Seed Management and Quality of Farmer Saved Seeds of Bambara groundnut from North Western, Northern and Eastern Uganda

Bambara groundnut (BG) is a protein and energy-rich legume crop of African origin with the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. There is limited information on seed man­agement and quality of farmer saved seed of BG in Uganda. This study was conducted to inves­tigate seed management practices and evaluate the quality of farmer saved seed from Uganda. Four hundred BG farmers were chosen using purposive sampling and information gathered on their seed management. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the farm­ers. Seed colour and size determination, standard germination and electrical conductivity tests were done on seed samples collected from farmers. Results from survey revealed that farmers recycled seeds for more than 4 years (39.2%) and maintained mostly single landraces (52.5%). Seed was sun-dried on the ground (81%), stored in gunny bags (93.5%), and threshed mostly by hand (52.0%). Collected landraces had varied seed coat colours and significantly differed at p = 0.05 in their seed sizes, final germination percentage (FGP), electrical conductivity (EC), germination velocity index and seedling vigour index II (SVI-II). Local Bam landrace recorded highest SVI-II (485.3) and EC (0.52MSg-1) while TVSU 688 landrace recorded the highest FGP (96.0%) and lowest EC (0.06MSg-1).

Growth traits associated with drought survival, recovery and persistence of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) under prolonged drought treatments

The effect of prolonged drought treatments on persistence, growth traits, drought survival and post-drought recovery was investigated in two sets of differently managed genotypes of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). In total, 72 genotypes (two sets of 36 managed for seed and forage harvest, respectively) were evaluated for agro-morphological traits in the field during 2013–15 under normal and deficit irrigation regimes. In the fourth year (2016), irrigation was withheld in both irrigation treatments for 2 months and then plants were re-watered to investigate the effect of prolonged drought regimes on traits related to post-drought recovery. The deficit irrigation regime decreased persistence and recovery. These reductions were lower in the seed-management than the forage set, which indicates that delaying the first harvest of the seed-management treatment to maximise seed production led to lower impact of drought stress. The seed-management treatment also had lower persistence. The forage-management treatment had higher recovery under normal irrigation, whereas under deficit irrigation, the seed-management treatment had higher recovery. Association analysis showed the possibility of selecting genotypes having high values of persistence and drought tolerance. Results also showed a negative correlation between days to flowering and recovery after drought, indicating that selection for earliness may improve survivability and persistence of these plants. Superior genotypes with higher forage production and better recovery, persistence and drought tolerance may be recommended for development of synthetic cultivars.

BOTANICAL IDENTIFICATION AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN MELONS FROM FAMILY FARMING IN THE STATE OF MARANHÃO

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to perform botanical identification and to estimate genetic diversity in two sequential inbred generations (progenies S1 and S2) of melon accessions from traditional agriculture in the state of Maranhão, in order to generate useful information for commercial melon breeding. Two field experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block, using four replicates of 15 accessions from a first selfing cycle in 2013, and three replicates of 25 subaccessions (generation S2) in 2014. Flower and fruit descriptors were measured to obtain quantitative and qualitative data, in addition to a systematized photographic documentation of fruit for visually comparing the progenies S1 and S2. Distance matrices for quantitative and qualitative data were obtained and used to perform a joint analysis and UPGMA method. Large genetic diversity was found in the accessions analysed, since the presence of melon progenies was observed in the Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis, with its botanical varieties momordica and conomom, and of the Cucumis melo ssp. melo, with the botanical varieties cantalupensis and chandalak. Divergence analysis showed the formation of three groups in generation S1 and four groups in S2. However, the groups were not separated either by subspecies or by botanical variety. Thus, in addition to the large genetic diversity among and within melon accessions from family farming in the state of Maranhão, the progenies presented a large introgression of traits of the different subspecies and their botanical varieties due to the reproductive system and seed management of these species.