Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization

Sesamum indicum L., commonly known as sesame, is a diploid member of the family Pedaliaceae, cultivated widely across tropical regions for its oilseed. Sesamum indicum L. subsp. malabaricum (Burm.) Bedigian is the progenitor of the present day cultivated sesame, and domestication events were reported to have occurred in Indian sub-continent. With reference to sesame wild relatives, a few were endemic to Indian Sub-continent while majority of the wild relatives have their origin from African continent. Molecular markers are useful for assessing genetic diversity estimates, in marker assisted selection for breeding programs, and for efficient management of plant genetic resources. We have tested the cross-species transferability for 100 SSR markers from sesame to its wild relatives (10 species). Of these, 21 SSR markers were found to be cross-species transferable, and 15 of them had exhibited polymorphism. 15 polymorphic SSR markers produced a total of 68 alleles with an average number of 4.53 alleles per locus, and the amplicon size ranged between 140 bp and 300 bp. Higher expected heterozygosity (He = 0.61), than observed heterozygosity (Ho), indicates their predominantly self-pollinated nature. However, the occurrence of heterozygosity underscores the presence of cross-pollination to some extent. Hence, this corroborates with the categorization of sesame as often-cross-pollinated crop. A UPGMA-based dendrogram was constructed which grouped the 14 accessions into two major clusters. Parallelly, scanning electron microscopic image profiles for the seeds of these 10 sesame wild relatives were compared with the clustering pattern derived using SSR markers and found corroborative.

The Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) (DLY) pig is a cornerstone of three-way crossbreeding system. Nevertheless, advances in commercial crossbred performance have been constrained by the dearth of high-resolution genomic resources for this key population. Here, we report the sequencing and assembly of 16 haplotype-resolved, chromosome-level genome assemblies derived from eight DLY pigs. These assemblies exhibited high continuity (contig N50: 18.17-29.54 Mb) and completeness (BUSCO: 99.3-99.4%), with sequences successfully localized to the 19 chromosomes. Genome annotation revealed an average of 21,922 protein-coding genes and 44.66% repetitive sequences per assembly. Comparative genomic analysis against the current reference genome Sscrofa11.1 enabled the construction of a non-redundant SV catalog comprising 130,416 variants, nearly half of which (48.99%) were novel relative to existing pig pan-genome SV panel. These SVs clustered non-randomly into 231 "SV hotspots" that were significantly enriched in protein-coding genes and putative regulatory elements. Functional analyses further linked these SV hotspots to quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with economically important traits. A focused analysis of a 3.43 Mb hotspot on chromosome 1, overlapping a known QTL for average daily gain, revealed eight high-frequency SVs in open chromatin regions near candidate genes (NCS1, HMCN2, FUBP3, ABL1, and FIBCD1), suggesting a cis-regulatory mechanism that may influence gene expression. Collectively, this work provides the first haplotype-resolved genomic resource for commercial crossbred pigs, and establishes a foundational framework for deciphering the genomic architecture of hybrid vigor and advancing precision breeding in swine.

There is an urgent need for an updated and relevant soil information system (SIS) to sustainably use and manage the land across Africa. Accurate data on soil pollution is essential for effective decision-making in soil health monitoring and management. Unfortunately, the data and information are not usually presented in formats that can easily guide decision-making. The objectives of this work were to (i) assess the availability of soil pollution maps, (ii) evaluate the methodologies used in creating these maps, (iii) explore the role of soil pollution maps in soil health monitoring, and (iv) identify gaps and challenges in soil pollution mapping in Africa. Soil pollution maps across Africa are created on a local scale, with highly variable sampling size and low sampling density. The most used mapping techniques include spatial interpolation (kriging and inverse distance weighting). Among the types of soil pollutants mapped, heavy metals have received priority, while pesticides and persistent organic pollutants have received less attention. Soil pollution mapping is not incorporated within the SIS framework due to lack of reliable spatially comprehensive data and technological and institutional barriers. Current efforts remain fragmented, site-specific, and methodologically inconsistent, resulting in significant data gaps that hinder reliable monitoring and limit progress in soil pollution mapping.

As the demand for sustainable pet food increases, Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) have emerged as a promising alternative protein source. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the acceptance and viability of these advancements. This study investigated the willingness of dog owners in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya, to feed their dogs with BSFL-based diets. A cross-sectional survey involving 384 dog owners was conducted using snowball sampling. Face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires were conducted, and data were analysed through binary logistic regression. Results showed that 72% of respondents expressed willingness to adopt BSFL-based feed, although 58.6% had no prior awareness of it. Key motivators included perceived nutritional benefits (70.83%), improved dog appearance (63.03%), and cost-effectiveness (65.11%). Significant predictors of willingness to feed included county of residence (OR = 6.909, p < 0.001), age (OR = 0.935, p < 0.001), employment status (OR = 0.269, p = 0.012), occupation (OR = 0.431, p = 0.009), perceived benefits (OR = 3.474, p = 0.001), and perceived risks (OR = 0.415, p = 0.018). Education level (p = 0.075) and household size (p = 0.062) were marginally significant. These findings emphasise the role of socio-economic and perceptual factors in shaping consumer acceptance. Public education campaigns, veterinary engagement, and strategic marketing are critical to enhancing uptake of BSFL-based dog food and advancing sustainable pet nutrition in Kenya.

This study was conducted in lower eastern Kenya to compare the impact of various management practices on pigeon pea pests. Six and eight farms planted with pigeon pea crops were used in seasons one and two, respectively, based on Agro-Ecological Zones (UM & LM). In each farm, three plots were established where pests were managed using integrated pest management (IPM), farmer practice (FP), or control without pest management, as a check. Results showed a highly significant difference (p<.001) in the pigeon pea grain yields with 1.66±0.041; 0.91±0.042 tons per Ha for UM and LM Agro-ecological zones, respectively. An increase of 43.29% and 52.35% in the number of pods was recorded in IPM and FP-managed plots, respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, pod weight (g) for the IPM plot increased by 39.24%, while in the FP-managed plots, it increased by 48.22%. Additionally, grain weight (g) increased by 34.77% in the IPM and by 51.60% in the FP-managed plots. A significant (p=0.05) increase in percent protein content was recorded, with 16.85%, 16.67%, and 14.64% from FP, IPM, and control-managed plots, respectively. Pest management is a key input in pigeon pea production, and farmers need to manage pests for improved yields.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a food security and income generating crop in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the crop is deficient of important nutrients such as vitamin A and thus, communities that depend on it as a staple are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Global efforts are underway to biofortify the crop with pro-vitamin A carotenoid (pVAC). To achieve cassava biofortification goals in Kenya requires an understanding on the genetic characteristics of the pVAC population. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in pVAC cassava population comprising of 93 accessions using DArTseq SNP markers. In the whole population, the observed heterozygosity (Ho) averaged to 0.30, whereas the expected heterozygosity (He) had a mean of 0.29. This result suggests that the population had moderately diverse alleles to use in improving pVAC cassava. The coefficient of inbreeding (FIS) varied from -0.28 to 0.28, with a mean of -0.02, suggesting that the population had an overabundance of heterozygotes. This population was structured into three subpopulations, and results revealed that there was more genetic differentiation within subpopulations (96.05%) than there was between subpopulations (3.95%). All cluster combinations had low inter-cluster fixation indices (FST), suggesting that there was a significant amount of allele sharing among the three subpopulations. In the whole population, at a threshold of r2=0.2, LD decayed at 613.072 kb. These findings support the possibility that KALRO may use the population to conduct genomics-assisted breeding and speed up genetic advances in pVAC cassava.

Non-wood forest products (NWFP) present opportunities for diversifying livelihoods in Kenya especially in the arid and semi-arid lands. This paper examines the current status, investment opportunities, challenges, and potential mitigation measures in key non-wood forest product value chains in Kenya in relation to conservation and sustainable development. It focuses on aloe, gums and resins, dyes and tannins, indigenous fruits and, honey and bee products. The study adopted a desk-based literature review methodology, drawing on research outputs from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and other scholarly and policy-related sources. A structured value chain lens was used to examine technological, institutional, and infrastructural factors influencing the development of NWFPs. Key findings focusing on current practices, existing technologies, gaps and inefficiencies, infrastructure bottlenecks and opportunities for upgrading are presented, along with lessons learned and recommendations for improving the development of these value chains. Major challenges identified include technological limitations in harvesting and processing, natural resource availability and degradation issues, inadequate technical capacity and extension services, high investment and operational costs, financial constraints, weak market linkages and value addition, and gaps in policy and legal frameworks. Despite these constraints, the review highlights several investment opportunities. These include the development of forest-based bio-enterprises, the expansion of local and international markets, implementation of certification and quality standards, capacity-building and knowledge transfer programs, increasing demand for forest products, and enhanced governance and support through Kenya's devolved government system. The ongoing review of The Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016 is also noted as a potential enabler of growth in these sectors. This paper offers valuable insights for investors, researchers, policymakers, farmers, students and other stakeholders aiming to support evidence-based planning and the sustainable commercialization of NWFPs in Kenya.

Mycotoxins contribute to a substantial loss of global maize grain yields in terms of tonnes. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, screening of mycotoxin-producing fungi predominantly relies on culture-based methods, which are both time-consuming and labour-intensive. This study examined the major fungal species responsible for aflatoxin production in major maize-producing regions of Kenya using molecular techniques. Maize samples were collected from Kilifi, Makueni, and Kisumu counties. For fungal isolation followed by molecular identification targeting the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) for Fusarium and calmodulin (CaM) genes for Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Trichoderma, this was followed by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis. The study revealed 14 fungal species belonging to four genera namely Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Trichoderma. Kisumu County had the highest diversity of fungal species, representing 47.8% of the total identified. Within Kisumu, Penicillium species were the most prevalent, with an incidence rate of 72.9%. In contrast, Aspergillus species were most common in Kilifi County (54.5% incidence). The application of DNA barcoding techniques significantly enhanced the precision of identifying aflatoxin-producing fungi compared to conventional identification methods. This study confirms the presence of multiple fungal species responsible for aflatoxin production in Kenya's maize-growing regions.