phosphorus fixing Andosol with aquic moisture regime A. Cyamweshi Rusanganwa · J.S. Tenywa In Uganda, bean is a food security and income sourcing crop, particularly for the rural poor. The highlands of southwestern Uganda are major producers and consumers of the crop. The arable soils in the highlands bordering Rwanda and DR Con… RUF-34570 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