27 research outputs found
Rice Blast Disease in the U.S. and Africa: Determination of Pathogen Diversity and the Identification of Resistance Genes for Disease Management
No full textRice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (= Pyricularia oryzae) B. Couch, is a leading disease of rice. Magnaporthe oryzae exhibits a high degree of diversity. The diversity of isolates of M. oryzae from Africa and the U.S. were examined using vegetative compatibility and virulence phenotyping as well as determination of variation in the avirulence gene AVRPiz-t in isolates from Africa. Also, evaluation of blast resistance genes in the interspecific rice germplasm “New Rice for Africa” NERICA was done using F2 progeny of the cross of U.S. susceptible cultivar M204 and NERICA 12. The U.S. isolates were in three vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs), whereas isolates from Africa were in one to four VCGs that were unique to each country. Among isolates from the U.S, four pathotypes were distinguished based on differentials with the CO39 genetic background whereas 10 were distinguished based on the differentials with the LTH background. The R gene Pi9 was the most effective against isolates from both Africa and the U.S. Also, interspecific rice cultivars were highly resistant against isolates from both the U.S. and Africa. No single genotype or R gene was effective against all isolates from both Africa and the U.S. Blast control in the U.S could be achieved by introgression of Pi9 and Pi11 into rice cultivars. In West Africa, blast control could be achieved by introgressing Pi9, Pita2 and Pik-m into the rice cultivar F6-36. Alternatively, Pi9, Pik-s and Pik-m, could be introgressed into the rice cultivar FKR62N. For blast control in East Africa, one could introgress Pi9 into NERICA 12 or Pi9 and Piz-5 into NERICA 2. Variation in 10 of the 70 open reading frame (ORF) sequences of AVRPiz-t examined were observed. From the ORF sequences eleven haplotypes were observed with one haplotype comprising 86% of both virulent and avirulent isolates. Six virulent isolates had single nucleotide substitutions, insertions or deletions which altered the amino acid sequences of the ORF that could have caused isolates to be virulent. Based on PCR markers, two R genes, Pib and Pita2 were found in NERICA 12, but NERICA 12 could possibly contain other R genes
Education in Kenya: Contemporary Situation and New Tendencies at the Beginning of the XXI Century
No full textThe article considers the present situation on the different educational levels in Kenya. Despite of the government efforts one could hardly mark visual successes. The author considers traditional means to be the best in improving the quality of education
The affordability of school textbooks in Kenya: Consumer experiences in the transforming to a liberalising economy
No full textABSTRACT The growth of educational publishing in Kenya depends heavily on the disposable income of its customers. This article looks at the incomes of both actual and potential customers and how they prioritise their spending. The findings are based on research carried out in Kenya by the author. In selecting the areas to conduct the research, socio-economic factors, geographical conditions and level of development were considered. It was found that most textbook purchasers think that textbooks are very expensive in comparison with their own incomes. This has therefore led them to prioritise basic essential needs before thinking of purchasing textbooks
Образование в Кении: состояние и новые тенденции в начале XXI века
No full textThe article considers the present situation on the different educational levels in Kenya. Despite of the government efforts one could hardly mark visual successes. The author considers traditional means to be the best in improving the quality of education.В статье рассматривается ситуация, сложившаяся на всех уровнях образования в Кении. Несмотря на усилия правительства, видимых успехов пока не наблюдается. Выход из сложившейся ситуации видится в использовании традиционных мер, способствующих улучшению образования
Visibility and Citation Impact
No full textThe number of publications is the first criteria for assessing a researcher output. However, the main measurement for author productivity is the number of citations, and citations are typically related to the paper's visibility. In this paper, the relationship between article visibility and the number of citations is investigated. A case study of two researchers who are using publication marketing tools confirmed that the article visibility will greatly improve the citation impact. Some strategies to make the publications available to a larger audience have been presented at the end of this paper
Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
No full textProductivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) in Kenya is constrained by postharvest losses. Most postharvest strategies applicable to onions are applied singularly, and therefore, their combined effects have not been well studied. This study evaluated the combined effects of harvesting stage, curing period, and time of topping on postharvest visual and keeping quality of red bulb onions. The study was carried out in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. The experimental design was a split-split plot laid out in 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of harvesting stage (25%, 50%, and 75% top fall), curing period (none, 1 week, and 2 weeks) and time of topping (before and after curing). After three months of storage, the bulbs were assessed for visual and keeping quality using incidences of skin rots, skin colour, percent of marketable bulbs, residual weight of the bulbs after curing, and days to 50% sprouting. Bulbs that were harvested at 75% top fall and cured for one or two weeks before topping were found to have significantly better visual and keeping quality. Although seasonal variations were significant for some of the parameters assessed, a similar trend was observed in both seasons. The study recommends harvesting of onions at 75% top fall and curing for at least one week before topping for enhanced visual and keeping quality of harvested bulb onions
Prevalence and Host Resistance to Common Bean Rust Disease in Western and Central Kenya
No full textRust, caused by Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.) Unger, is among the most devastating diseases of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide. The pathogen is highly genetically variable, causing severe epidemics under favourable weather conditions. The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution of bean rust in major production areas in Kenya and identify potential sources of resistance for breeding. A field survey was conducted in five counties targeting smallholder common bean farmers in western and central Kenya, where data on the incidence and severity of bean rust and crop management practices by farmers were recorded. Additionally, seeds of the evaluated genotypes were collected from farms visited for further testing. A total of 77 common bean genotypes were subjected to natural infection under field conditions and inoculated with races 29–1, 29–3, 61–1, and 63–1 of rust under greenhouse conditions at the University of Embu. The gene pool affiliation of the genotypes was determined through the phaseolin protein marker analysis. Rust incidence and severity data were subjected to an analysis of variance using GenStat statistical software. The results showed that bean rust occurred in all counties although there were significant differences (P<0.001) in incidence and severity among the surveyed localities. Based on a 1–9 severity rating scale, Bungoma County recorded the highest mean severity of 3.99 and an incidence of 71%. Cultivar grown, use of fungicides, management of residues, and crop spacing had a significant effect on bean rust severity. Under field and greenhouse conditions, the genotypes revealed high variations in response to rust, with 71% of the genotypes being susceptible under greenhouse inoculations. Enclave, MU#13, UN2-Darkgreen, UN6-Nakholo, Kat X56, and KMR-11 genotypes were identified as resistant and can be used as prospective parents in common bean improvement programs in Kenya. This study revealed high occurrence and distribution of common bean rust and thus provides critical baseline information for common bean rust management in Kenya
Proximate and Nutritional Composition of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
No full textProductivity of bulb onions (Allium cepa L.) is largely constrained by postharvest losses. There are several postharvest strategies applicable to onions, but they are mostly applied singularly and therefore their combined effects have not been well studied. This study was set out to evaluate the effects of harvesting stage, curing period, and time of topping on postharvest quality of stored red bulb onions. The study was carried out in Yatta Subcounty, Machakos County, Kenya. The experimental design was split-split plot laid out in a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of harvesting stage (25%, 50%, and 75% top fall), curing period (none, 1 week, and 2 weeks after harvesting), and time of topping (before and after curing). All the treatments were replicated three times. After 3 months of storage, the bulbs were analyzed for proximate and nutritional composition. Bulbs that were harvested at 75% top fall and cured for one or two weeks before topping retained higher moisture content, bulb weight, crude protein, vitamin C, zinc, potassium, calcium, and iron but lower sodium content after three-month storage. These practices are therefore recommended for maintaining the nutritional quality of bulb onions after harvesting
Vitalistic information systems in the South African public health system : a transactional analysis perspective
No full textIncludes bibliographical references
Visibility of University of Zululand and Moi University Researchers in Web of Science and Scopus from 2003 to 2013
No full textThis paper reflects on the representation of the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) and Moi University (MU)’s research publications in WoS (Web of Science) and Scopus between 2003 and 2013 as an indicator of active research engagement, quality, and international visibility. Research quality, visibility and collaboration theories were interrogated to inform this study. The research questions posed in this paper were: Do the researchers’ publications appear in the databases and to what extent? How has the publication trend of the universities changed from 2003 to 2013? In which subject areas/domains did they publish? What is the citation impact of their publications? What is the subject coverage of the publications? The study employed descriptive and analytical bibliometrics through content analysis as a research method. Data for the duration of 2003 - 2013 was downloaded from the two databases by author affiliation and captured in Excel by author, rank, discipline, title of paper, and source/type of the publication, and they were analysed by using relevant quantitative techniques. The results reveal that the publications of most of the researchers (approximately 70%) were not indexed in the databases. The publication subject coverage at MU was largely in the Health Sciences/Medicine, while Physical Sciences coverage was stronger at the University of Zululand. A strong research niche area emerged in the area of Medicine at Moi University. Citations and the h-index for both universities in the databases were largely low, but some impressive impact seemed to occur in the medical and biochemical research domain. There are possibilities for research collaboration and evidence of quality research emerging from the two institutions. A niche research area and collaboration in Medicine/Health Sciences is feasible
