Variations in agronomic and grain quality traits of rice grown under irrigated lowland conditions in West Africa

Rice breeding in West Africa has been largely skewed toward yield enhancement and stress tolerance. This has led to the variable grain quality of locally produced rice in the region. This study sought to assess variations in the agronomic and grain quality traits of some rice varieties grown in this region, with a view to identifying sources of high grain yield and quality that could serve as potential donors in their breeding programs. Forty‐five varieties were grown under irrigated conditions in Benin and Senegal with two trials in each country. There were wide variations in agronomic and grain quality traits among the varieties across the trials. Cluster analysis using paddy yield, head rice yield, and chalkiness revealed that 68% of the total variation could be explained by five varietal groupings. One group comprising seven varieties (Afrihikari, BG90‐2, IR64, Sahel 108, WAT311‐WAS‐B‐B‐23‐7‐1, WAT339‐TGR‐5‐2, and WITA 10) had high head rice yield and low chalkiness. Of the varieties in this group, Sahel 108 had the highest paddy yield in three of the four trials. IR64 and Afrihikari had intermediate and low amylose content, respectively, with the rest being high‐amylose varieties. Another group of varieties consisting of B6144F‐MR‐6‐0‐0, C74, IR31851‐96‐2‐3‐2‐1, ITA222, Jaya, Sahel 305, WITA 1, and WITA 2 had high paddy yield but poor head rice yield and chalkiness. The use of materials from these two groups of varieties could accelerate breeding for high yielding rice varieties with better grain quality for local production in West Africa

Book Review: \u3ci\u3eGenetic Glass Ceilings: Transgenics for Crop Diversity\u3c/i\u3e By Jonathan Gressel

In what is destined to become a classic, Jonathan Grassel’s Genetic Glass Ceiling: Transgenics for Crop Diversity is a carefully crafted book that is firmly rooted in science, engaging and thought-provoking, very bold in its assertions, and yet not overly alarming. Throughout, its author challenges his readers to think outside the box. Cognizant of the fact that genetic engineering as a tool in the plant breeder’s toolkit has its ardent proponents as well as detractors, Grassel, who obviously belongs to the former camp, devotes the first nine chapters to a thorough review of the science, showing how plant breeders are constrained in their work by diminishing genetic diversity, the lifeblood of their trade, and why genetic engineering deserves consideration as the “genetic glass ceiling buster.” The approach adopted in writing this book may be likened to a classic SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities- threats) analysis of the issues. Classical plant breeding is responsible for the domestication of numerous plant species resulting in highly productive cultivars that form the basis of the world’s food supply. Of the crops that feed the world, the so-called “big four” (corn, wheat, rice, and soybean) have received most attention by breeders, to the extent that a yield plateau has been attained or approached. Classical breeding tools are incapable of breeching what Gressel aptly describes as a genetic glass ceiling to enable more productive and versatile cultivars to be developed to meet ever-increasing world food needs

The Impact of Managerial Networking Relationships on Organizational Performance in Sub­Saharan Africa: Evidence from Ghana

This paper focuses on how managerial networking relationships developed with external entities affect organizational performance using survey data from organizations in Ghana. Networking relationships with external entities are established so as to obtain resources, valuable information, and to acquire and exploit knowledge, in order to overcome the high level of uncertainty in the business environment. The findings provide strong support that managerial networking relationships developed with top managers of other firms, government bureaucratic officials, community leaders, and leaders of employee unions and representatives enhance organizational performance. However, managerial networking relationships developed with politicians at different levels of government are either not related to performance or impede performance. Empirically, the findings confirm that managerial networking relationships may have beneficial as well as detrimental effects on organizations

Impacts of Postharvest Temperature Exposure Profiles on Rice Physicochemical Properties

Heated-air drying followed by tempering (HAT) is effective for increasing rough-rice drying rates without compromising head rice yield (HRY). However, heat exposure could affect rice end-use properties. Hypothesizing that the total amount of heat exposure incurred by rice during heated-air drying determines the trend and magnitude of changes in end-use properties, this dissertation sought to 1) characterize the effects of drying and tempering regimen on changes in end-use properties, 2) derive an index to quantify and compare the amount of heat exposure that rice kernels incur during active drying and, 3) relate values of this index to changes in rice end-use properties. A series of drying experiments were conducted on a long-grain rice cultivar. Paste viscosities and texture of rice gels prepared from flour obtained from dried (12.5% MC) rice samples were evaluated. A theoretical framework was developed and employed alongside time-temperature data collected from drying experiments to derive an index for quantifying thermal exposure, Graham-Acquaah’s Thermal Exposure (GATE) value, during drying. Paste viscosities and gel texture were not only dependent on drying air temperature but also on how long the rice was exposed to a given temperature during drying and tempering. Air relative humidity (rh) had an indirect effect on end-use properties. Using different HAT regimens, peak viscosity was altered by 16%, breakdown by 24%, and setback by \u3e500% compared to control samples. Gel strength was increased by approximately 40% with HAT regimens. The GATE values had strong and significant (

Human Capital Availability, Competitive Intensity and Manufacturing Priorities in a Sub-Saharan African Economy

Several studies have been done on the relationships between human resources management (HRM) practices and manufacturing activities. However, most of these studies have been confined to well-developed economies where the focus of HRM practices is mostly on the investment in human capital to facilitate the use of advanced manufacturing technology. In less developed economies, the primary HRM concern is attracting and retaining skilled, knowledgeable and experienced labor. In this study, we examine the relationships between human capital availability, competitive intensity and their interactive effects on manufacturing priorities in a Sub-Saharan African economy — Ghana. We found that competitive intensity is an important determinant of the emphasis firms plan to place on manufacturing priorities (low-cost, quality, flexibility, and delivery). However, human capital availability affects the emphasis firms plan to place on low-cost and delivery. Furthermore, competitive intensity moderates the relationship between human capital availability and the emphasis that firms plan to place on the manufacturing priorities of low-cost and quality

(2R,5S)-theaspirane identified as the kairomone for the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, from attractive senesced leaves of the host banana, Musa spp.

The principal active component produced by highly attractive senesced host banana leaves, Musa spp., for the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, is shown by coupled gas chromatography‐electroantennography (GC‐EAG), coupled GC‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), chemical synthesis and coupled enantioselective (chiral) GC‐EAG to be (2R,5S)‐theaspirane. In laboratory behaviour tests, the synthetic compound is as attractive as natural host leaf material and presents a new opportunity for pest control

Assessing The Resilience of Adaptation Measures: Conceptual Frameworks for A Case Study of Ghana’s Keta Sea Defense System

The consequences of rising sea levels caused by climate change have been detrimental to the residents living along the coast of Keta in Ghana. The construction of the Keta Sea defense system as an adaptation measure designed to alleviate the situation appears to have had little impact. Despite the development of various climate change adaptation frameworks to help enhance the resilience of adaptation measures, the outcome of these adaptation measures remain uncertain until another climate change related event occurs that may disrupt socio-economic life. To mitigate this, adaptation measures ought to be assessed using a rigorous assessment-based adaptation framework. This study proposed two of such frameworks, that is, conceptual adaptation framework of interaction and conceptual adaptation framework of outcomes. The two conceptual frameworks are to be used concurrently and can be applied in assessing and implementing other environmental measures within a specific environmental contex

Bioactivity of some natural products against the cowpea storage weevil Callosobruchus Maculatus L.

This work was carried out to evaluate the insecticidal activity of extracts from 14 plant species of Ghanaian origin against Callosobruchus maculatus adults under laboratory conditions. Phytochemical screenings of the 14 plant species were performed using standard laboratory methods to determine the types of secondary natural products present in the plant species. Aqueous, petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of the 14 plant species were screened for their bioactivity against Artemia selina in a brine shrimp lethality test. The pesticidal activities of the plant products against Callosobruchus maculatus were investigated in laboratory experiments. Contact toxicity (filter paper impregnation method), grain treatment with plant products for insect population and mortality assays, and also effect of the plant products on grain damage were obtained and compared with Actellic Super EC (synthetic insecticide) during a three-month observation period. Cymbopogan winterianus oil caused the highest mortality, least damage to grains and the highest antireproductive effect. All grain-protective properties of the natural products were concentration and time dependent. Extracts of Cassia alata showed good potential in protecting cowpea and gave better protection than the powder, whilst Griffornia simplicifolia did not significantly protect the grains. Phytochemical investigations of the plants revealed the presence of terpenes, saponins, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, anthraquinones and flavonoids. The presence of some of these compounds may be responsible for the pesticidal action of the plants.Keywords: Phytochemical screening, Extracts, Insecticidal, Brine shrimp lethality test, Cowpea