GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG SORGHUM LANDRACES OF SOUTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS OF UGANDA

Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an economic and staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa. The genetic diversity in its germplasm is an invaluable aid for its crop improvement. The objective of this study was to assess the existing genetic diversity among sorghum landraces in the southwestern highlands of Uganda. A total of 47 sorghum landraces, collected from southwestern highlands of Uganda, were characterised using 12 qualitative and 13 quantitative traits. The study was conducted at Kachwekano Research Farm in Kabale District, at an altitude of 2,223 m above sea level, during growing season of December 2014 to August 2015. Panicle shape and compactness were the most varied qualitative traits. Grain yield (1.23 to 11.31 t ha-1) and plant height (144.7 to 351.6 cm) were among quantitative traits that showed high variability. Days to 50% flowering (115 to 130 days) showed the least variability. Results of UPGMA cluster analysis generated a dendrogram with three clusters. Panicle weight, leaf width, stem girth, exertion length, peduncle length, panicle shape and compactness, glume colour and threshability were major traits responsible for the observed clustering (P<0.001). Principal Component Analysis revealed the largest variation contributors.Le sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) est une culture vivri\ue8re de grande consommation en Afrique au sud du Sahara. La diversit\ue9 g\ue9n\ue9tique au sein de son germplasm est d\u2019une valeur incalculable pour la production de semences am\ue9lior\ue9es. L\u2019objectif de la pr\ue9sente \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer la diversit\ue9 existante au sein des cultivars des plateaux du Sud-ouest d\u2019Ouganda. Au total, 47 accessions de sorgho, collect\ue9es des plateaux du Sud-ouest d\u2019Ouganda, ont \ue9t\ue9 caract\ue9ris\ue9es en se servant de 12 traits quantitatifs et de 13 traits qualitatifs. L\u2019\ue9tude s\u2019est d\ue9roul\ue9e \ue0 la ferme de recherche de Kachwekano dans le district de Kabal\ue9, zone situ\ue9e \ue0 2223m d\u2019altitude, pendant la saison culturales de Decembre 2014 \ue0 Ao\ufbt 2015. La forme des panicules, et leur densit\ue9 \ue9taient les traits qualitatifs les plus diversifi\ue9s. Le rendement en grains (1,23 \ue0 11,31 t ha-1) et la hauteur des plants (144,7 \ue0 351,6 cm) \ue9taient les traits quantitatifs ayant pr\ue9sent\ue9 une grande variabilit\ue9. Le d\ue9lai de 50% de floraison (115 \ue0 130 jours) \ue9tait le trait le moins variable. La classification num\ue9rique a g\ue9n\ue9r\ue9 un dendrogramme avec trois groupes. Le poids des panicules, la largeur des feuilles, la circonf\ue9rence de la tige, la longeur des insertions, la longueur des p\ue9doncules, la forme des panicules et leur densit\ue9, la couleur de la glume et la facilit\ue9 au d\ue9corticage \ue9taient les traits majeurs ayant contribu\ue9 \ue0 la r\ue9partition en groupes (P<0.001). L\u2019analyse en composantes principales a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 les contributeurs \ue0 la plus grande variabilit\ue9

Current status of groundnut improvement in Uganda

In Uganda, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) is the second most important legume after beans. Groundnuts is cultivated on nearly 260,000 ha, representing 24.6% of the total arable land. On-farm pod yields are low, averaging 800 kg/ha of dry pods, compared to on-station potential yields of 3,000kg/ha. Sales from current production could potentially generate $344 million to the producers who are largely small-scale farmers. The yield gaps are attributed to a combination of biotic, abiotic, cultural and political factors. Since the 1920s, research efforts have released 24 varieties, the most recent commercial varieties being the Serenut 1-14 series. These varieties have overcome some of the mentioned production constraints. However, varied growing agroecologies, land tenure systems, diverse market preferences, and emerging stresses call for continuous research. Current research agenda includes breeding for high oleic, leafminer resistance, confectionery, aflatoxin tolerance, drought tolerance, early to medium maturing varieties, high yielding, and rosette disease resistant varieties. We have initiated Marker Assisted Selection for high oleic breeding and adopted BMS for Digitalization of data capture, management, analyses and storage. Recently developed regeneration protocol will aid in introgressing additional traits across taxa. The bimodal rainfall pattern and active hybridization programme increases our breeding cycles. To date, the groundnut breeding program has an active breeding pipeline frequently releasing varieties and lines which have already been shared with National Programs across Africa, Haiti and the USA with many additional National Programs making requests. We have strong partnerships in Research and Development among the African Countries, USAID, ICRISAT, and BMGF

Determination of genetic structure of germplasm collections: are traditional hierarchical clustering methods appropriate for molecular marker data?

Despite the availability of newer approaches, traditional hierarchical clustering remains very popular in genetic diversity studies in plants. However, little is known about its suitability for molecular marker data. We studied the performance of traditional hierarchical clustering techniques using real and simulated molecular marker data. Our study also compared the performance of traditional hierarchical clustering with model-based clustering (STRUCTURE). We showed that the cophenetic correlation coefficient is directly related to subgroup differentiation and can thus be used as an indicator of the presence of genetically distinct subgroups in germplasm collections. Whereas UPGMA performed well in preserving distances between accessions, Ward excelled in recovering groups. Our results also showed a close similarity between clusters obtained by Ward and by STRUCTURE. Traditional cluster analysis can provide an easy and effective way of determining structure in germplasm collections using molecular marker data, and, the output can be used for sampling core collections or for association studies

Incidence and predictors of hospital readmission in children presenting with severe anaemia in Uganda and Malawi: a secondary analysis of TRACT trial data

Background: Severe anaemia (haemoglobin < 6 g/dL) is a leading cause of recurrent hospitalisation in African children. We investigated predictors of readmission in children hospitalised with severe anaemia in the TRACT trial (ISRCTN84086586) in order to identify potential future interventions. Methods: Secondary analyses of the trial examined 3894 children from Uganda and Malawi surviving a hospital episode of severe anaemia. Predictors of all-cause readmission within 180 days of discharge were identified using multivariable regression with death as a competing risk. Groups of children with similar characteristics were identified using hierarchical clustering. Results: Of the 3894 survivors 682 (18%) were readmitted; 403 (10%) had ≥2 re-admissions over 180 days. Three main causes of readmission were identified: severe anaemia (n = 456), malaria (n = 252) and haemoglobinuria/dark urine syndrome (n = 165). Overall, factors increasing risk of readmission included HIV-infection (hazard ratio 2.48 (95% CI 1.63–3.78), p < 0.001); ≥2 hospital admissions in the preceding 12 months (1.44(1.19–1.74), p < 0.001); history of transfusion (1.48(1.13–1.93), p = 0.005); and missing ≥1 trial medication dose (proxy for care quality) (1.43 (1.21–1.69), p < 0.001). Children with uncomplicated severe anaemia (Hb 4-6 g/dL and no severity features), who never received a transfusion (per trial protocol) during the initial admission had a substantially lower risk of readmission (0.67(0.47–0.96), p = 0.04). Malaria (among children with no prior history of transfusion) (0.60(0.47–0.76), p < 0.001); younger-age (1.07 (1.03–1.10) per 1 year younger, p < 0.001) and known sickle cell disease (0.62(0.46–0.82), p = 0.001) also decreased risk of readmission. For anaemia re-admissions, gross splenomegaly and enlarged spleen increased risk by 1.73(1.23–2.44) and 1.46(1.18–1.82) respectively compared to no splenomegaly. Clustering identified four groups of children with readmission rates from 14 to 20%. The cluster with the highest readmission rate was characterised by very low haemoglobin (mean 3.6 g/dL). Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) predominated in two clusters associated with chronic repeated admissions or severe, acute presentations in largely undiagnosed SCD. The final cluster had high rates of malaria (78%), severity signs and very low platelet count, consistent with acute severe malaria. Conclusions: Younger age, HIV infection and history of previous hospital admissions predicted increased risk of readmission. However, no obvious clinical factors for intervention were identified. As missing medication doses was highly predictive, attention to care related factors may be important. Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN84086586. Keywords: Severe anaemia, Readmissio

Mapping the medical outcomes study HIV health survey (MOS-HIV) to the EuroQoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) utility index

10.1186/s12955-019-1135-8Health and Quality of Life Outcomes1718

Agronomic qualities of genetic pyramids of common bean developed for multiple-disease-resistance

Multiple co-infections by different pathogens on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) affect its productivity and cause complete crop loss in susceptible varieties. Therefore, gene pyramiding using marker assisted selection (MAS) and backcrossing, provide alternative cost-effective control measures to bean diseases. However, in the process of developing pyramids, linkage drags were likely to affect the qualities of progeny lines, hence, special attention was paid to this situation. The objective of this study was thus to assess the agronomic qualities of advanced genetic pyramids developed from a four-way cross for multiple disease resistance. The disease resistance genes (R) pyramided from four parents were: Co42 and Co-5 from G2333; Phg-2 from MEX54; Pythium ultimum Dennis from MLB49-89A and I & bc3 from MCM5001. The progeny lines were planted in an incomplete block design, and replicated thrice for two seasons (2015A and 2015B) in fields at CIAT, Kawanda in Uganda. Agronomic traits were highly heritable (0.6), except number of pods per plant (< 0.3). Backcrossing generated high-yielding bean lines, with 270 - 290 seed per plant and early maturity (95-100 days). Nine superior lines with desirable qualities, such as earliness (95 days), high seed rate (290 seeds per plant), and climbing ability, were obtained. Pyramiding R genes did not affect yield traits, except time to flowering and number of flower buds per plant due to transgressive segregation

Urban Ecology and Resilience: UN Habitat III Policy Paper

The Policy Paper was one of 12 Policy Papers that informed and led to Habitat III’s New Urban Agenda, the hallmark declaration adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016. ‘The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future.’ It proposes that ‘well-planned and well-managed urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries.’ (https://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/) “The Habitat III Policy Papers … served as official inputs to the Habitat III process and were a key part of the formulation of the Zero Draft of the New Urban Agenda. They are also part of the Habitat III legacy and a valuable resource of information and knowledge that various urban actors may find useful in their work on housing and sustainable urban development.” (https://habitat3.org/documents-and-archive/preparatory-documents/policy-papers/) All policy papers were prepared by international experts, selected from long lists of applicants. The experts’ responsibility was: “Research and data on sustainable urban development as basis for the preparation of the Policy Papers. Policy Units co-leaders and experts presented their recommendations at Open-Ended Informal Consultative Meetings as final interventions prior to the intergovernmental negotiations.” (https://uploads.habitat3.org/hb3/Habitat%20III%20Policy%20Paper%208.pdf, p13) The Urban Ecology and Resilience paper had over 500 applications from experts around the world. Bryant was invited to be one of 20 experts. Bryant was elected lead co-author of the experts in the Policy paper’s preparation. (See p19 of link) Bryant was a panellist at the NGO and Government agency debates conducted around the world after the issue of the draft research paper. The Policy Paper developed research for policy design through transformative actions. The output enables implementation and monitoring for a diverse range of institutional contexts