Assessment of Traditional Methods of Controlling Striga on Cultivated Crops in Sudanian Agricultural Zone of Chad

The phytoparasite, Striga spp., is a major biotic constraint to cereals production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was carried out at station of Bébédjia of Chadian Institute of Agronomic Research for the Development in Sudanian agricultural zone of Chad, on traditional methods of controlling Striga spp. This study helped to find out several methods of controlling Striga among which the most important is the agronomic method including organic and or mineral fertilization, associated crops, crop rotation and the use of false hosts and trap crops. Some farmers cultivated resistant varieties and early maturing varieties to control pest attack and some others used shea flour and herbicide treatment to reduce the effect of Striga on the farm. Most of these methods were applied by farmers from generation to generation, without a thorough study to understand their mechanism. Thus, the listed methods will be analysed by research in station to find out scientific explanations for each applied method. Then experiments will be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of some methods previously identified by extension rural services in farmers’ area after improvement.

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Poultry Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/003072708601500304 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 121-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. T. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Traditional Methods ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Effective Use ◽

Small Producers ◽

Meat And Eggs

The importance of poultry as a source of meat and eggs in developing countries is generally recognised, but present levels of production and consumption in Africa are disappointing. This article reviews the factors involved and concludes that there is a need for research designed to improve the traditional methods of small producers rather than seeking to impose modern Western methods on communities too backward to make effective use of them.

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Crop Rotation to Improve Agricultural Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science ◽

10.1046/j.1439-037x.2000.00368.x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 184 (1) ◽

pp. 67-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

J. Sauerborn ◽

H. Sprich ◽

H. Mercer-Quarshie

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Effects of Cultivation Management on Pearl Millet Yield and Growth Differed with Rainfall Conditions in a Seasonal Wetland of Sub-Saharan Africa

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11091767 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1767

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Hirooka ◽

Simon K. Awala ◽

Kudakwashe Hove ◽

Pamwenafye I. Nanhapo ◽

Morio Iijima

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Crop Production ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Growth Period ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

Seasonal Wetlands ◽

Sub Saharan

The production of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is important in Namibia, in sub-Saharan Africa, owing to the prevailing low precipitation conditions. Most fields supporting crop production in northern Namibia are located in a network of seasonal wetlands. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ridging and fertilizer application on the yield and the growth of pearl millet in the seasonal wetlands under different rainfall conditions. The study was conducted for two years (2017–2018) in the experimental fields in northern Namibia, and yield, yield components, and growth parameters were evaluated in relation to the application of different fertilizers (manure and mineral) with and without ridge-furrows. Manure fertilizer application presented the highest yield in 2018, whereas mineral fertilizer application showed the highest yield in 2017. The proportion of rainfall was the highest during the mid-growth period in 2017, and the reproductive stage in 2018. Thus, pearl millet plants under manure fertilization overcame damage resulting from waterlogging stress during the seed setting stage by improving the soil and plant nutrient conditions. In contrast, the plants under mineral fertilization were more tolerant to large amounts of rain during the mid-growth period. In this study, yield was mainly determined by total dry weight, and it was closely related to panicle density in both years. Therefore, we concluded that fertilizer application, including additional fertilizer based on the growth diagnostic, could be important for improving crop production in seasonal wetlands.

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Progress in Breeding Early Maturing Peanut Cultivars with Resistance to Groundnut Rosette Disease in West Africa

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/pnut.29.1.0004 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 17-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

B. R. Ntare ◽

P. E. Olorunju ◽

G. L. Hildebrand

Keyword(s):

Virus Disease ◽

Central Africa ◽

Management Program ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Breeding Lines ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Early Maturing ◽

West And Central Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Rosette is the most destructive virus disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Resistant cultivars have the greatest potential for minimizing the risk of losses due to the disease. The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate new peanut breeding lines for reaction to rosette disease and determine their yield potential. Rosette-resistant parents were crossed with early maturing susceptible spanish types. The F2, F4, and F5 generations were grown in a rosette disease screening nursery. A modified bulk-pedigree method was followed in which the populations were grown in bulk until F4. Single plant selections were made in F4-derived F5 progenies. Yield assessment began with F7 lines from 1996 to 1998 growing seasons at three sites. High yielding rosette resistant lines with a maturity range of 90 to 115 d were identified. Some of these new lines produced pod yields significantly higher than the previously developed resistance varieties. Promising lines have been made available to researchers in West and Central Africa and should contribute to an integrated rosette disease management program.

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Genetic Gains from Selection for Drought Tolerance during Three Breeding Periods in Extra-Early Maturing Maize Hybrids under Drought and Rainfed Environments

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050831 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 831

Author(s):

Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽

Oluwafemi Obisesan ◽

Adeoti Abiodun ◽

Ebenezer Obeng-Bio

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

International Institute ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Genetic Gains ◽

Rainfed Conditions ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Selection For ◽

Sub Saharan

Genetic gain studies in a breeding program are very important for measuring the efficiency of the program over a specific period. It also provides breeders with an understanding of the outcomes of the huge investments committed to the breeding programs. This study sought to (i) estimate the gains in grain yield under drought and rainfed conditions and (ii) identify high-yielding and stable hybrids developed in the last two decades under drought and rainfed conditions. Sixty extra-early maturing hybrids developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, during three breeding periods: (2008–2010, 2011–2013, and 2014–2016) were assessed under managed drought and rainfed conditions across 14 environments in Nigeria to estimate the genetic gains in grain yield using linear regression analysis. Considerably high genetic gains (4.1%) per year for grain yield was obtained for the extra-early maturing hybrids under drought environments. Six of the top ten hybrids identified were from period 3, an indication of the high genetic gains from selection in period 3. Additionally, two of the top six period 3 hybrids (TZEEI 29 × TZEEI 13) × TZEEI 64 and TZdEEI 64 × TZEEI 54 were found to be the best yielding and most stable across the 14 test environments and were highly recommended for extensive evaluations to warrant their commercialization in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

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Genetic diversity and population structure of early and extra-early maturing maize germplasm adapted to sub-Saharan Africa

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-021-02829-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽

Ana Luísa Garcia-Oliveira ◽

César Daniel Petroli ◽

Sarah Hearne ◽

Samuel Adeyemi Adewale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Inbred Lines ◽

Snp Markers ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Heterotic Groups ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Assessment and effective utilization of genetic diversity in breeding programs is crucial for sustainable genetic improvement and rapid adaptation to changing breeding objectives. During the past two decades, the commercialization of the early and extra-early maturing cultivars has contributed to rapid expansion of maize into different agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where maize has become an important component of the agricultural economy and played a vital role in food and nutritional security. The present study aimed at understanding the population structure and genetic variability among 439 early and extra-early maize inbred lines developed from three narrow-based and twenty-seven broad-based populations by the International Iinstitute of Tropical Agriculture Maize Improvement Program (IITA-MIP). These inbreds were genotyped using 9642 DArTseq-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers distributed uniformly throughout the maize genome. Results About 40.8% SNP markers were found highly informative and exhibited polymorphic information content (PIC) greater than 0.25. The minor allele frequency and PIC ranged from 0.015 to 0.500 and 0.029 to 0.375, respectively. The STRUCTURE, neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) grouped the inbred lines into four major classes generally consistent with the selection history, ancestry and kernel colour of the inbreds but indicated a complex pattern of the genetic structure. The pattern of grouping of the lines based on the STRUCTURE analysis was in concordance with the results of the PCoA and suggested greater number of sub-populations (K = 10). Generally, the classification of the inbred lines into heterotic groups based on SNP markers was reasonably reliable and in agreement with defined heterotic groups of previously identified testers based on combining ability studies. Conclusions Complete understanding of potential heterotic groups would be difficult to portray by depending solely on molecular markers. Therefore, planned crosses involving representative testers from opposing heterotic groups would be required to refine the existing heterotic groups. It is anticipated that the present set of inbreds could contribute new beneficial alleles for population improvement, development of hybrids and lines with potential to strengthen future breeding programs. Results of this study would help breeders in formulating breeding strategies for genetic enhancement and sustainable maize production in SSA.

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Rhizobium inoculants suppress emergence of the weed Striga gesnerioides in cowpea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-358536/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

WAJIHA ABDULLAHI MU'AZ ◽

Mahamdi Dianda ◽

Ousmane Boukar ◽

Ibnou Dieng ◽

Gaya S Mohammed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Yield Response ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Striga Gesnerioides ◽

Rhizobium Inoculation ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact ◽

Resistant Genotypes

Abstract Cowpea is a grain legume of major importance in sub-Saharan Africa where it is cultivated by smallholder farmers on poor soils and production is often constrained by the parasitic weed Striga gesnerioides. Experiments were conducted to assess the potential of rhizobium inoculation in mitigating Striga infestation and increasing cowpea productivity. We tested under basal P application and artificial S. gesnerioides inoculation the impact of cowpea genotypes (G) (nine Striga-resistant and 11 Striga–susceptible genotypes) and bradyrhizobium inoculation (N) (two bradyrhizobium strains USDA3384 and IRJ2180A, and uninoculated control) on Striga dynamics and cowpea yield. Additional treatments included N supplied as urea (with and without), and no input (i.e., soil inherent N and P) that served as negative check. A first experiment was carried out in potted sterile soils in the screen house excluding addition of N-fertilizers. Significant G x N interactions were observed in counts of nodule (P = 0.012), Striga attachment (P < 0.0001) and emergence (P = 0.005), and cowpea shoot growth (P = 0.016). Cowpea nodulated poorly across host lines, Striga counts were the lowest for resistant varieties with no emerged plants. Rhizobial inoculants depressed Striga counts with consistent differences found across cowpea genotypes. Inoculation with IRJ2180A performed the best against Striga attachment in resistant genotypes, and its emergence in susceptible genotypes. In the field trial, nodule numbers were lowest in cowpea without inputs (P < 0.0001). The G x N interaction was significant in emerged Striga plants (P < 0.0001). Resistant genotypes were free of emerged Striga while for susceptible ones, Striga emergence was the highest without any input addition. Significant G x N interaction was observed in cowpea grain yield (P < 0.0001). Yield response to inoculation was most obvious for resistant genotypes inoculated with the strain IRJ2180A (P = 0.0043). The integrated use of Striga-resistant cowpea lines and elite bradyrhizobium inoculant under moderate application of P-based fertilizer could be a promising approach for mitigating Striga infestation and increasing productivity.

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The role of biotechnology for agricultural sustainability in Africa

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2007.2191 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 363 (1492) ◽

pp. 905-913 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Jennifer A Thomson

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Field Trials ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Cassava Mosaic Virus ◽

Streak Virus ◽

Sweet Potatoes ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa could have a shortfall of nearly 90 Mt of cereals by the year 2025 if current agricultural practices are maintained. Biotechnology is one of the ways to improve agricultural production. Insect-resistant varieties of maize and cotton suitable for the subcontinent have been identified as already having a significant impact. Virus-resistant crops are under development. These include maize resistant to the African endemic maize streak virus and cassava resistant to African cassava mosaic virus. Parasitic weeds such as Striga attack the roots of crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and upland rice. Field trials in Kenya using a variety of maize resistant to a herbicide have proven very successful. Drought-tolerant crops are also under development as are improved varieties of local African crops such as bananas, cassava, sorghum and sweet potatoes.

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Genetic variability and trait association under thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom) infestation in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

Euphytica ◽

10.1007/s10681-021-02849-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 217 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Johnson Oluwaseyi Toyinbo ◽

Christian Fatokun ◽

Ousmane Boukar ◽

Morakinyo Abiodun Bamidele Fakorede

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phenotypic Variance ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Megalurothrips Sjostedti ◽

Genetic Components ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractFlower bud thrips is one of the most destructive insect pests of cowpea in sub-Saharan Africa. Information on genetic variability among cowpea germplasm and interrelationships among traits under thrips infestation would facilitate the development of resistant varieties. The objectives of the study were to assess genetic variability for thrips resistance, estimate heritability of yield and other traits and investigate inter-trait relationships under thrips infestation. One hundred and fifty-six cowpea lines, including one resistant and one susceptible check, were screened for resistance under natural infestation at two locations in Nigeria, in 2016. Test lines were scored for thrips damage weekly for three consecutive weeks, after removal of spreader plants, to obtain damage scores (DS) 1, 2 and 3 while data were collected on agronomic traits. The data were subjected to analysis of variance from which genetic components of the phenotypic variance were computed. Interrelationships among traits were determined using phenotypic and genotypic correlation, and sequential path analyses. Significant variability was observed among test lines. Lines TVu 6824 and TVNu 1307 were identified as possessing thrips resistance. DS3 had significant genetic and phenotypic correlations with DS1, DS2 and yield-related traits. Number of pods per peduncle, number of peduncles per plant and DS3 were identified as first-order traits. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.55 to 0.73. Genetic variability among the lines suggests the possibility of genetic control of thrips while number of pods per peduncle, number of peduncles per plant and DS3 would serve as useful selection criteria for thrips resistance.

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