Production In sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

Genetic resources and breeding of maize for Striga resistance: a review.

The potential yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and other major crops is curtailed by several biotic, abiotic, and socio-economic constraints. Parasitic weeds, Striga spp., are major constraints to cereal and legume crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yield losses reaching 100% are reported in maize under severe Striga infestation. Breeding for Striga resistance has been shown to be the most economical, feasible, and sustainable approach for resource-poor farmers and for being environmentally friendly. Knowledge of the genetic and genomic resources and components of Striga resistance is vital to guide genetic analysis and precision breeding of maize varieties with desirable product profiles under Striga infestation. This review aims to present the genetic and genomic resources, research progress, and opportunities in the genetic analysis of Striga resistance and yield components in maize for breeding. The paper outlines the vital genetic resources of maize for Striga resistance, including landraces, wild relatives, mutants, and synthetic varieties, followed by breeding technologies and genomic resources. Integrating conventional breeding, mutation breeding, and genomic-assisted breeding [i.e., marker-assisted selection, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, next-generation sequencing, and genome editing] will enhance genetic gains in Striga resistance breeding programs. This review may guide new variety designs for Striga-resistance and desirable product profiles in maize.

Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Agricultural Sector: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis and Regression Analysis

Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Agricultural Sector: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis and Regression Analysis

Parasitism of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci by aphelinid parasitoids on cassava across five agro-ecological zones of Cameroon

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is the vector of cassava mosaic viruses causing cassava viral diseases, which are the most important biotic constraints of cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Presently, B. tabaci management in cassava fields calls for the development of an integrated approach that relies on host plant resistance and biological control. Data on B. tabaci's natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, in Central Africa are limited. Field surveys were conducted from 2015 to 2017 to identify parasitoids associated with B. tabaci in 5 Cameroon agro-ecological zones. Additionally, population dynamics studies were conducted in replicated fields experiments were conducted from 2016 to 2018 to identify cassava genotypes that can best promote B. tabaci parasitism. Two parasitoids, Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) and Encarsia lutea (Masi) were found parasitizing B. tabaci nymphs with higher parasitism by E. lutea compared with E. sophia. The average parasitism rate during the survey was 33.4% for E. lutea and 8.4% for E. Sophia, regardless of AEZ. The highest parasitism rates by E. lutea (48.2% and 24.2% from field trials and surveys, respectively) were observed in the Western Highlands (AEZ 3) while parasitism by E. sophia was less than 12.4%. Four cassava genotypes (I090590, I011797, I090574, and I070593) promoted higher parasitism rates of B. tabaci by E. lutea and E sophia. The contributions of the two parasitoids and their integration with cassava genotypes for the management of B. tabaci in cassava fields are discussed.

Fertilizers for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa: An overview of soil health implications

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces chronic food insecurity associated with soil degradation and the peculiar aftermath of climate change and exacerbated by rising population and historically poor agricultural practices. Notably, use of mineral fertilizers has the potential to counteract soil degradation in SSA; it drives an increased agricultural production required to feed the rising population while sustaining the quality and health of soils. However, limited financial resources deprive SSA of the promise of fertilizers, wherein application rates are historically low, and regimes are characterized by unbalanced nutrient composition and poor fertilizer quality. Although current global fertilizer use is generally characterized by low efficiency, SSA is most affected due to the already low usage and the quality of available fertilizer products. About 70% of fertilizer-nitrogen is lost through unregulated transformation to ammonia, nitrous oxide, and nitrate that are either volatilized or emitted into the atmosphere or leached into water bodies. Similarly, the preponderance of fertilizer-phosphorus is lost via run-off and leaching, unavailing it to plants while overloading streams and rivers and, together with nitrate, causing eutrophication. These environmental problems are accentuated in SSA where fertilizer quantity and quality issues are already a limiting factor. Notably, recent advances happening outside of SSA indicate that nutrients, when strategically formulated, such as by nano packaging, (bio)polymer encapsulation, and tunable to respond to environmental cues, can provide multiple outcomes, particularly, healthy soils with higher productivity. Therefore, presumably, a proper synthesis of the gamut of soil properties influencing plant nutrient release and availability, options for plant exposure and uptake is critical for realizing these benefits in SSA. Despite these possibilities, there is a lack of deeper context on fertilizer-related issues as they affect food and nutrition security and the health of soils in SSA. This paper provides an overview of the fertilizer-nutrient and associated agronomic, food insecurity and soil environmental challenges and opportunities, which though not exclusive to SSA per se, can be reasoned with the peculiarity of the region. This provides the impetus to increase fertilizer use efficiency, improve soil and environmental health, sustainable crop production, and food and nutrition security in SSA.

Economic Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture is the main livelihood in Sub-Saharan Africa, but land degradation due to improper agricultural practices and climate change seriously causes a decline in yields. Climate change impacts agricultural production directly through temperature levels and water availability, and indirectly through its impact on disease vectors and pests. This paper investigates the economic impact of climate change on agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa. Country-level panel data of sub-Saharan African countries are used to analyze the impact of temperature and precipitation on agricultural production. Deviations in temperature and precipitation from their long-term average are used in agricultural production models. The results indicate that a slight deviation in temperature from its long-term average impacts agricultural production positively and significantly, while its larger deviations affect production negatively. Both the slight and large deviation in precipitation impact agricultural production negatively and significantly. All agricultural production input variables have significant effects on agricultural production in the region. The study concludes by forwarding useful recommendations that base appropriate ecosystem management and production systems. The findings imply that the impact of climate change on agriculture is detrimental. To overcome the impact of climate change, the study suggests appropriate land use policy formulation, natural resource conservation, implementing best agronomic practices, and maintaining the population at an optimum level in the region.

Potential of organic waste to energy and bio-fertilizer production in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

Potential of organic waste to energy and bio-fertilizer production in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

Climate-resilient development: An approach to sustainable food production in sub-Saharan Africa

Climate change is profoundly affecting the activities in the agricultural sector in almost all regions of the world. To adapt to the prevailing climatic conditions has translated into a cascade of risks for agro-ecosystems and agricultural production, ultimately impacting food security and nutrition. Hence, the study examines the effect of climate change on food production in 32 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2005 and 2019 using Fixed Effects (FE) and Two-Step System-Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation. Findings help better understand the link resulting from climate change to adverse impacts on food production, as empirical analyses indicate that an increase in climate change (CO2 emissions) will result in a significant reduction of food production in SSA. This implies that climate change seems to have significantly contributed to the challenges associated with food insecurity in the region. Via changes in average temperature and rainfall patterns, climate change could be exacerbating existing threats and issues related to food production in the SSA region. It is therefore suggested that to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on food production, policy makers should aim at encouraging and adopting good adaptation approach, primarily at the production stage of food supply.

Genetic analyses and detection of point mutations in the acetylcholinesterase-1 gene associated with organophosphate insecticide resistance in fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) populations from Uganda

BackgroundThe fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda; J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is now an economically important pest that causes huge losses to maize productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Variations in sub-population genetics and the processes of rapid adaptation underpinning the invasion remain unclear. For this, the genetic identity and diversity of FAW populations in Uganda were revealed by sequencing 87 samples (collected across the country). Based on the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene polymorphisms, we further examined the mitochondrial haplotype configuration and compared the FAW in Uganda with sequences from other parts of the world. The molecular target for organophosphate and carbamate resistance, acetylcholinesterase, was also investigated.ResultsAnalysis of the partial COI gene sequences showed the presence of both rice (predominant) and corn strain haplotypes, with a haplotype diversity of 0.382. Based on the COI marker, pairwise difference distribution analyses, and neutrality tests, showed that the FAW populations in Uganda and the rest of Africa are evolving neutrally, but those in America and Asia are undergoing expansion. Our findings support observations that invasive FAW populations throughout the rest of Africa and Asia share a common origin. Sequencing of the S. frugiperda ace-1 gene revealed four amino acid substitutions, two of which (A201S and F290V) were previously shown to confer organophosphate resistance in both S. frugiperda and several other insect species. The other two previously reported new variations in positions g-396 and g-768, are presumed to be related to the development of insecticide resistance.ConclusionsThis research has increased our knowledge of the genetics of FAW in Uganda, which is critical for pest surveillance and the detection of resistance. However, due to the low gene polymorphism of COI, more evolutionary studies incorporating the Spodoptera frugiperda whole-genome sequence are required to precisely understand the FAW population dynamics, introduction paths, origin, and subsequent spread.

A meta‐analysis of the effects of Striga control methods on maize, sorghum, and major millets production in sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractParasitic Striga weeds severely damage cereal crops in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to yield losses in susceptible varieties. A range of Striga control methods are commonly recommended, including cultural practices, chemical herbicides, biological control agents, and host resistance, either as solo treatments or in combinations of these approaches (i.e., integrated Striga management [ISM]). A limited number of studies compared the relative efficacy of the recommended Striga control methods, or their combinations for ISM, in cereal crop production in SSA. The objective of this paper was to undertake a meta‐analysis and provide a detailed comparison of the Striga control methods in the production of maize, sorghum, and the major millets, as a guide to effective Striga management. The study was conducted as a meta‐analysis of 66 research articles that reported on various control measures. The following agronomic data were collected: grain yield (GY) response of the assessed crops and Striga parameters such as damage rating score (SDR) and emergence count (SEC). Maize varieties possessing Striga‐resistant genes displayed high mean yield values at 2053.00 kg ha−1, varying from 281.00 to 6260.00 kg ha−1, and a mean SDR of 4.70, ranging from 2.00 to 7.00. Likewise, sorghum varieties with Striga resistance genes achieved greater GY with a mean yield response of 1738.00 kg ha−1, ranging from 850.00 to 2162.00 kg ha−1. A relatively low GY was achieved in maize and sorghum production when deploying ISM (e.g., cultural control + host resistance and host resistance + chemical herbicides) and chemical Striga control. Effective ISM and pre‐ and post‐emergent herbicides have not yet been identified for Striga control and yield gains. Striga damage negatively affected GY in maize, as revealed by the significant correlation (r = −0.36, P < 0.001) between GY and SDR. A relatively weak correlation was detected in maize between GY and SEC (r = 0.003, P = 0.96). Sorghum GY was negatively correlated with SEC, although nonsignificantly (r = −0.30, P = 0.36). Few studies have evaluated Striga control methods in pearl millet and finger millet, limiting the opportunity for an effective comparison. The study recommends SDR as the best selection criterion for improving GY performance in maize, while SEC and SDR are the parameters of choice in sorghum selection programs for better GY under Striga infestation. Overall, the meta‐analysis indicates that host resistance is the most effective method for controlling Striga infestation and boosting GY in maize and sorghum. There is an ongoing need for research into the best combinations of the reported control methods as a sound basis for the recommendation of an ISM package across target production environments of common cereals in Africa.

Mapping quantitative trait loci and predicting candidate genes for Striga resistance in maize using resistance donor line derived from Zea diploperennis.

The parasitic weed, Striga is a major biological constraint to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and threatens food and nutrition security. Two hundred and twenty-three (223) F2:3 mapping population involving individuals derived from TZdEI 352 x TZEI 916 were phenotyped for four Striga-adaptive traits and genotyped using the Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) to determine the genomic regions responsible for Striga resistance in maize. After removing distorted SNP markers, a genetic linkage map was constructed using 1,918 DArTseq markers which covered 2092.1cM. Using the inclusive composite interval mapping method in IciMapping, twenty-three QTLs influencing Striga resistance traits were identified across four Striga-infested environments with five stable QTLs (qGY4, qSC2.1, qSC2.2, qSC5, and qSC6) detected in more than one environment. The variations explained by the QTLs ranged from 4.1% (qSD2.3) to 14.4% (qSC7.1). Six QTLs each with significant additive × environment interactions were also identified for grain yield and Striga damage. Gene annotation revealed candidate genes underlying the QTLs, including the gene models GRMZM2G077002 and GRMZM2G404973 which encode the GATA transcription factors, GRMZM2G178998 and GRMZM2G134073 encoding the NAC transcription factors, GRMZM2G053868 and GRMZM2G157068 which encode the nitrate transporter protein and GRMZM2G371033 encoding the SBP-transcription factor. These candidate genes play crucial roles in plant growth and developmental processes and defense functions. This study provides further insights into the genetic mechanisms of resistance to Striga parasitism in maize. The QTL detected in more than one environment would be useful for further fine-mapping and marker-assisted selection for the development of Striga resistant and high-yielding maize cultivars.

The potential of converting plastic waste to 3D printed products in Sub-Saharan Africa

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) can transform low-income societies with underdeveloped infrastructure and inadequate manufacturing capabilities. However, uptake in sub-Saharan Africa is still very low. This study adopted a transdisciplinary approach which included critical synthesis of the extant literature, laboratory experiment and a cross sectional engagement with stakeholders, to examine the potential of converting plastic waste to 3D printed products in sub-Saharan Africa. The study showed that while several extruders have been developed in the last decade, there are still many challenges some of which include difficulty to produce filaments with consistent diameter, degraded mechanical properties and health hazards from emissions during extrusion. Furthermore, it was observed that communities across sub-Saharan Africa are interested in 3D printing but do not have sufficient understanding. The study highlights the need for building local capacity to develop, operate and maintain technologies associated with 3D printing.

Insurance Penetration in Africa—A Systematic Literature Review

Insurance in developing countries is not regarded as a main driver for economic growth as compared to other sectors such as infrastructure development and technology. However, insurance contributes to the national economies of many countries in a lot of ways such as employment creation, tax payment, investment, savings, and risk stabilisation amongst others. Insurance further alleviates government efforts in the provision of some amenities such as pension, improving lives of people, economic diversification, mitigating against risks and attracting Direct Foreign Investment (FDI) through risk stabilisation. The rate of insurance penetration in Africa is directly rated to the development and economic growth of a particular country. The systematic review aims to determine why there is a low uptake of insurance products in the Sub-Saharan Region using available, accessed, and published literature. The researcher conducted a systematic review in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. The Google search engine, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched for literature published. The evidence found, was arranged in a table format and thematic analysis. The findings indicate that poverty, lack of product knowledge, inadequate sensitization by the regulator and the low-income levels, were the main contributors to the low uptake of insurance products in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Fish Farmers Regarding Water Quality and Its Management in the Rwenzori Region of Uganda

As the number of inhabitants in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) increases, demand for animal-source proteins outstrips the current supply. Aquaculture is promoted to sustain livelihood and for improved food security. However, the production in SSA is still low at less than 1% of the total global production. Poor water quality is cited to be one of the factors limiting the growth of the aquaculture sector and is attributed to limited familiarity with standard aquaculture practices. Thus, a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) survey was carried out among fish farmers in five districts of the Rwenzori region. Our results showed that 81% and 80% of them had poor knowledge and practices concerning water quality in aquaculture, respectively. Seventy percent did not know that fish farming caused pollution, while 68% believed that there was no need to treat fish farm effluents. Only 45% showed good attitudes towards water quality management. Fish farmers that fed fish with only complete pellets and those that combined them with locally available products (LAP) were 8 and 5 times more likely to possess more knowledge (p < 0.01) on water quality as compared to others that used only LAP. Slight improvements in attitudes and practices for every unit increment in knowledge were observed (p < 0.05). This limited familiarity with water quality management could severely impede the growth of aquaculture, as well as the sustainable utilization of available water resources. Therefore, there is a need for more training and improvement of extension services among fish farming communities.

Energy poverty, environmental degradation and agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT Agricultural productivity remains pivotal to the sustenance of the economies and livelihoods of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Given the emerging threat of energy and environmental uncertainties globally, this study makes a foray into understanding the link among energy poverty, environmental degradation and agricultural productivity in 35 SSA nations in particular, and the nature of their impacts across the sub-region constituents namely; the Central, Eastern, Western and Southern sub-regional blocs in general. To begin, our identified variables comprised of the following: Energy Poverty Index, derived using the principal component analysis, agricultural value added as a share of GDP served as a measure of agricultural productivity and ecological footprint to represent environmental degradation. Subsequently, the instrumental variable generalized method of moment (IV‐GMM) technique was implemented for the aggregate SSA model, while the IV-two stage least square technique was adopted for the sub-regional estimations for the Central, East, West and South African blocs respectively. Major findings from the SSA model revealed that whereas the index of energy poverty has a significant positive influence, ecological footprint exhibited an inverse and significant impact on agricultural productivity, while the Central, East, West and South African models yielded mixed results given regional disparities in economic development, regional variations in agricultural productivity and an imbalance of available resources. Policy recommendations were suggested to, among other things, transform the energy, environmental and agricultural fortunes of the region.

Biological control interventions reduce pest abundance and crop damage while maintaining natural enemies in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis.

Insect pests are a major challenge to smallholder crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where access to synthetic pesticides, which are linked to environmental and health risks, is often limited. Biological control interventions could offer a sustainable solution, yet an understanding of their effectiveness is lacking. We used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the effectiveness of commonly used biocontrol interventions and botanical pesticides on pest abundance (PA), crop damage (CD), crop yield (Y) and natural enemy abundance (NEA) when compared with controls with no biocontrol and with synthetic pesticides. We also evaluated whether the magnitude of biocontrol effectiveness was affected by type of biocontrol intervention, crop type, pest taxon, farm type and landscape configuration. Overall, from 99 studies on 31 crops, we found that compared to no biocontrol, biocontrol interventions reduced PA by 63%, CD by over 50% and increased Y by over 60%. Compared to synthetic pesticides, biocontrol resulted in comparable PA and Y, while NEA was 43% greater. Our results also highlighted that the potential for biocontrol to be modulated by landscape configuration is a critical knowledge gap in SSA. We show that biocontrol represents an effective tool for smallholder farmers, which can maintain yields without associated negative pesticide effects. Furthermore, the evidence presented here advocates strongly for including biocontrol practices in national and regional agricultural policies.

Improving the Photosynthetic Efficiency and Productivity of Cowpea in Sub Saharan Africa: A Review

Recent studies have found compelling evidence that enhancing photosynthetic mechanisms through genetic engineering can increase crop yield potential. This paper focuses on cowpea productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, its importance, factors limiting photosynthetic potential, and techniques towards boosting cowpea photosynthetic efficiency. High light intensity, low temperature, low CO2 environment, and water scarcity have all been identified as key limiting factors for crop photosynthetic efficiency. Deactivation of Rubisco functioning in shade has also been noted to reduce cowpea photosynthetic potential. However, recent successes have been observed through genetic manipulation of photosynthesis traits so as to improve photosynthetic efficiency and yield under control conditions with considerable increase in yield from 14 to 40%. Thus, improving photosynthesis has the potential to increase crop productivity.

Genetic Analysis of Agronomic and Fall Armyworm-Resistance Traits in Maize Hybrids with Varying Levels of Resistance to Stem Borers

Stem borer (SB) and more recently, fall armyworm (FAW) are serious economic pests in maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. It is hypothesized that SB-resistant germplasm may confer resistance against FAW. However, the performance of SB-resistant lines in hybrid combinations and the inheritance of FAW-resistant traits under variable FAW infestations have not been reported. This study was conducted to (i) obtain information on the inheritance of agronomic and FAW-resistant traits under variable FAW infestations; (ii) identify hybrids combining high grain yield (GYLD) and stability under FAW infestations; and (iii) determine the effects of FAW damage on GYLD. Three SB-resistant lines (1393, CKSBL10060 and CML 331) as testers and six open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) as lines were crossed in a line tester scheme to generate eighteen test crosses. The test crosses together with two tester × tester crosses and two checks were evaluated under artificial FAW infestation (AI), natural infestation (NI) and pesticide-protected condition (PC) in Nigeria. Additive and non-additive effects were significant for GYLD, most agronomic and FAW-resistant traits under AI and NI, except ear damage (EDAM) scores under NI, whereas only the non-additive effect was significant for GYLD under PC. Two testers (1393 and CKSBL10060) combined significant and positive GCA effects for GYLD with desirable GCA effects for FAW-resistant traits under AI and NI, whereas CML 331 combined significant and negative GCA effects of GYLD with undesirable GCA effects of FAW resistance under the test conditions. Three OPVs (AWR SYN-W2, AMATZBR-WC4 and TZB-SR) had a significantly positive GCA effect for GYLD and a desirable GCA effect for either leaf damage (LDAM) or EDAM score under AI. The FAW LDAM and EDAM significantly reduced GYLD under AI but not under NI. Three test crosses (AMATZBR-WC4 x CKSBL10060, TZB-SR x CKSBL10060 and TZBR Comp 1-WC2 × 1393) combined high yield with stability and FAW tolerance across the test conditions and thus were recommended for further testing.

Adoption Patterns and Intensity for Multiple BananaTechnologies in Uganda

The adoption of improved technologies is widely recognized as key to improving agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study analyzes adoption patterns and intensity of multiple banana technologies in Uganda which have been promoted over time. We used primary data collected from 383 banana farmers sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Multivariate probit (MVP) and ordered probit analyses were applied to establish the adoption patterns and adoption intensity, respectively, and any factors affecting them. The findings highlight that 15 pairwise correlation coefficients among banana technologies were statistically significant implying that banana farmers adopt technologies simultaneously. The household size, total banana area, ecological location, membership to farmer groups, access to formal credit sources, and the type of market accessed had significant effects on household adoption patterns and intensity. Thus, it is recommended that such factors should be seriously considered in addition to technology characteristics when planning promotion programs. Simultaneous adoption implies that each of the technologies should be considered as a package which contributes to the increased farmer options and maximum synergistic effects among them. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the key variables which affect the pattern and intensity of adopting technological packages involving both input intensification and low-external-input technologies in Uganda.

Genotypic Yield Stability of Wild and Landrace Sorghum Species Under Drought Stress and Striga Infestation

Recurring drought stress cycles and widespread striga (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth) infestations are two of the major constraints of sorghum production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where they cause a crop loss of about 60 billion US dollars and affect a population of about 100 M people annually. Plant breeders continue to employ conventional and molecular crop breeding strategies in the search for durable genetic resistance/tolerance mechanisms or for germplasm with genes against these two constraints. Crop wild relatives and landraces remain valuable resources of resistance/tolerance genes and have been utilized in the past to improve tolerance to drought stress and resistance to striga. The aim of this study was to assess the stability of performance of 64 sorghum wild relatives, landraces and progenies from some generation of crosses under striga infested and drought stress conditions in agroecological environments endemic for these two stresses. The performance of the genotypes under drought stress was assessed in well-watered and in water stressed conditions at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Kiboko Research Centre whereas the same set was evaluated under striga artificially infested field and potted trials at the KALRO Alupe Research Centre during 2018/2019 rainy seasons. Genotypes, B35 × ICSV III N, Macia, N13, ICSV 111 IN, F6YQ212 × B35, SRN39, GENO47293, ICSV 111 IN × B35, IS9830, Framida, GENO 45827, F6YQ212, B35 × AKUOR ACHOT were found to maintain stable high yields in both striga and drought conditions. The results here, showed that Genotype, Genotype × Environment (GGE) interaction partitioned genotypes in two of the four mega-environments according to their stability and mean grain yield (GY) and identified representative genotypes of the two traits that could be exploited to develop superior sorghum varieties adapted to drought and striga prone environments.

Epidemiological and pathological screening of suspected cases of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Yola Modern Abattoir, Adamawa State Nigeria

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is an important infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides and a major constraint to cattle production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was aimed to identify pathological and histopathological lesions identified in cattle tentatively diagnosed with CBPP at Yola Modern Abattoir, Adamawa State. A total of 9,750 cattle were examined at post-mortem for a period of six months, 110 (1.13%) had lesions suggestive of CBPP out of which seventeen (17) were randomly selected and processed for histopathology based on standard laboratory protocols. Based on sex, CBPP lesion was observed more in female 63 (1.06%) than in the male 47 (1.24%). Whereas, CBPP lesions was observed highest in White Fulani breed 68 (1.14%) followed by Cross breeds 23 (91.16%) and Sokoto Gudali 19 (1.74%) and lowest in Red Bororo 10 (1.36%). There was insignificant statistical association (P>0.05) between CBPP lesions and sex and breed of cattle sampled. Age distribution of CBPP lesion was observed higher in cattle between ages of 4-7 years 79 (1.16%), followed by cattle of 1-3 years 28 (1.15%) and least in cattle less than 1 year 3 (0.60%) with significant statistical difference (P<0.05) between the age groups. Histopathology lesions observed include severe congestion of pulmonary blood vessel in all the lung tissues and fibrin exudation into inter-alveolar spaces with almost all the alveoli collapsed. The bronchiolar epithelium was observed to be thickened, hyperplastic and folded, with a considerable quantity of edematous fluid and numerous inflammatory cells seen in the lumen. In conclusion, this study had demonstrated the presence of CBPP lesions in cattle in the study area. Therefore, serological screening of all cattle, stamping out policies and aggressive annual vaccination campaigns are thus recommended in the study area.