The role of maize sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and maize weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the spread of Aspergillus flavus in pre-harvest maize in Kenya.

The spread of toxigenic Aspergillus into maize by insects and the subsequent aflatoxin contamination poses a risk to humans and animals and has been investigated in North and South America. To evaluate this effect in an African context, Greenhouse studies were conducted in 2022 to determine the role of sap beetles, Carpophilus dimidiatus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on infection of maize kernels by Aspergillus flavus Link and the resultant aflatoxin accumulation. To test the beetles' efficacy, treatments were applied on partially opened primary ears at 3 different stages of kernel development (BBCH 75, 83, and 87).

Aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut in Burundi: Distribution of contamination, identification of causal agents and potential biocontrol genotypes of .

Aflatoxin contamination of the staples maize and groundnut is a concern for health and economic impacts across sub-Saharan Africa. The current study (i) determined aflatoxin levels in maize and groundnut collected at harvest in Burundi, (ii) characterized populations of section associated with the two crops, and (iii) assessed aflatoxin-producing potentials among the recovered fungi. A total of 120 groundnut and 380 maize samples were collected at harvest from eight and 16 provinces, respectively.

Identification and Characterization of Species Causing Sorghum Anthracnose in Kenya and Screening of Sorghum Germplasm for Resistance to Anthracnose.

Anthracnose caused by species is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of sorghum with annual yield losses of up to 100%. Although the resistance to anthracnose has been identified elsewhere, the usefulness of the resistance loci differs depending on the pathogen species and pathotypes. Accurate species identification of the disease-causing fungal pathogens is essential for developing and implementing suitable management strategies.

Phenotypic characterization of phage vB_vcM_Kuja.

Bacteriophage therapy targeting the increasingly resistant Vibrio cholerae is highly needed. Hence, studying the phenotypic behavior of potential phages under different conditions is a prerequisite to delivering the phage in an active infective form. The objective of this study was to characterize phage VP4 (vB_vcM_Kuja), an environmental vibriophage isolated from River Kuja in Migori County, Kenya in 2015.

Susceptibility of the Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera and the African Stingless Bee Meliponula ferruginea (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to the Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana.

This study assessed the nontarget effect of entomopathogenic fungi on the Western honey bee Apis mellifera L. and the African stingless bee Meliponula ferruginea Cockrell (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Pathogenicity of five Metarhizium anisopliae (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 20, ICIPE 62, ICIPE 69, and ICIPE 78) (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and one of Beauveria bassiana (ICIPE 284) (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordicipitaceae) isolates were evaluated on bees at 108 conidia/ml.

Aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with pre-harvest maize contamination in Uganda.

Maize is an important staple crop for the majority of the population in Uganda. However, in tropical and subtropical climates, maize is frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, a group of cancer-causing and immuno-suppressive mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi. In Uganda, there is limited knowledge about the causal agents of aflatoxin contamination.

Influence of socio-economic and agronomic factors on aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in western Kenya.

Consumption of maize contaminated with mycotoxins has been associated with detrimental health effects. A farm survey covering 116 push-pull and 139 non-push-pull cropping systems was conducted to determine the socio-economic and agronomic factors that influence farmers' knowledge on incidence and contamination of maize by ear rots and associated mycotoxins in western Kenya. All the respondents were smallholder farmers between the ages of 23 and 80 years, with 50% of them being female.

Changes in the Fungal Microbiome of Maize During Hermetic Storage in the United States and Kenya.

Prior to harvest, maize kernels are invaded by a diverse population of fungal organisms that comprise the microbiome of the grain mass. Poor post-harvest practices and improper drying can lead to the growth of mycotoxigenic storage fungi and deterioration of grain quality. Hermetic storage bags are a low-cost technology for the preservation of grain during storage, which has seen significant adoption in many regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Rhizobia Nodulating Cowpea ( L.) from Agricultural Soils of Lower Eastern Kenya.

Limited nitrogen (N) content in the soil is a major challenge to sustainable and high crop production in many developing countries. The nitrogen fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobia plays an important role in supplying sufficient N for legumes and subsequent nonleguminous crops. To identify rhizobia strains which are suitable for bioinoculant production, characterization of rhizobia is a prerequisite.

Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil of Dehnh. against Selected spp.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of essential oil (EO) of Dehnh. against five spp. commonly associated with maize.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils of (Asteraceae) against Selected Plant Pathogenic Bacteria.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) of against three phytopathogenic bacteria pv. , pv. , and pv.

Brine shrimp cytotoxicity and antimalarial activity of plants traditionally used in treatment of malaria in Msambweni district.

Context: In Kenya, most people use traditional medicine and medicinal plants to treat many diseases including malaria. To manage malaria, new knowledge and products are needed. Traditional herbal medicine has constituted a good basis for antimalarial lead discovery and drug development.

Interactions of Fusarium species during prepenetration development.

Interspecies interactions between Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium poae, and Fusarium tricinctum were studied during early growth stages of isolates on model surfaces. Additionally, germination and germ tube growth of the pathogens were studied on attached and detached wheat leaves at 10 °C and 22 °C. Two-species interactions between Fusarium isolates during germination and germ tube growth were assessed after 8 hours of incubation.