Genetic and Plant Growth Regulator Manipulation of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Mesocotyl and Coleoptile Lengths

Significant differences in mesocotyl lengths of semidwarf and non-semidwarf rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars were observed. However, the relationship between plant height and mesocotyl length was found to be due to linkage rather than pleiotropism. Seed treatments of gibberellic acid (GA₃) significantly increased mesocotyl and coleoptile lengths in the laboratory study. The GA₃ seed treatments significantly increased stand density compared to the untreated control in the field study. However, no significant differences were observed for plant height at maturity or grain yields among the GA₃ treatments or the untreated control

Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program (SMIP) Midterm Review

This mid-term review was conducted from 18 June to 2 July 2001. The review examined several aspects including: access by farmers to a range of improved varieties; farmers in targeted areas used a wider range of crop management options; broader public and private partnerships promoting regional technology development, exchange and application; and market systems linking grain producers and industrial consumers

Tour Guide and Tourist Loyalty Toward Cultural Heritage Sites: A Signaling Theory Perspective

Built upon the signaling theory and the well-documented stimulus-organism-response framework, the purpose of this study is to examine how tour guides at Petra World Heritage Site act as a signal to influence tourists’ experience and satisfaction, which in turn influence tourists’ loyalty. Using the structural equation modeling technique, the study empirically tested a conceptual model with a convenience sample of tourists who visited Petra World Heritage Site in Jordan. Findings reveal that tour guides have significant direct and indirect effects on tourists’ loyalty. Moreover, the findings showed that tourists’ experience and satisfaction significantly mediate the relationship between tour guides and tourists’ loyalty. The present study’s unique contribution lies in its examination of the role of the tour guide in increasing tourists’ loyalty in the heritage tourism context. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed considering the empirical findings

Field days in Tanzania enhance regional spillover of models and technology developed in SMIP pilot countries

Regional networking and seed systems field days were organized in May 2000 and 2001 to: popularize the concept of the dissemination of improved sorghum seed through farmer groups; introduce the rural schools seed production concept to three other SADC countries; and facilitate the regional spillover of the initiative

Association of Mesocotyl and Coleptile Elongation with Seeding Vigor in Rice

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the relationship of mesocotyl and coleoptile elongation to seedling vigor and plant height in rice (Oryza sativa). A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential lengths of the mesocotyl and coleoptile of semidwarf and standard rice genotypes. Four genotypes exhibited inherent differences in their ability for mesocotyl and coleoptile elongation. The semidwarf genotypes (\u27M-101 \u27 and RU 7703008) showed reduced mesocotyls, coleoptiles, and total lengths (mesocotyl + coleoptile); whereas, the tall plant type (\u27L-201\u27 and \u27Labelle\u27) had comparatively longer mesocotyls, coleoptiles, and total lengths. Itis assumed that mesocotyl elongation is the most important of the three parameters evaluated in seedling vigor, but total length is the least variable. Significant differences were detected among seeding depths and genotypes in the greenhouse experiment for emergence percentage, emergence index, coleoptile, and mesocotyl lengths. The field experiment verified that the low seedling vigor was due to the shorter mesocotyls and coleoptiles of the semidwarf genotypes in this test and was primarily responsible for poor stand establishment

Performance of the sorghum variety Macia in multiple environments in Tanzania

Sorghum is grown in six out of seven zones in Tanzania. It is produced mainly for home consumption and is a key factor in household food security, particularly in marginal areas with low rainfall and poor soil fertility. Collaboration between the SADC/ICRISAT Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program (SMIP) and the National Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program (NSMIP) was initiated in the early 1980s and has been instrumental in the development, selection, and release of improved varieties. This article summarizes information about the development and testing of the recently released sorghum variety Macia (SDS 3220), including comparisons with two released varieties, Pato (SDS 2293-6) and Tegemeo (2KX 17/B/l); and an improved, Zimbabwe release SV 1

Adoption of improved sorghum and pearl millet varieties in Tanzania

A formal survey was conducted to assess the level of adoption and acceptance of new varieties, household strategies for seed supply and the degree to which farmers are replacing traditional varieties. Information was obtained from nine regions of Tanzania and two districts from each region were selected on the basis of importance of the crop in terms of hectarage, production and consumption. A minimum of 8 respondents was interviewed from two villages in each district, totalling 16 respondents per district. The national survey therefore included a total of 267 respondents. The sorghum varieties Tegemeo, Pato, Macia, Serena and Seredo were targeted for adoption along with pearl millet varieties Serere 17, Okoa and Shibe. The survey revealed that the proportion of farmers who are aware of the new improved sorghum varieties ranges from about 16% in Lindi (southern Tanzania) to as high as 80% in Dodoma (central Tanzania). Similarly, the proportion of farmers aware of the new improved pearl millet varieties ranges from 2% in the Lake Zone (Mwanza) to 44% in the Central Zone (Dodoma). The majority of the farmers learned of the new varieties through the extension service

A Combined ex-post/ex-ante impact analysis for improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania, Socioeconomics Discussion Paper Series 20

This country-level impact study for Tanzania combines ex-post and ex-ante estimation of research gains from improved sorghum varieties developed by the National breeding program of Tanzania together with its collaboration partners from international and national research institutions such as ICRISAT and private companies

Quality analysis of Tanzanian photoperiod sensitive sorghums and potential for their improvement through lead NARS approach

Fourteen landraces were collected and compared with commercial varieties Macia and Pato. The landraces were analysed, and data tabulated, for visual hardness score, kernel weight, floaters, size fractions (large, medium and small), dehulling loss, milling yield, water absorption, agtron readings (colour of flour), and tannin contents. Values for visual hardness score, water absorption and dehulling loss were far better and more acceptable than those of released short-season sorghums. Dry agtron readings were better than those of the released varieties

Resistance of sorghum varieties to the shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae) in Southern Africa

The sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), is considered to be the predominant shoot fly species attacking sorghum. No information is available on the levels of resistance of to A. soccata sorghum varieties and breeding material released in the countries of the Southern African Development Community. Three field trials were conducted during the 1998/99 to 2001/2002 growing seasons to determine the level of resistance of sorghum varieties to shoot fly. Twenty-five varieties were evaluated in two of the seasons and 24 in the other. High shoot fly densities in the trials were achieved by planting late and using fishmeal to attract flies to the fields. The incidence of dead-heart symptoms in each variety was determined 4 weeks after seedling emergence. Significant differences in resistance to shoot fly damage were observed in two of the three seasons. The incidence of dead-heart symptoms ranged from 32 to 71% during the 1998/99 season, from 27 to 54% during the 1999/2000 season and from 58 to 88% in the 2001/02 seasons. Varieties Pirira-1 and Pirira-2 were the most resistant across seasons. Although the level of resistance in many of the sorghum varieties was low, several varieties with moderate levels of resistance were identified