Response of cowpea germplasm to bacterial blight in Uganda

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp) is a legume crop mainly grown on small scale in low–input farming systems in Uganda. Cowpea bacterial blight (CoBB) disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Burkh.) Dye is increasingly becoming a major hindrance to cowpea productivity. Sixty-four cowpea genotypes were evaluated for their response to bacterial blight disease (CoBB). Field experiments were carried out during the first and second rainy seasons using alpha lattice design with three replications. Data on disease incidence and severity, grain yield, days to 50% flowering, number of seeds per pod, pod length, number of peduncles per plant, and number of branches per plant were collected. Disease severity and incidence data was used to determine relative Area Under Disease Progress Curve (rAUDPC). Results showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) among the genotypes for rAUDPC in each season. The rAUDPC across the seasons indicated that genotypes NE 32, WC 32A, WC 26 and NE 44 with rAUDPC values ranging from 0.22 to 0.26 were resistant to CoBB whereas genotypes NE 31 and NE 40 with rAUDPC values 0.44 and 0.46 respectively were susceptible. The rAUDPC did not show any significant correlation with days to 50% flowering, yield and its components. This study suggested that the genotypes NE 32, WC 32A, NE 44, and WC 26 be used as prospective parents in breeding initiatives to develop bacterial blight-resistant varieties due to their high yields and resistance to CoBB

Ethnobotanical study of plants used in management of diabetes mellitus in Eastern Uganda

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality among non-communicable diseases affecting about 422 million people worldwide and an estimated 1.5 million deaths directly attributed to diabetes each year with a prevalence of approximately 4.1% in Uganda. The disease is on an unprecedented rise in developing countries yet access to conventional diabetes medication is a huge challenge due to limited resources. Moreover, the current management and treatment options are life-long, expensive and associated with undesirable side effects. Consequently, there is widespread use of complementary and alternative medicines, mostly herbal medicines in the management of DM in Uganda. Aim of the study: To conduct an ethnobotanical study about medicinal plants for the management of DM in Eastern Uganda, a resource-limited area with rich plant biodiversity. Materials and methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in eight districts of Eastern Uganda. Eighty-six TMPs were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Data on screening of DM, medicinal plant harvesting, herbal medicine preparation, packaging, posology and toxicities were generated. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 26. Results: Sixty-one plant species belonging to 38 families and 59 genera were used by the TMPs in the preparation of herbal remedies for the management of symptoms of DM. The most commonly used plant species were Kigelia africana, Tamarindus indica, Aloe vera, Erythrina abyssinica, Entada abyssinica, Carica papaya, and Maytenus senegalensis. The most frequently used life forms were trees (63.2%) and herbs (20%) belonging to families Fabaceae (11.4%) and Asteraceae (10%). Roots and leaves were the most used plant parts harvested predominantly from the wild. Most herbal remedies were prepared as decoctions and administered orally with no reported toxicities. Conclusion: A wide range of medicinal plants are used by TMPs for management of diabetes in Eastern Uganda. Scientific evaluation of the antidiabetic potential, phytochemistry and toxicology of these remedies is needed to validate their use and inform the production of improved herbal medicines or discover novel molecules for effective management of DM