Food Security
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Publication Estimation of General and Specific Combining Ability of Maize Inbred Lines Using Single Cross Testers for Earliness(Science and Education Publishing, 2018-03-13) Mbuvi, Benard; Mwimali, Murenga; Githiri, MwangiMaize (Zea mays L.) is third most consumed crop worldwide after rice and wheat. Maize is the main staple food in sub-Saharan Africa and Kenya, however, production has continuously been low over the past years. A line by tester analysis was carried out for 30 inbred lines and two testers to evaluate the GCA and SCA effects for yield and associated traits at three locations in Kenya during the 2016/2017 growing season. There were significant GCA and SCA mean squares indicating that both additive and non-additive gene effects contributed to the inheritance of the traits studied. Sum of squares of GCA was more than of SCA hence additive main effects contributed more to the inheritance of the traits than non-additive gene effects. Lines 1, 17, 6, 29 and 30 were good general combiners for grain yield. Testcrosses L30×T2 (4.40 t ha-1), L13×T1 (3.85 t ha-1), L20×T1 (3.59 t ha-1) and L9×T1 (3.52 t ha-1) yielded higher than best check mean and had good specific combining ability for grain yield and earliness in anthesis and silking dates. These genotypes can be evaluated further for grain yield and earliness and commercially released for use in areas with short rains.Publication Maize Lethal Necrosis disease: review of molecular and genetic resistance mechanisms, socio-economic impacts, and mitigation strategies in sub-Saharan Africa(springer, 2022-11-23) Biswal, Akshaya Kumar; Alakonya, Amos Emitati; Mottaleb, Khondokar Abdul; Hearne, Sarah J.; Sonder, Kai; Molnar, Terence Luke; Jones, Alan M.; Pixley, Kevin Vail; Prasanna, Boddupalli MaruthiMaize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease is a significant constraint for maize producers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The disease decimates the maize crop, in some cases, causing total crop failure with far-reaching impacts on regional food security. In this review, we analyze the impacts of MLN in Africa, finding that resource-poor farmers and consumers are the most vulnerable populations. We examine the molecular mechanism of MLN virus transmission, role of vectors and host plant resistance identifying a range of potential opportunities for genetic and phytosanitary interventions to control MLN. We discuss the likely exacerbating effects of climate change on the MLN menace and describe a sobering example of negative genetic association between tolerance to heat/drought and susceptibility to viral infection. We also review role of microRNAs in host plant response to MLN causing viruses as well as heat/drought stress that can be carefully engineered to develop resistant varieties using novel molecular techniques.