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Item Comparative nutritional profile, fatty acid composition and in-vitro antioxidant properties of flour derived from four edible winged termite species from Uganda(Taylor & Francis group, 2025-12) Khadijah, Babirye;; Ahmad Khan, Ammar;; Razid Sarbini, ShahrulFlour from four species of sun-dried edible winged termites was assessed and comparisons made in the proximate composition, fat extraction techniques, nutrient profiling, and in-vitro antioxidant properties. Pseudocanthotermes spriniger produced the significantly highest protein (57.96%) whereas Macrotermes subhyalinus plus Macrotermes bellicosus had the significantly highest fat content (18.60% and 18.92% respectively). Folch extraction method produced the highest crude fat yield (18.62% to 19.54%). M. bellicosus and P. spriniger produced the significantly highest isoleucine content whereas M. bellicosus and Odontotermes lateritius produced the significantly highest valine contents. M. bellicosus and P. spriniger produced the significantly highest oleic acid, whereas P. spriniger produced the significantly highest linoleic acid (3.81%). P. spriniger exhibited the significantly highest DPPH activity (56.27%) whereas M. bellicosus and O. lateritius showed the highest total phenolic content. Such a comparative study can help communities make more informed decisions on the most ideal termite species for a particular nutrition intervention.Item Domestic Animals as Reservoirs for Sleeping Sickness in three Endemic Foci in South–Eastern Uganda(Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 2003-07-18) Waiswa, C.; Olaho-Mukani, W.; Katunguka-Rwakishaya, E.The persistence of sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis) in some areas of south-eastern Uganda has necessitated further investigations, focusing mainly on domestic animals as reservoirs of this disease in three agro-ecological zones. The inter-zone differences in the prevalences of trypanosome infection among cattle (P < 0.001) and pigs (P < 0.001) were significant. Overall, 5.0% of the cattle, 13.9% of the pigs and 0.4% of the small ruminants investigated were found to be infected with parasites of the Trypanosoma brucei subgroup. The results of blood incubation infectivity tests (BIIT) indicated that all of the T. brucei-subgroup isolates from cattle in Kamuli district (zone I) were human-serum-sensitive. Of the zone-I pigs found infected, however, almost all (82.5%) were considered to be infected with T. brucei and many (30.2%) carried human-serum-resistant T. brucei. Pig-tsetse-human appears to be a major transmission cycle in zone I. In Mukono district (zone II), 10.5% and 26.1% of the T. brucei isolates from cattle and pigs, respectively, were human-serum-resistant, indicating that cattle-tsetse-human and pig-tsetse-human are major transmission cycles in zone II. In Tororo district (zone III), 47.3% of the T. brucei isolates from cattle were human-serum-resistant but there were no T. brucei isolates from pigs, indicating that cattle-tsetse-human is the major transmission cycle. Interestingly, as the only T. brucei isolate from sheep in zone III was human-serum-resistant, there may also be a sheep-tsetse-human cycle. In south-eastern Uganda, control efforts must be designed to eliminate the parasites not only from cattle but also from pigs and small ruminants.Item Genetic Variability in Juvenile Growth Traits of Ugandan Indigenous Chicken Populations Raised under an Intensive Deep Litter System(Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2025-05-02) Kiggundu, M.; Mulindwa, H.; Walusimbi, H.K.; Nangonzi, R.; Nampijja, Z.; Lumu, R.; LIsabirye, A.R.Uganda’s indigenous chickens (IC) display significant phenotypic diversity in body weight (BW) and growth performance. However, there has been no study on the genetic diversity related to juvenile BW and growth performance in indigenous chicken populations (ICP), to support early selection of improved growth performance. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variation in chicken juvenile BW and growth among selected ICP in Uganda. Three populations of IC were sourced from Apac, Lira and the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), as founder populations. Chicks were hatched from founder eggs, wing-banded and reared under identical conditions, in a deep litter system. Body weight was recorded weekly from hatch to four weeks of age. Hatch weight was higher (P<0.01) for Apac and Lira birds compared to NaSARRI. Mean Daily gain (ADG) was greatest for Lira and lowest for NaSARRI birds. The mean relative Growth Rate (RG) of chicks from Lira and Apac was comparable, but both were greater (P<0.05) than for NaSARRI. Broad-sense heritability estimates for BW0, BW1, BW2, BW3, and BW4 were 0.35, 0.50, 0.54, 0.47, and 0.56, respectively. Genotypic variances for BW measurements varied (P<0.05) among the ICP. The heritability estimates for ADG and RG were 0.41 and 0.49, respectively, with genotype variances differing significantly (P<0.01) across the ICP for both ADG and RG. These results demonstrate both phenotypic and genotypic variability in juvenile BW and growth performance. Moderate heritability and positive phenotypic correlations suggest that these traits can be effectively improved through selective breeding.Item Tsetse survey in Mukono District, south-east Uganda: population structure, distribution and blood meal status(Tropical Animal Health and Production, 1996-02-27) Katunguka-Rwakishaya, E.; Kabagambe, E. K.The population structure, feeding state and distribution of tsetse ofGlossina fuscipes fuscipes species in Ssugu parish of Mukono district, south-east Uganda were investigated. Tsetse caught with pyramidal traps were counted, sexed and dissected for age grading. It was observed that most tsetse were caught in valley habitats in the dry season, but the distribution was almost uniform within the parish in the wet season. The apparent density and prevalence of blood meals in tsetse fluctuated in different months. There were more males with a fresh blood meal than females (P<0·05). In the population there was a preponderance of young tsetse of less than 60 days. There were significantly more teneral males than teneral females (P<0·05). In all months the percentage of females was higher than that of males and ranged between 51·1% to 64·6 per cent. The epidemiological implications of these findings are that the risk of contracting trypanosomosis is high during the period of uniform distribution; since this is associated with an increase in apparent density and therefore high man-tsetse-animal contact. Furthermore, these results have shown that it is possible to prevent increase in the population of tsetse by applying insecticides on animals and targets in September and early October, since recruitment in tsetse population follows the rains.Item Yield Stability of Tropical Soybean Genotypes in Selected Agro-ecologies in Uganda(South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 2020-08-06) Obua, T.; Nabasirye, M.; Namara, M.; Tusiime, G.; Tukamuhabwa, P.Differential yield response of a genotype is the result of its interaction with the prevailing environment. This makes the task of selecting widely adapted and best soybean genotypes challenging under varied target production environments. The objectives of this study were to; (i) determine the mean performance and stability of 30 elite soybean genotypes in eight different locations, (ii) determine soybean mega-environments in Uganda and (iii) assess the discriminating and representative power of the test environments for soybean seed yield. A field study was conducted for six seasons across eight locations in Uganda. Among the tested 30 soybean genotypes, BSPS 48A-9-2 had the highest mean grain yield of 1 277 kg ha−1; followed by BSPS 48A-28 (1 256 kg ha−1). The genotype and genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplot analyses indicated that the eight test locations can be classified into three mega-environments, while Bulindi was the most discriminating and representative test environment for soybean production in Uganda. Genotypes BSPS 48A-9-2, BSPS 48A-31 and Nam II × GC 44.2 are recommend for further evaluation under farmers’ production conditions for selection and release as new soybean varieties in Uganda.Item Using GIS-Based Tools and Distribution Modeling to Determine Sweetpotato Germplasm Exploration and Documentation Priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa(HortScience, 2006-07-22) Villordon, Arthur; Gichuki, Simon; Yada, Bernard; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Mwanga, Robert O. M.Detailed information on the geographic distribution of a crop is important in planning efficient germplasm conservation strategies but is often not available, particularly for minor crops. Using germplasm collection data from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, we used distribution modeling to predict the distribution of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)] in sub-Saharan Africa. We used a consensus modeling approach using the following algorithms: genetic algorithm for rule set prediction (GARP), maximum entropy, BIOCLIM, and DOMAIN. The predicted distribution encompasses known sweetpotato production areas as well as additional areas suited for this crop species. New geographic areas where at least three models predicted presence were in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, The Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, and the Central African Republic. This information can be used to fill gaps in current sweetpotato germplasm collections as well as to further enhance the current presence-only based distribution model. Our approach demonstrates the usefulness of considering several models in developing distribution maps.Item Bovine Trypanosomiasis in South–Western Uganda: Packed-cell Volumes and Prevalences of Infection in the Cattle(Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 2004-10-05) Waiswa, C.; Katunguka-Rwakishaya, E.Following confirmed cases of trypanosomiasis ('nagana') and reports of trypanosome-attributable deaths among local cattle, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bovine infection with trypanosomes in south-western Uganda. Cattle from 10 different localities were checked by the microscopical examination of wet bloodsmears and thin, stained bloodsmears, and by blood centrifugation followed by the examination of the resultant buffy coats. Of the 1309 cattle investigated, 6.42% (5.56% and 7.26% of those from the Mbarara and Mubende districts, respectively) were found to be infected. Of the positive animals, 71 (84.5%), 11 (13.1%) and two (2.4%) appeared to be infected with Trypanosoma vivax only, T. congolense only and both T. vivax and T. congolense, respectively. The prevalence of infection with T. vivax was significantly higher than that with T. congolense (P <0.001). The mean packed-cell volumes (PCV) for the trypanosome-positive animals were lower than those for the trypanosome-negative, whether the cattle considered were all those investigated (22.3% v. 29.0%; P <0.001) or just those from the Mbarara (22.8% v. 28.2%) or Mubende (21.5% v. 29.7%) districts. South-western Uganda has been relatively free of both human and bovine trypanosomiasis for the past three decades. The factors leading to the current resurgence of bovine trypanosomiasis need further investigation.Item Step by step to higher yields? Adoption and impacts of a sequenced training approach for climate-smart coffee production in Uganda(Taylor & Francis group, 2025-12) Günther, Manuela Kristin;; Bosch, Christine;; Ewell, Hanna ;; Nawrotzki, Raphael;; Kato, EdwardClimate change further exacerbates sustainability challenges in coffee cultivation. Addressing these requires effective delivery mechanisms for sustainable farming practices, particularly in smallholder contexts. We assess a novel public-private extension approach in Uganda, called Stepwise, comprising a sequence of climate-smart and good agricultural practices in four incremental steps. Using a mixed-method approach, an index that captures adoption intensity rather than binary uptake, and survey data from 915 Robusta and Arabica coffee farmers, we find adoption levels around 46% and relatively uniform amongst treated, spillover and comparison farmers. Regional variations suggest differing benefits across coffee varieties. Qualitative findings identify barriers to adoption, including financial and labour constraints, suboptimal training delivery, and input and output market imperfections. Despite relatively low uptake, adoption of more than half of the Stepwise practices is associated with substantial gains: inverse probability weighted regression adjustment reveals a 23% increase in yield and a 32% increase in revenue. Our findings add to the adoption literature, which often highlights limited uptake, and have important policy implications. Strengthening producer organizations, delivering targeted training but also innovative solutions for access to inputs and fair pricing, hold considerable potential to increase the adoption of climate-smart practices, particularly among resource-constrained farmers.Item Implementing the Uganda lower secondary competence-based curriculum: the equity question(Emerald Publishing, 2025-12) Barasa, Mercy Chemutai;; Ssentamu, Proscovia Namubiru;; Chang’ach, John Koskey ;; Kurgat, Susan JepkoechPurpose – This paper aims to explore the extent to which the Uganda lower secondary curriculum (LSC) reform, instituted in January 2020, has ensured equitable educational opportunities for secondary school learners considering school and learner socio-economic status. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach was adopted in which the experiences and perceptions of both facilitators and implementers of the reform were gathered using interviews and lesson observations. Findings – Data revealed disparities among high and low socio-economic-status schools in their preparedness and capacity to implement the reform, with the consequence of divergent educational opportunities for learners in these contexts. Research limitations/implications – The sample was limited to government-aided secondary schools and thus excluded private schools; the majority in Uganda. This means that the findings may be limited in generalizability. However, the majority of private schools serve the lower socio-economic demographic, so the study findings and implications may extend to them as well. Practical implications – The findings suggest that unless the government intervenes with measures to boost the capacity of schools in low socio-economic contexts to implement the reform, the outcome of the curriculum may be a society further stratified along socio-economic lines. Social implications – The findings indicate that the new LSC may contribute greatly to social stratification through disparate educational opportunities for different sections of the Ugandan populace. This could work against national socio-economic ambitions and also lead to non-achievement of the UN SDG4 of quality, equitable, inclusive education for all. Originality/value – This paper demonstrates how Uganda, a developing nation, is faring in the achievement of the global educational policy goal of equity in the implementation of its competence-based LSC reform. It highlights key policy and research gaps that should be addressed to promote equitable learning opportunities for all learners.Item Ureide Essay to Assess N2-fixation Abilities of Soybean (Glycine Max) Genotypes under Different Bradyrhizobium Strains(Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, 2017) Agoyi, Eric E.; Afutu, Emmanuel; Tumuhairwe, John B.; Chigeza, Godfree; Tukamuhabwa, PhinehasThe high protein content of soybean (Glycine max) seeds results in high nitrogen demand, causing a huge nitrogen uptake during plant growth. As a legume crop, soybean can fix atmospheric N through symbiotic associations with Bradyrhizobia and perform well in African nitrogen poor soils. This study aimed at establishing the ability of promiscuous soybean genotypes to fix nitrogen and devise the relationship between nodule scores and amount of nitrogen fixed. Twelve soybean genotypes were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum Strain USDA 110 (specific) and Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain USDA 3456 (native) and raised in pots in a greenhouse. At the R3.5 growth stage, nodules were scored and xylem sap was extracted, which xylem sap was used to carry out ureide, amino-N, and nitrates assays. The relative abundance of ureide was used to devise the proportion of nitrogen fixed by each genotype. The proportion of nitrogen derived from atmospheric N2 (Ndfa) ranged from 47.9 to 78.8% under USDA 3456 and from 36.7 to 78.7% under USDA 110. A strong correlation was found between nodule scores, especially nodules’ effectiveness, and Ndfa. The genotypes Wondersoya (78.8%), Maksoy 2N (78.4%), Namsoy 3 (78.3%), and Maksoy 3N (75.7%) had high nitrogen-fixing ability in response to USDA 3456. Promiscuous soybean genotypes can fix nitrogen equally under both native and specific Bradyrhizobium types. Nodules’ effectiveness can be a good predictor of biological nitrogen fixation. This study highlighted that crop improvement to boost soybean production in Africa should target promiscuous varieties for better yield with less inputs.Item Genetic variation and response to selection for storage root dry matter and associated traits in a population of yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) interspecies crosses(Euphytica, 2021-03-22) Agaba, Rolland; Rubaihayo, Patrick; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Mwanga, Robert O. M.; Tumwegamire, Silver; Ndirigwe, Jean; Gru¨neberg, WolfgangThe goal of yam bean improvement in Africa is to develop superior high yielding and high dry matter cultivars that are preferred for adoption. In this study, the estimates of variance components, heritability and response to selection were studied in F3 yam bean families selected from interspecies crosses targeting improvement of storage root dry matter and associated traits. Breeding populations were generated using North Carolina II (NC II) mating design involving high dry matter P. tuberosus chuin cultivar, low dry matter P. ahipa and the high yielding P. erosus yam beans. The progenies were advanced through selfing from F1 to F2 population and then exposed to selection at 10% selection intensity to obtain 83 high dry matter lines. The selected lines were evaluated in an F3 trial using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) Namulonge, in Central Uganda. The results revealed significant (P < 0.001) genetic variation for storage root dry matter (RDM), storage root fresh yield (RFY), storage root dry yield (RDY), vine yield (VNY), fresh biomass yield (FBY), harvest index (HI), starch (STA) and protein (PRO) content. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were obtained for VNY, RDY, FBY, RFY, RDM and STA. Narrow sense heritability was higher than 0.5 and response to selection was 15.5 to 33.1 for RDM, RFY, RDY, VNY, FBY and STA, indicating rapid genetic progress is achievable and early generation selection would be effective to improve these traits. Significant (P < 0.01) positive genetic correlations were observed between RDM, RDY, RFY, VNY, FBY and STA ranging from 0.422 to 0.963 implying that simultaneous improvement of these traits is possible in the current yam bean populations.Item Yield Stability of Rust-resistant Soybean Lines at Four mid-altitude Tropical Locations(Euphytica, 2012-03-15) Tukamuhabwa, P.; Oloka, H. K.; Sengooba, T.; Kabayi, P.Asian soybean rust is a major threat to worldwide soybean production at present. Host plant resistance offers the most sustainable control strategy to resource poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide. Using 13 soybean lines bred for resistance to soybean rust, and 2 checks, yield trials were conducted at four regions of Uganda for four consecutive seasons to determine yield stability and reaction to soybean rust disease. An additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was used to assess the yield stability of the soybean lines. Stable lines identified included MNG 7.13, MNG 8.10, and MNG 1.63, which showed the lowest environmental interaction. These lines also out-yielded the local checks by over 300 kg ha−1, indicating that they have potential to boost soybean yields in the tropics. Line MNG 8.10 showed adaptability to most of the locations and had the highest yield among the three most stable lines, making it the most promising line; it is therefore recommended for release to improve soybean production and productivity in the region.Item Evaluation of Soybean Entries in the Pan-African Trials for Response to Coniothyrium glycines, the Cause of Red Leaf Blotch(Plant disease, 2022-02-05) Murithi, Harun M.; Obua, Tonny; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Hartman, Glen L.Red leaf blotch (RLB), caused by the fungus Coniothyrium glycines, is an important disease of soybean known to cause yield losses across soybean-growing regions in Africa. Fungicides are one option to manage this disease, but utilization of host resistance may be a better option suited for smallholder soybean farmers in Africa. Fifty-nine soybean entries were evaluated for RLB severity in nine field locations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. Disease incidence was 100% and disease severity differed (P < 0.01) among entries at eight of the nine locations. Mean severity ratings ranged from 1.4 to 3.2 based on a 0-to-5 scale, with higher disease severities recorded in Ethiopia followed by Zambia. Eight of the 59 entries were common to all nine locations and had severity ratings ranging from 1.6 to 2.9. The cultivar SC Signal had the lowest RLB severity ratings in the combined analysis over locations. Based on correlations of weather variables to RLB severity, mean rainfall from planting to 30 days before assessment date had a positive correlation (r = 0.70; P = 0.035), as did mean morning maximum wind speed (r = 0.88; P = 0.016). Other variables, such as temperature and relative humidity, did not correlate to RLB severity. This is the most comprehensive report to date on the occurrence of RLB in the region, which for the first time demonstrates an association between rainfall and wind speed with RLB severity. It also represents the first extensive report evaluating soybean genotypes for resistance against RLB in multiple environments.Item Soybean production in eastern and southern Africa and threat of yield loss due to soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi(Plant pathology, 2016-09-24) Murithi, H. M.; Tukamuhabwa, P.; Thomma, B. P. H. J.; Joosten, M. H. A. J.Soybean is a major source of oil and proteins worldwide. The demand for soybean has increased in Africa, driven by the growing feed industry for poultry, aquaculture and home consumption in the form of processed milk, baked beans and for blending with maize and wheat flour. Soybean, in addition to being a major source of cooking oil, is also used in other industrial processes such as in the production of paints and candle wax. The demand for soybean in Africa so far outweighs the supply, hence the deficit is mainly covered through imports of soybean products such as soybean meal. The area under soybean production has increased in response to the growing demand, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. As the production area increases, diseases and insect pests, declining soil fertility and other abiotic factors pose a major challenge. Soybean rust disease, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, presents one of the major threats to soybean production in Africa due to its rapid spread as a result of the ease by which its spores are dispersed by the wind. Disease control by introducing resistant soybean varieties has been difficult due to the presence of different populations of the fungus that vary in pathogenicity, virulence and genetic composition. Improved understanding of the dynamics of rust ecology, epidemiology and population genetics will enhance the effectiveness of targeted interventions that, in turn, will safeguard soybean productivity.Item Evaluation of soybean genotypes for resistance against the rust-causing fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi in East Africa(Plant Pathology, 2021-01-16) Murithi, Harun Muthuri; Namara, Mercy; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Mahuku, George; Thomma, Bart P. H. J.; Joosten, Matthieu H. A. J.Soybean rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is the most important foliar disease of soybean (Glycine max) worldwide. Deployment of resistant soybean cultivars is the best option for managing this disease. Genes conferring resistance to P. pachyrhizi have been identified, but pathotypes of the rust fungus overcoming these resistance genes have also been found. To identify novel resistance genes, soybean genotypes from both local and international sources were screened at multiple locations in Tanzania and Uganda in 2016 and 2017. The results from this screening revealed that infection types, disease severities, and sporulation levels varied among the genotypes and locations. The majority of the genotypes had tan-coloured (TAN) lesions and developed moderate sporulation, implying susceptibility, while only seven of the 71 lines had reddish-brown (RB) lesions and showed low disease severities in all of the screening environments. We identified seven genotypes that were the most resistant to rust in the most locations over the two years. These genotypes will be useful for further studies and, ultimately, for rust management, as they show broad resistance to various pathotypes of the rust fungus.Item Use of low cost near‑infrared spectroscopy, to predict pasting properties of high quality cassava flour(Scientific Reports, 2024-07-25) Mikidadi, Abubakar; Wasswa, Peter; Masumba, Esther; Kanju, Edward; Edema, Richard; Tukamuhabwa, Phinehas; Kayondo, Siraj; Kulembeka, HenerikoDetermination of pasting properties of high quality cassava flour using rapid visco analyzer is expensive and time consuming. The use of mobile near infrared spectroscopy (SCiO™) is an alternative high throughput phenotyping technology for predicting pasting properties of high quality cassava flour traits. However, model development and validation are necessary to verify that reasonable expectations are established for the accuracy of a prediction model. In the context of an ongoing breeding effort, we investigated the use of an inexpensive, portable spectrometer that only records a portion (740–1070 nm) of the whole NIR spectrum to predict cassava pasting properties. Three machine-learning models, namely glmnet, lm, and gbm, implemented in the Caret package in R statistical program, were solely evaluated. Based on calibration statistics (R2, RMSE and MAE), we found that model calibrations using glmnet provided the best model for breakdown viscosity, peak viscosity and pasting temperature. The glmnet model using the first derivative, peak viscosity had calibration and validation accuracy of R2 = 0.56 and R2 = 0.51 respectively while breakdown had calibration and validation accuracy of R2 = 0.66 and R2 = 0.66 respectively. We also found out that stacking of pre-treatments with Moving Average, Savitzky Golay, First Derivative, Second derivative and Standard Normal variate using glmnet model resulted in calibration and validation accuracy of R2 = 0.65 and R2 = 0.64 respectively for pasting temperature. The developed calibration model predicted the pasting properties of HQCF with sufficient accuracy for screening purposes. Therefore, SCiO™ can be reliably deployed in screening early-generation breeding materials for pasting properties.Item Artificial intelligence‑driven near‑infrared spectrophotometry model for rapid quantification of anti‑nutritional factors in soybean (Glycine max.)(Discover Applied Sciences, 2025-06-15) Palange, Norberto Jose; Obua, Tonny; Sserumaga, Julius Pyton; Ochwo-Ssemakula, Mildred; Edema, Richard; Tukamuhabwa, PhinehasAnti-nutritional factors can impact soybean nutrient bioavailability when consumed by monogastric animals. However, conventional methods available for quantifying anti-nutritional factors such as phytate and trypsin inhibitors in feeds are laboratory-intensive, time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone. This study developed near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS)-based models to quantify phytate and trypsin inhibitors in soybean. Thus, a set of 190 soybean genotypes assayed through conventional wet chemistry was used as a reference for model development and cross-validation. Using a benchtop NIR instrument (DS2500), spectra readings between 400 and 2500 nm were taken from each soybean sample. Mean values for phytate and total trypsin inhibitors (TTI) were 1.77 mg g−1 (SD = 1.23) and 0.89 mg g−1 (SD = 0.24), respectively. Predictive models were developed through partial least squares (PLS) and random forest (RF) regressions. The random forest models outperformed partial least squares regression with the best predictive performance of R2test = 0.97; RPD = 5.95 and R2test = 0.96; RPD = 3.62 for phytate and TTI, respectively. The high R2 and RPD values demonstrate the model's strong predictive capability and accuracy, suggesting that the NIRS-based models can effectively quantify phytate and TTI in soybean. Thus, breeders can efficiently select for low-anti-nutritional genotypes and accelerate the development of nutritionally beneficial legumes while reducing soybean processing costs. NIRS offers a promising alternative to traditional phenotyping methods due to its speed, simplicity, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. Its integration into breeding programs can streamline the screening process, especially in early selection stages.Item Genetic variability of anti‑nutritional factors among soybean (Glycine max.) germplasm(Discover Agriculture, 2025-04-28) Palange, Norberto Jose; Obua, Tonny; Sserumaga, Julius Pyton; Wembabazi, Enoch; Ochwo‑Ssemakula, Mildred; Tukamuhabwa, PhinehasSoybean is a vital source of vegetable protein, carbohydrates, oil, and minerals. However, anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) can diminish its nutritional value for monogastric animals, including humans. This study assessed the variability of phytate and trypsin inhibitors in Ugandan soybean germplasm. A total of 308 soybean genotypes were analyzed for yield, phytate, and total trypsin inhibitors (TTI) using spectrophotometric methods. Significant variation was observed for yield, phytate, and TTI levels (p < 0.001). Phytate levels ranged from 14.8 mg kg⁻1(BSPS 48A-6–3) to 6928.8 mg kg⁻1(NGDT 2.15–7), while TTI varied from 14.7 mg kg⁻1(DN 16_N) to 1534.8 mg kg⁻1(Duiker). Using a weighted selection index, the best-performing genotypes, Ux 990–044, Ux 990–102, and S 6.22B, combined high yield with low ANF levels. Broad-sense heritability (H2) was 0.68 for phytate, 0.84 for TTI, and 0.08 for yield. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for phytate (203.1%) was significantly higher than the genetic coefficient of variation (GCV) (137.6%), indicating substantial environmental influence, while moderate for TTI (PCV = 34.6%; GCV = 29.2%). Genetic advance (GA) values were 1667.6 mg kg⁻1 for phytate and 504.3 mg kg⁻1 for TTI, highlighting considerable genetic variability and heritability. These findings have practical implications for breeding programs; the identified genotypes that combine high yield and reduced ANFs can reduce processing costs for food and feed industries while enhancing nutritional security, especially in regions dependent on soybean as a protein source.Item Fruit Traits associated with Resistance to Fruit Pests of Hot Pepper(MUJAES, 2021-07-03) Ssekkadde, P.; Ribeiro, C.S.C.; Ochwo-Ssemakula, M.N.; Tukamuhabwa, P.; Karungi, J.Thirty-seven local and fourteen exotic hot pepper (Capsicum spp.) genotypes were screened under natural field conditions for resistance to two quarantine fruit pests; the fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the false coddling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) at Makerere University Research Institute Kabanyolo for two seasons. The genotypes were grown in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Data on pest occurrence and damage; and fruit traits (fruit weight, length, width, flesh penetrability, and fruit wall thickness) were subjected to analysis of variance. The 51 genotypes showed variation in pest infestation and fruit traits. Five local genotypes (UG-WE02-1014, UG-WE02-0711, UG-EA06-0515 and UG-WE02-1608) and one exotic (CAP0408-12) showed resistance to fruit fly infestation. Fruit fly infestation correlated highly with fruit weight (r=0.59, p<0.001) and width (r=0.63, p<.001), among others. Similarly, FCM infestation positively correlated to fruit weight (r=0.50, p<0.001) and width (r=0.50, p<0.001). The identified hot pepper genotypes with resistance to fruit fly and FCM can be used in hot pepper improvement programsItem Pasting Properties of High-quality Cassava Flour of some selected improved Cassava Varieties in Tanzania for Baking(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2023-01-03) Mikidadi, Abubakar; Wasswa, Peter; Masumba, Esther; Edema, Richard; Tulkamuhabwa, Phinehas; Kayondo, Siraj; Ongom,PatrickPartial substituting wheat with high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) in bread making would be economically beneficial in Tanzania. However, cassava varieties with the best pasting quality for this use are unknown. In addition, the appropriate time of harvesting the varieties to attain the best pasting quality is also unknown. This study, therefore, aimed at identifying the most appropriate cassava varieties and their appropriate harvesting time that could be used for production of HQCF for baking bread. Nine improved cassava varieties namely Kiroba, Mkuranga1, Pwani, Chereko, Mkumba, Hombolo, Orela, Kizimbani and Kipusa and two local varieties, Albert and Kibandameno were planted in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons at TARI-Ukiriguru using a split plot design. Harvesting was done at 10 and 12 months after planting (MAP). Pasting characteristics of the HQCF samples were determined at the International Centre of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es salaam, Tanzania using Perten Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) Tecmaster equipment, Model: N103802. The results indicated that KIPUSA had the lowest significant setback, while Hombolo had the highest significant setback both at 10 and 12 MAP suggesting that HQCF produced from KIPUSA should be considered for partial substitution of wheat in baking bread that is attractive to consumers.