Field Evaluation of Yield and Yield Component Traits of Breeding Lines of Maize over Two Seasons in Derived Savannah Agro-Ecology

The understanding of yield and the interaction with its components is very important for selection in early generations of crop breeding. Twelve maize genotypes were collected from International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) along with seven landraces in order to identify the contribution of different traits to yield improvement. The experiments were carried out in two different seasons (March/April-early and July/August- late) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Early season planting had a higher grain yield than late season planting. The difference in grain yield between early and late season was 3.92 tons/ha. This represents a 27.8% increase in grain yield during the early season over the late season planting. Number of ears per plant and shelling percentage were not influenced by seasonal effects. Ear weight and days to tasselling showed the highest direct positive effects of 0.972 and 0.665, respectively on grain yield, during early season. Furthermore, ear weight, followed by shelling percentage, exerted the highest direct positive effect on grain yield in late season. Higher indirect positive effects were obtained for ear diameter, ear length, ear height and plant height via ear weight in both seasons. Ear weight, days to tasselling and ear length were identified as the major traits affecting yield of maize in both seasons in the derived Savannah agro-ecology

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Agronomic Evaluation of New Varieties of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) under Different Rates and Modes of NPK (12-12-17-2) Fertilizer Application in Two Seasons

A study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate the growth and yield of four improved cassava varieties, determine their optimum NPK fertilizer rate and the best modes of fertilizer application for increased productivity. The experiment was factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four varieties of cassava, four fertilizer rates and three modes of fertilizer application were used for the study. The early planting had higher survival count, number of leaves, tuber and garri yield when compared with late planting. The variety TMS 98 05 05 gave significantly (p< 0.05) higher number of leaves, tuber and garri yields of 39.8 and 9.68 t/ha, respectively, at 12 months. At 6 months of crop growth, 200 kg/ha fertilizer application rate gave significantly higher tuber and garri yield of 24.69 t/ha and 5.15 t/ha, respectively. Furthermore, 400 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer rate gave higher tuber and garri yields of 39.4 and 10.12 t/ha, respectively at 12 months of crop growth. Split application of fertilizer gave significantly higher tuber and garri yield from single application, though it is statistically similar to split-split application. Therefore, early planting, 400 kg/ha fertilizer rate and split application should be adopted for cassava production. The variety TMS 98 05 05 with higher growth and yield should also be adopted by farmers for cassava production in Nsukka derived savannah agro-ecology

Evaluation of Sixteen Cucumber (&lt;i&gt;Cucumis sativus&lt;/i&gt; L.) Genotypes in Derived Savannah Environment Using Path Coefficient Analysis

Sixteen exotic and indigenous cucumber genotypes (Cucumis sativus L.) were evaluated under early and late seasons planting. This was to characterize the cucumber genotypes based on their performance in the derived savannah of Southeast Nigeria agro-ecological zone and estimate character association and contribution towards total fruit yield per hectare. The vegetative traits, such as vine length, number of branches, number of leaves and leaf area were measured at 8 weeks after planting. The phonological traits measured were: days to flower initiation and days to 50% flowering. The reproductive traits like number of staminate flowers per plant, number of pistillate flowers per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and total fruit yield per hectare were also recorded. Obtained data was subjected to analysis of variance in randomized complete block design and path analysis. The results showed a highly significant difference (p&lt;0.01) among the genotypes in all the traits studied in both seasons. ‘Beit Alpha’ genotype gave the highest fruit yield/ha in early season planting, while in the late season, the highest yield producer was ‘Ashely’. In both seasons, vine length, number of branches and leaves, leaf area, number of pistillate and staminate flowers/plant, number of fruit and fruit weight/plant showed positive and significant correlation with total fruit yield/ha. In both seasons, the highest positive direct effect on yield was recorded in fruit weight/plant. Significantly (p&lt;0.05), the highest total fruit yield/ha was recorded in the early rainy season planting in this agro ecological zone. Based on high fruit yield, ‘Beit Alpha’ genotype for early season planting and ‘Ashley’ genotype for late season are recommended for cultivation in the Derived Savannah, Southeast Nigeria agro ecological zone

Analysis of Leaf Yield Components in Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) Grown in Derived Savannah Agro-ecology

High yield has become one of the major objectives of breeders and growers over the recent decades. Eighteen accessions of Telfairia occidentalis were studied in a randomized complete block design experiment replicated three times to determine the relationship among selected traits and their contribution to leaf yield. The following yield traits were studied: length of the longest vine (LLV), number of leaves plant-1 (LP), number of leaves per 40 cm of vine length (LVL), number of vines (NOV), length of the central leaflet (LCL), width of the central leaflet (WCL), vine diameter (VD) and leaf yield by weight. The correlation coefficient was estimated and the values partitioned to show the direct and indirect effects to yield using path coefficient analysis. LP showed the highest positive and significant correlation (r=0.72**) with leaf yield. WCL and LP had the highest direct positive effects on leaf yield. The study revealed that increased number of wide leaves plant-1 with long and higher number of branches will increase the leaf yield of T. occidentalis