Browsing by Author "John, Adriko"

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    Identity of Fusarium species associated with collar rot and wilt in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis )
    (Student's Journal of Health Research Africa, 2022-12-30) Nassimbwa, Florence; Matovu, Enock; Kiggundu, Andrew; Charles, Changa; Godfrey, Sseremba; Francis, Mumbanza; John, Adriko
    Despite the immense contribution of passion fruits to people’s livelihood on a global scale, the crop’s productivity remains low owing to fungal diseases causing up to 100% loss. Fungi are highly variable and the identity of species or variates responsible for recently devastating passion fruit wilt and collar rot diseases had not been characterized. This study was aimed at identifying pathogens causing wilt and collar rot symptoms in passion fruits. Fungi were isolated from diseased samples collected from three locations in Central Uganda to identify Fusarium spp associated with collar rot and wilting of passion fruit. This was established by differentiating mycelium pigmentation on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), examining slides at X40 magnification under a light microscope for specific macro and microconidia, and amplification with specific Transcription Elongation Factor-1α, TEF 1α primers for identification of Fusarium spp. It was revealed that wilting was associated with a single species, out of 6 selected isolates from the suspected wilted plant, 3 were Fusarium spp associated with the disease in the field but only one of these isolates was proved to be a pathogenic type Fusarium oxysporium. Collar rot was associated with one pathogenic Fusarium spp out of the 6 selected isolates. The results indicate that collar rot and Fusarium wilt are each caused by specific strains of Fusarium pathogens.
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    Shoot organogenesis from leaf discs of the African ginger (Mondia whitei (Hook.f.) Skeels), an endangered medicinal plant
    (In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, 2021) Patricia, Driciru; Stephen, Buah; John, Adriko
    The African ginger (Mondia whitei) is an endangered, endemic African medicinal plant, widely used as an aphrodisiac and to manage gastrointestinal problems and anorexia. Due to high demand, it is over-utilized from the wild without replenishment and destroyed by inappropriate harvesting methods. Therefore, there is a need to develop an efficient conservation system for the African ginger. This study focused on developing an in vitro propagation procedure for the African ginger through indirect shoot organogenesis. Optimal callus formation was induced from leaf explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium fortified with 1.5 mg L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The 1.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentration was optimal with 50% of the callus-forming buds. For shoot formation, media with 2.0 mg L−1 BAP and 1.0 mg L−1 NAA resulted in 60% of the buds developing shoots. Regenerated shoots were rooted on woody plant medium (WPM) fortified with 0.1 mg L−1 BAP and no rooting hormone included. The survival rate of weaned and acclimatized plants was 70% and up to 80% respectively. The study demonstrates an in vitro propagation route for the African gingerwhich could support itsmass production for medicinal use, availing of planting materials, conservation, and commercialization purposes.