Efficient in vitro multiplication protocol for Vanilla planifolia using nodal explants in Ethiopia

Vanilla planifolia Andr. is a tropical commercial spice crop known for its popular flavoring substance called vanillin. Vanillin is the second most expensive spice in the world market, next to saffron. Ethiopia has favorable environment for vanilla production and the crop has huge local and international market. There is a soaring investors’ interest to produce vanilla in the country provided there is plenty and reliable planting material supply. In line with this, we report efficient and reproducible tissue culture based mass propagation protocol for elite vanilla clones introduced into the country. Significant difference (p < 0.0001) was observed among selected hormone combinations for rate of shoot multiplication. An average number of 3.12 to 4.17 shoots were obtained after 45 days of nodal culture on MS media supplemented with BA combined with KIN and NAA. The optimum level found was 1 mg/L BAP combined with 1.5 mg/L KIN. Both hormone free and MS media supplemented with different levels of NAA gave 100% rooting for shoots separated and transferred onto rooting media. More than 85% survival rate was achieved during acclimatization. The availability of this protocol is a key step towardslarge scale vanilla production in Ethiopia

Married women's decision making power on family planning use and associated factors in Mizan-Aman, South Ethiopia : a cross sectional study

Background: Women's use of family planning service is influenced by many factors, especially by their decision making power. A woman's decision-making power, be it individual or decision made in collaboration with a partner, is the most important factor in the use of family planning in a household. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of women's decision making power on family planning use and its associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on married women in the child bearing age. The women who were living in Mizan city were selected using the simple random sampling method. Trained nurses collected the data by interview, using a structured and pre-tested questioner. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associated factors, and the odds ratio with a 95 % CI was computed to assess the strength of the association. Collinearity was also assessed by looking at standard errors in the final fitted model. Result: Overall, more than two-thirds [67.2 %: 95 % CI (63-71 %)] of the married women were found to be more autonomous to decide family planning use. Secondary education [AOR: 9.04, 95 % CI: (4.50, 18.16)], government employment [AOR: 4.84, 95 % CI: (2.03, 11.52)], being wives of government employed spouses [AOR 2.71, 95 % CI: (1.24, 7.97)], having husbands with college or university education [AOR: 11.29, 95 % CI: (4.66, 27.35)], and being in the younger age [AOR: 0.27, 95 % CI :(0.09, 0.75)] were significantly associated with women's decision-making power on family planning. Conclusions: In this study, women had a high decision making power in family planning use. Age category (34-44-years), formal education, and occupational status had effects on women's decision making power. Promoting parental adult education and engaging women in out of house employment is essential to improve their decision making power in using family planning

Germplasm From SADCC Countries Maintained At ICRISAT Center And Its Implications On National Programs

The area covered by Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) member countries extend from near the equator to about 30' S latitude and 11'-41' E longitude. The area has a wide range of environmental conditions ;and ecosystems~ dry areas in the Kalahari desert in Botswana; tropical rainfall in Anqola; coastal climate in Mozambique to continental Zambia; high plateaux in Angola and river basins in Zimbabwe; high altitudes in Lesotho and low' elevations in Tanzania. The dominant cereal crop in the region is maize (Zed mays L. ) followed by sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L. ) Moenche], pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L, ) R.Br. 1, and finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L. ) Gaertn. ] Among the legumes, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L. ) is an important crop followed by chickpea (Cicer arietinurn L. ), and then pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. 1, which is usually grown i n backyards

Status and Diversity of African Germplasm Collections Maintained at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

One of the major objectives of the International Crops Research Institute for the Serni-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is to act as a world repository for the genetic resources of its mandate crops: sorghi~mS,o t-gltirntb icolot.(L.)M ocnch: pearl millet, Petllliscrtrnt glatrc~rn(L~ .) R. Br.; chickpea, Ciccr nr-ietittirnl L.; pigeonpea, Cc~jjcrttirsc ajntl (L.)M ill.: and groundnut, Arachis Ilypognen L.. The Institute also assembles and conserves the gennplasm of six minor millets: finger millet; Ele~tsitlec ot.acatln (L.) Gaertn.; foxtail millet, Serai.ia irnlica (L.)P . Beauv.; proso millet, Pntlic~rnt sttntart.ettse Roth. ex Roem. & Schult.; barnyard nill let, Echinoclrloa species; and kodo millet, Pnspcilrrnl sc~+obicrrlntrrnL1. The usefulness of any world germplasm collection, such as the one assernbled at ICRISAT, depends largely on proper sampling from various agroclirnatic zones, the long-term safety and viability of the conserved material, the genetic diversity i t offers in both cultivated landraces and their wild relatives, the accessibility of healthy seed samples along with their passport and evaluation data, appropriate maintenance of the gerniplasm accessions to minimize genetic drift, and the availability of a simple, classified and retrievable documentation systen

Prospects of utilasing genetic diversity in pearl millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum typlroides (Burm.) Stapf and Hubb. Syn. P, americanum (L.) Leeke] is a cross pollinating diploid with a wealth of variability accumulated through natural selection. Its polyphyletic origin (genetic load), introgression between weedy and wild relatives and the cultivated types, and the ecological diversity have enhanced this natural variation. Human selection further augmented the diversity of pearl millet. Large numbers of genetic stocks of pearl millet have been assembled at ICRISAT through various agencies (Appa Rao, 1980). Only a part of the germplasm has been extensively evaluated and much less has been utilised

Visceral leishmaniasis patients display altered composition and maturity of neutrophils as well as impaired neutrophil effector functions

Immunologically, active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is characterised by profound immunosuppression, severe systemic inflammatory responses and an impaired capacity to control parasite replication. Neutrophils are highly versatile cells, which play a crucial role in the induction as well as the resolution of inflammation, the control of pathogen replication and the regulation of immune responses. Neutrophil functions have been investigated in human cutaneous leishmaniasis, however, their role in human visceral leishmaniasis is poorly understood. In the present study we evaluated the activation status and effector functions of neutrophils in patients with active VL and after successful anti-leishmanial treatment. Our results show that neutrophils are highly activated and have degranulated; high levels of arginase, myeloperoxidase and elastase, all contained in neutrophils’ granules, were found in the plasma of VL patients. In addition, we show that a large proportion of these cells are immature. We also analysed effector functions of neutrophils that are essential for pathogen clearance and show that neutrophils have an impaired capacity to release neutrophil extracellular traps, produce reactive oxygen species and phagocytose bacterial particles, but not Leishmania parasites. Our results suggest that impaired effector functions, increased activation and immaturity of neutrophils play a key role in the pathogenesis of VL