Publications by authors named "Wilberforce Kateera Tushemereirwe"
Article Synopsis
- The burrowing nematode poses a significant threat to banana cultivation, leading to root damage and toppling disease.
- Soaking carrot discs in dsRNA targeting specific nematode genes resulted in a substantial reduction in nematode reproduction.
- Transforming the East African Highland Banana cultivar Nakitembe with these dsRNA constructs showed lower nematode population and root damage in greenhouse tests, indicating that RNA interference could be a viable strategy for pest control in bananas.
Banana weevil () is the most devastating pest of banana and plantain worldwide, yet current control measures are neither effective, sustainable, nor environmentally sound, and no resistant farmer-preferred cultivars are known to date. In this paper, we examined the ability to induce RNA interference (RNAi) in the banana weevil via feeding. We first developed an agar- and banana corm (rhizome) flour-based artificial diet in a multi-well plate setup that allowed the banana weevils to complete their life cycle from egg through the larval instars to the pupal stage in an average period of 53 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBanana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum, is the most devastating disease of banana in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The pathogen's rapid spread has threatened the livelihood of millions of Africans who rely on banana fruit for food security and income.
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