Efficacy of Event MON 87460 in drought-tolerant maize hybrids under optimal and managed drought-stress in eastern and southern africa.

Background: Frequent drought events due to climate change have become a major threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production and food security in Africa. Genetic engineering is one of the ways of improving drought tolerance through gene introgression to reduce the impact of drought stress in maize production.

Performance of Bt maize event MON810 in controlling maize stem borers and in Uganda.

Stem borers are major insect pests of maize in Uganda. A study was conducted in 2014-2016 to assess the performance of Bt hybrids expressing Cry1Ab (event MON810) against the two major stem borer species in Uganda - the African stem borer () and the spotted stem borer () - under artificial infestation. The study comprised 14 non-commercialized hybrids, including seven pairs of Bt and non-Bt hybrids (isolines), three non-Bt commercial hybrids and a conventional stem borer resistant check.

Resistance of -maize (MON810) against the stem borers (Fuller) and (Swinhoe) and its yield performance in Kenya.

A study was conducted to assess the performance of maize hybrids with event MON810 (-hybrids) against the maize stem borer (Fuller) in a biosafety greenhouse (BGH) and against the spotted stem borer (Swinhoe) under confined field trials (CFT) in Kenya for three seasons during 2013-2014. The study comprised 14 non-commercialized hybrids (seven pairs of near-isogenic and non- hybrids) and four non-Bt commercial hybrids. Each plant was artificially infested twice with 10 first instar larvae.

Performance and grain yield stability of maize populations developed using marker-assisted recurrent selection and pedigree selection procedures.

A marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS) program was undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa to improve grain yield under drought-stress in 10 biparental tropical maize populations. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the performance of CS-derived hybrids obtained after three MARS cycles (one cycle of recombination (C), followed by two generations of selfing (S), and to study yield stability under both drought-stress (DS) and well-watered (WW) conditions. For each of the 10 populations, we evaluated hybrids developed by crossing 47-74 CS lines advanced through MARS, the best five S lines developed through pedigree selection, and the founder parents with a single-cross tester from a complementary heterotic group.

Meta-analyses of QTL for grain yield and anthesis silking interval in 18 maize populations evaluated under water-stressed and well-watered environments.

Background: Identification of QTL with large phenotypic effects conserved across genetic backgrounds and environments is one of the prerequisites for crop improvement using marker assisted selection (MAS). The objectives of this study were to identify meta-QTL (mQTL) for grain yield (GY) and anthesis silking interval (ASI) across 18 bi-parental maize populations evaluated in the same conditions across 2-4 managed water stressed and 3-4 well watered environments.

Results: The meta-analyses identified 68 mQTL (9 QTL specific to ASI, 15 specific to GY, and 44 for both GY and ASI).

Molecular cloning, substrate specificity of the functionally expressed dihydroflavonol 4-reductases from Malus domestica and Pyrus communis cultivars and the consequences for flavonoid metabolism.

Treatment with the dioxygenase inhibitor prohexadione-Ca leads to major changes in the flavonoid metabolism of apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) leaves. Accumulation of unusual 3-deoxyflavonoids is observed, which have been linked to an enhanced resistance toward fire blight. The committed step in this pathway is the reduction of flavanones.