Forest Landscapes Influence Black Coffee Twig Borer, Xylosandrus compactus Eichoff Infestation in Adjacent Robusta Coffee Gardens: Management Implications

The black coffee twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major constraints facing the Robusta coffee industry in Uganda since its advent in 1993. Once in a new location, it spreads rapidly within and between coffee gardens. This is mainly driven by favorable climatic conditions, presence of alternate hosts, limited management by farmers and the fact that natural enemies present in the new eco-systems are yet to adapt to it. Its management is difficult due to its cryptic nature of spending almost its entire lifespan is spent inside the host galleries. X. compactus has >200 host plant species worldwide, whereas, >50 plant species have been proven to be hosts in Uganda including: - commercial and ornamental crops as well as shade and forest trees/shrubs. In addition, these trees provide shady conditions that promote infestation of this pest. A study was therefore conducted in central Uganda to elucidate the effects of forest landscapes on the distribution of X. compactus damage in the adjoining Robusta coffee gardens. New alternate host plants of X. compactus within the forests were also documented. This could inform further development of its management strategy Uganda. Results showed that the percentage of coffee suckers and primary branches infested by X. compactus increased significantly (p=0.0171 and p=0.0001 respectively) with increasing distance away from the forest edge towards the center of the forest. The percentage infestation however decreased significantly (p<.0001 and p=0.2367) for suckers and primary branches respectively with increasing distance from forest edge towards the center of the adjoining coffee plantation. These observations are explicable by the fact that the forest acts as a source of X. compactus infestation for the adjoining coffee plantation, commonly referred to as “pull-effect”, the nearer the coffee trees to the forest the greater the initial infestation. Nine alternative host plant species, namely: - charcoal tree Trema orientalis Linn. Blume (Ulmaceae), African celtis, Celtis mildbraedii Engl. (Ulmaceae), bastard-wild-rubber, Funtumia africana Benth. Stapf (Apocynaceae), velvet-leaved combretum, Combretum molle R. Br. Ex. G. Don. Engl & Diels (Combretaceae) and five unidentified tree species were recorded in the forest. These tree/shrub species have been added to the existing inventory of X. compuctus alternate host plants in Uganda. This study clearly demonstrates the influence of natural forest landscapes on incidence and damage of X. compactus infestations in adjoining Robusta coffee gardens. The results suggest that farmers with coffee gardens neighboring forested landscapes should take into account managing the source of X. compactus infestation from natural forests as well as that on coffee and alternate hosts in their gardens. NARO-BCTB traps should therefore be deployed along the forest boundaries in order to intercept the X. compactus from the forests before they enter the coffee gardens. However, there is need to fully elucidate the interactions between the ‘pull-effect’ and landscape and aggregation factors that influence incidence and damage of X.  compactus attacks so as to inform its management

Inhibition of cell death as an approach for development of transgenic resistance against Fusarium wilt disease

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the major threats to dessert banana (Musa spp.) production. In Uganda, ‘Sukali Ndiizi’ is one of the most popular dessert banana cultivars and it is highly susceptible to Fusarium wilt. Development of resistant cultivars through transgenic approaches has shown to offer one of the most effective control options for most diseases. The transgenic approaches for providing plant disease resistance have mainly been through either enzymatic destruction of pathogen structures, neutralization of pathogen and its products or production of metabolites that eventually kill the pathogen. However in recent years, methods that prevent cell death of host plant after infection especially for necrotrophic pathogens like F. oxysporum have registered success in providing resistance in several crops. We investigated whether the transgenic expression of a programmed cell death inhibition gene in Sukali Ndiizi could be used to confer Fusarium resistance to Foc race 1. Embryogenic cell suspensions of cv. ‘Sukali Ndiizi, were stably transformed with a synthetic, plant-codon optimise mCed-9 gene. Twenty-eight independently transformed plant lines were regenerated. The lines were inoculated with Foc race 1 and observed for 13 weeks in small-plant glasshouse. Three transgenic lines showed significantly lower internal and external disease symptoms than the wild-type susceptible ‘Sukali Ndiizi’ banana plants used as controls. This is the first report from Africa on the generation of Fusarium wilt tolerant transgenic ‘Sukali Ndiizi’, a very popular but rapidly diminishing African dessert banana.Key words: Fusarium wilt, banana, Sukali Ndiizi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense race 1, programmed cell death, disease resistance

Expression of a rice chitinase gene in transgenic banana ('Gros Michel', AAA genome group) confers resistance to black leaf streak disease

Peer reviewe

Contrasting Effects of Shade Tree Species Diversity on Incidence and Damage of Pests and Diseases of Robusta Coffee

In Uganda, most farmers grow their Robusta coffee, Coffea canephora in association with a diversity of shade tree species. Shade tree species diversity and density influence abiotic variables particularly, temperature and relative humidity. In turn, these may negatively or positively influence the population dynamics and damage caused by pest and diseases. Understanding these relationships is therefore vital for informing selection of shade tree species for ecological management of pests and diseases. We thus conducted a study in Kaweri Coffee Plantation Limited located in central Uganda to determine the effect of shade tree species diversity on the incidence and damage caused by pests and diseases on Robusta coffee. One plot measuring 100 x 100 m was demarcated in each of the four sections of the plantation: Kitagweta, Kyamutuma, Luwunga and Nonve. All the shade trees/shrubs and saplings (≤3 m) in the plot were counted and identified to species level. Additionally, incidence and damage of pests and diseases were assessed on 20 Robusta coffee trees selected along two diagonals in the plots. We recorded a total of 299 trees comprising of 22 species, with Solanum giganteum being the most abundant shrub (19.8 shrubs/ha) whereas, the most abundant shade tree species were Albizia chinensis (9.3 trees/ha) and Markhamia lutea (6.0 tree/ha). Eight (8) insect pests and two (2) diseases were recorded on Robusta coffee. These included, Xylosandrus compactus, Leucoptera coffeella, Leucoplema dohertyi, Epicampoptera andersoni, Prophantis smaragdina, Planococcus spp., Hypothenemus hampei, leaf eating beetles, Hemilleia vastatrix and Cercospora coffeicola. Our results further showed contrasting effects of shade tree species diversity on the incidence and damage of pests and diseases of Robusta coffee. Damage caused by X. compactus and E. andersoni as well as the incidence of H. vastatrix and C. coffeicola decreased significantly (p≤0.05) with increasing shade tree species diversity. Contrary, damage caused by all the other insect pests increased with increasing shade tree species diversity but, only significant (p≤0.05) in case of P. smaragdina, and Planococcus spp. There is therefore a need to thoroughly understand these dynamics if agroforestry systems are to be utilized as a strategy for ecological management of pests and diseases of Robusta coffee. Keywords:Agroforestry-systems, Cercospora-coffeicola, Coffea-canephora, ecological-management, Epicampoptera-andersoni, Hemilleia-vastatrix, pest-and-disease-dynamics, Xylosandrus-compactus DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/14-1-03 Publication date: January 31st 202

Potential of Moisture Conservation Practices to Improve Soil Properties and Nutrient Status of Robusta Coffee Plant

Soil moisture conservation practices (SMCPs) have been adopted in Uganda to adapt to the effects of climate variability. However, limited information exists on how conservation measures influence the physico-chemical properties of soil and coffee leaf nutrient concentrations. Thus, we determined the effects of selected SMCPs on the soil physio-chemical properties and leaf nutrient concentrations in Robusta coffee in a randomized incomplete block design, replicated three times, in Kituza, Uganda. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm and 20 to 40 cm depths, and analyzed in the laboratory following standard procedures for selected physio-chemical properties. Coffee leaf samples were picked from each treatment (open sun coffee (COSS), coffee cover crop, Desmodium intortum (CCS), coffee mulch, Miscanthidium violoceum (CMS), and coffee A. coriaria (ACS)). Bulk density was significantly (p −3) and lowest under CCS (1.29 gcm−3), and it significantly (p < 0.001) increased with depth. The soil organic matter was higher than the optimum range of 1–3% at the 0–20 cm depth across different SMCPs, but within the optimum range at the 20–40 cm depth. Leaf nitrogen was significantly the highest under ACS (3.19%) and lowest under COSS (2.30%). Overall, the findings suggest that SMCPs improve the soil physio-chemical attributes and leaf nutrients for sustainable coffee productivity. However, ACS improved the leaf plant nutrition better compared to other SMCPs

Early Morphological Growth Response and Incidence of Key Pests Under Two Spacing Regimes of Coffea canephora

Coffea canephora has non-limiting but unexploited yield and quality potential when compared with C. arabica. Coffee tree density optimization can improve fortunes of smallholder farmers. An attractive example is that high productive countries where high plant densities do increase area yield but across boardrecommendations are illogical especially with variety and agroecological variations. We aimed to compare two spacing regimes for growth response and pest incidence using Kituza Robusta clone. Randomized complete block designs with three replications and eight plants per plot were established at four agroecologically diverseon-farm locations. Eleven plant growth variables were measured. In addition incidences of five key pests were assessed. Data was collected on a 3-month interval starting from 12 up to 21 months after planting. Highly significant differences between spacing regimes (p&lt;0.01) were obtained for majority of variables. Mean growth response was generally higher under 3 m x 1 m (high density) than 3 m x 3 m (low density) particularly with stem girth, plant height, length of longest primary branch, and leaf blade length. Conversely, pest incidence of black coffee twig borer, leaf eating beetles, leaf miners, and tailed caterpillars, except skeletonizers was higher under high than low plant densities. The findings provide aguide on implications of high plant densities on growth robustness which is translatable into yield potential; amidst a pest prevalence dilemma in studied type of C. canephora

Pro-vitamin A carotenoids in East African highland banana and other Musa cultivars grown in Uganda

Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are an important staple and food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, where the consumption of East African highland banana (EAHB) is the highest in the world, the population suffers from a high incidence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Since the consumption of pro-vitamin A carotenoids (pVAC) made available through the food staple can help alleviate these ailments, we set out to identify the most suitable banana variety to use in future biofortification strategies through genetic engineering. The study focussed on eight popular Musa cultivars grown in the heart of banana farming communities and across the three major agricultural zones of Uganda. The fruit pVAC concentration varied considerably within and across the cultivars tested. These variations could not be explained by the altitude nor the geographical location where these fruits were grown. More than 50% of the total carotenoids present in EAHB cultivars was found to comprise of α- and β-carotene, while the retention of these compounds following traditional processing methods was at least 70%. Storage up to 14 days post-harvest improved carotenoid accumulation up to 2.4-fold in the cultivar Nakitembe. The technical challenge for a successful biofortification approach in Uganda using genetically modified EAHB lies in guaranteeing that the fruit pVAC content will invariably provide at least 50% of the estimated average requirement for vitamin A regardless of the growing conditions

“When they know that you are a sex worker, you will be the last person to be treated”: Perceptions and experiences of female sex workers in accessing HIV services in Uganda

This study explored FSWs’ perspectives of the barriers and opportunities to HIV service access in Uganda.Background: HIV prevalence among female sex workers (FSWs) in high burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa varies between 24 and 72%, however their access to HIV services remains limited. This study explored FSWs’ perspectives of the barriers and opportunities to HIV service access in Uganda. Methods: The cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted between October and December 2013. Twenty-four focus group discussions were conducted with 190 FSWs in 12 districts. Data were analysed using manifest content analysis, using Atlas.ti software, based on the socio-ecological model. Results: FSWs indicated that HIV services were available and these included condoms, HIV testing and treatment, and management of sexually transmitted infections. However, access to HIV services was affected by several individual, societal, structural, and policy related barriers. Individual level factors included limited awareness of some prevention services, fears, and misconceptions while societal stigma was prominent. Structural and policy level barriers included inconvenient hours of operation of the clinics, inflexible facility based distribution of condoms, interruptions in the supply of condoms and other commodities, and limited package of services with virtually no access to lubricants, HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and support following client perpetrated violence. Policies such as partner testing and involvement at antenatal care, and using only one facility for antiretroviral drug refills hindered HIV service uptake and retention in care. FSWs had major concerns with the quality of services especially discrimination and rude remarks from providers, denial or delay of services, and potential for breach of confidentiality. However, some FSWs reported positive experiences including interface with friendly providers and participated in formal and informal FSW groups, which supported them to access health services. Conclusion: Despite availability of services, FSWs faced major challenges in access to services. Comprehensive multilevel interventions targeting individual, societal, structural and policy level barriers are required to increase access to HIV services among FSWs in Uganda. Policy and institutional adjustments should emphasize quality friendly services and expanding the package of services to meet the needs of FSWs

Health providers’ experiences, perceptions and readiness to provide HIV services to men who have sex with men and female sex workers in Uganda – a qualitative study

Abstract Background Access to HIV services among men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs) remains suboptimal globally. While the reasons for this dismal performance have been documented, limited evidence exists on the experiences, perceptions and readiness of health providers to provide HIV services to MSM and FSWs. Methods This analysis uses data collected from 48 key informants (health providers in public and private health facilities) as part of a larger study conducted in 12 districts of Uganda between October and December 2013. Data were collected on health providers’ experiences and readiness to provide HIV services to MSM and FSWs and their perceptions on the effect of existing legislation on HIV services provision to MSM and FSWs. Data were captured verbatim, transcribed and analyzed following a thematic framework approach. Results All health providers reported that they had ever provided HIV services to FSWs and a majority of them were comfortable serving them. However, no health provider had ever served MSM. When asked if they would be willing to serve MSM, nearly three-quarters of the health providers indicated that they would be bound by the call of duty to serve them. However, some health providers reported that they “would feel very uncomfortable” handling MSM because they engage in “a culture imported into our country”. A majority of the health providers felt that they did not have adequate skills to effectively serve MSM and called for specific training to improve their clinical skills. There were mixed reactions as to whether existing criminal laws would affect MSM or FSWs access to HIV services but there was agreement that access to HIV services, under the existing laws, would be more constrained for MSM than FSWs since society “does not blame FSWs [as much as it does] with MSM”. Conclusion A majority of the health providers were generally comfortable serving FSWs but there were strong homophobic tendencies towards MSM. A majority of the health providers lacked skills in how to handle MSM. Interventions aimed at improving health providers’ skills in handling MSM while minimizing the negative attitude towards them are urgently needed

“If You Tell People That You Had Sex with a Fellow Man, It Is Hard to Be Helped and Treated”: Barriers and Opportunities for Increasing Access to HIV Services among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Uganda

This study assessed barriers and opportunities for expanding access to HIV services among MSM in Uganda.Background Despite the high HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about their access to HIV services. This study assessed barriers and opportunities for expanding access to HIV services among MSM in Uganda. Methods In October-December 2013, a cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted in 12 districts of Uganda. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 85 self-identified MSM by snowball sampling and 61 key informants including HIV service providers and policy makers. Data were analysed using manifest content analysis and Atlas.ti software. Results Three quarters of the MSM (n = 62, 72.9%) were not comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation to providers and 69 (81.1%) felt providers did not respect MSM. Half (n = 44, 51.8%) experienced difficulties in accessing health services. Nine major barriers to access were identified, including: (i) unwelcoming provider behaviours; (ii) limited provider skills and knowledge; (iii) negative community perceptions towards MSM; (iv) fear of being exposed as MSM; (v) limited access to MSM-specific services; (vi) high mobility of MSM, (vii) lack of guidelines on MSM health services; viii) a harsh legal environment; and ix) HIV related stigma. Two-thirds (n = 56, 66%) participated in MSM social networks and 86% of these (48) received support from the networks to overcome barriers to accessing services. Conclusions Negative perceptions among providers and the community present barriers to service access among MSM. Guidelines, provider skills building and use of social networks for mobilization and service delivery could expand access to HIV services among MSM in Uganda