Browsing by Author "Stephen, Buah"

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    Genetically modified bananas for communities of the great lakes region of Africa
    (Academic Press, 2020) Priver, Namanya; Jimmy, Tindamanyire; Stephen, Buah; Josephine, Namaganda; Jerome, Kubiriba; Wilberforce, Tushemereirwe
    Over 50 million people in the East and Central African region including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, and Kenya depend on the East African Highland banana (EAHB, AAA-EA, Musa spp.), a unique type of cooking bananas, as a staple food and for income. East and Central Africa are considered a secondary center of diversity for the EAHBs, also called Matooke. Annual regional production is worth US$ 4.3 billion, which is about 5% of the East and Central African (ECA) region’s gross domestic product (FAOSTAT, 2014). Banana has the unique advantage of producing acceptable yields amid erratic rainfall, coupled with an allyear- round fruiting characteristic. It is therefore, not surprising, that there is relatively less poverty and food insecurity incidences among the bananadependent communities. The banana’s extensive root system and leaf canopy have environmental benefits in terms of reduced soil erosion and stabilizing agroecologies (Karamura et al., 2016). Furthermore, the banana forestelike plantations capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is quickly recycled into soil organic matter (Kamusingize et al., 2017).
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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.