Evaluation of rice genotypes resistance to bacterial leaf blight in Togo

The present study aimed to evaluate rice genotypes for resistance to bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Twenty-one genotypes including six genotypes grown in Togo, two improved genotypes from Africa Rice and thirteen isogenic lines from IRRI were tested. The results revealed differential reactions of genotypes in the expression of the disease. Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis allowed identifying three groups of genotypes according to the level of the disease expression: resistant group made up of the genotype IR24 and all the twelve near isogenic lines tested except the line IRBB5, medium resistant group made up of three genotypes grown in Togo (NERICA4, NERICA8 and NERICA14), the genotype Giganté from AfricaRice, and susceptible group including five genotypes fromITRA (TGR203 and IR841), from AfricaRice (NERICA19 and TOG5681) and the near isogenic line IRBB5 from IRRI. The results provided useful information indicating that none of the grown varieties tested was resistant to BLB, thus revealing a potential risk of epidemics since these genotypes were only medium resistant to susceptible. However, experiments under field conditions in different environments of Togo are needed.© 2012 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved

Erosion of trust in humanitarian agencies: what strategies might help?

Aid agencies (AAs) provide a range of humanitarian and health related assistance globally. However, the trust placed on them is eroding. Evidence for this includes accusations of a decline in their humanitarianism, and the increasing number of conflicts with host states. An analysis of the concerns expressed yields two possible reasons: a relative lack of transparency of their work and weak accountability mechanisms. This is further supported by the existing milieu: an absence of internationally accepted instrument or mechanism to check the credentials of INGOs and an opaque system of close links between some of the INGOs and their donors. The article suggests two global strategies to tackle these issues: (a) Increase transparency by establishing a global register of aid agencies. This should have basic information: their main goals and activities, countries they are active in, number of employees, annual turnover of funds (updated regularly), principal financing sources and nature of links with donors. This could also be available as printed manual that should be freely available to client countries. (b) Ensure accountability by developing templates of fair legal instruments (to facilitate and regulate work), and a set of generic rules and procedures of engagement for the interactions between agencies and client states. These should be institutionalized within the regulatory frameworks of countries and included in the Codes of Conduct of NGOs

Screening of rice varieties for resistance to bacterial leaf blight

Objectives: In order to find control measures against bacterial leaf blight (BLB), one of the most destructive diseases of rice, the present study aimed to evaluate rice varieties cultivated in Togo and some near isogenic lines from IRRI for resistance to BLB in screen house. Methodology and Results: The lesions after inoculation with 13 X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains from Togo were evaluated on 21 rice varieties and near isogenic lines under screen house. The results revealed differential reactions of these genotypes in disease expression. AMMI analysis identified three groups of genotypes: resistant group made up of 12 lines IRBB1, IRBB2, IRBB3, IRBB4, IRBB7, IRBB8, IRBB10, IRBB11, IRBB13, IRBB14, IRBB21 and IR24, medium resistant group made up of three cultivars grown in Togo, NERICA4, NERICA8 and NERICA14, and one cultivar from AfricaRice, Giganté, and susceptible group including five genotypes TGR203 and IR841 from ITRA, NERICA19 and TOG5681 from AfricaRice, and the line IRBB5. Conclusions and application of findings: The results provided useful information indicating that none of rice varieties grown in Togo was resistant to bacterial leaf blight, thus revealed a potential risk of epidemics in the growing areas since these varieties were only medium resistant (NERICA4, NERICA8 and NERICA14) to susceptible (TGR203, IR841 and NERICA19). Besides, the present results are prerequisite for further screening under field conditions across ecozones of Togo (forest zone, forest savanna transition zone, wet savanna zone and dry savanna zone) and years to find out stable resistant varieties for durable production of ric

Functional duration models for highway construction projects in Nigeria

Construction duration significantly influences funding, financing and resources allocation decisions that take place early in project design development. This study attempts to develop through regression analysis highway construction duration models by incorporating relevant predictor variables having statistically significant relationship with highway completion time. Historical data of highway projects initiated and completed between 2007 and 2012 were considered to enable the collection of homogenous data in terms of time, cost and other economic variables. Three multiple regression models were developed in the form of linear, semi-log and log-log transformations. The performances of the models were established by measuring their prediction accuracy and goodness of fit over a test sample of 15 successful projects. Results of the analysis showed that all the three models are statistically significant and have good fit to the data with R2 values of 0.816, 0.877 and 0.970 respectively. The log-log model outperformed the other models with an average percentage error of -2.94%, maximum error of 15.5% and mean absolute percent error (MAPE) of 6.95%. The compare favourably with past studies which have shown that traditional methods of duration estimation at early project stages have values of MAPE typically in the order 10-20%