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International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

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Articles 151 - 180 of 429

Full-Text Articles in Agricultural Science

The Comparative Virulence Of An Atoxigenic Strain Of Aspergillus Flavus (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae) And The Commercial Icipe 69 Metarhizium Anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) To The Bean Leaf Beetle Ootheca Mutabilis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Julius Mugonza, Michael H. Otim, James P. Egonyu Jun 2020

The Comparative Virulence Of An Atoxigenic Strain Of Aspergillus Flavus (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae) And The Commercial Icipe 69 Metarhizium Anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) To The Bean Leaf Beetle Ootheca Mutabilis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Julius Mugonza, Michael H. Otim, James P. Egonyu

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The recent isolation of an atoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (Link) (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae), which was virulent to all stages of Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has generated interest to investigate virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus against other crop pests, and how it compares with established commercial biopesticides. In this study, we tested the pathogenicity and virulence of the atoxigenic A. flavus strain to Ootheca mutabilis (Sahlberg) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the laboratory compared to the commercial Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff Sorokin) (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae; OD®, ICIPE 69). Serial dilutions of both entomopathogenic fungi (1 × 106–1 × 109 conidia/ml) were evaluated against adult …

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Microbiome Diversity In Diaphorina Citri Populations From Kenya And Tanzania Shows Links To China, Inusa J. Ajene, Inusa J. Ajene, Inusa J. Ajene, Fathiya M. Khamis, Barbara Van Asch, Gerhard Pietersen, Brenda A. Rasowo, Fidelis L. Ombura, Anne W. Wairimu, Komivi S. Akutse, Mamoudou Sétamou, Samira Mohamed, Sunday Ekesi Jun 2020

Microbiome Diversity In Diaphorina Citri Populations From Kenya And Tanzania Shows Links To China, Inusa J. Ajene, Inusa J. Ajene, Inusa J. Ajene, Fathiya M. Khamis, Barbara Van Asch, Gerhard Pietersen, Brenda A. Rasowo, Fidelis L. Ombura, Anne W. Wairimu, Komivi S. Akutse, Mamoudou Sétamou, Samira Mohamed, Sunday Ekesi

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The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) is a key pest of Citrus spp. worldwide, as it acts as a vector for "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las)", the bacterial pathogen associated with the destructive Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Recent detection of D. citri in Africa and reports of Las-associated HLB in Ethiopia suggest that the citrus industry on the continent is under imminent threat. Endosymbionts and gut bacteria play key roles in the biology of arthropods, especially with regards to vector-pathogen interactions and resistance to antibiotics. Thus, we aim to profile the bacterial genera and to identify antibiotic resistance genes within the microbiome …

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Prevalence And Parasite Load Of Nematodes And Trematodes In An Invasive Slug And Its Susceptibility To A Slug Parasitic Nematode Compared To Native Gastropods, Henrik Antzée-Hyllseth, Nina Trandem, Torfinn Torp, Solveig Haukeland Jun 2020

Prevalence And Parasite Load Of Nematodes And Trematodes In An Invasive Slug And Its Susceptibility To A Slug Parasitic Nematode Compared To Native Gastropods, Henrik Antzée-Hyllseth, Nina Trandem, Torfinn Torp, Solveig Haukeland

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The invasive slug Arion vulgaris (Gastropoda: Arionidae) is an agricultural pest and serious nuisance in gardens of Central and Northern Europe. To investigate if the success of A.vulgaris in Norway can be attributed to a release from parasites, we compared the prevalence and parasite load of nematodes and trematodes in A. vulgaris to that of three native gastropod species, A. circumscriptus, A. fasciatus and Arianta arbustorum, in SE Norway. We found A. vulgaris to have the highest prevalence of both parasite groups (49% nematodes, 76% trematodes), which does not support the parasite release hypothesis, but rather points to A. vulgaris …

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Potato Cyst Nematodes: A New Threat To Potato Production In East Africa, Harrison Mburu, Laura Cortada, Solveig Haukeland, Wilson Ronno, Moses Nyongesa, Zachary Kinyua, Joel L. Bargul, Danny Coyne May 2020

Potato Cyst Nematodes: A New Threat To Potato Production In East Africa, Harrison Mburu, Laura Cortada, Solveig Haukeland, Wilson Ronno, Moses Nyongesa, Zachary Kinyua, Joel L. Bargul, Danny Coyne

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Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), such as Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida, are quarantine restricted pests of potato causing major yield and financial losses to farmers. G. rostochiensis was first reported from Kenya’s key potato growing area in 2015. We sought to determine the diversity, prevalence and distribution of PCN species across the country by conducting a country-wide survey between 2016 and 2018, which included a more focused, follow-up assessment in three key potato growing counties. A total of 1,348 soil samples were collected from 20 potato growing counties. Information regarding local potato farming practices, potato cultivar use, their diversity and …

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Spread And Impact Of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda J.E. Smith) In Maize Production Areas Of Kenya, Hugo De Groote, Simon C. Kimenju, Bernard Munyua, Sebastian Palmas, Menale Kassie, Anani Bruce Apr 2020

Spread And Impact Of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda J.E. Smith) In Maize Production Areas Of Kenya, Hugo De Groote, Simon C. Kimenju, Bernard Munyua, Sebastian Palmas, Menale Kassie, Anani Bruce

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Fall armyworm (FAW), one of the most important pests of maize in Latin America, suddenly appeared in Africa in 2016 and spread rapidly. Estimates of crop losses due to FAW are essential in order to compare the impact of these losses with the cost of controlling FAW and advise appropriate technology dissemination and policy. In this study, therefore, crop losses due to FAW in 2017 and 2018 were estimated in all the maize production areas of Kenya. Data were collected during June and July 2018 through 121 group discussions with 1439 farmers, separately with men (697) and women (742), in …

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Science-Based Decision Support For Formulating Crop Fertilizer Recommendations In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jairos Rurinda, Shamie Zingore, Jibrin M. Jibrin, Tesfaye Balemi, Kenneth Masuki, Jens A. Andersson, Mirasol F. Pampolino, Ibrahim Mohammed, James Mutegi, Alpha Y. Kamara, Bernard Vanlauwe, Peter Q. Craufurd Apr 2020

Science-Based Decision Support For Formulating Crop Fertilizer Recommendations In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jairos Rurinda, Shamie Zingore, Jibrin M. Jibrin, Tesfaye Balemi, Kenneth Masuki, Jens A. Andersson, Mirasol F. Pampolino, Ibrahim Mohammed, James Mutegi, Alpha Y. Kamara, Bernard Vanlauwe, Peter Q. Craufurd

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In sub-Saharan Africa, there is considerable spatial and temporal variability in relations between nutrient application and crop yield, due to varying inherent soil nutrients supply, soil moisture, crop management and germplasm. This variability affects fertilizer use efficiency and crop productivity. Therefore, development of decision systems that support formulation and delivery of site-specific fertilizer recommendations is important for increased crop yield and environmental protection. Nutrient Expert (NE) is a computer-based decision support system, which enables extension advisers to generate field- or area-specific fertilizer recommendations based on yield response to fertilizer and nutrient use efficiency. We calibrated NE for major maize agroecological …

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Closing Yield Gaps In Oil Palm Production Systems In Ghana Through Best Management Practices, Tiemen Rhebergen, Shamie Zingore, Ken E. Giller, Charles Adu Frimpong, Kwame Acheampong, Francis Tetteh Ohipeni, Edward Kofi Panyin, Victor Zutah, Thomas Fairhurst Apr 2020

Closing Yield Gaps In Oil Palm Production Systems In Ghana Through Best Management Practices, Tiemen Rhebergen, Shamie Zingore, Ken E. Giller, Charles Adu Frimpong, Kwame Acheampong, Francis Tetteh Ohipeni, Edward Kofi Panyin, Victor Zutah, Thomas Fairhurst

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The area under oil palm in Ghana has expanded but average fruit bunch yields remained low, resulting in large yield gaps. This study assessed the potential for increasing yield with 'Best Management Practices (BMP)' on plantations and smallholder farms in southern Ghana, compared with current standard practices, i.e. reference (REF) yield. We evaluated short-term (≤1 year) yield increases with 'yield taking' (improved crop recovery), and long-term increases (>1 year) with 'yield making' (better agronomy) practices and identified the factors that contributed most to yield improvements. Average fruit bunch yield increases with BMP were 2.1 t ha−1 (+19%) and 4.7 …

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Performance Of Elite Maize Genotypes Under Selected Sustainable Intensification Options In Kenya, Leonard Rusinamhodzi, Dan Makumbi, James M. Njeru, Fred Kanampiu Apr 2020

Performance Of Elite Maize Genotypes Under Selected Sustainable Intensification Options In Kenya, Leonard Rusinamhodzi, Dan Makumbi, James M. Njeru, Fred Kanampiu

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Combining different cropping and tillage systems with different genotypes across several cropping seasons can reveal opportunities for sustainable intensification (SI). The objective of this study was to assess the performance of six maize genotypes under intercropping with conservation tillage (no-till) – two promising options for SI. The experiment was carried out over three years (or six cropping seasons) at Kiboko Research Station, Kenya with sole cropping and mouldboard ploughing as baseline production systems. Results showed that maize genotypes and cropping systems had a significant effect on yield, but the effect of tillage was not significant. Moreover, there was no significant …

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Soil Quality And Phosphorus Status After Nine Years Of Organic And Conventional Farming At Two Input Levels In The Central Highlands Of Kenya, C. Von Arb, E. K. Bünemann, H. Schmalz, M. Portmann, N. Adamtey, M. W. Musyoka, E. Frossard, A. Fliessbach Mar 2020

Soil Quality And Phosphorus Status After Nine Years Of Organic And Conventional Farming At Two Input Levels In The Central Highlands Of Kenya, C. Von Arb, E. K. Bünemann, H. Schmalz, M. Portmann, N. Adamtey, M. W. Musyoka, E. Frossard, A. Fliessbach

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Under temperate climate conditions, organic farming systems show improved soil quality compared to non-organic systems, whereas little long-term research on the impact of organic farming on soil quality has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. Within the system comparison (SysCom) project, two long-term field experiments were set up in 2007 in the sub-humid Central Highlands of Kenya to compare organic and conventional farming at two input levels (high input systems with recommended rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and pesticides and with irrigation vs. rain-fed low input systems with low N, P and pesticides), with a similar design at both sites. …

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Is It Possible To Discern Striga Weed (Striga Hermonthica) Infestation Levels In Maize Agro-Ecological Systems Using In-Situ Spectroscopy?, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Timothy Dube, Saliou Niassy, Emily Kimathi, Tobias Landmann, Zeyaur Khan, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman Mar 2020

Is It Possible To Discern Striga Weed (Striga Hermonthica) Infestation Levels In Maize Agro-Ecological Systems Using In-Situ Spectroscopy?, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Timothy Dube, Saliou Niassy, Emily Kimathi, Tobias Landmann, Zeyaur Khan, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

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The invasion by Striga in most cereal crop fields in Africa has posed a significant threat to food security and has caused substantial socioeconomic losses. Hyperspectral remote sensing is an effective means to discriminate plant species, providing possibilities to track such weed invasions and improve precision agriculture. However, essential baseline information using remotely sensed data is missing, specifically for the Striga weed in Africa. In this study, we investigated the spectral uniqueness of Striga compared to other co-occurring maize crops and weeds. We used the in-situ FieldSpec® Handheld 2™ analytical spectral device (ASD), hyperspectral data and their respective narrow-band indices …

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The Impact Of Conventional And Organic Farming On Soil Biodiversity Conservation: A Case Study On Termites In The Long-Term Farming Systems Comparison Trials In Kenya, John J. Anyango, David Bautze, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Zipporah O. Lagat, Anne W. Muriuki, Sibylle Stöckli, Judith Riedel, Gladys K. Onyambu, Martha W. Musyoka, Edward N. Karanja, Noah Adamtey Feb 2020

The Impact Of Conventional And Organic Farming On Soil Biodiversity Conservation: A Case Study On Termites In The Long-Term Farming Systems Comparison Trials In Kenya, John J. Anyango, David Bautze, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Zipporah O. Lagat, Anne W. Muriuki, Sibylle Stöckli, Judith Riedel, Gladys K. Onyambu, Martha W. Musyoka, Edward N. Karanja, Noah Adamtey

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Background: A long-term experiment at two trial sites in Kenya has been on-going since 2007 to assess the effect of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity, profitability and sustainability. During these trials the presence of significant numbers of termites (Isoptera) was observed. Termites are major soil macrofauna and within literature they are either depict as 'pests' or as important indicator for environmental sustainability. The extent by which termites may be managed to avoid crop damage, but improve sustainability of farming systems is worthwhile to understand. Therefore, a study on termites was added to the long-term experiments in Kenya. The …

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Plant Community Composition And Functional Characteristics Define Invasion And Infestation Of Termites In Cocoa Agroforestry Systems, T. C.L. Djuideu, D. H.B. Bisseleua, S. Kekeunou, M. J. Meupia, F. G. Difouo, C. F. Ambele Feb 2020

Plant Community Composition And Functional Characteristics Define Invasion And Infestation Of Termites In Cocoa Agroforestry Systems, T. C.L. Djuideu, D. H.B. Bisseleua, S. Kekeunou, M. J. Meupia, F. G. Difouo, C. F. Ambele

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The effects of farm management on non-native species and the structure and function of native communities and ecosystems on crop yield is poorly documented especially in the cocoa agroforestry systems of West Africa. We assessed termite damages, cocoa plantations structural characteristic and local farmer knowledge to refine the critical role of shade trees management on subterranean crops pests and the consequences on marketable yield in five cocoa agroforestry systems. Farmers recognized termites as the most damaging subterranean pests and clearly described the type of damages they cause on cocoa trees and seedlings. Complete shade removal or very heavy shade on …

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Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes In Feeding Behavior Of Specialist And Generalist Aphids On Common Bean That Are Likely To Enhance Virus Transmission, Francis O. Wamonje, Ruairí Donnelly, Trisna D. Tungadi, Alex M. Murphy, Adrienne E. Pate, Christine Woodcock, John Caulfield, J. Musembi Mutuku, Toby J.A. Bruce, Christopher A. Gilligan, John A. Pickett, John P. Carr Jan 2020

Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes In Feeding Behavior Of Specialist And Generalist Aphids On Common Bean That Are Likely To Enhance Virus Transmission, Francis O. Wamonje, Ruairí Donnelly, Trisna D. Tungadi, Alex M. Murphy, Adrienne E. Pate, Christine Woodcock, John Caulfield, J. Musembi Mutuku, Toby J.A. Bruce, Christopher A. Gilligan, John A. Pickett, John P. Carr

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Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) cause serious epidemics in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a vital food security crop in many low-to-medium income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aphids transmit these viruses “non-persistently,” i.e., virions attach loosely to the insects' stylets. Viruses may manipulate aphid-host interactions to enhance transmission. We used direct observation and electrical penetration graph measurements to see if the three viruses induced similar or distinct changes in feeding behaviors of two aphid species, Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae. Both aphids vector BCMV, BCMNV, and CMV but A. …

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Mineral Fertilizer Use In Land-Scarce Conditions: Case Of Rwanda, Josaphat Rusisiro Mugabo, Eric Tollens, Jonas Nwankwo Chianu, Bernard Vanlauwe Jan 2020

Mineral Fertilizer Use In Land-Scarce Conditions: Case Of Rwanda, Josaphat Rusisiro Mugabo, Eric Tollens, Jonas Nwankwo Chianu, Bernard Vanlauwe

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This study was undertaken to investigate the use of mineral fertilizer by smallholder farmers in order to understand the set of factors influencing the decisions of smallholder farmers to use fertilizers in land-scarce conditions. Using descriptive analysis and the Cragg's double-hurdle model, the study identified and analyzed factors that determine smallholder farmer adoption of mineral fertilizers and those that affect the intensity of household mineral fertilizer use. From factors that only influence the decision of smallholder farmers to use mineral fertilizers, distance to fertilizer market and livestock affects it negatively; while farmer association membership, landholding per capita, access to extension …

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Occurrence Of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes On Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) In Ethiopia With Focus On Pratylenchus Goodeyi As A Key Species Of The Crop, Selamawit A. Kidane, Beira H. Meressa, Solveig Haukeland, Trine Hvoslef-Eide, Christer Magnusson, Marjolein Couvreur, Wim Bert, Danny L. Coyne Jan 2020

Occurrence Of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes On Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) In Ethiopia With Focus On Pratylenchus Goodeyi As A Key Species Of The Crop, Selamawit A. Kidane, Beira H. Meressa, Solveig Haukeland, Trine Hvoslef-Eide, Christer Magnusson, Marjolein Couvreur, Wim Bert, Danny L. Coyne

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Summary - Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is an important starch staple crop, cultivated primarily in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Enset is the main crop of a sustainable indigenous African system that ensures food security in a country that is food deficient. Related to the banana family, enset is similarly affected by plant-parasitic nematodes. Plant-parasitic nematodes impose a huge constraint on agriculture. The distribution, population density and incidence of plant-parasitic nematodes of enset was determined during August 2018. A total of 308 fields were sampled from major enset-growing zones of Ethiopia. Eleven plant-parasitic nematode taxa were identified, with Pratylenchus (lesion nematode) being …

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Unlocking Maize Crop Productivity Through Improved Management Practices In Northern Tanzania, Kihara J, Kizito F, Jumbo M, Kinyua M, M. Bekunda Jan 2020

Unlocking Maize Crop Productivity Through Improved Management Practices In Northern Tanzania, Kihara J, Kizito F, Jumbo M, Kinyua M, M. Bekunda

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Addressing the problem of low crop productivity and food insecurity can be accelerated through community-centered implementation of good agricultural management practices. This study was conducted in Babati, Northern Tanzania. The objective of the study was to determine nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application requirements for maize, and demonstrate economically viable best bet yield-improving management technologies under three ecozones namely; ‘low elevation low rainfall', ‘medium elevation high rainfall' and ‘medium elevation low rainfall' ecozone. Two sets of trials were conducted: N (0, 45, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha-1) and P (0, 15, 30, 40 kg ha-1) response trials in 16 …

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Impact Of Integrated Fruit Fly Management Strategy On Food Security Among Smallholder Mango Farmers In Kenya, P. N. Nyang'au, B. W. Muriithi, J. M. Nzuma, P. Irungu, H. M. Gichungi, G. Diiro Jan 2020

Impact Of Integrated Fruit Fly Management Strategy On Food Security Among Smallholder Mango Farmers In Kenya, P. N. Nyang'au, B. W. Muriithi, J. M. Nzuma, P. Irungu, H. M. Gichungi, G. Diiro

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Adoption of agricultural innovations is perceived as a key avenue for poverty reduction and improved food and nutritional security in developing countries. The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has developed and implemented a set of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in several sub-Saharan African countries aimed at controlling mango infesting fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis). Although positive returns from the use of fruit fly IPM have already been documented, the impact of these technologies on food security is not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of the IPM strategy on food security with the help of a …

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Seed Quality And Mycoflora Associated With Chickpea (Cicer Arientinum L.) Seed In Ethiopia, G. Getaneh, T. Tefera, F. Lemmessa, S. Ahmed, A. Zewudie Jan 2020

Seed Quality And Mycoflora Associated With Chickpea (Cicer Arientinum L.) Seed In Ethiopia, G. Getaneh, T. Tefera, F. Lemmessa, S. Ahmed, A. Zewudie

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The study was conducted at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Haramaya University and Jimma University, Ethiopia. Crop yield is directly associated with the physical and biological quality of planting material or seed. Ninety-nine (99) chickpea seed lot samples were collected for physical purity, seed health and germination tests from major chickpea growing areas in Ethiopia in the 2016/17 cropping season to assess the status of chickpea seed health and quality among subsistence farmers, research stations and seed growers. The seed lots were grouped as researcher saved, farmers saved and seed growers’ saved seed. The maximum physical purity of 97.5% was …

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Diversity Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda And Their Gut Bacterial Community In Kenya, Joseph Gichuhi, Subramanian Sevgan, Fathiya Khamis, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Hannalene Du Plessis, Sunday Ekesi, Jeremy K. Herren Jan 2020

Diversity Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda And Their Gut Bacterial Community In Kenya, Joseph Gichuhi, Subramanian Sevgan, Fathiya Khamis, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Hannalene Du Plessis, Sunday Ekesi, Jeremy K. Herren

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Background: The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a polyphagous pest that causes widespread damage particularly to maize and sorghum in Africa. The microbiome associated with S. frugiperda could play a role in the insects' success and adaptability. However, bacterial communities in S. frugiperda remain poorly studied. Methods: We investigated the composition, abundance and diversity of microbiomes associated with larval and adult specimens of S. frugiperda collected from four maize growing regions in Kenya through high throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The population structure of S. frugiperda in Kenya was assessed through amplification of the …

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Abc Transporter Genes Abc-C6 And Abc-G33 Alter Plant-Microbe-Parasite Interactions In The Rhizosphere, Deborah Elizabeth Cox, Steven Dyer, Ryan Weir, Xavier Cheseto, Matthew Sturrock, Danny Coyne, Baldwyn Torto, Aaron G. Maule, Johnathan J. Dalzell Dec 2019

Abc Transporter Genes Abc-C6 And Abc-G33 Alter Plant-Microbe-Parasite Interactions In The Rhizosphere, Deborah Elizabeth Cox, Steven Dyer, Ryan Weir, Xavier Cheseto, Matthew Sturrock, Danny Coyne, Baldwyn Torto, Aaron G. Maule, Johnathan J. Dalzell

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Plants are master regulators of rhizosphere ecology, secreting a complex mixture of compounds into the soil, collectively termed plant root exudate. Root exudate composition is highly dynamic and functional, mediating economically important interactions between plants and a wide range of soil organisms. Currently we know very little about the molecular basis of root exudate composition, which is a key hurdle to functional exploitation of root exudates for crop improvement. Root expressed transporters modulate exudate composition and could be manipulated to develop beneficial plant root exudate traits. Using Virus Induced Gene silencing (VIGS), we demonstrate that knockdown of two root-expressed ABC …

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Towards A Global Dna Barcode Reference Library For Quarantine Identifications Of Lepidopteran Stemborers, With An Emphasis On Sugarcane Pests, Timothy R.C. Lee, Stacey J. Anderson, Lucy T.T. Tran-Nguyen, Nader Sallam, Bruno P. Le Ru, Desmond Conlong, Kevin Powell, Andrew Ward, Andrew Mitchell Dec 2019

Towards A Global Dna Barcode Reference Library For Quarantine Identifications Of Lepidopteran Stemborers, With An Emphasis On Sugarcane Pests, Timothy R.C. Lee, Stacey J. Anderson, Lucy T.T. Tran-Nguyen, Nader Sallam, Bruno P. Le Ru, Desmond Conlong, Kevin Powell, Andrew Ward, Andrew Mitchell

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Lepidopteran stemborers are among the most damaging agricultural pests worldwide, able to reduce crop yields by up to 40%. Sugarcane is the world’s most prolific crop, and several stemborer species from the families Noctuidae, Tortricidae, Crambidae and Pyralidae attack sugarcane. Australia is currently free of the most damaging stemborers, but biosecurity efforts are hampered by the difficulty in morphologically distinguishing stemborer species. Here we assess the utility of DNA barcoding in identifying stemborer pest species. We review the current state of the COI barcode sequence library for sugarcane stemborers, assembling a dataset of 1297 sequences from 64 species. Sequences were …

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Ethylene Response Factor (Erf) Genes Modulate Plant Root Exudate Composition And The Attraction Of Plant Parasitic Nematodes, Steven Dyer, Ryan Weir, Deborah Cox, Xavier Cheseto, Baldwyn Torto, Johnathan J. Dalzell Dec 2019

Ethylene Response Factor (Erf) Genes Modulate Plant Root Exudate Composition And The Attraction Of Plant Parasitic Nematodes, Steven Dyer, Ryan Weir, Deborah Cox, Xavier Cheseto, Baldwyn Torto, Johnathan J. Dalzell

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Plant root exudates are compositionally diverse, plastic and adaptive. Ethylene signalling influences the attraction of plant parasitic nematodes, presumably through the modulation of root exudate composition. Understanding this pathway could lead to new sources of crop parasite resistance. Here we used Virus-Induced Gene Silencing to knock down the expression of two Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) genes, ERF-E2 and ERF-E3, in tomato. Root exudates were significantly more attractive to the PPNs Meloidogyne incognita and Globodera pallida following knockdown of ERF-E2, which had no impact on the attraction of Meloidogyne javanica. Knockdown of ERF-E3 had no impact on the attraction of Meloidogyne …

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Insects For Sustainable Animal Feed: Inclusive Business Models Involving Smallholder Farmers, Shaphan Y. Chia, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Joop Ja Van Loon, Marcel Dicke Dec 2019

Insects For Sustainable Animal Feed: Inclusive Business Models Involving Smallholder Farmers, Shaphan Y. Chia, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Joop Ja Van Loon, Marcel Dicke

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Global population growth, an increasing demand for animal products and scarcity of conventional feed ingredients drive the search for alternative protein sources for animal feed. Extensive research indicates that insects provide good opportunities as a sustainable, high quality and low-cost component of animal feed. Here, we discuss how insect farming can promote inclusive business for smallholder farmers in the agribusiness value chain. Inclusive business models involving insects as ingredients in feed may contribute to solving socio-economic and environmental problems in developing countries, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. With low initial capital investments, smallholder insect farmers have good …

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Molasses Grass Induces Direct And Indirect Defense Responses In Neighbouring Maize Plants, Tigist A. Tolosa, Amanuel Tamiru, Charles A.O. Midega, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Michael A. Birkett, Christine M. Woodcock, Toby J.A. Bruce, Segenet Kelemu, John A. Pickett, Zeyaur R. Khan Dec 2019

Molasses Grass Induces Direct And Indirect Defense Responses In Neighbouring Maize Plants, Tigist A. Tolosa, Amanuel Tamiru, Charles A.O. Midega, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Michael A. Birkett, Christine M. Woodcock, Toby J.A. Bruce, Segenet Kelemu, John A. Pickett, Zeyaur R. Khan

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Plants have evolved intricate defence strategies against herbivore attack which can include activation of defence in response to stress-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by neighbouring plants. VOCs released by intact molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora), have been shown to repel stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), from maize and enhance parasitism by Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron). In this study, we tested whether the molasses grass VOCs have a role in plant-plant communication by exposing different maize cultivars to molasses grass for a 3-week induction period and then observing insect responses to the exposed plants. In bioassays, C. partellus preferred non-exposed maize landrace plants …

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Variability Of Soybean Response To Rhizobia Inoculant, Vermicompost, And A Legume-Specific Fertilizer Blend In Siaya County Of Kenya, Catherine Mathenge, Moses Thuita, Cargele Masso, Joseph Gweyi-Onyango, Bernard Vanlauwe Nov 2019

Variability Of Soybean Response To Rhizobia Inoculant, Vermicompost, And A Legume-Specific Fertilizer Blend In Siaya County Of Kenya, Catherine Mathenge, Moses Thuita, Cargele Masso, Joseph Gweyi-Onyango, Bernard Vanlauwe

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Rhizobia inoculation can increase soybean yield, but its performance is influenced by among others soybean genotype, rhizobia strains, environment, and crop management. The objective of the study was to assess soybean response to rhizobia inoculation when grown in soils amended with urea or vermicompost to improve nitrogen levels. Two greenhouse experiments and one field trial at two sites were carried out. The first greenhouse experiment included soils from sixty locations, sampled from smallholder farms in Western Kenya. The second greenhouse experiment consisted of one soil selected among soils used in the first experiment where inoculation response was poor. The soil …

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Effect Of Crop Diversification And Mulching On Termite Damage To Maize In Western Ethiopia, Girma Demissie, Esayas Mendesil, Debela Diro, Tadele Tefera Oct 2019

Effect Of Crop Diversification And Mulching On Termite Damage To Maize In Western Ethiopia, Girma Demissie, Esayas Mendesil, Debela Diro, Tadele Tefera

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Termites are major biotic factors that contribute to crop damage and yield losses to maize (Zea mays L.) in western Ethiopia. This study evaluated mulching maize stover, intercropping maize with soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and desmodium (Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb.), and integration of mulching and intercropping for their effectiveness in reducing damage of Microtermes spp mainly Microtermes vadschaggae Sjostedt and Microtermes adschaggae (Sjosted) to maize. Five termite management treatments and a control (sole maize) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates on 2 farm sites in 2016 and 7 sites in 2017 cropping seasons in …

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A Bayesian Analysis Of Longitudinal Farm Surveys In Central Malawi Reveals Yield Determinants And Site-Specific Management Strategies, Han Wang, Sieglinde S. Snapp, Monica Fisher, Frederi Viens Aug 2019

A Bayesian Analysis Of Longitudinal Farm Surveys In Central Malawi Reveals Yield Determinants And Site-Specific Management Strategies, Han Wang, Sieglinde S. Snapp, Monica Fisher, Frederi Viens

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Understanding the challenges to increasing maize productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, especially agronomic factors that reduce on-farm crop yield, has important implications for policies to reduce national and global food insecurity. Previous research on the maize yield gap has tended to emphasize the size of the gap (theoretical vs. achievable yields), rather than what determines maize yield in specific contexts. As a result, there is insufficient evidence on the key agronomic and environmental factors that influence maize yield in a smallholder farm environment. In this study, we implemented a Bayesian analysis with plot-level longitudinal household survey data covering 1,197 plots and …

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The Influence Of Water And Nutrient Management On Oil Palm Yield Trends On A Large-Scale Plantation In Ghana, Tiemen Rhebergen, Thomas Fairhurst, Ken E. Giller, Shamie Zingore Jul 2019

The Influence Of Water And Nutrient Management On Oil Palm Yield Trends On A Large-Scale Plantation In Ghana, Tiemen Rhebergen, Thomas Fairhurst, Ken E. Giller, Shamie Zingore

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Oil palm (Eleais guineensisJacq.) production in West Africa is limited by poor soils and suboptimal climate. The potential to improve fruit bunch (FB) yields with appropriate water and nutrient management in Ghana is thus considerable. To assess the effects of water and nutrient management on oil palm yields, a 2 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design with irrigation and fertilizer was implemented for three years in the main oil palm production area of Western region, Ghana. Treatments included i) zero irrigation + zero fertilizer (control), ii) zero irrigation + fertilizer, iii) irrigation + zero fertilizer and iv) irrigation + …

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Nitrogen Leaching Losses And Balances In Conventional And Organic Farming Systems In Kenya, Martha W. Musyoka, Noah Adamtey, Anne W. Muriuki, David Bautze, Edward N. Karanja, Monica Mucheru-Muna, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Georg Cadisch Jul 2019

Nitrogen Leaching Losses And Balances In Conventional And Organic Farming Systems In Kenya, Martha W. Musyoka, Noah Adamtey, Anne W. Muriuki, David Bautze, Edward N. Karanja, Monica Mucheru-Muna, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Georg Cadisch

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Organic farming has been proposed as a solution to foster agricultural sustainability and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of conventional farming. This study assessed N losses and soil surface N balances in conventional and organic farming systems in a sub-humid and semi-humid (Chuka and Thika) sites in Kenya. Nitrate–N (NO3−–N) leached was trapped at 1 m depth using the Self Integrating Accumulator core method and the changes in mineral-N were assessed at different soil depths and different crop growth stages. Both conventional and organic farming systems lost substantial amounts of NO3−–N at the early growth stages of all the crops. …

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A Comparative Analysis Of Planetscope And Sentinel Sentinel-2 Space-Borne Sensors In Mapping Striga Weed Using Guided Regularised Random Forest Classification Ensemble, B. T. Mudereri, T. Dube, E. M. Adel-Rahman, S. Niassy, E. Kimathi, Z. Khan, T. Landmann Jun 2019

A Comparative Analysis Of Planetscope And Sentinel Sentinel-2 Space-Borne Sensors In Mapping Striga Weed Using Guided Regularised Random Forest Classification Ensemble, B. T. Mudereri, T. Dube, E. M. Adel-Rahman, S. Niassy, E. Kimathi, Z. Khan, T. Landmann

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Weeds are one of the major restrictions to sustaining crop productivity. Weeds often outcompete crops for nutrients, soil moisture, solar radiation, space and provide platforms for breeding of pests and diseases. The ever-growing global food insecurity triggers the need for spatially explicit innovative geospatial technologies that can deliver timely detection of weeds within agro-ecological systems. This will help pinpoint maize fields to be prioritized for weed control. Satellite remote sensing offers incomparable opportunities for precision agriculture, ecological applications and vegetation characterisation, with vast socioeconomic benefits. This work compares and evaluates the strength of Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite with the constellation of …

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