INTRODUCTION A fungus is any member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which are separate from plants, animals, protists, and bacteria. One major difference is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants and some protists, which contain cellulose, and unlike the cell walls of bacteria. These and ot...
Abstract: Microbial proteases are hydrolytic enzymes that are widely used in many industrial processes. This study aimed to evaluate the production of alkaline protease (AP) from fungal isolates sourced from avocado (Persea americana Mill.) peel (AVP) and avocado seed (AS) under solid state fermentation (SSF). AVP and AS was collocated form Harar juice house into plastic bag and serial diltuion method was used for fungal isolatin. The isolates were subutured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and...
Abstract: Watermelon is one of the major utilized fruits grown in the warmer part of the world. The juice or pulp from watermelon is used for human utilization, while rind and seeds are major solid wastes. Endophytic microbes have been an important and potential resource of bioactive compounds. The present study was undertaken to assess phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungal isolates from water melon seeds and fruit rind. The watermelon seed and...
Abstract: The virulence of eight isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and four isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) to adult Cylas puncticollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was tested in the laboratory. Insects were sprayed with a standard concentration of 1.0 107 conidia mL21 using Burgerjon’s spray tower. All the isolates tested were pathogenic to C. puncticollis. Mortality varied between 77.5% and 84.2% with isolates of B. bassiana and between 62.5% and 89.2% with isola...
Abstract: The African citrus triozid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is the most destructive citrus pest. Presently, biological data on T. erytreae are insufficient for important parameters like distribution, seasonal dynamics and ntomopathogens. Therefore, we determined the temporal dynamics of T. erytreae along three different altitudinal gradients in Kenya. In low altitudes, females of T. erytreae reactivated and started laying eggs between late February and early March...
Abstract: Cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, is a major cowpea pest. Cowpea–cereal intercrop alone does not effectively manage the pest. Use of pesticides in intercrop leads to health and environmental risks. Fungal-based biopesticides offer a better option because they are environment- and consumer-friendly. This study assessed the combined effect of Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 62 and cowpea–maize intercrop against A. craccivora under six treatments: (1) untreated cowpea monocrop, (2) unt...
Abstract: The root-burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is reputedly the most damaging nematode pest of banana and responsible for major production losses. In this study, the endophytic potential of 13 fungal isolates was assessed for the management of R. similis in East African Highland bananas (‘Ng’ombe’). All isolates successfully colonised tissue-cultured banana roots, with isolates from Trichoderma, Fusarium and Hypocrea producing the highest (⩾49.1%) and Beauveria isolates t...
Abstract: In the laboratory, the pathogenicity of thirteen isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) were assessed by exposing adults to 0.3 g of dry conidia (~3 × 109 conidia) of each isolate for 5 min and monitoring mortality for up to 5 days. Compatibility with a male pheromone, cuelure, (4-(p-acetoxyphenyl)-2-butanone), was determined by testing conidial ge...
Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, is a voracious pest of cereals native to the Americas and which invaded Africa in 2016. Chemical control is the main management option, which however remains ineffective and unsustainable. Fungal endophytes are increasingly used as alternative for the management of insect pests of economic importance. This study assessed the potential of eight endophytic fungal isolates to colonize maize plant and their ability to promote seedlings gro...
Abstract: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a virus disease complex that was recently reported in eastern Africa. It causes huge yield losses, hence threatening food security in the region. It is caused by a co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) in maize and other cereal crops. Thrips and beetles are known vectors of MCMV while SCMV is vectored by aphids. Since MLN is new to Africa, there are no known effective management strategies against the di...
Description: A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Applied Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Nairobi
ABSTRACT Washed, sliced and oven-dried whole sweet potato tubers (Iponwea batatas) of the local variety wcre milled and supplemented with a mineral salts solution containing (g litre) glucose, 5; (NH4)2SO4 1.5; KH2PO4, 1.5; MgS04 0.05; Yeast extract, 0.05 and fermented at 30C for 72 hr by solid siate fermentation (SSF) using Neurospora sitophila, Aspergillus niger, Candida ulilis and Saccharomyces warum. i tbe end of the fermentation period A.niger gave the highest protein content of 11.8%, D...
ABSTRACT Aflatoxin contamination of maize is a major risk to health and well-being of Kenyan people. Aflatoxin-producing moulds viz: Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius can infect grains from pre-harvest stages in the field through to post-harvest stages in the stores. In Kenya, deaths have resulted from dramatic outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning. Existing strategies for control of aflatoxigenic moulds mainly based on moisture reduction have been ineffective in the warm and humid ...
Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the occurrence of fungal contamination in different samples of corn (zea mayes) grains in Narok Town. A total of 30 samples were analyzed by direct plating method on a quarter strength potato dextrose agar and focusing on mycotoxigenic fungi.pure cultures of Aspergillus isolates were sub cultured and transferred onto differential media; malt extract agar, czapek yeast extract and czapek dox agar for species identification. The colony were purifie...
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the resting behaviour and factors that influence the choice of resting sites by endophilic anopheline mosquitoes in southern Ghana. The study was carried out in six villages across three ecological zones of southern Ghana, including: the forest ecological zone (FEZ), the coastal savannah ecological zone (CSEZ) and the forest-transition ecological zone (FTEZ). For every mosquito collected, the indoor resting sites was characterised and microclima...