Browsing by Author "Runo, Steven"

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    Nutrient content of sorghum hybrid lines between Gadam and hard coat tannin sorghum cultivars
    (Wiley, 2022-06) Shinda, Cecilia A.; Nthakanio, Paul N.; Gitari, Josiah N.; Runo, Steven; Mukono, Simon; Maina, Samuel
    Sorghum is an important food crop in the world that exhibits a predominant role in fulfilling the nutritional requirements, particularly in low- income group populations of marginal areas in Kenya. It is a principal source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and crude fibers (CFs), which are important nutrients necessary for human development and health. Reduced tannin in sorghum grains is desirable since it affects the availability of nutrients. This study aimed at assessing the nutrient content in filial generation one (F1 ) developed between Gadam (sorghum), which is low in tannin and hard coat tannin (sorghum) cultivars. The nutrient content analyses were carried out from samples collected in a completely randomized design experiment. Crude protein (CP) and tannin content were analyzed using the modified Kjeldahl method and vanillin- HCl methanol method, respectively, whereas moisture, fat, CF, ash, and carbohydrate contents were determined using Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using R statistical software. Among the F1 s, Kari/Mtama- 1 x Gadam recorded the highest CP value of 10.390%. This differed significantly from Gadam x Kari/Mtama- 1 which recorded CP content of 9.770%. Kari/Mtama- 1 x Gadam recorded the highest fat and moisture contents of 2.299% and 8.600%, respectively. The highest CF content of 3.433% was recorded in Gadam x Serena. Gadam x Kari/Mtama- 1 recorded the highest ash content of 1.619%, whereas the highest carbohydrate (84.503%) and tannin content (0.771 mg/g) means were recorded in Seredo x Gadam. Results demonstrated that the choice of maternal and paternal parent influence CP, CF, and carbohydrate contents. Among the F1 s, tannin content ranged from 0.106 to 0.771 mg/g compared to 0.953 to 1.763 mg/g recorded in Serena and Seredo (hard coat seeded cultivars). This is an indication that tannin can be downregulated through hybridization.
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    Performance assessment of Crosses between Gadam and Hardcore Tannin sorghum in hybrid lines production
    (2022-06) Shinda, Cecilia A.; Gitari, Josiah N.; Nthakanio, Paul N.; Runo, Steven; Gichimu, Bernard M.; Maina, Samuel
    Gadam cultivar of sorghum has been characterized by low yields compared to the international yield levels of sorghum. In this research, Gadam was crossed with Serena, Seredo, and Kari/Mtama-1 in an attempt to increase yield through heterosis. The objective of this study was to determine the level of compatibility and heterosis in crosses between Gadam and the three sorghum lines in a reciprocal crossing. Gadam was crossed with the three lines and their reciprocals to make six treatments that were subjected to compatibility and heterosis tests. The F1 hybrid lines and their parental controls were sown in a randomized complete block design in three replicates. Compatibility and heterosis data variances were analyzed using R statistical software. The cross between Gadam x Serena, Serena x Gadam and the parent Gadam exhibited moderate mean plant height ranging from 99.5 cm to 120.5 cm. The cross Gadam x Serena recorded a desirable negative mid-parent heterosis of -19.89 and -16.16 for plant height and days to maturity respectively. All F1 hybrids recorded positive mid-parent heterosis for the panicle length, the number of reproductive tillers, a thousand seed weight, and the number of tillers per plant. The crosses Gadam x Seredo, Seredo x Gadam, Gadam x Serena and Kari/Mtama-1 x Gadam recorded significantly lower grain filling percentages compared to their parents. In conclusion, the F1 hybrids differed significantly from their reciprocal crosses especially in days of heading, flowering, and maturity indicating a significant maternal influence in these traits. Also, the mid-parent and better parent heterosis had a nonsignificant difference in quantitative traits assessed except for the plant height and grain filling percentage.
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    Witchweed’s Suicidal Germination: Can Slenderleaf Help?
    (MDPI, 2020-06) Mwakha, Fridah A.; Budambula, Nancy; Neondo, Johnstone O.; Gichimu, Bernard M.; Odari, Eddy O.; Kamau, Peter K.; Odero, Calvins; Kibet, Willy; Runo, Steven
    The parasitic plant Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth. is stimulated to germinate by biomolecules (strigolactones) produced in the roots of host and some non-host plants. Non-hosts induce Striga’s suicidal germination and are therefore used as trap crops. Among trap crops, the Slenderleaf legume in the genus Crotalaria (Crotalaria brevidens (L.) Benth.) and (Crotalaria orchroleuca (G.) Don.) has been popularized in African smallholder farms. However, the Striga germination e ciency of these locally grown Crotalaria varieties (landraces) is unknown. Also unclear is Crotolaria’s extent to inhibiting Striga growth, post germination. Extensive parasite penetration can expose the trap crop to secondary infections and possible phytotoxicity from Striga. We used in vitro germination assays to determine the Striga germination e ciency of 29 Crotalaria landraces. Furthermore, we determined Crotalaria’s ability to inhibit Striga attachment and growth using histological analysis. We found that: (i) Crotalaria stimulated germination of Striga seeds at frequencies ranging between 15.5% and 54.5% compared to 74.2% stimulation by the synthetic strigolactone (GR24) used a positive control; (ii) Crotalaria blocked Striga entry at multiple levels and did not allow growth beyond the pericycle, e ectively blocking vascular connection with the non-host. Hence, Crotalaria is suitable as a trap crop in integrated Striga management.