Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on Discharged Pycnidiospores of Septoria Tritici

Plant Patholog

Improvement of the Quality of Cotton Fabric Through Functionalization of Tagetes minuta (TaMi) Dye

Non-functionalized and functionalized Tagetes minuta (TaMi) dye obtained using methanol and water showed varied fastness onto cotton fabric. Furthermore, HPLC profile of the methanol dye showed more peaks and hence was expected to be richer in secondary metabolites that impacted on the quality of the dye. This was confirmed from the IR spectrum which showed more functional groups from this dye as compared to the water dye. The functionalized methanol dye exhibited good fastness onto cotton textile and minimal bleaching effects, as compared to non-functionalized H2O and MeOH dye. Furthermore, the process involved the use of low quantities of the dye material/solution as compared to non-functionalized dye, hence resulting to less impact on environmental degradation. The colors of the textiles produced from the methanol functionalized dye were highly resistant to fading or running. The cotton fabric articles that were tri-mordanted at 80-90 °C and dyed using the functionalized dye exhibited uniform absorption of color of the dye and good fastness. Functionalization of the methanol TaMi dye was obtained by the reaction of the TaMi dye with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE). The alum tri-mordanted textile materials produced brighter colors of brown as compared to the singly alum mordanted fabrics. This is due to the tannin factor in tri-mordants that led to the brightening effect. Furthermore, longer duration of time for tri-mordanting might have had a greater impact to the brightness effect. Additionally, characterization of the dye obtained using the two solvents was done using HPLC and IR. The formed functionalized dye has many applications as colorants in textiles, paints, inks, plastics, cosmetic articles and electronic materials. Keywords: Cotton fabric, Tagetes minuta, dye, functionalized, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, colorants DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-16-02 Publication date:August 31st 202

A Relationship In Plant Disease Control Methods Between The United States Of America And Kenya On Selected Major Field Crops

Both Kenya and the United States experience many of the same crop problems. Though both countries differ a great deal in economy and development, several disease control procedures can be shared. The use of resistant varieties, crop rotation, chemical seed treatment and cultural practices are useful practices in both countries

INFLUENCE OF LAND USE ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF PYTHIUM SPP.

The distribution of Pythium species across land use gradient was examined in two agroecological zones in Kenya. The two zones were selected owing to their unique characteristics and locations. Soil samples were collected along a transect from the forest through to the cultivated land. The sample plots were established at fixed intervals of a distance of 200m apart to avoid auto-correlation Pythium propagules were activated to germination using baiting techniques, and the mycelium baited was cultured to obtain axenic culture for identification. Based on morphological characteristics, a total of 32 species of Pythium were found at the Embu study site, with soil under Napier having the most diverse population and that under maize the least. The Taita site yielded 12 Pythium species, with the highest diversity in cropped plots and the lowest in Natural forest. Species abundance increased with increasing ecosystem disturbance while diversity increased with decrease in disturbance. All the species isolated from the Taita site were also sampled from the Embu site except P. helicoids, P. periplocum and P. grandisporangium. The common pathogenic species P periplocum, P. hypogynum and P. spinosum were isolated mostly from croplands confirming the effect of host occurrence on the distribution of Pythium species

AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA First record of the occurrence of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer on new hosts in Kenya

ABSTRACT The occurrence of the edible basidiomycete Pleurotus citrinopileatus is reported for the first time in Kenya. The mushroom was collected from the dead logs and branches of Antiaris toxicaria (Pers.) Lesch., Polyscias fulva(Hiern) Harms, and Ficus thoningii Bl. in Kakamega forest. These trees are indigenous and are new hosts for this species. This mushroom is used as food by local communities in Kenya but it has not been documented nor studied. It is used solely as a product of the wild. People collect it and prepare it traditionally with other foods for consumption

INFLUENCE OF LAND USE AND SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF NEMATODE DESTROYING FUNGI IN TAITA TAVETA, KENYA

Due to the increased concerns about the effect of agro-chemicals on soil health and soil biodiversity, use of biological methods has become most acceptable alternative methods for farmers to control soil pathogens during crop production. A study was therefore undertaken to determine the occurrence of nematode destroying fungi in Taita Taveta with the aim of isolating and characterizing them for biological control of plant parasitic nematodes. Twenty eight fungal isolates, distributed in three genera, were identified as nematode destroying fungi from all the positive soil samples. Out of the isolates that were identified, 71, 25 and 4 % were in the genera Arthrobotrys, Monacrosporium and Nematoctonus respectively. Arthrobotrys oligospora had an occurrence frequency of 42.9% which was the highest followed by A. dactyloides, M.cionopagum, Monacrosporium sp and Nematoctonus sp with frequencies of 28.6, 17.9 and 7.1and 3.6% respectively. The occurrence of nematode destroying fungi was affected by land use and organic inputs (P ≤ 0.05) while it was not affected by crop rotation (P ≥ 0.05). Napier land use was more diverse than the other land uses with a mean shannon diversity index of 0.717 followed by horticulture (index 0.497). Maize /bean, coffee/beans, fallow and shrub land uses had a mean shannon index of 0. The same trend was observed on richness where napier had a mean richness of 2.2, horticulture 1.8, maize bean 1 while shrub, fallow and coffee/ beans all had mean richness of 0.2. A.oligospora was the most frequently isolated fungi (42.9 %) and showed high potential in biocontrol of plant-parasitic nematodes and was recommended for further studies and development as a biological control agent