Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
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Inheritance of resistance to (NGR1) pathogen isolates of Pyricularia grisea in GULU-E finger millet last resistant variety of Uganda
No full textFinger millet is basis for food security which directly supports the livelihoods of rural majorityliving in marginal areas in East Africa. Gene action and heritability of blast resistance in GULUE finger millet was determined from crosses between GULU-E as female parent mated to foursusceptible genotypes, using the North Carolina 1 crossing design, to determine nature ofresistance. Inoculation of finger millet with a fungus, Pyricularia grisea, which causes blast, wasdone using one potentially most virulent local pathogen isolate (NGR1) identified from Ngoradistrict, in Odwarat parish, which is one of the pathogen hotspots of eastern Uganda . It wasidentified following isolate screening trial for virulence in Makerere University, during 2012b.F1, F2and backcrosses were evaluated under controlled conditions. Disease reaction indicatedthat resistance was partially dominant and additive, based on mid parent values from crosses.Segregating ratios and Chi-square tests of F2populations fitted 13R:3S genetic model, indicatingpresence of duplicate dominant epistasis at a probability level of 0.05. Broad-sense heritabilityestimated by the variance components method was high (88.8%) on entry mean basis. Selectionfor resistant progeny derived from crosses between GULU-E and DR21 finger millet would bemost effective in early generations, followed by modified backcrossing at F3to the adapted recurrentresistant parent, leading to diversification of a population and derivation of materials for selectionfor disease resistance. From the study it is possible to accumulate genes for race specific resistancein host cultivars that might reduce development of disease epidemics in some areas. The geneticcontrol of components of resistance and mechanisms of resistance in the host which affect therate of development of disease epidemic, need to be determined, since they are important variablesfor durable resistance
Farmer awareness, coping mechanisms and economic implications of coffee leaf rust disease in Uganda
Get PDFCoffee leaf rust (CLR) still remains a serious threat to the economics of coffee farming in Uganda. The disease is more severe on Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) at mid and low altitude (1500 m and below) where crop losses is up to 50%. The objective of this study was to document farmers’ knowledge about the disease, economic implications and coping strategies across the Arabica growing zones in Uganda. A stratified random sampling procedure was adopted. The main data collection tool was a semi-structured questionnaire for face-to-face interview and checklist for focus group discussions (FGDs). SPSS for windows (Version 16) was used for statistical analysis. Overall, 83.8% had knowledge on the disease. The disease reportedly causes premature defoliation and loss of photosynthetic surfaces, leading to appearance of pale yellow spots on the lower surface of the leaves (72.3%) and expanding berries failing to fill up and young berries shedding off (11.5%). The most susceptible variety reported was SL14; while KP423 was reportedly tolerant. Results further revealed that rust incidence led to a significant (p≤0.01) reduction in Arabica coffee productivity and income by 49.5%. As cope up strategies, farmers practiced timely weeding (81.5%), chemical spraying mainly using Bordeaux mixture (20.8%), phyto-sanitary methods (8.1%), concoctions (10.4%), fertiliser application (12.4%) and planting tolerant varieties (9.2%). The use of concoctions and phyto-sanitary methods significantly (P≤0.01) reduced the impact of the disease on annual production per ha by 1139 and 1255 kg, respectively
Challenges and opportunities for quality seed potato availability and production in Uganda
Get PDFPotato yields in Uganda have remained low at 7.5 t ha-1. This low yield is attributed to low yieldingvarieties, poor management practices and lack of quality seed potatoes among other factors. Thisstudy was conducted to ascertain the challenges and opportunities of quality seed potato availabilityand production in the southwestern highlands agro-ecological zone (SWHAEZ). A total of 15farmer groups were randomly selected from a sample size of 200 farmers and individuallyinterviewed. The results of study indicated that high transaction costs (43.5%), lack of clear seeddelivery system (40.5%) and limited information on the source of seed (14.0%) were the mainconstraints limiting farmers’ access to and use of quality seed potato. Up to 93% of the farmers inSWHAEZ use home saved seed from previous harvests and conventional ware potato markets,whose quality is not guaranteed. Although over 70% of the farmers were convinced that quality ofseed had a positive effect on yield increase, 72% of them still use poor quality seed often infectedby bacterial wilt. In addition, 52% of the farmers lacked specific storage facilities for potato seed;and this further lowered the grade of the seed quality. However, a number of opportunitiesexisted for production and access to quality seed including; various proven technologies forproducing quality seed potato and ready demand for potato seed and ware potato. Of the seedpotato production technologies, positive selected seed (PSS) seemed to have the highest quantityof seed; while basic seed produced heaviest tubers than the rest of the technologies
Smallholder local chicken production and available feed resources in central Uganda
Get PDFThe poultry industry in Uganda is mainly based on free-range (scavenging) indigenous chickens, kept at the subsistence level. Chicken population rose from 23.5 million in 2005 to 37.4 million in 2008; and most of these chicken (over 80%) were indigenous to the country. A survey was conducted in Central Uganda to assess the available feed resources for chicken. The study involved300 household heads purposively selected. A focus group discussion involving 50 farmers from the same community, was also involved. Issues related to feeds, especially high prices were the main factors contributing to reduced chicken production in the study areas. Less than 5% of the farmers knew the nutritive contents of the chicken feeds. Sixty percent gave alternative feeds depending on season of availability. There was a clear difference between farmers who had some knowledge about feed nutrient composition and those who had no idea. Furthermore, the competition between food and feed furthered the increase in feed prices, thus forcing producers to look for alternative feeds and locally avai
Prevalence of common gastro-intestinal nematode infections in commercial goat farms in Central Uganda
Get PDFGastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) infections are the leading cause of production losses in commercial goat farms worldwide. This study determined the level of gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) infection and identified the common GIN parasites in commercial goat production in Central Uganda. Faecal egg counts and morphological larval identification in coprocultures were used to estimate the burden of common GIN of goats in Central Uganda. Egg shedding was detected in 43% of the goats. Worm burdens were highest (498 -713 epg) in goats 3-5 and 8-9 months old. Goats of 6-8 and older than 9 months showed relatively lower egg counts (254- 491epg). Haemonchus (56%), Oesophagostomum (33%) and strongyloides species (11%) were the only nematode species identified on coprocultures
Performance of elite grain sorghum varieties in the West Nile Agro-ecological Zones
Get PDFGrain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the fifth most important cereal in the world and third most important cereal crop in Uganda. In the West Nile region of Uganda, it is the most important cereal crop. Ten pre-released sorghum varieties, acquired from the National SemiArid Resources Research Institute, were evaluated on-station at Abi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute during the second rainy seasons of 2011 and 2013 to identify suitable lines for the region. The four most promising varieties in 2011 were further evaluated in 2012 and 2013 under five different spacings namely; 60 cm×20 cm, 45 cm×20 cm, 35 cm×20 cm, 25 cm×20 cm and 15 cm×20 cm. Sorghum lines evaluated significantly differed in grain yields (P<0.05). All parameters were significantly (P<0.05) affected by spacing, except days to 50% flowering and number of tillers. The best yielding varieties were GAO9/25(1,975 kg ha-1) and GA06/33 (1,637 kg ha-1) and the least yielding was NASECO (38.7 kg ha-1) and Epuripuri (31.3 kg ha-1). The 35 cm x 20 cm spacing resulted in the highest yield (2,740.7 kg ha-1) and is recommended for sorghum growing in West Nile region
Variability and trait relationships among finger millet accessions in Uganda
Get PDFFinger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn]) is a vital component in the farming systems ofmany parts of Uganda with limited information on variability, heritability and trait association inthe country. The objective of this study was to assess the variability, heritability and trait associationof finger millet to determine the genetic potential for future use in breeding programmes. A totalof 100 accessions were evaluated for morpho-agronomic characters in a 10 x 10 lattice design atNaSARRI and Ikulwe in Uganda for two seasons. Analysis of variance revealed mean squares ofthe genotypes were significant for all the traits, with days to 50% flowering showing the leastcoefficient of variation and the highest leaf blast severity. Heritability estimates ranged from7.39% for threshing percentage to 68.4% for head blast severity; whereas values of expectedgenetic advance varied from 2.00 to 79.9% for threshing percentage and head blast severity,respectively. High heritability and genetic advance estimates were exhibited for head blast severity,head blast incidence, productive tillers plant-1 and grain yield. When the significant correlationswere decomposed by path analysis, it revealed that, in determining yield, the most importanttraits were grain mass head-1, tillering ability and reaction to head blast disease. Overall theresult revealed existence of high variability for the traits studied in the finger millet accessionswhich can be utilised in genetic improvement
Improved open-sun drying method for local swamp rice in Uganda
Get PDF“Kaiso” and “Supa” are the main local swamp-rice (Oryza Sativa) varieties currently grown in Uganda mainly by smallholder farmers on small gardens (0.5 – 2ha). Due to lack of mechanized drying equipment and owing to the low volumes of their harvests, these farmers use open-sun drying methods, where the paddy is spread on tarpaulins, cemented floors or bare ground. In most cases the paddy is badly dried and is highly fissured. Such paddy on milling contributes to low levels of mill recovery and head rice count of the milled rice. Compared to other varieties and countries, the mill recovery and head rice levels are ostensibly low. The study aimed to improve the above method under the Ugandan weather conditions with a view to increase the mill recovery and head rice levels. Paddy of the predominant “Kaiso” variety was dried in sun on cemented floor at ten depths: control (farmers’ method), 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 mm. The results showed that the best paddy drying depth was between 70 and 80 mm. However at these depths, the paddy takes 7 – 8 days to dry. To reduce the drying time, the paddy was first set to dry at 80 mm depth for two days; after which time, it was divided into three different potions that were further dried at different depths of 80, 40 and 30 mm. The results showed that samples whose drying depths were reduced to 40 mm and 30 mm took four days to dry while samples whose depths remained at 80 mm took 7-8 days. There were no significant differences in mill recovery values (p = 0.2968) and head rice levels (p = 0.5890). Improvement index in mill recovery was 1.14 and that of head rice was 1.24. Average aflatoxin level in the samples whose depth was reduced to 40 mm was 4.8ppb and that reduced to 30 mm was 2.3ppb. From these results, it was recommended that “Kaiso” variety should be dried at 80 mm depth for two days and drying depth should be reduced between 30 and 40 mm for subsequent drying. It was further recommended that the method be tested with other swamp varieties before general conclusion is drawn that it can work for all swamp varieties
Responses of east African highland banana (EAHB-AAA) cultivars to drought stress
Get PDFBanana (Musa spp.) yields are estimated at 5-30 t ha-1yr-1, lower than the potential 60 t ha-1yr-1,with the cause being drought stress. Much evidence among stakeholders shows little understandingabout banana cultivar sensitivity, escape and avoidance mechanisms to drought due to un-attemptedmeasures of retaining plant growth during escalating dry spell. This study aimed at determiningcultivar expression as a way of dealing with drought. Triploid cooking cultivars of Mpologoma andKisansa (AAA) versus the considered drought tolerant cultivars of Kayinja (ABB), Sukali ndiizi(AAB) and a low land cultivar Yangambi Km5 (AAA) were grown under a semi-micro environment,with controlled soil evapo-transpiration. Cultivars were grown on three sandy loam soil waterregimes under pF- curves of 10log matrix head of Wet: 2.0-2.1 (0.1 - 0.13 bar) equivalent to 90%moisture availability (M.A.); Semi-moist: 2.5-2.7 (0.32 - 0.51 bars) equivalent to 60% M.A. andDry: 2.8-2.9 (0.64 - 0.8 bars) for 30% M.A., respectively. Results showed that an increase in soilmoisture deficit from moist to dry condition caused a proportional loss in fresh biomass of up to50% among cooking cultivars, and less than 40% to dessert cultivars. Leaf orientation wassignificant to folding with cooking variety type opening leaves widely (up to 100o), and enhancingexcessive leaf plant dehydration, even during stressful conditions. Soil evapo-transpiration showedthat cvs. Kisansa and Mpologoma transpired up to 1.125L 48 hr-1, exhibiting a trait for waterspending than saving. Thus, cultivars comprising of genome (B) expressed crucial mechanisms ofavoiding excessive effect of drought stress. Therefore, under high moisture deficits, Kayinja andSukali ndiizi cultivars express drought avoidance mechanisms through leaf folding. But, thecooking type of cultivars Kisansa and Mpologoma (genome A), develop extensive rooting systemimportant in search for moisture; and large leaf surface characterised by high rate of transpirationfor water spendin
Effect of pre-incubation and incubation conditions on hatchability and chick quality of Kuroiler chickens
Get PDFA study was conducted to review the effects of pre-incubation and incubation conditions on hatchability and chick quality of Kuroiler chickens. The most important incubation factors that affect hatch time, hatchability and hatch window (temperature, humidity, turning, and ventilation) were reviewed. There was a significant influence (P<0.05) of breeder age on hatchability. Also, there was significance (P<0.05) of breeder age on texture of the egg shell; while there was no significance (P > 0.05) between size of egg and hatch window. The performance of Kurolilers at the end of the rearing period depended, in part, on the quality of day-old chicks at placement. The quality of day-old chicks was highly affected by the incubation conditions, hatch time (which determines the time spent in the hatchery under high temperature and humidity), and handling of chicks after hatch