The African Crop Science Journal was established with the primary objective of providing a forum for presentation and review of research results on Tropical Crop Science that can be readily accessed by researchers and development leaders in Africa and other developing countries, and all those concerned with agricultural development issues in the region. The most important characteristic of the Journal is that it addresses in an integrated manner all aspects of Crop Science and Production. The Journal publishes original research papers dealing with Crop Agronomy, Tondeuse, Production, Genetics and Breeding, Germplasm, Crop Protection, Soil Sciences, Postharvest Systems and Utilization, Agroforestry, Crop-Animal Interactions, Environmental Issues and Agricultural Information. The Journal also publishes authoritative reviews on various aspects of Crop Science, Agricultural Development, and the Environment, usually by invitation, and ‘Short Communications’ dealing with original results not warranting publication as full papers. It has a book review and advertisement sections. To encourage dialogue on topical issues, the Journal has a ‘Forum Section’ where issues of current contention in crop production, including socioeconomics and rural development, will be discussed. All opinions, and articles published in the Journal reflect views of the authors and not necessarily those of the African Crop Science Journal. Submission of a paper implies that it has not been submitted or published elsewhere, and that the authors accept the conditions for publication outlined in the Journal. Once accepted for publication, authors transfer copyright of their articles to the African Crop Science Journal, unless expressly exempted in writing by the copyright holders.
The African Crop Science Journal is copyrighted, and those wishing to use illustrations or data from the Journal in other publications should obtain permission from the Publisher, and include a line acknowledging the Journal as the source of material. The Journal is abstracted in CABI and TROPAG.
Please address all inquiries and article submissions to: Editorial Secretariat, African Crop Science Journal, Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; e-mail: acss@agric.mak.ac.ug
The African Crop Science Society
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Abstruct
The effects of drought or moisture stress (MS1- no stress; MS2- stress at seedling stage and MS3- stress at heading stage) was studied for different crop ratios of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) mixtures sown in additive and replacement series at Halhale Research Station (Eritrea) during the off-seasons of 1998 and 1999. The objective was to identify crop ratios with higher productivity and to analyse the competition and niche differentiation of component crops in mixtures grown under stress. Competition and niche differentiation were assessed by analysing the data using a hyperbolic competition model. The best yields were obtained from the crop ratios 50% barley / 50% wheat and 25% barley / 100% wheat when averaged over two years. One barley plant was as competitive as about seven wheat plants. The relative competitive ability was higher in barley than in wheat. Inter-specific competition was larger than the intra-specific competition for wheat while for barley the intra-specific competition was greater than the inter-specific. The component crops shared the same resources in a complementary way. The Niche Differentiation Index (NDI) > 1 was related to Relative Yield Total (RYT) > 1 showing that the yield advantage was due to complementary use of resources. Key Words: Eritrea, Hordeum vulgare, mixed cropping, Triticum aestivum
Makerere University Research Journal (MURJ) was established with the primary objective of providing a forum for presentation and review of research results arising from research undertaken at Makerere University and beyond. MURJ publishes original research papers and authoritative reviews encompassing various disciplines. To encourage dialogue on topical issues and cross-cutting issues, MURJ has a Forum Section where issues of current contention in research and development are illuminated. It also has an advertisement section. Read more about MURJ
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African Crop Science Journal
The Journal of Tropical Crop Science and Production
Published by the African Crop Science Society
Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University,
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
The effects of drought or moisture stress (MS1- no stress; MS2- stress at seedling stage and MS3- stress at heading stage) was studied for different crop ratios of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) mixtures sown in additive and replacement series at Halhale Research Station (Eritrea) during the off-seasons of 1998 and 1999. The objective was to identify crop ratios with higher productivity and to analyse the competition and niche differentiation of component crops in mixtures grown under stress. Competition and niche differentiation were assessed by analysing the data using a hyperbolic competition model. The best yields were obtained from the crop ratios 50% barley / 50% wheat and 25% barley / 100% wheat when averaged over two years. One barley plant was as competitive as about seven wheat plants. The relative competitive ability was higher in barley than in wheat. Inter-specific competition was larger than the intra-specific competition for wheat while for barley the intra-specific competition was greater than the inter-specific. The component crops shared the same resources in a complementary way. The Niche Differentiation Index (NDI) > 1 was related to Relative Yield Total (RYT) > 1 showing that the yield advantage was due to complementary use of resources. Key Words: Eritrea, Hordeum vulgare, mixed cropping, Triticum aestivum
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis based on Internal Franscribed Spacers (ITS) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were carried out on sixteen provenances of Faidherbia albida currently growing in a provenance trial in semi-arid Baringo district in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: (i) determine the phylogenetic relationship among the 16 provenances in order to establish the species centre of origin, and (ii) determine the extent of genetic diversity in F. albida using PCR markers. ITS data did not produce any consistent regional or geographic pattern. RAPD data produced a dendrogram clearly grouping the provenances into Western, Southern and Eastern African regions. The study revealed the utility of RAPD markers in understanding geographic variation and phylogenetic relationships among F. albida populations in Africa. Key Words: DNA, Genetic diversity
Diagnostic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003 in order to provide a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the status of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and to determine if the disease was spreading. In 2002, 105 farmers� fields were assessed in the four major cassava-producing regions of the country. In 2003, 163 fields were sampled in nine regions and Brazzaville Commune. Incidence of cassava mosaic disease was generally high, averaging 80 and 86 % for 2002 and 2003, respectively; while damage was moderate to severe. In 2002, disease incidence was moderate in Pool (73%) but high in Brazzaville (81%), Cuvette Centrale (82%) and in Plateaux Region (84%). Pool region still had the lowest incidence (78%) in 2003, while Sangha (95%) had the highest incidence. The greatest disease severity was recorded in Niari region in the south and Cuvette Ouest region in the north in 2003. East African cassava mosaic virus Uganda variant (EACMV-UG) occurred virtually throughout the country, commonly in dual infections with African cassava mosaic virus. The high incidence of disease in plants considered to be the results of cutting infection (74% in 2002 and 82% in 2003), relatively low incidence of disease in plants considered to be infected by whiteflies and wide distribution of EACMV-UG points to the fact that the CMD pandemic is a chronic in the country and the areas sampled are currently in a stable post-epidemic phase. This situation is comparable to that in areas of East Africa affected by a pandemic during the 1990s, including Uganda, parts of western Kenya and north-western Tanzania. These findings clearly verify the assertion that the CMD pendemic has expanded across Central Africa and provide a basis for designing interventions and control strategies for the entire region..
Male fertility of crop plants is a function of pollen production and viability. In breeding, it is a requirement that there be similar fertilities among breeding parents within seed orchards. An in-vitro germination method was used in this study to determine variation in pollen viability among eight tea (Camellia sinensis) genotypes, over three flowering seasons in four isolated biclonal seed orchards located at two sites. The effect of environmental conditions on pollen germination was also studied on two popular genotypes, i.e. AHP SC31/37 (an assamica variety) and GW Ejulu-L (a sinensis variety) that were planted in both sites. Significant variation (P < 0.05) in pollen viability among the eight genotypes indicated a potential for male gametophyte competition. There was significant genotype by environment interaction and positive correlation between pollen viability and temperature. Pollen germination was, however, not affected by rainfall and humidity. The variations in pollen viability may contribute to the variable genetic composition of seed produced in the isolated seed orchards of tea. Key Words: In-vitro germination, male fertility, pollen viability.
A Guide to Effective Graduate Research in African Agriculture,Environment, and Rural Development Achieving food security and poverty alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa will require a large cadre of well-trained agriculturists, and development partnerships that derive their agenda from the needs and voices of the continent�s populace. It will require team work, combined with a new set of leaders who use participatory approaches and tools relevant to Africa�s socio-economic situation. Institutions in Africa must develop new ways of teaching with tools that can be adapted to the training needs of African scholars so that they can re-orient their students to: think creatively, value team work and partnerships, recognise that they belong to a global world, and that whatever they do, should contribute to the improvement of the welfare of African�s people. Unfortunately African scholars and fieldworkers..
Submit original and two copies of the manuscript to: Editorial Secretariat, African Crop Science Journal, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. African Crop Science Journal has no page charges for papers accepted for publication. Papers published in the Journal should be based on original research or continuation of previous studies that are reproducible. Papers to be published in the Review and Forum Sections should have international relevance. Manuscripts should be typewritten, on white 8 1/2 x 11 in (216 x 279 mm) paper, double-spaced with wide margins (1 in) and line-numbered where possible. Complex mathematical equations should be hand-written.
Text: Should appear in the following order: Title, Authors’ names, Address of authors, Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgements, References, Tables, Figure Legends, and Figures. Main section headings should be bold, centred and of uppercase letters. Do not underline the title or section headings. Subsections (also bolded) may be included and only the first letter of the subsection should be capitalized. Avoid excessive fragmentation of the paper. Use SI units of measurement, and underline all Latin words and scientific names. Use numerals before standard units of measurements, e.g. 3 g, 9 days, 36 hr; otherwise use words for numbers one to nine and numerals for larger numbers. For commonly used terms and abbreviations, consult the latest edition of Council of Biological Editors. Non-standard abbreviations should be avoided, and where used, they should be explained at their first mention.
Title: Should be brief and reflect the main theme of the paper.
Authors’ names should appear below the title and below which the address should be typed.
Abstract: An Abstract in English should preferably be accompanied by a French translation. It should include key words, arranged alphabetically with only the first letter of the first key word capitalized. Key words should be separated by commas. Abstracts should be limited to <200 words, and should contain salient features of the study, briefly indicating method of study, results, and the main conclusion. Single solid lines should separate the by-line material from the Abstract, and the Abstract from the main text. A short running title should be included.
Introduction: Provide a survey of literature and clearly justify the need for the study.
Materials and Methods: This should be informative enough to enable readers to interpret the results obtained. Particular attention should be paid to the design, analysis and statistics. State where applicable, the type of post - ANOVA test used, Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) is not acceptable for separation of means. References for the method used should be included.
Results: Should be concise. Avoid reproducing information already in tables.
Discussion: This section may be combined with results but generally should be separate. It should indicate clearly the significance and implications of the results obtained. Inferences and opinions should be distinguished from facts, and should not duplicate results except to introduce or clarify points. Reference should be made to published literature.
Acknowledgements: Financial contributors, pre-paper reviews, etc. should be acknowledged.
References: Only articles or books published or are Òin pressÓ may be cited. Copies of the publishers’ letters of acceptance should accompany all such citations. The reference list should be arranged alphabetically. Authors should be referred to in text by name and year (Havard system). Examples:
Islam, M.S. and Morison, J.I.L. 1992. Influence of solar radiation and temperature on irrigated rice grain yield in Bangladesh. Field Crops Research 30:13–28.
Within the text, references should be given as: Islam and Morison (1992), or ... similar results have been obtained with irrigated rice in Bangladesh (Islam amd Morrison, 1992); and if many citations, cite as Okello, 1981; Atim, 1993.
For books list as: Campbell, C.L. and Madden, L.V. 1990. An Introduction to Plant Disease Epidemiology. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 532pp. or: Skylakis, G. 1987. Changes in composition of pathogen populations caused by resistance to fungicides. In: Populations of Plant Pathogens, Their Dynamics and Genetics. Wolfe, M.S. and Caten, C.E. (Eds.), pp. 227–237. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
Personal communication may be cited only in the text, giving names, date, and institution or organization of source of information.
Tables and Figures: Tables and Figures should be self-explanatory, without reference to the text or other tables and figures. Captions should be brief but should adequately describe contents. The word Table should be in uppercase letters, and should be numbered with arabic numerals. Figure captions should be typed on a separate sheet of paper. In the text spell out the word Table but abbreviate Figure to Fig. Capitalize the first letter of table column and row headings. Footnotes are designated with superscript lowercase letters. Graphs should be boxed and ordinates and abscissions marked with index lines. Illustrations should be in black and white and of a size that allows a reduction of upto 50%. If color prints are necessary, the cost of production will be charged to the authors. Figures should be numbered on the reverse side with authors’ names, shortened title, and the top indicated.
Paper Revision: An author receiving editorial recommendations for revision should submit the revised manuscript within 6 months, otherwise longer intervals will be treated as new manuscripts.
Page proofs will normally be sent to the author for correction if time permits.
For style and format, authors are advised to consult the most recent issue of the African Crop Science Journal.