Towards Managing and Controlling Aflatoxin Producers Within Aspergillus Species in Infested Rice Grains Collected from Local Markets in Kenya
Rice grains can be attacked by Aspergillus species, causing the accumulation of aflatoxins and representing a serious threat to the consumers. This study analyzed the prevalence of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus spp. in rice grains currently sold in Kenyan local markets. All tested samples were contaminated. The work provides a baseline for future studies on the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungal species in rice grains being sold in local markets and strategies to control these aflatoxigenic strains at pre- and post-harvest levels.
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Association genetics of bunch weight and its component traits in East African highland banana (Musa spp. AAA group)
This report presents for the first time some genomic loci associated with bunch weight and its component traits in banana. Bunch weight increase is one of the major objectives of banana improvement programs, but little is known about the loci controlling bunch weight and its component traits. The results will stimulate further research in banana-breeding populations and diversity panels to underpin causal mutations that underlie the variations in bunch weight and its components in addition to other traits.
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Role of fixing nitrogen in common bean growth under water deficit conditions
In common bean, limited information is available if potential of nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation is associated with the expression of traits that confer better adaptation to drought conditions. In this study, adaptive traits were measured in N‐fixing bean lines and in non-nodulating lines. The results demonstrated an important association between the capability of maintaining atmospheric N‐fixation and expression of traits conferring better adaptation to drought conditions with any change in nitrogen fixation affecting these traits.
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