ABSTRACT Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) is an economically important legume crop of vital importance to the livelihood of several millions of people. Even so, cowpea yields on African farmers’ fields are still below the potential yield of the crop. This is, largely, as a result of the use of unimproved genotypes and farming on phosphorus (P)-poor soils, which are pervasive in the tropics. Plants have evolved several strategies to obtain adequate P for their growth under P limiting con...
ABSTRACT Integrated Nutrient Management with biochar and inorganic fertilizer is critical to sustainable agriculture including the enhancement of production systems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The objective of this research was to evaluate how soil management could be improved to respond to increasing environmental pressure on soil and crop in carrot production and to examine how anthropogenic changes in and management of soil affect crop growth, yield and nutritional...
ABSTRACT The phenological development, growth, yield and yield stability performance of eight cowpea varieties released in Ghana between 1990 and 2015 were evaluated in field experiments carried out at Mampong-Ashanti (forest-savannah transition zone) and Fumesua (forest zone) over two cropping seasons in 2015 and 2016. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Asontem, Nhyira, Asetenapa, Hewale and Videza flowered and podded earl...
ABSTRACT Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, is an important human and livestock protein source in Nigeria, but its production is constrained by ravages of pests and climate change. Conventional breeding efforts used to fortify it against these constraints had resulted into its narrow genetic base. In order to overcome this challenge, other mutation procedures such as physical and chemical mutagens could be used. Nevertheless, information on gamma and ultra-violet (UV) irradiated cowpea seeds and pol...
ABSTRACT Tomato yellow leaf curl viral disease (TYLCV) is a destructive disease of tomato in Ghana. The study was conducted during the 2013 minor and 2014 major cropping seasons to determine the knowledge of farmers and their agronomic practices they carry out to manage TYLCV disease in three districts in the Central region, screening of thirty six tomato genotypes against TYLCV disease for a possible tolerant variety and phenotypic and molecular evaluation of selected tolerant genotypes at ...
ABSTRACT The study shows Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) from groundnut samples collected from the six markets in the Central Region of Ghana namely: Swedru, Mankessim, Cape Coast, Fosu, Jukwa and Kasoa. All groundnut sellers interviewed were females and have no knowledge about aflatoxins. Thirty five percent 35% of the groundnut sellers had no formal education whilst 26.7% had basic primary education and 23.3% had Junior high school educatio...
ABSTRACT Maize streak disease (MSD) is the most important viral disease affecting maize production in Ghana. Management options employed to mitigate the effect of the disease has not been successful. Breeding for disease resistant is the most sustainable option. Mutation breeding was used in this study to develop maize mutants’ lines that are resistant MSD. Radiosensitivity was first carried out to determine the optimum dose for mutation induction in six cultivars of maize grown in the stu...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out to assess the influence of Colletotrichum dematium one of the major causes of pepper diseases on the declining yield of pepper in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam district of the Central Region and to find the extent of transmission through different inoculation methods. Three fruit types (riped, unriped and dropped) were collected from six farms across four locations (Akuamase, Nkodwo, Esikado and Mando) and another sample which was made up of only riped fruits was...
ABSTRACT Biochemical studies were carried out on ten cocoa types to find out their 4iffeJelit levels of resistance to Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus. The beans were inoculated via viruliferous nymphs of mealy bugs, and observed after planting for 3 months. Patches of barks of severe symptom bearing cocoa types were also tested through grafting on healthy Amelonado plants and observed for 3 months. Significant differences were observed in the cocoa types in terms of symptoms appearance and in sever...
ABSTRACT Studies were carried out on the reaction o f some oil palm tenera progenies to Fusarium oxysporum f sp elaeidis (FOFSE) isolates isolated from the Crops Research Institute and Oil Palm Research Institute plantations, in Akumadan and Kusi respectively. Four isolates, P. 38, P.50, P.459 and P.568 were obtained from Akumadan and the remaining one, P. 93 from Kusi. The growth and cultural characteristics of the isolates were studied on Dehydrated Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Fresh P...
ABSTRACT The phenological development, growth, yield and yield stability performance of eight cowpea varieties released in Ghana between 1990 and 2015 were evaluated in field experiments carried out at Mampong-Ashanti (forest-savannah transition zone) and Fumesua (forest zone) over two cropping seasons in 2015 and 2016. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Asontem, Nhyira, Asetenapa, Hewale and Videza flowered and podded earlier (3...
ABSTRACT For any good breeding work and its subsequent improvement, a knowledge in genetic diversity is very necessary. Genetic diversity of eighty seven Sweetpotato accessions assembled from various potential growing areas and two research institutions in the country, Crops Research Institute at Fumesua in Ashanti Region and Plant Genetic Resources Institute in the Eastern Region were put together and investigated using Morphological and Molecular characterization approaches.Both qualitative...
ABSTRACT Studies were carried out on the reaction o f some oil palm tenera progenies to Fusarium oxysporum f sp elaeidis (FOFSE) isolates isolated from the Crops Research Institute and Oil Palm Research Institute plantations, in Akumadan and Kusi respectively. Four isolates, P. 38, P.50, P.459 and P.568 were obtained from Akumadan and the remaining one, P. 93 from Kusi. The growth and cultural characteristics of the isolates were studied on Dehydrated Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Fresh P...
ABSTRACT The influence of temperature on yield and quality of three Japanese strawberry (Fragaria x anannasa Duch) cultivars („Sachinoka‟, „Benihoppe‟ and „Tochiotome‟) were studied between March and August, 2011 in a screen house at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan. Completely Randomised Design was used with eight (8) replications each of the cultivars. One set of treatment comprising of the three cultivars were set as control and the other treatment was se...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am greatly indebted to my Principal Supervisor, Mr. Yaw Opoku Asiama, Senior Lecturer of Department of Crop Science of the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, for his strict supervision, motivation, inspiration and useful suggestions. He also supported me to get the funding and a place for my project work. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my Supervisor, Dr. Boamah Adomako, Principal Research Officer of Plant Breeding Division, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana...