Why do millets have slower starch and protein digestibility than other cereals?

Background Millet and millet based products are known to have lower starch and protein digestibility rates when compared to other cereals. Understanding, why millets are slowly digestible and how they are affected by processing is important in maintaining their lower starch and protein digestibilities when processed. Scope and approach This review explores the factors that contribute to the lower starch and protein digestibilities of millets and their underlying mechanisms. The effects of different processing methods on millet starch and protein digestibility rates are also discussed. Key findings and conclusions Factors such as starch structural characteristics, starch-protein-lipid interactions, fiber and polyphenols present in millets play significant roles in their hypoglycemic property. The amount and type of fatty acids present in millets significantly affect their starch hydrolysis rates. Unsaturated fatty acids are more effective in reducing starch hydrolysis rates than their saturated counterparts. In-vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of millets appears to be mostly affected by polyphenols and processing. Simple processing steps such as decortication, germination and fermentation which are mostly applied to millets significantly affect both starch digestibility and IVPD of millets. The adoption of processes that maintain low starch hydrolysis rates and increases protein digestibility in millets should be encouraged

In vitro regeneration and morphogenesis in Phyllanthus niruri L., an anti-plasmodial herb

We investigated the use of in vitro techniques for regeneration of adventitious shoots in Phyllanthus niruri, an anti-malarial plant as an initial effort towards its domestication. Fruits cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium (MS) supplemented with BAP had low germination (61%) due to seed coat imposed dormancy. The culture of nodal cuttings explants on BAP, kinetin or 2-isopentyl adenine (2iP) amended medium to avoid seed dormancy resulted in shoot regeneration without roots in all accessions with BAP producing the highest number of shoots (9.0). Subsequent inclusion of either 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in the BAP, kinetin or 2iP amended MS medium also produced only shoots. Leaf lobe explants cultured on only 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) amended medium led to a significant calli development with 1 mg/L 2,4-D producing 100, 88.9 and 95.8% callus, respectively from Kwabenya, Kasoa and Aburi accessions. Subsequent transfer of calli to MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BAP led to calli growth (increase in weight) and morphogenic response depending on the concentration of 2,4-D in the induction medium. Only 55 and 25% of these calli from Kwabenya and Kasoa, respectively produced shoots while roots development was significantly higher ranging from 48 to 88.9%. These shoots did not survive ex-vitro acclimatisation due to hyperhydricity while those regenerated from nodal cuttings or seeds had high percentage survival. The high morphogenetic response of Phyllanthus niruri in vitro can be used to propagate this anti malarial plant and enhance its utilization in the treatment of malaria.Key words: Shoot regeneration, morphogenic response, Phyllanthus niruri, accessions

Mobile phone-assisted agricultural extension services: User competency and usage frequency in eastern Ghana

Adoption studies have mainly focused on econometric and quantitative modelling that usually assume smallholder farmers competently adopt agricultural technologies. This study provides novel insights on user competency and frequency of usage of mobile telephony for agricultural  extension services among smallholder farmers and agricultural extension agents (AEAs) and key factors that impede the adoption process. The study examined users’ competencies and mobile phone usage frequency for access and delivery of agricultural extension services in Eastern Ghana. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 95 AEAs and 330 smallholder farmers in five districts of the Eastern region of Ghana and data were collected through semistructured interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analyses were performed to analyse the data. Results showed substantial differences between AEAs and smallholder farmers’ competency in the use of mobile phones for agricultural  extension services. Socio-demographic characteristics of smallholder farmers and AEAs correlated with usage frequency of mobile phones for access to extension services and delivery. Educational level, amount of weekly expenditure of money on mobile phone use, mobile phone network quality, income level, and age ofboth AEAs and smallholder farmers had positive and significant correlations with frequency of usage of mobile phones. User competency differentially impacts the frequency of mobile phone use in agricultural extension services between AEAs andsmallholders. High call tariffs and access to recharge cards are major challenges in using mobile phones for agricultural extension in the study areas. The study shows components of the adoption theory of compatibility, and complexity where an innovation fits within the socio-cultural framework and perceived difficulty of use. Thus, the frequent use of voice calls is indicative of early stages of the diffusion process and may diversify into other applications in the future. Farmer-based organisations should be resourced to support training of farmers to use mobile phones to improve access to agricultural information dissemination. Integrating voice-based agricultural information services (IVRs) into the current SMS-based agricultural extension services in Ghana could potentially boost extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the Eastern region and across the country. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture may partner with key stakeholders and mobile service providers to offer hands-on capacity building to smallholder farmers and AEAs in video calling/conferencing, multimedia service, and social media to enhance their competencies for improved agricultural extension services

Production of Activated Carbon in a Multi-Functional Platform Pilot Plant

Activated carbons were produced from coconut shells as  raw materials in a Multi-Functional Platform (MFP) pilot plant using the chemical activation method.. Derived activated carbon named, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C6, based on the activation agent used and the heating rate employed, were compared to a commercial activated carbon based on acceptable parameters. C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 had relative hardness of 95.67%, 92.67%, 89.67, 91.6%, 90.67% and 93.33% respectively, averaging 92.26%, as compared to 95.6% relative hardness for the commercial activated carbon used. C6 the best performing activated carbon produced (using KOH and heating rate of 7.67 ºC/min) , had an adsorption rate of 188.68 mg Au/ h g, which was higher than the adsorption rate of the commercial activated carbon, which is 185.19 mg Au/ h g. This validates the possibility of activated carbon production commercially in Ghana

Gene effect and heritability of yield and its components in eggplant

Eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most important fruit vegetables in the world, with several nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, little is known about the genetic divergence of yield and its related traits. The objective of this study was to explore gene action and heritability of traits to help direct and strengthen breeding programmes, geared towards improving yield of the crop. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) derived from two crosses (SM001-07 x ST004-03 and SM001 x San005-01) of eggplant accessions, were grown in pots in an open field, using Randomised Complete block Design (RCBD). Estimated data indicated that, the additive-dominance model was adequate to demonstrate the genetic variation and its significance in the inheritance of fruit weight, days to flowering and fruit yield traits. Although non-allelic interactions were found in plant height and number of seeds, additive effect was more pronounced in the genetic control of days to flowering and fruit weight; while dominance effect was more important in the control of plant branching and fruit length. Plant height and fruit yield were influenced by complementary gene action. Furthermore, the study revealed low magnitudes of dominance and environmental variances for most traits showing higher heritability values. In view of the diverse gene actions, with additive, dominant and epistasis, playing significant roles in the control of different traits, backcross, recurrent selection or bi parental could be appropriate for advancing the segregating populations to meet the need of yield improvement in both crosses.L\u2019aubergine ( Solanum melongena L.) est l\u2019un des legumes fruits les plus importants au monde, avec les plusieurs bienfaits nutritionnels et m\ue9dicinaux. Cependant, on sait peu de choses sur la divergence g\ue9n\ue9tique du rendement et ses traits li\ue9s. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019explorer l\u2019action des g\ue8nes et l\u2019h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 des traits pour aider \ue0 diriger et \ue0 renforcer les programmes de s\ue9lection visant \ue0 am\ue9liorer le rendement de la culture. Six g\ue9n\ue9rations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 et BC2) d\ue9riv\ue9es de deux croisements (SM001-07 x ST004-03 et SM001 x San005-01) d\u2019accessions d\u2019aubergines ont \ue9t\ue9 cultiv\ue9es en pots dans un champ. Les donn\ue9es estim\ue9es indiquent que le mod\ue8le de dominance additive \ue9tait ad\ue9quat pour d\ue9montrer la variation g\ue9n\ue9tique et son importance dans l\u2019h\ue9r\ue9dit\ue9 du poids du fruit, des jours de floraison et des traits de rendement des fruits. Bien que des interactions non all\ue9liques aient \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9es dans la hauteur des plantes et le nombre de graines, l\u2019effet additif \ue9tait plus prononc\ue9 dans le contr\uf4le g\ue9n\ue9tique des jours de floraison et du poids des fruits; tandis que l\u2019effet de dominance \ue9tait plus important dans le contr\uf4le de la ramification des plantes et de la longueur des fruits. La hauteur des plantes et le rendement des fruits ont \ue9t\ue9 influenc\ue9s par l\u2019action compl\ue9mentaire des g\ue8nes. De plus, l\u2019\ue9tude a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 de faibles variation de dominance et des variances environnementales pour la plupart des traits pr\ue9sentant des valeurs d\u2019h\ue9ritabilit\ue9 plus \ue9lev\ue9es. Compte tenu des diverses actions des g\ue8nes, avec additif, dominant et \ue9pistase, jouant un r\uf4le important dans le contr\uf4le des diff\ue9rents traits, le r\ue9trocroisement, la s\ue9lection r\ue9currente ou biparentale pourrait \ueatre appropri\ue9 pour faire progresser les populations en s\ue9gr\ue9gation afin de r\ue9pondre au besoin d\u2019am\ue9liorer le rendement dans les deux croisements

Challenges and solutions for enhancing agriculture value chain decision-making. A short review

© IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2017. Increasingly challenging global and environmental requirements have resulted in agricultural systems coming under increasing pressure to enhance their resilience capabilities. This in special to respond to the abrupt changes in resource quality, quantity and availability, especially during unexpected environmental circumstances, such as uncertain weather, pests and diseases, volatile market conditions and commodity prices. Therefore, integrated solutions are necessary to support the knowledge-management, collaborative ICT solution, risk management and regulation management across agriculture stakeholders. Therefore, and based on the on-going work under the H2020 RUC-APS project research network, this book chapter is oriented to contribute to agriculture value chain decision-making field to cover the current need on gathering a common understanding and appreciation of new trends in agriculture value chain, in special the multi-disciplinary challenges. For this, a short a literature review is conducted to summarise the main findings on real application and current research trends. This within the objective to propose an integrated framework based on better use of communication ways, standardised structures, development of training and awareness, regulation based initiatives and vertical Integration

Nutritional and antioxidant composition of eggplant accessions in Ghana

Eggplants ( Solanum spp.) are important vegetable crops, well known for nutritional and medicinal values of their fruits and leaves. In order to select more nutritious varieties in Ghana, 33 eggplant accessions were investigated for nutritional, mineral and antioxidant content of their fruits. Proximate and antioxidant analysis were determined by AOAC and DPPH methods. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among nutritional, mineral and antioxidant traits. Most accessions contained high moisture content (above 70%). Nutrient concentrations ranged from 0.10 fat to 6.10 g 100 g-1 carbohydrate; and 0.107 magnesium to 11.271 mg 100 g-1 iron. Total phenolic content was highest in accession ST004-03 (210 mg GAE g-1 (gallic acid equivalent), and lowest in SA002-02 (171.10 mg GAE g-1). Accessions ST004-02 and ST004-03 displayed the highest DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (0.017 mg ml-1); while San 005-01 (1474 mg ml-1) showed the highest antioxidant content. Principal component analysis indicated that the first 3 components with Eigen value >1.5 contributed 68.68% of total variability. Dry matter, protein, moisture and carbohydrate contents showed maximum contributions to the total variability. Biplot analysis displayed strong and positive associations among ash, protein and moisture with dry matter; moisture and carbohydrate and; protein and ash. Accessions San 005-01, San 005-02, SA 002-07, SA 002-08 and ST004-03 were identified as good sources of nutrients, minerals and antioxidant properties among the others; and could be used as potential donors for hybridisation programme to develop varieties with higher concentration of these traits.Les aubergines ( Solanum spp.) Sont des cultures l\ue9gumi\ue8res importantes, bien connues pour les valeurs nutritionnelles et m\ue9dicinales de leurs fruits et de leurs feuilles. Pour s\ue9lectionner des vari\ue9t\ue9s plus nutritives au Ghana, 33 accessions d\u2019aubergines ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9es pour d\ue9terminer la teneur nutritionnelle, min\ue9rale et antioxydante de leurs fruits. Les analyses proximale et antioxydante ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9termin\ue9es par les m\ue9thodes AOAC et DPPH. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 des diff\ue9rences significatives (P <0,05) entre les caract\ue9ristiques nutritionnelles, min\ue9rales et antioxydantes. La plupart des accessions avaient une teneur en eau \ue9lev\ue9e (sup\ue9rieure \ue0 70%). Les concentrations de nutriments allaient de 0,10 \ue0 6,10 g de glucides \ue0 100 g-1; et 0,107 magn\ue9sium \ue0 11,271 mg 100 g-1 de fer. La teneur totale en compos\ue9s ph\ue9noliques \ue9tait la plus \ue9lev\ue9e lors de l\u2019accession ST004-03 (210 mg GAE g-1 (\ue9quivalent d\u2019acide gallique) et la plus faible dans le SA002-02 (171,10 mg GAE g-1). Les accessions ST004-02 et ST004-03 ont pr\ue9sent\ue9 l\u2019activit\ue9 de pi\ue9geage de radicaux DPPH (2,2-diph\ue9nyl-1-picrylhydrazyle) la plus \ue9lev\ue9e (0,017 mg ml-1); tandis que San 005-01 (1474 mg ml-1) pr\ue9sentait la plus forte teneur en antioxydants. L\u2019analyse des composantes principales a montr\ue9 que les 3 premi\ue8res composantes avec une valeur propre sup\ue9rieure \ue0 1,5 ont contribu\ue9 \ue0 68,68% de la variabilit\ue9 totale. Les teneurs en mati\ue8re s\ue8che, en prot\ue9ines, en humidit\ue9 et en glucides ont contribu\ue9 au maximum \ue0 la variabilit\ue9 totale. L\u2019analyse bi-parcelle a montr\ue9 des associations fortes et positives entre les cendres, les prot\ue9ines et l\u2019humidit\ue9 avec la mati\ue8re s\ue8che, l\u2019humidit\ue9 et les glucides; prot\ue9ines et cendres. Les accessions San 005-01, San 005-02, SA 002-07, SA 002-08 et ST004-03 ont \ue9t\ue9 identifi\ue9es comme \ue9tant de bonnes sources d\u2019\ue9l\ue9ments nutritifs, de min\ue9raux et de propri\ue9t\ue9s antioxydantes; et pourrait \ueatre utilis\ue9 comme donneur potentiel pour le programme d\u2019hybridation visant \ue0 d\ue9velopper d\ue9velopper des vari\ue9t\ue9s avec une concentration plus \ue9lev\ue9e de ces caract\ue8res

COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death in the United States

Background: Most COVID-19 deaths occur among adults, not children, and attention has focused on mitigating COVID-19 burden among adults. However, a tragic consequence of adult deaths is that high numbers of children might lose their parents and caregivers to COVID-19-associated deaths. Methods: We quantified COVID-19-associated caregiver loss and orphanhood in the US and for each state using fertility and excess and COVID-19 mortality data. We assessed burden and rates of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of custodial and co-residing grandparents, overall and by race/ethnicity. We further examined variations in COVID-19-associated orphanhood by race/ethnicity for each state. Results: We found that from April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, over 140,000 children in the US experienced the death of a parent or grandparent caregiver. The risk of such loss was 1.1 to 4.5 times higher among children of racial and ethnic minorities, compared to Non-Hispanic White children. The highest burden of COVID-19-associated death of parents and caregivers occurred in Southern border states for Hispanic children, Southeastern states for Black children, and in states with tribal areas for American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Conclusions: We found substantial disparities in distributions of COVID-19-associated death of parents and caregivers across racial and ethnic groups. Children losing caregivers to COVID-19 need care and safe, stable, and nurturing families with economic support, quality childcare and evidence-based parenting support programs. There is an urgent need to mount an evidence-based comprehensive response focused on those children at greatest risk, in the states most affected

Genetic enhancement of early and extra-early maturing maize for tolerance to low-soil nitrogen in sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access ArticleTo increase and improve food crop production and crop management for sustainable agricultural development, the Maize Improvement Program (MIP) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has, in partnership with national and international organizations, focused attention on the genetic improvement of maize (Zea mays L.) for tolerance/resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses constraining maize grain production. One of the abiotic stresses into which new technologies have been established for crop protection and sustainable natural resource management is low soil nitrogen (N). Nitrogen, an important plant nutrient required for growth and productivity, is not readily available and little quantity or none is applied by farmers for maize production. Because of long periods of bush fallow, the absence of N was not noticeable at the initial stages of maize production in West and Central Africa (WCA). However, with the fallow period gradually reducing and totally disappearing, it has become imperative for external supply of N in maize production. Taking a cue from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), IITA has been breeding low-N tolerant maize and several low-N-tolerant maize varieties and hybrids are now available to farmers. Reviewed in this manuscript are the efforts used to develop low-N tolerant early and extra-early maturing maize by the MIP of IITA. The review covers the objectives, methodology, and output of the research, including the genetics of tolerance, ongoing conventional and molecular approaches, and the gaps that new research could fill

The International Soil Moisture Network:Serving Earth system science for over a decade

In 2009, the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) was initiated as a community effort, funded by the European Space Agency, to serve as a centralised data hosting facility for globally available in situ soil moisture measurements (Dorigo et al., 2011b, a). The ISMN brings together in situ soil moisture measurements collected and freely shared by a multitude of organisations, harmonises them in terms of units and sampling rates, applies advanced quality control, and stores them in a database. Users can freely retrieve the data from this database through an online web portal (https://ismn.earth/en/, last access: 28 October 2021). Meanwhile, the ISMN has evolved into the primary in situ soil moisture reference database worldwide, as evidenced by more than 3000 active users and over 1000 scientific publications referencing the data sets provided by the network. As of July 2021, the ISMN now contains the data of 71 networks and 2842 stations located all over the globe, with a time period spanning from 1952 to the present. The number of networks and stations covered by the ISMN is still growing, and approximately 70 % of the data sets contained in the database continue to be updated on a regular or irregular basis. The main scope of this paper is to inform readers about the evolution of the ISMN over the past decade, including a description of network and data set updates and quality control procedures. A comprehensive review of the existing literature making use of ISMN data is also provided in order to identify current limitations in functionality and data usage and to shape priorities for the next decade of operations of this unique community-based data repository