Genetic identification of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) cultivars by RAPD and ISSR techniques.

M. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritburg 2015.Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), originally from tropical and subtropical African countries, is one of the most important pasture grasses in the higher rainfall regions of South Africa (of utmost importance in agriculture, to the economy and to the industry). However, different cultivars are poorly characterised on a morphological basis and diagnostic genetic markers are missing, which could substantially support successful breeding and could be of crucial importance for rural dairy farmers who largely depend on low cost pasture crops. This study is aimed at finding genetic markers for cultivars of kikuyu grass based on two different PCR based methods. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) marker systems were employed to detect polymorphism and identify genetic relationships among forty (40) kikuyu lines from Cedara, Department of Agriculture near Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. Thirteen (13) RAPD primers amplified a total of 144 reproducible bands of which 80 were polymorphic and fourteen (14) ISSR primers amplified a total of 90 markers of which 56 were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic bands detected by ISSR and RAPD was fairly similar (62.22 and 55.56 %, respectively). Band scoring was analysed and FastTree dendrograms were constructed using the raxmlGUI1.3 and viewed using FigTree v1.4.0 analysis programs. Cluster analysis of the thirteen (13) informative RAPD primers produced an unrooted tree which grouped the forty cultivars into 8 distinct clusters (comprised of 3 larger clusters and 5 smaller ones) and 9 independent branches. The cluster analysis of the fourteen (14) informative ISSR primers produced an unrooted tree which grouped the forty cultivars into 4 distinct clusters (made of 2 larger clusters and 2 smaller ones) and 6 independent branches. Some cultivars were elucidated to share common clusters in dendrograms of both techniques and authenticate their genetic relationship among other cultivars. Cultivars sharing the same cluster (cluster 1) in both, the ISSR dendrogram and the RAPD dendrogram were cultivar 30, cultivar 40, cultivar 35, cultivar 39, cultivar 38, cultivar 34, and cultivar 36. Moreover, cultivar 11, cultivar 20, cultivar 19, cultivar 16, cultivar 14, cultivar 13, cultivar 15, and cultivar 12 showed the same grouping in both dendrograms (cluster 6) and (cluster 4), with cultivar 13 and 14 sharing more similarity than any other cultivar within the cluster. The cluster analysis results for both molecular techniques showed that Kikuyu grass cultivars tested here harbour considerable genetic variation, as was expected from the results of other preliminary research work focussing on physiological characters

Genomic Regions Influencing Preharvest Sprouting Tolerance in Two Doubled-Haploid Wheat Populations (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.)

The current and projected climate change that is represented by increasing temperatures and humidity levels and irregular rainfall patterns promotes the occurrence of preharvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat. PHS results in significant economic losses, globally, which necessitates the need for high-yielding cultivars with increased PHS tolerance; hence, this study was conducted. The current study evaluated two doubled-haploid (DH) wheat populations of Tugela-Dn × Elands and Elands × Flamink across six environments in the Free State Province of South Africa to select genotypes with increased PHS tolerance and further map the underlying loci. Significant effects of DH lines (194) and environments (6) were observed for PHS tolerance. The results of this study validate previous findings that PHS is only expressed when environmental conditions are conducive. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and silicoDArT markers revealed three additive QTLs with major effects on chromosomes 5B and 7B, and these QTLs were detected more than once, when conditions were favourable. These QTLs explained a phenotypic variation (PVE) varying between 10.08% and 20.30% (LOD = 2.73–3.11). About 16.50% of DH lines performed to the level of Elands (the PHS-tolerant parent) and are recommended for further selection in a pre-breeding or breeding programme. The findings of this study are expected to expedite the on-going breeding efforts for PHS tolerance in winter wheat, which will facilitate the development of PHS-tolerant cultivars adapted to the South African environment

Strengthening primary care for diabetes and hypertension in Eswatini: study protocol for a nationwide cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are increasingly important population health challenges in Eswatini. Prior to this project, healthcare for these conditions was primarily provided through physician-led teams at tertiary care facilities and accessed by only a small fraction of people living with diabetes or hypertension. This trial tests and evaluates two community-based healthcare service models implemented at the national level, which involve health care personnel at primary care facilities and utilize the country’s public sector community health worker cadre (the rural health motivators [RHMs]) to help generate demand for care. Methods: This study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial with two treatment arms and one control arm. The unit of randomization is a primary healthcare facility along with all RHMs (and their corresponding service areas) assigned to the facility. A total of 84 primary healthcare facilities were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the three study arms. The first treatment arm implements differentiated service delivery (DSD) models at the clinic and community levels with the objective of improving treatment uptake and adherence among clients with diabetes or hypertension. In the second treatment arm, community distribution points (CDPs), which previously targeted clients living with human immunodeficiency virus, extend their services to clients with diabetes or hypertension by allowing them to pick up medications and obtain routine nurse-led follow-up visits in their community rather than at the healthcare facility. In both treatment arms, RHMs visit households regularly, screen clients at risk, provide personalized counseling, and refer clients to either primary care clinics or the nearest CDP. In the control arm, primary care clinics provide diabetes and hypertension care services but without the involvement of RHMs and the implementation of DSD models or CDPs. The primary endpoints are mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and systolic blood pressure among adults aged 40 years and older living with diabetes or hypertension, respectively. These endpoints will be assessed through a household survey in the RHM service areas. In addition to the health impact evaluation, we will conduct studies on cost-effectiveness, syndemics, and the intervention’s implementation processes. Discussion: This study has the ambition to assist the Eswatini government in selecting the most effective delivery model for diabetes and hypertension care. The evidence generated with this national-level cluster-randomized controlled trial may also prove useful to policy makers in the wider Sub-Saharan African region. Trial registration: NCT04183413. Trial registration date: December 3, 201