Abstract Knowledge of the effects of environment and genotype by environment (GxE) interaction is important to breeders in making decisions regarding the release of new cultivars. Five Coffea arabica lines coded CR8, CR22, CR23, CR27 and CR30 have been developed by Coffee Research Foundation and are currently being tested for release in various coffee growing zones in Kenya. The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the five advanced breeders’ lines under varying envi...
Abstract Bacterial Blight of Coffee (BBC) caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv garcae has become of major concern in Kenya due to its increasing incidence and severity. For decades, the disease was confined within and to the west of the Great Rift Valley, but recently it has spread to reach other coffee growing areas. In order to minimize the chemical input in its management, which apart from polluting the environment have high cost implications, development of resistant/tolerant cultivars is h...
Abstract Knowledge of the effects of environment and genotype by environment (GxE) interaction is important to breeders in making decisions regarding the release of new cultivars. Five Coffea arabica lines coded CR8, CR22, CR23, CR27 and CR30 have been developed by Coffee Research Foundation and are currently being tested for release in various coffee growing zones in Kenya. The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the five advanced breeders lines under varying environ...
Abstract A non-culture approach was used to study the archaeal diversity in Lake Elmenteita, Kenya. Five different sampling points were selected randomly within the lake. Wet sediments and water samples were collected from each sampling point. In addition, dry mud cake was collected from three points where the lake had dried. DNA was extracted from these samples and the 16S rRNA genes were amplified using primers described to be Domain-specific for Archaea. Eleven clone libraries were constr...
Abstract/Overview Edible termites have played an important role in the history of human nutrition due to their nutritional value. Despite their nutritional body content, it is known that during their termitarium construction, termites accumulate metals in their bodies. This study examined the heavy metal content in selected edible termites for food safety. The household survey was carried out in 8 camps of Magoye and Stateland farming blocks in Mazabuka district. The study was done to det...
Abstract/Overview Spiders, though not heavily researched, hold the possible key to new and innovative development, by not only being a source of biological control for farmers aiding in the reduction in the use of pesticides and insecticides on farms. But also, by playing a role in food security. However, in spite of this potential, arachnids (spiders) have not been traditionally included into the formal scientific education as a feed source despite their abundance, familiarity and ease o...
Abstract/Overview Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a newly described edible cricket species. Although, there is substantial interest in mass production of S. icipe for human food and animal feed, no information exists on the impact of temperature on their bionomics. Temperature-dependent development, survival, reproductive and life table parameters of S. icipe was generated and integrated into advanced Insect Life Cycle Modeling software to describe relative S....
Abstract/Overview This article looks at spatial variations and the relationship between land degradation and agricultural land use intensity in Nyakach District, Kenya. The main objective was to determine spatial variations and the relationship between land degradation and agricultural land use intensity in forested areas, hill slopes and river banks. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to identify various land uses which acted as indicators of land degradation and agricultural land us...
Abstract/Overview The black soldier fly has become an important insect in bioconversion activity. However sustainable use of the insect is now dependent on the development of efficient artificial rearing systems. The concern however is on the scarcity of information on Black Soldier Fly rearing in general and on specific aspects of the production chain in particular such as use of baiting attractants for adult oviposition. The current study compared baiting efficiency of different attract...
Abstract/Overview Traditional green leafy vegetables are promising alternative vegetable crops consumed in Kenya and other African countries. The crops whose consumption is on the increase include vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), African nightshades (Solanum spp.) and spiderplant (Cleome/Gynandropsis gynandra). They are popular in the Kenyan retail markets and key supermarket chains as surveys have shown. This offers the urban dwellers access to these vegetables on one hand, while of...
Abstract/Overview Low temperature is a common biological abiotic stress in major cotton growing areas. Cold stress significantly affects the growth, yield and yield quality of cotton. Therefore, it is important to develop a more robust and cold stress tolerant cotton germplasms. Climate change and erratic climatic condition, plants have evolved various survival mechanisms, one of which induction of various stress responsive transcriptome factors, such as the C-repeat binding factor GthCBF...
Abstract/Overview Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects by humans. Globally, there are over 3000 ethnic groups that consume insects. The main aim of this study was to determine the socio economic factors affecting entomophagy in Nambale Sub County, Kenya. The study assumed cross sectional survey design with a sample size of 171.The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi square tests, with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 20. ...
Abstract: The study seeks to examine the foreign policy implications of the International Court of Justice border dispute decision on the Kenya- Somalia relations; the focus of the study being Kenya’s foreign policy on its relations with Somalia. The study focused on the period after the International Court of Justice ruling over the maritime border dispute. The study generally examined the impact of the ICJ ruling on Kenya’s foreign policy strategy, the tools of foreign policy for advan...
Abstract: A cross sectional study was conducted to compare the welfare of working donkeys in the rural and urban/peri-urban areas of Mwingi Central Sub-County of Kitui county in Kenya. The assessment of welfare was based on physical welfare indicators, pathological and external parasite infestation, and physiological welfare indicators including the determination of free fecal cortisol concentration. From a total population of 35,361 donkeys in the study area, a sample size of 396 donkeys wa...
Abstract: Sisal cultivation has the potential of contributing immensely towards the economic development of a given country, resulting to improved standards of living. The exportation of sisal fibre can be a great source of foreign exchange in a given country. Further, sisal related industry can be a great source of employment to the global economy. Moreover, sisal is a drought resistant crop, whose cultivation can lead to effective use of the greater arid and semi-arid land in the Sub-Sahar...