Browsing by Author "Adrogu Ugen, Michael"

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    Climbing beans in Uganda: A perspective of smallholder farmers on their determinants, associated challenges and implications for research
    (African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2018) Takusewanya, Rose; Namayanja, Annet; Adrogu Ugen, Michael; Nkalubo, Stanley; Lapaka Odong, Thomas; Bwogi, Godfrey Vianney
    In many parts of the world including Uganda climbing beans are mostly grown in highland areas where population density is high and land is limiting. The objective of this study was to contribute to understanding the current status of the factors affecting productivity of climbing beans among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Kisoro and Kabale districts in the South West were selected for the study. Primary data was collected based on 150 households selected randomly in each district in January and June, 2014. In both districts, climbing beans was ranked as a major crop enterprise for income (72.7%). Most of the interviewed households (84 and 92%) in Kisoro and Kabale respectively appreciated that the major advantage of climbing beans was suitability to areas with limited land. The study revealed practices that seem to integrate the different factors and the various components within each factor promoting ecological or interrelatedness in the production system. Lack of staking materials was ranked by the majority (Kisoro 45% and Kabale 59%) as the most important constraint. Common bean diseases (49%) and pests (45%) were highly ranked in Kisoro as compared to Kabale (13 and 22%). Labour scarcity was ranked by the majority of farmers in Kabale (49%) as compared to Kisoro (19%). Given the importance of climbing beans in the two districts, the study recommends their continued and sustainable intensification.
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    Molecular diagnostics of groundnut rosette disease agents in Uganda: Implications on epidemiology and management of groundnut rosette disease
    (Journal of plant breeding and crop science, 2017) Kalule Okello, David; Adrogu Ugen, Michael; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Ochwo- Ssemakula, Mildred; Lapaka Odong, Thomas; Adriko, John; Kiconco, Faith; Male, Allan; Deom, Carl Michael
    The objective of this study was to use molecular diagnostic tools to detect the agents of groundnut rosette disease (GRD) to guide in varietal development and disease management. Samples were collected from both GRD infected and healthy plants and sites geo-referenced. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, electrophoresis, staining and visualization were performed according to standard procedures. Molecular diagnosis of the samples showed various combinations of the GRD agents, some in isolation and others a combination of two or three agents. This distribution is attributed to dependence on the aphid feeding behaviour and pathogenicity of GRD agents. Chlorotic and green rosette symptoms were observed throughout the sampling sites signifying the presence of satellite RNA (sat-RNA) variants. Some plants showing GRD symptoms tested negative for GRD, whereas some healthy-looking plants tested positive for the GRD complexes pointing to the ineffectiveness of phenotypic screening and the need for a molecular diagnostic tool that detects all three GRD agents both in absence or presence of disease symptoms. The absence of groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV) in some symptomatic samples signifies that they are epidemiologically dead end sources since GRV and sat-RNA must be packaged within the GRAV coat protein to be aphid transmissible. Oyado (Cassia obtusifolia) tested positive for all the GRD agents making it a potential alternative host. There is an urgent need for validation of the phenotypic screening with molecular tools in efficient diagnosis of the multi-pathogenic GRD in guiding both plant breeding and pathology work.
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    Registration of ‘NAROSORG1 and NAROSORG3’ Sorghum Varieties with High Grain Yield and Superior Grain Qualities from Uganda
    (International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 2020) Andiku, Charles; Lubadde, Geofrey; Aru, Charles John; Emanio, John; Adrogu Ugen, Michael; Ebiyau, Johnie
    Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the third most important cereals after maize and rice in Uganda. It is mainly grown by the resource-poor rural farmers in Uganda as a staple food, but this trend has changed recently due to the gradual transition of the crop from traditional food crops to a cash crop. National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) therefore developed and released NAROSORG1 and NAROSORG3 in 2017 with high yields and superior grain qualities for food and commercial beer production in the country. NAROSORG1 and NAROSORG3 are a selection from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) advanced breeding lines ICSR160 and IESV92043DL respectively. Sorghum line, IESV92043DL (NAROSORG3) was bred by ICRISAT Nairobi from a cross between KARI Mtama 1 x Seredo and developed into an open-pollinated pure line variety through pedigree selection. However, the sorghum line, ICSR160 (NAROSORG1) was introduced as a Restorer or Male Parent (R-Line) for hybrid development from ICRISAT India but adapted well as a variety with very good brewing qualities for lager beer (no tannin and high extracts) production and its white-seeded variety. Performance evaluation was conducted in Uganda for two consecutive seasons of 2017 and the results showed that NAROSORG1 and NAROSORG3 had significantly higher grain yields (13.8% and 12.2%) and 1000-seed weight percentages (30.2% and 28.9%) respectively than commercial check variety, SESO1. NAROSORG1 has a good grain quality with 100% free tannin levels which is good for commercial lager beer production while NAROSORG3 had sweet juicy stalk with stay-green trait suitable for forage production in addition to good grain quality.
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    Registration of ‘NAROSORG2’ Sorghum Variety with Desirable Farmer Attributes for Uganda
    (International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 2020) Andiku, Charles; Lubadde, Geofrey; Aru, Charles John; Emanio, John; Adrogu Ugen, Michael; Ebiyau, Johnie
    Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the major cereal in Uganda that has recently evolved from being a food crop to a cash crop. However, low farm yields of less than 500 kg ha-1 have been recorded due to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Consequently, NaSARRI developed NAROSORG2, released in 2017, that can withstand some of the abiotic and biotic stresses. NAROSORG2 is a derived red seeded local landrace selection (IS8193) from East Africa, advanced by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) through repeated bulk selections for tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses. The agronomic evaluation was carried out in Uganda for the first and second rainy seasons of 2017 and the findings indicated that NAROSORG2, out-performed the check commercial variety, SESO3 with mean grain yield of 2740 kg ha-1 across the entire environment. It also recorded early days to 50% flowering of 65.23 days (early maturity variety) like the commercial check variety, SESO3 with a medium height of 165.35 cm. NAROSORG2 has superior agronomic traits of stay-green trait, resistant to bird damage due to high levels of tannins, drought, midge, and Striga tolerant, good for food, and local brew. Therefore, it will supplement other released varieties in contributing to food security and poverty alleviation among the rural communities in Uganda.