Enhancing productivity of farmer-saved seed yam in Ghana: Positive selection and neem leaf powder factors

Recycling of diseased and pests infested seed yam ( Dioscorea spp.) has resulted in drastic yield reductions in yam production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of positive selection on the quality of farmer-saved seed yam and also evaluate the effect of neem leaf powder in managing plant parasitic nematodes damage to yam. Two farming systems namely; Positive selection (PS) and Farmer practice (FP) and two soil amendment regimes; neem leaf powder at 20 g stand-1 (NA20) and no neem amendment (NA0) were tested on one variety of yam (Dente). A 2 x 2 x 1 factorial study, mounted on a randomised complete block design in a split plot arrangement was conducted in four replications. Positive selection occupied main plots; while Farmer practice occupied sub-plots. The study was conducted in eight communities located in two municipalities of Ghana, during 2015-2017. Parameters evaluated included Yam Mosaic Virus incidence and severity, incidence and severity of nematode cracks and galling on yam tubers, plant establishment and yield of yam. It was observed that Yam Mosaic Virus (YMV) disease incidence decreased from 38% in 2016 to 31% in 2017 in PS plots as a result of using virus-free planting materials. However, in FP plots, it increased from 67% in 2016 to 72% in 2017. Neem leaf powder amendment resulted in significantly (P< 0.05) low tuber galling (7%) compared with 40% in unamended plots. Similarly, PS plots yielded 7.7 t ha-1 compared to 5.9 t ha-1 in FP fields. In conclusion, Positive selection out-yielded FP by 30.5%; while PS-neem leaf powder interaction resulted in 38.5% over and above FP without neem amendment.Le recyclage des semences d\u2019igname ( Dioscorea spp.) contamin\ue9es par des maladies et des parasites a entra\ueen\ue9 une r\ue9duction drastique du rendement de la production d\u2019igname. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9terminer l\u2019effet de la s\ue9lection positive sur la qualit\ue9 des semences d\u2019igname conserv\ue9es par les agriculteurs et \ue9galement d\u2019\ue9valuer l\u2019effet de la poudre de feuilles de neem dans la gestion des dommages caus\ue9s par les n\ue9matodes parasites des plantes. Deux syst\ue8mes agricoles \ue0 savoir; S\ue9lection positive (PS) et pratique paysanne (PF) et deux r\ue9gimes d\u2019amendement du sol; De la poudre de feuille de neem \ue0 20 g du stand-1 (NA20) et aucun amendement de neem (NA0) ont \ue9t\ue9 test\ue9s sur une vari\ue9t\ue9 d\u2019igname (Dente). Une \ue9tude factorielle de 2 x 2 x 1, mont\ue9e sur une dispositif en\ua0blocs al\ue9atoires complets dans un arrangement en parcelles divis\ue9es, a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e en quatre r\ue9p\ue9titions. S\ue9lection positive occup\ue9e parcelles principales; tandis que la pratique paysanne occupait des sous-parcelles. L\u2019\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e dans huit communaut\ue9s situ\ue9es dans deux municipalit\ue9s du Ghana en 2015-2017. Les param\ue8tres \ue9valu\ue9s comprenaient l\u2019incidence et la gravit\ue9 du virus de la mosa\uefque de l\u2019igname, l\u2019incidence et la gravit\ue9 des fissures de n\ue9matode et le grippage des tubercules de l\u2019igname, l\u2019\ue9tablissement de la plante et le rendement de l\u2019igname. Il a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9 que l\u2019incidence de la maladie caus\ue9e par le virus de la mosa\uefque \ue0 l\u2019igname (YMV) avait diminu\ue9 de 38% en 2016 \ue0 31% en 2017 dans les parcelles PS gr\ue2ce \ue0 l\u2019utilisation de mat\ue9riel de plantation d\ue9pourvu de virus. Cependant, dans les parcelles de PF, il est pass\ue9 de 67% en 2016 \ue0 72% en 2017. L\u2019amendement de poudre de feuille de Neem a entra\ueen\ue9 une r\ue9duction significative du galles des tubercules (P <0,05) (7%) par rapport \ue0 40% dans les parcelles non modifi\ue9es. De m\ueame, les parcelles de PS ont produit 7,7 t ha-1, contre 5,9 t ha-1 dans les champs de PF. En conclusion, la s\ue9lection positive a eu un rendement sup\ue9rieur de 30,5% \ue0 celui de la PF; tandis que l\u2019interaction de la poudre de feuille PS-neem a eu pour r\ue9sultat 38,5% de plus que FP sans amendement de nee

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4 (62.3 (55.1�70.8) million) to 6.4 (58.3 (47.6�70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization�s Global Nutrition Target of <5 in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2 (30 (22.8�38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0 (55.5 (44.8�67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Studies on graft union formation in Mangifera indica L. and Citrus limon L. explants in-vitro

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN014055 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Factors associated with suboptimal intake of some important nutrients among HIV-positive pregnant adolescents from two Ghanaian districts

This study determined the daily intakes of some important nutrients and factors associated with the suboptimal intakes of these nutrients among young HIV-positive (HIV+) pregnant women from two Ghanaian districts. Eighty-five of such women after informed consent were recruited from three hospitals and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Dietary intake was quantified using the 24-hour recall technique. Total intake, calculated based on dietary recall, and adequacy of intake, calculated based on intake levels compared to the RDA, were assessed. Factors potentially associated with intake were tested using the Mann Whitney U test. The median daily intakes of the nutrients of interest were as follows: Protein (63.1 g), Vitamin C (106 mg), Zinc (11.7 mg), Iron (22.2 mg), and Selenium (1.4 &mu;g). The prevalence of inadequacy of these nutrients were: Vitamin C (35.3%), Protein (39.7%), Iron (72.9%), Selenium (97.6%), and Zinc (100%). HIV + women with nausea, vomiting, and oral lesions had significantly lower intakes of Protein, Iron and Zinc (p < 0.05). Inadequacy of dietary intake is very prevalent among this group of pregnant women particularly among those with nausea, vomiting, and oral lesions. These conditions could be significant contributors to the burden of nutrient deficiencies among women infected with HIV in this setting. Since deficiencies of these nutrients during pregnancy could lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, emphasis on the dietary sources of these nutrients such as fish, peas, nuts, kontomire, whole grain cereals, seafood, onions, milk, garlic, alfalfa, mushrooms, and banana should be made during antenatal counseling