Chris O. Ojiewo

Vegetable gardens and their impact on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals

The attainment of the Millennium Development Goals is at severe risk, owing to rising malnutrition and high child stunting and mortality rates, greater poverty, a large increase in the incidence of noncommunicable diseases, and lack of progress in womens empowerment. Here, the role of vegetable home, school, community, and disaster recovery gardens as a pro-poor and pro-environment intervention in the developing world is reviewed. This includes the contribution of vegetable gardens in improving food and nutritional security, generating additional income, providing employment, contributing to better health, and helping to empower disadvantaged groups in society. The implications of global research in the tropics and subtropics over the last 20–30 years are assessed over a wide geographic and linguistic range. The effectiveness and sustainability of such interventions are considered in the light of their contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Suggestions for potential new directions for research are made, and a call for better integration of effort in research and development between the agriculture, nutrition, and health sectors is presented as a key issue if rapid development progress is to be made and sustained.

Genomics, genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers

Abstract Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP‐GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large‐scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega‐initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on‐the‐shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics‐assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement.

Genetics, genomics and breeding of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract Groundnut is an important food and oil crop in the semiarid tropics, contributing to household food consumption and cash income. In Asia and Africa, yields are low attributed to various production constraints. This review paper highlights advances in genetics, genomics and breeding to improve the productivity of groundnut. Genetic studies concerning inheritance, genetic variability and heritability, combining ability and trait correlations have provided a better understanding of the crops genetics to develop appropriate breeding strategies for target traits. Several improved lines and sources of variability have been identified or developed for various economically important traits through conventional breeding. Significant advances have also been made in groundnut genomics including genome sequencing, marker development and genetic and trait mapping. These advances have led to a better understanding of the groundnut genome, discovery of genes/variants for traits of interest and integration of marker‐assisted breeding for selected traits. The integration of genomic tools into the breeding process accompanied with increased precision of yield trialing and phenotyping will increase the efficiency and enhance the genetic gain for release of improved groundnut varieties.

Incidence and within field dispersion pattern of pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in chickpea in Ethiopia

Abstract Podborer is a major pest of chickpea in Ethiopia. Field surveys were conducted in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in central and northwestern Ethiopia to assess the prevalence and within field distribution of the pest. Although podborer was prevalent throughout the surveyed areas, there was a significant difference in larval density (0.10–3.75 larvae per m2) among zones and districts within zones. This variation was attributed to cropping history, cropping patterns, chickpea-crop adjacency, and weather (rainfall and temperature) conditions before and during the season as well as control measures applied. The optimum sample size required for precision ranged from 98, when podborer density was 10/m2, to 1045, when podborer density was ≤1/m2. Within field distribution of the larvae fitted a negative binomial distribution indicating that the larvae had a clumped/aggregated dispersion pattern. These results will enable chickpea stakeholders to develop and apply appropriate integrated crop management techniques for the control of podborer.

Current status of wilt/root rot diseases in major chickpea growing areas of Ethiopia

Abstract Wilt/root rot diseases are a major chickpea production constraint in Ethiopia causing yield losses by reducing the number of plants. To determine the current status of disease incidence and distribution, surveys were conducted in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 cropping seasons in major chickpea growing zones of Ethiopia. Despite recent efforts in dissemination of improved varieties, low to high incidence of 0.0–83.4, 0.0–27.6, 1.3–19.8 and 0.0–16.3% and 1.0–81.9, 0.0–25.5, 3.0–13.9 and 1.0–21.5% in East Gojjam, Southwest Shewa, North Shewa and West Shewa in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, respectively. Therefore, integrated pest management strategies should be developed and availed to farmers.