Department of Applied Plant Science: Recent submissions
Now showing items 1-20 of 81
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Sorghum is an important staple food crop in Kenya, but its yield is low due to many constraints which include diseases, drought, soil fertility, and pests, notably parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. Twenty elite sorghum genotypes and one resistant check were evaluated in three replications in a complete randomized design in Agar Gel (AG) experiment and randomized complete block design on selected Striga hotspot farms at Kadel and Nyahera in western Kenya. Significant differences (p<0.001) were realized both in the fields (plant height, dry shoot biomass yield, grain yield, field Striga count, and Striga damage ratings) and in the AG experiment with respect to maximum germination distance and numbers of induced germinated Striga seeds. Among the sorghum genotypes evaluated under field conditions, T53B, N57, N68, C26, IESV 92036-SH, T30B, and Uyoma 47 White genotypes had stable yields under Striga infestation in the two sites, whereas Nyadundo 1, Nyadundo 2, and Uyoma 8 were susceptible. In the AG experiment, E117B, T30B, Uyoma 8, Uyoma 42 STR, and T53B induced high numbers of germinated Striga seeds with maximum germination distances (MGD). In contrast, Uyoma 47 Brown, IESV 92038/2-SH, and IESV 92036-SH sorghum genotypes secreted low amounts of SLS suggesting resistance. This study has identified and selected four Striga tolerant (T53B, N68, N57, and T 30B) and resistant (C 26, Uyoma 47 Brown, IESV 92038/2-SH, and IESV 92036- SH) sorghum genotypes which can be utilized in further research programs or adopted to improve sorghum productivity in the highly Striga infested regions of western Kenya.
(Academic Journals, 2021)Sorghum is an important staple food crop in Kenya, but its yield is low due to many constraints which include diseases, drought, soil fertility, and pests, notably parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. Twenty elite sorghum ... -
Genetic association of agronomic traits with partial resistance to gray leaf spot in elite maize germplasm.
(John Wiley & Sons, 2022)Studies on gray leaf spot (GLS) of maize have reported inconsistencies in the relationship between partial disease resistance and agronomic traits. Understanding this variation could facilitate the use of agronomic traits ... -
Multiple-bean varieties as a strategy for minimizing production risk and enhancing yield stability in smallholder systems
(Cambridge University Press, 2019)Abate, T. and Ampofo, J.K.O. (1996). Insect pests of beans in Africa: their ecology and management. Annual Review of Entomology 41, 45–73.Google ScholarPubMed Ahmed, F.E., Hall, A.E. and DeMason, D.A. (1992). Heat injury ... -
Stem bark extracts of Erythrina excelsa (Baker) and their biological activities
(2016)The species is known from Southern Nyanza, Migori in Kenya. The extraction of the stem bark was done sequentially using organic solvents starting with the least polar; n-hexane then dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ... -
A ten-year study of Retinoblastoma in Uganda: An approach to improving outcome with limited resources
(Elsevier, 2021)Survival of children with cancer in resource-limited regions is very poor compared to better-resourced regions. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood cancer that is commonly reported in many regions of Africa. RB may be safely ... -
New evaluation of Alternaria brassicicola isolates against Striga hermonthica seeds emergence on maize in Kenya
(JRWS, 2021)Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is also known as witchweed, is a highly noxious parasite of cereal in Sub- Saharan Africa leading to enormous economic losses of above 7 billion US$ yearly. Some of the suggested control ... -
Depletion of phosphate rock reserves and world food crisis: Reality or hoax?
(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2020)Phosphate rock (PR) deposits are the major source of phosphate (P) fertilizers for soil fertility replenishment. The demand for P fertilizers in the year 2014 was 42,706,000 tons and was expected to reach 46,648,000 tons ... -
Depletion of phosphate rock reserves and world food crisis: Reality or hoax?
(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2020)Phosphate rock (PR) deposits are the major source of phosphate (P) fertilizers for soil fertility replenishment. The demand for P fertilizers in the year 2014 was 42,706,000 tons and was expected to reach 46,648,000 tons ... -
Mechanistic understanding of iron toxicity tolerance in contrasting rice varieties from Africa: 1. Morpho-physiological and biochemical responses
(CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2018)Iron (Fe) is a fundamental element involved in various plant metabolic processes. However, when Fe uptake is excessive, it becomes toxic to the plant and disrupts cellular homeostasis. The aim of this study was to ... -
Economic Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nitrogen under Striga Infestation in Western Kenya
(Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 2020)Due to escalating cost of imported fertilizers, there is renewed interest in the use of local nutrient resources in managing soil fertility in Kenya. The effect of integrated use of urea and Calliandra or maize stover ... -
Field characterization of partial resistance to gray leaf spot in elite maize germplasm
(Phytopathology, 2020)Forty-eight inbred lines of maize with varying levels of resistance to gray leaf spot (GLS) were artificially inoculated with Cercospora zeina and evaluated to characterize partial disease resistance in maize under field ... -
The effectiveness of local strains of Fusarium oxysporium f. Sp. Strigae to control Striga hermonthica on local maize in western Kenya
(Wiley, 2020)Striga hermonthica weed infestation continues to persist among smallholder poor farmers in Kenya who depend on traditional maize (Zea mays L.) seeds for their livelihood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ... -
Effect of nitrogen application on the expression of drought-induced root plasticity of upland NERICA rice
(Taylor & Francis, 2019)This study evaluated the effect of three N fertilization levels 60 (low), 120 (medium), and 180 (high) kg N ha−1 and soil moisture content gradients created by a line-source sprinkler on the expression of plasticity in ... -
Interactive influence of rainfall manipulation and livestock grazing on species diversity of the herbaceous layer community in a humid savannah in Kenya
(Elsevier, 2019)Changes in rainfall regime and grazing pressure affect vegetation composition and diversity with ecological implications for savannahs. The savannah in East Africa has experienced increased livestock grazing and rainfall ... -
Ecosystem productivity and CO2 exchange response to the interaction of livestock grazing and rainfall manipulation in a Kenyan savanna
(Elsevier, 2021)Savanna ecosystems in Kenya are experiencing altered rainfall amount and increased grazing pressure. These environmental alterations occur simultaneously and impact on productivity and CO2 exchange of the savanna in unclear ... -
Population structure and diversity in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) germplasm
(Springer-Verlag, 2008-05-01)A genotypic analysis of 79 finger millet accessions (E. coracana subsp. coracana) from 11 African and five Asian countries, plus 14 wild E. coracana subsp. africana lines collected in Uganda and Kenya was conducted with ... -
Morphological characterization of some wild and cultivated watermelon (Citrullus sp.) accessions in Kenya
(ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 2009)Genetic diversity and relatedness were assessed among three most common commercial watermelon cultivars in Kenya; one newly introduced commercial cultivar from the U.S., one Kenyan landrace and one wild (Citrullus colocynthis) ... -
Comparing the yield components of three most popular commercial watermelon cultivars in Kenya with one newly introduced cultivar and one landrace
(Academic Journals, 2009)High yield is a major goal for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) breeders. The objective of this study was to compare the yield components of some watermelon accessions available in Kenya and to identify high yielding ... -
Moisture content and the longevity of seeds of six Euphorbia species in open storage
(International Seed Testing Association, 2009-07-01)Seeds from six Kenyan Euphorbia species were placed into experimental storage under open conditions (i.e. not hermetically sealed) over a range of relative humidities (between 25 and 75%) at 45°C. Viability during storage ... -
Participatory selection of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cultivars using mother and baby trial in Western Kenya
(ISHS Acta Horticulturae 911, 2009-08-31)Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is a drought tolerant food security crop. Western Kenya accounts for 60% of the national production. Intensive production is constrained by lack of improved high yielding cultivars ...
