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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Model Application Of Entomopathogenic Fungi As Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides: Prospects, Challenges, And Insights For Next-Generation Sustainable Agriculture, Bamisope Steve Bamisile, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Yijuan Xu Sep 2021

Model Application Of Entomopathogenic Fungi As Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides: Prospects, Challenges, And Insights For Next-Generation Sustainable Agriculture, Bamisope Steve Bamisile, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Yijuan Xu

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In the past few decades, the control of pests and diseases of cultivated plants using natural and biological measures has drawn increasing attention in the quest to reduce the level of dependence on chemical products for agricultural production. The use of living organisms, predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, has proven to be a viable and sustainable pest management technique. Among the aforementioned, fungi, most importantly the insect-pathogenic species, have been in use for more than 150years. These include the most popular strains belonging to the genera Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, Hirsutella, and Lecanicillium. Their application is …

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A Molecular Survey Of Bacterial Species In The Guts Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) Reared On Two Urban Organic Waste Streams In Kenya, Marwa Shumo, Fathiya M. Khamis, Fidelis Levi Ombura, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Oliver K. Schlüter, Arnold Van Huis, Christian Borgemeister Sep 2021

A Molecular Survey Of Bacterial Species In The Guts Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) Reared On Two Urban Organic Waste Streams In Kenya, Marwa Shumo, Fathiya M. Khamis, Fidelis Levi Ombura, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Oliver K. Schlüter, Arnold Van Huis, Christian Borgemeister

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Globally, the expansion of livestock and fisheries production is severely constrained due to the increasing costs and ecological footprint of feed constituents. The utilization of black soldier fly (BSF) as an alternative protein ingredient to fishmeal and soybean in animal feed has been widely documented. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) used are known to voraciously feed and grow in contaminated organic wastes. Thus, several concerns about their safety for inclusion into animal feed remain largely unaddressed. This study evaluated both culture-dependent sequence-based and 16S rDNA amplification analysis to isolate and identify bacterial species associated with BSFL fed on chicken …

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Evaluating Livestock Farmers Knowledge, Beliefs, And Management Of Arboviral Diseases In Kenya: A Multivariate Fractional Probit Approach, Paul Nyamweya Nyangau, Jonathan Makau Nzuma, Patrick Irungu, Menale Kassie Sep 2021

Evaluating Livestock Farmers Knowledge, Beliefs, And Management Of Arboviral Diseases In Kenya: A Multivariate Fractional Probit Approach, Paul Nyamweya Nyangau, Jonathan Makau Nzuma, Patrick Irungu, Menale Kassie

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Globally, arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infections continue to pose substantial threats to public health and economic development, especially in developing countries. In Kenya, although arboviral diseases (ADs) are largely endemic, little is known about the factors influencing livestock farmers’ knowledge, beliefs, and management (KBM) of the three major ADs: Rift Valley fever (RVF), dengue fever and chikungunya fever. This study evaluates the drivers of livestock farmers’ KBM of ADs from a sample of 629 respondents selected using a three-stage sampling procedure in Kenya’s three hotspot counties of Baringo, Kwale, and Kilifi. A multivariate fractional probit model was used to assess the …

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Paenibacillus Polymyxa Causes Yellow Withered Spot Disease In Dracaena Trifasciata In The South Of China, Baochun Lai, Yongwen Lin, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Ruiqing Dai Sep 2021

Paenibacillus Polymyxa Causes Yellow Withered Spot Disease In Dracaena Trifasciata In The South Of China, Baochun Lai, Yongwen Lin, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Ruiqing Dai

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Mother-in-law’s tongue, Dracaena (Sansevieria) trifasciata S. is an ornamental houseplant of Asparagaceae family and native to tropical western Africa and southern Asia. Following a yellow withered spot symptom observed on up to one third of D. trifasciata plants at the field, a new bacterium pathogen was discovered for the first time in South of China. This pathogen was isolated from the early irregular yellow spot and its pathogenicity to the host plant was confirmed through artificial infection. Through both morphological characteristics and molecular DNA sequences using 16S rDNA and three housekeeping genes, the pathogen was identified and characterized as Paenibacillus …

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Estimating Maize Lethal Necrosis (Mln) Severity In Kenya Using Multispectral High-Resolution Data, Kyalo Richard, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Sevgan Subramanian, Johnson O. Nyasani, Michael Thiel, Hossein J. Jozani, Christian Borgemeister, Bester T. Mudereri, Tobias Landmann Sep 2021

Estimating Maize Lethal Necrosis (Mln) Severity In Kenya Using Multispectral High-Resolution Data, Kyalo Richard, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Sevgan Subramanian, Johnson O. Nyasani, Michael Thiel, Hossein J. Jozani, Christian Borgemeister, Bester T. Mudereri, Tobias Landmann

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Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a severe disease in maize that significantly reduces yields by up to 90% in maize-growing regions such as Kenya and other countries in Africa. The disease causes chlorotic mottling of leaves and severe stunting which leads to plant death. The spread of MLN in the maize-growing regions of Kenya has intensified since the first outbreak was reported in September 2011. In this study, the RapidEye (5 m) imagery was combined with field-based data of MLN severity to map three MLN severity levels in Bomet County, Kenya. Two RapidEye images were acquired during maize stem elongation …

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Advances In Insects For Food And Feed, James Peter Egonyu, John Kinyuru, Forkwa Fombong, Jeremiah Ng’Ang’A, Yusuf Abdullahi Ahmed, Saliou Niassy Sep 2021

Advances In Insects For Food And Feed, James Peter Egonyu, John Kinyuru, Forkwa Fombong, Jeremiah Ng’Ang’A, Yusuf Abdullahi Ahmed, Saliou Niassy

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This Special Issue presents the outcomes from the 23rd African Association of Insect Scientists' Conference held in Cote D’Ivoire, in connection with similar initiatives within and outside Africa. Over 65 scientific papers from several countries, worldwide, were submitted, of which about 40 were accepted and published. The issue focused on new advances in the value chain of edible insects in Africa and beyond. An innovative light-emitting diode technology for mass harvesting of edible grasshopper has been developed. The nutrient composition of insects such as the desert locust has been evaluated. Organic waste streams have been found to affect insect productivity …

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Molecular Characterization Of Trypanosoma Vivax In Tsetse Flies Confirms The Presence Of The Virulent Tvv4 Genotype In Kenya: Potential Implications For The Control Of Trypanosomiasis In Shimba Hills, Faith I. Ebhodaghe, Armanda D.S. Bastos, Kevin O. Kidambasi, Shewit Kalayou, Daniel K. Masiga, Michael N. Okal Sep 2021

Molecular Characterization Of Trypanosoma Vivax In Tsetse Flies Confirms The Presence Of The Virulent Tvv4 Genotype In Kenya: Potential Implications For The Control Of Trypanosomiasis In Shimba Hills, Faith I. Ebhodaghe, Armanda D.S. Bastos, Kevin O. Kidambasi, Shewit Kalayou, Daniel K. Masiga, Michael N. Okal

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Trypanosoma vivax is a vector-borne protozoan parasite of livestock endemic to Africa and South America. To date, fifteen genotypes of the parasite have been described in vertebrate and insect hosts in East Africa. However, information regarding T. vivax diversity remains limited in many endemic countries in the sub-region, including Kenya. Such information could deepen insight into the local epidemiology of animal trypanosomiasis in Shimba Hills, a wildlife area in southeast Kenya where T. vivax is endemic and infects livestock. We employed two-gene conventional-PCR-sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to characterize T. vivax genotypes in tsetse flies collected between November 2018 and September …

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How Is Organic Farming Performing Agronomically And Economically In Sub-Saharan Africa?, Christian Schader, Anja Heidenreich, Irene Kadzere, Irene Egyir, Anne Muriuki, Joseph Bandanaa, Joseph Clottey, John Ndungu, Christian Grovermann, Gianna Lazzarini, Johan Blockeel, Christian Borgemeister, Adrian Muller, Fred Kabi, Komi Fiaboe, Noah Adamtey, Beate Huber, Urs Niggli, Matthias Stolze Sep 2021

How Is Organic Farming Performing Agronomically And Economically In Sub-Saharan Africa?, Christian Schader, Anja Heidenreich, Irene Kadzere, Irene Egyir, Anne Muriuki, Joseph Bandanaa, Joseph Clottey, John Ndungu, Christian Grovermann, Gianna Lazzarini, Johan Blockeel, Christian Borgemeister, Adrian Muller, Fred Kabi, Komi Fiaboe, Noah Adamtey, Beate Huber, Urs Niggli, Matthias Stolze

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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 Africa and how it performs in a smallholder context remains poorly understood. We applied a novel observational two-factorial research design, which allowed to evaluate the impacts of i) …

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Cost–Benefit Analysis Of Improved Light Trap For Harvesting The Edible Grasshopper, Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): Evidence From Uganda, Francis Sengendo, Sevgan Subramanian, Michael Kidoido, Moses Chemurot, Chrysantus Tanga, James Peter Egonyu Sep 2021

Cost–Benefit Analysis Of Improved Light Trap For Harvesting The Edible Grasshopper, Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): Evidence From Uganda, Francis Sengendo, Sevgan Subramanian, Michael Kidoido, Moses Chemurot, Chrysantus Tanga, James Peter Egonyu

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Recent evidence has shown that improved light traps comprising modified drums and light emitting diode bulbs are more efficient and safer in mass trapping of wild swarms of Ruspolia differens compared to mercury light traps with open-ended drums commonly used in Uganda. However, financial analysis of the improved traps had not yet been conducted prior to this study. Here, we carried out a cost–benefit analysis of the improved trap compared to the existing trapping technique. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on the demographic characteristics, revenue, capital expenditures and operating costs of the current trapping method from 30 …

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Field Testing Of A Putative Larviposition Pheromone For The Tsetse Fly Glossina M. Morsitans Westwood, J. W. Hargrove, J. Van Sickle, R. K. Saini Sep 2021

Field Testing Of A Putative Larviposition Pheromone For The Tsetse Fly Glossina M. Morsitans Westwood, J. W. Hargrove, J. Van Sickle, R. K. Saini

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Under laboratory conditions, the alkane hydrocarbon n-pentadecane attracts gravid female tsetse (Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood) to potential larviposition sites. We describe field-testing of this chemical, which is the first such test for any putative tsetse larviposition pheromone. We replicated randomised block experiments at 11 sites near Rekomitjie Research Station, Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. Each site comprised a cluster of four artificial warthog burrows constructed from 200-litre steel drums. We placed six trays, filled with sand and covered with leaf litter, inside each burrow. Both species of tsetse inhabiting this region entered these artificial burrows and deposited 1282 pupae in the trays …

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Mouse Experiments Demonstrate Differential Pathogenicity And Virulence Of Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense Strains, Limo William Kipkorir, Thuita Kibuthu John, Orindi Benedict Owino, Oidho John, Shivairo Robert, Masiga Daniel, Adung'a Vincent Owino Sep 2021

Mouse Experiments Demonstrate Differential Pathogenicity And Virulence Of Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense Strains, Limo William Kipkorir, Thuita Kibuthu John, Orindi Benedict Owino, Oidho John, Shivairo Robert, Masiga Daniel, Adung'a Vincent Owino

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Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is the causative agent for Rhodesian human African trypanosomiasis. The disease is considered acute, but varying clinical outcomes including chronic infections have been observed. The basis for these different clinical manifestations is thought to be associated with a combination of parasite and host factors. In the current study, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense strains responsible for varying infection outcomes were sought using mouse model. Clinical rHAT parasite isolates were subjected to PCR tests to confirm presence of the serum resistance associated (SRA) gene. Thereafter, four T. b. rhodesiense isolates were subjected to a comparative pathogenicity study using female Swiss …

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Leveraging Of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing On Estimating Biomass Yield Of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Medicinal Plant, Thulani Tshabalala, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Bhekumthetho Ncube, Ashwell R. Ndhlala, Onisimo Mutanga Aug 2021

Leveraging Of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing On Estimating Biomass Yield Of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Medicinal Plant, Thulani Tshabalala, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Bhekumthetho Ncube, Ashwell R. Ndhlala, Onisimo Mutanga

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Moringa oleifera Lam. is a functional plant considered to be high in nutrients as well as medicinal properties, largely utilised in most of the developing countries. Therefore, early prediction of M. oleifera biomass yield is a valuable pre- and post-harvest planning strategy for ensuring a reliable supply of the plant products and for marketing purposes. Subsequently, the objective of the current study was to explore the potential use of hyperspectral data in predicting biomass yield of different cultivars of M. oleifera. Canopy hyperspectral data were collected on five M. oleifera cultivars when they were one month and two months old …

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Determination Of Temperature Thresholds For The Parasitoid Diachasmimorpha Longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Using Life Cycle Simulation Modeling: Implications For Effective Field Releases In Classical Biological Control Of Fruit Flies, Shepard Ndlela, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Samira A. Mohamed Aug 2021

Determination Of Temperature Thresholds For The Parasitoid Diachasmimorpha Longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Using Life Cycle Simulation Modeling: Implications For Effective Field Releases In Classical Biological Control Of Fruit Flies, Shepard Ndlela, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Samira A. Mohamed

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The braconid parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is one of the most important natural enemies in classical biological control programs against tephritid fruit flies worldwide. In light of the spread of the invasive fruit fly species, Bactrocera dorsalis in Africa and beyond, there is a need to implement classical biological control. The current study aimed to determine temperature thresholds for D. longicaudata reared on B. dorsalis, using life cycle simulation modeling to guide informed parasitoid releases in Africa. Simulated parameters included thermal requirements, population growth parameters at different temperature requirements, suitable areas for the establishment, and the number of …

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Temperature-Dependent Phenology Of The Parasitoid Fopius Arisanus On The Host Bactrocera Dorsalis, Samuel Nanga Nanga, S. Kekeunou, A. Fotso Kuate, K. K.M. Fiaboe, M. A. Dongmo Kenfak, H. E. Tonnang, D. Gnanvossou, C. Djiéto-Lordon, R. Hanna Aug 2021

Temperature-Dependent Phenology Of The Parasitoid Fopius Arisanus On The Host Bactrocera Dorsalis, Samuel Nanga Nanga, S. Kekeunou, A. Fotso Kuate, K. K.M. Fiaboe, M. A. Dongmo Kenfak, H. E. Tonnang, D. Gnanvossou, C. Djiéto-Lordon, R. Hanna

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Fopius arisanus (Sonan), an egg-pupal parasitoid of numerous fruit fly species, was recently introduced into Africa for the control of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). In this study, life-table data of F. arisanus were generated under laboratory conditions at six constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 28 and 35 °C; 75% RH, L12:D12 photoperiod) and under variable conditions in a screenhouse on B. dorsalis. Several non-linear functions were fitted to model species development, mortality, longevity and oviposition using the Insect Life Cycle Modeling (ILCYM) software. The established phenology models were stochastically simulated at variable temperatures to estimate the …

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Farmer Perceptions And Willingness To Pay For Novel Livestock Pest Control Technologies: A Case Of Tsetse Repellent Collar In Kwale County In Kenya, Beatrice W. Muriithi, Nancy G. Gathogo, Gracious M. Diiro, Michael M. Kidoido, Michael Nyangánga Okal, Daniel K. Masiga Aug 2021

Farmer Perceptions And Willingness To Pay For Novel Livestock Pest Control Technologies: A Case Of Tsetse Repellent Collar In Kwale County In Kenya, Beatrice W. Muriithi, Nancy G. Gathogo, Gracious M. Diiro, Michael M. Kidoido, Michael Nyangánga Okal, Daniel K. Masiga

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Tsetse-transmitted Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT) is one of the most important constraints to livestock development in Africa. Use of trypanocides has been the most widespread approach for the management of AAT, despite the associated drug resistance and health con-cerns associated with drug metabolites in animal products. Alternative control measures that target tsetse fly vectors of AAT, though effective, have been hard to sustain in part because these are public goods applied area-wide. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and partners have developed and implemented a novel tsetse repellent collar (TRC) applied on animals to limit contact of …

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Odour Priming Of A Mosquito-Specialist Predator's Vision-Based Detouring Decisions, Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson Jul 2021

Odour Priming Of A Mosquito-Specialist Predator's Vision-Based Detouring Decisions, Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson

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A capacity to execute long detours that are planned ahead of time has cognitive implications pertaining to reliance on internal representation. Here we investigate the detouring behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, an East African salticid spider that specializes at preying on blood-carrying mosquitoes. The findings from our experiments are the first evidence of a salticid making detouring plans based on whether the path chosen leads to more preferred instead of less preferred prey, as well as the first evidence of olfactory priming effects on motivation and selective attention in the context of detouring. Test spiders began on top of a starting …

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Horizontal Transmission Of The Symbiont Microsporidia Mb In Anopheles Arabiensis, Godfrey Nattoh, Tracy Maina, Edward E. Makhulu, Lilian Mbaisi, Enock Mararo, Fidel G. Otieno, Tullu Bukhari, Thomas O. Onchuru, Evan Teal, Juan Paredes, Joel L. Bargul, David M. Mburu, Everline A. Onyango, Gabriel Magoma, Steven P. Sinkins, Jeremy K. Herren Jul 2021

Horizontal Transmission Of The Symbiont Microsporidia Mb In Anopheles Arabiensis, Godfrey Nattoh, Tracy Maina, Edward E. Makhulu, Lilian Mbaisi, Enock Mararo, Fidel G. Otieno, Tullu Bukhari, Thomas O. Onchuru, Evan Teal, Juan Paredes, Joel L. Bargul, David M. Mburu, Everline A. Onyango, Gabriel Magoma, Steven P. Sinkins, Jeremy K. Herren

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The recently discovered Anopheles symbiont, Microsporidia MB, has a strong malaria transmission-blocking phenotype in Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant Anopheles gambiae species complex member in many active transmission areas in eastern Africa. The ability of Microsporidia MB to block Plasmodium transmission together with vertical transmission and avirulence makes it a candidate for the development of a symbiont-based malaria transmission blocking strategy. We investigate the characteristics and efficiencies of Microsporidia MB transmission between An. arabiensis mosquitoes. We show that Microsporidia MB is not transmitted between larvae but is effectively transmitted horizontally between adult mosquitoes. Notably, Microsporidia MB was only found to be …

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Planting Material Of Enset (Ensete Ventricosum), A Key Food Security Crop In Southwest Ethiopia, Is A Key Element In The Dissemination Of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Infection, Selamawit A. Kidane, Solveig Haukeland, Beira H. Meressa, Anne Kathrine Hvoslef-Eide, Danny L. Coyne Jul 2021

Planting Material Of Enset (Ensete Ventricosum), A Key Food Security Crop In Southwest Ethiopia, Is A Key Element In The Dissemination Of Plant-Parasitic Nematode Infection, Selamawit A. Kidane, Solveig Haukeland, Beira H. Meressa, Anne Kathrine Hvoslef-Eide, Danny L. Coyne

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Enset (Ensete ventricosum), is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Musaceae, along with banana and plantain. Despite wild populations occurring in eastern, central and southern Africa, it is only in Ethiopia that the crop has been domesticated, where it is culturally and agriculturally symbolic as a food security crop. Although an under-researched orphan crop, enset serves as a staple food for about 20% of the Ethiopian population, comprising more than 20 million people, demonstrating its value in the country. Similar to banana and plantain, enset is heavily affected by plant-parasitic nematodes, with recent studies indicating record levels of …

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Differences In Seasons And Rice Varieties Provide Opportunities For Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Management In Irrigated Rice In Kenya, Joseph P. Gweyi-Onyango, Winnie Ntinyari, Andrew Ogollaegesa, Richard Mose, Symon Njinju, Mekonnen Giweta, Cargele Masso Jul 2021

Differences In Seasons And Rice Varieties Provide Opportunities For Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Management In Irrigated Rice In Kenya, Joseph P. Gweyi-Onyango, Winnie Ntinyari, Andrew Ogollaegesa, Richard Mose, Symon Njinju, Mekonnen Giweta, Cargele Masso

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Apart from nitrogen (N) rates, N use efficiency (NUE) (yield N/total input N) is affected by seasons, crop developmental stages, and varieties. Knowledge of how these factors affect NUE in rice production in Kenya is limited. Therefore, field experiments were conducted with 'low rates' of N (simulating farmers' practices) of 0, 26, 52 and 78 kg N ha-1 with five varieties (MWUR1, MWUR4, IRAT109, NERICA4 and NERICA10) and higher rates of N (125, 175, and 225 kg N ha-1) simulating researchers' doses with two lowland varieties (Basmati 370 and BW 196) and IR 72. Another experiment on NUE responses to …

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Effects Of Phytochemicals On Predatory Decision Making In A Spider, Ximena J. Nelson, Andrew J. Pratt, Stephen Abok Aluoch, Robert R. Jackson Jul 2021

Effects Of Phytochemicals On Predatory Decision Making In A Spider, Ximena J. Nelson, Andrew J. Pratt, Stephen Abok Aluoch, Robert R. Jackson

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Animals with small nervous systems may be prone to limitations in processing ability when confronted with a diversity of stimuli, especially if these involve multiple sensory modalities. We investigated the effect of the odour of the plant Lantana camara and its dominant volatile compound, β-caryophyllene, on the prey choice decisions of Evarcha culicivora, a jumping spider (Salticidae) that frequently visits L. camara as a site to mate and to obtain nectar. Evarcha culicivora expresses a strong preference for blood-fed female Anopheles mosquitoes as prey. We tested juvenile and adult E. culicivora in experiments involving live prey, lures made from dead …

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Evaluating The Vector Competence Of Aedes Simpsoni Sl From Kenyan Coast For Ngari And Bunyamwera Viruses, James Mutisya, Michael Kahato, Francis Mulwa, Solomon Langat, Edith Chepkorir, Samuel Arum, David Tchouassi, Rosemary Sang, Joel Lutomiah Jul 2021

Evaluating The Vector Competence Of Aedes Simpsoni Sl From Kenyan Coast For Ngari And Bunyamwera Viruses, James Mutisya, Michael Kahato, Francis Mulwa, Solomon Langat, Edith Chepkorir, Samuel Arum, David Tchouassi, Rosemary Sang, Joel Lutomiah

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Background Bunyamwera(BUNV) and Ngari (NGIV) viruses are arboviruses of medical importance globally, the viruses are endemic in Africa, Aedes(Ae) aegypti and Anopheles(An) gambiae mosquitoes are currently competent vectors for BUNV and NGIV respectively. Both viruses have been isolated from humans and mosquitoes in various ecologies of Kenya. Understanding the risk patterns and spread of the viruses necessitate studies of vector competence in local vector population of Ae. simpsoni sl which is abundant in the coastal region. This study sought to assess the ability of Ae. Simpsoni sl mosquitoes abundant at the Coast of Kenya to transmit these viruses in experimental …

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A Deadly Encounter: Alien Invasive Spodoptera Frugiperda In Africa And Indigenous Natural Enemy, Cotesia Icipe (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed, Mark Wamalwa, Francis Obala, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Tadele Tefera, Paul Andre Calatayud, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi Jul 2021

A Deadly Encounter: Alien Invasive Spodoptera Frugiperda In Africa And Indigenous Natural Enemy, Cotesia Icipe (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed, Mark Wamalwa, Francis Obala, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Tadele Tefera, Paul Andre Calatayud, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi

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The invasion and wide spread of Spodoptera frugiperda represent real impediments to food security and the livelihood of the millions of maize and sorghum farming communities in the sub-Saharan and Sahel regions of Africa. Current management efforts for the pest are focused on the use of synthetic pesticides, which are often economically unviable and are extremely hazardous to the environment. The use of biological control offers a more economically and environmentally safer alternative. In this study, the performance of the recently described parasitoid, Cotesia icipe, against the pest was elucidated. We assessed the host stage acceptability by and suitability for …

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Whitefly-Induced Tomato Volatiles Enhance The Virulence Of Lecanicillium Lecanii, Yongwen Lin, Jinhua Huang, Komivi S. Akutse Jul 2021

Whitefly-Induced Tomato Volatiles Enhance The Virulence Of Lecanicillium Lecanii, Yongwen Lin, Jinhua Huang, Komivi S. Akutse

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Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are a group of microorganisms that have potential for replacing synthetic chemical pesticides. However, EPF virulence is often insufficient, and therefore adoption of EPF biopesticides has been relatively limited. Previous studies have shown that herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) promoted the virulence of Lecanicillium lecanii, and that extracellular proteases and chitinases are important virulence factors of entomopathogenic fungi. We therefore put forward the hypothesis that HIPVs promote L. lecanii virulence by inducing extracellular protease or/and chitinase activity. Lecanicillium lecanii was treated with tomato HIPVs induced by various numbers/densities of Bemisia tabaci, the effect of HIPVs on L. lecanii …

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Modeling Growth, Development And Yield Of Cassava: A Review, Patricia Moreno-Cadena, Gerrit Hoogenboom, James H. Cock, Julian Ramirez-Villegas, Pieter Pypers, Christine Kreye, Meklit Tariku, Kodjovi Senam Ezui, Luis Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle, Senthold Asseng Jun 2021

Modeling Growth, Development And Yield Of Cassava: A Review, Patricia Moreno-Cadena, Gerrit Hoogenboom, James H. Cock, Julian Ramirez-Villegas, Pieter Pypers, Christine Kreye, Meklit Tariku, Kodjovi Senam Ezui, Luis Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle, Senthold Asseng

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Cassava is an important crop in the developing world. The goal of this study was to review published cassava models (18) for their capability to simulate storage root biomass and to categorize them into static and dynamic models. The majority (14) are dynamic and capture within season growth dynamics. Most (13) of the dynamic models consider environmental factors such as temperature, solar radiation, soil water and nutrient restrictions. More than half (10) have been calibrated for a distinct genotype. Only one of the four static models includes environmental variables. While the static regression models are useful to estimate final yield, …

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Biological Traits Of Wild-Caught Populations Of Aedes Aegypti In Dengue Endemic And Non-Endemic Regions Of Kenya, Caroline Wanjiku, David P. Tchouassi, Catherine L. Sole, Christian W.W. Pirk, Baldwyn Torto, Baldwyn Torto Jun 2021

Biological Traits Of Wild-Caught Populations Of Aedes Aegypti In Dengue Endemic And Non-Endemic Regions Of Kenya, Caroline Wanjiku, David P. Tchouassi, Catherine L. Sole, Christian W.W. Pirk, Baldwyn Torto, Baldwyn Torto

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Variation in vector traits can modulate local scale differences in pathogen transmission. Here, we compared seasonal variation in the wing length (proxy for body size) and energy reserves of adult wild-caught Aedes aegypti populations from a dengue endemic (Kilifi) and non-endemic (Isiolo) area of Kenya. Vector sampling in the dengue endemic site was conducted during the dry and wet seasons. In the non-endemic area, it was limited to the dry season which characterizes this ecology where sporadic or no rainfall is commonplace during the year. We found variation by site in the body size of both sexes, with an overall …

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Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, And Nutrient Quality Of Three Key Vegetable Crops In Sub-Saharan Africa, Abel O. Anyega, Nicholas K. Korir, Dennis Beesigamukama, Ghemoh J. Changeh, Kiatoko Nkoba, Sevgan Subramanian, Joop J.A. Van Loon, Marcel Dicke, Chrysantus M. Tanga Jun 2021

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, And Nutrient Quality Of Three Key Vegetable Crops In Sub-Saharan Africa, Abel O. Anyega, Nicholas K. Korir, Dennis Beesigamukama, Ghemoh J. Changeh, Kiatoko Nkoba, Sevgan Subramanian, Joop J.A. Van Loon, Marcel Dicke, Chrysantus M. Tanga

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Worldwide, French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and kales (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) are considered economically important food crops. There is a rapid decline in their yield due to severe soil degradation. Thus, high commercial fertilizer inputs are crucial, though they remain expensive and inaccessible to resource poor farmers. We investigated the comparative performance of composted black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF), conventionally composted brewer's spent grain (BSG), commercial organic fertilizer (Evergrow), and mineral [nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)] fertilizer on growth, yield, N use efficiency, and nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fiber, crude fats, ash, …

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Effect Of Technological Innovation On Gender Roles: The Case Of Fruit Fly Ipm Adoption On Women’S Decision-Making In Mango Production And Marketing In Kenya, Hannah Gichungi, Beatrice Muriithi, Patrick Irungu, Gracious Diiro, John Busienei Jun 2021

Effect Of Technological Innovation On Gender Roles: The Case Of Fruit Fly Ipm Adoption On Women’S Decision-Making In Mango Production And Marketing In Kenya, Hannah Gichungi, Beatrice Muriithi, Patrick Irungu, Gracious Diiro, John Busienei

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An increase in returns from agriculture as a result of new or improved technology is often perceived to escalate women's loss of control over agricultural production and ability to make marketing decision due to persistent gender disparities in access to production resources. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and partners have developed integrated pest management (IPM) technology to suppress mango fruit flies on smallholder mango farm in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the impressive direct economic impacts of the technology, no study has been conducted to determine whether it has any impact on intra-household gender roles in mango production …

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Bioecology Of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda (J. E. Smith), Its Management And Potential Patterns Of Seasonal Spread In Africa, Saliou Niassy, Mawufe Komi Agbodzavu, Emily Kimathi, Berita Mutune, El Fatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Daisy Salifu, Girma Hailu, Yeneneh T. Belayneh, Elias Felege, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Sunday Ekesi, Sevgan Subramanian Jun 2021

Bioecology Of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda (J. E. Smith), Its Management And Potential Patterns Of Seasonal Spread In Africa, Saliou Niassy, Mawufe Komi Agbodzavu, Emily Kimathi, Berita Mutune, El Fatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Daisy Salifu, Girma Hailu, Yeneneh T. Belayneh, Elias Felege, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Sunday Ekesi, Sevgan Subramanian

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Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and has emerged as a major pest of maize and sorghum in the continent. For effective monitoring and a better understanding of the bioecology and management of this pest, a Community-based Fall Armyworm Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning and Management (CBFAMFEW) initiative was implemented in six eastern African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). Over 650 Community Focal Persons (CFPs) who received training through the project were involved in data collection on adult moths, crop phenology, cropping systems, FAW management practices and other variables. Data …

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Phyto-Derivatives: An Efficient Eco-Friendly Way To Manage Trogoderma Granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Waqar Islam, Ali Noman, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Muhammad Qasim, Habib Ali, Ijaz Haider, Mohamed Hashem, Saad Alamri, Omar Mahmoud Al Zoubi, Khalid Ali Khan Jun 2021

Phyto-Derivatives: An Efficient Eco-Friendly Way To Manage Trogoderma Granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Waqar Islam, Ali Noman, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Muhammad Qasim, Habib Ali, Ijaz Haider, Mohamed Hashem, Saad Alamri, Omar Mahmoud Al Zoubi, Khalid Ali Khan

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Worldwide, stored products are attacked by a large number of pests resulting in significant economic losses. Among these stored grain pests, khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is one of the top ranked pests that has ability to survive under diverse climate conditions. The management of this pest is mainly done by using synthetic chemicals which have side effects on consumers, ecosystem and non-target organisms. However, phyto-derivatives were found to be the effective environment friendly alternatives against T. granarium. Therefore, in this review, success of phyto-derivatives against khapra beetle from conventional means to modern research has been critically analyzed, …

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Landscape-Scale Biogeographic Distribution Analysis Of The Whitefly, Bemisia Tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) In Kenya, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Emily Kimathi, Tavengwa Chitata, Moleseng Claude Moshobane, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman Jun 2021

Landscape-Scale Biogeographic Distribution Analysis Of The Whitefly, Bemisia Tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) In Kenya, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Emily Kimathi, Tavengwa Chitata, Moleseng Claude Moshobane, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

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Understanding the drivers of habitat use and the suitability of landscape patches by invasive insect species is crucial in their control and management. This simplifies the comprehension of the processes driving invasive insect population dynamics, their functioning, and potential disturbance within their introduced ecosystems. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889), is ranked among the world’s 100 most invasive insect pests and is a major threat to many important cash and staple food crops. In this study, we identified levels and areas at risk of the invasive B. tabaci at a landscape scale in Kenya using elevation, land surface temperature, land …

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