National Agricultural Research Institute Research Articles

Evaluation and potential of Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay for serological characterization of rice yellow mottle virus isolates in West Africa

Rice yellow mottle virus is not only highly infectious to rice plants but also a highly variable pathogen. Forty-two isolates were obtained from five countries in West Africa. Utilizing 26 polyclonal antisera, the serological diversity of these isolates was determined using Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay. All the antisera were classified into three serogroups, PSg-1a, PSg-1b and PSg-2. Antisera belonging to PSg- 1a, PSg-1b andPSg-2 serogroups had diagnostic potential of 86-90%, 69-76% and 52-64%, respectively, for the 42 RYMV isolates analyzed using a dilution of up 1:200. Moreover, all isolates were separated into three serogroups, Sg-1a, Sg-1b and Sg-2. The first two groups are widely distributed across West Africa. The high diagnostic potential exhibited by the 26 RYMV polyclonal antisera indicates that Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay is useful and reliable for diagnosing RYMV. As the use of ELISA (Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is expensive and unavailable in most of the national agricultural research institute in West Africa, they can adopt Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay for the identification and characterization of Rice yellow mottle virus isolates. This is the first phylogenetic analysis report on the use of Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay to characterize Rice yellow mottle virus isolates in West Africa. Key words: Rice yellow mottle virus, rice, double immunodifusion gel assay, phylogenetic tree, polyclonal antisera, serological diversity, West Africa

Strengthening African universities' strategic role in knowledge and technology development: policies and practice from Sudan

Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are under increasing governmental pressure to make direct, visible, and relevant contributions to national research and development (ISNAR, 1995). The aim of this paper is to develop a framework for the analysis of the role of African universities in development-oriented research. Sudan provides the focus for this study primarily because of the strong differences in the size of its National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs), its cultural and historical backgrounds, and the organisation and management of its university research. This paper examines those factors influencing the contribution to the stock of intellectual knowledge and increased added value in Sudanese agriculture of agricultural research and technology development within the University of Gezira (GU). Conclusions are set within the context of the general constraints facing the agricultural sector in Sudan. The paper demonstrates that successful agricultural technology management for the future in Sudan is related closely to effective diffusion of knowledge from GU, and this in turn presents real challenges emanating from the continuing development of practical but complex linkages between the University and a range of partner institutions. A number of findings emerge, which outline the key issues relating to the effective management of the necessary technological transformation in Sudan, providing a blueprint for policy makers in taking appropriate and immediate measures to improve the agricultural technology development in Sudan.

Performance of temperate and subtropical forage legumes when over-seeding native pastures in the basaltic region of Uruguay

In 1997, an integrated plant breeding program was initiated at the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) Uruguay, to develop forage legumes and root nodule bacteria which were able to be productive in co-existence with the native (grass-dominant) vegetation when grazed by cattle and sheep. The program was conducted in parallel with rhizobial strain selection by the Rhizobium–Biological Nitrogen Fixation Unit of the Soil Microbiology Department of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay and the Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS), Murdoch University, Western Australia. Between 1998 and 2000, 326 temperate and subtropical forage legume species originating from 38 ex-situ seed collections were evaluated in 3 plantings on: red lithosol, black lithosol and vertisol soils at Glencoe Research Station in Uruguay. Row–column field designs were used. Forage production at the end of the second year of evaluation was used as the key selection parameter for the introduced legumes because their success required persistence in the pasture either vegetatively or by natural reseeding. This study identified a set of promising legumes and strains of Rhizobium that are now available for further study and breeding in Uruguay as well as other countries with a similar climate. The methodology developed in this study may be applicable to forage selection programs in which competition between annual and perennial species is expected to influence outcomes.

Regional application of a cropping systems simulation model: crop residue retention in maize production systems of Jalisco, Mexico

To ensure the productivity of smallholder maize production systems in Central America, increased attention must be paid to conserving soil and water resources. Various stakeholders from national agricultural research services (NARS), networks, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and research institutes seek to develop and target productivity enhancing resource conserving management practices such as crop residue retention systems. To support this process, a methodology with explicit spatial and temporal dimensions using the DSSAT crop simulation models was developed and applied to the case study of residue retention in maize production systems of Jalisco, Mexico. Systems where crop residues were partially or totally retained were compared with systems with no residue retention. Variables considered included crop production, soil surface runoff water, soil organic carbon and soil organic nitrogen content. Gridded climate surfaces and a range of soil profile scenarios formed the basis of the regional input. Three levels of nitrogen application (0, 150 and 235 kg ha −1) were selected to represent current agronomic practices. Simulation models for maize and fallow were run in sequence for 12 consecutive years. Results demonstrated that soil water holding capacity and topography affected benefits of residue retention much more than nitrogen management. Benefits to maize production from residue retention were found mainly in areas in the northeast of Jalisco and surrounding regions, where low precipitation limits maize production. Reductions in soil surface runoff due to residue retention were most evident in high rainfall areas in the central-east of Jalisco and surrounding regions. Although the effect of soil loss is not accounted for in DSSAT, areas of pronounced soil surface runoff reduction are hypothesized to be areas of productivity gain in the longer term. The assessment provided insight in the regional potential for and the soil and climate conditions under which successful introduction of residue retention in maize cropping systems in Jalisco may be achieved. In combination with socio-economic assessment studies and experimental work, the approach and its results contribute to targeted introduction of new production technologies.

Self Examination of the Regional Advisory Council of the National Agricultural Research Institute of Uruguay

The National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) is a public, agricultural research institution located in Uruguay. Regional Advisory Councils (RAC) were created in 1990 as a participatory and collaborative mechanism to involve stakeholders in the planning and prioritization of the agricultural research agenda. This study was conducted to assess RAC members’ perception as about their participation in agriculture research policy making. This research used a combination of mail survey and personal interviews. Questions were developed to ascertain the perceptions of RAC members about their selection process, representation, linkages with farmer organization, major barriers for appropriate functioning, areas of responsibilities, and relevance of the councils. Findings indicate that the RAC are relevant mechanisms in guiding research and in providing linkages between research staff and stakeholders. Although almost half (46%) of the members were selected by INIA, there was a genuine representation of the major farmer and agricultural organizations at the councils. Lack of prior knowledge of RAC meeting purposes, lack of timely communication, and extended length of council members’ services were reported as major procedural barriers. Respondents also indicated as important barriers for a better performance the low renovation of council members and involvement of young people.

Estimation of Methane Emission from Rice Cultivation in Korea

This study focused on estimating a methane (CH4) inventory and developing mitigation options in South Korea, and was performed jointly in an integrated national research program on CH4 from rice fields conducted by three National Agricultural Research Institutes, under the Rural Development Administration during 1993–1997. Methane emissions were measured by a closed chamber method, in rice plots at three locations (Suwon, Iksan, and Milyang) with the single rice cropping system. All experimental data from 5 years of study were summarized and used for calculating nation-wide CH4 emissions. Temperature, soil type, cultural practices, water management, organic matter management, and cultivar selection significantly affected the fluctuations of CH4 emissions. The two most promising mitigation options for reducing emissions were altered water management, in particular mid-season aeration by short-term drainage, and improved organic matter management, by promotion of aerobic degradation through composing or soil incorporation. Annual total CH4 emission in Korea changed from 410 Gg in 1990 to 339 Gg in 2000, due mainly to a decrease in the cultivated area of paddy rice. If we convert annual CH4 emission to Global Warming Potential as CO2 equivalent, it amounts to 7.1 M CO2 t yr−1 of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere in 2000 from the rice fields in Korea, which is just 5.3% of the annual CO2 emission from the industry and energy sector. More importantly, the balance between CO2 uptake by photosynthesis and CO2 emission is positive (a net sink), so that rice culture actually has net benefits for the global atmospheric carbon issue. Further reductions in emission amounts, by following recommendations in this article, could make these benefits even greater.

The effects of Gliricidia supplementation on intake and digestion of a Digitaria decumbens hay by Black-belly sheep

The research was carried out at the animal experimental station of the National Agricultural Research Institute of the French West Indies (Guadeloupe) in 1999. Effects on intake and digestion by sheep of addition of Gliricidia leaves to a diet of 35-day-old Digitaria decumbens (pangola) hay, have been studied. In a first trial (a 4×4 Latin Square design), four rams were fed four diets: hay (G0); hay plus 1300 g of Gliricidia (G0·25), hay plus 2600 g of Gliricidia (G0·50), hay plus 3900 g of Gliricidia (G0·75). Total dry matter intake (DM), hay and Gliricidia intake, total tract and rumen digestibility of DM and its components, microbial and total nitrogen flows were estimated. In a second trial (a 2×2 Latin Square design), the same animals received hay (G0) or Gliricidia (G1·00) ad libitum to estimate the rumen turnover of pangola and Gliricidia fibrous particle. Neutral detergent fibre and crude protein content of the Digitaria decumbens hay and Gliricidia were 746 and 51, 458 and 198 g/kg dry matter respectively. Total dry matter intake (DM) varied from 42·7 to 76 g DM/kg LW0·75 from G0 to G0·75. The rate of substitution of pangola by Gliricidia (decrease of pangola intake for one unit Gliricidia consumed) was 233 g/kg. The digestibility of cell-wall linearly decreased with increasing level of Gliricidia in the diet. No digestive interaction was registered in the mixed diets. The total nitrogen and microbial nitrogen duodenal flows increased with the level of Gliricidia in the diet. The rumen turnover of fibrous particles of Gliricidia was double that of pangola. The incorporation of Gliricidia in diets increases their nutritive value by higher intake and intestinal nitrogen duodenal flows, but no positive digestive interaction was observed between pangola hay and Gliricidia leaves.

Possible Contributions of the Philippine Agricultural Research System to Improving Human Nutrition

The need for participatory approaches has been mentioned several times. For the skeptics about the role of participation in research, let me say that participation is not a substitute for science. It enhances the practice of science, because it elaborates on its human purpose. About research partnerships, please look beyond the national agricultural research institutes. We have excellent researchers, many of whom are not in the national agricultural research institutes. But please treat national researchers as partners. We must do more adoption and impact-assessment studies so that our evaluation culture will grow, and press releases do not substitute for impact. Please do all you can to keep research output in the public domain so that the poor can afford them. Nutritional status should be the bottom-line indicator of human development. In presenting statistics on micronutrient deficiencies, we need to give these numbers a human face—most likely a female face. I have always believed that research must have a human purpose, and when the best of science and scientists are devoted to the problems of those who have less in life, that is ethics and equity at its best. Nutritional status is about as human as we can get.

Indicator quality for multidisciplinary systems.

In January 1998, a project studying the Unification of Indicator Quality for Assessment of Impact of Multidisciplinary Systems (UNIQUAIMS) began at IACR-Rothamsted. This three year European Union-funded project will examine the choice of indicators for the assessment of the sustainability and impact of multidisciplinary systems. The project links 27 developing country and European partners to clarify methods and rationalize indicators for assessing impact and sustainability in three priority areas: farming systems, ecosystems converted to agricultural use and degraded ecosystems. The results will be disseminated to national and regional agricultural research institutes, extension agents, research planners and policymakers to promote improved interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and cross-sectorial management of natural resources. A strong socioeconomic component is involved. This paper describes the scientific and policy issues which led to the project and focuses upon the need to: clarify current methods of impact and sustainability assessment; identify key qualitative and quantitative indicators for both baseline and on-going studies and their relevance at different scales, allowing for the balance between standardization and responsiveness to local conditions; and establish sound guidelines for indicator collection procedures at all stages of research, from project conception through to impact and sustainability assessment.

Farming systems research: relevance to Australia

Summary. Farming systems research was introduced into many international and national agricultural research institutes in lower income countries in the 1970s and 1980s with the purpose of improving the relevance of research for small-scale farmers. This review outlines the origin, context, goals, principles and process of farming systems research in these countries, and aims to enable agricultural professionals to assess the relevance and value of farming systems research to their work in particular situations in Australia and overseas. The key elements of farming systems research include a holistic approach, orientation towards the needs of defined target groups, high levels of farmer participation and hence co-learning by farmers and specialists. There is guidance by facilitators, continuous evaluation and linkage to policy makers. The goal of farming systems research is to improve the well-being of farmers through development of farming systems. It involves application of methods from various disciplines, first to define the constraints and opportunities for development and then to overcome these in a research process involving farmers, with specialists and policy makers. A generalised farming systems research procedure and various research activities are described. Initially in lower income countries, a fairly standard farming systems research procedure was used, but farming systems research has evolved to encompass a range of activities commonly regarded as the realm of agricultural extension or rural development. Basic science, applied science and farming systems research are compared in terms of the roles and relationships of the people involved in the research process. The implications of selecting farming systems research as a model for rural research and development are discussed. Achieving adequate levels of farmer participation can be a major issue in farming systems research so it is important that the principal notions of participation are understood. Success of farming systems research in Australia will depend on developing innovative ways of achieving high levels of participation. Current trends in the philosophy, practice and funding of agricultural research and extension in Australia make it timely to consider the wider adoption of farming systems research principles and practices. Farming systems research could provide a valuable philosophical and practical basis for the trend towards greater participation by researchers with end-users and extension practitioners in agricultural development programs. However, it seems unwise to adhere strictly to any one particular model of research and development from other places: farming systems research concepts are being combined successfully with those from other models, such as systems learning and computer modelling, to suit the needs of particular situations. Implications of a wider adoption of farming systems research in Australia for agricultural research and development organisations and professional bodies include, the establishment of multidisciplinary teams with shared goals, and the sourcing of funding for periods long enough to achieve outcomes. There is also a need for training in systems concepts and facilitation, for reputable channels of publication of the results of farming systems research and for greater recognition of participatory activities as valid forms of agricultural research.

Agronomic performance of chromosomes 1B and T1BL.1RS near-isolines in the spring bread wheat Seri M82

The T1BL.1RS wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - rye (Secale cereale L.) translocations have been of particular interest and are widely used in bread wheat breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the T1BL.1RS chromosome on grain yield and its components using 20 near-isolines of spring bread wheat cultivar ‘Seri M82’ (10 homozygous for chromosome 1B substitution and 10 homozygous for T1BL.1RS). The test lines have been produced by substituting the 1B chromosome in Seri M82 (T1BL.1RS, T1BL.1RS) through backrossing. Two field experiments were evaluated under optimum (five irrigations) and reduced (one irrigation) moisture conditions for two consecutive production cycles at the Mexican National Agricultural Research Institute, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The presence of T1BL.1RS had a significant effect on grain yield, harvest index, grains/m2, grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, test weight, flowering date and physiological maturity in both moisture conditions. The agronomic advantage of the 1B substitution lines on above-ground biomass yield at maturity, spikes/m2and grain-filling duration was expressed only under the optimum moisture condition. The presence of T1BL.1RS increased grain yield 1.6% and 11.3% for optimum and reduced moisture conditions, respectively. These results encourage further use of T1BL.1RS wheats in improving agronomic traits, especially for reduced irrigation or rainfed environments.

Sustainable Food-Crop Production in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Strategy for Technology Transfer in Millet Research

ABSTRACT Technological options available for increased millet production and productivity in the West and Central Africa are many in the National and International agricultural research institutions. Research information is available on the constraints associated with both the crop and the environment. Solutions in the form of improved technologies to several of these constraints are known. This paper addresses two fundamental questions: 1. What is technology transfer? 2. How to transfer technologies to the farmers to promote sustained millet production in the semi-arid tropics? The research conducted by scientists in the millet research network (sensu lato) is reviewed to partly answer the above questions. An indepth analysis of the achievements of the concepts involved in the process of technology transfer is presented to assess its implications both on NARS scientists research activities, farmers fields, and to identify critical elements for strategy development and implementation. The scope of the millet research network includes: technology transfer to farmers (appropriate varieties for respective production systems), development of improved insect control methods, control of mildew, and improvement of millet based cropping systems. The strategy or conceptual framework provides operational definitions of some key concepts involved in technology transfer namely: participation, collaboration, adoption, performance, and impact. These definitions involve shared values, expectations, competencies, ideas, resources, meaningful interactions, tension reduction/conflict resolution mechanisms, results, benefits shared among the various actors, and a clear vision of the future. All these factors can be pulled together to make up what is known as the technological transfer mix or the foundation of program impact planning and impact assessment. The paper concludes with a model based on the hypothetical relationships between the critical variables involved in explaining research performance and impact in transferring technologies to the farmers. The main concern and contribution of this paper is centered on construct discussion, and model operationalization for prediction purposes. These two notions are important in strategy development and impact assessment.

Building Institutional Capacity for On-Farm Research: Call System Training Courses

Building Institutional Capacity for On-Farm Research: Call System Training Courses

Observations on bovine embryo transfer in the people's republic of China

Genetic improvement has been given high priority in rice research for development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper provides an overview of historical efforts of genetic improvement in SSA focused on improving rice productivity. It further describes yield gain of new rice varieties evaluated in recent field experiments in four selected breeding target domains, and summarizes adoption studies on rice varieties. Efforts to develop rice varieties adapted to diverse rice production systems in SSA have been made by several research organizations, including national agricultural research institutes, bilateral organizations, and three CGIAR centers. The efforts have resulted in the release of around 570 rice varieties in 10 major rice-producing SSA countries by 2020. Among these varieties, the most well-known are interspecfic upland rice varieties “New Rice for Africa (NERICA)” that were developed from crosses between improved Oryza sativa tropical japonica and Oryza glaberrima varieties. However, recent field assessements demonstrated that upland rice yield can be further improved through introduction of upland indica materials from Asia. In contrast, lowland interspecific rice varieties out-yielded the previously released improved O. sativa varieties in selected SSA countries. Field assessments in Senegal and Madagascar did not demonstrate the yield advantage of the recently-developed varieties including hybrids over best performing ones released before. The adoption level of improved varieties in terms of share of area occupied by improved varieties in 18 SSA countries was 40 % in 2008 with old varieties that were released before 2000 being dominant and 7% of the total rice area occupied by NERICA varieties. Especially in irrigated and rainfed lowland rice systems, the majority of dominant varieties were still those introduced from Asia. Panel data between 2002 and 2019 from the Senegal River Valley also confirmed this, and Sahel 108, which was introduced from Asia and released in Senegal in 1994, accounted for >70 % of the total rice area in both the wet and dry seasons in 2019. The implications of this review for future rice genetic improvement and varietal replacement in SSA are discussed.

資料課長20年の軌跡と将来方向への課題-国立試験研究機関の図書館の問題点-

ライブラリアンとしての著者を支えてきたのは, MAY I HELP YOU?という言葉である。この言葉はアメリカの図書館のライブラリアンが利用者に声をかける時の呼びかけの言葉で, この言葉が含んでいる奉仕の精神が, 著者の20年間にわたるライブラリアンとしての活動にどう生かされてきたか述べている。また, 国立試験研究機関の図書館の発展に参考になると思われる点についても具体的に述べている。

Long Ashton Research Station

Long Ashton's origins were related to early interests in food science, for in the 19th Century when Somerset was a wheat‐producing county, each farm made its own cider as an incentive for the hand reapers. But cider quality varied greatly and, in 1893, the Bath and West Society initiated experiments into cider making. On the basis of ten years' results, reported to the Board of Agriculture, the National Fruit and Cider Institute was established on a 14‐acre site at Long Ashton in 1903. Under the Agricultural Development Act of 1909, Long Ashton received further support to widen its activities as one of the new National Agricultural Research Institutes. Since 1912, the Station has been a Department of the University of Bristol, and is also one of the thirty institutes under the aegis of the Agricultural Research Council.

Science and Engineering in China

IN a review of developments in China under the republican regime entitled “China To-day: The Thirtieth Anniversary of the Chinese Republic, 1911-1941” (Central Union of Chinese Students in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Pp. 55. 1s.) there are three articles of special interest to scientific workers. The first of these, by P. M. Yap, describes the utilization of science in China, where science and statecraft are already closely linked. In peace-time, the National Economic Council is responsible for economic planning, the execution of its plans resting with the Ministries of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Forestry, and Communications. The former maintains three research institutes for hydraulic engineering, for mining and metallurgy, and for industrial technology. Under the Ministry of Agriculture there is the National Agricultural Research Institute, and various research bureaux are attached to the Ministry of Communications, and also directly to the National Economic Council. The National Health Administration has steadily established a series of public health stations and clinics all over the country and has contributed much to the expansion and improvement of the Army Medical Service. Most of its research and development work is carried out in the National Institute of Health. Apart from the universities and private research foundations, scientific research of the long-range type is carried out by the Academia Sinica and the National Academy at Peiping, the former of which, through the National Research Council, is responsible for directing and co-ordinating scientific activities in China.