ABSTRACT Two field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons at the linkage farm of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate growth and yield response of (Taro) Colocasia esculenta to plant spacing and NPK fertilizer on the plains of Nsukka with the objectives of identifying best performing cultivar, optimum plant spacing and NPK fertilizer rate. Experiment one was laid out in a 3x5 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in which Factor A is plant spacin...
ABSTRACT Six hundred seeds extracted from nine pods of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) were sown in the field in 2004 and 2005 to determine the juvenile morphological markers for maleness. The results showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the male and female fluted pumpkin with respect to days to tendril emergence. The mean number of days to tendril emergence for the males was 19 (in 2004) and 20 (in 2005) days after planting while that of the females was 47 (in...
ABSTRACT Two field experiments were conducted in April and August, 2007 cropping season at the Department of Crop Science research farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to evaluate the pollen germination potentials, rate of pollen tube growth, floral, agronomic and yield attributes of thirteen bambara groundnut cultivars. The first experiment (early planting) was in April and the second (late planting) was in August 2007. The results obtained showed that 10 genotypes had significant effect on...
ABSTRACT Studies were carried out at the Department of Crop science, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to evaluate botanicals control of diseases associated with growth and germination of Moringa seeds. Five accessions of Moringa seeds collected from Imo, Enugu, Kogi, Plateau and Kaduna states of Nigeria were used. The following experiments were carried out: seed viability test, isolation of fungal pathogens, determination of phytochemicals, in vitro control of the pathogens with six botan...
ABSTRACT The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of the pelleted and unpelleted composted organic materials on the growth and yield of three varieties of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The specific objectives were to: determine the physical and chemical properties of pelleted and unpelleted composted organic materials, determine the effects of pelleted and unpelleted composted organic materials on the growth and yield of three varieties of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) an...
ABSTRACT Modified three - way crosses involving advanced interspecific tomato hybrids (F12) and commercially cultivated tomato varieties namely Supersteak (S), Beef (Florida) (BF) and Plumb (Rio grande) (PR) were made to generate F1 hybrids. The F1 hybrids were crossed to both the pollen and seed parents to produce the backcrosses and were also allowed to random mate to produce the F2 and F3 populations. The parents, F1s, F2s, F3s and backcrosses were evaluated under rainfed conditions. Flora...
ABSTRACT Plukenetia conophorum Muell Arg commonly called African walnut is cultivated principally for the nuts which are cooked and consumed as snacks. The plant serves many nutritional and medicinal purposes yet its availability is on the decline. To preserve and ensure continued availability of P. conophorum, there is the need to develop propagation protocols for the plant. Five accessions were collected from Mbu, Nsukka, Orba and two locations in Edem-ani all in Enugu State, Southeastern, ...
ABSTRACT Pigeon pea plays a significant role in smallholder farmers‟ subsistence. In Benin, there is a dearth of information on the genetic diversity present in the crop. Indigenous knowledge used in folk medicines, taxonomy, crop management and seed system have not been assembled and documented. This study aimed at assessing farmers‟ knowledge related to pigeon pea cultivation and uses and genetic diversity of pigeon pea germplasm in Benin. Participatory Rural Appraisal including indivi...
ABSTRACT Performances of three sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes (Wahi, Hakika and Pato) and inorganic soil amendments were studied under naturally Striga asiatica [L.] Kuntze infestation for one cropping season (2015/16) in two locations, using a split plot design laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. A susceptible sorghum (Pato cultivar) was used as a bioassay to evaluate the effectiveness of reduced rates of N under Striga infestation. At Hombo...
ABSTRACT Thirty days old rice seedlings of 300 F5:6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between a salt sensitive, IR29 (indica), and a salt tolerant, Hasawi (indica), were evaluated for salinity tolerance and thereafter QTLs linked to salinity tolerance were identified. Large variation in salinity tolerance among the RILs was detected. Final salinity injury scores ranged from highly tolerant to highly sensitive with a transgressive segregation towards sensitive parent. Howev...
ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted simultaneously from April to July 2012 at agroecologies; Bambi (Latitude 06o 09’S, Longitude 039o 16’E; and Altitude 20m above sea level) Central District and Kizimbani (Latitude 05o 54’S, Longitude 039o 16’E; and Altitude 20 m above sea level) Western Unguja district. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of selected cultural practices (weeding and hilling-up once, twice and thrice), vine portions (apical, middle and basal) and variet...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT A study was done to enhance the understanding of the diversity of begomoviruses and to identify tomato varieties resistant to Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) that can be used by farmers in the coastal belt of Tanzania. Twenty four out of 225 diseased leaf samples collected tested positive for DNA-A component for primer pairs VD360/CD1266 and VD360/AC1048. No DNA-B or satellites were detected. Their phylogenetic tree constructed with other closely related sequences f...
ABSTRACT Groundnut rosette disease is the most constraint to the production of groundnut causing annual economic loss of US $156 millions in sub-Saharan African countries. The present study evaluated 220 (F5) Recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from 12991 X ICGV 86124 resistant and susceptible parents respectively, for resistance to groundnut rosette disease so as to identify resistant Recombinant Inbred Lines (RIL) and markers linked to Groundnut Rosette Disease resistance. The RIL were ...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is one of the most important food crops in Africa and the world that is in Tanzania produced in largest quantities in the central Regions where, however, yields are very low due to abiotic and biotic constraints. One of the most serious biotic constraints is the sweet potato weevil, an insect whose cryptic feeding nature of the very destructive larval stages makes chemical control often not effective. A survey was conducted in two Dist...
ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted in two seasons at Sokoine University of Agriculture farm in Morogoro, Tanzania (6.850 S; 37.640 E and 568 m.a.s.l.) during the short rain (November 2014 to January 2015) and the long rain (March to June 2015). The experiment was a split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Weed management practices (pre-emergence (ULTRA 2, 4-D), postemergence (Hansunil), hoe weeding (3x) and weedy) were the main plot treatments and f...