Caractérisation du système de production du gingembre (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) au Burkina Faso : Potentialités, contraintes et perspectives

Le gingembre est une herbacée annuelle. C’est l’une des plus importantes épices à travers le monde et est d’une importance économique avec de nombreuses vertus médicinales. Cette étude vise à  caractériser le système de production du gingembre (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) au Burkina Faso dans le but de mieux faire connaître l’espèce et de mettre en exergue ses potentialités.. Les informations collectées à l’aide des fiches d’enquêtes ont permis de décrire avec exactitude la zone de production de l’espèce et de caractériser le système de production au Burkina Faso. Le gingembre a été introduit au Burkina Faso il y a plusieurs dizaines d’années et est communément appelé « gnamankou ». La plante est cultivée essentiellement dans la partie Sud-Ouest du pays où les précipitations annuelles sont comprises entre 900 et 1200 mm. La culture du gingembre est peu répandue et se pratique généralement aux abords des bas-fonds sur de petites superficies. Les pratiques culturales adoptées ne suivent aucun itinéraire technique établit avec des moyens de production souvent dérisoires. Sa production est limitée malgré ses nombreuses potentialités médicinales et économiques. Les institutions en charge de l’agriculture ne disposent pas de données concernant la culture du gingembre.Mots clés : Culture, enquête, pratique culturale, cultivar, génétique

Exploring the potential of the cost-efficient tahmo observation data for hydro-meteorological applications in sub-saharan africa

The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) is a promising initiative aiming to install 20,000 stations in sub-Saharan Africa counteracting the decreasing trend of available measuring stations. To achieve this goal, it is particularly important that the installed weather stations are cost-efficient, appropriate for African conditions, and reliably measure the most important variables for hydro-meteorological applications. Since there exist no performance studies of TAHMO stations while operating in Africa, it is necessary to investigate their performance under different climate conditions. This study provides a first analysis of the performance of 10 selected TAHMO stations across Burkina Faso (BF). More specifically, the analysis consists of missing value statistics, plausibility tests of temperature (minimum, maximum) and precipitation, spatial dependencies (correlograms) by comparison with daily observations from synoptical stations of the BF meteorological service as well as cross-comparison between the TAHMO stations. Based on the results of this study for BF for the period from May 2017 to December 2020, it is concluded that TAHMO potentially offers a reliable and cost-efficient solution for applications in hydro-meteorology. The usage of wind speed measurements cannot be recommended without reservation, at least not without bias correcting of the data. The limited measurement period of TAHMO still prevents its usability in climate (impact) research. It is also stressed that TAHMO cannot replace existing observation networks operated by the local meteorological services, but it can be a complement and has great potential for detailed spatial analyses. Since restricted to BF in this analysis, more evaluation studies of TAHMO are needed considering different environmental and climate conditions across SSA

Assessing the biophysical impact and financial viability of soil management technologies under variable climate in Cabo Verde drylands: the PESERA-DESMICE approach

Field trials have demonstrated the potential of soil conservation technologies but have also shown significant spatial-temporal yield variability. This study considers the PESERA-DESMICE modelling approach to capture a greater range of climatic conditions to assess the potential effect of an improved agricultural management practice emerged from field trials as a promising strategy for enhancing food security and reducing soil and land degradation. The model considers the biophysical and socio-economic benefits of the improved soil conservation technique (T3) - residue mulch combined with pigeon-pea hedges and an organic amendment, against a local baseline practice (T0). The historic rainfall statistics and 50-year rainfall realizations provide a unique time-series of rainfall and an envelope of the potential crop yield. Envelopes of potential biomass production help express the agricultural risk associated with climate variability and the potential of the conservation measures to absorb the risk, highlighting the uncertainty of a given crop yield being achieved in any particular year. T3 elevates yield under both sub-humid and semi-arid climates with greater security for sub-humid areas even though risk of crop failure still exists. The yechnology offered good potential to increase yields by 20% in 42% of the dryland area in Santiago Island and reduce erosion by 8.6-Mg ha-1 , but in terms of cost effectiveness, it might be prohibitively expensive for farmers lacking inputs. The findings can enable the assessment of policy options at larger scale or influence adoption of improved conservation measures under the climatic variability of the Cabo Verde drylands and resilience to future climate change

Evidence of heterosis in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) landraces from Burkina Faso

In our study, 24 hybrids obtained by diallel cross between ecotypes of okra were subjected to analysis of their combining ability effects and hybrid vigor for different important traits for producers and consumers. Parents and hybrids differed significantly for gca effect. UAE 3 and UAE 20 were found to be the best general combiners for 50% day of flowering and number of fruits per plant. While UAE 25, UAE 3 and UAE 5 were best for seeds weight per fruit and yield per plant; between tester lines, UAE 19 shown good gca effect of number of seeds per fruit and fruit yield per plant, when UAE 22 is good for number of seeds per fruit. The most heterotic combinations for number of fruits per plant were those including UAE 22 in their combination.The same hybrids have shown medium heterobeltiosis effect for fruit  length and in some of them (H22-20 and H22-5) was observed highest heterobeltiosis of yield per plant, varied from 59.90 to 77.57 respectively. The highest depression (non heterobeltiosis) was observed in hybrids with combination including H19 for number of seeds per fruit. Overall, the results discussed above indicated the fact that okra hybrid with UAE 22 hasgreat potentialities of maximizing fruit yield while hybrid H3-19 and H22-3 have the smallest days of flowering. Similarly, the heterosis effect  appeared in F1 in these hybrids with UAE22 as a mother form keeps up to the third generation. Key words: hybrid vigor, combining ability, okra, Burkina Faso

Differential and comparative screening of cowpea varieties to Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke for race specific identification in Burkina Faso

Significant efforts have been made to develop cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) varieties resistant to Striga gesnerioides in Burkina Faso. Despite these efforts, the resistant genotypes developed still express differential responses to Striga gesnerioides in different zones of the country. This suggests existence of intraspecific variability within the parasite. The objective of this study was to assess the intraspecific variability of cowpea genotypes to Striga gesnerioides infection in Burkina Faso. Ten cowpea varieties were screened over two consecutive years, under artificial infestation with 30 ecotypes of Striga seeds at Kamboins\ue9 research station, in a screenhouse in Burkina Faso. Cowpea varieties used included Moussa local, Komsar\ue9 and KVx404-8-1, which are susceptible to all Striga ecotypes; and varieties B301, IT93K-693-2 and IT82D-849, which are free from all Striga ecotypes infestation. Cowpea varieties Tiligr\ue9, 524B, local Gorom and Niizw\ue8 had specific reactions depending on the ecotypes. The study highlights the existence of varietal specificities according to the geographical origin of Striga gesnerioides seeds. The structuring of the intraspecific diversity showed five biotypes, of which three were clearly identified as SG1, SG5 and SG Kp races; and two biotypes could not be identified. Although this study did not allow for a clear determination of the racial affiliation of the two new biotypes, it offers the possibility of developing new strategies to control Striga by focusing on the selection of resistant varieties based on regional specificities of Striga races in each agricultural zone.Des efforts importants ont \ue9t\ue9 consentis pour d\ue9velopper des vari\ue9t\ue9s de ni\ue9b\ue9 r\ue9sistantes au Striga gesnerioides . Malgr\ue9 ces efforts, les g\ue9notypes r\ue9sistants d\ue9velopp\ue9s expriment des r\ue9ponses diff\ue9rentielles au Striga gesnerioides dans diff\ue9rentes zones du pays. Cela sugg\ue8re l\u2019existence d\u2019une variabilit\ue9 intrasp\ue9cifique au sein du parasite. D\u2019o\uf9 la n\ue9cessit\ue9 d\u2019\ue9valuer la variabilit\ue9 intrasp\ue9cifique de Striga gesnerioides. Dix vari\ue9t\ue9s de ni\ue9b\ue9 ont \ue9t\ue9 cribl\ue9es sur deux ann\ue9es successives sous infestation artificielle avec 30 \ue9cotypes de Striga \ue0 la station de recherche de Kamboins\ue9. Des pots en plastique ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s comme parcelles exp\ue9rimentales dispos\ue9es en blocs de Fisher avec trois r\ue9p\ue9titions. Les vari\ue9t\ue9s Moussa Local, Komsar\ue9 et KVx404-8-1 ont \ue9t\ue9 sensibles \ue0 tous les \ue9cotypes tandis que les vari\ue9t\ue9s B301, IT93K-693-2 et IT82D-849 ont \ue9t\ue9 exemptes de toute infestation. Les vari\ue9t\ue9s Tiligr\ue9, 524B, Gorom local et Niizw\ue8 ont eu des r\ue9actions sp\ue9cifiques en fonction des \ue9cotypes. L\u2019\ue9tude a mis en \ue9vidence l\u2019existence de sp\ue9cificit\ue9s vari\ue9tales selon les \ue9cotypes. La structuration de la diversit\ue9 intrasp\ue9cifique a montr\ue9 cinq biotypes dont trois ont \ue9t\ue9 clairement identifi\ue9s comme les races SG1, SG5 et SG Kp et deux n\u2019ont pas pu \ueatre identifi\ue9s. Bien que cette \ue9tude n\u2019ait pas permis de d\ue9terminer l\u2019appartenance raciale des deux nouveaux biotypes, elle offre n\ue9anmoins la possibilit\ue9 de d\ue9velopper de nouvelles strat\ue9gies de lutte contre Striga gesnerioides en se concentrant sur la s\ue9lection de vari\ue9t\ue9s r\ue9sistantes en fonction des sp\ue9cificit\ue9s r\ue9gionales des races de Striga dans chaque zone agricole

Replicable Participatory Water Harvesting Selection Methodology

The developed methodology for the selection workshop can be summarized as shown in table 1. The developed methodology ensures that the stakeholder workshop are executed in similar fashion in all 4 study sites, which will make it easier to compare workshop results between study sites. It should be noted that study site partners do need to ensure that the methodology that is followed fits into the local context and circumstances; therefore the developed methodology may be adapted on details to better suit local conditions

Étude de l’oestrus et de la fertilité après un traitement de maîtrise des cycles chez les femelles zébus

La recherche a visé à établir les taux de réponse et conception des animaux synchronisés au Crestar® associé à la PMSG. 39 femelles zébus (Bos indicus) Goudali et Azawak constitué de vaches et de génisses ont été utilisées dans l’étude. L’insémination artificielle a été faite de façon systématique 48 heures après l’arrêt du traitement. Le diagnostic de gestation a été déterminé 60 jours après insémination par palpation rectale. Le taux global de l’oestrus induit a été de 94,87%. La parité et la race de femelles n’ont eu aucun effet significatif sur la réponse de l’oestrus. Le délai d’apparition de l’oestrus a été de 30,11 ± 6,24 heures et 32,76 ± 4,75 heures après la fin du traitement respectivement pour les femelles zébus Goudali et Azawak. La durée moyenne de l’oestrus a été de 12,20 ± 1,30 heures (n = 5). Le taux global de fertilité a été de 41,03%. La parité et la race de femelles n’ont eu aucun effet significatif sur la fertilité.Mots clés: Insémination artificielle, Crestar, taux de gestation, synchronisation, Nige

Allelic and genotypic frequencies of ASIP and MC1R genes in four West African sheep populations

In West Africa, consumers pay a major attention on the coat colour of the sheep due to religious and cultural reasons. White coated individuals reach selling prices up to three-fold higher than black coated sheep. The aim of this study was to ascertain the genotypic and allelic frequencies of MC1R and ASIP genes in order to assess possible implementation of breeding programmes focusing on the increase of the white coated sheep frequencies. A total of 113 individuals belonging to three Burkina Faso sheep breeds (Burkina-Sahel, Djallonké and Mossi) and one Niger sheep breed (Touareg) were genotyped for the MC1R and ASIP genes. The wild allele of the ASIP gene (Awt; 54.30%) was the most frequent in the four West African sheep, particularly in Burkina-Sahel (85%) and Touareg breeds (80%). The dominant black ED allele was not identified in Burkina-Sahel and Touareg. Most of the analysed individuals were homozygous for wild MC1R allele (E+/E+) with 100, 73.5, 59 and 100% frequency in Burkina-Sahel, Djallonké, Mossi and Touareg, respectively. The Awt/Awt was the most frequent genotype on the ASIP gene in the four West African breeds (80.53%). No individuals were homozygous for the deletion (allele Adel). Although, no routine methods for detection of the genetic basis of the recessive black coat colour patterns can be easily implemented, the current results suggest the feasibility of a selection programme aiming at decreasing the frequencies of the dominant black ED allele in Burkina Faso sheep breeds.Key words: Sheep, coat colour, MC1R gene, ASIP gene, Burkina Faso, Niger

Damage mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in drinking water during chlorine and solar disinfection

This study aimed at elucidating the inactivation mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in drinking water during chlorine and solar disinfection using a simple plating method. The well-known bacterial model Escherichia coli was used as pathogenic bacteria for the experiments. The damage mechanisms of E. coli were evaluated by simple plating method on selective, less selective and non-selective media. Results showed that, injured E. coli were detected at different levels during chlorine and solar disinfection. The use of selective media during water quality control showed effectively the destruction of E. coli during solar disinfection while the removal of E. coli during chlorine disinfection was not ensured. The damage of cell components and/or metabolic functions showed that there is a primary and mainly damage of E. coli during chorine and solar disinfection. Chlorination firstly and mainly damaged membrane cell followed by that of enzymatic functions and nucleic acid; while solar disinfection damaged mainly nucleic acid. The use of simple plating method in water quality control is limited by the choice of plating media depending on the disinfectant used. The understanding of the damage mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria cells during disinfection helps improve drinking water quality control and develops more effective disinfection strategies.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Drinking water, pathogenic bacteria, E. coli, damage mechanisms, chlorine disinfection, solar disinfectio