Community seedbanking to improve the resilience of farmers: the case of Kiziba seedbank in Uganda

The Kiziba seedbank was established in June 2010 in Kabwohe site as part of a project to improve the productivity and resilience of seeds for farmers through enhanced use of crop varietal diversity, focusing on Common bean and Banana. Common bean has been primarily managed by women, therefore this project not only benefitted local farmers but it also benefitted women in terms of availaing them with the much needed diversity, and equipping them with the capacities to grow better seeds for better yields, food and seed security

Tissue Macro Nutrient Contents and Their Relationship with Growth in Two Dominant Eucalyptus Cultivars Across Three Selected Districts of Uganda

Analyzing nutrient levels in plant tissues and comprehending how they are distributed among different parts is essential for implementing efficient nutrient management strategies across various crops. This study aimed to assess the levels of macro nutrients in different tissues of two prevalent Eucalyptus cultivars and their correlation with growth parameters in Kabarole, Mpigi, and Rakai districts. Two dominant Eucalyptus cultivars, E. grandis (local) and GU7 (Improved), were examined for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels in leaves, bark, branches, and wood. Plant growth was evaluated by measuring diameter at breast height, total tree height, tree volume, and biomass per plot. Results revealed that the GU7 cultivar exhibited a higher accumulation of major nutrients in all plant parts compared to E. grandis across the three districts, with a descending order of Leaves > Branches > Bark > Wood for N, P, and K. Whereas, Ca and Mg were predominantly stored in the bark for both cultivars, although more significantly in GU7, in the order of Bark > Branches > Wood > Leaves. Furthermore, a positive significant correlation was observed between most nutrient contents in leaves and growth parameters of Eucalyptus cultivars, although no significant relation was found with phosphorus

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Cultivars on Soil Properties in Three Districts of Uganda

The present study investigated the influence of Eucalyptus cultivation on soil properties across the three districts of Uganda: Kabarole, Mpigi and Rakai which are part of Western Highlands, Lake Victoria Crescent and South Western Agroecological zones respectively. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of two dominant Eucalyptus cultivars GU7 (Improved) and E. grandis (Local) within these regions. A total of three treatments composed of the two above cultivars and the control plot with no eucalyptus were considered for this study. These were each replicated three times making a total of 9 replications per district and a total of 27 replications across the three districts. From each replicate across the three districts, a total of 5 composite soil samples were picked at a depth of 0-30cm making a total of 135 soil samples across the three districts. These were taken to the soil laboratory for analysis of major soil nutrients which included; total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, exchangeable magnesium, calcium, soil organic carbon and pH. Statistical analysis, with R software version 4.3.3, was performed to obtain differences in their means. Results showed a general decline in major soil nutrients (N, P and K) across the Eucalyptus stands in all three districts, with a more significant (P<0.005) decline observed under GU7 cultivar plantations. Additionally, results showed that Mg and Ca were inherently low and the most deficient nutrients in both Kabarole and Rakai while pH was significantly (P<0.05) higher (6.6) in Mpigi compared to the other two districts in the control plot but also significantly (P<0.05) reduced under GU7 plantations in the same district compared to the two districts. The study also revealed that P is the most deficient nutrient in Rakai district for Eucalyptus production while N and SOM are the most deficient in Mpigi. Potassium (K) was significantly (P<0.05) low in both Kabarole and Rakai soils compared to Mpigi district

Vδ2+ T cell response to malaria correlates with protection from infection but is attenuated with repeated exposure.

Vδ2+ γδ T cells are semi-innate T cells that expand markedly following P. falciparum (Pf) infection in naïve adults, but are lost and become dysfunctional among children repeatedly exposed to malaria. The role of these cells in mediating clinical immunity (i.e. protection against symptoms) to malaria remains unclear. We measured Vδ2+ T cell absolute counts at acute and convalescent malaria timepoints (n = 43), and Vδ2+ counts, cellular phenotype, and cytokine production following in vitro stimulation at asymptomatic visits (n = 377), among children aged 6 months to 10 years living in Uganda. Increasing age was associated with diminished in vivo expansion following malaria, and lower Vδ2 absolute counts overall, among children living in a high transmission setting. Microscopic parasitemia and expression of the immunoregulatory markers Tim-3 and CD57 were associated with diminished Vδ2+ T cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Higher Vδ2 pro-inflammatory cytokine production was associated with protection from subsequent Pf infection, but also with an increased odds of symptoms once infected. Vδ2+ T cells may play a role in preventing malaria infection in children living in endemic settings; progressive loss and dysfunction of these cells may represent a disease tolerance mechanism that contributes to the development of clinical immunity to malaria

Report of the International Workshop on Registration of Farmers’ Varieties, 4-7 December 2018, Entebbe, Uganda.

The report gives a summary of the proceedings of the international workshop on registration of farmers’ varieties held in Entebbe Uganda between 4-7 December 2018. It provides a summary of experiences from several countries such as Bolivia, Ethiopia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, Zimbabwe, and the European Union, where the registration of farmers’ varieties is currently on going or being discussed. It offers valuable policy lessons for countries with regard to pertinent questions on registration and maintenance of farmers' varieties