Sugarcane in vitro culture technology: Opportunities for Kenya’s sugar industry

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the most important crops in Kenya and has wide range of economic importance. The sugar industry contributes up to 15% to the country’s agricultural gross domestic product and an estimated 25% of the population depends on the industry for their livelihood. However, the industry has been facing several challenges including declining yields due to use of poor quality planting materials. There is an increasing pressure to enhance the productivity of sugarcane in order to sustain profitable sugar industries in Kenya, while there are several diseases attacking sugarcane and reducing its quality. Seed multiplication of newly released varieties of sugarcane is one of the major constraints in Kenya as it takes 6-7 years to produce sufficient quantity of improved seed material. In vitro culture offers a practical and fast method for mass propagation of disease-free clonal materials. Successful protocols for shoot tip culture, callus culture, embryo culture, virus free plant production and somatic embryogenesis have already been established. Thus, in vitro technology can be used to enhance productivity of sugarcane in Kenya. Despite several advantages of applying micro-propagation technique in sugarcane such as quick multiplication of newly released varieties, rejuvenation of old deteriorated varieties; production of disease free seed; easy transportation of seed material; elimination of viruses; high cane productivity and sugar yield etc., this technique is not gaining popularity up to the desired extent. There are several constraints like the high cost of production and appearance of some variants in micropropagated population among others. The present article describes the status, challenges and opportunities of in vitro technology for the sugar industry in Kenya. Though, some problems have now been resolved to considerable extents which have been described in this review however, some constraints still require intensive research work to be resolved so that a safe and efficient exploitation of this technique can be ensured in sugarcane seed production programmes for enhanced yields and quality.Keywords: Sugarcane, somaclonal variation, in vitro culture, meristems, micro-propagation, callu

Sugarcane in Vitro Culture Technology: Applications for Kenya’s Sugar Industry

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the most important crops in Kenya and has wide range of economic importance. The sugar industry contributes up to 15% to the Country’s agricultural gross domestic product and an estimated 25% of the population depends on the industry for their livelihood. However, the industry has been facing several challenges including declining yields due to use of poor quality planting materials. There is an increasing pressure to enhance the productivity of sugarcane in order to sustain profitable sugar industries in Kenya, while there are several diseases attacking sugarcane and reducing its quality. Seed multiplication of newly released varieties of sugarcane is one of the major constraints in Kenya as it takes 6-7 years to produce sufficient quantity of improved seed material. In vitro culture offers a practical and fast method for mass propagation of disease-free clonal materials. Successful protocols for shoot tip culture, callus culture, embryo culture, virus free plant production and somatic embryogenesis have already been established. Thus in vitro technology can be used to enhance productivity of sugarcane in Kenya. Keywords: Sugarcane,Somaclonal variation, in vitro culture, Meristems, Micro-propagation, callu

Morphological diversity of Kenyan papaya germplasm

Papaya is one of the major fruit crops of the tropical regions of the world. It shows considerable phenotypic variation in morphological and horticultural traits that can be utilized in its genetic improvement. In Kenya, wide range of papaya germplasm exists and has not been characterized. Therefore, there is difficulty in differentiating the papaya accessions in the different regions of Kenya. Characterization of papaya germplasm is normally accomplished by use of morphological descriptors, hence as a first step, a germplasm collection from within Kenya was gathered and its morphological diversity was assessed. The papaya germplasm was collected from Coast, Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Eastern and Central provinces of Kenya and characterized in the field using morphological descriptors based on fruit, flower, stem and leaf characteristics. The morphological characters were recorded andmorphological data from sixty accessions were submitted to principal component and Neighbor- Joining cluster analysis. Accessions from Coastal, Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza provinces showed the widest morphological diversity with those from Eastern and Central provinces showing the least diversity. Fruit shape, fruit diameter, tree habit, leaf size and flower color showed the greatest variation in principal component analysis. The high diversity observed within the accessions points to ample possibilities of obtaining desirable trait combinations in specific cultivars.Keywords: Kenya, papaya, germplasm, morphological characterizatio

Variation for Agro-Morphological Traits among Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes

The objectives of this study were to evaluate genetic variation among kabuli chickpea genotypes and to determine the relationships among agronomic traits with seed yield. Field experiments were conducted during the long and short rain seasons of 2013 using alpha lattice design in triplicate. Data on agro-morphological traits were recorded using descriptors for chickpea and analysed using SAS 2013 and Genstat 2014. There were highly significant (p < 0.001) variations among genotypes and genotype by environment interactions for all studied traits. The top five high yielding genotypes were ICCV 05315, ICC 13461, ICCV 07313, ICC 13764 and ICCV 00302. Genotypes ranking for most agronomic traits varied across environments which indicated a crossover type of genotype by environment interactions. Evaluated genotypes were polymorphic for six qualitative traits. Seed yield ha-1 was positively and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with biomass yield ha-1, pods plant-1, plant canopy width and secondary branches plant-1. These characters could be used for indirect selection of high yielding genotypes. The first principal component explained 57% of the total variation and was associated with days to 50% flowering and podding, plant canopy width, plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant-1, days to 75% maturity, number of pods plant-1 and biomass yield ha-1 as positive contributors. The documented information on genetic variation and association of agronomic traits with seed yield can be exploited to devise suitable breeding strategies and chickpea germplasm conservation

Assessment of Interrelationship among Agronomic and Yield Characters of Chickpea

This study was conducted to analyze the association among agronomic traits and with seed yield for fifty eight chickpea genotypes including two check varieties under field conditions. Alpha lattice design with three replications was used. Data agro-morphological traits were recorded using descriptors for chickpea and analysed using Genstat 2015. The results showed there was positive and significant correlation of seed yield with biomass, pod filling period, pod plant -1, number of primary and secondary branches plant -1. These traits could be improved simultaneously and given prior emphasis for indirect selection of high yielding chickpea genotypes. Principal component analysis indicated that the existence of genetic variation among the evaluated genotypes. The first four principal components explained significant proportion of the total variations and accounted for 77.04 %. The first principal component was positively associated with days to flowering, plant spread, plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant -1, days to maturity, pods plant -1, pod length, biomass and seed yield. The second principal component was positively related with plant spread, pod length, plant height, pod filling period, pod plant -1, seed yield and 100 seed weight. These could be a good indication for significance of both agronomic and yield traits attributed substantially to the overall variations among genotypes. The presence of substantial genetic variations, positive and highly significant correlated characters can be exploited in breeding programmes for improvement of chickpea in the regio

Lablab purpureus—A Crop Lost for Africa?

In recent years, so-called ‘lost crops’ have been appraised in a number of reviews, among them Lablab purpureus in the context of African vegetable species. This crop cannot truly be considered ‘lost’ because worldwide more than 150 common names are applied to it. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this paper aims to put forward four theses, (i) Lablab is one of the most diverse domesticated legume species and has multiple uses. Although its largest agro-morphological diversity occurs in South Asia, its origin appears to be Africa. (ii) Crop improvement in South Asia is based on limited genetic diversity. (iii) The restricted research and development performed in Africa focuses either on improving forage or soil properties mostly through one popular cultivar, Rongai, while the available diversity of lablab in Africa might be under threat of genetic erosion. (iv) Lablab is better adapted to drought than common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), both of which have been preferred to lablab in African agricultural production systems. Lablab might offer comparable opportunities for African agriculture in the view of global change. Its wide potential for adaptation throughout eastern and southern Africa is shown with a GIS (geographic information systems) approach

The terrain of urbanisation process and policy frameworks: A critical analysis of the Kampala experience

Kampala is urbanising in an unplanned manner, but without a clear picture of the underlying dynamics. The city is characterised by lack of proper zoning of economic activities and construction of physical infrastructure without regard to subsequent spatial quality and environmental conservation. Consequently, there are sharp differences in residential standards where expensive housing and luxury flats co-exist with shanty towns and informal settlements, with about 60% of the city’s population living in unplanned informal settlements and often faced with challenges of unemployment. The unprecedented increase in the urban population in Kampala and the prospects for further increases in the near future have economic and social implications concerning employment, housing, education and health, among others. Understanding the nature of the dynamics of the growth or decline of cities like Kampala helps planners to support the processes that lead to harmonious urban development and to deal with the negative consequences of urban growth. This paper reflects the urbanisation dynamics explaining Kampala’s urbanisation process with the view to analysing the implications for an alternative urban policy framework. It argues that the conditions that have allowed the situation to exist have serious policy implications which require the need for an integrated policy framework that can be used to effectively prevent or halt Kampala’s unplanned urbanisation while promoting planned urbanisation. Induced by the migration and lack of information, understanding urban dynamics is crucial to the development of urban policies that can effectively ensure that further urban changes occur in a systematic and satisfactory manner. The current urban process in developing countries like Uganda is associated with poverty, environmental degradation and population demands that outstrip service capacity

Financing Post-Conflict Recovery in Africa: The Role of International Development Assistance †

This paper attempts to identify the key challenges of financing countries in post-conflict transition. Such countries constitute a critical development challenge given their enormous socio-economic needs and the difficulties associated with providing effective development assistance. Conflict destroys a country's economic, governance and administrative institutions; weakens public financial management systems and increases transaction costs, which makes it difficult for principals to monitor their agents. Rebuilding social and economic infrastructure is as crucial as the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed physical infrastructure--roads, bridges, restoration of water supply and sanitation and energy and power. A framework is elaborated here for assessing (i) Post-conflict situations in African countries; (ii) possible mechanism of financing post-conflict reconstruction and development in Africa; and, (iii) lessons from the past challenges of financing countries in post-conflict transition in Africa. The paper concludes that post-conflict financing in Africa needs to be done in the appropriate context and framework to enhance impact and effectiveness. They should be accompanied by the appropriate policy framework and guidance, and should be conceived within the context of the country's long-term development objectives. Copyright The author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected], Oxford University Press.

Assessment of genetic variation and heritability of agronomic traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variation and heritability of selected agronomic traits among chickpea genotypes. Replicated field experiments were conducted for 60 genotypes during the long and short rain seasons of 2013 at Kabete and Juja using alpha lattice design. Data were collected for days to 50 % flowering, plant height, days to 75 % maturity, pods plant -1, yield ha -1 and 100 seed weight and analysed using SAS 2013. Genotypes and genotype by environment interactions showed highly significant (p < 0.0001) variations for all studied traits. Genotypes were classified as early (< 50 days), moderate (50 – 55 days), late (55 – 60 days) and very late (> 60 days) in flowering. Fifteen genotypes were early ( 120 days) in maturity. Genotypes took longer in flowering and maturity during the long rains in comparison with short rains in both sites. Genotypes further varied with respect to yield traits and categorized as low, moderate and high. The highest yield ha -1 was recorded by ICC 9636 while ICC 9002 recorded the lowest. Broad sense heritability was high for most traits except days to 75 % maturity during long rains and pods plant -1 in long rain Kabete. Characters with high broad sense heritability would be used as selection criterion for better yield. Promising, early flowering and maturing genotypes with reasonable yield traits from this study can be exploited for genetic improvement of chickpea

Participatory research approaches for enhancing innovations and partnerships in soil productivity improvement

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