Screening of Vigna unguiculata (L.) WALP. accessions from Togo for their reaction to Callosobruchus maculatus F.

Open Access Journal; Published online: 16 Mar 2022Post-harvest losses in cowpea are mostly caused by the infestation of Callosobruchus maculatus, a storage pest. It can cause up to 100% loss of untreated produce. Host Plant Resistance (HPR), an important component of integrated pest management, has potential for sustainable management of C. maculatus. The objective of this study was to assess a recently collected cowpea germplasm from Togo for resistance to C. maculatus. A total of 200 cowpea accessions from the five regions of Togo and five checks were screened for resistance to C. maculatus using a no-choice assay. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data were collected on average number of eggs laid (ANEL), average number of adult emergence (ANAE), number of holes per seed (NHPS), initial and final seed weight (ISW and FSW), median development period (MDP), percentage adult emergence (PAE), and percentage weight loss (PWL), and two indices of resistance computed viz. insect growth index (G.I.) and Dobie’s susceptibility index (DSI). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis. A total of 51 accessions were moderately resistant, among which RS009 and RP218 had the least DSI score. The remaining accessions (149) were susceptible. DSI was significantly correlated with ANAE, PWL and NHPS, and had a significant and negative correlation with MDP. The results of the stepwise multiple regression showed ANAE, PWL and MDP were the better predictors of cowpea bruchid resistance and accounted for 87.7% of the observed variation in DSI scores

Diversity Analysis of Elite Maize Inbred Lines Adapted to West and Central Africa Using SSR Markers

Seventeen elite maize inbred lines of West and Central Africa adaptation with tropical and temperate x tropical origin were investigated for diversity at 18 SSR loci in non-coding regions of the maize genome, alongside two temperate inbred lines (B73 and Mo17), perennial teosinte (Zea diploperennis) and gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides). A total of 174 alleles were detected with a range of 5 to 15 alleles per maker and an average of 9.7 alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.29 in umc1226 to 0.92 in bnlg2122 with an average of 0.75. Relationships between heterotic groups and groups based on SSR data were quite varied for the lines studied. Primarily, the SSR markers grouped the lines on the basis of their origin, with three instances of a pair of heterotic lines clustering together; one pair of temperate origin and the other two tropical vs temperate x tropical. Four inbred lines (CMR 19, CMR 20, CMR 21, and CMR 26), belonging to three heterotic groups were, however, differentiated by SSR data. The markers showed potential for use in managing inbred lines germplasm adapted to West and Central Africa, particularly for classifying inbred lines for which records of ancestry are not readily available and for exploiting the heterosis known for tropical vs. temperate x tropical crosses

Inheritance of Striga hermonthica adaptive traits in an earlymaturing white maize inbred line containing resistance genes from Zea diploperennis

Striga hermonthica can cause as high as 100% yield loss in maize depending on soil fertility level, type of genotype, severity of infestation and climatic conditions. Understanding the mode of inheritance of Striga resistance in maize is crucial for introgression of resistance genes into tropical germplasm and deployment of resistant varieties. This study examined the mode of inheritance of resistance to Striga in early‐maturing inbred line, TZdEI 352 containing resistance genes from Zea diploperennis. Six generations, P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 derived from a cross between resistant line, TZdEI 352 and susceptible line, TZdEI 425 were screened under artificial Striga infestation at Mokwa and Abuja, Nigeria, 2015. Additive‐dominance model was adequate in describing observed variations in the number of emerged Striga plants among the population; hence, digenic epistatic model was adopted for Striga damage. Dominance effects were higher than the additive effects for the number of emerged Striga plants at both locations signifying that non‐additive gene action conditioned inheritance of Striga resistance. Inbred TZdEI 352 could serve as invaluable parent for hybrid development in Striga endemic agro‐ecologies of sub‐Saharan Africa

An alternative method of screening maize for tolerance to Striga

Thirteen cassava genotypes were evaluated at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria for anthracnose (CAD), bacterial blight (CBB) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) incidence and severity, and their effects on yield, for three consecutive planting seasons. There were significant differences (

FODDER PRODUCTION: RESPONSE TO SOWING DATES, PRUNING HEIGHTS AND CUTTING INTERVALS OF Tephrosia SPECIES IN THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS OF CAMEROON

ABSTRACT Fodder production responses to three Tephrosia species (T. candida, T. purpurea and T. vogelii

Nature-based One Health approaches to urban agriculture can deliver food and nutrition security

The increasing global human population is projected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. This population growth is currently linked to the trends of worldwide urbanization, growth of megacities, and shifting dietary patterns. While humankind faces the daunting challenge of feeding and providing healthy lives for its teeming populations, urban agriculture holds promise for improving the quality of life in cities. Fortunately, policymakers and planners are accepting the need to support urban fringe farmers to increase the resilience of food systems while efficiently managing already strained natural resources. We argue that for urban agriculture to significantly increase food yields, it is crucial to adopt a One Health approach to agriculture and environmental stewardship. Here, we propose six nature-based and climate-smart approaches to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food systems. These approaches include reducing the reliance on synthetic agricultural inputs, increasing biodiversity through producing locally adapted crops and livestock breeds, using probiotics and postbiotics, and adopting portable digital decision-support systems. Such radical approaches to transforming food production will require cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement at international, national, and community levels to protect biodiversity and the environment whilst ensuring sustainable and nutritious diets that are culturally acceptable, accessible, and affordable for all