Molecular characterization of ' Candidatus Liberibacter' species/strains causing huanglongbing disease of citrus in Kenya

This study was undertaken to characterize the alpha subgroup of the proteobacteria causing the huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus from three different ecological zones of Kenya namely the Lower highlands (LH2, LH3, 1800-1900 m above sea level); Upper midlands (UM3, UM4, 1390-1475m), Lower midlands (LM5, LM4, LM3 of 1290-1340-1390m), by isolation and sequencing DNA encoding the L10 and L12 ribosomal proteins and the intergenic region. A 7I6-basepair DNA fragment was amplified and sequenced and consisted of 536 basepairs of DNA encoding the L10 protein, 44 basepairs of DNA intergenic region and 136 basepairs of DNA that partially encodes the L12 protein. Sequences of rpL10/L12 protein genes from Kenyan strains were 98% and 81% similar to the South African ' Candidatus Liberibacter africanus strain Nelspruit' and the Asian 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' strains, respectively. The intergenic rDNA sequence of Kenyan strain from UM and LM showed 84% similarity with 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit' and 50% similarity with 'Candidatus L. asiaticus' strain. However, the LH strain had an 11- basepairs deletion, while the LM4 had a 5- basepair deletion in the intergenic region compared to 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit'. The L10 amino acid sequence was 100% homologous among HLB bacteria obtained from the agro-ecological zones in Kenya and the L10 protein sequence was also homologus to 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit'. Nevertheless, the L10 amino acid sequence of 'Candidatus L. asiaticus' and the 'Candidatus L. africanus subsp. capensis' differed from the Kenyan strains by 18.36% and 11.82%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of both the L10/L12 rDNA sequences and the L10 amino acid sequences clustered the Kenyan strains of the 'Candidatus Liberibacter' species with members of alpha subdivision of proteobacteria

Influence of P Fertiliser on Nodulation, Growth and Nutrient Content of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Acidic Soils of South Western Kenya

Field experiments were carried out in Kericho East (0°22' S, 35°17' E) and Bomet central (0°47' S, 35°21' E) to determine the effects of liming and phosphorous (P) fertiliser on nodulation, growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea in the strongly and moderately acidic soils. The treatments comprised of three cowpea varieties (KVU 27-1, M66 and Ngor) supplied with lime  (0 t CaO ha-1 and 4 t CaO ha-1) and P fertiliser  (0 kg P ha-1, 25 kg P ha-1 and 50 kg P ha-1), laid out in a randomized complete block design in a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. Data collected were: nodule number and weight, leaf area index, shoot dry weight, shoot and grain N and P uptake, grain yield, tissue N and protein content. Results showed that liming had no significant (P ≤.05) effects on cowpea nodulation at experimental sites characterised by strongly acidic (pH 4.85) and moderately acidic (pH 5.58) soils, but increased shoot dry matter by 35% and grain N and P uptake in the strongly acidic soils of Kericho East by 1.8 kg ha-1  and 2 kg ha-1 respectively. In absence of liming or P fertiliser, grain yield was not recorded in two varieties at Kericho East. Application of 50 kg P ha-1significantly enhanced nodulation at both experimental sites; it increased nodule dry weight at Bomet Central by 27% in the short rains than in the long rains season. Lower P rate (25 kg ha-1) increased shoot dry matter by 46% at Bomet central, but 50 kg P ha-1 increased growth parameters of cowpea by over 100% at Kericho East in all seasons. It is concluded that liming is not beneficial to cowpea nodulation in soils with similar ecological conditions reported in this study. Application of 50 kg P ha-1 is required for cowpea production in strongly acidic soils

Molecular characterization of ' Candidatus Liberibacter' species/strains causing huanglongbing disease of citrus in Kenya

This study was undertaken to characterize the alpha subgroup of the proteobacteria causing the huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus from three different ecological zones of Kenya namely the Lower highlands (LH2, LH3, 1800-1900 m above sea level); Upper midlands (UM3, UM4, 1390-1475m), Lower midlands (LM5, LM4, LM3 of 1290-1340-1390m), by isolation and sequencing DNA encoding the L10 and L12 ribosomal proteins and the intergenic region. A 7I6-basepair DNA fragment was amplified and sequenced and consisted of 536 basepairs of DNA encoding the L10 protein, 44 basepairs of DNA intergenic region and 136 basepairs of DNA that partially encodes the L12 protein. Sequences of rpL10/L12 protein genes from Kenyan strains were 98% and 81% similar to the South African ' Candidatus Liberibacter africanus strain Nelspruit' and the Asian 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' strains, respectively. The intergenic rDNA sequence of Kenyan strain from UM and LM showed 84% similarity with 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit' and 50% similarity with 'Candidatus L. asiaticus' strain. However, the LH strain had an 11- basepairs deletion, while the LM4 had a 5- basepair deletion in the intergenic region compared to 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit'. The L10 amino acid sequence was 100% homologous among HLB bacteria obtained from the agro-ecological zones in Kenya and the L10 protein sequence was also homologus to 'Candidatus L. africanus strain Nelspruit'. Nevertheless, the L10 amino acid sequence of 'Candidatus L. asiaticus' and the 'Candidatus L. africanus subsp. capensis' differed from the Kenyan strains by 18.36% and 11.82%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of both the L10/L12 rDNA sequences and the L10 amino acid sequences clustered the Kenyan strains of the 'Candidatus Liberibacter' species with members of alpha subdivision of proteobacteria

Effect of source, time and method of nitrogen application on growth and yield components of potato in Kenya

The effect of different sources of Nitrogen (N), time and method of application on growth and development of potato was investigated over two seasons using the cultivar Dutch Robjyn. The three sources of nitrogen (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN, 26% N); Urea (46% N) and Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate (ASN, 27%N)] constituted the main plot treatments, and time [early application, split application (half of the fertiliser at planting and half applied 5 weeks after emergence), and late application (5 weeks after emergence)] and method of application (placement and broadcast within the furrow) constituted the subplots treatments. Early application of N followed by split applied fertiliser led to a fast early growth (shoot, tuber, root and total dry matter, Leaf Area Index (LAI) development, and plant height) particularly where CAN or ASN was applied. Late N application enhanced growth of the shoots (leaves and plant height) later in the growth season particularly with Urea. Broadcast or placement of N in the furrow had no significant effect (