Grain Handling and Storage in Lubero and Rutshuru Territories in the North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Postharvest management of grain and seed is a challenge among smallholder farmers. Limited information is available on how smallholder farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who have been exposed to multiple conflicts, manage grain and seed after harvest. We interviewed 690 smallholder farmers in Lubero (Baswagha chiefdom) and Rutshuru (Bwisha and Bwito chiefdoms) territories of the North Kivu province of the DRC to assess how they dried and stored their crops. Results reveal that 95% and 80% farmers produced beans and maize, respectively. About half of respondents in Bwisha grew soybean, suggesting production diversification using conflict-resistant crops to minimize thefts and looting. Rotting and theft were the major challenges during field drying, while insects (81.3%) were the most important issue during storage. Sixty-six percent of farmers did not protect their grain during storage, exposing it to insect damage. Farmers producing beans in both Bwisha and Bwito, farmers storing beans and maize, and those storing for more than three months were more likely to protect their grains during storage. More than 70% of farmers saved seed for planting the next season but suffered significant weight losses of up to 50% due to insects. Storing grain in hermetic bags for six months had an estimated return on investments of up to 63% for maize in Baswagha and 54% for beans in Bwisha. Improved drying and storage technologies would help smallholder farmers to reduce their grain postharvest losses due to mold, theft, and insects. Smallholder farmers using these improved postharvest technologies have the opportunity to secure quality grain for home consumption and sale, and seed for planting

GBlocks alignment of ITS sequences of Marasmiineae species

This files contains the GBlocks alignment used to perform the phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction state of species within the most representative families in the Marasmiineae

Microsatellite binary data of Moniliophthora roreri isolates

These microsatellite data was used to perform association and linkage disequilibrium analysis in forty isolates of M. roreri. There are in total forty alleles found in eleven microsatellite markers tested

Gblocks alignment of STE3 pheromone receptors of M. roreri

This file contains the GBlocks alignment of all the STE3 receptors from M. roreri and related species to perform the phylogenetic analysis described in the paper

Phylogenetic Affinity in the Potential Antagonism of <i>Trichoderma</i> spp. against <i>Moniliophthora roreri</i>

Frosty pod rot, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri, is one of the most important diseases of cacao in Peru. Sustainable alternatives to control it include timely cultural practices such as pruning, and the application of biological control agents such as Trichoderma spp. We isolated 234 Trichoderma strains native to the department of Amazonas in Northern Peru from soil samples in cacao farms. These strains belong to at least eighteen species within four phylogenetic clades in the genus (Harzianum, Longibrachiatum, Hamatum, and Brevicompactum clades). We aimed to assess the in vitro biocontrol potential of these strains against M. roreri. We evaluated their mycoparasitism, antibiosis, and potential antagonism to select candidate strains for efficient biocontrol of M. roreri. We found evidence (Kruskal–Wallis test, p M. roreri for T. parareesei, T. lentiforme, T. orientale, T. asperelloides, T. inhamatum, T. zelobreve, T. afarasin, T. ghanense, T. rifaii, and T. breve. These results will be foundational for further M. roreri biocontrol studies

Tales from the crypt: genome mining from fungarium specimens improves resolution of the mushroom tree of life.

Dentinger, BTM, Gaya, E, O'Brien, H, Suz, LM, Lachlan, R, Diaz-Valderrama, JR, Koch, RA, Aime, MC (2016): Tales from the crypt: genome mining from fungarium specimens improves resolution of the mushroom tree of life. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 117: 11-32, DOI: 10.1111/bij.1255

Anticonceptivos conocidos por estudiantes de Pereira

El conocimiento de métodos anticonceptivos debe estar ligado a las necesidades que los jóvenes presenten, para facilitar el aprendizaje y manejo de los mismos. En este estudio descriptivo de tipo cuantitativo de corte transversal, se buscó identificar el conocimiento sobre métodos anticonceptivos que posen los estudiantes de último grado de colegios públicos y privados de la ciudad de Pereira, mediante una encuesta semiestructurada tomada de otra investigación, adaptada y validada para el desarrollo de esta

Postharvest practices, challenges and opportunities for grain producers in Arequipa, Peru.

Little is known about the major issues leading to postharvest losses in Peru, which are estimated to be 15-27%. We surveyed 503 farmers from the lowlands and Andean regions of Arequipa to learn more about the major grains produced and issues encountered during drying and storage. Rice, common bean, and quinoa were the most grown crops in the lowlands while starchy maize was the most cultivated crop in the highlands. Most farmers (90%) dried their crops in-field directly on the ground, which exposes them to rodents, birds, and insect pests. The majority of farmers (92%) used subjective methods to assess grain moisture content. About 77% of farmers identified insects as a major challenge during storage but only 44% said they used preventive measures such as the application of insecticides. Among farmers who stored grain, the main reason was for household consumption (61%); while among those who did not store, the main reason was the need for immediate cash at harvest (75%). Farmers who experienced insect problems, who stored seed or grain for sale, who stored longer, or farmers from the lowlands were more likely to apply insecticides on their stored products. These findings provide an opportunity for researchers, development organizations, and government agencies to improve postharvest handling and storage in Arequipa by disseminating drying technologies, moisture assessment tools and hermetic storage solutions among farmers