March 2014

Skip-row planting of maize and sorghum in semi-arid Ethiopia

Soil water deficits during grain fill constrain crop production in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Skip-row planting is a means of saving soil water for grain fill while tie-ridging can improve soil water availability throughout the season by reducing runoff. The hypotheses were that where rainfall ceases before or during early grain fill 1) maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) yield can be...

Author(s): Tewodros Mesfin, Jibril Mohammed, Abuhay Taklete, Feyera Merga and Charles Wortmann,

March 2014

Cloning and expression of anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) gene from peel of mango (Mangifera indica Linn)

Fruit coloring is a major source of anthocyanin and carotenoid in mango. The anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) is a key enzyme in the anthocyanin biosynthesis. The ANS gene was cloned from mango peel by homologous cloning method. This manuscript reported characterization of ANS from mango peel that comprised 1,262 bp full-length cDNA with open reading frame (ORF) of 1,056 bp and encoding a protein of 351 amino acids. The...

Author(s): Zhao Zhichang, Chen Yeyuan, Gao Aiping, Huang Jianfeng and Dang Zhiguo

March 2014

Groundnut rosette disease symptoms types distribution and management of the disease in Uganda

Groundnut rosette disease (GRD), caused by a complex of three agents: groundnut rosette assistor luteovirus, groundnut rosette umbravirus, and the associated satellite RNA, is a major groundnut disease in Uganda. Two main symptom types, chlorotic rosette and green rosette occur. A nationwide survey covering 23 districts was done in 2012 and 2013 to ascertain the predominant GRD symptom types, GRD incidences and...

Author(s): D. K. Okello, L.B. Akello, P. Tukamuhabwa, Odong, T.L., M, Ochwo-Ssemakula , J. Adriko and C. M. Deom

March 2014

King tuber mushroom: Bioconversion of fluted pumpkin, sawdust and paper

Pleurotus tuber-regium (Rumph. Ex Fr.) Singer (King tuber mushroom) was cultivated on sawdust; mixture of sawdust and waste paper and mixture of Telfairia occidentalis Hook.F. (Fluted pumpkin) stem and waste paper in order to examine growth of the mushroom on the test substrates. The spawn of the mushroom was used to inoculate the substrates. Mycelia ramification and sclerotia production were monitored on the substrates...

Author(s): Precious C. Nwachukwu and Olutayo M. Adedokun