Unravelling technology-acceptance factors influencing farmer use of banana tissue culture planting materials in Central Uganda

Effective management of plant health is fundamental for food and income security to meet the growing demands of local and global markets. This however requires farmers’ adequate access to quality planting materials under the prevailing contextual and psycho-social factors. This study, anchored in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies, unravels technology-acceptance factors that influence farmers’ intentions to use banana tissue culture planting materials in the control of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt. Data were collected from 248 randomly sampled banana farmers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modelling to examine hypothesized paths in the uptake of banana tissue culture planting materials. Results show that farmer intentions to use tissue culture planting materials are dependent on two constructs: social influence and farmer innovativeness. However, social influence is the main predictor of intentions to use tissue culture planting materials. In particular, farmer innovativeness mediates facilitating conditions and social influence in predicting intentions to use tissue culture planting materials. Thus, this study reveals two factors that influence farmer intentions to use tissue culture planting materials: social influence and farmer innovativeness. The findings imply that social influence and farmer innovativeness are critical in disseminating novel agricultural technologies in Uganda and elsewhere

Molecular basis of peripheral olfactory plasticity in Rhodnius prolixus, a Chagas disease vector

Olfaction is fundamental for most animals and critical for different aspects of triatomine biology, including host-seeking, reproduction, avoidance of predators, and aggregation in shelters. Ethological and physiological aspects of these olfactory-mediated behaviors are well-understood, but their molecular bases are still largely unknown. Here we investigated changes in the molecular mechanisms at the peripheral olfactory level in response to different physiological and developmental conditions. For this, the antennal expression levels of the odorant (Orco) and ionotropic (IR8a, IR25a, and IR76b) coreceptor genes were determined in Rhodnius prolixus by means of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Gene expression changes were analyzed to test the effect of feeding and imaginal molt for both sexes. Moreover, we analyzed whether expression of these genes changed during the early life of adult bugs. Under these conditions bugs display distinct behavioral responses to diverse chemical stimuli. A significantly decreased expression was induced by blood feeding on all coreceptor genes. The expression of all genes was significantly increased following the imaginal molt. These results show that olfactory coreceptor genes have their expression altered as a response to physiological or developmental changes. Our study suggests that olfactory coreceptor genes confer adaptability to the peripheral olfactory function, probably underlying the known plasticity of triatomine olfactory-mediated behavior

Banana bunchy top disease in Africa – Predicting continent‐wide disease risks by combining survey data and expert knowledge

Across Africa, banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) severely impacts banana production and livelihoods of millions of small-holder farmers. Mapping vulnerability of landscapes to monitor BBTD establishment and spread is crucial for proactive measures of disease exclusion. To highlight current and future risks of BBTD in Africa, using logistic regression, the relationship between 1160 field-observations from 14 BBTD surveys and environmental covariate maps was determined. Using these relationships, we inferred the environmental suitability of the possible wider spread of BBTD within the African landscape. Based on environmental suitability and expert knowledge, we then generated a map highlighting main banana production areas at risk of BBTD entry and establishment. We combined these maps to create a priority map that highlights the areas that need most attention in combating BBTD through surveillance and measures to prevent its spread. Our analysis shows that BBTD is widespread across tropical Africa, with dispersal over several hotspots. Central and Western Africa are most favorable for development of BBTD. Central, West and South-East Africa are most at risk of BBTD entry and initial establishment. Areas in West and Central Africa, in the Great Lakes Region in Eastern Africa and in South-East Africa, particularly in Malawi and Mozambique, score high on the prioritization index for surveillance and mitigation efforts. Recent reports of BBTD presence in northwestern Uganda and western Tanzania support these risk predictions. For these and other not yet infected areas, measures for close surveillance and to proactively manage the disease are needed

L'intelligence artificielle et protection des cultures

The timely and accurate detection of crop dieseases supports their control. For banana bunchy top disease such detection also enables roguing to limit field inoculum density and selection of healthy materials for seed multiplication. Digital tools are a new frontier to support field diagnosis or disease detection and are especially useful for invasive species whose symptoms are new and not yet well known to farmers. Here, we tested the efficiency and access of farmers to a digital tool for banana disease detection (TUMAINI), and assessed some gender linked Le présent travail évalue l'efficacité de TUMAINI (smartphone App.) dans la détection de la maladie du BBTD dans diverses conditions d'utilisation. Pour être efficaces, ces outils doivent être adaptés aux conditions des agriculteurs

Variation d’expression des symptômes et de l'infectiosité de la maladie de bunchy top chez des cultivars de bananier

Consistent detection of the banana bunchy top disease is important for its management. This study assessed the cultivar differences between cultivars an

Evaluation de l’efficacité de la macro-propagation des cultivars de bananiers les plus préférés au Kongo Central, en RD Congo

English: In the framework of the community management of Banana Buncy top disease in Congo, we tested the seed recovery option using positive selection of asymptomatic plants and macropropagation as an alternative seed source in BBTD affected landscapes. Varieties of banana and plantain were then compared based on the performance of community based micropropagation units and this is described in this article (published in French). L’objectif de cette recherche est de déterminer quel cultivar de bananier (Musa spp.), parmi les plus préférés de fermiers, peut être multiplié efficacement par la technique de Plants Issus des Fragments de tige (PIF). Vingt-neuf cultivars de bananier fortement productifs étaient soumis au test TAS-ELISA. Les plus préférés, représentés par seize cultivars et révélés négatifs, étaient multipliés par la technique PIF dans le propagateur suivant le dispositif complètement randomisé avec trois répétitions. Les plantules ainsi produites étaient testées à nouveau. Les résultats montrent un taux d’infection de 8 % parmi les échantillons des feuilles testés avant macro-propagation (1er test) et de 0 % après macro-propagation (2ème test). Des différences significatives (p < 0,05) se sont révélées entre les traitements pour tous les paramètres mesurés. La majorité des cultivars ont eu un taux de viabilité des explants de 100 %. Kimbuambua et Mfuba-Ndongila ont présenté la durée de reprise la plus courte (18,13 ± 0,80 jours). Le temps de sevrage le plus court (90,40 ± 3,14 jours) a été observé chez Mukama. Gros Michel s’est montré plus compétitif (42 ± 7,66 plantules) quant au nombre de plantules produites. Tous les cultivars ont été identifiés performants à la méthode PIF, mais à des niveaux différents

The contestations of diversity, culture and commercialization: why tissue culture technology alone cannot solve the banana Xanthomonas wilt problem in central Uganda

Several initiatives by the Government of Uganda, Research Institutes and CGIAR centers have promoted the use of tissue culture (TC) banana technology as an effective means of providing clean planting material to reduce the spread of Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) but its uptake is still low. We examine factors that constrain uptake of tissue culture banana plant- ing materials in central Uganda by considering the cultural context of banana cultivation. Data were collected using eight focus group discussions involving 64 banana farmers and 10 key informant interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that banana cultivars in the study communities were important for food, cultural practices and medicine. Cultivars supplied through TC were based on commercial considerations focusing on market value and household income and insufficient attention was given to their cultural importance. Farmers regard banana from TC planting material to be incom- patible with their tastes and preferences for traditional food and drinks, culture and medicine. Furthermore, the plantlets are perceived as complicated to use, and farmers report requiring more knowledge and information on how to plant and maintain the plantlets on-farm. In these aspects, TC planting material does not align with cultural values linked to societal welfare. Future efforts aimed at controlling pests and diseases would benefit from more location-specific and holistic approaches that integrate cultural dimensions alongside planting material hygiene, quality and vigor

Évaluation du potentiel prolifératif de six cultivars de bananier (cv. AAB, ABB, et AAA) par macropropagation en République Démocratique du Congo.

Objectifs: L’objectif était celui d’améliorer la technique de macropropagation pour la production du matériel végétal de plantation de bananiers, en comparant les différents cultivars en vue d’identifier le(s) cultivar(s) qui répond(ent) mieux à cette méthode. Méthodologie et résultats : Le test ELISA a été utilisé en vue de cribler les échantillons des plantes, en rapport avec la maladie de Bunchy Top (BBTD). Suivant le dispositif complètement randomisé avec trois répétitions dans les propagateurs, les résultats obtenus ont montré que le nombre total de plantules sevrées par explants le plus élevé a été observé chez les bananiers à cuire Saba et Cardaba respectivement avec 35 et 34 plantules, suivi du plantain Bubi avec 31 plantules. Tandis que, le nombre total de plantules le plus faible a été observé chez le Dessert Gros Michel avec 23 plantules. Conclusion et application des résultats: Au regard des résultats obtenus, tous ces cultivars peuvent être retenus et utilisés dans la technique de macro-propagation en vue d’augmenter la production de matériel de plantation de la culture de bananier en un temps record mais en mettant un accent particulier sur le plantain BUBI pour la ville de Kinshasa et ses environs. Ainsi, le fait que ces matériels biologiques testés soient indemnes de toute contamination virale (BBTV), ils constituent donc le matériel de choix en vue de leur macropropagation, étape préliminaire nécessaire à la mise en place d’un champ expérimental du système agroforestier

Spatial parameters associated with the risk of banana bunchy top disease in smallholder systems

The Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), caused by the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) is the most important and devastating in many tropical countries. BBTD epidemiology has been little studied, mixed landscape smallholder systems. The relative risks associated with this disease vary between geographical areas and landscapes. This work analyzed the management and vegetation conditions in smallholder gardens to assess the factors linked to landscape-level BBTV transmission and management. Mapping was done in this study area which is in a BBTD-endemic region, involving farmers actively managing the disease, but with household-level decision making. A spatial scanning statistic was used to detect and identify spatial groups at the 5% significance threshold, and a Poisson regression model was used to explore propagation vectors and the effect of surrounding vegetation and crop diversity. Spatial groups with high relative risk were identified in three communities, Dangbo, Houéyogbé, and Adjarra. Significant associations emerged between the BBTD prevalence and some crop diversity, seed systems, and BBTD management linked factors. The identified factors form important candidate management options for the detailed assessment of landscape-scale BBTD management in smallholder communities