The experiment was conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching and Research farm, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from April to August, 2019 on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L). The research was done in a randomized complete block design with four treatments and replicated four times. The treatments include control (no application), NPK 15:15:15, spent mushroom ...
ABSTRACT Nsukka yellow pepper genotypes were evaluated in 2009 and 2010 planting seasons to determine the pattern of genetic variability in its population. The initial collection comprising eighteen genotypes were assembled from the local farmers and evaluated in 2009 planting season. Forty nine promising genotypes were selected on individual plant basis and reevaluated in 2010 planting season. The results of the performance of the genotypes in both years showed that there was considerable ...
ABSTRACT Four field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to: (i) improve the photoperiodic response, especially in local (late) maturing varieties of Okra; (ii) estimate heterosis and heritability for improved yield and productivity; (iii) determine combining ability and gene effects of 13 genotypes of okra; (iv) estimate gene effects of quantitative traits; (v) determine inheritance pattern of qualitativ...
ABSTRACT Low soil nitrogen (N) is one of the most important constraints to maize production in subSaharan Africa (SSA) in general and in particular the Bimodal Humid Forest Zone (BHFZ) of Cameroon. The development and adoption of maize varieties tolerant to low N soils could reduce the need for nitrogen inputs and significantly contribute to sustainable maize production. The objectives of this research were to: i) identify maize production constraints and farmers preferred maize characteris...
ABSTRACT Coffee ranks second after petroleum in international trade. In Kenya, it supports over 600,000 households, contributes up to12% of export revenue and employs 30% of the total workforce in Agriculture. Arabica (Coffea arabica L.) and Robusta (Coffea canephora Pierre) are the two species under commercial cultivation. Arabica coffee has low genetic diversity and susceptible to Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) while Robusta Coffee has considerable diversity and tole...
ABSTRACT Soybean production in Kenya is estimated at 9,061MT. This is low compared to the annual demand of 100,000MT. This large deficit is met through importation which puts a strain to the economy’s foreign exchange. Soybean has the highest protein content (40-42%) among the food crops with oil content of18-22% comprised of 85% unsaturated fatty acids. These attributes make it an inexpensive source of proteins and desirable human diet. Released soybean varieties in Kenya have been evaluat...
ABSTRACT In Kenya, the counties of Elgeyo-Marakwet, Uasin-Gishu and Baringo, where maize, wheat and barley are normally grown, can be used to produce a second crop during the off-season (October-February) before the next cropping season or as a rotation crop during the main season (April-August). Introduction of drought tolerant leguminous crops such as chickpea in these counties is ideal in order to provide an alternative source of income to farmers. However Ascochyta blight (AB) disease whi...
ABSTRACT Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is the major constraint in Cassava (Manihot esculenta) production in Eastern Africa including Tanzania. Genetic linkage map is a prerequisite for QTL analysis; marker assisted breeding and map-based gene cloning. It is also a prerequisite for the study of inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits and the molecular information can be applied in marker-assisted selection (MAS).Objectives of this study were to (I) determine heterozygosity of...
ABSTRACT The existence of genetic diversity in germplasm collections is crucial for cultivar development. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic diversity of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.) landraces from Kenya using genetic markers and characterize bambara groundnut landraces from Kenya using morphological markers. Genetic and morphological relationships among bambara groundnuts accessions, were evaluated using morphological and microsatellite markers. Twelv...
ABSTRACT Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench] is important for production of fodder and ethanol worldwide. Objectives of this study were to determine: (i) the most suitable harvesting stage for sweet sorghum for which ethanol production is a maximum, (ii) the combining abilities for ethanol related traits and (iii) the best sweet sorghum hybrids for production of industrial alcohol. Experiments were conducted in Nakuru (0° 23′S, 35° 35′E), Homa Bay (0.35o 13′07′′S, 34o 07�...
ABSTRACT Morphological and genetic diversity are important components for cultivar development and are a pre-requisite to cultivar improvement. The probability of producing unique genotypes increases in proportion to the number of genes for which parents differ (genetic distance). The objectives of this study were to determine the morphological and genetic diversity among native blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) accessions in selected counties in Kenya and their relationship with P...
ABSTRACT Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) is one of the most important diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and is known to cause major wheat yield losses in Kenya as well as other wheat growing countries of Africa and Asia. The present study aimed at; i) determining seedling, adult plant resistance and yield of 64 advanced wheat breeding lines, and ii) estimating the kind of gene action in inheritance of adult plant resistance to stem rust and yield components in a 6 6 diall...
ABSTRACT Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major foliar diseases contributing to yield losses in wheat worldwide. Objectives of this study were: (i) to determine genotypic variation among Kenyan wheat genotypes against leaf rust at adult plant stage (ii) to determine genotypic variation among Kenyan wheat genotypes against leaf rust at seedling stage (iii) to determine leaf rust virulence in Kenya using leaf rust differential sets. Three experiments...
ABSTRACT Stem rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici had been controlled globally through the use of resistant varieties. However, the emergence of a new and more virulent race Ug99 (designated TTKSK) and its variants reversed these gains. The objectives of this study therefore were: to assess the progress in using adult plant resistance (APR) in controlling stem rust in CIMMYT wheat lines and to evaluate CIMMYT wheat lines for seedling and adult plant ...
ABSTRACT Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill.] Breeders’ prefer genotypes with high grain yield along with high oil and protein content. Soybean in Kenya is important in the manufacture of feed, food and natural resource management. Availability of high yielding and stable varieties is among the constraints that limit adoption and production of soybean in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the performance of fifteen soybean genotypes in five environments, the broad sense her...