RP-Department of Educational Psychology
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Browsing RP-Department of Educational Psychology by Author "Coyne, D."
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Item Effect of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum on paralysis and mortality of Pratylenchus goodeyi(Academic Journals, 2010-02-22) Mwaura, P.A.M.; Dubois, T.; Losenge, T.; Coyne, D.; Kahangi, E.Three bioassays were conducted to investigate the antagonistic effect of secondary metabolites produced by 5 endophytic Fusarium oxysporum isolates from banana (Musa spp.) plants in Kenya, against Pratylenchus goodeyi. Percentage paralyses were recorded 3, 6 and 24 h after exposure to culture filtrates. Percentage mortality was evaluated after 48 h. All isolates caused significantly higher percentage paralysis (17.5 - 25.9%) and percentage mortality (62.3 - 72.8%) of P. goodeyimotile stages compared to the control (8.4 - 10.9% and 17.3 - 34.6%, respectively). Percentage paralysis of motile stages of P. goodeyi decreased as the length of time exposure to culture filtrates increased, while mortality increased as length of nematodes exposure to culture filtrates increased. Kenyan isolates performed equally as good as the Ugandan isolate (V5W2) in causing paralysis and mortality. Results from this study demonstrated that endophytic F. oxysporum antagonizesP. goodeyi through production of secondary metabolites.Item Tissue Culture Banana (Musa spp.) for Smallholder Farmers: Lessons Learnt from East Africa(International Society for Horticultural Science, 2013) Mwaura, P.A.M.; Dubois, T.; Dusabe, Y.; Lule, M.; Van Asten, P.; Coyne, D.; Hobayo, J.C.; Nkurunziza, S.; Ouma, E.; Kabunga, N.; Qaim, M.; Kahangi, E.; Mwirigi, P.; Kisii, D.; Kizito, H.; Mugisha, J.The use of tissue culture (TC) banana (Musa spp.) planting material is an effective method of providing pest and disease-free plants. Although there are many added benefits to using TC plants, the adoption of TC technology remains relatively low in East Africa. Currently, adoption is increasing under impetus from the private sector. Adopting TC banana technology, however, is more expensive for the farmer than conventional suckers and may not be economically beneficial across all banana-producing areas in East Africa. One of the greatest potential dangers for sustainable commercial TC plant production is the limited use of certification for plant quality and health, which is especially important in order to avoid the spread of viruses. Additionally, TC plant nurseries are important components, as they provide essential distribution hubs connecting TC producers with farmers. However, TC nurseries in East Africa face an array of challenges. Organizing banana farmers into groups has long been considered advantageous, as they foster increased buying and selling power, reduce economic and social risk, increase economies of scale, and facilitate access to credit and inputs in the case of formally certified groups. Distribution of superior planting material alone, however, does not ensure improved productivity. Smallholder farmers are constrained by factors such as a lack of: land, capital, access to technology and effective marketing infrastructure. As such, efficient distribution systems need to deliver TC plants as part of a package, including training and access to micro-credit. Despite a booming commercial sector, there is only anecdotal evidence that farmers who have adopted TC bananas have benefitted substantially in terms of higher yields and household incomes. Sound socio-economic analyses are crucial to guide policy strategies, to learn from successes already achieved and to identify important constraints for a wider dissemination of TC banana in the region.