The Genetic Diversity of Popular African Leafy Vegetables in Western Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 127-159
Author(s):  
Christine A. Ndinya
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
African Leafy Vegetables

scholarly journals Molecular Markers for Genetic Diversity Studies in African Leafy Vegetables

2016 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 188-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel O. Omondi ◽  
Thomas Debener ◽  
Marcus Linde ◽  
Mary Abukutsa-Onyango ◽  
Fekadu F. Dinssa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
African Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Diversity Studies

scholarly journals Seed Production and Support Systems for African Leafy Vegetables in Three Communities in Western Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 01-16
Author(s):  
Mary Abukutsa-Onyango ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Support System ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Germplasm Collection ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Seed Treatments ◽  
Seed Moisture Content ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
African Leafy Vegetables

Communities in western Kenya have utilized several species of African Leafy Vegetables for food and valued them for their taste, nutritional qualities and medicinal properties. With increasing demand for these vegetables, there is a dire need for a formal reliable source of quality seed and need to study and develop seed support systems in communities in western Kenya. The objectives of the study were: determine the current seed support systems; collect, evaluate and multiply germplasm; establish seed support systems; determine effect of seed treatments on seedling emergency of priority African Leafy Vegetables in three communities in western Kenya. A survey was conducted by administering structured questionnaires to 30, 20 and 30 households in the Luhya, Luo and Kisii communities, respectively between Jan 2002 and March 2003. Germplasm collection, evaluation and multiplication of the priority African Leafy Vegetables was effected. Multiplied germplasm was used to establish a seed support system at Maseno University botanic garden and with 70 farmers in the three communities. Seed treatments for spiderplant, nightshades and jute mallow was conducted between June and August 2004. Treatments included T1=No treatment or Control, T2=Dipped seed in boiling water for 10 seconds, T3=Soaked seeds in water for 24 hrs and T4= Soak seed in 95% acetone for 30 minutes. Current seed support systems for African Leafy Vegetables are informal and constitute production from farmers’ own fields or from the village markets. Seven African leafy vegetable species were selected from 42 accessions collected based on seed weight, germination percentage and seed moisture content and these included Cleome gynandra, Crotalaria brevidens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Solanum scabrum, Vigna unguiculata, Amaranthus blitum and Corchorus olitorius. Seed yields of the above species ranged from 1036-1320 kg/ha with 1000 seed weight of 1.1 to 100g. A total of 70 contact farmers in 6 districts of western Kenya were provided with seed and technical information on production and processing of seed, 13% of whom had started producing quality seed for their use or sale. A seed support system was set up at Maseno University Botanic garden to avail seed of the seven African Leafy Vegetables to farmers in the region and beyond. Seed treatments had a significant effect on the seedling emergence of spiderplant and African nightshade but not on jute mallow. It is recommended that Agronomic, processing and utilization packages be developed for the identified species.

scholarly journals The Diversity of Cultivated African Leafy Vegetables in Three Communities in Western Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 01-15
Author(s):  
Mary Abukutsa-Onyango ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
African Leafy Vegetables

High poverty levels in western Kenya that are manifested in malnutrition and poor health prevail yet the region is endowed with high agricultural biodiversity like African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs). The vegetables have high micronutrient content, medicinal properties, several agronomic advantages and economic value yet their potential in alleviating poverty and ensuring household food and nutrition security in the rural areas has not been exploited. Despite all the above advantages, these vegetables have been neglected and face several constraints hampering optimal production such that if the situation is left unchecked it may result in loss of this biodiversity. It is because of this that a study was conducted with the objectives of documenting the diversity of African Leafy Vegetables and to collect indigenous knowledge on production, agronomic and cultural practices in three communities of Western Kenya. A survey was conducted between January 2002 and March, 2003, in six districts in Western and Nyanza provinces representing the Luhya, Luo and Kisii communities. A structured questionnaire was administered to eighty purposively sampled respondents distributed in the ratio of 30:20:30 for Luhya, Luo and Kisii communities respectively. One focus group discussions per community was held and two key informants per community were interviewed. Over 90% of the respondents indicated that there was an increase in the cultivation of African Leafy Vegetables. Ten African Leafy Vegetables were found in the three communities representing eight botanic families. All the communities cultivated the ALVs at a subsistence level in home gardens, with organic sources of manure and under an intercrop system. Broadcasting was practiced by 20%, 40% and 60% of the respondents from the Luhya, Luo and Kisii communities respectively. Harvesting was done by first uprooting at thinning then ratooning. The major constraints facing production of African Leafy Vegetables included lack of quality seed, pests and diseases, drought, poor marketing strategies and lack of technical packages. In conclusion, the study showed that all the three communities studied had a high diversity of cultivated African Leafy Vegetables covering eight botanic families; respondents in all the communities cultivate African leafy vegetable in a subsistence, home gardening, intercrop system where the use of chemical fertilizers and chemicals was minimal and the major constraints of production of African Leafy Vegetables included, poor quality seed, drought and poor marketing systems and infrastructure. The identified species should be promoted and improved as commercial crops.

Assessment of genetic diversity of pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) from western Kenya using SSR molecular markers

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 2253-2260
Author(s):  
Lameck A. Nyabera ◽  
Inosters W. Nzuki ◽  
Steven M. Runo ◽  
Peris W. Amwayi
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Western Kenya

scholarly journals Incidence of Groundnut Rosette Disease (GRD) and Genetic Diversity of Groundnut Rosette Assistor Virus (GRAV) in Western Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benard Mukoye ◽  
Millicent Florence Owuor Ndonga ◽  
Hassan Karakacha Were
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Western Kenya

scholarly journals Potential Toxicity of Some Traditional Leafy Vegetables Consumed in Nyang’oma Division, Western Kenya

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 01-13
Author(s):  
Orech FO ◽  
◽  
Treza Akenga ◽  
J Ochora ◽  
H Friis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Laboratory Procedure ◽  
Amaranthus Hybridus ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Sida Acuta ◽  
Long Span ◽  
Aerial Parts

Traditional leafy vegetables are those plants leaves or aerial parts have been integrated in a community’s culture for use as food over a long span of time. These vegetables are highly recommended due to their relatively high nutritional value compared to the introduced varieties, and are also important in food security. Qualitative phytochemical screening, using standard laboratory procedure, was carried out for alkaloids, saponins, cardenolides, flavonoids and polyphenols on traditional leafy vegetables consumed amongst the Luo, an agro-pastoral community living along the shores of lake Victoria, Western Kenya. The vegetables included: Amaranthus hybridus L. (subsp.hybridus), Asystasia mysorensis T. Anderson, Coccinia grandis (L) Voigt, Crotalaria ochroleuca (Kotschy) Polhill, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam, Portulaca quadrifida L., Sesamum calycimum Welw. var. angustifolium (Oliv.) Ihlenf. and Siedenst., Senna occidentalis L. and Sida acuta Burm. F. All the vegetables were found to contain polyphenols and flavanoids while other classes of phytochemicals varied from species to species. Brine shrimp lethality tests revealed that S. calycimum var. angustifolium (LC50 84.8 g/ml), S. occidentalis (LC50 99.5 g/ml), S. acuta (LC50 99.4 g/ml), C. grandis (LC50 100.6 g/ml) and A. mysorensis (LC50 207.7 g/ml) exhibited marked levels of toxicity. C. ochroleuca (Sunnhemp) contained all the five classes of phytochemicals, but proved less toxic (LC50 4511.3 g/ml). This vegetable is highly utilized in Nyang’oma, and seventy per cent of the respondents consume this species. Though A. hybridus (African spinach, or Amaranth) was found to be the least toxic (LC50 6233.6 g/ml) and this vegetable is recommended for consumption. From the results, five vegetables contain possible agents that can cause acute or chronic toxicities when consumed in large quantities or over a long period of time. Hence some vegetables should be consumed with great care. Further studies are recommended to determine which of the phytochemicals are lethal to mammals, especially human beings.

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