Technology-policy gap and impact on application of animal biotechnology in sub-Saharan African countries

The livestock sector continues to play a major role in the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries. Predictions indicate that demand for livestock products will increase in the coming decades due to increasing human population and urbanisation. This calls for enhanced livestock production and productivity, which will require and will clearly involve increased intensification while also ensuring that the systems are resource efficient. Livestock diseases and the need for sustainable natural resource management are among the key challenges that need to be addressed. Although livestock research has over the years been directed at addressing these issues, little progress has been made in sub-Saharan Africa. Conversely, the application of biotechnology, for example in animal health, has significantly benefited developed countries more than African countries. This paper addresses the apparent gap between research and technology generation and adoption of the technologies on farms, especially by smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. It is argued that science and technology policy if it exists, does not address the constraints faced by the farmers in a way that would facilitate adoption. The constraints include inadequate infrastructure, markets, capacity building, extension, credits, tenure system and institutions among other factors. Governments ought to address these issues at policy level as a way of accelerating widespread application of livestock biotechnologies particularly for increased productivity and profitability in the sub-sector. Moreover, concerted efforts from the national and international community in addressing issues of intellectual property rights, biosafety regulations and rules, fair trade, as well as effective and open communication between researchers, policymakers and technology users would be required

Seed research for improved technologies Pesquisa para o aprimoramento de tecnologia de sementes

The production of high-quality seed is the basis for a durable a profitable agriculture. After production, seed is processed, conditioned, stored, shipped and germinated. For quality assurance, seed quality has to be controlled at all steps of the production chain. Seed functioning is accompanied by programmed transitions from cell proliferation to quiescence upon maturation and from quiescence to reinitiation of cellular metabolism upon imbibition. Despite the obvious importance of these control mechanisms, very little information is available at the molecular level concerning those elements that regulate seed germination. In the present study, the induction of cell cycle activity and the regulation of ß-tubulin expression is related to the water content and other physical properties of the seed.<br>A produção de sementes de alta qualidade é a base para uma agricultura produtiva. Após a colheita, a semente é beneficiada, embalada, armazenada, transportada e semeada. Para maior segurança, tanto dos produtores como dos consumidores, a qualidade da semente deve ser mantida sob controle em todas as fases do processo de produção. O desempenho da semente é resultado de transições programadas desde a divisão celular até a quiescência, durante a maturação, e da quiescência até o reinicio do metabolismo celular, durante a embebição. Apesar da importância destes mecanismos de controle, há pouca informação disponível, a nível molecular, no que diz respeito aos elementos que regulam a germinação da semente. No presente trabalho, a indução do ciclo de atividade celular e a regulação da expressão de ß-tubulina são relacionadas ao grau de umidade e a outras propriedades físicas da semente

Muskmelon seed priming in relation to seed vigor

A number of important factors may affect seed priming response, including seed quality. Effects of seed vigor on seed priming response were investigated using seed lots of two muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars. Seeds of muskmelon, cvs. Mission and Top Net SR were artificially aged at 43°C for 0, 20 and 40 hours. Seeds were primed for six days in darkness at 25°C in KNO3 (0.35 mol L-1) aerated solution. Aged seeds germinated poorly at 17°C. Priming increased germination rate at 17 and 25°C and germination percentage at 17°C. An interaction effect on germination performance between vigor and priming was observed, especially at low temperature. Priming increased germination performance in seeds of low vigor, and the response was cultivar dependent